This post was co-published at talanhorne.com.
I don't have a lot of time or energy this week, but I do have some good information.
I'm always on the lookout for good explanations of the writing process that give insight into a lot of the more esoteric aspects of the art.
And it turns out that some of the best writing advice is Terrible Writing Advice.
No, Really
Don't walk away (I'm so terribly lonely).
But beyond that, you should also be aware that I'm talking about "Terrible Writing Advice", the YouTube channel.
This is a series of videos put out by author J.P. Beaubien, who has apparently studied a lot of the finer aspects of the craft despite only having a single, self-published book to his name, because he picks up on a lot of the mistakes that writers, both amateur and established, make when crafting their narratives.
And every lesson is easy to absorb, as it is presented in an entertaining, half-serious, and often ironic way, exploring the nuance of the art form through the medium of humor, which may remind you of some other internet personalities you may already be familiar with.
Hallmarks
And like all great YouTube channels, it is highly self-referential, with throwbacks to previous episodes and rewards for anyone who keeps up with the continuity. As well as side characters who help to create an entire climate of edutainment.
There's the Dark Lord, the sinister Secret Society, many lazy mentor figures, and also the dreaded Love Triangle.
The entire series is worth a watch, and is as entertaining as it is informative. I recommend it to anyone who has an interest in writing.
Some Choice Links
But what kind of friend would I be to just tell you about this series? And while I won't bother linking all the videos here, I believe I should at least give you some of the highlights, after which you can take in the entire channel for yourself.
To start with, you should familiarize yourself with that classic writing trope, the Mary Sue:
Then brush up on some fantasy races:
Follow it up with some Urban Fantasy:
Round that out with magic schools and evil empires:
Add a dash of intrigue plots and dark lords:
And finish it off with some character development and rivals:
That's a lot of viewing material, I know. But it's all good stuff.
Getting Around to Bigger Things
Life has been crazy for me lately, but don't worry. I've got good things in the pipeline. I hate to keep delaying any potentially good news, but that's the thing---it's only potentially good at this point.
Thank you for continuing to read and support this blog. I want to wish you all good luck in your own endeavors, whatever those might be. Your support helps me to keep pursuing my goals, and I am so thankful for all the well wishes.
Here's hoping for the best.