I TRIED WRITING LIKE GEORGE R. R. MARTIN...for 2 days!

[@KateCavanaugh]

~HERE'S SOME MORE "I TRIED WRITING LIKE" EXPERIMENTS~ J.K. Rowling: kzbin.info/www/bejne/mnWqpWqmf7V7f6c R.L. Stine: kzbin.info/www/bejne/e3Szc2mPpK1lp5Y (^^there's a weird theme with initials that I'm starting to see...) Shonda Rhimes: kzbin.info/www/bejne/bYK4YaCLZ9eCack Stephen King: kzbin.info/www/bejne/ZobZiIhul6qVhtk And a playlist for even more and also other writing experiments: kzbin.info/aero/PLaxU2rtP-LED5pgNiLhKdZL0Jaf0Roxiy

[@maia_gaia]

As far as the no internet thing, george writes on a super old computer that isn't even connected to the internet. That's why he can avoid social media so well.

[@TheToneBender]

I do something similar. I write on a laptop that's too old and slow to browse the internet

[@lizanna6390]

I should do that. My teacher told my parents I could be a writer when I was like 6/7 and so I got an old word processor. As far as I know all it did was let me type and I adored it.

[@cheezyfilmsproductions1842]

I just write on a typewriter. No worries about internet that way lol

[@DreamfactoryZero]

I just don't use social media at all. I'm sure KZbin counts, but when I write, KZbin is strictly used for music. If that doesn't work, I just go to the woods. I don't have electricity or even phone service there. I prefer writing on paper before typing it out.

[@doxasophosmoros]

@@DreamfactoryZero lucky for you having private acres of woods then.. and big deal about the paper writing. (Same goes to old laptop - I wrote my best shirt stories and long poems on there aged 13 to 17.. and even typewriter.. I had one too) and I started off on paper winning awards age 10 onwards and I've written shelves full of books on paper (literally handwritten stuff) ever since , whilst also working and typing great stories, poems, songs and blogs and recently Long comments .. and the debates.. oh god I say a debate on almost anything ... I was becoming famous for it lol .. but it freaked me out and I was only 19 so dodged it, like most opportunities and gifts I've had :(. In fact ... I should start writing... Properly-again.. seeing years of ... Um.. people who consider themselves to be "writers" let's just say .. 😅🙄... Gloves are off, this is a cake walk. Seriously , being abused screwed my confidence big time and robbed me of immense potential... Many many people still get upset at me about no longer writing and creating art etc.. which says alot.. I should make a change and do what I should have always done.

[@wab6556]

I'm of the BurgerKing mind "Write it your way." I do find it interesting that Reedsy broke it down into 4 categories after the Architect and Gardener. There is the Designer and the Knitter. The Designer is somewhere in-between: they have a pencil sketch in place and like to have a good idea of what the painting will look like. However, they might not yet know what precise colors they’re going to use. They’ll figure that out as they work. The Knitter sits down and write scenes as they pop into their head. They’ll then go back and “knit” the sequences together later. Since they might randomly have Scenes 2, 10, 11, and 27 down on paper, it becomes a question of “filling in the blanks.” To them, a novel outline will be helpful as long as it gives them the freedom to move scenes around. (Think notecards or a corkboard.)

[@KateCavanaugh]

EXCUSE ME. I've never heard of that but I love those categories as well! (Also I just generally need to check out Reedsy!) Thank you for sharing!!! :)

[@wab6556]

@@KateCavanaugh Reedsy has good resources. The 4 categories are part of their "How to Outline a Novel" article. I do hope it helps everyone think beyond the categories.

[@2012funfamilytimes]

I am definitely a knitter. Never thought of it that way but yup definitely me. :)

[@pseudonymousentity5334]

Erin Schneider same!

[@jojobookish9529]

Holy crap, I'm a Knitter. This makes so much sense. I don't always have the full scene, but "I know this thing happens, now how do I get there?" is my entire process.

[@EmilyOlivieri]

I can see how being a “Gardener” would effect the realise of his books, I’m a gardener/pantser myself and it definitely makes the writing process a little difficult. He’s a hard working man though and those books are filled with so much information about the world and characters, I can’t imagine how hard it would be to keep track of all that! And the books are huge! Give the poor guy a break 😅 even if he was an “architect” I think he would struggle, anyone would!

[@lucyamclarenauthor]

Yes!! It’s always so frustrating when people moan about him not finishing the books. He’s creating this massive world, intertwining a number of different story lines and character arcs... imagine how hard that must be to keep track of! Give the guy a break and learn some patience and human decency.

[@authoramandaanderson2657]

@@lucyamclarenauthor I've heard also that he has pages of character synopses which is why his characters are so life like... like he figures out so much about them!!

[@lucyamclarenauthor]

@@authoramandaanderson2657 Wouldn't surprise me. I could never have the patience to do that myself haha, I just tend to wing things a bit and then pad characters out as I go. I am honestly in awe of his abilities/talent.

[@izsazsa219]

I really don't care why GRR Martin hasn't finished his book yet, and I don't mind if he never does... When I was young, my favorite author at the time died. His last book was the beginning of a new saga tying all of his universe together. Sometimes, stuffs are just not in your controle, and it's healthier to take a few step back.

[@nachosniewolnosci3147]

What was his name?

[@izsazsa219]

@@nachosniewolnosci3147 Pierre Botero (he is french)

[@shellystar]

I can't imagine writing any high fantasy novel, most especially the Song of Ice and Fire series, without planning ahead. How does he get all the facts straight? I mean he has a ton of characters, multiple story lines. The guy must be a fricken genius to keep all that information in his head. I'm amazed. I'd get lost with all the details I'd have to remember. I don't know how y'all do it but I'm ready to give both you and George a standing ovation! 😁

[@currangill430]

I think he has notes

[@Alresu]

@@currangill430 Probably. I personally am definitely more of a gardener and when I see something new sprouting (and am not stupid, which I am way too often), I take a note in a different file about that character, place, event, etc..

[@currangill430]

@@Alresu I totally gardener 100% I don't carry notes or anything. GRRM says he doesn't either. I tried outlining my world but it didn't work for me. I don't even look at my outline lol. I run with the hot and heavy idea and see what happens

[@Alresu]

@@currangill430 If he really doesn't do notes, it's extremely impressive, that he doesn't stumble over his characters and plot lines all the time.

[@frisonietdeprins]

I love your "I TRIED WRITING LIKE" videos! Could you do one of Rick Riordan or John Green some time? That would be amazing :)

[@KateCavanaugh]

Yesssss, they're definitely at the top of my list! :)

[@NicoleWilbur]

Thanks for the fun video! I kinda doubt the main reason George RR Martin is missing deadlines is that he’s a gardener. I feel like architects can fall into traps that would delay them too - like analysis paralysis where you outline so much you never get to writing 🙈 I think the term “discover writer” (Or “gardener”) is a lot more descriptive of what pantsing is really like!

[@johannarabindran6191]

Ahh I understand completely! I've been planning one novel for four weeks (plus a bunch of exploratory scenes to get the characters) and I'm still not ready to start drafting Edit: I don't know why I wrote 'four weeks' - I have been working on this wip since late July, so four months

[@KateCavanaugh]

Same! I think it's down to other factors. (And also I have lots of questions on what the people at his publishing house think!) But that's an excellent point about the different sort of struggles that architects vs. gardeners face! (Or maybe just the different points in the drafting process that they face them...)

[@NicoleWilbur]

Johanna Rabindran I’m at exactly the same place with mine! 😂

[@NicoleWilbur]

@Kate Cavanaugh haha yeah I think that’s a great point! Maybe the main difference IS where in the drafting process you prefer to struggle :)

[@johannarabindran6191]

@@NicoleWilbur this is actually a really nice way of phrasing it - I think Kate Cavanaugh likes to figure things out in the zero draft - I like to struggle with the outline

[@James.Stark.Ben.Edition]

With George and deadlines, George has repeatedly said that he needs an entire day to write. If there's is even remotely anything that needs to be done that day, he doesn't have time to write. Because he's so busy, he basically never writes until he has a full day to write.

[@werelemur1138]

That is peak dude right there.

[@romad6353]

Great video, is it possible to be a Samwise Gamgee writer? As in I have planted a seed, I'm not 100% sure what is going to come up, but I'm nosy and keep peering in through the windows?

[@ashorterroad]

I really can’t imagine being in GRRM’s position, mostly because I think feeling observed while writing would be so weird and hard. Writing is an act of imperfection and bravery and being alone, whether literally or just metaphorically, feels important. He literally gets recognised walking down the street! How weird is that? His is the most anticipated book in the world right now and I can’t even imagine the pressure. Has anyone seen that interview between him and Stephen King? King was just like, yeah I write a certain amount of pretty clean words every day and GRRM basically stared at him in disbelief and said you really don’t have any days where you despair and think you’re completely talentless and should have just become a plumber?? a) mood, George, mood and b) it clearly gets in his head. No wonder it takes him so long to write a 1000 page book. Plus, he no longer has to hand in a book to pay his mortgage, so he can agonise over it as much and as long as he likes and all it costs him is mental anguish.

[@lostinabookcase3796]

I've never once considered eating a bear, so maybe I'm doing writing all wrong XD

[@kristine95660]

I would assume if he's running behind on a project, it's because of his age and health. It's hard to write when you don't feel good.

[@nannasskrivehjrne9494]

I read in a Rolling Stones article that "The writer said that he also found it contentious that fans would complain about his attending events rather than staying home and working, noting that he only writes when he is home". And only being able to write at home (although I can't say if it has changed now) would definitely contribute to the time it takes him to finish a novel, especially with the succes of Game of Thrones and how much travelling that involved.

[@elizalagonia1049]

Honestly, I think the last book is taking so long because of fear. This is a culmination of a life's work, it's the end of his great saga and if it falls on its face (like I hear the last season did- still haven't been able to sit long enough to watch it) it's earth-shattering. It's Mr. Holland directing his Opus he'd been working on for thirty years, it's Rudy getting the chance to play in the game, okay you get it. I think of the scene in The Big Bang Theory when the first of the post-quels of Star Wars came out. The gang is so stressed that they won't like it it's paralyzing them until Wil Wheaton is like "You know whether the movie is good or bad the sun will rise tomorrow." or something like that. I think it's both on the publishers and Martin to just bite the bullet finish writing the book and get it out so they can see the sun will still rise the next day.

[@neverfinishedstory]

Not the end tho.

[@meme-bu8qu]

A Dream of Spring is supposed to be the last book, not Winds of Winter.

[@alphazero291]

It’s because of the Meereenese Knot

[@giuf175]

"I TRIED WRITING LIKE GEORGE R. R. MARTIN" .. so not writing at all? :')

[@KateCavanaugh]

Here's looking to 2020 for the new book. 👀

[@WriteHollyDavis]

Lmao!!

[@ClaireYunFarronXIII]

Here we go... 🙄

[@Hero_Of_Old]

Yeah but to be honest he's already written more than most of us will in our lives, I mean have you seen the size of A Dance With Dragons?

[@Sohiawrites]

He’s written A LOT of books. Asoiaf isn’t everything

[@ladyasriel7874]

I’m fairly confident The Winds of Winter will be released this century..... probably.

[@thedeadd.c.207]

Oh my sweet summer child.

[@neverfinishedstory]

good god don't mention winds of winter to us book thronies, our health bar goes to near zero when it's brought up hahahahahha. also on separate note reading asoiaf threw me into reading break because everything else seemed pale against it. and oh dear am I trying not to depress myself by that level of writing now I am attempting to write. I def understand him more since I started this journey. poor thing.

[@neverfinishedstory]

@DM Animation I am not a tolkein fan myself (had plenty of debates ahhaha) nor of high fantasy. all fantasy I do like is more genre bending. (I liked got because of historical aspect). but I would generally advise to read lotr before asoiaf if possible, and at younger age. it is very black and white in comparison.

[@thejabby1]

I really enjoyed the positive note this video needed on 💕 success isn’t over night nor is it the same for everyone. Happy writing Kate!

[@KateCavanaugh]

Aww thank you, I'm so glad! :) And happy writing to you too!

[@brittneychrist]

Don’t panic - my lazy ass read the first book in like a week on an old ass Nook! It was so easy. His writing style is super easy and I think his world building isn’t super heavy. It’s super accessible! Just read the book!! 🙌🏼

[@xShortyxJordyx]

The whole "if I only get a sentence and a half today, that's fine" thing is what I do! I am attempting to be more of an architect with my gardening background... it's hard...

[@nimrodgrrrl]

WHERE did you get that Hades mug OMG it’s AMAZING

[@rainlathrop5243]

Dang. That last quote about all his struggles gave me so much hope

[@anookishexception7234]

Hey Kate, you can actually go into the settings of the forest app and change it so that the limit it goes to is actually 3 or 4 hours. Just thought I'd let you know as someone who avidly uses the app and absolutely loves it. :)

[@KateCavanaugh]

THANK YOU!!!!

[@anookishexception7234]

@@KateCavanaugh You're very welcome. :)

[@julysanchez-sadowski7086]

Gardener vs Architect. I like to plan my garden. There is always a plan. Some plants don't grow and new ones need to be planted or changed. As long as I WORK the garden, something will grow. Hence why my butt is in my chair and I'm writing today.

[@KateCavanaugh]

Yessss! I think it's so important to continuously work the garden! Otherwise nothing will flourish.

[@GSDGamingx]

Me: okay time to make that important work call. Kate: *uploads* Me: well looks like that call is waiting

[@jl1566]

I am so excited I logged on to see a new video! Kate, you have really inspired me to start my writing journey! I started intentionally writing a story of mine this month thanks to you and your work ethic! You're a big inspiration!

[@KateCavanaugh]

Awww no way!! I'm so glad I could be even a small part of that. :) AND GOOD LUCK!

[@kath_wyn]

Aaahh finally! I have been waiting for this video ;) I am definitely an architect/planner/whatever you want to call it. Complete with scene plans, daily goals, sometimes even weekly/monthly goals. I could never be a gardner but I admire everybody who is!

[@KateCavanaugh]

OMG HOW. I admire you architects/planners too! It's always fun to recognize what a great method others have but know that it could never work for you. That's what makes writing so fun -- we all do it so differently!

[@kath_wyn]

@@KateCavanaugh That is my favourite thing about authortube and connecting with other authors! I get to see how everybody does it so differently and then I can pick from it what works for me. I always think that "outsiders" have such a simplistic view about "writing" when the craft and the people doing it are so diverse!

[@surfpassion19]

Kate describing the "Song of Ice and Fire" series as "high-ish fantasy" makes me laugh. It is DEFINITELY high fantasy. Like, very high fantasy. It's set in a fictional world not even remotely like Earth, it doesn't really involve a magic system but there's definitely magical elements there, and it is definitely epic. Though I do suppose if you've seen the show already, it might not seem like high fantasy because it's not completely new to you and you already know how the world works. But yeah, definitely high fantasy. Most people wait until they've read a bit more beginner fantasy before they delve straight into "Song of Ice and Fire," so good on Kate for just taking the head-first plunge!

[@jemajoy8839]

George R. R. Martin is a legend! 😍 I think most of the time I am a gardener. 🌱 And sometimes when planing action scenes, I simply take a piece of paper with multicolored pens, and having a fun time like a kid. Helps me out. 🎨🖊 Also at the end of the day it's important to backup your work. Unfortunately I learned that in the hard way. 😅 Have a wonderful writing time everyone!!! ❤

[@Shadowkitty360]

R.A. Salvatore is actually a really good example of a gardener who has produced so much content with a giant fantasy world and phenomenal characters and story!

[@brigida2350]

It's so fun watching this because these videos is how I discovered you but now I know more about you but I can also see why I liked you so much right away

[@analesesalakielu971]

❤️❤️😭thanks for making these videos!

[@KateCavanaugh]

Of course, I have so much fun experimenting!! :)

[@ThePetergate]

I've come to the realisation that it's not so much 'either or' re Pantsing v Plotting but more a spectrum (like so much in life).

[@TheToneBender]

It hasn't been published due to him doing a lot of other stuff. Also due to him being a gardener. Also, in an interview with stephen king he said that he writes a sentence, hates it, rewrites it several more times (something like that). And then there is the show which ended horribly and might have had him rethink & rewrite some stuff.

[@neverfinishedstory]

original book before publishers had supposedly 1000 pages. 300 were boinked to the next one

[@KateCavanaugh]

Yiiiiiikes, yeah, I noticed they seemed to get bigger and bigger at the library haha. And I've heard there are a few books where some main characters aren't even shown! BUT I'm reaaaaaally loving this audiobook so I'm excited. :)

[@neverfinishedstory]

@@KateCavanaugh yeah he said he regretted it but what basically happened is: his book got big enough for two books. and rather than dividing it timeline wise he opted to divide it by characters instead. he said later that's one thing he'd change looking back. I love the books and super excited to see your take on it. I don't know about audio book but the chapter style he has is so bingable. be careful :D :D :D it's a deeep hole.

[@Markadown]

Waiting to see if you write a 5k word chapter, trash it, and rewrite it 5 more times 😂. Can't wait to watch the rest. Martin has been writing. He wrote the World of Ice and Fire, Fire and Blood, scripts for HBO, editing the Wild Card series and world building video games and more. It's not that he isn't writing, it's that he isn't writing on what people want him to. His publisher knows this and requested Fire and Blood to be published before Winds. He also admitted the show caused anxiety in which made writing Winds more difficult. Lastly, the dude self edits like mad, lol. Great video!

[@melanieannplans2666]

I am SO EXCITED that you’re giving the A Song of Fire and Ice series a try! I started reading A Game of Thrones earlier this summer...I’m still around page 200, BUT I’m SO happy I gave the book a chance. It’s actually not as complicated to follow as I thought it would be, and the writing truly is exquisite. I didn’t watch the whole series, but Tyrion is definitely my favorite character.

[@sun.s_tea]

This series is amazing! I´ve been watching all of them 'cause they are so much fun! Keep up the good job :D

[@ChaosInSpace]

I'm not at all surprised at how long it takes him to write these books because the detail and the amount of complexity would take ages to piece together, particularly when it's not planned out in advance, I imagine there is a lot of work that goes into tweaking and weaving things together that happens in order to get it to the level his books are at. It would take me way longer to do so kudos to him for doing it!!! I really like the gardener/architect metaphor, and I recon theres still a middle ground where you can build your garden to a plan but leave room for things to grow and develop as you go along 🙂

[@TheSimpsonsfreak13]

I can definitely see how George RR Martin is more of a gardener than any other writer I’ve read. As you said Kate, there really isn’t a single method to writing. You can either layout the blueprints/foundation like an architect or just wait to see how the branches grow from the garden. Anyway, great video! How about trying to write like Leigh Bardugo or Sarah Dessen next?

[@leathehatless]

It's a pretty reasonable routine. It's hard to deal with the blank page sometimes.

[@medeadly]

Some time ago I read that he actually writes one POV-plotline at a time and fully writes out several possibilities for plot points and developments and tries out how they work out and effect other characters' storylines, so he's basically writing several books all at once and decides inbetween what parts of those books he wants in the final product. Also, because he writes one POV at a time he always has to go back to other characters' chapters and fix things that are different now. No wonder he has no idea when the book will be finished.

[@TehBuggy]

George R R Martin and Peoject Death fit really well together 😂 As far as why I think he takes longer to get new books out, tbh when I look at the size of his books I think his speed is pretty reasonable 😂 I think part of it is that he might just be a naturally slower writer who is working on a giant giant series. And maybe I’m biased, but I can’t wrap my head around writing such high fantasy as a “gardener”. Even with my Pantsing Project last April, I still cannot figure it out! I think that with a world so complex and HUGE and such a long series, I just can’t figure out how someone can write something like that without extensive planning/architecting. I have a ton of respect for anyone who could do that, because that sounds like it takes up a wild amount of brain space, but I can’t wrap my mind around it 😛

[@HinaMcCord]

The blank page is the worst! 😫🤼‍♀️ Not giving up is definitely a great takeaway!

[@TheNovelNana]

I must have been living under a rock. I have never seen a single episode of the game of thrones. But i do believe that eliminating distractions, is the main take away from your video. I love all your videos !

[@WriteHollyDavis]

Yesss I was hoping you'd do him!!

[@KateCavanaugh]

YAY! :)

[@cadegillingham1869]

I kind of think that Gardener method and the architect method are similar in the sense that the writer still needs to come up with the ideas. Architect: if the ideas are not there in the first instance, then by nature of the definition of the architect they won't be able to start writing it (cannot start to "nail the first board up"), so the time I find is taken more at the beginning of the process. Gardener: if they have an idea then they start writing, if they don't have anymore ideas for while, then they will write when the ideas are there and the story grows. I find it easier when I have a plan (architect), but I don't find it would necessarily mean you are quicker at producing the story. In some ways being an architect would be difficult as only when you start to write you find the problems and new ways to resolve them throughout the book and the writing process. I see an architect with the flexibility of changing the plan and changing things as the story progresses, which is also similar to a gardener. I find the most effective is somewhere in the middle.

[@jasonspencer590]

Roy Dotrice was a flippin brilliant narrator. I'm so glad you included that audio

[@elizabethmadden1152]

I don’t know if you’ve figured out how to sneak them out the castle yet, but you could use a secret passage. I know it’s probably been done a million times, but I personally like a royal character who is so bored in their childhood that they find all the “good hiding places.” They become more than a one dimensional rich person character to me. Sorry if this isn’t useful; I went to school for classical studies, so you’ve had me hooked on Project Death since you mention the River Styx!

[@roselucyking]

After being subscribed to your channel for a few months, I'm so excited to read your work when it comes out. No matter what routine you follow, or how much writing you put out in the world, I'm excited for it. Would you consider making a video explaining details about where you are right now in the writing/publishing process?

[@ljay3379]

I genuinely think you have all the makings of a literary star. Keep doing what you're doing, Kate!

[@CanalSemDedo]

Hey, Kate, I've always wanted to read the stuff you write! I often watch your videos and keep wondering how's your writing style. Do you publish your stories anywhere online? I'd surely like to take a look and am totally willing to buy a book of yours someday ♥

[@KateCavanaugh]

Aww thank you so much! That's so sweet. :) I don't have anything out for publication yet but I'll be sure to let y'all know when I do!

[@CanalSemDedo]

@@KateCavanaugh Yaaaay!

[@MVMackenzie]

I prep loads and have a whole planning process before I write my rough draft (aka the zero draft). At the moment, I am working on timelines.

[@KateCavanaugh]

Ahhh man, timelines are the bane of my writer existence! Hahaha. That's awesome you have a planning process that works for you. :)

[@MVMackenzie]

Kate Cavanaugh , yes. I was stuck in it for 2 damn days lol. I still have brief and full outlines to do, character sheets and chapter sheets to do, and I still need to a prompts and challenges page (to help boost words- like my well-known hot drink challenge). The timeline was just the beginning lol.

[@feonline9789]

@@MVMackenzie What is your hot drink challenge? And any other challenges if you care to share.

[@MVMackenzie]

fe online , I do like sharing. 😁 A hot drink challenge is when you write whilst you drink your hot beverage of choice. This would be your timer. The words only count from your first mouthful til your last , but aren’t allowed to reheat it. My other CHALLENGES are : The time (07:36 AM = 7 mins 36 secs) Famous last words (last sentence before sleeping- just for the extra words) Mad Rush (3 minute sprint!) Time Out (everyone had a time-out as a kid right? 1 min per year of your age. 33 years = 33 mins PROMPTS How was your day today? Put your characters through the same. How would they react? The Date - (06/12 = 612/ 12/06 = 1,206) how long does it take to reach this word count? Sneak your pet/family/friend’s pet into your next scene. It could be something vague as a picture on a wall, a lost poster, a stray or even a characters companion. Let your character have an accident. (Mine keeps stumping his toe 🤣) --- These are the ones I use more often. Enjoy! 😁

[@AriDelgato]

JK Rowling and George RR Martin aren't the same person? WHAT?

[@Yana-B]

Saying as a gardener who builds the garden a little bit before the actual gardening: A Song of Ice and Fire became a too popular series. And because of that people forget or don't even know that Martin wrote several other books before A Game of Thrones. He's finished many many books and as I heard they are good books (I want to read them one day). The greatest difference between those books and A Song of Ice and Fire is that they are mainly stand alones. With a single book you can garden the hell out of it. You can start one without knowing where you want to go, and finish it when you finish it, and you have one book. However, A Song of Ice and Fire is a series of connected books. And when a series has this many books and that complex plot, you can't just just garden. Because without a set goal at the begining you'll just go all over the place, and you can't keep up with the deadline, etc, etc. So since I'm a gardener and want to write at least two series with 5-5 books, I'm not even thinking about publishing before I finish each book of the series. Will it take a lot of time? Of course. Can I make changes along the way until I finish them? Yes. Would the books be published at the time they were planned to? For sure. And I'm at peace with this decision because I know myself. If I publish the first book and have an idea while writing the third that should've been in the first book I would be in agony. I'm not a fan of soft reboots in book series and TV series. My books will be done when they're done and just then will I think about publishing.

[@bethxnytxmlin]

When I get stuck I just go back and read a few chapters to refresh my memory and get me inspired

[@amy-suewisniewski6451]

I think that, yes, part of the reason he takes long is the gardening aspect. BUT that being said, I think that's also why his series is so beloved, that process for him WORKS and just makes good books.

[@RockstarWizardess]

Can you try J. R. R. Tolkien's routine? After watching your videos I really wonder what his routine was like and it would be nice to see it.

[@alfayomega17]

New entry here... old entry to the comments section., saw a couple of videos, gotta write it down., u are lovely, smart and goddam entertaining. Keep up the good work. Ps. Hello to all the random people reading the comment section.

[@AbiofPellinor]

You learn something new from each experiment you do writing like someone else, but this one it seems like you learnt to go easier on yourself. I hope you manage to keep that up

[@JayJay-ki4mi]

You need a DOS machine, and WordStar 4, to be like GRRM. Great video btw, GRRM inspires me too.

[@SM-yd8hq]

I love your excitement.

[@allypotter4404]

Oh, the irony of being an architecture student and also a gardener in my writing....

[@dizzyella8204]

Lol i think ive become obsessed with your channel, this gives me so much modivation to write, your enthusiasm is contiguous 😂😁

[@teresajones5973]

I think George is spoiled. You don’t find many publishers that will allow their writers to miss deadlines. He’s made his publishers enough money, they just let him do what he wants.

[@ISOShakespeare]

I am absolutely a gardener. I like to see what grows. I write as I read, for the thrill of finding out what is going to happen next and who did it?

[@nimedhel09]

I had always thought I was a gardener when it comes to writing. It's the way I've worked on my stories since I started to write. I always thought that plotting and outlining weren't my things. Well, apparently, I was wrong, lol. Because I work waaaaaay better when I have a plan written with and outline. It's easier for me to follow and finish a story that way (because I have never ever finished a project, like 0). Since doing this, thinking a story out, which scenes I want to implement, etc., well, I've finished writing 7 short stories. Yep, they're short stories, so we'll see how that goes for one of my freaking big projects, but at least I learnt that I CANNOT finish a story without having it outlined. That's why it took me litterally 2 months to write the 7k words needed for one of those.

[@sofievb1994]

Thinking about winds of winter makes me so anxious. I've been waiting for it for years and I only hope he does finish before ... Well.. ya know Loved this video! Project death is going to be such an amazing read, I'm sure!

[@TheHexedLibrary]

ugghghghghgh Hades mug. so much YES. I'm 100% a gardener but I'm pretty sure we both already knew that hahahaha.

[@slsthewriter1299]

I *can* be a gardener when I want to, and I usually do with short stories as an exercise. But, by default, I'm an absolute architect extremist; for instance, I've been outlining my dark urban fantasy series *_chapter by chapter. Page break by page break._* No joke. And I think part of the reason why I hate not outlining is I've always hated writing several drafts of something since I was a kid. The way I look at it, building stories is like building an animal. For me, my outlining is the skeleton, and then as I actually write, have the characters talk and act, that's building up all the organs and tissues; the plotline of the story is how the animal acts (if it's a more lighthearted tale, then the animal will be happy and such; if it's dark...like the series I'm working on at the moment, then the character of the story will be as such). Gardeners, I'd imagine, is like the stages or pregnancy where everything is kind of being built up at the same time, though it's not really pretty at first (have you *seen* baby skeletons?! They're *TERRIFYING.* And this is coming from a veterinary student).

[@boxxidraws7690]

I write like an anthropologist. As an artist I just sketch characters and props as if they’re new artifacts and historical records I discovered and I just try to piece the narrative together. That’s the way I see writing comics at least lol.

[@KatTalks]

You can get forest as a chrome/firefox plugin as well by the way :)

[@DottyStreet]

Ahhhhh, the endless debate. From what I understand, Martin’s health hasn’t been all that great. With how the television series ended, I also wouldn’t be surprised if he was a bit turned off, considering how the writers butchered everything just to get to Star Wars... which didn’t work out too well for them. Haha. Anyway, when it comes to deadlines, I actually prefer someone else giving me a deadline. Being diagnosed with ADD at a very young age, it comes as no surprise that I actually work better under pressure. It’s just how I function. And it’s much better when I can get everything out of my head and in some cohesive order prior to actually writing. That being said, I feel like I’m a hybrid between architect and gardener. I sometimes go free when the mood suits me and other times, I plot to my heart’s desire. I highly doubt that I’m the only one who has a little bit of both in them. 🥰

[@thestorykeeper6818]

Great reminder at the end about how long it can take to find "success." I recently read something similar in a book about how in order to create something great, we also have to create a lot of crap in the process - but people only remember the great things. For instance, Shakespeare wrote 37 plays and 154 sonnets (according to a quick Google search). How many can the average person name?

[@adventureswithmadison]

I think something I realized from nanowrimo is that I need to be an architect instead of a gardener because if I just throw a seed in a hole and water it every day I get off track and I stop writing, I get stuck because I don't know where I'm going so I think I've been realizing that I need to start building a house and start at step one which is make a blueprint I think that's what I need to do specially during nanowrimo. One thing I do know is I do like outline the basis of the story in my head but since I'm trying to write two different stories with two different genres of the same time so if I get bored with one I can go to the other and still be riding every single day I can't keep two separate outlines for two different stories and my head it just gets jumbled up and then I get stressed and I quit so I think... I think I'm going to become an architect.

[@TheMovieSequelDude49]

It would be cool to see you do one of these on John Green.

[@Bookdragon11]

A really nice video 😁. Thanks 😃

[@LovelyLittleBear]

Mi rutina de escritura ha cambiado muchas veces y ahora está paralizada. Parece que me cuesta encontrar tiempo para escribir pero he hecho las paces con esta realidad y escribo cuando puedo sin ser muy dura conmigo misma. Tu trabajo me inspira mucho

[@renncameron]

George RR Martin is my favourite writer and I think the reason he takes so long is that he loves picking up new projects, whether it be other stories, editing his collaboration series or producing. He's always been like this. I've recently been reading the Armageddon Rag in which the main character is a novelist who pushes off the urgent deadline for his next book to go on the road as an investigative journalist for a murder, much to the anger of his agent. His life influences his stories heavily (if you know a bit about his personal life and compare the recurring plots that appear in his work), so I think this almost absolutely a reflection of what he does.

[@writingwithred2498]

I'm trying to write daily instead of huge chunks once every few days. NaNoWriMo 2019 was a huge example of my terrible writing habits. I didn't really start NaNoWriMo until the 18th of November and still got in my 50k words because I have a terrible habit of doing over 10k words in a day, but then I don't write for days or even weeks afterward. So even though I can write a huge amount of words in a day (mostly because I have ridiculously detailed outlines) it can still take me months or years to write a dang first draft!

[@ledingdong1492]

I like to create a world not having any characters just a world with people living on it get that figured out then place my characters in that world and base their stories in that world they don't need to be a spectacle but they do need to have a dream or idea and work from that based on their background you have to build a character from the ground up it doesn't need to make it into the story but each character should have their motives even "villians" bad people don't think they are the bad one's etc.

[@fable3625]

Haven't watched the video yet, but all i could think of was "So she isn't going to write at all for two days?"

[@KateCavanaugh]

😂😂 I did write less than I usually do! But I think that was more where I was at with my story bahaha. Who knows how often he sticks to this routine, but it's a mixture of the advice he gives and what he's said in interviews of his own process!

[@svdd8213]

MY routine is I always listen to something on low volume in the background and I always keep my notebook beside me and my computer so if I get ideas for later book I can write it down in that could you try this routine I know ur busy but I think it would be interesting

[@myhvc285]

Such a talented lady❤

[@timothyshaw5498]

Personally, I think George’s gardening plays against his grandiose world building. So much of the various intrigues he tries to weave together are dependent on so many others that he would be better served by plotting the thing out before he tries to run with it. I read a rumored guess that he is stuck because he’s already killed off a key character that he finds himself needing now in order to move the story forward. And again, this is just my own opinion but I highly doubt he will ever finish the series, and perhaps not even his current book. He has so many tangential side projects and takes on even more that its becoming an unending mountain of obligations. Factor in his age and health-I would say it will be a miracle if he even completes this current book. He’s living under wishful thinking rather than looking at it objectively.

[@eloisenewman3814]

After reading the released books for The Starlight Archive, I kind of forget that 600-700 page books used to seem massive to me! Big books are like an addiction. And then suddenly, unless the book is over 1,000 pages, you're just not impressed anymore haha

[@KateCavanaugh]

OMGGGGG, I don't think I'll ever get to that point, but I can totally see how it would be an addiction. 😂

[@bonesjo]

Should have saved this one for April Fools and just made a whole vlog of you chilling around the house drinking coffee and petting Duke.

[@Wolf3yyy]

i am definitely an architect type of writer

[@mangaluver2010]

I'm a simple person I get a notification from Kate at 5 AM, I instantly get up and watch.

[@myownstory4030]

“If that ain’t Gardner I don’t know what that is” 🤣🤣 u made my day and I am also trying to learn about my characters I think u should try going out and write in places outdoor once a week because it will make u feel good.......if u get the Alphasmart Neo 2 u won’t even need to take ur computer u just write in it then plug the cable into the laptop and I at will transport ur work u should try it it’s amazing I luv u kate

[@reginaduke7451]

I loved my Alphasmart!!! Then it got so old none of the cables would work with my new computer. WaaaaaaAAaaaa!!!!

[@momosaku16]

from what I`ve heard, he`s constantly working on multiple projects. like, he`s writing a subplot and then the subplot gets so long and detailed that it ends up as a separate book, so of course it would take him a long time to finish something

[@lakeshagadson357]

theres different kind of writers in the world i would like to see which writer type fits me.

[@xarahvee2542]

Truthfully, I don''t care how long it takes for the next book in the series. I care about the integrity and authenticity of the story over meeting other people's deadlines. Arguably that looks like sticking to his meandering and "organic" writing process, the same diligent approach that made the series so compelling and immersive in the first place. Also, I'm imagining trying to write two endings for the same story under a global magnifying glass. I would at least take my time, if not shit my pants.

[@ziyanda_theartist]

Awwh, it's been a while since I watched your videos, I've missed them!!! You make me want to write more (do I actually write after watching your videos... sometimes) #TvT# And I just wanted to say that this is a really great video and interesting addition to this series!!!

[@Neil-writer-author]

I don't have any idea why the next books of the song of ice and fire series aren't out...but I love the series

[@KateCavanaugh]

I've heard nothing but good things from those that have read them!!

[@Neil-writer-author]

@@KateCavanaugh yep

[@JosipB1993]

George R.R. Martin is working for a long time on Winds Of Winter, because it requires a lot of time. He lost a lot of time during his interviews, working on series, dealing with fans and who knows what else. Plus that's not his only project or book. And Song of Ice and Fire is a heptalogy, and that REALLY requires a loooot of time, research and energy. A Song of Ice and Fire is Martin's Mona Lisa, his personal masterpiece.

[@JokeRsMovieNetwork]

Little late on this one, but as far as changes go. I'm really trying to write out my entire week so I can manage college, going to the gym, and finding time to write where I can, instead of when I should be doing homework. On top of Uploading to KZbin, I really think it would be easier if I wrote everything out in hour blocks, yet I just don't do it. And ideas or recommendations?

[@AdventuresInFantasy]

Truthfully? I think he uses that gardening thing as an excuse to not meet deadlines. He could if he wanted to. I definately think he got too caught up in making the show. The more I write the more of an architect I become. I think he has got a more flexible routine so it is easier to adapt into an existing one.

[@megalberda1733]

*spooky witch voice* Ahhhh, the curse of the blank page