How to write your first book

Fantasy author and game writer Jed Herne explains how to write a novel.

9 steps to write your first book:

0:19 - Enjoy the process
0:28 - Do it for yourself
0:35 - Keep it secret
1:09 - Avoid comparisons
1:25 - Realise that you probably won’t get published
1:51 - Don’t worry about perfection
2:07 - Go through the full process
2:25 - Be prepared to move on
3:11 - Just start

[kavivarmenvigneswaran]

I came across your channel today and this vid really inspired me to jump into writing. Thank you Jed and I'm really eager to check out your books!

[DavidList]

What a solid vid. You make some very good points

[anthemptedits]

Good stuff. Love the advice about not talking to people about what you're working on.

[Alexanderz]

It takes me 14 years to complete my story that I left thinking that I can't complete it. But now I have published it on Amazon Kindle. Don't give up

[Sandra-hcvo]

Thanks! Been really struggling with writing daily cause I've been feeling too self critical, like i want every writing day to work out really well. But this was very motivating.
I did write one book in the past but i really hated it once the rough draft was finished and i never went to editing it cause I disliked it so much. So now when I write sometimes can be a bit critical on the other end.

[motherkool]

I absolutely adore your videos, as someone who LOVES books and has read who knows how many books now, I’ve wanted to start writing my own story, not to publish, not for it to be a best-seller, just a book I’d like me and my close friends and family to enjoy.
I’ve mustered up a fantasy story that hasn’t been fully planned but this is what I’ve got so far and I’d like to hear your opinion on it.

The story is a fantasy story, revolving around a magical dimension with many tribes and clans. A pair of twins get separated from each other, away from their home into a different communities where they’re taken in.

though as they get more mature they both have these strange dreams, dreams that have no relation to what’s going on in their certain life, dreams of different places they’ve never been to before, it either ends terribly wrong or according to plan, but, what’s going on? They wonder. It is said in a minimal amount of tribes that twins share dreams, though it was only a religious belief.

the dreams these twins had, it was one night when the pair would share a dream about what one twin was familiar with, and the next night would be the other’s.

They both had found a use of these times, by using the dreams to find their twins, to locate the locations these visions take place. But there of course but be a difficulty. As it usually is. If you sleep through a whole dream it’s bound that you’ll forget it, the twins struggle as they try to leave before it ends, but how would they know when it ends? It’s like a hole they’re trapped in but they mustn’t give up.

Finally, after years the twins locate each other, but the adventure doesn’t end just yet, they must find their birth place together . . .

that’s all I’ve got in mind bahah, what do you think of it? :D

[s.q.-e]

Personally, I may have to disagree on point #3. I have been talking with my wife about my world building ideas for some time, and she has always encouraged me to write it down. I finally said, hey how about a keyboard that connects to my phone for my birthday so I can write at lunchtime. I got the keyboard, and I have started writing. It hasn't been long yet, already my ideas are evolving as I actually write things down, but I am still excited to say to my wife "I wrote this scene today at lunch I think is really cool"

[GabeAustin-ruou]

Im so grateful for your advice man. Youre instructions are genius.

[kfhrzwv]

Jed: "You'll just cry."
Me: (Crying.)

[GabeAustin-ruou]

You were right. Writing is a walk and not a sprint. Ive been writing for three years now, and ive drawn my inspiration from Tolkien. I feel like if you want to become a writer, you have to become a reader. Thats how you will get better a writing. Thats how i got into writing

[redforest]

So, don't tell anyone when you're writing but scream to the clouds when you finish the project?