Why you should try immersive writing sessions / Christian writing advice

I never knew what immersive writing sessions were until I came across them on YouTube. Now I think they’re one of the best things the internet has to offer writers. I use them all the time as a tool for increasing my focus and motivating me while writing.

Who doesn’t want to be super zoned in to their writing, and have an immersive experience with their story! I believe it changes the way we write.

I believe it changes the way we write.

If you are unaware of what immersive writing sessions are, they are videos that encourage writers into a specific scene, in the hopes that it will be somewhat immersive, and help the writer be enveloped by what they’re writing.

Each video has a specific vibe and feel to it, for instance, there is a fantasy forest, an academia library, a regency ball, a spooky castle, an autumn cottage – you take your pick! So the video opens and there’ll be music along with ambient noises and visuals. For example, if you watch the regency ball session, there would be regency style music with the faint sound of people taking and then vague video or photo clips (either ai or stock) of scenes at a ball. There are writing sprints within the session, and you write to the ambient sounds.

The sessions are meant to create an ambiance that is either simply pleasant to write in, or similar to your story, so it almost feels like you’re inside your story’s world.

In a world that is so busy, loud, and clamoring for our attention – having a way to create ambience and mood for writing sessions is such a gift! So, if you don’t have that aesthetic rainy day, or peaceful birds chirping, immersive writing sessions could help you out.

I find these sessions so very useful when I’m lacking motivation, or simply not in the mood for writing. They are also great for if I’m not connecting at all with my story. They always help me find focus and really get into the world of my characters.

If I’m writing a tense part of the book, I might choose something like “A mystical forest, but it keeps getting darker” to write with. The first writing sprint begins and I’m off, writing about my characters to the sound of trees, wind, birds, and some magical music.

Often when I use writing sessions, it’s just the sound I’m there for. As I don’t have two screens at my work place, I simply put on YouTube in one tab, and open up my Google docs in the other. It’s so easy to flick between them and change the session if it’s not quite fitting my vibe. Sometimes I just want the writing sprint aspect of it, and will mute the video and put my own music on.

Being immersed in the writing process is bound to lead to different writing than if we’re not. I have always liked the quote that says if you enjoy writing something, someone will likely enjoy reading it. I’d say it would be similar with be in immersed in the story. If we, as writers, are immersed in our story when writing, how much more will our readers be so, after all the edits and changes are complete?

If we, as writers, are immersed in our story when writing, how much more will our readers be so, after all the edits and changes are complete?

If you need something to help you on your writing journey, I’d highly recommend immersive writing sessions on YouTube. They are free, accessible, and quick to flick on. I watch Abbie Emmons’ ones and find them amazing. All her content is top notch, and very valuable to writers. Being an author, she has created them with us in mind. The ambience, paired with writing sprints, make it a productive environment that helps us reach success with our novels.

I think story writing is so much about the adventure of being in the story: getting to see a new world through the eyes of your characters. The joy of the craft is so wrapped up in that: getting to experience something truly unique and magical. The wild thing is: you can create any kind of adventure, you can craft any character, and make anything happen. The choices are endless. I love immersive writing sessions for simply that: they encourage us to step into the world of our book, and not just write a good story, but go on the adventure ourselves while writing it.

I love immersive writing sessions for simply that: they encourage us to step into the world of our book, and not just write a good story, but go on the adventure ourselves while writing it.

I long to continue returning to a child’s imagination, to be completely enveloped in the story, not just the writing. These sessions sometimes get me a little bit closer.

I think it’s beautiful, how the internet can offer us valuable things, when so often what is offered is worthless. One reason to be glad I’m a writer now and not one hundred years ago! (Although it did seem a lot more romantic back then…in the movies).

I will link the immersive playlists below so you may browse at your leisure. I do believe there’s a session there for everyone, from fantasy writers, to sci-fi, to romance – Abbie has truly made sessions for all types of atmospheres.

Here is a session for those who are writing a rom com, a seaside story, or something lovely and soft.