'How do I introduce multiple characters at once?' | #AskAbbie

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Welcome back to #AskAbbie, where I answer YOUR writing questions and help you make your story matter! In this episode we unpick some troublesome writing struggles, like how to find the internal conflict on PAGE 1 and how to introduce a bunch of characters in just one conversation... plus, figuring out the best way to give your readers BACKSTORY – prequels or flashbacks? I think you're going to like this one.

Who is ready for NaNoWriMo 2020? Comment below and tell me about your WIP!

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✨ V A L U A B L E R E S O U R C E S✨

MORE VIDEOS YOU WOULD LIKE:

MORE ASK ABBIE EPISODES YOU WOULD LIKE:

→ "Help! I need to write a 300 word synopsis for my novel?"

→ How to overcome writer fatigue + stop hating your own writing!

→ "How much should my beta readers know about my book?"

→ "What if my main character is cliche?"

✨F O L L O W ✨

✨ A B O U T ✨
My name is Abbie Emmons I teach writers how to make their stories matter by harnessing the power and psychology of storytelling, transforming their ideas into a masterpiece, and creating a lifestyle that makes their author dreams come true.

Story isn’t about “what happens” — it’s about how what happens affects and transforms the characters. I believe that there is an exact science (a recipe, if you will) behind a perfect story. And if you know what ingredients you need, you can create your own perfect story with ease and confidence. That’s what we talk about every week on this channel – and if it’s something you’re into, be sure to subscribe and join this community!

[mellonlord]

I would point to the opening scene of Avatar, because i'm obsessed, as the perfect example. It focused on their relationship, two siblings fishing, they establish Sokka as insecure and cocky in his first two lines, Katara uses her bending and so establish that part of the world and that Sokka doesn't have bending followed by her character as both motherly and then her temper, also foreshadowing how powerful she can be with her bending. Both their characters, their world, and their relationships shown in half a scene. Enter Aang and his character also shown the other half of the scene. Perfect show, I'm telling ya.

[mariaa.]

I'm pretty surprised, that these videos and this content are free.
I mean, can we just appreciate the quality, music, the edit, the useful tips?
You can see how much effort she puts into these videos.

She is so beautiful, talented, (have a great sense of humour), and intelligent...like how?

[elite_piggyzillaxx]

I’m a hand writer, and I’m only thirteen so I’m not doing nanowrimo. But I clicked on this video anyway because I love Abbie 💕

[EstebanGaeteFlores]

Felt like doing some timestamps for this video!

0:00 Presentation
0:09 Introduction
2:13 OP
2:31 How to #AskAbbie
3:03 Question 1
6:13 Question 2
8:27 Question 3
10:46 Outro
11:20 Rock on lml

Your videos are really convincing me of taking part in nanowrimo even though I'm not a written at all haha, sounds like a good opportunity to finally get into writing, something that has been in the back of my head for years now.

[archanagavhale]

I am currently working towards NaNoWriMo and as I am going to keep it a SECRET, it's a Sci-fi!! And I am surely gonna mention YOUR NAME IN my book for guiding me every time!!! Awesome Abbie!! 🥰

[alicia_e_]

This year will be my 1st attempt on doing NaNoWriMo! My novel is going to be a young adult action/adventure story. Hopefully I can get the rough draft done by the end of November... hopefully....

[NagisaNiki]

I’ve been on a writing break because I’m burnt out + busy right now, and during my time off/when I’m unmotivated I love to watch these vids to make sure I’m thinking about my project and how to make it better even when I’m not actively working on it. Thanks so much Abby, I think I have a better understanding of my story structure now ^^

[ellenreid]

Why is she so underrated? Her tips are incredibly helpful!

[abtvdrjumme]

Hey Abbie! I’m 12 and I’ve already published a book (spoiler: not really a novel) when I wrote it I didn’t do nanowrimo because I didn’t plan to make it very big. Now I’m working on my first ever novel and I’m so excited for nanowrimo this year can’t wait to finish this beast! You inspired me to start nanowrimo and I took the challenge this year !! Thank you !!
(Ps: I love your videos so much even though I don’t agree with somethings your advice is really good and everyone has their own opinion anyway thank you for being so kind and generous with the writing advice)

Edit: it’s been a year guys and I stuck with it, it paid off

[d.robertdigman]

A device I am using in my WIP is I introduce each major character with a close-up of a part of their body that is relevant to their story role. It is an SF novel and I use the device of my ship-board AI's POV to facilitate this. That and each character's unique voice, values and personality mean (I hope) I don't need to fill in too many details as the story develops.

Workshopping colleagues' feedback is that this works for them.

[juju.le.toilet]

Finally made it to a premier✌️
Thx for the tips I'm about to hear😂 While I haven't started writing yet, you've definitely helped me refine my writing skills in the year that I've known you! Thx so much!!❤️❤️

[HeatherRose]

I know this has absolutely nothing to to with writing, but I just love the sweater Abbie is wearing in this video. :)

[CassidyDrew]

I’m doing NaNo for the first time! I’m writing a contemporary fiction novel about a teen who has her whole future planned out- only to have a wrench thrown in her plans. I’m really having fun with it!

[shadowtheamazingdog]

I've never done NaNoWriMo before, but since I'm still stuck at home I'm gonna try it, so I'm playing on writing a YA fantasy- dystopian about a human who meets a magical ferret and helps the ferret in a war while also fighting her own war as she battles against her greatest fear.

[Eluzian]

The story can introduce the main character in the middle of an ongoing conflict that doesn't have anything to do with the main plot of the story, but you just need to have it important to the character so it's part of defining your character.

In the first chapter of my book my main character is waiting to ambush his girlfriend's father, which he's done multiple times already. His girlfriend's father is abusive. She doesn't want my character to turn her father in, but he feels he has to do something, so he's regularly trying to literally beat some sense into her father in a way that he hopes can spark some change.

So there you go. Internal and external conflict for the character right off the bat. I guess what I'm doing and what I suggest, is to use one of your subplots in this way. The main plot you have to start from the beginning, but you can start in the middle of a subplot conflict to introduce and make your protagonist active right away before the inciting incident or key event occurs to pull your character into the plot.

[PrettyMissSunshine]

Yes i will do Nanowrimo. It's the third time and for me it's also unbelievable not doing Nanowrimo. Since i started i can't wait that November is coming every year. Since then it is most productive time of the year for me because i have a goal then and the motivation is just different. I will writing a romance with some crime/thriller elements. But the important focus is that my main character achieves her dreams. Thanks to you and other youtuber i am plotting a lot this year. I realized i'm not a pantser and need to organize and plan most of my novel. I hope this helps me to know where i want to go and finish this novel and maybe but just maybe i will publish this one. At least it feels much better this year because i have all these scenes outlined . So Thank you Abbie for all your work to help us writers

[thytrkas]

I am doing a YA novel, the second in a series, for NaNoWriMo and I just finished watching your Scrivener Master class! I imported your novel template! Huzzah! So, so glad to have this organizational help. Thank you!

[Leah-vbud]

Oh wow I'm early, I love your videos, you have no clue how much you're helping me.

[katnissgrace]

Wow-it’s amazing to hear that there are so many young writers out there. I started writing at 13 or so, and I wrote books on paper and eventually upgraded to typing them. Love writing as an outlet and want it as a career but right now I’m in the submission stage where I’m sending query letters to agents and hoping to get representation.

[kirbykirbykirby]

Hey Abbie! Thanks for making this video! I'm doing NaNo this year for the...third time? Working on a contemporary YA that I've been outlining for a few months. Don't have a good synopsis for it just yet but it's about a boy and his found family and the shenanigans they get into. Your videos really help!