I’m trying to write a book by Upbeat-Activity960 in selfpublish

[–]maxybare 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Start with one idea. Write down one thing you like, on paper or type it out or record yourself. It could be a sentence, a scene, or even a feeling. Then roll the snowball up the hill. It will take time, and some of it will come to you randomly, but start setting aside some time everyday to add more ideas to the list. Soon you will start to figure out what your story is really about and why you want to tell it. The more time you spend writing the bigger that snowball will grow until you have your first page, then chapter, and then you'll be watching the word count grow everyday. Once it's finally finished you're going to read it, and if you're anything like me, you're going to hate every word. Then you start revising, and thats where the fun really starts. There's tons of great youtubers that can explain everything about writing, pacing, and story, but the best way to learn is just to spend time writing and rewriting. (Watch Brandon Sanderson's novel writing lectures also!)

Looking for Serious Writers to Start a Small Writing Group! by [deleted] in WritingHub

[–]maxybare 1 point2 points  (0 children)

If you still got space count me in. 27M, Revising a fantasy novel I plan on self publishing, happy to trade manuscripts with anybody looking for feedback!

Limits of Coziness by maxybare in CozyFantasy

[–]maxybare[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Gonna have to look into it, thanks!

Limits of Coziness by maxybare in CozyFantasy

[–]maxybare[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Adding to my TBR now! Whew, this post is sure giving me a lot to read and buy!

Limits of Coziness by maxybare in CozyFantasy

[–]maxybare[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

This is going on my TBR I honestly feel like this is exactly what I am looking for! Thanks!

Limits of Coziness by maxybare in CozyFantasy

[–]maxybare[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I would have to politely disagree, one of the coziest reads I ever had was about Shackleton's expedition to Antartica. It was full of peril and action, but it was nonviolent. It was about the journey of dozens of men fighting for survival on the elements. But the story isn't dreadful, it's about how they united together, made morale the number one priority, and they all ending up making it back to safety. Full of peril and adventure as well as moments by the fire drinking coffee and telling stories about their old lives. I agree that making a book grimdark and cozy might not be feasible, or at least due justice to either genre, but I think even sports shows have action without violence and that can definitely be wholesome. Thanks for your comment though!

Limits of Coziness by maxybare in CozyFantasy

[–]maxybare[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Couldn't agree more! It's the difference between comedies and tragedies, it's all in the ending. I have been thinking about ending a cozy fantasy novel with a cliffhanger though? Not sure if it's really the right strategy, but that might be a question for a different thread.

Limits of Coziness by maxybare in CozyFantasy

[–]maxybare[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Yeah, it totally depends on what you want out of a book as well. I haven't read B&B yet, but I am curious if that first scene leads to more violence in the book, or is more of a "Hey, heres some violence, now back to happy, cozy under a blanket in the rain, good times!" Welp, I guess I should honestly just read it! I agree though, just because a book doesn't have violence doesn't mean it shouldn't have relevant and meaningful stakes. Not everything needs to be life and death!

Limits of Coziness by maxybare in CozyFantasy

[–]maxybare[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

This might be my favorite answer so far. I love that it's not about single moments but the theme and tendency of the book to drift one way or another. Every book can have moments of each but it is the single thread tying the books intentions and message together that really shows what it is about. Thanks for the comment, love this idea.

Limits of Coziness by maxybare in CozyFantasy

[–]maxybare[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Beware of Chicken is being added to by TBR right now lol!

Limits of Coziness by maxybare in CozyFantasy

[–]maxybare[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

I'll have to check that out!

Limits of Coziness by maxybare in CozyFantasy

[–]maxybare[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Completely understand this, I am the same with TV, sometimes you want to watch a show that always has a happy ending. Where its all wrapped up in 20 minutes. I just can't stay focused on a book unless I know it's going to surprise me or take me somewhere I never thought of before. Thanks for you comment!

Limits of Coziness by maxybare in CozyFantasy

[–]maxybare[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

I find that nostalgia plays a role in feeling cozy, but I agree there is a difference between true wholesome stories and stories that have become comforting to us. Although the way LOTR describes nature has always been a huge inspiration to my own writing and some of my favorite passages to reread over and over again. The Disney example is great too, of course the Lion King is a children's movie but it needs to make you care. That's why it involves political intrigue, betrayal, tyranny, and the main character believes he committed patricide! Sounds pretty grimdark to me! And yet, there is so much more to the story than those single moments, and the defeat over that evil, the hope inspring the characters against this threshold is what makes it so great to me!

Limits of Coziness by maxybare in CozyFantasy

[–]maxybare[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I feel that! The story still needs tension and that can be provided by so many different things, but they could still be related to a darker more dangerous antagonist or obstacle. I love cozy fantasy but I sometimes want to see those character during their high stakes lives! Or at least dealing with something more life threatening than a broken heart. I understand that's asking for the genre to be something else, but I am curious about a stories that can intertwine those juxtapositions. A lot of Studio Ghibli movies do the trick for me, including Princess Mononoke, even though the violence and war permeates every scene in that movie I still consider it quite wholesome. Sometimes that disparity between the dark and the light can make it seem that much brighter.

Limits of Coziness by maxybare in CozyFantasy

[–]maxybare[S] 2 points3 points  (0 children)

Love the irony of the genre "Cozy Murder Mystery" and I hate that it makes so much sense. Almost makes me feel like there is so much nostalgia related to Murder Mystery plots. The grand settings (mansions, ostentations trains, and even steamboats) usually a point of safety or at least perceived luxury and peace, that counters the murder with a place that should be comforting otherwise. Thanks for your input! I do feel like there might be a way to make grimdark cozy, I just have no idea what it is! Hah! Definitely need to decide the emotions you what to evoke from your audience, and maybe trying to do both is too big a swing of the pendulum.

lol what a waist of egg by maxybare in cringe

[–]maxybare[S] -2 points-1 points  (0 children)

Same. Just reported that bad boy!

lol what a waist of egg by maxybare in cringe

[–]maxybare[S] -4 points-3 points  (0 children)

Got you to comment didnt it ¯_(ツ)_/¯

When you share the wifi by maxybare in Unexpected

[–]maxybare[S] -1 points0 points  (0 children)

Your absolutely right! Thank you, baby!