[hamdani yusuf (OP)]

Writing Meaningless Themes? You're Doing It Wrong - John Vorhaus
John Vorhaus is best known for his comedy-writing classic, The Comic Toolbox: How to be Funny Even if You?re Not. He has taught and trained writers in 37 countries on five continents at last count, and created TV shows of his own in Nicaragua, Romania and elsewhere. His writing credits include dozens of teleplays and screenplays, plus seven novels and some two dozen works of non-fiction. His latest book is the little book of STANDUP. Vorhaus is a graduate of Carnegie Mellon University and a member of the Writers Guild of America. He lives in Southern California and secretly controls the world from www.johnvorhaus.com.

[hamdani yusuf (OP)]

The 8 Biggest Writing Mistakes You Don?t Know You?re Making

Are you pouring hours into your writing? only to feel stuck, unsure why your scenes fall flat? You're not alone?most writers are making critical mistakes they don?t even realize. In this video, we?ll expose the 8 biggest writing mistakes that are holding you back?and show you exactly how to fix them.

These aren't vague tips?they're practical, proven techniques grounded in the Story Grid method. If you're serious about writing better scenes, creating compelling characters, and finally writing fiction that works, this is the place to start.

? Discover why ?just write every day? might be sabotaging your progress
? Learn how to show instead of tell to create vivid, immersive scenes
? Avoid the trap of flat, emotionless storytelling by mastering scene dynamics
? Understand the power of value shifts?and how to write scenes that matter
? Write meaningful conflict that forces readers to keep turning the page
? Get expert insights on the kind of feedback that actually helps you grow
? Eliminate bloated exposition and backstory that kills narrative momentum
? Craft characters with specific, driving desires that shape every decision

If you've ever wondered why your writing isn't connecting?this video will give you clarity, direction, and the exact next steps to improve.

Don?t just write more. Write better.

[hamdani yusuf (OP)]

How to Get ORIGINAL Results from AI

Timestamps
Introduction 00:00
Fantasy Cliches 01:51
Creating Characters 03:22
Original Fantasy Races 05:36
Unique Name Ideas 06:35
Editor Perspective 08:21

When used correctly, AI can fill the gaps in our skills and attention from our creative activities.

[alancalverd]

Don't just write more. Write better.

Brevity is the soul of wit

But that's a cliche!

[hamdani yusuf (OP)]

What if the way you describe your characters and settings is the very thing that?s turning readers off? Most writers think more detail equals better writing?but in reality, that can kill narrative momentum. In this video, Tim Grahl breaks down the #1 mistake writers make with description?and how to fix it immediately.

After reviewing over 2,000 scenes in our Story Grid workshops, we've seen the same pattern again and again: well-meaning writers overload readers with irrelevant details, slowing the story to a crawl. If you've ever gotten feedback like ?This scene feels slow? or ?I skimmed this part,? you need to watch this.

? Learn the real purpose of description?and why most writers get it wrong
? Discover the two simple tools that will transform your exposition: Minimum Viable Exposition and Just-In-Time Exposition
? Understand how to choose what to describe (and more importantly, what to leave out)
? See real examples of bad vs. great description?and what makes them work
? Learn how to weave emotional cues into your details without ever ?telling? your reader how to feel
? Master the subtle craft of using sensory detail to drive narrative rather than stall it
? Discover how expert feedback can accelerate your growth 10x faster than going it alone

Whether you're writing your first novel or trying to level up your craft, mastering description is non-negotiable. It?s time to write pages that readers can?t stop turning.

[hamdani yusuf (OP)]

Stress tests for first chapter

Timeline:
0:00​ Intro
0:22​ The Acceleration Test
1:49​ The Anticipation Test
3:08​ Character Hook Test
4:43​ The 3 Levels of Curiosity Test
6:05​ The Story Compass Test
7:19​ The Four Senses Test
8:55​ The Tri-Part Originality Test
11:51​ 1st Paragraph Public Test
13:11​ The Promise Test

[alancalverd]

The Boss regularly attends writers' conventions. One theme that  emerges from all of them is that nobody will read beyond Chapter One unless the dead body is  discovered  by about page 3.

Screenwriters in particular talk about "the hero's arc" , spanning innocence, chance encounter, enlightenment, pursuit, peril, resolution, and invoking a "maven" somewhere in the middle. The simplest hook is a character flaw that allows the reader to identify or sympathise with a weakness.

[hamdani yusuf (OP)]

Forget Plot Twists?This Is What Keeps Readers Up All Night

What keeps readers up all night isn?t a clever twist or shocking ending?it?s the crisis. That pivotal, high-stakes moment that forces your protagonist into an impossible choice... and your reader to keep flipping pages.

In this episode of the Story Grid YouTube channel, Tim Grahl reveals how to master the most important storytelling moment: the crisis. You?ll learn how to create the kind of tension that grips readers by the throat and doesn?t let go.

? Discover the secret weapon behind stories that are impossible to put down?it?s not what you think.
? Learn the 5 steps for building a powerful crisis that drives plot, reveals character, and delivers emotional payoff.
? Watch in real time as two boring examples get transformed into heart-stopping moments that actually work.
? Understand the three layers of stakes?external, internal, and philosophical?that separate amateur writing from professional storytelling.
? Avoid common mistakes like offering an obvious choice or a weak dilemma that kills reader engagement.
? See how the crisis fuels your protagonist?s arc, aligning plot and theme with deep emotional impact.
? Unlock the truth about unpredictability in fiction?it?s not about surprising your reader, it?s about making the choice genuinely hard to predict.

If you want to write stories that readers feel?not just read?this video will change the way you think about narrative forever.

[hamdani yusuf (OP)]

This is the exact novel planning method fiction writers have paid $10,000+ to learn?and today, I'm walking you through the entire thing for free.

If you?ve ever struggled to turn a vague idea into a powerful, publishable novel, this video will show you how to build your story from the ground up using Story Grid?s Narrative Path?a step-by-step system that connects your theme, character arc, worldbuilding, and genre into a cohesive, compelling structure.

? Learn how to clarify your story?s core transformation using the Non-Negotiable and Double Factor Problem
? Avoid the #1 mistake writers make when planning novels?and why most story ideas fall apart
? Discover how to reverse-engineer your genre, character, and world from your intended reader transformation
? See how I used this method to draft my own novel, The Shithead
? Understand why ?planning? doesn?t mean formulaic?and how real structure frees your creativity
? Download the free Narrative Path worksheet and follow along with your own story idea

Whether you're an aspiring writer or a seasoned pro, this process will push you past vague inspiration and into real story architecture?the kind that keeps readers turning pages and makes your writing career sustainable.

👉 Want the worksheet I use in this video?
Go to storygrid.com/np and get the Narrative Path for free.

[hamdani yusuf (OP)]

How to write a viral serial using AI.

[alancalverd]

"How to write stuff that people will still publish by the ton and want to read 500 years later, using a pen" - Shakespeare

[hamdani yusuf (OP)]

Here?s the scary truth: your first page is either going to MAKE or BREAK your book. Let's face it: your reader will judge your story based on what they see on this first page, and if you don?t pull them in? they'll probably close the book and move on to something else.
It?s a lot of pressure! That?s why, in this video, we?re breaking down the DO?s and DON?Ts of page one. Common mistakes new writers make that doom their book from the start? and how to avoid these pitfalls to make your first page truly explosive and unputdownable (with side-by-side examples of good vs bad story hooks!)

✨ C H A P T E R S ✨
00:00​ How to start a novel?
00:59​ DON'T start with a cliche hook
02:45​ DO create a "story question"
04:15​ DON'T start with a white room
05:23​ DO anchor the reader in sensory detail
06:41​ DON'T start with out-of-context dialogue
07:36​ DO use dialogue to show what matters
08:43​ Want to write page-turning tension?
10:33​ DON'T be mysterious
11:58​ DO give your character a micro-goal
13:25​ DON'T front-load world-building
14:52​ DO show world-building through action
16:32​ DON'T overdo the prose
18:00​ DO hint at the MC's inner conflict
19:38​ Subscribe for weekly writing videos
________________________________

[alancalverd]

Wham! Blam! The White House disintegrated into shards and dust.

"WTF was that?" said octogenarian genius Big Al.

"Dunno" replied Lascivia, slipping off her Tibetan silk negligee, "but I can see the Kremlin in flames on the TV."

Al took another mouthful of coquilles st jaques aux truffes et pernod and picked up the keys to the Augusta A129. "Stay warm - I'll be back in an hour. If Sir Keir phones, tell him I've got it sorted."

now read on.......

[hamdani yusuf (OP)]

"That's not real hard sci-fi."

That awkward feeling when you accidently invent a new Grand Unified Theory of physics for the sole purpose of making your novel more scientifically accurate. #justwriterthings am I right?

Also, to be clear, I mean no disrespect to hard sci-fi fans. I actually love hard sci-fi, and these characters are all straw men. (If you look closely, you can see the hay poking out from under their sleeves.)

Some comments.

It's simple: hard scifi is when space travel is massively inconvenient, yet everyone is doing it.

My favorite sci fi are retracted scientific papers

I've had hard sci-fi described to me as being "any story in which technical minutiae is given greater importance than anything else."

[hamdani yusuf (OP)]

Why Deep Research is the best tool for authors.

[alancalverd]

Plagiarism is no substitute for fluency and originality.

[hamdani yusuf (OP)]

Plagiarism is no substitute for fluency and originality.

did anyone say that?

[hamdani yusuf (OP)]

Becoming a writer can be intimidating, but I've got seven tips that'll boost your confidence and focus your efforts.

[hamdani yusuf (OP)]

Remember a first impression is a lasting impression.

[hamdani yusuf (OP)]

Start your writing journey.

Chapters:
00:00​-Intro
00:33​-Come Up With TWO Ideas
01:45​-Pro and Antagonists
02:53​-Setting
03:45​-Status Quo
05:17​-Inciting Incident
05:55​-Show Progress
06:55​-End with a bang (or not)
08:15​-How and How fast
10:30​-Set Proper Expectations
11:35​-Foster the Right Beliefs