Go get a great book to help you write and a great book to read here linktr.ee/timhickson stay nerdy! ~ Tim

Would also point out for the Red Wedding, and that first description, it's our first clue something is wrong, in that the musicians are terrible, and we learn later are not actually musicians, but mercenaries, a solid Chekovs gun . And it obviously gets fired before the end of the chapter.

“Setting the scene is complicated” he says, using the 4 move checkmate as an example, the simplest way to win a game of chess, great video Tim just adding standard viewer engagement

I THOUGHT HE DIDN'T DO THE GANDALF MEME ANYMORE! - genuinely made my day within fifteen seconds.

24:23 I am reminded of most TV shows where you follow investigators interviewing suspects, they will often be asking questions while the person is working so instead of just standing there talking to each other the suspect will be hauling boxes around or walking down the street. Even though if you think about it that would be wildly impractical and the vast majority of people would just stop and focus on talking, but that would make the scene static and boring.

Honestly, this same concept works really well if you’re a DM/GM for DnD or other TTRPGs. Being able to succinctly describe a location and also include details that are intended to catch the player’s attention help draw the players to act in certain ways. If you spend too much time describing the birds then the players might think the birds are important and waste time investigating that. Or describe an important secret detail of a room or a strange characteristic or behavior of an NPC and now the focus is right where you want it, on the real intrigue

I love listening to Tim while I write. Also, once again congrats on the wedding, Tim! Hope you had fun on your honeymoon!

Ah yes, I hate it when my opponent plays two moves in a row with a check that I then simply ignore.

I'm glad your enjoying the chess metaphor, because watching you move the pieces is about to give me a stroke.

New writing video! I would genuinely like to thank you for teaching me how to write. I finished the first draft of my book thanks to some of your practical tips. I mean, you actually showed how to use advice! Thank you

oh my word. every time, without fail, that you read a passage and i think 'i'd like to read this', i go to look it up. imagine my dismay when i find no results and hear you from the other tab saying it's actually your story! your writing always amazes me, i will definitely be buying A Catalogue for the End of Humanity, i'm so glad it's out!

By the way, sometimes it's actually useful to put pieces of foreshadowing so far in advance that your reader starts to forget it. One of my favorite series did this, most of the foreshadowing happens near the event itself, but it's meaning can only be pieced out if you remember information given in a specific scene from two books ago. This is because our perspective character wasn't thinking about the information at the time, and if he had remembered it at the time he could've prevented the tragedy that was being foreshadowed. He doesn't think about it, so whilst we also know the information, it was given so far back and in such a way that we the reader isn't thinking about it either, at least until the event itself actually comes to pass, and our perspective character realizes that if only they actually bothered to notice that detail and apply the information they possessed they could've done something to prevent it, but now it's too late.

Absolutely fantastic video. Not only is it filled with great bits of analysis on the importance of relevant scene setting, but also interweaves marketing for your own work flawlessly. This video not only taught me profound lessons, but also made me want to buy your books, especially Catalogue for the End of Humanity. The excerpt from your short story was a perfect example of how you put the lessons you teach into your creative work, something that in my opinion many other youtube "writing gurus" lack significantly.

6:42 My man put on his plot armor and castled right into check! 😂 In all seriousness though, another fantastic video, man! This was enlightening, and really helpful. Appreciate it!

As a chess player…THANK YOU for calling yourself out for those illegal chess moves 😂

The chess analogy you went with through the whole video was SUPER helpful! I know I've heard different people describe the kinds of things you covered here, but something about the visual of setting up some pieces (and not others) to execute a specific plan really helped me understand the how and why of what you were talking about. Thanks Tim!

Tim's opponent must be so embarrassed to lose at chess so many times in one video.

Hello 👋 from Ukraine! As a writer myself, I just adore Your content! That's what I needed exactly - when I was doubting and having setbacks: analysis and strategy. Waiting for more new insights. Thank You for Your content 🙏

My man, please never stop teaching me things.

1. Setting scene requires tension, relationship, objects, characters & emotion. 2. Foreshadowing 3. Establish important objects, set pieces & other things. 4. Scenes can be seen as questions and answers. What emotional shifts are set up? 5. Consider the place & meaning in the narrative. 6. Introspection matters 7. Active characters interacting with environment, both physical & mental. 8. Atmoshere = word choice + focused details + character interpretation. Atmosphere can build towards/contrast the events.

I've been a fan for a while! I just ordered all three of your writing/worldbuilding books now that I can :> You're doing so well! You've always been an inspiration to me.

Happy you mentioned A Catalogue for the End of Humanity. Long time viewer, and in the rare situation of needing to find myself a gift for a holiday function. Had decided to grab one of the "On Writing" volumes, but just heard your description of your short stories. My father passed in October and its our first Christmas without him. Now, I'm looking forward to Santa bringing A Catalogue for the End of Humanity. If your written work is as thought provoking as your videos have been over the years, I think it will be a really welcome perspective. Keep up the great work.

Thanks for bringing back the fun in your videos this is why I started watching your channel

I really like the title card shots for this video. Also, I love the way you explained this. I can't wait for my books by you to come in the mail.

Loved this video! Inspires me more to go back to some rough drafts I haven’t touched in a while. A scene I had trouble setting up was an early chapter with a POV that tends to retreat into their mind when stressed out or in situations that aren’t interesting which would lend well to set up the type of bunker they live in. Here’s a sample for anyone who cares to take a look or give some feedback: “At last, generators kicked back on. Ryna welcomed the dull hum that droned through the concrete floors and through her legs. They had been shut off for hours, for reasons still unknown to her, she just knew she welcomed it every time they came back. She glanced up at the ceiling, tracing the paths of metal pipes snaking around and over one another. The latticework snaked across the stone above, spreading all throughout the facility. Each pipe transported its own precious resource and Ryna wondered which ones supplied their artificial air, the occasional ceiling vent jutting out between the gaps. She wagered the larger, duller ones funneled their water − generated from the purification chambers in the basement of the bunker.”

Perfect new thumpnail! The red wedding was a Masterpiece, a very painful one

As someone who wants to write a book, but has been procrastinating due to the fact I'm afraid of not being to convey the story in intriguing ways, your videos have been incredibly helpful to get me more confident and begin writing. Thank you!

In the opening to my novel, I decided to do what no one is supposed to and described the lovely weather and setting. The focus, though, shifts to the MC's love for the place, an emotional tie that is important for the climax of the story. At the same time, cracks appear in the idyllic setting: storms earlier that year that caused severe fire damage to her town, people are concerned about what to do when the traveling merchants come through after all the damage, and her town sits close to a forest that's known to be enchanted. These elements are pretty minor as far as plot events go (they do play a part, but they aren't the main focus), but they are the setting in which the mask finally falls off and the inciting incident occurs. I don't think many would be surprised by the flip in atmosphere that happens halfway through chapter 1, due to the cracks that have been shown already throughout the first half. Rather, a single character who fully lives in the mask is the one who is surprised as the lovely life he thinks he lives and projects to everyone else turns out to be built on volcanic pain that erupts by the end of chapter 1.

Thank you for working so hard and making these videos. I am a D&D enthusiast who unfortunately does not have time to play but I still do world building here and there.

When I was in middle school I wrote a novella, and although I kind of put it aside until recently (I’m completely rewriting it and hope to self publish it in the next couple years) I did keep in mind the stuff I liked about that first draft, such as my tight but vivid scene descriptions and the little details of character action and interactions. I once showed one of my teachers a page I was working on and she went, “I love how you describe what the characters are doing between the pieces of dialogue.” This for some reason seemed so obvious to me that the comment felt almost condescending but I’m sure she didn’t mean it that way and I do think that feedback was ultimately helpful. Anyway what I’m saying is that descriptions have always been something I’m comfortable writing but this video has definitely expanded my understanding.

As always your video wants to make me rip my work in progress apart and reword a lot of it. Thank you for your fantastic tips and congratulations on the release of two whole books.

Wasn't going to say anything until the man himself brought it up. The chess board is a mess at just about every point, including some setups that are just flat out impossible. Fun little stuff to look at for the background and notice, and a good video nonetheless!

In my current (attempt at writing a) book, the first scene introduces the character in a clean suit with resparator mask scrubbing on water stains and black mold in a house she inherrited, describing the crsip and protective cleanness of the suit against the filth and decay of the delapidated building. I described with sickenning visceral words how the grime and mold runs down the wall, seeking to escape the soapy sponge. In the next scene, while the character is taking a break for lunch, the food is described clinically, not as what the food is, but the chemicals and artifical flavourings it is made of while the character mulls over the discovery that all the mold and grime was artistically applied water colour made to look like filth to reduce the house value as protest against inherritance tax. Both scenes together (are supposed to) prime the reader for deception and illusions in the story. Nothing is as it appears at face value.

This gave me so much to think about for my story, thank you!

Very helpful tim! Just started noodling on a new piece, and I used some of the tips to make the intro much spicer. :) Can’t freakin wait for Worldbuilding III.

Thanks for this wonderful deep dive; I've been thinking about this topic alot lately, mostly because there's a book I've been reading that didn't do this, and it really undermined one of the characters, for me. Its especially glaring because she has something happen that alters her perception (mostly sight and sound), but instead of the description showing us how she feels about this change, it continued to use the same words as before, leaving me feeling like this huge thing that was set up as a really big deal for her didn't actually matter that much to her. It was frustrating, becuase it created a disconnect from a character I had quite liked.

all three volumes on the way. Tim your videos are so fun. I love how you use real examples to make your points. And Dr Who. :)

Great video man, but I can't get over all the illegal moves on your chess board hahaha If we still had stars I'd have to take one off for that.

Being able to share my writing with you, someone who trully helped my develop my work as a writer, is what motivates me to finnally hire a translator to publish my book in english 🤗 As someone who lives in the opposite side of the world (and speaks and writes in portuguese haha), thank you, man 💜 Congratulations on the new releases!!

One day I swear I will buy all your books, Love your videos so much!

Watching this while Volume 3 sits in my bag. Just waiting for when I have a moment to crack it open

During the last couple of months, I've been taking a course in Qualitative Research Methods, and it just struck me that it contains the same steps as when setting a scene, but inversed. One could easily inverse phenomenology to create a multilayered scene, or maybe even a whole story. Great video Tim! Actually gave me some thought on my upcoming thesis 😅

These scene stills hunts me to this day

This video is absolutely amazing. Love your Work, Tim

I'll be 100% honest with you, I clicked on your video because I expected it to deal with cinematography, and scenes in shows and movies, and about halfway through the video I realized I'm not getting what I hoped for. Its 100% on me, and my expectations, I know you're excited about your new book, and I should have realized much sooner it isn't about the TV show.

Probably my two favorite scene settings I've written to share- (Also, I know, they're fanficion, please ignore that, lol.) Scene 1: There is no words to describe how putrid rotten flesh smells, the decomposing skin hanging off skeleton reeked of thousands voices screaming. She had nothing to do with the corpse, she was stuck in the hole with it, she had no dirt to bury it in, no way to hide her kill. The foul sent of her guilt was unescapable. She had tried several means of escape, to no prevail, the holes wall much too high, slimy stone unable to climb, and no material in this den to assist her. She was trapped. The night hung with a suicidal silence in the pitch dark only the soft taunts of waving tree branches and mate-less cricket chirps present. Hand bracing against the walls, she took a breath. Ren said if she died then the Admins would find her. She had to survive. Scene 2: It reminded me of the large sweeping castle ruins you can find in the Nether, only not ruins, but polished, frequently clean, and filled with all different types of people. The quartz sparkled in the bright sun, the crowds glinting as a streaming sea. The proud bleached building juts out of mountain backdrop, important offices scattered all around in the city of technical superiority. I knew each one, the stumped roof one belonged to the funder of the Administration's treasury back in the day, now belonging to Usin Hellth the current treasurer, well, at that time, now in the present Usin Hellth has retired and maintains several community servers. To my knowledge the current treasure is Lean Flop. I do not say this all the brag on my knowledge, but to show my pride, my foolish pride. Seeing it all for the first time is somewhat indescribable. Like a young boy who grew up infatuated by a fantasy universe, then, by some crossing the threshold means, usually a old artifact, a wish, or famously a wardrobe, he is able to step foot in this world that captured his imagination for so very long, experience the things that were once fantasies, grab a dream and actually wrestle it into submission in the realm of reality. Though this didn't feel real, it felt like I floated, feet hovering over the surface of the ground as I made my way to check in and then my new living space for the next years of my life. I got my first whiff of the Administration's signature sent, Windex air and stale coffee, as I entered the large dome room, three large stair wells leading to a upper level in front of me. So many class rooms, so much to learn, all the stuff I could, and was going to learn. This was the Archival, the building for game play studies, game mechanics, different types of games, rewards system creation and more. The main creators of some the greatest and most beloved Minecraft games graduated from here, such as Bed wars and Build Battle. This explains the many stands lining the walls for signing up for different Minecraft game clubs, a thing I learned was always prevalent in the beginning of first semester, when all the new recruits where coming in. There were also many server internships or internship for game based Minecraft servers or community game play servers for the several years returning. A lady offered a pamphlet to me but I simply shook my head, I wanted to get to my living quarters first, then I'll come out here...that's what I told myself, but I knew talking to strangers was going to be impossible, these crowds created a tightened feeling in my chest, I would probably sign up later after everyone had left. I hope those might spark inspiration for some of y'all, I really enjoyed readings others, it help me a lot!😄 This series has been incredible to me, thank you and congratulations on your wedding!!!❤❤

Samara felt the zebra tense beneath her in anticipation of the chase. The cheetah had been released. She readied her bow and glanced across the opening in the brush to the shade of the acacia where Kalyx waited. A male impala burst through the opening. Samara’s zebra launched into a parallel run without the need of instruction. She aimed in front of the buck and released her shot just as he veered away. The arrow clanged off a small stone on the ground. The impala fell a few paces beyond with the green and yellow fletching of Kalyx’s arrow protruding from his chest. The cheetah had a grip on his throat before the impala could regain its footing. Madoqua trotted up beside the kill, hopped from his zebra, and drew a butchering knife and hatchet from his belt. “A fine animal for tonight’s feast. Excellent kill, Dumallah!” he said, praising the panting cat who had retreated to the shade of a shrub to wait for her handler to remove and present the impala’s heart to her. “A most helpful shot from the young lady as well.” “Bite me, old man,” Kalyx replied. The grin fell from her face as she lifted her eyes toward the horizon. “Captain, rider coming from the manor.” Samara shifted in her saddle to see the messenger galloping across the savanna. “Must be urgent. I will ride to meet him. Bring the impala as soon as you gut it. Our festivities may be postponed.” Vultures were circling above the kill before Samara reached the messenger.

A good way to set a scene is to focus on both the good & bad details to keep the reader guessing on what's going to happen next.

This has channel has been like gasoline thrown on my creative fire and understanding of it. I'd love to see a video on how Sci fi stuff like the mechanics of space travel and life support in regards to world building

Thanks for another great video, Tim! Also, entirely tangential - I love that the Secret Projects are in the book stack at the start of the video.

27:24 (Unless the vibe you want to set up is, intentionally, meant to enable a sort of yanking of the rug or tablecloth out from under things later on either as something particular happens to literally change everything or if things are meant to not initially/immediately seem as they really are or such-but then you still have to do the switch well and/or illustrate that transformation progressively as things go along. {Which is sort of also touched on in the video here with the later mention of going for contrast, shortly after this point, I s'pose!😹 😊} ^-^)

Love your content man! You're amazing 😊😊😊❤❤❤

Thank you for your videos!!

wow love the new editing style! keep It up mate!

Any Locked Tomb fans here (Gideon the Ninth etc)? I feel like Tim would like it. The author is just brilliant at writing.

I'm not writing a book, but I have watched all your videos to write some neat fanfiction so thanks man !

Love to start a scene with dialogue - in media res in microcosm. The prose equivalent of a dialogue box at the end of a scene and bottom of a comic page before a page turn establishing shot. Works best for a story with a pulp sensibility, but not exclusively. It's the first hook or question (where are we and who are we talking to) that leads the reader into the slightly bigger questions of the scene proper that will express themselves over the more standard scene setting.

Excellent work, man. I'm expecting V3 any day now!

Get that mug off the book right now! 🤯

5:43 I just picked up vol 1 and 2 of your books and I didn’t know there was a third. I’ll have to go back and get that one too

Thank you for coming out with this video this happens to be one of my weak points with my writing

shout ot to Gillian Flynn,she NEEEEDS to write more books,her 3 books and the short story she wrote are some of my favourite mystery/thriller romance ever,i need more

Hey Tim! Love your videos. Just wondering- which volume of On Writing and Worldbuilding contains the most useful info for building a sci fi world? Thanks!

My favorite tv episode 🗣

Could you take a loot at the latest gem "Blue Eye Samurai"?

My partner has come to dread new releases from "hello future me", as it usually foreshadows me adding several new book series to my shopping list...

The only thing we can’t get in the book version of these videos is Saxophone Gandalf.

I often think of writing like playing music. Usually I have a harp in my mind’s eye, choosing particular notes, making sure they are in the right order and at the right tempo, that way the overall effect has what I want it to be. A lot of it’s about choices, having this element or that one at this time.

I'd love a series on plot archetypes. What makes the most common ones so special? How do you combine them? Etc....

Nice Scholar's Mate, mate! Love the video!

Yay epic video

9:50 I've been having a crisis watching you move these pieces for a little over 10 minutes..... 19:23 i nearly lost my shit, so this was a good analogy for what youre were talking about

19:16 Now the chess metaphor makes suddenly much more sense to me. Of course describing things randomly will have an effect of not moving on when it would be better to just do that.

A clear and sunny day, with the only cloud in the sky is the small trail of smoke coming out of a quiet Mt Doom. The familiar plateau of Gorgoroth encircled by mountains is green with invading plants over-growing old, worn and broken roads. The sleeping Mt Doom smokes in the distance as we see a hole with dirt coming out into a mound. A figure wearing a helmet reaches up and pulls the helmet off. A red tattoo on her arm could be seen as the little girl tries on another helmet. She pulls off the metal hat and looks at a parchment with red ink writing. Her black hair and gray eyes look at a small book with notes and translations of the red ink writing. The digger stops as his shovel makes a ‘tink’ noise. The girl jumps down into the hole as the same tattoo could be seen on the digger's arm, he wipes away some dirt. With a deep Southron accent the man pulls down his wrap and says, “Not another piece of armor.” The girl keeps clearing away dirt with her hands and says, “This one made a different sound.” She wipes away enough to expose a red eye carved into a large piece of metal. The two continue to dig out the large metal object. “This is the stand he had built to hold it. It should be here.” He said in his accent. They have cleaned the stand over halfway dugout of the ruins and still no sign of the prize they seek. Then he feels something in the dirt and stops. “I think this is it! Hand me that towel.” He points to one hanging off the ladder step. She hands it to him and he covers his hands with the towel. He moves his hands around under the towel to clear it out from its resting place. He wraps the sphere and frees it from its ancient ruins and he says, “This is what I have been searching for all these years. I knew it was here! They were forged by Feanor himself during the time of the Two Trees. They are indestructible.” He finishes wrapping it up and places it in the box she retrieved for him after he climbed out of the hole. “Keep it covered and locked! Remember, IT WAS DESTROYED WHEN SAURON FELL. That lie can finally be helpful for once.” They loaded it on a cart and covered it with other stuff to hide the box. They start filling in the hole they made in the smashed ruins of Barad'Dur. “No one can know that we’ve been here. We have an hour to avoid the patrolling Guard.” He said as they finished up. He lays down some leftover armor and marks the location in his book. After loading up the rest of the camp it looks just the same as before. I'm writing a story set in the Fourth Age of Middle Earth. NEW SHADOW RISING AND THE RED TREE on Wattpad.

Lovely video! Make sure to keep the a1 square dark though! Otherwise the queens will end up on the e file, which will annoy chess nerds.

I am having difficulty with this in writing my book. It is set in a dark fantasy setting where it is characterized by eternal night and darkness. The bright full moon is a consistent motif I use throughout my book's scenery descriptions, as well as ocean and maritime metaphors too , especially ones describing the dark abyssal ocean

When complicated sax wizard returns, brain go brrrrrrrrrr

I completely expected this to be an announcement for a new chess channel.

My favourite setting the scene was the intro by the illustrated man by ray Bradbury

"I'm going to show you what pieces I was moving into position, and why, and let me know what you picked up on?" *IMMEDIATE TRANSITION TO DEAFENING PLAYSTATION 5 AD!* ... I'm guessing Lucia wished she could play video games rather than go to a funeral. 😅

Great video! I'm definitely guilty of describing things that aren't necessarily significant 😅

Awesome video.

*The exterior of Lakeline Mall is like all the other buildings in Austen, so I don’t blame you for skipping yet another moss-covered block of concrete, big enough to make you claustrophobic and crumbling into its own chaotic parking lot. Even the burnt edges of the Target or the shattered opening of the Hedge does little to break the landscape. It’s not until you get inside that you see the grandeur, the appeal.* This is my own (admittedly rought draft) of a scene setting from my zombie western.

I think the Witcher books are a great thing to look at here. To summarize events happening over several months, we jump from scene to scene without introduction and just hear the dialogue happening. Because the rest doesnt matter and hasnt changed much / in an important way tot he scene(s) before.

As a non-native english speaker that wants to write a book in english I feel both inspired and discouraged by this video. I know I have the story, the content, but I fear I miss the linguistic mastery to employ those nuances

I got into siriously plotting my story lateley and condering your book

Thumbnail of Timmy playing chess. Be stilled, my beating heart

6:40 Love the metaphor, but did you just castle into a check? 😅

Setting the scene is great... but at 6:50 black castled into check!

Your chess board is oriented incorrectly :(. When playing as white your king should be on your right. The board needs to be rotated 90°

Wow 😯

the bishop just looking at the king the entire game:

So glad you changed the thumbnail. That bear is nightmare fuel. *shudder*

I didn't even realise this was a video from Tim, because of how different the Thumbnail looked... No Avatar reference, no character off to the side, no extra immages... Just a character in front of a two word title. It certainly confused me for a moment 😂

great video but got teased by "the things they carry" sitting there the full video to just not be used

The mirrored chess board throws me off every time I see it... Great video nonetheless!

Would only knowing "the red wedding is a thing from Game of Thrones," "I think theres a wedding, betrayal, and bloodshed," and "It was a big deal" count as not knowing about it?

Setting the scene and bringing the tone for a novel can be hard when it's a scene in the middle, or getting the end right. Getting the right feel within a paragraph right at the start? Often nightmarish. On the third full rewrite of my book, but I ~think~ I have it now. Here's the first paragraph, doing it's best to pack in the right imagery, feel, declaration of location, and hook. Please, feel welcome to give your thoughts. --- The Ohio State University's campus was old, and the hungrily growing city of Columbus had built up around its narrow, forever clogged two-lane streets. The eternally expanding campus had built back over the city, climbing its heights ever more in dusty construction that never seemed to end. At some point the two had merged until there were no distinct lines, only buildings that were city, and buildings that were campus, sprawled in every direction on either side of the river. Sometimes the buildings would even touch, or be atop one another as they fought to supersede and claim prominence and dominance in equal measure. It was an aging, modern realm trying to find and redefine itself in a confusing world, and this made it perfect for all the students that went there seeking to do the same. The many-limbed fur-covered monster crashing out the café window beneath the aging library made it significantly less so.

29:30 Tim: "Say it with me!" Me: "IS COMPLICATED!" Tim: "Specificity." Me: ...Do we still get a wizard?

Great advice! Your thumbnail title is correct, but your video title is not. The title implies this is advice for crafting a scene, which it's not. It's setting a scene, as in the thumbnail, and as you say in the video. Just thought I'd mention it in case new writers think these are the fundamentals of building a scene, whereas they are more like an edit pass to establish mood/foreshadowing/subtext and so on.