First experience

[placeintime]

It's your first novel, so there are bound to be mistakes. The only thing you can do is to learn from it. So don't be too down about it.

 

[RainingSky]

You simply have to tell yourself you are good, even if you are not. Then continue doing your thing, striving to be be better then good.

At some point you simply have practiced so much you are actually being good. Not just pretending to be.

At least that's what I try to tell myself, but on the first try it's a given to stumble over your own feet.

 

[Story_Marc]

everything in general. English is not my first language so my basics are much less refined. I think you even gave me some great advice on my first chapter just a day ago. Very thankful for that. I am watching the videos you recommended when I have time. I felt that I'm too lacking so I'm taking some time to get a better understanding of how to write. so I'm going to experiment. Like this series that I am currently writing and haven't even published.

Chapter 1.docx

Journey to Eden prime: Rough draft The sun emerged from the horizon, warmly painting the sprawling metropolis. The sun’s rays bathed the city streets and filled the sky with a golden glow, while vehicles of all kinds zipped through the air flying in an organized pathway, bustling toward their de...

docs.google.com

If you like, can you read it and give me some input on my mistakes? Just give me the general thing I should focus on to improve upon. I think that might be a good start somewhere.

This honestly isn't bad. Raw in some respects, but it isn't bad.

To get started, focusing on prose alone immediately, work on your continuity and flow between things. I gave you the continuity video already, so see if that helps out at all. Also, feel free to ask any questions about it. I'd recommend working on applying it between sentences when doing description as right now it kind of reads like just listing off stuff. I'll... see if I can come up with some supplementary to help people with these lessons. Also, if anything struggling with understanding due to English not being first language, simply ask me directly and I'll see what I can do. I try to make my language as simple and casual as I can in the videos to make this info more accessible, but I've consistently considered the possibility that I might miss the mark. So my 1 on 1 side comes in more there.

The big thing I really feel you might need is a lesson on cadence, which is the music of the page. Sadly, I haven't made that video yet. But that is my next one, so I'll have you covered by the end of next week.

For an immediate story tip, I wouldn't recommend opening with all that description though. I discuss it a bit here with some tips for how to start the story. ...Sigh... I should create episodes on all the different story hooking methods too...

Adding it to my list...

Also, to give you some help with this psychologically, don't focus on the gap. Focus on the gain.

When you focus on the gain, you measure backward. You look at where you started and compare it to where you are now. Focus on how much progress you have made. When you're focusing on the gap, you're measuring forward to your ideal. Our ideals are pretty much impossible to ever truly reach, so that brings our moods down.

Now, this isn't to say going into the gap isn't useful at times, but it isn't where you want to stay.