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Plot twists are one of those writing elements that are often misunderstood. In this video I'll break down the best way to structure a plot twist into a story as well as several other factors that will help you use your plot twists to the best effect. 0:00 - Plot Twist Definition4:05 - Structuring Plot Twists8:20 - Example, Forgotten17:01 - Hiding the Twist20:34 - Example, The Village27:24 - Revealing the Twist30:54 - Bad Examples32:22 - Outro
Your story is falling apart?and you don?t even see it yet.Most plot holes aren?t big, dramatic mistakes. They?re quiet breaks in logic, motivation, or theme that make readers stop and think:?Wait? What just happened??These subtle story breaks are sabotaging your manuscript?and in speculative fiction, where world rules and logic matter deeply, they can destroy immersion and reader trust.In this video, I?ll show you:✅ How to spot hidden plot holes fast using the DAC method✅ How to work backward from your story?s Ley Line to fix logic gaps without guesswork✅ A real coaching case study showing how one author turned an unconvincing connection into a plot-driving, emotionally rich relationship✅ How critique partners are great for catching these issues during self-editing?and how to find one that actually helps
You know the scene?s not working?but you don?t know why.Most authors revise the same chapters over and over, hoping it?ll finally click. But without the right self-editing strategy, nothing changes (at least nothing that makes a real difference)?and your novel still isn?t ready to query, publish, or impress readers.And in this video, I?ll walk you through 3 powerful revision techniques I use with the authors I coach:✅ The one thing you must do BEFORE you revise✅ How to strengthen your story scene by scene, making them each work hard on multiple levels✅ The key things each scene needs to deliver what readers really wantThese self-editing techniques will help you stop editing in circles and finally make real progress toward the novel you know your story can become.
Powerful Action Lines: The Screenwriting Skill No One TeachesMost screenwriters treat action lines like filler?just something to get from one block of dialogue to the next. But pros know better. Your action lines are your voice. They?re the reason a reader keeps turning pages? or doesn?t.In this video, I?ll show you:Why most action lines fall flat?and how to fix themThe simple shift that makes your pages feel cinematicA simple four step process for action lines that make you feel CHAPTERS:00:00 - Introduction00:48 - The Science of Writing (Neural Simulation)02:28 - Rewriting the Scene (4-Step Process)03:19 - Step 1: Avoid Emotion Words04:10 - Step 2: Use Hands, Eyes, or Breath05:23 - Step 3: Add a Sound06:28 - Step 4: What Are They Hiding?07:39 - Outro & Free PDF?
Editing your book is easier said than done. You?ve poured your heart into writing your story? but now you?re wondering if it actually reads well. Is it polished? Professional? Or are there hidden mistakes that are making it sound? amateur? That?s why, in today's video, we're exposing five common CRINGEY mistakes that are probably hiding in your manuscript RIGHT NOW and how to fix them using my favorite editing tool, ProWritingAid. Let's explore the worst clich?s and beginner mistakes to avoid if you want to take your book from 4 stars to 5 stars!________________________________✨TIMESTAMPS:✨00:00 Beginner writer mistakes that will make or break your book00:58 1. Spelling and Grammar04:19 2. Sentence Variety08:06 Can't afford an editor? Get ProWritingAid!09:29 3. Sticky Sentences14:37 4. Passive Voice17:44 5. Repeats and Echoes21:17 Go run these reports in YOUR book22:42 Get 20% off ProWritingAid!________________________________
What makes a plot twist actually work? Not just shock?but meaning. In this video, I break down the brain science behind the perfect twist, using iconic examples from The Sixth Sense, Cabin in the Woods, Memento, and The Empire Strikes Back.You?ll learn:Why your twist must recontextualize everythingThe psychology of audience surprise vs. satisfactionA 3-question tool to make your twists emotional, not just cleverWhether you're writing screenplays, novels, or just obsessed with great storytelling?this one?s for you.00:00 - Cold Open: Why Plot Twists Matter 00:38 - Intro & What You?ll Learn 01:10 - CHAPTER 1: The Reversal Twist (The Sixth Sense) 02:53 - CHAPTER 2: How Twists Hijack the Brain 04:40 - CHAPTER 3: The Genre Flip (Cabin in the Woods) 06:26 - CHAPTER 4: The Identity Twist (Memento) 07:58 - CHAPTER 5: The Sacred Truth (Empire Strikes Back) 09:37 - CHAPTER 6: The Secret to Creating Mindblowing Twists 10:45 - Outro & What?s Next
Feeling stuck with your writing? You're not alone. In this video, we reveal the 5 hidden pain points that are secretly sabotaging your writing dreams and show you exactly how to overcome them.What you'll learn:Why perfectionism is killing your first drafts (and how to embrace the messy draft)The myth of waiting for inspiration and how to create a writing routine that worksHow to escape the learning trap and start actually writingProven strategies to overcome imposter syndrome and self-doubtSimple techniques to break down overwhelming projects into manageable steps If you've ever sat staring at a blank page, feeling frustrated and stuck, this video will change everything. These aren't just writing tips - they're mindset shifts that will transform your entire approach to writing.Perfect for aspiring authors, fiction writers, memoir writers, and anyone who dreams of finishing their book but feels blocked by invisible barriers.Stay tuned for more writing tips and writing advice on our channel! Check out our website for more information about our writer's group and newsletter. While you are there, be sure to sign up for the newsletter, which is packed with writing tips, writing advice, and so much more.https://smuinmedia.com/Self publishing can be hard, don't go it alone. Follow us through the process. We have self published seven books. Some are fiction, and some are non-fiction. We are here to assist in the self-publishing and writing process.TIMESTAMPS:00:00 Introduction 01:01 Writers Pain Point #1 ? The Tyranny of the Perfect First Draft03:14 Writers Pain Point #2 ? Waiting for the Muse05:30 Writers Pain Point #3 ? The Learning Trap07:35 Writers Pain Point #4 ? The Imposter Syndrome10:40 Writers Pain Point #5 ? The Overwhelm of the Mountain
And there's the weakness of a chatbot. It can only work on available sources and learned language traits. A novel has to be just that - novel!
Timeline:0:00 Intro0:14 Antagonist Should be Defeated by the Protagonist2:25 Start with an Inciting Incident4:16 Conflict is the Lifeblood of Scenes6:37 Characters Must Change8:30 Never Start with the Weather9:51 Maintain a Streamlined Narrative11:30 Every Character Needs Clear Motivation
Timeline:0:00 Intro0:25 Date Headers2:35 Time Markers in the Text6:49 Situational Clues9:47 Use Summary12:09 Don?t Mention the Time Jump at All
Think you can tell the difference between human and AI writing? In this video, I show you how I learned to spot the telltale signs of AI-generated content?and more importantly, how to transform that writing so it doesn?t get flagged. Whether you?re using AI tools for research, productivity, or content generation, it?s increasingly important to understand how AI detectors work and what they look for.--------------------------------------------------------------------------The prompt used in this video:I have a block of AI-generated text that I want to revise so it sounds like it was written by a human.Please improve it using the following guidelines:? Vary sentence structure and sentence length to increase burstiness ? Introduce intellectual hesitation (e.g., "may suggest", "appears to", "is likely to") ? Add nuance, subtle critique, or alternative perspectives where appropriate ? Avoid overused or generic AI vocabulary like ?delve,? ?robust,? ?innovative,? etc. ? Use more natural transitions (and not too many like "therefore", "moreover", "in conclusion") ? Replace vague examples with specific, relatable, or realistic details ? Adjust tone and style so it sounds less polished and more human (a little informal is okay) ? If relevant, include first-person voice or a light anecdotal tone ? Break repetition in how sentences begin (e.g., don?t start every sentence with ?This study?? or ?It is important??) ? Preserve the *original meaning* and context, but improve naturalness and authenticityHere is the AI-generated text:--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------This isn?t about cheating or avoiding responsibility. It?s about understanding how these systems operate, especially when original, human-written work can still be misidentified as AI. That?s why I take you through the mechanics of an AI detector bypass and explain how you can responsibly revise or rewrite your text to reflect your own voice and intent.I also walk through practical techniques to bypass originality scoring tools?not with hacks or shady methods, but with a deeper understanding of language variation, sentence structure, and academic tone. You?ll learn the signals detectors rely on, such as syntactic repetition, low perplexity, and formulaic transitions?and how to adjust your writing accordingly.One of the most useful tools I demonstrate in this video is a prompt-based method that helps revise AI-generated text. If you're wondering how to bypass AI content detection, or even more specifically, how to bypass AI detection ChatGPT outputs might trigger, this video lays it all out. You?ll see how I take text from a detector-flagged 100% AI-generated paragraph to one that scores as 100% original?without losing academic integrity or meaning.Best of all, these methods don?t rely on paid services. Everything I demonstrate is based on freely available tools, making this a guide to free AI bypass detection techniques that anyone can apply. Whether you're an academic, student, or content creator, understanding and managing AI detection is becoming a key part of working with large language models responsibly.
Chapters:00:00:00:00 - intro00:03:12:24 - what are plot holes?00:06:32:28 - start of book roadmap00:07:29:16 - start of spreadsheet00:10:26:00 - character column00:12:03:00 - how to plot your novel00:12:49:10 - the scene overview00:14:54:28 - conflict00:15:50:02 - scene outcome00:18:17:16 - subplot00:20:05:14 - character arc00:23:47:06 - word count00:25:02:21 - reason for filling out the form/ reverse outlining00:31:00:19 - tip 100:31:52:21 - tip 200:33:28:13 - tip 300:35:00:13 - tip 400:38:42:25 - tip 5 00:42:12:01 - tip 600:43:30:00 - tip 7
In this video, we take a look at a simple but powerful technique that ensures you never get stuck when writing your novel.
I use a plot grid to outline every single book I write. I learned it from an article about how JK Rowling outlined the Harry Potter books, and in this video, I explain what a plot grid is, how I use it to outline, how I use it to revise, and also share a template so you can create plot grids of your own.I made this video YEARS ago on this channel, but I wanted to re-do it with clearer examples and also include a template. So, here you go.Have you ever used a plot grid to outline your books?
I always start plotting my books by figuring out these 5 plot points. In this video, I break down what each of the plot points are and what order I figure them out in when putting down my first ideas for a novel.ALL OF THESE PLOT POINTS WILL CHANGE WHEN WRITING.I always come up with ideas when plotting a book out, but almost always, I come up with better ideas while writing and change the plot points around. At this early step, all I want to do is create a starting point for myself that lets me jump into writing quickly and sets me up for success instead of for getting overwhelmed at how daunting the project is and giving up.--ABOUT: Hi, I'm Claire! I?m an award-winning self-published author of paranormal thriller books (my book "They Stay" won the Grand Prize at the 2023 Writer's Digest Self-Published Book Awards and is the first in a five-book series).There is no one way to write a book. I?m a strong believer that the only way to develop your own writing process is by trying a bunch of different methods to find out what is the most helpful to you. In my videos, I share how I approach every stage in my writing process, from brainstorming to editing, in the hope that it could give you something to try that could help you level up as a writer. I share techniques that have improved my own writing so you can see if the same strategies help you.
Creating a good antagonist is key to writing a good story. In this video, I break down what an antagonist is, what makes one compelling, and share my tips for writing an antagonist that can push your hero to their breaking point.
In this video, I explain the difference between narrative summary and scene, and share why understanding the distinction is critically important to writing a good book.