Nicole Wilbur
I tried plotting with the Anatomy of Story by John Truby // Craft book review // Nicole Wilbur
updated
00:00 Intro
01:25 The definition
03:00 Examples
06:00 A formula for relatability
09:09 My story set-up
13:40 Brainstorming my Save the Cat moment
17:35 Writing my Save the Cat moment
19:37 When do you need this?
I'm Nicole Wilbur, a novelist, traveler, and adrenaline-chaser. I write about young adults breaking the rules, falling in love, and becoming versions of themselves they never expected. Pursuing traditional publishing and sharing the highs & lows!
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#savethecat #writingvlog #savethecatwritesanovel
I'm Nicole Wilbur, a novelist, traveler, and adrenaline-chaser. I write about young adults breaking the rules, falling in love, and becoming versions of themselves they never expected. Pursuing traditional publishing and sharing the highs & lows!
π» M Y A U T H O R N E W S L E T T E R :
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π¬ L E T ' S C O N N E C T π¬
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#writingvlog #literaryagent #editletter #developmentaledit #revisionvlog
I'm Nicole Wilbur, a novelist, traveler, and adrenaline-chaser. I write about young adults breaking the rules, falling in love, and becoming versions of themselves they never expected. Pursuing traditional publishing and sharing the highs & lows!
π» M Y A U T H O R N E W S L E T T E R :
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π¬ L E T ' S C O N N E C T π¬
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Check out my Substack for the query letter that got me an agent:
TIMESTAMPS
00:00 Intro
I'm Nicole Wilbur, a novelist, traveler, and adrenaline-chaser. I write about young adults breaking the rules, falling in love, and becoming versions of themselves they never expected. Pursuing traditional publishing and sharing the highs & lows!
π» M Y A U T H O R N E W S L E T T E R :
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π¬ L E T ' S C O N N E C T π¬
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#agentoffer #querystats #writingabook #authortube #queryingauthors #literaryagent
Whether youβre a querying author, mid-first draft, or just here for the chaosβIβm so excited to share this milestone with you.
π I'm planning a Q&A video - drop any questions below! And donβt forget to like, subscribe & scream with me in the comments.
TIMESTAMPS
00:00 Querying recap
04:29 Query reply
05:40 the All is Lost moment
06:36 The email
10:30 Preparing for The Call
13:55 Offer of representation
16:35 An anxiety spiral begins
17:37 The craziest 30 minutes of my year
22:02 Waiting...waiting...
23:34 Explaining my thinking, emotions & the reason for the stress
30:29 ANOTHER disruption
33:14 Poll: Notifications ON or OFF?
34:10 Deadline day
36:50 The best rejection of my life!
37:04 Sending my acceptance email!
38:23 Questions about the contract
41:30 Signing the contract in Edinburgh at the Writer's Museum
43:35 Q&A ask and AGENT ANNOUNCEMENT
I'm Nicole Wilbur, a novelist, traveler, and adrenaline-chaser. I write about young adults breaking the rules, falling in love, and becoming versions of themselves they never expected. Pursuing traditional publishing and sharing the highs & lows!
π» M Y A U T H O R N E W S L E T T E R :
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#agentoffer #YADebut #writingvlog #authortube #queryingauthors #literaryagent
The full video drops July 30 at 9am EST. See you there!
I'm Nicole Wilbur, a novelist, traveler, and adrenaline-chaser. I write about young adults breaking the rules, falling in love, and becoming versions of themselves they never expected. Pursuing traditional publishing and sharing the highs & lows!
π» M Y A U T H O R N E W S L E T T E R :
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Watch out our heist planning collab: youtu.be/E5b9U8zeACc?si=CtWVkTm6xR8GLaxi
And check out Madeline's channel!
00:00 The challenge!
02:00 Authoring the writing prompts
12:50 Nicole's prompt for Madeline
14:30 Madeline's prompt for Nicole
16:15 Madeline explains Shadow Daddies
18:00 Outlining vlog
38:45 Nicole's contemporary outline
48:40 Madeline's fantasy outline
1:02:00 Did this make us...more creative?
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I've found seeking out this expert feedback to be the best way to improve my own craft. Here's a little peak into my journey!
**This video is part of a Reedsy ad, but the video concept/script and all opinions/experiences/etc. are all my own :)
My first developmental edit: youtu.be/FQVgvI20NUU
youtu.be/jrew13s85ns
Beta reader vs freelance editor side-by-side: youtu.be/MLAMODHKtuc
A breakdown of the money I've spent on editors: youtu.be/MbLW6TlBXBk
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00:00 Intro
01:34 The beginning of the MISTAKE
02:55 The interstitial problem
04:24 Failed query round
06:20 Back to the drawing board & the changes
09:50 Substack plug
10:40 Did my fix work?
12:45 Summer slowdown
14:44 Next time...
Jurassic World breaks the rules: nicolewilbur.substack.com/p/we-need-to-talk-about-jurassic-world?r=1odtbd
That time I was attacked by a hippo: nicolewilbur.substack.com/p/that-time-i-got-attacked-by-a-hippo?r=1odtbd
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A suggested process with Anatomy of Genre: nicolewilbur.substack.com/p/a-preptober-process-using-john-trubys?r=1odtbd
I'm Nicole Wilbur, a novelist, traveler, and adrenaline-chaser. I write about young adults breaking the rules, falling in love, and becoming versions of themselves they never expected.
π» M Y A U T H O R N E W S L E T T E R :
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Check out the breakdown in writing here: nicolewilbur.substack.com/p/an-8952-investment-in-my-writing
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I'm a writing nerd and work in/am passionate about education - so this is pure interest and should not be taken as a review or recommendation. The info given here is - of course - subject to change!
Criteria for creative writing courses: youtu.be/wlAnk7XP2Pk
Story Grid pages (current courses are a scene writing workshop and 1-on-1 mentorship, starting July 2025. The guild course discussed in this video isn't currently on the sales page): storygrid.com/training
This is the sales page from Story Grid that I used for this video: store.storygrid.com/guild?ck_subscriber_id=2057402999&utm_source=convertkit&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=%E2%9A%A1+Which+one
Reedsy: reedsy.com/learning
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Have you ever dealt with Shiny New Idea syndrome?
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I'm Nicole Wilbur and on my channel, I review craft books, share my writing journey, and break down popular books to find insights on how to write a better one of my own. If that sounds good to you, hit suscribe!
This video isn't sponsored. I just like the program.
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I'm Nicole Wilbur and on my channel, I review craft books, share my writing journey, and break down popular books to find insights on how to write a better one of my own. If that sounds good to you, hit suscribe!
Which first line is YOUR favourite?
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I'm Nicole Wilbur and on my channel, I review craft books, share my writing journey, and break down popular books to find insights on how to write a better one of my own. If that sounds good to you, hit suscribe!
Part 1 on functional outlining: youtu.be/l0GP7qTAoMk
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I'm Nicole Wilbur and on my channel, I review craft books, share my writing journey, and break down popular books to find insights on how to write a better one of my own. If that sounds good to you, hit suscribe!
π» M Y A U T H O R N E W S L E T T E R :
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I'm Nicole Wilbur and on my channel, I review craft books, share my writing journey, and break down popular books to find insights on how to write a better one of my own. If that sounds good to you, hit suscribe!
The Brandon Sanderson FAQ I used: faq.brandonsanderson.com/knowledge-base/can-you-go-into-depth-about-outlining
00:00 Intro
01:06 Points on the map and functional outline philosophy
03:50 Step 1: starting my outline
04:50 Plot archetype/structure
06:20 Functional beats
08:20 Step 2: weaving the functional beats
11:20 Step 3: event-based outline
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I'm Nicole Wilbur and on my channel, I review craft books, share my writing journey, and break down popular books to find insights on how to write a better one of my own. If that sounds good to you, hit suscribe!
π» M Y A U T H O R N E W S L E T T E R :
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I'm Nicole Wilbur and on my channel, I review craft books, share my writing journey, and break down popular books to find insights on how to write a better one of my own. If that sounds good to you, hit suscribe!
Dan Harmonβs story circle: youtube.com/watch?v=RG4WcRAgm7Y&pp=ygUMc3RvcnkgY2lyY2xl
My story circle video: youtu.be/9R1VjP0WKk0
Story circle with Harry Potter example: dabblewriter.com/dan-harmons-story-circle-all-you-need-to-know
Yes/But, No/And: darrellwolfe.com/2025/01/yesand-yesbut-noand-and-nobut-narrative.html
3 act: (faq.brandonsanderson.com/knowledge-base/can-you-go-into-depth-about-outlining)
Plot structure: youtube.com/watch?v=KbyDNRsrhUo&t=690s&pp=ygUhYnJhbmRvbiBzYW5kZXJzb24gcGxvdCBhcmNoZXR5cGVz
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I'm Nicole Wilbur and on my channel, I review craft books, share my writing journey, and break down popular books to find insights on how to write a better one of my own. If that sounds good to you, hit suscribe!
Brandon's Lecture 5 on proactive, relatable, capable characters: youtube.com/watch?v=G-6z7JqvDoE
Lecture notes: brandonsanderson.com/blogs/blog/creating-proactive-relatable-and-capable-characters-brandon-sandersons-writing-lecture-5-2025#capability-the-power-to-act
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I'm Nicole Wilbur and on my channel, I review craft books, share my writing journey, and break down popular books to find insights on how to write a better one of my own. If that sounds good to you, hit suscribe!
Lecture 2: youtube.com/watch?v=ihd76ijy9LU&t=2933s
Guide to Plot lecture notes: brandonsanderson.com/blogs/blog/brandon-sandersons-2025-guide-to-plot-lecture-2
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I'm Nicole Wilbur and on my channel, I review craft books, share my writing journey, and break down popular books to find insights on how to write a better one of my own. If that sounds good to you, hit suscribe!
Lecture #1 2025: youtube.com/watch?v=MEUh_y1IFZY&t=42s
Lecture notes on his website: brandonsanderson.com/blogs/blog/tagged/2025-lecture-notes
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I'm Nicole Wilbur and on my channel, I review craft books, share my writing journey, and break down popular books to find insights on how to write a better one of my own. If that sounds good to you, hit suscribe!
I am outlining a multi-POV book using Save the Cat, The Anatomy of Story, and Romancing the beat as my structure guides. This video gets into how I'm delineating the different narrative threads as well as getting all my materials together for the outline critique!
See my actual outline: open.substack.com/pub/nicolewilbur/p/i-wrote-a-17000-word-outline?r=1odtbd&utm_campaign=post&utm_medium=web&showWelcomeOnShare=true
Get ready for a 5 Day Frenzy next week, new video every dy at 9am as I kick-off my Brandon Sanderson lecture Recap & Discussion series: youtu.be/NT36H7UIq9c
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I'm Nicole Wilbur and on my channel, I review craft books, share my writing journey, and break down popular books to find insights on how to write a better one of my own. If that sounds good to you, hit suscribe!
π» M Y A U T H O R N E W S L E T T E R :
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I'm Nicole Wilbur and on my channel, I review craft books, share my writing journey, and break down popular books to find insights on how to write a better one of my own. If that sounds good to you, hit suscribe!
QUESTION FOR YOU:
If you were given $1500 USD to invest in developing your writing today...how would YOU spend it?
00:00 Intro
01:13 Do you need a writing course?
04:40 Criteria 1
05:47 Criteria 2
06:50 Criteria 3
07:45 Criteria 4
08:20 Crtieria 5
09:18 Criteria 6
12:10 Course vs. editor/book coach
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I'm Nicole Wilbur and on my channel, I review craft books, share my writing journey, and break down popular books to mine insights on how to write a better one of my own. If that sounds good to you, hit subscribe!
Thank you so much for your support this year. Happy writing!!
L I N K S M E N T I O N E D
2024 Genre collab: youtube.com/playlist?list=PLte6jZwxpFsXHWyYHjqUYGAkxe7sEKTnC
Masterwork Analysis of the Sorcerer's Stone review: youtu.be/vgce6T215Qc
Writing the Breakout Novel review: youtu.be/N8tUtkCPuRY
Querying vlog: youtu.be/ZOkAq0gKgiA
Write better scenes: youtu.be/4522WIsl-Y8
Cece Lyra's website: cecilialyra.com
Info on the WriteMentor program: write-mentor.com/product/group-mentoring-for-ya-with-melinda-salisbury-autumn-term-2024
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I'm Nicole Wilbur and on my channel, I review craft books, share my writing journey, and break down popular books to find insights on how to write a better one of my own. If that sounds good to you, hit suscribe!
00:00 Intro vlog
01:00 Non-fantasy worldbuilding rundown
02:11 Real real places vs. fictional real places
04:11 17 techniques/questions to help you worldbuild
08:15 Worldbuild with me vlog
**RESOURCES USED**
How to Create a Fictional Town: medium.com/@erinljones/how-to-create-a-fictional-town-writing-and-world-building-hacks-849a781a3942
In Defense of Worldbuilding: lithub.com/in-defense-of-worldbuilding
Real world settings: malindalo.com/blog/2020/3/9/building-a-real-world
Christmas Pints & Proper Snogging: nicolewilbur.substack.com/p/sing-me-noel-pt-five-christmas-pints?r=1odtbd
On Christmas Eve: open.substack.com/pub/nicolewilbur/p/sing-me-noel-pt-eight-on-christmas?r=1odtbd&utm_campaign=post&utm_medium=web&showWelcomeOnShare=true
A Season of Plenty: nicolewilbur.substack.com/p/sing-me-noel-part-one?r=1odtbd
All Ye Faithful: nicolewilbur.substack.com/p/copy-template?r=1odtbd
A Mini Sticks Miracle: nicolewilbur.substack.com/p/sing-me-noel-pt-three?r=1odtbd
New-falling Sky: nicolewilbur.substack.com/p/sing-me-noel-pt-four-snow?r=1odtbd
Robbing Bethlehem: nicolewilbur.substack.com/p/sing-me-noel-melancolie?r=1odtbd
Love & Gluhwein: nicolewilbur.substack.com/p/sing-me-noel-pt-six-love-and-gluhwein?r=1odtbd
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I'm Nicole Wilbur and on my channel, I review craft books, share my writing journey, and break down popular books to find insights on how to write a better one of my own. If that sounds good to you, hit suscribe!
Have your hired beta readers before? What did you think of the experience?
Read my novella, Sing Me Noel: nicolewilbur.substack.com/p/sing-me-noel-part-one?r=1odtbd
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I'm Nicole Wilbur and on my channel, I review craft books, share my writing journey, and break down popular books to mine insights on how to write a better one of my own. If that sounds good to you, hit subscribe!
Read my novella, Sing me Noel, now: nicolewilbur.substack.com/p/sing-me-noel-part-one?r=1odtbd
Read Part 1: A Season of Plenty nicolewilbur.substack.com/p/sing-me-noel-part-one?r=1odtbd
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I'm Nicole Wilbur and on my channel, I review craft books, share my writing journey, and break down popular books to mine insights on how to write a better one of my own. If that sounds good to you, hit suscribe!
Read it here: nicolewilbur.substack.com/s/original-fiction
She has offered masterclasses on: tension, interiority, emotionality, writing on a line level, first pages, and has more to come in 2025.
(Obviously not affiliated with Cece - she's just that good).
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I'm Nicole Wilbur and on my channel, I review craft books, share my writing journey, and break down popular books to mine insights on how to write a better one of my own. If that sounds good to you, hit suscribe!
Note - the webinar doesn't seem to be available any longer.
Here is the Story Grid Guild sales page: store.storygrid.com/guild?ck_subscriber_id=2057402999&utm_source=convertkit&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=%F0%9F%93%9D+Which+of+these+4+writing+levels+are+you+stuck
This is the Writer Mentoriship page: store.storygrid.com/writer-mentorship
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I'm Nicole Wilbur and on my channel, I review craft books, share my writing journey, and break down popular books to mine insights on how to write a better one of my own. If that sounds good to you, hit suscribe!


