AS PROMISED, here's my update from today bahaha. In trying to follow my new writing routine, I did NOT get up at 6am (*insert sad clown noises*). However! I did manage to write 900 words in the romance pen name, then did some yoga, and then showered and did my skincare routine. SOoooooOoooo....three out of four isn't too bad, right? Thanks for coming on this journey and being my accountabili-buddies (even if it was forced upon you)!
I was just having a similar conversation with a friend! Aside/apart from fatigue/decision fatigue, I seem to have a discipline fatigue, like: I can Be Good, but there has to be an End Point and.or Reward, and even with that, there is a limit to how good I can be in a day/week/month. 🙃🤔🤗
I'm glad this was forced upon me, been trying to find a legit accountability buddy for ages. Tried also using TH-cam, but uh, I need an accountability buddy for that as well. LOL. The new writing routine I am trying at the moment is, "I don't care if you don't FEEL like writing, just write for a bit everyday. Whatever you've got in you." Don't get me wrong, I actually write all the time. I'm a grad student. So, that is part of the problem. When it comes time to sit down and write stuff for my own independent of school projects, I'm all written out already. lol. So I'm trying to time manage better around writing, and push through that feeling of not feeling like it. If I waited till I felt like it to do things in my life, I'd do very little other than random fun explorative trips and eating. lol
When I was in college, I had a really robust writing critique group. I haven't been in one since then, but now 10+ years later, I was looking the programming calendar for my library and saw that they have monthly writers group meetings that I'm starting to go to.
When I first started out, I had a few writing friends online. When I was on social media, I was part of a few writing communities. I comment on TH-cam channels I like. But before I left social media, I wasn't part of communities even though I followed a ton of writers and commented. The endless scrolling became too much, too hard on me mentally and too hard on my creativity. I miss being part of a writing community. It's a very lonely existence as a writer without it. But my creativity is back, my writing is back, my comparisonitis has dwindled significantly. That said, I would still love a writing community... It seems to be a catch-22.
I am in the exact same situation. I cut out social media last year except TH-cam and just went back to Instagram in May. I used to mod a writing group on FB, and while I do miss some of it, the mental health toll and comparisonitis (great term) is very real. I miss having writer friends, though, to commiserate with and cheer on. That said, what do you write? 😁
Hi! Just wanted to say THANK YOU FOR THIS! You have truly inspired me to focus on the journey & presented it in a way that I was able to connect with. I am a "former" writer turned collage artist that's currently going through some rough times & your advice helped me to refocus & reevaluate my situation. Thank you! You are the best! Good luck on your submissions to Hallmark. I hope you get picked!
It's funny to see how your brain works so differently from mine but we both love writing, haha (like I love cooking but baking is a challenge for me, and also in my writing, I know I can't work with word count goals or clear instructions). It goes to show you can write in many different ways, as long as it works for you. A few questions for you, feel free to do with it as you like: 1. I was wondering where you got your keyboard? It's so fun and looks really comfy to write on, and I know little things like that do motivate me. 2. I was wondering if you do writing parttime or fulltime? I struggle combining my writing with my job and other things. I really need some time to get into it and go through the different stages, so that's a serious challenge. I would also love to see a vid on this! 3. Next to that, I often find no trouble writing, but I'm having most trouble with the "mechanics" and oversight of what I write. Do the plot technicalities and chronology make sense? Is the pacing right? Esp since I'm often writing from different character's experiences within one plot, it is a real hassle. Like the "backend" intricasies of a book are a whole thing on its own. I have all these chapters, I basically know the plot, but how do I structurally and technically make it all sound? It's also simply the work I enjoy least (as I imagine is the case for most of us), so that makes it harder ;) I often see writers make vids about how to get yourself to write, but I'm always like: "I have so much written stuff, I need more help piecing it all together!"
Shelving things up is something I do regularly and it frees the mind for other projects and makes it easier to finish them first. Also, even with stories you've given up on you will never know if an idea comes out of nowhere that allows you to recycle parts of the abandoned project. Nothing is ever written in vain.
The final section of this video is 💯. I have held onto projects for waaay too long because other people have encouraged me to keep pursuing them. But you are right. I just knew in my heart I had moved on from the story. I was no longer in the same stage of life I’d been in when I started writing and the story was no longer meaningful to me. But it can be reeeeaallly hard to differentiate between knowing you’ve emotionally moved on from a story vs just general self-doubt. For me, the kicker was waking up one day and realizing I really didn’t care if no one in the world ever read my story. That’s how I knew I was ready to move on. Whereas I have stories right now that I struggle to write because of self doubt but I still yearn to put them out into the world. So I still carry those with me.
I like to say when I’m shelving a project that I’m just “letting it steep” so that I have a stronger grasp/idea of the story. I recently shelved one idea I had for the Hallmark Open Submission period and worked on a new idea that I’m almost finished with the first draft. This is another great vid that makes me feel less alone in the writer struggles😂 Also, Book Lovers has become my new absolute favorite book!
I used to run a discord server for a group of writing buddies that I had. The problem with that became that I was encouraging everyone else to write but they were not encouraging me in return, which became a real blah and why I don't really have a writing "community" anymore so much as a few friends I talk to about writing.
As a reader I can read so many books at once, but I can barely write one book at a time so I always love seeing you work on all these different projects!
In a nutshell, ideas and stories that do not work have either the wrong plot type or the wrong character type for that story idea or plot. Character - Plot - Finished Story/ in that order - There are 7 basic plot types with many variations off those - so it takes time to find the right ones for any story concept -. many vary by light or dark figures as characters etc...or by being overshadowed by dark figures etc ... writing Fiction is one of the hardest gigs to pull off being it takes a lot of time to learn all the writing devices and know how to use them. I started making posters for all the devices - like image moments etc - all the other stuff I use. kinds of stuff I use. One thing to remember is pattern recognition in everything used to connect to the reader - If the reader does not recognize the right plot pattern in the novel they will go to sleep - it's a built-in architype of the human brain - Its overwhelming I know.
I primarily "lurk" in the online writing community, and I primarily do that and youtube, and by youtube, I mean your channel (and I'm going through the backlog of Brandon Sanderson because reasons). I have a hard time getting into the vlogs of fellow writers (b-roll of entrances and exits - when I know people are alone - gives me a headache) and filmmakers (a lot of them use all the same how-to-be-cinematic skills/tools and bleed together in my brainpan), mostly I watch vlogs of visual artists. I'm literally making a game plan for getting more involved/posting more, but the primary focus of this plan is to train the youtube algorithm to send things my way that are good for my mental health/aren't focused on chasing numbers/vanity metrics.
YESSSS, Kate did it!! I mentioned in a twitch stream about getting a Fitbit Watch or Apple Watch to track her walking and running and more! For some odd reason it made my day today!
Kate, I *needed* this video. You don't even know! It was so nice to put it on and break out my Passion Planner to get my own thoughts and goals back in order. As always, thank you!
I really enjoy listening to your ideas! You are a very compassionate creator. Im not a writer, but I am a composer, and many of your ideas are super inspiring! Thank you for sharing ☺️☺️
Thank you for this video, Kate! And love your doggos! Always wanting the attention and putting their butts in your face! Mine do, too! 😂 I really appreciate that you brought up shelving projects! It’s something I do a lot, although I’ve also finished several. It’s interesting because I write novels, short stories, novellas, AND TV drama pilots and I rarely hear screenwriters talk about shelving projects (or coming back to them later), but I find authors talk about shelving their short stories/novellas/novels all the time! The transparency is interesting to me! It’s also so cool that you write with your brother and best friend. I wrote a TV drama pilot with one of my besties in 2012 and we enjoyed it so much that we wrote more in that world for almost 10 years (mostly short stories) and I ended up writing 3 (completed) novellas in that world and many unfinished novellas on my own. But we’ve talked about writing together again recently, although I have so many of my own writing projects like you do! But it was a good experience. Thanks for the wonderful video! I’ve been watching your videos since 2018, I think? I’m glad I can finally leave comments! 🥰
the mental health aspect of it all really sometimes gets in the way of me writing and I feel what you're saying soooo much. It's like you desperately want to, but you somehow can't, because your head doesn't want to shut up and forces you to think of all the ugly things you don't really want to think about >.< it often pulls me down into some kind of bottomless pit, to be completely honest, and when I get out of there finally, I want to kick myself for not working on my projects for so long x.x I seriously need to try not beating myself up like that everytime, too, but it's incredibly hart, surprisingly enough :/
My writing routine is changing a little because of differnt life changes, also a friend of mine has a lot of academic presentations to do in the coming months so we've been meeting online 3 days a week instead of 2. Also due to an invasive idea I'm drafting 2 stories and editing another. I normally like to focus on one project. I had to take a break from my excersis routine because I tried to do some split training and it aggrivated my slipped disk. I'm trying to get back into the habit of getting up before my sons and doing Sweati' to the Oldies workout, but it's been a hard. I think my Vit D is low.
I'm not answering all the questions: New routine for life is just around my physical therapy requirements post-surgery. But I still just do the type of work I want to when I want unless there's a deadline. I share most on Ko-fi, and consume writing "friend" content mostly via TH-cam and Instagram. I get publishing news via Twitter, Publishers Marketplace, Shelf Awareness, and other industry newsletters. But I still need to pay for Jane Friedman's newsletter (I get her free one already). My pens now have a dedicated spot so I no longer lose them. I chip away at everything a little bit every week (but not necessarily every day as I do the work I *want* to (as I said above). Never too much banter. Definitely feel exhausted after finishing something. Definitely. I'm better at prioritizing it now when I need to and just give myself the grace to heal until I can get back to work and my (non-)routine. My goals are both destination & journey and I keep track of both in both ways in my bullet journal and Notion.
I started trying to wake up early to get a bit of writing in before work, and so far it hasn't gone swimmingly 😂 but I'm slowly making progress! I love the concept of destination vs journey goals btw
I always struggle with a writing routine. My work changes my schedule every 10 weeks or so which means everything from errand days to chore days to writing days get overturned. It makes any writing time feel like I'm desperately trying to get as much done as possible which tends to lead to burn out.
Inspired by your vlogs and some other factors I decided to write on daily basis and do my other work in routine and use daily vlogging as accountability. It’s going good 😎
I usually pull up old twitch streams and watch/write since I hardly ever catch them live! You don’t get the same community feel as when they’re live but it’s better than nothing/being completely solitary
Yeah, agreed! I rewatch livestreams a lot too and enjoy hearing the conversation, but also the flexibility in being able to immediately skip to the next sprint if I'm in the zone bahahah.
Oh dear, the "too hot to be outside" season. I used to take my Labrador Bobo for walks at 5 a.m. before getting ready for work. At my current place in life, I'm not going out with my Sheltie that early. First of all, Bobo could scare off coyotes. Kobie would look like a hairy snack. "Mmmm, licorice and vanilla." I'm making progress on my dictation efforts. Hurray! Romance is at 44,400+ words. Go team go. I LOVE Jane Friedman! She did the online "self-publishing" course I took in 2011 before jumping in with both feet. Hugs and love! 😃😃😃
I’ve been trying a new routine: waking up an hour earlier to write before doing anything else for the day. The waking up has sucked and the dogs don’t let me write first, even though it’s still an hour before I would be taking them out and feeding them, but I am getting more writing done before starting my day. So it’s been 50/50 successful.
I'm getting up "early" too since I figured, that my best writing window is in the morning. I'll get two hours done from 8-10 a.m. and then start my rest of the day. After about a week that routine was set and I was excited to get to writing in the morning. So just keep it up if that's the best way for you to write and eventually you'll get there :) Sending love and creative vibes
AHHHH that is so awesome!! Way to go with making that shift and that's incredible the routine felt "set" for you after just a week. YAYAY, great job! And thank you for allllll the vibes. :)
I'm watching this while having a lil' art time after helping my mom entertain her parents all weekend. I wish I were writing, but rest days! Turns out they're important! And they don't actually work when you spend them beating yourself up about it. The reminder was surprising and well timed
"(Rest days) don't actually work when you spend them beating yourself up." YES!!! You put that perfectly in so few words. Glad to help be part of your reminder and YAY for healthy rest time filled with fun art. :)
Totally agree. Pens - a universal problem. "Don’t beat myself up… eventually I will return to it." I've done no writing for about six weeks now; meh. "My capability as a writer..." Feel that one too. Introvert/antisocial, no social media for me. Share with mates and blog but... Comment on a couple of TH-cam channels, this one and Media Death Cult - Sci-fi stuff.
It's like the universe is speaking to me. Yesterday, I watched a video on Heart Breathings where Sarra talked about the fact she was feeling pressure from her fans to deliver that last book in her Shadow Demons saga. However, she can't get herself into the headspace to work on it because of that pressure. Therefore, she decided to temporarily set it aside and work on a novel she's had on her back burner for years. In case anyone's interested, here's a link for that video: th-cam.com/video/iiESHFWpI04/w-d-xo.html This got me thinking about my own WIP, which, if you recall, is a series-turned-serial I've been writing with my best friend...that we've worked on for OVER 20 YEARS. Maybe 25 by now. And we've both talked a ton about it, especially me. I've been so obsessed with it that I shelved two standalone novels because I simply could not get my brain to wrap around either of them for more than a few minutes. Here's the thing. I thought that by taking the idea of publishing Midnight Daze for money off the table, I would not feel the pressure of "I have to get this done." And it worked...for awhile. But now I've come to realize that I'm still feeling that pressure because--you guessed it--I've been talking about our plans to post it on Wattpad. So, while the urgency of trying to publish for profit is gone, the urgency of trying to finish it to get it out to readers has still been there. It's just been subconscious till now. And now, after watching your video, it's really hit home for me. The reason I've been feeling that pressure again is BECAUSE I have talked about it so much for so long. Thank you Kate, thank you Sarra, and thank you Universe! 💜💗💖
Oooh, thank you for linking Sarra's video!! I'll have to go watch it! And I'm so happy you've had this epiphany! I feel like that's always the first step/first bit of "relief" from the problem. Sending you all the good luck, whatever route you may go with it. :)
I have never been a morning person and since moving to Texas I find I’m more inactive since like we both know there’s only a small window of hood outside weather for exercise. I joined the writing community a couple years ago and I feel like it takes time to feel like it’s a community and it definitely takes different amount of time depending on the platform. I share mostly on IG stories and TH-cam. I find it hard to comment on all the videos. I have a discord but I have no idea what I’m doing over there, but I am in several servers there.
I’ve been watching authortube for so long (you were the first person I found!) and I almost never comment 😳 But I’ve been working on that! Thanks for the video Kateeee 🪄🪄🪄
This is exactly the sort of vlog I needed to see right now. I've just completed a hellish, year-long revision in a project and feel creatively exhausted. This affirmed that it's okay to take a break. The destination isn't everything, and a component of the journey- the most vital part- is rest. Also, side note, since you've been writing early in the morning, do you also feel that writing in the dark is the best way to focus? If I literally can't see anything, then how will I possibly be distracted? Just wondering if you also notice that upside to writing at darker hours. Anyways, best of luck to your new writing routine. I'm going to enjoy a long rest after that disasterous revision period.
We're doing good right now! Not sure what the rest of the week will bring. My brother's up in Dallas and they're doing alright, minus a minor leak in the roof. Hoping everyone will be alright.🤞
I have another question about pens though. Do you have a specific type of pen that you like? For years I used a specific brand that I could buy at the dollar store that didn't have a proper name but was a felt tip pen and I loved it. But they stopped selling them. I recently started buying pens at Micheals the arts and crafts stores I like that I can test them out before buying them and have found that my favorite brand is ArtLoft 0.7mm and I have them in a dozen different colours. I also really like the zebra Sarasa clip 1.0mm and have several colours of those.
@@KateCavanaugh 1:40 on repeat has me dying. I know you’re being serious, so I’m sorry, but the popped “P” followed by the straight stare “My mental health”
@@KateCavanaugh doing alright. I messed up Saturday/Sunday and didn’t write as much as I thought. I’ll need 2,500 today to get the 7,000 so we shall see
ACK! My bad. I've updated the Description of the video with the links!! Or you can search up The Troublemakers and the World Wide Writeathon and find them that way. :)
For me, it’s hard to feel safe in a space that’s not traditional established for POC. Reddit is just weird to me. LOL. I don’t like the format…I guess. So, most of my engagement is in the comments of YT. Facebook is to by the book and I left ALOT, a lot of "writing", "editing" groups. Many times, the "editors" would be TOO technical and not really answer the questions. Then, it becomes a p1ssing match with everybody (me) having to put up my resume. Idk, I just don’t like passive aggressive bullies.
AS PROMISED, here's my update from today bahaha. In trying to follow my new writing routine, I did NOT get up at 6am (*insert sad clown noises*). However! I did manage to write 900 words in the romance pen name, then did some yoga, and then showered and did my skincare routine.
SOoooooOoooo....three out of four isn't too bad, right?
Thanks for coming on this journey and being my accountabili-buddies (even if it was forced upon you)!
Routine is key but productivity is more than word count or goal count, it is also self-care and non-writing creative recharge.
@@PenumbraMineMMWard That's definitely why I'm trying to sort of "habit stack" with doing yoga and going on a walk! They're a nice way to recharge. :)
It'll get there.
I was just having a similar conversation with a friend! Aside/apart from fatigue/decision fatigue, I seem to have a discipline fatigue, like: I can Be Good, but there has to be an End Point and.or Reward, and even with that, there is a limit to how good I can be in a day/week/month. 🙃🤔🤗
I'm glad this was forced upon me, been trying to find a legit accountability buddy for ages. Tried also using TH-cam, but uh, I need an accountability buddy for that as well. LOL. The new writing routine I am trying at the moment is, "I don't care if you don't FEEL like writing, just write for a bit everyday. Whatever you've got in you." Don't get me wrong, I actually write all the time. I'm a grad student. So, that is part of the problem. When it comes time to sit down and write stuff for my own independent of school projects, I'm all written out already. lol. So I'm trying to time manage better around writing, and push through that feeling of not feeling like it. If I waited till I felt like it to do things in my life, I'd do very little other than random fun explorative trips and eating. lol
When I was in college, I had a really robust writing critique group. I haven't been in one since then, but now 10+ years later, I was looking the programming calendar for my library and saw that they have monthly writers group meetings that I'm starting to go to.
Farrell!! That's awesome! You know what, I need to check out my library and see if they have a writers group too. Thanks for the push!
Fyi I always watch your vlog before going to write, and idk how but it works for me to be productive. Congrats for completed the routine! Go Kate! 💙
Bahahah YAY! Happy to help any way I can and be part of your routine too. :)
When I first started out, I had a few writing friends online. When I was on social media, I was part of a few writing communities. I comment on TH-cam channels I like.
But before I left social media, I wasn't part of communities even though I followed a ton of writers and commented. The endless scrolling became too much, too hard on me mentally and too hard on my creativity.
I miss being part of a writing community. It's a very lonely existence as a writer without it.
But my creativity is back, my writing is back, my comparisonitis has dwindled significantly.
That said, I would still love a writing community... It seems to be a catch-22.
I am in the exact same situation. I cut out social media last year except TH-cam and just went back to Instagram in May. I used to mod a writing group on FB, and while I do miss some of it, the mental health toll and comparisonitis (great term) is very real. I miss having writer friends, though, to commiserate with and cheer on.
That said, what do you write? 😁
Hi! Just wanted to say THANK YOU FOR THIS! You have truly inspired me to focus on the journey & presented it in a way that I was able to connect with. I am a "former" writer turned collage artist that's currently going through some rough times & your advice helped me to refocus & reevaluate my situation. Thank you! You are the best! Good luck on your submissions to Hallmark. I hope you get picked!
It's funny to see how your brain works so differently from mine but we both love writing, haha (like I love cooking but baking is a challenge for me, and also in my writing, I know I can't work with word count goals or clear instructions). It goes to show you can write in many different ways, as long as it works for you. A few questions for you, feel free to do with it as you like:
1. I was wondering where you got your keyboard? It's so fun and looks really comfy to write on, and I know little things like that do motivate me.
2. I was wondering if you do writing parttime or fulltime? I struggle combining my writing with my job and other things. I really need some time to get into it and go through the different stages, so that's a serious challenge. I would also love to see a vid on this!
3. Next to that, I often find no trouble writing, but I'm having most trouble with the "mechanics" and oversight of what I write. Do the plot technicalities and chronology make sense? Is the pacing right? Esp since I'm often writing from different character's experiences within one plot, it is a real hassle. Like the "backend" intricasies of a book are a whole thing on its own. I have all these chapters, I basically know the plot, but how do I structurally and technically make it all sound? It's also simply the work I enjoy least (as I imagine is the case for most of us), so that makes it harder ;) I often see writers make vids about how to get yourself to write, but I'm always like: "I have so much written stuff, I need more help piecing it all together!"
Shelving things up is something I do regularly and it frees the mind for other projects and makes it easier to finish them first. Also, even with stories you've given up on you will never know if an idea comes out of nowhere that allows you to recycle parts of the abandoned project. Nothing is ever written in vain.
YESSSSSS. "Nothing is ever written in vain." I need to put that quote somewhere I can see easily. Absolutely!
The final section of this video is 💯. I have held onto projects for waaay too long because other people have encouraged me to keep pursuing them. But you are right. I just knew in my heart I had moved on from the story. I was no longer in the same stage of life I’d been in when I started writing and the story was no longer meaningful to me. But it can be reeeeaallly hard to differentiate between knowing you’ve emotionally moved on from a story vs just general self-doubt. For me, the kicker was waking up one day and realizing I really didn’t care if no one in the world ever read my story. That’s how I knew I was ready to move on. Whereas I have stories right now that I struggle to write because of self doubt but I still yearn to put them out into the world. So I still carry those with me.
I like to say when I’m shelving a project that I’m just “letting it steep” so that I have a stronger grasp/idea of the story. I recently shelved one idea I had for the Hallmark Open Submission period and worked on a new idea that I’m almost finished with the first draft. This is another great vid that makes me feel less alone in the writer struggles😂
Also, Book Lovers has become my new absolute favorite book!
I used to run a discord server for a group of writing buddies that I had. The problem with that became that I was encouraging everyone else to write but they were not encouraging me in return, which became a real blah and why I don't really have a writing "community" anymore so much as a few friends I talk to about writing.
As a reader I can read so many books at once, but I can barely write one book at a time so I always love seeing you work on all these different projects!
In a nutshell, ideas and stories that do not work have either the wrong plot type or the wrong character type for that story idea or plot. Character - Plot - Finished Story/ in that order - There are 7 basic plot types with many variations off those - so it takes time to find the right ones for any story concept -. many vary by light or dark figures as characters etc...or by being overshadowed by dark figures etc ... writing Fiction is one of the hardest gigs to pull off being it takes a lot of time to learn all the writing devices and know how to use them. I started making posters for all the devices - like image moments etc - all the other stuff I use. kinds of stuff I use. One thing to remember is pattern recognition in everything used to connect to the reader - If the reader does not recognize the right plot pattern in the novel they will go to sleep - it's a built-in architype of the human brain - Its overwhelming I know.
I primarily "lurk" in the online writing community, and I primarily do that and youtube, and by youtube, I mean your channel (and I'm going through the backlog of Brandon Sanderson because reasons). I have a hard time getting into the vlogs of fellow writers (b-roll of entrances and exits - when I know people are alone - gives me a headache) and filmmakers (a lot of them use all the same how-to-be-cinematic skills/tools and bleed together in my brainpan), mostly I watch vlogs of visual artists. I'm literally making a game plan for getting more involved/posting more, but the primary focus of this plan is to train the youtube algorithm to send things my way that are good for my mental health/aren't focused on chasing numbers/vanity metrics.
LOVE your tips on goal setting and building community with other writers! 😊
Ahh YAY! I'm so glad to hear it! :)
YESSSS, Kate did it!! I mentioned in a twitch stream about getting a Fitbit Watch or Apple Watch to track her walking and running and more! For some odd reason it made my day today!
Bahah yes! I've had it for a while but am not always the best about wearing it. 🙃 Even though I enjoy all the tracking and getting my steps logged!!
Kate, I *needed* this video. You don't even know! It was so nice to put it on and break out my Passion Planner to get my own thoughts and goals back in order. As always, thank you!
I really enjoy listening to your ideas! You are a very compassionate creator. Im not a writer, but I am a composer, and many of your ideas are super inspiring! Thank you for sharing ☺️☺️
Thank you for this video, Kate! And love your doggos! Always wanting the attention and putting their butts in your face! Mine do, too! 😂
I really appreciate that you brought up shelving projects! It’s something I do a lot, although I’ve also finished several. It’s interesting because I write novels, short stories, novellas, AND TV drama pilots and I rarely hear screenwriters talk about shelving projects (or coming back to them later), but I find authors talk about shelving their short stories/novellas/novels all the time! The transparency is interesting to me!
It’s also so cool that you write with your brother and best friend. I wrote a TV drama pilot with one of my besties in 2012 and we enjoyed it so much that we wrote more in that world for almost 10 years (mostly short stories) and I ended up writing 3 (completed) novellas in that world and many unfinished novellas on my own. But we’ve talked about writing together again recently, although I have so many of my own writing projects like you do! But it was a good experience.
Thanks for the wonderful video! I’ve been watching your videos since 2018, I think? I’m glad I can finally leave comments! 🥰
the mental health aspect of it all really sometimes gets in the way of me writing and I feel what you're saying soooo much. It's like you desperately want to, but you somehow can't, because your head doesn't want to shut up and forces you to think of all the ugly things you don't really want to think about >.< it often pulls me down into some kind of bottomless pit, to be completely honest, and when I get out of there finally, I want to kick myself for not working on my projects for so long x.x I seriously need to try not beating myself up like that everytime, too, but it's incredibly hart, surprisingly enough :/
You inspire me, not only with my writing, but I also want to start up my TH-cam channel again. Thank you
You should do it!! I've really enjoyed my time creating videos. :) Good luck!
@@KateCavanaugh thanks I just don't know what to talk about. I am only half way through my first draft. Something to think about
My writing routine is changing a little because of differnt life changes, also a friend of mine has a lot of academic presentations to do in the coming months so we've been meeting online 3 days a week instead of 2. Also due to an invasive idea I'm drafting 2 stories and editing another. I normally like to focus on one project.
I had to take a break from my excersis routine because I tried to do some split training and it aggrivated my slipped disk. I'm trying to get back into the habit of getting up before my sons and doing Sweati' to the Oldies workout, but it's been a hard. I think my Vit D is low.
I love how you are exploring your schedule.
Thanks Leslie!! Lots of trial and error, and so much of the schedule really feels season-dependent. But hoping I'll find what works well for me. :)
Aaaah, I was just thinking it's been a while since we've seen what your writing routine looks like these days, I'm so excited!! 🙌
I'm not answering all the questions:
New routine for life is just around my physical therapy requirements post-surgery. But I still just do the type of work I want to when I want unless there's a deadline.
I share most on Ko-fi, and consume writing "friend" content mostly via TH-cam and Instagram. I get publishing news via Twitter, Publishers Marketplace, Shelf Awareness, and other industry newsletters. But I still need to pay for Jane Friedman's newsletter (I get her free one already).
My pens now have a dedicated spot so I no longer lose them.
I chip away at everything a little bit every week (but not necessarily every day as I do the work I *want* to (as I said above).
Never too much banter.
Definitely feel exhausted after finishing something.
Definitely. I'm better at prioritizing it now when I need to and just give myself the grace to heal until I can get back to work and my (non-)routine.
My goals are both destination & journey and I keep track of both in both ways in my bullet journal and Notion.
Oh heck yeah let's go!
WOOOOOOOOO! :)
I started trying to wake up early to get a bit of writing in before work, and so far it hasn't gone swimmingly 😂 but I'm slowly making progress! I love the concept of destination vs journey goals btw
I always struggle with a writing routine. My work changes my schedule every 10 weeks or so which means everything from errand days to chore days to writing days get overturned. It makes any writing time feel like I'm desperately trying to get as much done as possible which tends to lead to burn out.
Inspired by your vlogs and some other factors I decided to write on daily basis and do my other work in routine and use daily vlogging as accountability. It’s going good 😎
I usually pull up old twitch streams and watch/write since I hardly ever catch them live! You don’t get the same community feel as when they’re live but it’s better than nothing/being completely solitary
Yeah, agreed! I rewatch livestreams a lot too and enjoy hearing the conversation, but also the flexibility in being able to immediately skip to the next sprint if I'm in the zone bahahah.
Oh dear, the "too hot to be outside" season. I used to take my Labrador Bobo for walks at 5 a.m. before getting ready for work. At my current place in life, I'm not going out with my Sheltie that early. First of all, Bobo could scare off coyotes. Kobie would look like a hairy snack. "Mmmm, licorice and vanilla."
I'm making progress on my dictation efforts. Hurray! Romance is at 44,400+ words. Go team go.
I LOVE Jane Friedman! She did the online "self-publishing" course I took in 2011 before jumping in with both feet. Hugs and love!
😃😃😃
I’ve been trying a new routine: waking up an hour earlier to write before doing anything else for the day. The waking up has sucked and the dogs don’t let me write first, even though it’s still an hour before I would be taking them out and feeding them, but I am getting more writing done before starting my day. So it’s been 50/50 successful.
I'm getting up "early" too since I figured, that my best writing window is in the morning. I'll get two hours done from 8-10 a.m. and then start my rest of the day. After about a week that routine was set and I was excited to get to writing in the morning. So just keep it up if that's the best way for you to write and eventually you'll get there :)
Sending love and creative vibes
AHHHH that is so awesome!! Way to go with making that shift and that's incredible the routine felt "set" for you after just a week. YAYAY, great job! And thank you for allllll the vibes. :)
I'm watching this while having a lil' art time after helping my mom entertain her parents all weekend. I wish I were writing, but rest days! Turns out they're important! And they don't actually work when you spend them beating yourself up about it. The reminder was surprising and well timed
"(Rest days) don't actually work when you spend them beating yourself up." YES!!! You put that perfectly in so few words. Glad to help be part of your reminder and YAY for healthy rest time filled with fun art. :)
That was a high level Buffy attack!
HEB!! I love HEB's recipes that they offer on their site. Fun to try out something new everytime I visit :D
Love your vlogs! Your advice is always great.
This is truly just their channel and I happen to sit in front of the camera on occasion bahaha. Thanks Julianna! :)
Totally agree.
Pens - a universal problem.
"Don’t beat myself up… eventually I will return to it." I've done no writing for about six weeks now; meh.
"My capability as a writer..." Feel that one too.
Introvert/antisocial, no social media for me. Share with mates and blog but... Comment on a couple of TH-cam channels, this one and Media Death Cult - Sci-fi stuff.
It's like the universe is speaking to me.
Yesterday, I watched a video on Heart Breathings where Sarra talked about the fact she was feeling pressure from her fans to deliver that last book in her Shadow Demons saga. However, she can't get herself into the headspace to work on it because of that pressure. Therefore, she decided to temporarily set it aside and work on a novel she's had on her back burner for years. In case anyone's interested, here's a link for that video: th-cam.com/video/iiESHFWpI04/w-d-xo.html
This got me thinking about my own WIP, which, if you recall, is a series-turned-serial I've been writing with my best friend...that we've worked on for OVER 20 YEARS. Maybe 25 by now. And we've both talked a ton about it, especially me. I've been so obsessed with it that I shelved two standalone novels because I simply could not get my brain to wrap around either of them for more than a few minutes.
Here's the thing. I thought that by taking the idea of publishing Midnight Daze for money off the table, I would not feel the pressure of "I have to get this done." And it worked...for awhile. But now I've come to realize that I'm still feeling that pressure because--you guessed it--I've been talking about our plans to post it on Wattpad. So, while the urgency of trying to publish for profit is gone, the urgency of trying to finish it to get it out to readers has still been there. It's just been subconscious till now.
And now, after watching your video, it's really hit home for me. The reason I've been feeling that pressure again is BECAUSE I have talked about it so much for so long.
Thank you Kate, thank you Sarra, and thank you Universe! 💜💗💖
Oooh, thank you for linking Sarra's video!! I'll have to go watch it!
And I'm so happy you've had this epiphany! I feel like that's always the first step/first bit of "relief" from the problem. Sending you all the good luck, whatever route you may go with it. :)
I have never been a morning person and since moving to Texas I find I’m more inactive since like we both know there’s only a small window of hood outside weather for exercise.
I joined the writing community a couple years ago and I feel like it takes time to feel like it’s a community and it definitely takes different amount of time depending on the platform.
I share mostly on IG stories and TH-cam. I find it hard to comment on all the videos.
I have a discord but I have no idea what I’m doing over there, but I am in several servers there.
I’ve been watching authortube for so long (you were the first person I found!) and I almost never comment 😳 But I’ve been working on that! Thanks for the video Kateeee 🪄🪄🪄
Ahhh! I need to use you as inspiration and start commenting on videos again too!! Bahaha. Thank you so much, I appreciate it!
This is exactly the sort of vlog I needed to see right now. I've just completed a hellish, year-long revision in a project and feel creatively exhausted. This affirmed that it's okay to take a break. The destination isn't everything, and a component of the journey- the most vital part- is rest.
Also, side note, since you've been writing early in the morning, do you also feel that writing in the dark is the best way to focus? If I literally can't see anything, then how will I possibly be distracted? Just wondering if you also notice that upside to writing at darker hours.
Anyways, best of luck to your new writing routine. I'm going to enjoy a long rest after that disasterous revision period.
I'm glad you aren't flooded.
We're doing good right now! Not sure what the rest of the week will bring. My brother's up in Dallas and they're doing alright, minus a minor leak in the roof. Hoping everyone will be alright.🤞
I have another question about pens though. Do you have a specific type of pen that you like? For years I used a specific brand that I could buy at the dollar store that didn't have a proper name but was a felt tip pen and I loved it. But they stopped selling them. I recently started buying pens at Micheals the arts and crafts stores I like that I can test them out before buying them and have found that my favorite brand is ArtLoft 0.7mm and I have them in a dozen different colours. I also really like the zebra Sarasa clip 1.0mm and have several colours of those.
Love this!!
the turtle lamp....so many memories
RIGHT!? It makes me feel so warm and comforted.
@@KateCavanaugh 1:40 on repeat has me dying. I know you’re being serious, so I’m sorry, but the popped “P” followed by the straight stare
“My mental health”
@@davidfloyd800 P P P 👀 👀 👀
ALSOOOOO how you doing on your 7-day writing challenge??
@@KateCavanaugh doing alright. I messed up Saturday/Sunday and didn’t write as much as I thought.
I’ll need 2,500 today to get the 7,000 so we shall see
someone please tell me where I can get that keyboard.. I need it!
what kind of keyboard do you use? it's cool looking. is it wireless?
What is the discord group you mentioned?
ACK! My bad. I've updated the Description of the video with the links!! Or you can search up The Troublemakers and the World Wide Writeathon and find them that way. :)
For me, it’s hard to feel safe in a space that’s not traditional established for POC. Reddit is just weird to me. LOL. I don’t like the format…I guess. So, most of my engagement is in the comments of YT. Facebook is to by the book and I left ALOT, a lot of "writing", "editing" groups. Many times, the "editors" would be TOO technical and not really answer the questions. Then, it becomes a p1ssing match with everybody (me) having to put up my resume. Idk, I just don’t like passive aggressive bullies.
❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤
amigo- thank you~gorgeous video-work, )
Are you part of any good writers discords?
I updated the description to include links to them!! My bad for not doing it before. 🙃
@@KateCavanaugh NP thank you!