Uploaded January 2021 | Updated September 2026, 1 day ago
I have a book that I've been trying to figure out for 15 years. I have two drafts, and this year I started my third, only to hit 30,000 words and realise that I needed to start again. 😭
So, I decided to take a step back and do some more thinking (though after three months on The Anatomy of Story, I'm surprised I have any thoughts left!).
I started trying to organise everything like Brandon Sanderson recommends in his BYU lectures (these are awesome, if you haven't seen them yet - youtube.com/watch?v=-6HOdHEeosc&list=PLSH_xM-KC3Zv-79sVZTTj-YA6IAqh8qeQ), but got overwhelmed with six separate characters to coordinate.
Then I decided to look at something that I thought handled multiple storylines well - the TV series Imposters. And I realised - each storyline was a complete story. They could have made an entire series about each one. Shouldn't I do the same thing in my book?
So, now I'm writing my book from two point of views, and I'm also going to try two beginnings (up to about the 25% mark). So I'm writing 1.5 books to try to figure out one. Somehow, this still feels like the best plan. 😂
QUESTIONS FOR THE COMMENTS:
- What types of author gymnastics have you done to get a book out?
TIME STAMPS:
00:09 - My failed attempt to write a book in a week
01:53 - The Brandon Sanderson approach
05:44 - Learning from Imposters
09:17 - Writing my book twice??
10:16 - Having alternative beginnings
FIND ME ONLINE:
Instagram: instagram.com/jp.writes
Website: jpwrites.co
Nanowrimo: nanowrimo.org/participants/jpwrites
#writing #writer #authortube
I have a book that I've been trying to figure out for 15 years. I have two drafts, and this year I started my third, only to hit 30,000 words and realise that I needed to start again. 😭
So, I decided to take a step back and do some more thinking (though after three months on The Anatomy of Story, I'm surprised I have any thoughts left!).
I started trying to organise everything like Brandon Sanderson recommends in his BYU lectures (these are awesome, if you haven't seen them yet - youtube.com/watch?v=-6HOdHEeosc&list=PLSH_xM-KC3Zv-79sVZTTj-YA6IAqh8qeQ), but got overwhelmed with six separate characters to coordinate.
Then I decided to look at something that I thought handled multiple storylines well - the TV series Imposters. And I realised - each storyline was a complete story. They could have made an entire series about each one. Shouldn't I do the same thing in my book?
So, now I'm writing my book from two point of views, and I'm also going to try two beginnings (up to about the 25% mark). So I'm writing 1.5 books to try to figure out one. Somehow, this still feels like the best plan. 😂
QUESTIONS FOR THE COMMENTS:
- What types of author gymnastics have you done to get a book out?
TIME STAMPS:
00:09 - My failed attempt to write a book in a week
01:53 - The Brandon Sanderson approach
05:44 - Learning from Imposters
09:17 - Writing my book twice??
10:16 - Having alternative beginnings
FIND ME ONLINE:
Instagram: instagram.com/jp.writes
Website: jpwrites.co
Nanowrimo: nanowrimo.org/participants/jpwrites
#writing #writer #authortube
