My short story writing process & how I make dust jackets for my novels

rachel writes | My short story writing process & how I make dust jackets for my novels | Writing Vlog #23 @rachelwritesbooks | Updated October 2024, 3 hours ago.

$☕ COZY WRITING VLOG: 10k word week & hitting 100k! In this writing vlog, I write 10,000 words in a week & hit 100k words in my fantasy novel! I also chat about struggling to feel confident about my writing, random bouts of inspiration, making writing fun again, and I even read some of my current WIP! QUESTIONS FOR YOU: 1. Whats your best memory of writing? 2. Do you titles your chapters? If not, would you? 3. Do you delete or save your unwanted writing? TIMESTAMPS: 0:00 - Intro 0:20 - Feeling insecure despite being successful 1:22 - How a genre switch has made me insecure 6:21 - My short-term writing plans & outlining out of anxiety 7:03 - Major drafting progress 10:07 - How being a student impacts my writing 12:21 - Updating my outline in Scrivener 13:22 - Mini writing update & naming your chapters 15:00 - Writing is going... badly? 16:56 - Deleting writing 19:49 - Reading you excerpts of my WIP (Seventh Virtue) 23:41 - Hitting 100k words in my WIP :) CONNECT WITH ME: Twitter: https://twitter.com/rachellwrites Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/rachelxwrites/ Website: https://bit.ly/3rq2vz5 Tumblr: https://bit.ly/3BhAtK3 Pinterest: http://bit.ly/2qdKsyM ALL MY PUBLISHED WORK: https://bit.ly/3CYT7Y1 MY STORIES: → The Species is Dead in Minola Review: https://bit.ly/3wEnkqE → Mama Lives in My Mouth in Young Voices: https://bit.ly/3yRzBKg → Primary Organs in The Malahat Review: https://bit.ly/2Tl0yWu & read an excerpt: https://bit.ly/3fzSQR1 → The Wolf-Antelope Will Not Come for Us in filling Sation: https://bit.ly/2UhCxjH → Where to Run When the Lamb Roars in The Temz Review: https://bit.ly/3GN246M → Fig in Fractured Lit: https://fracturedlit.com/fig/ → Jasmine’s Brows and Cuts,” in The Puritan, https://bit.ly/3mBsPDA → “Slaughter the Animal” in The New Quarterly, https://bit.ly/3BURVqb → “Eat Well” in CAROUSEL, forthcoming MY POETRY: → We sell skin on sale in Augur Magazine (poetry): https://bit.ly/3vBvQH3 → the drive-up microphone at burger king in carte blanche: https://bit.ly/3sm6RoE → A burial in The Fiddlehead: https://bit.ly/3oMU7ID → The night my mother learns to use the bus in The Fiddlehead: https://bit.ly/3oMU7ID → “What’s the difference between good and god” in CV2 https://bit.ly/3y9WXwT → “At night, I rest my limbs in water and search for my mother’s father’s mother’s mother’s tongue” in Augur Magazine, forthcoming → My Wolf Lives on the Windowsill in Grain Magazine: [print only] ABOUT ME Hi yall! Im Rachel, a twenty-year-old writer from Toronto. Ive been writing for eight years and am in my final year of my BA in creative writing. On my channel, rachel writes, I document my writing journey and try to post once a week (usually on Fridays). DISCLAIMER: Im only one writer, and approach each video from my experience/expertise. While I make content like writing advice videos on this channel, its important to me that my viewers ultimately write in the way that best resonates with them. :) ASK ME ANYTHING: https://bit.ly/34wRv7u Music by Drew Richmond - Carry Along - https://thmatc.co/?l=3CD51F46 Music by Dan and Drum - Taste Like - https://thmatc.co/?l=85B8DCCC Outro: This is not a joke by Monplaisir My equipment: → Camera: Sony ZV1 → Vlog mic: Rode Video Micro → Sit-down mic: Blue Yeti OR Blue Snowball iCE → Editor: Premiere Pro #authortube$ $Should YOU Study Creative Writing? | 3rd Year Wrap-Up Q&A Should you study creative writing? In todays video, I answer YOUR questions regarding creative writing degrees as an undergrad whos just finished my 3rd year of my BA in creative writing. TIMESTAMPS 0:40 - Do you find that your writing craft has improved since you began studying creative writing? 2:48 - Do you feel like you’ve gotten more recognition/opportunities because of your degree? 4:12 - What has been your favorite part of your program? 4:42 - What do you do when you receive feedback you don’t agree with? 5:31 - Has anyone ever been mean/harsh with a critique? How did you react? 6:20 - What are the prospective careers? 6:51 - Are there any signs of a good or bad workshop to look for before actually taking it? 7:49 - Do you feel that youve learned things in your writing studies that you wouldnt have learned through self-study (Googling, discussion, writing communities, writing courses, etc.)? 13:58 - How do you manage to write as an autistic writer? Did your process change or stay the same? 16:29 - Are you considering an MFA in Writing or are you done after your BA? 17:15 - Are summer internships common? If so, for what positions? 17:23 - Whats the most difficult part of pursuing a creative writing degree? 18:20 - What kinds of courses do you take as a student pursuing a writing degree? 19:05 - Are there aspects of your program you don’t like? 19:16 - You’ve mentioned your concentrations are fiction and poetry. Have you been able to take other classes such as creative non-fiction, screenwriting, TV writing, or playwriting? 19:42 - How has your life and writing changed since you started studying writing? 20:29 - Writing is really subjective. How can instructors grade you appropriately? Do they only focus on techniques (sticking to a plot structure, for example), or do they grade based on what they liked? Or both? 21:05 - Which class is known to be tough for students in your program? 21:56 - Could share some of the writing exercises you did in your classes? 22:24 - How does workshopping your classmates work inspire you, and is there a particular piece of writing you just cant forget? 22:40 - Whats your favourite thing youve written for school this year? 23:47 - What was the most like life changing thing you learned in your classes and have your instructors given writing tips that have changed your perspective on writing? 26:08 - Does writing for class decrease your personal writing output? 27:05 - I assume you and your classmates often share your work and critique each other. Do you find that helpful? How so? 28:20 - What was the class you enjoyed the most and why? RELATED: - 5 Things Ive Learned From My Writing Degree (so far): https://youtu.be/xBoOjONwjJA - 5 Things Ive Learned From My Writing Degree (so far) - SECOND YEAR EDITION: https://youtu.be/c2mq30rVpAU - I took a year to draft a short story lol oops | Writing Vlog #21 https://youtu.be/PgWudWLGFec LINKS Twitter: https://twitter.com/rachellwrites Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/rachelxwrites/ Website: https://bit.ly/3rq2vz5 Tumblr: https://bit.ly/3BhAtK3 Pinterest: http://bit.ly/2qdKsyM ALL MY PUBLISHED WORK: https://bit.ly/3CYT7Y1 MY STORIES: → The Species is Dead in Minola Review: https://bit.ly/3wEnkqE → Mama Lives in My Mouth in Young Voices: https://bit.ly/3yRzBKg → Primary Organs in The Malahat Review: https://bit.ly/2Tl0yWu & read an excerpt: https://bit.ly/3fzSQR1 → The Wolf-Antelope Will Not Come for Us in filling Sation: https://bit.ly/2UhCxjH → Where to Run When the Lamb Roars in The Temz Review: https://bit.ly/3GN246M → Fig in Fractured Lit: https://fracturedlit.com/fig/ → Jasmine’s Brows and Cuts,” in The Puritan, forthcoming → “Eat Well” in CAROUSEL, forthcoming → “Slaughter the Animal” in The New Quarterly, forthcoming MY POETRY: → We sell skin on sale in Augur Magazine (poetry): https://bit.ly/3vBvQH3 → the drive-up microphone at burger king in carte blanche: https://bit.ly/3sm6RoE → A burial in The Fiddlehead: https://bit.ly/3oMU7ID → The night my mother learns to use the bus in The Fiddlehead: https://bit.ly/3oMU7ID → “What’s the difference between good and god” in CV2 https://bit.ly/3y9WXwT → “At night, I rest my limbs in water and search for my mother’s father’s mother’s mother’s tongue” in Augur Magazine, forthcoming → My Wolf Lives on the Windowsill in Grain Magazine: [print only] ABOUT ME Hi yall! Im Rachel, a twenty-year-old writer from Toronto. Ive been writing for eight years and am in my third year of my BA in creative writing. On my channel, I document my writing journey and try to post once a week (usually on Fridays). ASK ME ANYTHING: https://bit.ly/34wRv7u Outro: This is not a joke by Monplaisir My equipment: → Camera: Sony ZV1 → Vlog mic: Rode Video Micro → Sit-down mic: Blue Yeti OR Blue Snowball iCE → Editor: Premiere Pro #authortube$ $Strengthen Your Writing in 3 STEPS ✍️ | How to Line Edit In todays video, I show you how to line edit your work using my 3 step line editing method! Examples are included! TIMESTAMPS: 0:00 - Intro 0:12 - Step 1: Initial pass 3:45 - Step 2: Refine (Swap, Add, Delete) 6:19 - Step 3: Final pass (locate & adjust VAN) 8:33 - Final reveal/before & after RELATED: - Masterclass article on filters: https://bit.ly/3zJ7RdS LINKS Twitter: https://twitter.com/rachellwrites Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/rachelxwrites/ Website: https://bit.ly/3rq2vz5 Tumblr: https://bit.ly/3BhAtK3 Pinterest: http://bit.ly/2qdKsyM ALL MY PUBLISHED WORK: https://bit.ly/3CYT7Y1 MY STORIES: → The Species is Dead in Minola Review: https://bit.ly/3wEnkqE → Mama Lives in My Mouth in Young Voices: https://bit.ly/3yRzBKg → Primary Organs in The Malahat Review: https://bit.ly/2Tl0yWu & read an excerpt: https://bit.ly/3fzSQR1 → The Wolf-Antelope Will Not Come for Us in filling Sation: https://bit.ly/2UhCxjH → Where to Run When the Lamb Roars in The Temz Review: https://bit.ly/3GN246M → Fig in Fractured Lit: https://fracturedlit.com/fig/ → Jasmine’s Brows and Cuts,” in The Puritan, https://bit.ly/3mBsPDA → “Eat Well” in CAROUSEL, forthcoming → “Slaughter the Animal” in The New Quarterly, forthcoming MY POETRY: → We sell skin on sale in Augur Magazine (poetry): https://bit.ly/3vBvQH3 → the drive-up microphone at burger king in carte blanche: https://bit.ly/3sm6RoE → A burial in The Fiddlehead: https://bit.ly/3oMU7ID → The night my mother learns to use the bus in The Fiddlehead: https://bit.ly/3oMU7ID → “What’s the difference between good and god” in CV2 https://bit.ly/3y9WXwT → “At night, I rest my limbs in water and search for my mother’s father’s mother’s mother’s tongue” in Augur Magazine, forthcoming → My Wolf Lives on the Windowsill in Grain Magazine: [print only] ABOUT ME Hi yall! Im Rachel, a twenty-year-old writer from Toronto. Ive been writing for eight years and will be entering my fourth year of my BA in creative writing in the fall. On my channel, I document my writing journey and try to post once a week (usually on Fridays). DISCLAIMER: Im only one writer, and approach each video from my experience/expertise. While I make content like writing advice videos on this channel, its important to me that my viewers ultimately write in the way that best resonates with them. :) ASK ME ANYTHING: https://bit.ly/34wRv7u Outro: This is not a joke by Monplaisir My equipment: → Camera: Sony ZV1 → Vlog mic: Rode Video Micro → Sit-down mic: Blue Yeti OR Blue Snowball iCE → Editor: Premiere Pro #authortube$ $How I Line Edit a Chapter From Start to Finish | LIVE Walkthrough In todays video, I line edit a chapter of my novel from start to finish on screen! TIMESTAMPS: 0:00 - Intro & hello! 1:53 - Disclaimers 5:21 - What am I revising? 7:42 - Content warnings 8:25 - My thoughts after revision 9:38 - Revising the chapter RELATED: - Drafting a scene of my novel: https://youtu.be/oI6QjN5O_tk - Why Im not publishing my novels: https://youtu.be/DFvpy5sihfA - Why writing for yourself will make you a better writer: https://youtu.be/uPKMPv-ea4k - All about my novel for Moth Work: https://youtu.be/ghWkJuZHoO8 LINKS Twitter: https://twitter.com/rachellwrites Tumblr: https://bit.ly/3BhAtK3 Pinterest: http://bit.ly/2qdKsyM MY PUBLISHED WORK: https://bit.ly/3CYT7Y1 MY STORIES: → The Species is Dead in Minola Review: https://bit.ly/3wEnkqE → Mama Lives in My Mouth in Young Voices: https://bit.ly/3yRzBKg → Primary Organs in The Malahat Review: https://bit.ly/2Tl0yWu & read an excerpt: https://bit.ly/3fzSQR1 → The Wolf-Antelope Will Not Come for Us in filling Sation: https://bit.ly/2UhCxjH → Where to Run When the Lamb Roars in The Temz Review: https://bit.ly/3GN246M → Fig in Fractured Lit: https://fracturedlit.com/fig/ MY POETRY: → We sell skin on sale in Augur Magazine (poetry): https://bit.ly/3vBvQH3 → the drive-up microphone at burger king in carte blanche: https://bit.ly/3sm6RoE → A burial in The Fiddlehead: https://bit.ly/3oMU7ID → The night my mother learns to use the bus in The Fiddlehead: https://bit.ly/3oMU7ID → My Wolf Lives on the Windowsill in Grain Magazine: [print only] ABOUT ME Hi yall! Im Rachel, a twenty-year-old writer from Toronto. Ive been writing for eight years and am in my third year of my BA in creative writing. On my channel, I document my writing journey and try to post once a week (usually on Fridays). ASK ME ANYTHING: https://bit.ly/34wRv7u Music: - Naomi - Saturday Light - https://thmatc.co/?l=023EA492 - Naomi - Lullaby - https://thmatc.co/?l=D29F4260 - Naomi - First Date - https://thmatc.co/?l=C3A5E0D7 - Naomi - Romantic Ageru Yo - https://thmatc.co/?l=D6F0B6FB - Naomi - Gummy Bear - https://thmatc.co/?l=9B66795B Outro: This is not a joke by Monplaisir My equipment: → Camera: Sony ZV1 → Vlog mic: Rode Video Micro → Sit-down mic: Blue Yeti OR Blue Snowball iCE → Editor: Premiere Pro #authortube$ $How I Created a MAGIC SYSTEM Out of Nothing Worldbuilding a fantasy novel is hard! It was particularly difficult as a Pantser who has never written fantasy before. In this video, I break down, step-by-step, how I managed to create a magic system for my contemporary fantasy novel. I wanted my approach to be unobtrusive to someone who has no idea what theyre doing (like me) I hope you can take something away from my process! TIMESTAMPS: 0:00 - Intro 0:41 - 1. Came up with the very basic concept for the magic 2:03 - 2. Loosely gave the characters powers 2:44 - 3. Decided which houses had what type of magic 3:34 - 4. Sorted any existing notes about magic into Magic System Brain Dump document 4:19 - 5. Sorted any existing mentions of magic in the book into Magic System Brain Dump document 4:55 - 6. Organized Magic System Brain Dump into bullet point notes 6:43 - 7. Refined/expanded on bullet points to create a Magic System Bible 7:32 - 8. Made notes in a what to revise document about what about the magic system needs to change 8:26 - 9. Created a Roost Power Breakdown document RELATED: - How I Accidentally Wrote a 10 Book Series | All About My Novel(s) - Fostered: https://youtu.be/elXAZDy8OJM - Creating a CHARACTER PROFILE in Campfire!: https://youtu.be/NEZXXMxQC8M - Worlbuilding blog post I mentioned: https://bit.ly/3BI4xk6 - Another helpful worldbuilding post: https://bit.ly/3Ss2eb4 🌟 QUESTIONS FOR YOU🌟 1. Have YOU ever created a magic system? What was that like? 2. Whats your favourite magic system (either created by you or someone else)? 3. Do you like worldbuilding? LINKS Twitter: https://twitter.com/rachellwrites Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/rachelxwrites/ Website: https://bit.ly/3rq2vz5 Tumblr: https://bit.ly/3BhAtK3 Pinterest: http://bit.ly/2qdKsyM ALL MY PUBLISHED WORK: https://bit.ly/3CYT7Y1 MY STORIES: → The Species is Dead in Minola Review: https://bit.ly/3wEnkqE → Mama Lives in My Mouth in Young Voices: https://bit.ly/3yRzBKg → Primary Organs in The Malahat Review: https://bit.ly/2Tl0yWu & read an excerpt: https://bit.ly/3fzSQR1 → The Wolf-Antelope Will Not Come for Us in filling Sation: https://bit.ly/2UhCxjH → Where to Run When the Lamb Roars in The Temz Review: https://bit.ly/3GN246M → Fig in Fractured Lit: https://fracturedlit.com/fig/ → Jasmine’s Brows and Cuts,” in The Puritan, https://bit.ly/3mBsPDA → “Slaughter the Animal” in The New Quarterly, https://bit.ly/3BURVqb → “Eat Well” in CAROUSEL, forthcoming MY POETRY: → We sell skin on sale in Augur Magazine (poetry): https://bit.ly/3vBvQH3 → the drive-up microphone at burger king in carte blanche: https://bit.ly/3sm6RoE → A burial in The Fiddlehead: https://bit.ly/3oMU7ID → The night my mother learns to use the bus in The Fiddlehead: https://bit.ly/3oMU7ID → “What’s the difference between good and god” in CV2 https://bit.ly/3y9WXwT → “At night, I rest my limbs in water and search for my mother’s father’s mother’s mother’s tongue” in Augur Magazine, forthcoming → My Wolf Lives on the Windowsill in Grain Magazine: [print only] ABOUT ME Hi yall! Im Rachel, a twenty-year-old writer from Toronto. Ive been writing for eight years and will be entering my fourth year of my BA in creative writing in the fall. On my channel, I document my writing journey and try to post once a week (usually on Fridays). DISCLAIMER: Im only one writer, and approach each video from my experience/expertise. While I make content like writing advice videos on this channel, its important to me that my viewers ultimately write in the way that best resonates with them. :) ASK ME ANYTHING: https://bit.ly/34wRv7u Outro: This is not a joke by Monplaisir My equipment: → Camera: Sony ZV1 → Vlog mic: Rode Video Micro → Sit-down mic: Blue Yeti OR Blue Snowball iCE → Editor: Premiere Pro #authortube$

NaNoWriMo LIVE Writing Sprints | 07/11/2023

swapping screen time with writing but I have the attention span of a goldfish | writing vlog

$Drafting a FANTASY NOVEL ✨ this is hard lol | Writing Vlog Talk about temperamental! In today’s writing vlog, I continue drafting my contemporary fantasy novel and work on a short story! I also discuss how I’ve changed as a writer over the years and come to welcome imperfection. Very productive! QUESTIONS FOR YOU: 1. Do you ever feel uncomfortable when a major change occurs in your writing? 2. How have you developed since you first started writing? 3. How do you track progress of your WIP? TIMESTAMPS: 0:00 - Intro 0:46 - How Ive changed as a writer 2:02 - How I solved writers block in a scene 3:22 - My morning writing plans & re-reading my WIP 4:16 - Tracking progress in my WIP 5:33 - Struggling to write a short story 8:09 - When progressing in a book is uncomfortable 11:36 - Writing the end of a book sucks when youre a pantser (?) 12:54 - Making progress & my first book signing! 16:29 - Reading (cute) excerpts from my WIP CONNECT WITH ME: Twitter: https://twitter.com/rachellwrites Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/rachelxwrites/ Website: https://bit.ly/3rq2vz5 Tumblr: https://bit.ly/3BhAtK3 Pinterest: http://bit.ly/2qdKsyM ALL MY PUBLISHED WORK: https://bit.ly/3CYT7Y1 MY STORIES: → The Species is Dead in Minola Review: https://bit.ly/3wEnkqE → Mama Lives in My Mouth in Young Voices: https://bit.ly/3yRzBKg → Primary Organs in The Malahat Review: https://bit.ly/2Tl0yWu & read an excerpt: https://bit.ly/3fzSQR1 → The Wolf-Antelope Will Not Come for Us in filling Sation: https://bit.ly/2UhCxjH → Where to Run When the Lamb Roars in The Temz Review: https://bit.ly/3GN246M → Fig in Fractured Lit: https://fracturedlit.com/fig/ → Jasmine’s Brows and Cuts,” in The Puritan, https://bit.ly/3mBsPDA → “Slaughter the Animal” in The New Quarterly, https://bit.ly/3BURVqb → “Eat Well” in CAROUSEL, forthcoming MY POETRY: → We sell skin on sale in Augur Magazine (poetry): https://bit.ly/3vBvQH3 → the drive-up microphone at burger king in carte blanche: https://bit.ly/3sm6RoE → A burial in The Fiddlehead: https://bit.ly/3oMU7ID → The night my mother learns to use the bus in The Fiddlehead: https://bit.ly/3oMU7ID → “What’s the difference between good and god” in CV2 https://bit.ly/3y9WXwT → “At night, I rest my limbs in water and search for my mother’s father’s mother’s mother’s tongue” in Augur Magazine, forthcoming → My Wolf Lives on the Windowsill in Grain Magazine: [print only] ABOUT ME Hi yall! Im Rachel, a twenty-year-old writer from Toronto. Ive been writing for eight years and am in my final year of my BA in creative writing. On my channel, rachel writes, I document my writing journey and try to post once a week (usually on Fridays). DISCLAIMER: Im only one writer, and approach each video from my experience/expertise. While I make content like writing advice videos on this channel, its important to me that my viewers ultimately write in the way that best resonates with them. :) ASK ME ANYTHING: https://bit.ly/34wRv7u Music by Naomi - Saturday Light - https://thmatc.co/?l=023EA492 Outro: This is not a joke by Monplaisir My equipment: → Camera: Sony ZV1 → Vlog mic: Rode Video Micro → Sit-down mic: Blue Yeti OR Blue Snowball iCE → Editor: Premiere Pro #authortube$

Pantser prepares for NaNoWriMo 📚 WRITING VLOG

My Favourite Writing of 2023 📚 a chill reading - fantasy, romance, litfic