What Are Topics You'd Like To Know More About With Storytelling?

[Generic.Archdemon]

Phonetics, how to make fictional names of people and places.

 

[melchi]

Some guides that are more practical and focus on application rather than theory.

 

[UnknownSaint171]

I like what you are doing.
Can I send you my first chapter and get you to analyze it? Honestly, I'm very hesitant and nervous about submitting it online. ^.^

 

[K5Rakitan]

How to sound out words (for my kid). There are tons of alphabet and phonics videos, but it's difficult to find good videos for sounding out words.

 

[DataNerdX]

How to write characters smarter than you are. Or funnier. Etc.

 

[Story_Marc]

That was a joke. Here are something you might wanna explore: world- building, how to outline and handle a large narrative and story with multiple threads, going in-depth about the practical use of theme, symbol, and motif.

I wrote an episode on the art of dick jokes and how to do them well because nobody was talking about it. So yeah, I'll consider seemingly silly concepts if they'll genuinely help people. That said when it comes to helping people...

Some guides that are more practical and focus on application rather than theory.

This comment gave me pause today. See, I sometimes suffer from imposter syndrome and can be self-critical. So my first thought is always to question myself and my work.

Now, I've been under the impression that my focus has always been on the practical side of things when creating guides. Perhaps I've misjudged. I do already aim to boil down complex concepts into clear, actionable advice like "use shock to serve subtext," "avoid descriptive dialogue tags," and my personal favorite from my latest video, "opt for strong verbs over adverbs." While doing my best to provide visual examples and explain the reasoning behind things. I'm not exactly sure how I can make it simpler and even more practical, especially when it seems most people are able to understand things I create easily.

So, with that in mind, I'd love to see how you'd do it. Why don't we take my video on "Show, Don't Tell" as a starting point? It was an attempt to transform a theoretical concept into something concrete and practical. I'm curious to know, how would you approach it? What are the practical, easy-to-apply things you'd bring up to teach people how to know what is telling and what is showing? What are the examples you'd provide from either your own work or from the works of others for each and every tip? How would you back up the conclusions you've reached? What would you use as your resources?

How to sound out words (for my kid). There are tons of alphabet and phonics videos, but it's difficult to find good videos for sounding out words.

Hmm... I'm going to have to do a little research first if I try this. It's a bit outside of my wheelhouse, so I can't guarantee anything, but I do enjoy challenges.

How to write characters smarter than you are. Or funnier. Etc.

This, meanwhile, is 100% in my wheelhouse! I've added it to the list. Plus I really think I should just get back to some stuff on comedy writing and stuff I learned to make it flow easier. I actually got obsessed with studying comedy more last year. And for smarter stuff, well, my work forced me to go through that for years.

I like what you are doing.
Can I send you my first chapter and get you to analyze it? Honestly, I'm very hesitant and nervous about submitting it online. ^.^

Thank you and sure! PM it to me!

And totally know that hesitant and nervous feelings. Seriously, went through the same thing for a long time. Hell, I completed the novel I obsessed over for a long time last year and even now I'm still sometimes insecure about it, despite how proud I am to have completed the story and moved on to working on the next one. It's part of the process.

Maybe this can help you deal with things. I've found negative visualization (the stoic practice of Premeditatio Malorum) helps me out big time. I picture the worst-case scenarios and negative outcomes of scenarios then I figure out how I'd respond. Just try not to dwell on things or get caught up in paranoia. The point is to mitigate one's fears through emotional preparation. It builds resilience.


As for some questions or topics, they wouldn't take me an entire video. So I might make a simple video where I just answer stuff in as quick and straightforward a manner as possible, with my current knowledge.

That and some videos I've technically already done (like character hooks), but I'm sure I could do it better now.

 

[melchi]

"Show, don't tell" and these signs will make perfect sense to you if understand why this advice is given. There's neuroscience that explains everything but before we go into...

Someone from homiletics class said that a way to determine the success of a sermon is to ask someone what was the most important takeaway from the speech. If the answer they give is the same one the speaker hoped to get across then success otherwise they didn't do a good job.

Also a simple format for a speech is:
1.) Tell them what you are going to tell them.
2.) Tell them what you plan to tell them.
3.) Tell them what you just told them.

So, I would start out with the most basic examples possible. Also, the stuff about neuroscience I'd leave on the cutting floor. The title "Ultimate guide to showing not telling" should be focused on sentence structure neuroscience and psychology should be secondary.

Instead of "tell," think "Inform"... Just stating facts

This is a really easy to understand sentence and would make a good starting point IMO. Also... imperative tense....
I wouldn't use it because it comes across as talking down to the viewers. Second person would be better maybe?

For "show," think "invoke" instead. Invoking AKA showing is simulating an experience.

Invoke is not a very commonly used word. When someone is an invoker it brings to mind a caster of magic. I guess that is cool but might not be what we are going for here.

invoker (plural invokers) One who calls upon (a person, especially a god) for help, assistance or guidance. An invoker of God's mercy. One who appeals for validation to a (notably cited) authority. One who conjures up spirits with incantations.

I shamelessly typed show don't tell into google and here is a quote about showing.

"Showing paints a picture the reader can see in her mind’s eye."

That's what show don't tell is saying: don't feed me information, give me an experience.

Good, very to the point. I don't like the imperative but very to the point.

Unseasoned writers tend to predominately feed information, on account of them being unaware of the techniques I'll cover. They're simply going off the raw, instinctual ways information is conveys. Basically, they lack artistry. And that's okay - we all start there.

This is borderline derogatory. I don't think creating a unseasoned writers label is necessary to explain the difference between showing and telling. I would focus on prose, not people, not writers.

What's important is that we learn how to grow and better communicate our visions to others.

While this is nice and encouraging, it is a little off topic.

I think after giving a definition of the difference going into examples would be the best place to take it from there. The video gets a bit esoteric with talks about sounds and perception of the external world. I get lost about there and think the talk of objective vs subjective representation stuff is a bit too high level for a simpleton like me who just wants things I can take and apply to my day to day writing.

 

[Story_Marc]

Someone from homiletics class said that a way to determine the success of a sermon is to ask someone what was the most important takeaway from the speech. If the answer they give is the same one the speaker hoped to get across then success otherwise they didn't do a good job.

Also a simple format for a speech is:
1.) Tell them what you are going to tell them.
2.) Tell them what you plan to tell them.
3.) Tell them what you just told them.

So, I would start out with the most basic examples possible. Also, the stuff about neuroscience I'd leave on the cutting floor. The title "Ultimate guide to showing not telling" should be focused on sentence structure neuroscience and psychology should be secondary.


This is a really easy to understand sentence and would make a good starting point IMO. Also... imperative tense....
I wouldn't use it because it comes across as talking down to the viewers. Second person would be better maybe?


Invoke is not a very commonly used word. When someone is an invoker it brings to mind a caster of magic. I guess that is cool but might not be what we are going for here.



I shamelessly typed show don't tell into google and here is a quote about showing.

"Showing paints a picture the reader can see in her mind’s eye."

Good, very to the point. I don't like the imperative but very to the point.

This is borderline derogatory. I don't think creating a unseasoned writers label is necessary to explain the difference between showing and telling. I would focus on prose, not people, not writers.

While this is nice and encouraging, it is a little off topic.

I think after giving a definition of the difference going into examples would be the best place to take it from there. The video gets a bit esoteric with talks about sounds and perception of the external world. I get lost about there and think the talk of objective vs subjective representation stuff is a bit too high level for a simpleton like me who just wants things I can take and apply to my day to day writing.

I'm not asking you to be a critic. I'm asking you to be a creator. Show me how you'd teach this type of lesson from the ground up while addressing every single question I asked.

 

[melchi]

Gimme a few gotta run some errands and will look at the questions.

I'm curious to know, how would you approach it?

From the ground up: Show don't tell.

First, there has to be a 'one thing'. One thing that if someone forgets all the rest of the content that would be the one thing they remember.

In this case, I'd want anyone to look at there sentences and identify instances of "to be" and give them a second look to see if they could use a different verb.

Maybe I'd start with a certain hamlet quote if it is an audience that might get it.

What are the practical, easy-to-apply things you'd bring up to teach people how to know what is telling and what is showing? teach people how to know what is telling and what is showing? What are the examples you'd provide from either your own work or from the works of others for each and every tip?

Example would be best kept as simple as possible. The main thing would be to try to rewrite it in a way that doesn't have a form of "to be."

Greyblob is tsundere. (Telling)
In the tsundere thread, Greyblob received the most votes. (Showing)

Sailus is short-spoken (Telling)
Sailus wrote 'bruh' in the reply box and pressed 'post.' (Showing)

Anon is confrontational. (Telling)
Anon grinned evilly, then posted a profile rule that made fun of the last person to write a profile post. (Showing)

Alice is a yandere. (Telling)
Alice followed the girl who flirted with senpai-sama after school. When they were alone she confronted her by plunging a steak knife in the front of her chest yelling, "Keep your claws off of senpai-sama!" (Showing)

K5 is a mom. (Telling)
K5 sat on a bench at the park, chatting with the other women. They smiled and giggled at the young children playing together. (Showing)

How would you back up the conclusions you've reached?

If it isn't an academic setting I wouldn't. Maybe just a guide from a professional.

https://jerryjenkins.com/show-dont-tell/

There, that does a better job of explaining it than I ever can.

What would you use as your resources?

I would just make some slides that had examples of showing vs telling. Anything more than that would violate the KISS principle.

 

[Story_Marc]

Gimme a few gotta run some errands and will look at the questions.

Damn it, you edited stuff in.

Anyway, I can't say I'm all that fond of your approach personally, though that's just me. Like, I wouldn't find it helpful. If others think I should stop doing it the way I have and instead do it like how melchi would have things done (and think that way is more helpful), feel free to tell me.

Being fully transparent, I am likely to prioritize my own judgment and satisfaction since I can't please everybody, but still, I do make a point of considering things if I'm not accomplishing my goal.

How to utilize your prose to match/enhance the plot and theme

How to build suspense and when

How to best introduce characters and the different methods to get there

How to find or create a hook within the first 2-10 pages

I rewatched an older series of videos for this very thing and I still stand by a lot of this, even if I can add more. Check out my Spy X Family series. It's all about character writing, openings, and what hooks people.

 

[Aprendiz]

At this point, most of you know I run a YouTube channel where I share my expertise to help people better tackle various things. Due to how I am, I have this rich storehouse of information, examples, and so forth. In truth, I own over two thousand books due to how I am. This means I have a lot I can cover, but sometimes this can lead to a bit of analysis paralysis for me since I'm constantly thinking about what should the next video be. What would be the most helpful thing to make?

So, with that in mind, I'd love to know what topics you'd like to see tackled. It can be prose-related, storytelling-oriented, psychology stuff for authors, etc. Genre-specific advice? Character-related stuff? Worldbuilding? Magic system? Tropes? The list goes on and on for stuff I can hook you up with. Just ask.

Oh and for those who don't know how much I do know or dabble in, I'll provide these samples of my work. I'm still growing, learning, and experimenting as a video creator, but I overall stand by the knowledge I put into this stuff.

Can you give advice on how to write ecchi, eroticism, and sex scenes without being pornographic?

 

[Story_Marc]

Can you give advice on how to write ecchi, eroticism and sex scenes without being pornographic?

Hmm...

Chapter 4 of W.I.P.
The soft rustle of fabric filled the air as they peeled away their clothes and lost themselves in the rhythm of their longings. Every movement – every rock of their figures, every stroke of their fingers, every flick of their tongues – was a note in a symphony of ecstasy. Cassidy was a virtuoso of her craft, a conductor of pleasure, coaxing out cries and demands for more. Their moans mingled together in a melody that crescendoed with every passing second and left them bucking when they reached the brink. A salty sweetness glazed Cassidy’s lips and tongue once all was said and done..

Do you mean like this?

But yeah, that's been on my mind too. I have a lot for approaching that subject as well.

How to write fight scenes
Xianxia/Xuanhuan Genre
Tone
How to trend on ScribbleHub without writing Girls Love
Parodies and Satire
Evil/Gray/Amoral Protagonists

Oh yeah, while I can do so much more on tone (and in fact did a video today on tone and fight scenes), wanted to point you in this direction...

I talk a small bit about "theme" in this as well, since tone is an expression of the theme.

 

[mcarrowen]

Lately, I'm drawn to kishotenketsu. I saw vids in yt about it. Even before knowing kishotenketsu, I'm not a fan of 3-arc structure and I couldn't see my MC doing the hero's journey!

 

[Story_Marc]

Lately, I'm drawn to kishotenketsu. I saw vids in yt about it. Even before knowing kishotenketsu, I'm not a fan of 3-arc structure and I couldn't see my MC doing the hero's journey!

I'm a fan of KSTK! I use it quite a bit, though I've adjusted some of it. ...Or, well, I like using it for smaller part of things. On the bigger side, I technically use 3-Act Structure, though I'd argue they aren't all that different. Hell, 3 Act Structure itself is a lie. The middle portion of 3 act structure, Act 2, actually has two halves, with Act 2A and Act 2B. And the midpoint in between that, which is super similar to Ten inside kishotenketsu.

At least that's how I've made sense of it.

I prefer KSTK for short stories and smaller side, 3 Act Structure for the overarching story.

 

[Dukespino]

Character building, characters and the ending.

I'm writing my story, and yet I have no idea how I intend to end it lol. I wonder how many people face that same issue since I've read a lot of stories and I can't help but think people aren't sure how they'll end it.

And it's hard to write up both supporting characters as well as antagonists, or even supporting characters.
I for one feel like a lot of characters I've thought of had names beginning with L, so it's hard to think up a constant stream of names for characters and stories for characters without feeling like they've fallen into caricatures or just feel like repeats.

 

[Story_Marc]

Character building, characters and the ending.

I'm writing my story, and yet I have no idea how I intend to end it lol. I wonder how many people face that same issue since I've read a lot of stories and I can't help but think people aren't sure how they'll end it.

And it's hard to write up both supporting characters as well as antagonists, or even supporting characters.
I for one feel like a lot of characters I've thought of had names beginning with L, so it's hard to think up a constant stream of names for characters and stories for characters without feeling like they've fallen into caricatures or just feel like repeats.

All stuff I definitely wish to go more into. I've dabbled a little and spoken about the importance of character across multiple videos, though I haven't gotten to do the deep drive I truly want beyond a character analysis. That said, I recommend giving the analysis a watch for some things to learn.

As for endings, I've A LOT I can say about those. ...I mean, anybody who has looked at my channel or my actual work knows I have a lot to say about a lot of topics, but this one is near and dear to my heart given how important I consider endings.

So yeah, it's on the list. I've no clue how fast I'll get to it since I'm letting people vote on stuff overall, but I will get to it.

 

[SailusGebel]

Make a guide on writing organizations or stables using Bullet Club and NWO as examples. P.S. Don't take this too seriously, this is a joke. And sorry for shitposting.

Actual request. In my feedback thread, an author asked me for help in describing characters. Mostly their appearance if I understood that author correctly. Since I can't do a proper guide myself, I thought of asking you to do it eventually.

 

[Story_Marc]

Make a guide on writing organizations or stables using Bullet Club and NWO as examples. P.S. Don't take this too seriously, this is a joke. And sorry for shitposting.

Actual request. In my feedback thread, an author asked me for help in describing characters. Mostly their appearance if I understood that author correctly. Since I can't do a proper guide myself, I thought of asking you to do it eventually.

On my to-do list! I'm just avoiding prose episodes this month because I got exhausted doing the Five Cs.

Also, here's my guide to doing those: don't let everybody in the group because it waters it down.

 

[melchi]

Scene transition?

It is one of those things you don't notice if it done well but really noticeable if done bad.

 

[Story_Marc]

Scene transition?

It is one of those things you don't notice if it done well but really noticeable if done bad.

Hmm... I've been thinking about this one... I have an entire book that helped me learn all this called Make a Scene by Jordan E. Rosenfeld. I've just not been sure yet how I'd weave it into everything. But this has me thinking...