Just Get Bored, and You'll Write Better Fantasy Books

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  • čas přidán 31. 05. 2024
  • In a world of endless stimulation, here's how boredom will elevate your writing.
    Join my Easy Writing Habits course: easywritinghabits.com/
    ⏲️ TIMESTAMPS:
    00:00 - Intro
    01:09 - Understand the two outcomes of boredom
    04:05 - The Neil Gaiman gaze
    05:53 - Become a watchful waiter
    08:18 - Get off the cocaine pellet dispenser
    11:44 - Occasionally select the low stimulation option
    14:26 - Fill the boredom with notes & ideas
    📙 MY BOOKS:
    Across the Broken Stars: jedherne.com/acrossthebrokens...
    The Thunder Heist: jedherne.com/thethunderheist/
    Fires of the Dead: jedherne.com/firesofthedead
    🎮 MY VIDEO GAME:
    Siege of Treboulain: jedherne.com/siege-of-treboul...
    🧑 ABOUT ME:
    Hi! My name's Jed. I'm a fantasy author with three published novels and a bestselling video game. On this channel, I draw from my 10+ years of writing experience to help you become a better writer.
  • Jak na to + styl

Komentáře • 163

  • @Jed_Herne
    @Jed_Herne  Před 2 měsíci +1

    Check out my Easy Writing Habits course here: easywritinghabits.com/
    (There's a ton of student reviews on this page, which will help you decide whether or not the course is right for you.)

  • @BolognaBuck6
    @BolognaBuck6 Před 2 měsíci +118

    This actually makes sense because when you’re bored your brain seeks things to cure your boredom therefore making you more creative and writing better

  • @Gaia_Gaistar
    @Gaia_Gaistar Před 2 měsíci +76

    Boredom is kind of what fueled my artistic endeavors when I was younger. I legit stopped pursuing them because entertainment is so readily at my fingertips. The power was out for me all day last week and I sat down and read half of Neuromancer. I haven't read that much in like two years.

    • @kylejohns2288
      @kylejohns2288 Před 2 měsíci +2

      I know I’ve been working on a book for 2 years but still haven’t gotten around to writing as I can think of a way to start and every time I try I get distracted

    • @dosuna10
      @dosuna10 Před 2 měsíci +2

      ​@kylejohns2288 you start by just putting words on the page, you can do it!

  • @bennusmagnus5277
    @bennusmagnus5277 Před 2 měsíci +24

    One night when I was trying to sleep, I started trying to figure out how various fairytale kingdoms could fit into one royal family line. After a ton of revisions, that idea became the founding idea of what I'm trying to write now.

  • @talkswithsylvia3213
    @talkswithsylvia3213 Před 2 měsíci +17

    I got so bored in 2020 i tried my hand at writing. Now, i have four published books on Amazon. Boredom works

  • @anthonywritesfantasy
    @anthonywritesfantasy Před 2 měsíci +34

    "Boredom is the bedrock of creativity." This is one of my core principles! Love that you made this video, Jed.

  • @dashfire3185
    @dashfire3185 Před 2 měsíci +15

    My brain when not bored: "So yeah the villain is on a quest for power"
    My brain when bored: "HE IS TRYING TO SLAY ALL GODS AND BECOME LORD OF THE WORLD TO BRING PEACE AND STOP WAR" (essentially the plot of my new book)

  • @jacobpeters7837
    @jacobpeters7837 Před 2 měsíci +24

    Jed my dude, you nailed it right on the head. I got bored and tried to make a tabletop game. That did not work because I felt the story should come first. I had been working on the story for a long time and now I have published my first book. I Love noveling =D

  • @ashurean
    @ashurean Před 2 měsíci +4

    I would split boredom into two types. The first kind is what you're talking about, where you're able to engage with your headspace and be creative. But there's another kind, where either the environment or an event has your mind occupied or scattered, such that you can't really use your headspace. In this situation, having something external to focus on can be helpful. It cuts through the mental noise and can help get you out of that state.
    I can't speak for everyone, but i find that when I'm experiencing writer's block, I'm also experiencing that second kind of boredom. And I need to do something else to regather my mind. In general, it's best to do things that occupy your body, not your mind, like doing the dishes, ortaking your dog for a walk, or, if you're a custodian like i am, just go to work. It's like a refresh button, it lets your mind run but can shake off whatever pattern your brain got into and allow you to use your mental energy productively again.

  • @tripmracek1580
    @tripmracek1580 Před 2 měsíci +5

    I agree. Boredom is a very important thing. Gives you time to think.

  • @TheDoomKnight
    @TheDoomKnight Před 2 měsíci +8

    So as soon at this video finished, I put it to practice. I turned everything off and let my mind wander. After it played several songs and a full blown movie, my mind finally ventured into creativity mode. I now have a general idea of a new novel to write. Still needs tweaking, but that's one more story idea I can add to the ever-growing pile. Thanks, and I hope maybe one day, you'll read my book when it comes out. =)

    • @_XOXO_MoonLight_XOXO_
      @_XOXO_MoonLight_XOXO_ Před 2 měsíci +3

      How many ideas do you even have-? If you have too many, I suggest putting some together or just working on them before making another.

    • @TheDoomKnight
      @TheDoomKnight Před 2 měsíci +3

      @@_XOXO_MoonLight_XOXO_ Quite a few. Surprisingly, I can remember them all, taking up valuable memory space that could be used for more important things. 😅

    • @_XOXO_MoonLight_XOXO_
      @_XOXO_MoonLight_XOXO_ Před 2 měsíci +3

      @@TheDoomKnight my memory space is taken up by my characters and very weird world building/lore/backstorys.

    • @lod4246
      @lod4246 Před 2 měsíci +2

      You went into creative mode without cheats! Respect.

  • @kayceeisonfire
    @kayceeisonfire Před 2 měsíci +8

    These principles are exactly what I needed to hear, not just to help my writing but to improve my productivity in general. I constantly get stuck in a cycle of needing constant stimulation and then never having enough energy or will power to do the things that aren't as stimulating, but this video has given me so many good ideas on how to get better at that! Thanks Jed!

  • @wavetactics13
    @wavetactics13 Před 2 měsíci +2

    Yeah, long drives or walks are usually the best times for me to come up with something. Usually I just let my mind wander around until I stumble on to an idea or character concept to toy with.

  • @Sarah_ZeCreator
    @Sarah_ZeCreator Před 5 dny

    so glad 10 year old me started off drawing when i'm bored
    sure it ain't writing
    but now i'm 15 and planning on writing my first fantasy novel, with most of the characters already drawn and a massive world-building and storyline just chilling in my head rent free

  • @EleanorCreative
    @EleanorCreative Před 2 měsíci +2

    I was doing all of these except having a notebook at hand, I think I will buy one now and put it in my purse. I’m always wishing I had a way to record ideas. Thank you for the tip Mr. Herne!

  • @aurthurpendragon1015
    @aurthurpendragon1015 Před 2 měsíci +7

    11:45 I actually find I'm more productive when I listen to music, podcasts, or CZcams videos. I don't know why, but that works for me. With writing stories it's typically music, as I get tons of inspiration from music.

    • @BologneyT
      @BologneyT Před 2 měsíci +3

      I was thinking about that, too! Obviously, we can be even more creative when we have those things because they can be sources of inspiration for us. BUT! This advice makes a lot of sense to do sometimes. Think about all the little stories there are all around us or banging around in the back of our minds that would only get attention if all was boringly quiet. Also, I think a lot of us are trained to be paralyzed when we encounter total quiet, LOL. Like, I don't even know how many of us are even able anymore to just sit there and absorb the world that's immediately around us and start pondering random things.

    • @Celeborn93
      @Celeborn93 Před 2 měsíci +1

      I feel the same to some degree.
      When i listen to music, i imagine scenes and dialogue etc. that are inspired by the music.
      But as inspiring as those scenes in my head were, i have to also apply them to my story somehow. And it can be difficult to apply a "feeling" to your story.
      So in my experience, finding a way to be productive and write as much as possible can help flesh out these inspired ideas, and that's when this technique becomes relevant.

  • @DoctorInk20
    @DoctorInk20 Před 2 měsíci +1

    Low stimulation and keeping physical notes have made such a difference to me and my projects the past few years. Boredom, particularly, is so critical to many creative processes.
    The problem is that I'm naturally curious and a research fiend. Something pops into my head, I look it up and then that snowballs into absorbing way more info than I originally intended. I need to curb this a bit, 'cos otherwise I don't feel I'm actually writing prose as much as I should be. 😅

  • @andeeleininger5968
    @andeeleininger5968 Před 2 měsíci

    I love this video. As a kid, I spent many days on the back of a horse, moving cattle from pasture to pasture. When you have the cattle moving in the right direction and you have 2-3 miles left to go, you can do a LOT of daydreaming.

  • @swiftsabre28
    @swiftsabre28 Před 2 měsíci +1

    Ive always walked without listening to anything and scenes just slip into my head all the time. It’s such a good way of being creative easily and painting a vivid picture of what you can’t normally visualise at home.

  • @the-chillian
    @the-chillian Před 8 dny

    Glenn Cook, whose Black Company series revolutionized modern fantasy by bringing a gritty realism to magical warfare -- the series has been a perennial favorite among military and veterans -- spent his entire career working on an automobile assembly line. He says his productivity dropped sharply after he retired. While working, the monotony of it freed his mind to wander through his stories in progress while his hands did his work automatically. After retirement his days were filled with interesting, engaging activity and he found it much harder to keep writing.

  • @heatherkline6766
    @heatherkline6766 Před 2 měsíci +1

    Hey, Jed! In the past you have talked about varying sentence length, and using long sentences for more rapid action. Here is an example of that put into practice in the first draft of a novel I am currently working on. My character, who is narrating, has just received an emotional blow and is now running away from the situation. He is called upon to stop, and then I have the following paragraph:
    "I could not stop. I ran on, and the tears came. I cried, harder and harder; with each sob my feet slowed, until I finally collapsed against the wall, face resting in the bend of my arm."
    I have counted, and this is three sentences; the first is 4 words, the second has 7, the third contains 26. As the character begins to be bombarded by all that is happening, the writing speeds up. By the end (I think) it almost feels as though we have just as headlong an experience as the character.

  • @nettaboyar9870
    @nettaboyar9870 Před 20 dny

    My most creative few hour this year were when I had a very bad cold and couldn’t sleep because my sinuses were throbbing from pain. I just sat in bed with tissues stuck hp my nostrils and wrote a whole song for a project I fantasize about.

  • @paralicular3927
    @paralicular3927 Před měsícem

    This is the secret ingredient for creativity. Getting bored is not a bad thing anymore, i look forward to it.

  • @m.hannig5698
    @m.hannig5698 Před 2 měsíci

    I always drive without music when I need fresh ideas. It's basically free time without distractions. Great video and tips!

  • @themasterninja110
    @themasterninja110 Před 2 měsíci +5

    With adhd many of these are difficult.

    • @anthonywritesfantasy
      @anthonywritesfantasy Před 2 měsíci

      If I may ask - how so?

    • @themasterninja110
      @themasterninja110 Před 2 měsíci

      @anthonywritesfantasy becuase I have limited dopamine to begin with. I have to be doing something.

    • @TabithaKJames
      @TabithaKJames Před 2 měsíci +2

      I actually think these tips could be even more valuable because of ADHD. If I use my limited dopamine to do nothing or write, eventually I'll be screaming for that edge of dopamine and write. But I need to practice first. So shorter bouts at first might be the trick. I'm doing #Lore24 and it's helped so much doing just that on a writing app. #campfirenotes

  • @AnotherDuck
    @AnotherDuck Před 2 měsíci

    This is one of the things I don't have a problem with. I don't easily get bored, because there's always something to think about. I'm a janitor, which isn't exactly a highly stimulating job (but it basically cured my chronic back aches, which is the main reason I chose it). Gives me a lot of time to think about whatever.
    On my breaks is where I watch videos like this one, mostly to feed into something else I can think about. Creative writing videos are great for that, since those provide problems and solutions I can apply to my own stories, so they work well as prompts for what to think about (if I don't have something specific in mind). I have a bunch of those on my watch list so I don't spend the time searching for them. Nor do I comment. That I do at home.
    On my commute I have my dedicated reading time, since I always had it hard finding time to read before I started that. Unless I'm walking, which I do without added distractions. And that's some 35-40 minutes per day.

  • @JackMatthams
    @JackMatthams Před 2 měsíci +1

    This is a fantastic video. Fantastic. It deserves a lot more views, not just because of the value it provides to aspiring writers who may be finding the process difficult, but also because it is applicable to every element of life itself, not just creative writing. The concept of controlling and negating those small hits of dopamine apply to almost every aspect of life, from having a healthy diet to engaging and searching for proper relationships and friendships. I'll be sharing this video to many people I know, even if they aren't writers - I guarantee they will find it useful. Outstanding stuff, Jed.

  • @TTSnim
    @TTSnim Před 2 měsíci +3

    I lived with maladaptive daydreaming for years, not I'm trying to harness it as well as focus on the real world more. I'm never board when I am alone. But I sometimes get overwhelmed with ideas.

    • @Xandycane
      @Xandycane Před 2 měsíci

      Same. I didn't even know it had a name until last year. It's also when I found out not everyone has had paracosms growing up. Boredom isn't even a thing for me. Directing the daydreams, that's hard.

    • @TTSnim
      @TTSnim Před 2 měsíci +1

      @@XandycaneAbsolutely it's hard. I turned to drawing and writing to tame the wild beast. I'm working on several stories at once (Don't do this, focus on one, it will save you sanity) and there's hardly a quiet moment in my head unless I practice internal silence.

    • @Xandycane
      @Xandycane Před 2 měsíci

      @@TTSnim I've tried all forms of meditation just to get silence. But I end up telling myself how it's supposed to be calm. Or else a song. Something pops in. I literally fall asleep either reading or telling myself a story because if I don't, 500 other thoughts will invade.
      For other stories, I have a plot bunny journal. I write out the idea and tell myself it's there for later. It's actually been helpful to avoid to some extent, though I've had 2 stories warring since Thanksgiving, though finallypicked one because it wasn't as complex and the other would help build my craft to tackle the other. It's also helpful for scenes or random characters when I'm stuck. 😊

    • @TTSnim
      @TTSnim Před 2 měsíci +1

      @@XandycaneI just imagine wind sound and slowly turn down the volume. Practice that.
      I can do it while walking or doing dishes or anything really. It just doesn't last long.

    • @Xandycane
      @Xandycane Před 2 měsíci +1

      @@TTSnim I can definitely try.

  • @creepypastapudding3531
    @creepypastapudding3531 Před 2 měsíci

    I was nearly a week without power, so with little to do while I was home (phone was saved for emergencies) i ended up with an entire story plot, beginning to end by the time the power came back. I saved me me so much stress.

  • @raytrix1
    @raytrix1 Před 2 měsíci +1

    I deleted social media off of my phone in 2022 for mental health reasons, and as a result my attention span increased drastically. I thought I’d miss it so much, and that it’d be so hard, but it really wasn’t. Our brains don’t need that kind of stimulation to function!

  • @jethalaalchampaklaalgada7927
    @jethalaalchampaklaalgada7927 Před 2 měsíci +3

    And Jed! ( Definitely the last one!)
    Could you please ask JK Rowlings for an interview to ask how did she wrote the 7 magical books and teach us how to do the same.
    There are many interviews of rowling out there which are completely focussed on her personal and past life struggles but not relate to the story making struggles!
    Hope my request reaches you out mr JEd!!!!

  • @ryanhollist3950
    @ryanhollist3950 Před 2 dny

    A psychologist talked about how boredom is actually an important experience to have regularly for our mental health. It helps give the dopamine-reward systems a rest, and gives us the chance to find intrinsic motivation rather than being pulled around by extrinsic forces.

  • @onemilliondiamonds
    @onemilliondiamonds Před 2 měsíci +1

    Oh my word the relatability I feel towards this video is insane! I have subconsciously been doing some of these things already but I never knew it was because of boredom. The tips given here have been so incredibly helpful and I feel like I can genuinely do something more useful than just standing and scrolling through socialmedia. Thanks so much!

  • @katsandall3673
    @katsandall3673 Před 2 měsíci

    The boredom of being stuck at home during covid and having nothing to do besides walk my pet dog is what helped me with my writing. As bad as the pandemic was, some good things came out of it too.

  • @jasminealeiah3860
    @jasminealeiah3860 Před 14 dny

    Tbh, a lot of my most creative ideas tend to happen either when I'm trying and failing to sleep or when I'm doing mindless tasks at work. Both of these things, of course, always happen to be in moments when I'm not allowed to pull out my phone.

  • @ElicBehexan
    @ElicBehexan Před 2 měsíci +1

    I have been writing more or less since childhood. Granted, most of that stuff wasn't any good, but I did it. I just posted on AO3 my first words. I didn't talk until late, over 2 years old, but when I did, I told a story. I tell people that my stories are like my first words, short and violent. Eight words, 8 words! but it introduced a protagonist, had a location, had an action and had a conclusion. And my mother remembered it because I had not spoken before that. Now, my stories aren't that short, they aren't all that violent but I agree. I guess my biggest problem is I have a lousy memory, so if I have a great idea in the car, I don't have a way to write it down. I always have a notebook and a pen in my purse, and I have a tiny purse, but I have a way to carry a small notebook. I guess I just need to figure how to get my phone to take a note for me...

  • @danielharris5044
    @danielharris5044 Před 2 měsíci +1

    I always bring a notepad & pen with me to work so I can write down any ideas I may have, even get ideas while I'm working as my mind wanders a little

  • @ukchanak
    @ukchanak Před 2 měsíci

    I want to say that you made me also realize how stressed out I was, and how afraid I was of my own thoughts. I used to meditate where you see your thoughts, agree they exist, but let them pass, to find peace. I stopped, and I am now afraid of my own negative thoughts. I meditated to some music for the first time yesterday because of your video here, and it really helped me. I cried some, but I also had some ideas for my novel for the first time in a while. So thank you!

  • @brianedwards7142
    @brianedwards7142 Před 2 měsíci

    I take my notebook with me when I walk the dog. I often put something in there. I use a brass Kaweco sport fountain pen to make the act of writing a bit special.

  • @blessedandbiwithahintofmagic
    @blessedandbiwithahintofmagic Před 2 měsíci +1

    The story idea is sooooo good, being a wallflower is such a fun hobby, getting into stories is so ^^

  • @jerrysstories711
    @jerrysstories711 Před 2 měsíci

    11:44 At a school where I volunteered, an old visiting teacher tried to have the philosophy students do an exercise of sitting together in total silence and stillness for an hour. The younger teachers warned him they couldn't possibly do that, so he agreed to have them try just 15 minutes of silent stillness. The students was squirming constantly, and several had to be reminded not to reach for their phones. Afterwards they carried on about how awful and difficult if was. Later on, several with long hair or hoodies admitted they had to sneak in their earbuds. That was the first time I realized how bad things had gotten.

  • @5BBassist4Christ
    @5BBassist4Christ Před 2 měsíci +1

    I've recently developed a habit of thinking about my story at work. I will pick a specific scene and start entertaining different ideas while doing the more mindless tasks at my job. I have come up with many brilliant ideas this way, and have at times gone home eager to write down all the ideas I had been brain-storming all day. I also recently got a new tablet so that I can write some of these ideas on my break.

    • @MM-xm8ot
      @MM-xm8ot Před 2 měsíci

      I do the same thing at work! Having a "menial" job is so beneficial to the creative process. It's also great because it gets you out of the house, and that time away from your story is ironically some of the most beneficial.

  • @the_cringe_nerd
    @the_cringe_nerd Před 2 měsíci +1

    1:22 Bro called me out so hard 😂. Yes Im watching this video instead of working

  • @welcometoeskastudios
    @welcometoeskastudios Před 2 měsíci +1

    I didn't realize I needed this. Thanks for sharing mate 😄

  • @tonyaspencer3090
    @tonyaspencer3090 Před 2 měsíci +1

    I always enjoy watching your videos. They have helped me so much.

  • @enyalieTheWriter
    @enyalieTheWriter Před 2 měsíci

    I actually alway have 5 notebooks in my room and in every bag another one.
    I wanted to eliminate the options, where I cant write them down or need to write them in my phone. At first I thought I will never fill them, now I have a lot of handwritten books just full of ideas xD Nothing helped me more than this, when finishing my first draft last year!

  • @Savage157
    @Savage157 Před 2 měsíci +2

    Really hopefully to follow this channel to learn what's best for my story

  • @fiktivhistoriker345
    @fiktivhistoriker345 Před 2 měsíci +1

    I also heard about the rats and the cocaine pellets. But i also heard, that the rats doing this were in an unpleasant environment. So maybe get yourself a pleasant, quiet environment and you might not need any extra dopamine as well aside the joy of creativity.

  • @the_eternal_darkness_8436
    @the_eternal_darkness_8436 Před 2 měsíci +1

    Literally have been struggling with this until about a couple weeks ago where I’ve hit a stride in my writing unlike any other. Wanna keep that going for when the well eventually does dry up. Thanks Jed, perfect timing!

  • @HosseinKarimi-yg7uf
    @HosseinKarimi-yg7uf Před 2 měsíci

    A much needed videi for me! One of the best ines I have watched this year

  • @rachelmarks796
    @rachelmarks796 Před 2 měsíci +1

    This is so needed by me right now… struggling with major distraction lately. Thank you!

  •  Před 2 měsíci

    I find It very interesting that what you are describing to write novels is the same process and prerequisites that I go through for my research as theoretical physicist

  • @XavierSchwindt
    @XavierSchwindt Před 2 měsíci +1

    This is awesome! I actually made a youtube short lest week that taked about this same principle. Thank you for farther educating me! Keep up the great work Jed! Blessings!

  • @ttan2908
    @ttan2908 Před 2 měsíci

    I agree... I quit doing substances, got bored, and sought out a replacement, and it came in the form of writing. I wrote two books this year. A novel and a short story... Needless to say, I have way too much time on my hands.

  • @RYDERBENABOUD
    @RYDERBENABOUD Před 2 měsíci +1

    This gave me a whole new perspective. Excellent video Jed!

  • @benjaminthibieroz4155
    @benjaminthibieroz4155 Před 2 měsíci

    Well...
    I wrote my first novel while I was forcibly stucked alone in a foreign country for months, exhausted by the searing climate and craving to talk with someone in my native tongue...
    From a writing point of view, it was a very productive time. I struggle a lot more to get it done these days. Kruger effect and depression mostly made it hard all right, but being overhelmed by so many easy-to-enjoy and beautiful things sure distract and makes you question your own quality.

  • @constantdoodle32
    @constantdoodle32 Před 2 měsíci

    I used to get bored as a teen. There really wasnt anything to do. We had dail up internet and you didn't have netfix to sit in front of. I remember sitting in my room for hours drawing and writing stories lol. I get way to distracted nowadays.

  • @ElaaraWylder
    @ElaaraWylder Před 2 měsíci

    Love this advice! I always have a notebook with me, often jotting down ideas and such, but on one occasion I half filled one with my ideas. I was sitting at Joondalup Courthouse, bored, lol. I wrote a half page, page... sometimes two page story about the people that were in the waiting area. Didnt know any of them, not even their names, I just based my story on how they looked and what they were doing. I have since used a couple of them as characters in a book (still in progress), and has also sparked an idea for a whole book.

  • @moneygrowslikegrass
    @moneygrowslikegrass Před 2 měsíci

    I'm a big fan of Elden Ring, and I've found that it really boosts my creativity, even though it's a video game. I think the reason why it's so good is the roleplaying aspect, my very first character ended up being the protagonist in a story I am writing.

  • @joshuaparker7095
    @joshuaparker7095 Před 2 měsíci

    This video was greatt Jed! I'm super passionate about removing distractions and giving ourselves time for introspection and random ideas, so it was really encouraging to hear you talk about this!

  • @Shinooobi211
    @Shinooobi211 Před 2 měsíci +1

    This video is so true. If I'm being honest, Starfield by Bethesda is what inspired me to plan out and eventually start writing my own sci-fi epic with rich lore and cultures, mainly because I found Starfield's universe so incredibly boring and the plot utterly soulless 😂
    Im currently 65K words in if anyone is interested and it keeps on growing ;)
    Keep on the good work Jed! I am so glad that I discovered your channel :D

  • @StripesTiger-es4gz
    @StripesTiger-es4gz Před 2 měsíci

    Your videos are great, well though-out, well edited, and provides really helpful advice in general. You are super underrated and deserve much more views and subscribers. I have to say that what I think is pulling your channel back from growing any further is the fact that your videos are more directed towards people striving to right fantasy books specifically. I think what will help out more is if you broaden your audience by directing it at writers in general (of all genres). I know this will work because a lot of your advice and tips work not only for fantasy but for most other genres. Keep your great work because I wouldn't know what to do without your content!

  • @Lunaleodrune
    @Lunaleodrune Před 2 měsíci

    Absolutely spot on, Jed. I have purposefully deleted all of my social media apps so I can concentrate on writing and being present in other things I'm doing, but it's tough. I wonder what all of this constant stimulation is doing to our brains, it cannot be good.

  • @dangerbook4807
    @dangerbook4807 Před 9 dny

    It sounds like I have a bit of a problem: I was always a heavy reader as a child and brought a book everywhere. I had an aunt scold me in my early teens when I was on vacation in Florida in my grandparents' house and I was reading the Lord of the Rings rather than being amazed at being in a house in Florida (to be fair, I'm not sure what would be so interesting about hanging out in a house in Florida without even a pool). Now I can get to my reading material on a phone and it's going to be a hard transition to put that aside, however the incentive is good.

  • @CyaViaTheFirst
    @CyaViaTheFirst Před 2 měsíci

    I just discovered your channel and you have helped me improve my writing skills immensely! I have previously published before, but I wish I have discovered your channel sooner!!! I've been binge-watching your videos, and you helped me shape my (underdeveloped fantasy trilogy from years ago) and I am actually rewriting the entire thing into a stand-alone with a plot that makes sense based off the 3-Point Structure. Thank you so much!
    On a side note, I'm not sure how likely you are to reply, but where could I ask you to maybe look over my outline? I've been trying to search for someone who knows the ins and out of the fantasy genre, and I would really like to know what you think!

  • @brendangolledge8312
    @brendangolledge8312 Před 2 měsíci

    I think this is good general life advice. It's not just for writing.

  • @user-kz7og7ug5b
    @user-kz7og7ug5b Před 2 měsíci

    Thank you for another great video😮😊

  • @BooksForever
    @BooksForever Před 2 měsíci

    To be productively bored I read technically challenging nonfiction books about subjects that I want to learn more about. After each reading session my mind naturally erupts with creative output.

  • @jethalaalchampaklaalgada7927
    @jethalaalchampaklaalgada7927 Před 2 měsíci +1

    Jed ! just like me many others were inspired to become a fantasy writer because they fell in love with books like harry ppotter and lotr. Could you please bring up an analysis series of the whole harry potter books and try to take out how the whole master peice was written, Like what could be the struggles of rowlings while creating and plotting the whole stories.

  • @Musikchic47
    @Musikchic47 Před 2 měsíci +1

    I just always take a small notebook that can fit in my purse so when I'm a "watchful waiter" I can sit there and jot down ideas or passages I want to go home and add to my book later :)

  • @Suzoboro
    @Suzoboro Před 2 měsíci +1

    Thankyou 😊

  • @darthenclave6946
    @darthenclave6946 Před 2 měsíci

    Great video!

  • @Gate_Music
    @Gate_Music Před 2 měsíci

    thats pretty sad, but its the truth. I watched the whole video without any distractions (almost), thank you!

  • @KALtheHighstorm117
    @KALtheHighstorm117 Před 2 měsíci

    This is really helpful, and I have to thank you for all these videos. You've really helped me on my journey to become a fantasy author.
    I did have a question though, and it relates to your previous video on premises. You mentioned that when writing a multi-pov book, I could use something like you did for Jade City, where you tied them together. You also said that if I can't do that, then I might have a story that will feel disjointed and doesn't have enough cohesion.
    So, what would you say for a book like The Way of Kings, where Kaladin's, Dalinar's, and Shallan's stories are very distant. TWoK is a phenomenal book, and it doesn't suffer from a lack of cohesion, so how would you write a premise for it?

  • @dukeofdenver
    @dukeofdenver Před 2 měsíci +10

    This is very true. It is no coincidence that many people (including myself) got back into writing and reading books during Covid lockdown when they had so much extra time and ran out of things to do.
    Fun Fact: Isaac Newton made his discovery of gravity when he was quarantined in a house for two years because of a plague going around England. Boredom is powerful.

    • @heatherkline6766
      @heatherkline6766 Před 2 měsíci +1

      According to my history book, he actually did not formulate his theory of gravitation, but discovered/invented calculus.

  • @joshuam2212
    @joshuam2212 Před 2 měsíci

    i always have a box fan running when writing or doing anything else i have tinnitus silence is physically painful but it helps me think and able to focus maybe it might help others improve their concentration im always thinking of stories writing is fun to me that is were i get my happy rush

    • @heatherkline6766
      @heatherkline6766 Před 2 měsíci

      I have a similar problem. I find I focus better if the computer is running, even if it is not unlocked. Something about the fluctuating hum of the CPU makes it so much easier to keep on task.

  • @notsubaru4464
    @notsubaru4464 Před 2 měsíci

    Right, I am getting more and more juicy plot for my webnovel through boredom

  • @Kyouma.
    @Kyouma. Před měsícem

    I once got a creative spark for a new story when I was standing on an escalator xD

  • @nurabsal0x018c
    @nurabsal0x018c Před 9 dny

    Never underestimate power of bored daydreaming.
    I spent a summer washing out school buses… quite possibly the least intellectually engaging activity on earth. It was wet, hot, disgusting, and 6 straight hours of almost no human interaction. This was an era before air pods and smartphones so there was no music or podcasts or audiobooks in my ears… just me and a filthy bus. By the end of the summer, I had a ton of ideas written down and I actually looked forward to getting back to the menial nothing job every day for the opportunities to think on all that stuff.

  • @m.j.johnsonbooks7856
    @m.j.johnsonbooks7856 Před 2 měsíci +1

    I think it’s important to remember that a lot of these distractions can be things that are objectively positive, like listening to an educational podcast or an author interview.

    • @TabithaKJames
      @TabithaKJames Před 2 měsíci

      I agree but I think it needs to be done with purpose. Like scheduling a certain time frame per day.

  • @arnoldfossman1701
    @arnoldfossman1701 Před 2 měsíci

    After posting my other comment it dawned on me that I should learn "two thumb typing" so that when I go places where I have nothing to do for extended times I can pull out my tablet and work on my stories (yes I have more than one going at a time) then sync the files when I get home. Is this a good idea?

  • @user-pz8ml2jo6y
    @user-pz8ml2jo6y Před 2 měsíci

    Funny that you posted this, Jed. Two weeks ago, I put restrictions on all my social media because I wanted to be spending my time productively. I'd discovered a bunch of the habits you mentioned in this video through your other videos and applied them to my routine of writing the second draft of my book. And some of these habits I had naturally. Every day since two weeks ago, I have written 1,500 to 3,000 words per day, and have almost 30,000 words of my story down so far. Thanks for sharing, man.

  • @starman825
    @starman825 Před 2 měsíci

    Random question how would you go into writing a novel inspired by bloodborne

  • @kommplot
    @kommplot Před 2 měsíci

    Add to the list: Reading! Reading makes me want to write :-)) One Chapter of Tad Williams oder Game of Thrones and I am in the mood.

  • @jethalaalchampaklaalgada7927
    @jethalaalchampaklaalgada7927 Před 2 měsíci +1

    Hello Jed! This is a long one!
    I have seen too many videos of yours on different topics do you think all these topics were known by any other great fantasy writer like tolkiens, rowlings or any other great author you consider . Do you beleive they knew all these techniques?
    And if they did not what do you think how these people came up with so much interesting and complex stories which are today known as master peices!!

  • @816DawG
    @816DawG Před 2 měsíci

    Hey Jed!
    Are you done putting these on audio form like a podcast? If so - bummer cause as much as ya pretty face makes me happy, I prefer audio as I work and have a family of 5 to take care of. So a lot of your tips are great digested via podcast like means. No worries if not, but thought id reach out all the same. Thanks!

  • @skydreamer3727
    @skydreamer3727 Před 2 měsíci +5

    As someone who's been homeschooled my whole childhood I had a lot of extra time to hone my creativity and teach myself new things (thanks to the internet), and of course come up with some of my favorite story concepts. And that was my mothers goal actually. It was something I used to dislike, but as I grew up I started to realize a lot of my hobbies and skills might not have gotten to where they are today without that extra time, and I still had a healthy balance of socializing and silent brainstorming. I also know a lot of people who have no idea what they want to do in life since they never really had the chance to find what it is. There's so many distractions and things to do nowadays instead of using your mind, where like you said, if someone was scrolling on tiktok instead, there's a chance that book would have never happened. It's kid of funny to be how some people need to find boredom nowadays 😭.

    • @jonashartman3059
      @jonashartman3059 Před 2 měsíci +3

      Greetings, fellow homeschool kid!! XD
      And yeah, I agree. Most of my time outside of schoolwork was in helping with chores or just.... playing. And in playing, one of the biggest tools I had available to me was my imagination and mental creativity. Now, I have to admit, a lot of my attention recently has started to be consumed by this quick dopamine hit type activities, so I need to start returning back to a normal state of allowing myself to get bored and just stare out the window. But a lot of these habits are still there, I just need to brush them off and start using them again.

    • @skydreamer3727
      @skydreamer3727 Před 2 měsíci

      @@jonashartman3059 Yeah! And tbh same. I find myself surfing on social media and have been trying to snap out of that habit.

  • @jethalaalchampaklaalgada7927

    One more question! Like all the topics you teach one the channel ( they are gem by the way) , should they be applied while forming the story ( making the story fit in those particular criterias or tips), or a story should be created naturally and the way you like it in the first place and only then ammending it using those criterias to make it better?

  • @writerducky2589
    @writerducky2589 Před 2 měsíci

    One of the reasons why writers find going for walks so helpful, I'd suspect. One thing being the repetitive motion and positive effect of moving your body and getting sensory input from the real world.
    But most importantly, what else can you do but think?😅

  • @unicorntomboy9736
    @unicorntomboy9736 Před 2 měsíci +2

    Is being a freelance journalist a good day job alongside writing books?

  • @echiko4932
    @echiko4932 Před 20 dny

    Bruh i just went out for 2 hours with a sketchbook instead of a phone and saw the difference _immediately_
    I normally walk with music on and vibe to it, but there's something special about silence or ambience. It's also easier to start a conversation
    Only issue is that I've walked with music for so long, that shit just loops in my head over and over

  • @Carawing
    @Carawing Před měsícem

    I am currently writting a master's degree on the theme of boredom and its connection to creativity.
    Do you maybe have any articles or literature of stuff you talked about?

  • @BlazeCrafter606
    @BlazeCrafter606 Před 2 měsíci

    Better yet, I am listening to this video with background play while working

  • @duck_entertainment
    @duck_entertainment Před 2 měsíci +1

    Kid you not my high school creative writing teacher said this to us once.

  • @ekurisona663
    @ekurisona663 Před 2 měsíci

    perhaps present, at rest, aware, receptive, passive - a state akin to meditation...?

  • @dannyleo5787
    @dannyleo5787 Před 2 měsíci +1

    Quick question my guy, for a curiosity for a fantasy setting. If you need the protagonist to be temporary cause you plain to kill him/her of to let say their child lead the past say mid, what examples would you set up to be sure the transition is still to the core of the stories overarching narrative

    • @TabithaKJames
      @TabithaKJames Před 2 měsíci

      If it's meant to be temporary, are they of value? If a character is not going to be around, they should leave an impact beyond their moment or why put them in at all?

  • @ekurisona663
    @ekurisona663 Před 2 měsíci

    dam this is awesome 😊

  • @moneygrowslikegrass
    @moneygrowslikegrass Před 2 měsíci

    Minecraft is another videogame I've found that helps with creativity, especially world building. It can really help you visualize the environment of the story.

  • @matthewmcteigue7347
    @matthewmcteigue7347 Před 2 měsíci

    Man, this was a very acute video. Even worse than FB are those short video reels you can get addicted to in your feed. Those ones which are just an endless supply of short clips and vids relevant to your interests. And you just flick to the next one with a mouse click.
    Once you begin one, forget it. It's like a shot of heroin.

  • @charliewaterton3263
    @charliewaterton3263 Před 2 měsíci +2

    This video should be re-titled "The Real Reason School was Invented."