I TRIED WRITING LIKE NEIL GAIMAN FOR 2 DAYS // a writing vlog

No such thing as writer's block, 1st drafts written by hand, & semi-successes at screenwriting. Here's my attempt to copy Neil Gaiman's writing routine!
0:09 What is Neil Gaiman's writing routine/process, anyways?
5:27 Day 1!
27:30 Day 2!
☟↓ QUESTIONS FOR YOU BELOOOOOW! ↓☟
D I S C U S S I O N Q U E S T I O N S :
Do y'all believe in writer's block? And actually, how would YOU define writer's block?
What did you think of Neil Gaiman's writing routine? Would you take anything from him and blend it into your own routine?
Are there any writers you look up to that you could/would never want to mimic their routines but do really appreciate their books!?
Who should I try writing like next?!
R E F E R E N C E S :
The Tim Ferris Podcast episode: • Neil Gaiman - The Inte...
NaNoWriMo pep talk by Neil: nanowrimo.org/...
On writer's block: www.huffpost.c...
"Easy, comfortable writing": www.timeout.co...
🌎 F I N D M E O N L I N E :
🐤 Twitter: / cavanaughwrites
📸 Instagram: / katecavanau. .
💛 Patreon: / katecavanaugh
🔆 Website: katecavanaugh.c...
✍️ Medium: / katecavanaughwrites
🙌 NaNoWriMo: nanowrimo.org/....
💌 S N A I L M A I L M E :
PO Box #1022
607 E. Blanco Road
Boerne, TX 78006
#authortube #writingvlog #neilgaiman

[@xfilion]

The other thing Neil does (and I've just adopted) is starting his writing day by using a different coloured ink so each day's work can be separated visually

[@DinoGlasses]

That sounds interesting, I may try that.

[@slsthewriter1299]

That's really smart. Colors have always helped me with writing (and everything really). Too bad I can't use it with pens and such since my handwriting is literal chicken scratch, but maybe with Word.

[@HellsMirror]

I use something like that for revising. I actually go over the same draft multiple times, making changes and notes with another color every time

[@princessthyemis]

that's a BRILLIANT IDEA!!!! I should do that...

[@princessthyemis]

@@HellsMirror that's a really good idea!!!! :D

[@matthewsawczyn6592]

"As a writer you have to finish things." Best advice ever

[@philipclayberg4928]

Don't forget to sandpaper it and varnish it. That should give it a nice finish.

[@KaiInMotion]

Other Authors: I write by hand Me: Oh cute, you think I can read my own handwriting

[@genner-vincenthodgson5177]

My mind works too fast to write that slow. Some of my best scenes ever have been written in three minutes

[@KaiInMotion]

Meagan Hodgson Same. I outline and brainstorm in notepads, I do my chapter prep in notepads, but my actual writing has to be on a computer.

[@MRuby-qb9bd]

@@KaiInMotion My most creative stuff tends to be written on napkins, post-its and old receipts lol.

[@emilymaybe9879]

My handwriting is bad to the point that most teachers refuse to accept handwritten homework. I still write everything by hand exept collaborate stories. I don't know it's just nice and lets me write free from bluelight at night.

[@annajohnson4086]

I can only write by hand

[@alyssa.h]

I got an add for the Neil Gaiman MasterClass when I clicked on the video! I love coincidences like that haha

[@bookswithalyssaj449]

same haha

[@amypeasewrites]

I did a 30-day free trial of MasterClass and listened to his class. I had never read anything by him and I REALLY liked his class! Worth checking out. You can watch/listen to a ton of content in under 30 days.

[@CHloE748]

KZbin has an algorithm for placing ads on videos, so it was definitely not a coincidence lol. Gotta love the google internet spies 🙃

[@alyssa.h]

@@CHloE748 haha yeah I know. It was so scarily accurate though 😮 sort of creepy. Yep, got to love them!

[@JustXavier]

...but did you sign up? Hmm? 😁

[@chanyeolswife5235]

Could you do Rick Riordan's routine, Tolkien and GRR Martin.

[@hunnerdayEDT]

I'm not sure if GRM method would be good cause the video would be 7 years long.

[@KateCavanaugh]

😂😂 That's what I always think too! I'm sure it'd be great to pick his brain and world-building aspects, but in terms of "routine," I'm not entirely sure what to grasp from GRRM. (But I could be wrong!)

[@KateCavanaugh]

I would looooove to try Rick Riordan's! I'm a huge fan, that's a great suggestion, thank you! :)

[@kaitlynpodlich1397]

I love Rick Riordan books! Please do his routine :D

[@alexmurrin]

I'd love to see an author who is more research heavy- maybe a murder mystery author? I'd love to see how they fit research into their routine

[@lexalina132]

Or a historic fiction writter :D (Markus Zusak is a person fave, or Joan M. Wolfe)

[@sarahlilly2412]

Agatha christie is a good one because she was originally a pharmacist.

[@LetsArion]

I'm sure Gaiman does a lot of research for his fiction books as well. The mythology in American Gods is incredible!! But I agree, the research part of writing isn't talked about nearly enough

[@TunezCottage]

It's usually antecedent to the writing itself. At least for me. So like during the outlining phase. I'm a murder mystery author. Currently penning a contemporary noir murder mystery novel. Hopefully set to publish next year but I'm in-between publishers so we'll see. Also, I'm a pocket writer so I write throughout the whole day whenever something strikes me. That means the rest of the time I spend reading, either some other book or research material like books on forensics, pathology, geography, history etc.

[@micaylab1]

What about Cornelia Funke?

[@moonpetrie]

For myself, I feel like calling a writing difficulty “writer’s block” makes it harder to resolve it. I don’t want to give up my agency by treating the problem like a mysterious force outside my control. I try to recognize the specific problem. Am I struggling because I don’t know what happens next, or because I’m worrying that none of what I’ve written is any good, or because I’m just plain tired? Knowing the cause gives me the power to find solutions.

[@emilyrln]

I like that! Framing it as a specific issue gives you something to tackle instead of a faceless monolith. Even if it's just "None of this feels right so I'm going to pause and come back later when I'm fresh," that can be really empowering.

[@domainofscience]

This may or may not be useful, but there is a cool tool for writing screenplays called Fountain which does all of the formatting for you automatically, you just write a plaintext file and put certain things like character names and descriptions in all caps. I've used it before and it was pretty cool!

[@emanueltapia6501]

I'm using this right now. I write in vim.

[@Caramelito2006]

Oh that's great.

[@jadedtoday]

Writer's block: When you don't plan enough of your story out and you're at that dull point and WHAT THE HECK GOES NEXT and then you kind of lose interest in it.

[@emilyrln]

I'm at that point with one project. Think I need to skip ahead to the next interesting scene and come back later. Maybe by then I'll have figured out what happens 😂

[@thewhitecat132]

Neil Gaiman's: "you cant do anything other than write," is really helpful for me, once I tried that technique out, I found out, that I write more and am more focused on my novel... Without this video I probably wouldn't have found his advice, so thank you really much for doing this challege and sharing it!

[@inspiredcontent5918]

I think the handwriting aspect of his approach benefits in the transcription of the work to computer. You are more likely to look at a sentence or paragraph and rephrase and summarize a point more concisely.

[@MRuby-qb9bd]

Definitely my experience. I wrote almost all of my college essays that way too.

[@elizabethlundin3112]

Or rework scenes entirely. That's been my experience. Most of the largest draft overhauls happen when I make myself physically rewrite the draft, rather than just tinker with it.

[@James.Stark.Ben.Edition]

Writer's block is definitely real. Just that it's usually misinterpreted. All it means is: my brain is blocked and I have no inspiration to write this story right now. So, yeah, its definitely real.

[@HopeGardner3amed]

I find that it happens a lot during trauma. I went through it a lot during high school/college and now during the pandemic. I also think that it happens a lot during mental growth periods as that is when genres shift for me.

[@StarlightViolets]

I clicked on the video and the first ad was a MasterClass taught by Neil Gaiman. 😂

[@jrwojick]

That class is awesome btw :)

[@RebeccaYoder]

I'm actually watching his class on there right now, so it'll be interesting to see what I think of him in light of what I learned about his writing routine in this video. Lol (And Kate's experience. Ha!)

[@lexalina132]

Same xD

[@adenineful]

Hi Kate! I'd love to see a JK Rowling or Ernest Hemingway writing routine!

[@CHloE748]

Do you want her to turn every. Single. Character. Gay?

[@AlwaysTheStoryCollector]

@@CHloE748 Yes. Just because she can. (I realize that being deadpan with words is not a reachable goal for me. But secretly I do want to see that because I think Kate would do a better job)

[@edwardstrinden]

Drunk Kate

[@lesmortimers4791]

CHloE748 sure, why not

[@thomasfreel3369]

So basically read older stories, mix them together and just copy them, hoping no one will remember the originals.

[@brittaniepicard8209]

You should do lemony Snicket's writing routine. I love him!!!

[@HannahRulzzzzzz]

isn't his real name though

[@teaforthepublic4000]

Amber Greenwood it’s was most people know him by because of how much his series “an Unfortunate Series of Events” have impacted people. I’m really bad at explaining, sorry if anything is not making sense.

[@MysticalAmberMC]

@@teaforthepublic4000 I know the series, but it's still a pen name. You can do Daniel Handler writing routine. Which would be the person writing not just what the books are named under.

[@royaltootsie]

I can’t even IMAGINE writing a novel by hand. I’m sure it’s beneficial in ways but my hand cramps so fast. I’d get a paragraph in and quit.

[@AdventuresInFantasy]

I very much do believe in writer's block because I've gone through it several times, but that being said, I actually think what it is differs from person to person. For me, it is being unable to get what is in my head written down. It isn't that I don't know what I want to write, it is just that no matter how I try, I just can not get it out of my head. I go to write something and my mind goes completely blank no matter how much I knew what I was gonna write beforehand. I couldn't do his routine just because if I don't have multiple things going at once, I can't concentrate. It is not uncommon for me to have a video in the background and a game of solitaire in the background for when I'm thinking. The word count thing is something I could aim for while I write, especially since it is flexible. I don't actually look into writing routines because I can barely sit still to write let alone follow a writing routine like most authors. That being said I really love Tolkien and Margret Weis. Their books are what made me want to write in the first place.

[@e_n_hand]

SAME!!! I know what I want to happen in the paragraph or sentence or scene but when I sit down to write it out and I don't know how to get the idea out of my head and into words.

[@gracelesslyfalling]

AvalonWatching thank you for putting what I go through into cohesive words!

[@theblackdahlia88]

I tackle this by using the voice notes app, i will just sit alone in my room, on the floor (I Don't know why, but it helps), close your eyes and then just speak. Doing this makes me form a jumble of words that I can listen to and rearrange into cohesive work.

[@Sharpe1502]

It sounds like Gaiman feels like he constantly has to work on something. So maybe he will stop working when he feels stuck and works on something else?

[@whiteskull1067]

This is pretty late, but what helps is just writing an outline/keywords of your idea. Something is 100% better than nothing. You also could be on to something good and can go back to it later. To all my writer peeps out there, outlines help so much to circumvent writer's block or keep it at bay a bit longer.

[@matthyde7895]

I've been pretty impressed KZbin recommendations. Really enjoyed the video and I'm excited to watch more.

[@TheHexedLibrary]

Here's my biggest question about this series. All of these writers focus on writing multiple hours a day. I'd be interested to hear what their writing routines were like when they were still working a day job. I highly recommend only using paper with margins for handwriting! When I get random ideas that the story isn't ready for I jot them down in the margin so I don't forget! My old lady pup, Ruby, also hates storms. When the real bad ones hit at night she'll wake me up and won't leave me alone until we go into the bathroom and close the door to sleep. I think she's watched too many movies about tornados hahahah. I do not believe in writer's block on my own part. If I'm not writing or don't feel like writing it's because I'm either A)staring at some other shiny thing that is taking up my time or B) lazy.

[@hawthornetherose2295]

I know that in the case of Neil Gaiman, he has talked about what he does when he doesn't have time to write. Essentially he will just write a few lines an evening before bed, and by the end of the week he has a paragraph to a page of writing done. When he has more time then he will take advantage of that to get a larger chunk done. He's talked about how that was how he finished Coraline.

[@MRuby-qb9bd]

I don't remember what author it was, but she was both a working mom and she wrote a significant portion of the first draft of her novel in the car for those 10-15 minutes after work and before she had to pick up her kids from school.

[@lizanna6390]

Yes I'd like to see that. Marian Keyes released, I think, three novels before she could afford to give up her day job

[@coe.3181]

V.E. Schwab finished her first novel while attending collage. She insisted on how important it is to make yourself some time even if you don't seem to have it. She wrote 30 minutes before going to bed back then, if I recall well.

[@KathrynFaye007]

I have such similar routines as Neil Gaiman and Nora Roberts. I write 6-7 hours by hand. All 1st drafts are written by hand and I work on multiple projects at once. I love the relaxed therapy of the smell of a leather journal, ink from a fresh fountain pen and the feel on smooth paper. It's just glorious! Thank you for sharing!

[@lastjuliet788]

Wow that 's amazing .Are u published author ?

[@KathrynFaye007]

@@lastjuliet788 Not yet but my novel is going out on submissions soon. My agent's doing a final read. I'm excited and nervous!

[@ladyredl3210]

@@KathrynFaye007 you and I are in very similar writing places! Good luck! I'm excited/nervous too!

[@QuillASMR]

@@KathrynFaye007 Did you get it published?

[@KathrynFaye007]

@@QuillASMR Sadly my first agent and I separated as I'm writing in a different genre now so I'm in the requery world but the book I was subbing I've been sharing on my website and wattpad. How have you been doing?

[@xxparentaladvisoryx]

Have you tried a typewriter? Might be a good middle ground between hand and computer.

[@xxparentaladvisoryx]

I’ve seen them in second hand stores on occasion in my area; hard to speak as to theirs functionality though.

[@convolution223]

I'd caution against it. You have to type slow or risk jamming the keys very often. It doesn't damage it but it slows you down because you have to pry them free when that happens. It's when the hammers of the letters hit each other because you hit two letters before the first one could fly back down.

[@TheMrVengeance]

@@convolution223- Did you watch the video? The purpose of the non-digital writing (either by hand or in this case typewriter) is to be slow and *purposeful* about what you write. Think about it as you go along. So the fact that a typewriter forces you to write slowly is the point! And yes, go look at thrift shops. I picked up a typewriter for $2.50 in great condition. I thought they'd misplaced the dot and wanted $25, but no, $2.50. Make sure the ribbon has ink!

[@agagagagagyo]

not nearly worth it considering the expense.

[@TheMrVengeance]

@@agagagagagyo - The expense? What expense? $2.50? Compared to the $700~1200 laptop you'd be writing on digitally?

[@chelseawritesbooks8763]

I also think he has a cute cabin in the woods he goes to when he does write.

[@DylanPerry-Author]

Great video! And I'm loving this series, keep it up. :) It was actually authors like Neil Gaiman, Andre Dubus III, and Joe Hill, who inspired me to try writing a first draft by hand. And having finished, I can say I'm not going back to doing the first draft on the computer any time soon. Yes, it takes some getting used to. Yes, it takes a while (7 months of writing a page every single day either before or after work). And it does help with being more purposeful with your words, but the biggest takeaway I've found is that the story is so much more concrete in my mind than when I wrote on the computer. I still recall most of the events even two weeks after having not picked it up. Whereas when I finished on the computer, there were huge swaths of story that were just gone from my head despite having just written it. It's the difference between walking through town and driving--the journey takes longer but I feel a stronger connection to what's around me, vs going faster and only remembering the landmarks and odd bits that stuck out. That's just me, though. It's definitely not for everyone. And on writers block... I guess I'm going against the majority of comments and say I don't believe in it. *sweats*

[@mophead_xu]

Hey lad, I don't believe in writer's block either! Yay, fren. :D

[@DylanPerry-Author]

@@mophead_xu Glad I'm not alone! :)

[@racquelfisher828]

I relate to this so much!

[@cjbloyer4137]

I'm a bit late to this video, but I wanted to comment on the writer's block/no writer's block quote. Here's the thing...yes, those people DO have blocks sometimes. Writer's use a special name for it because, well, we're word people and we cope by naming things and describing them and, generally, using our words to define what we know. I'm a musician, a writer, a teacher, and a whole host of other things as well, and I've experienced "blocks" in each one of those things. For example: I play the piano. There are days when I'm practicing a piece, where I cannot, no matter how hard I try, play a section of the piece correctly. My fingers won't play the right notes or the right rhythms and I can't make them do so. However, I do think that sometimes we use these "blocks" as an excuse not to work on whatever it is we're supposed to be working on. Whether we are writing, or playing an instrument, or whatever, there are going to be times when our brains just can't cope with what we're doing. As long as we acknowledge the block (preferably without getting angry about it) and walk away for a set amount of time (read: a reasonable amount of time), and then come back to the project, we can deal with the "block" and don't have to pretend it's not a thing. Neil Gaiman calls it "getting stuck", he's just got different words for the same thing.

[@irenervbooks]

Do Cassandra Clare's writing routine!! That would be so cool!!

[@myribstellmesheslying]

I hate writing by hand. Lol. I'll try this nonetheless. Edit: i have a pretty hardbound notebook that i somehow don't wanna write into.

[@thewritersscene2072]

John Peter Martinez Tolio it’s too nice to mess up, this is common

[@amandaschwindle5800]

I like the idea of multi-day trials of writing methods! And I like this series. My suggestion is Agatha Christie. She was my favorite author when I was a teenager.

[@OktoberJournal]

I would love to see you try to write as Daniel Handler/Lemony Snicket ^_^

[@TheChriswood1]

Wow. A Neil Gaiman video. Looking forward to this one

[@KateCavanaugh]

Yay! :)

[@PhoebeWritesFiction]

I'm also not really sure what people mean by writers block? I think different people are using it to mean different things. There's only really one thing that stops me writing, which is fear of failure (which can be pretty immobilising, but I find ways to break out of it... like switching to hand writing, actually!) I'd love to see you try a scriptwriter's routine. I have SO much admiration for good scriptwriters right now, as there are brilliant shows coming out in the UK written by the likes of Phoebe Waller-Bridge and Russel T Davies that are just - ugh - AMAZING. And I watched Sense and Sensibility last night, having only recently realised that Emma Thompson wrote the award-winning screenplay for it, and I just think it's great. I love that Neil (our best friend Neil) has also experimented with other writers' routines... maybe one day soon there'll be a crop of 'I tried writing like Kate Cavanaugh' videos!

[@Kaitheminion]

This is my favourite series of yours, and I'm so happy you're doing Neil Gaiman's routine! I use the two of you for motivation all the time.

[@dafneylevac7474]

A 33 minutes video? Yay!! I love this serie!

[@Cinephilegirl_]

i Love Neil Gaiman, I purchased the masterclass and maybe ended with more psycological problems than before. Like everything he said made sense and I just wanted to cry. For me is not a block, is like a mix of troubles that get in the middle of your work. Like kind " I just don't know were the plot goes" or this is plain awfull or im having seconds and third and fourth thoughs on my work. But I always can write something even if it is a shit. So there's always that. I would like to be capable of writing like those big classical authors like Jane Austen or maybe Agatha Christie (that would be amazing) but i just cant write the god damned thing all by hand or even in a writting machine. I loved your video. And im definetly a fan. Grettings from Argentina and also sorry for my typos they are bigger than me. kisses!

[@allofthebooksabove7447]

100000000% believe in writers block!!! I had writers block for a few years, then I started watching your video and immediately got back to writing!! THANK YOU, YOU KIND SOUL! 😊 I would describe writers block as not having any ideas for a new story, and just not in the mood to write. Request: jk Rowling ( her outlining plan ) ( and I know you don’t really outline but I thought I would try ) Also maybe try one of your author tube friends writing routine! If they have one!

[@rivarside]

I think that kind of ‘block’ is more likely due to other circumstances in your life, or maybe a lack of discipline. If you don't have any idea, just write. Anything. Force yourself even if it doesn't seem right. After five minutes you won't be able to stop! In order to write, you have to write. I know that seems silly. But just don't wait for inspiration to strike. I hope it helps you! (I would love to see a JK Rowling writing routine too!)

[@allofthebooksabove7447]

Pierre G. Thank you for the advice!! Also I am glad that I am not the only one who want to see jk Rowling writing routine!!

[@mellowmallow4855]

I remember not writing for three years. The ironic thing was that I already had my characters *established* but I did not know how to write their stories. I finally have the will to write. I just need to write about who they are and their background and I should be set.

[@jackjonas1699]

All of the above !, I share your anxiety. I call it Constipated Mind!

[@kushalrijal9453]

For me, writing block is not inability to write. It is inability to think of scene/plot which I believe would be perfect for the story.

[@tmjd79]

I really like the flexibility in Gaiman's process, but the handwriting would drive me nuts. I'm right with you, my handwriting is atrocious, lol.

[@ander2317]

I partially believe in Neil Gaiman’s statement on writer’s block. My definition of it would be the absence of any ideas or ability to write (excluding physical or cognitive disabilities). I believe that while it exists, many writers don't experience true writers block; maybe symptoms of it, certainly writer hurdles, but hardly a complete inability to write or think about the writing process in order to further/complete their story. It can manifest under many circumstances, or through nothing at all. I’d imagine mental illness like anxiety or depression can easily trigger it. Thankfully that hasn't happened to me... yet. Regardless, my point is that writers block is a thing, I just think a lot of people experience something similar but completely different.

[@James.Stark.Ben.Edition]

Aaaaahhhhhhhhh Lucifer!!! It's an absolutely amazing show.

[@TheMadamHatter]

I see writer's block as either a lack of motivation or feeling defeated by being stuck on something

[@ellbee5139]

For me, writer's block is anything that gets between a writer and their writing. This definition means that a cat on your keyboard could be writer's block, or a lack of inspiration, or having a word on the tip of your tongue, or the siren call of Netflix binging, or your computer suddenly dying, or a creative burnout, or a depressive episode... lethargy... lack of motivation. Whatever. I like my definition because it validates a very common experience among writers (the block itself) without mysticizing or deifying and almighty and insurmountable block. I would also posit that creative endeavours are the ones more likely to have blocks. Artists, songwriters, poets, and so on. Maybe a cellist doesn't have cellist block, but the person who wrote the instrumental music that the cellist was playing might have had a musical block. In short, I believe in writer's block, but I don't believe that it's something a writer can't work past. Every block can be pushed past. Move the cat, read a book for inspiration, take a nap, put pen to paper, push forward however might be necessary to get over a particular block. (or, in the case of burnout, take a break and destress.) Blocks can't stop you unless you let them. ✌❤

[@oliverjackson5070]

I Tried Writing Like...........Hunter S. Thompson. I Tried Writing Like...........J.K. Rowling, I Tried Writing Like...........George R.R. Martin. I Tried Writing Like...........Dr. Seuss.

[@e_n_hand]

I'm going to try to actually work on something for a day... Or tomorrow...

[@CHloE748]

Erin Hand try writing like me for a day! (I’ve never written a thing in my life)

[@journalofawriter3650]

Oh my goodness, my favorite authortuber writing like the writer of my favorite book ever! (American Gods)

[@KateCavanaugh]

YESSSSS. (I still need to read American Gods but my friends have raved.) I really enjoyed making this video and following his routine.

[@jennychen2162]

Omg! American Gods is my favorite book too( internet high five )

[@jasmeetk0]

15:20 this is so weird for me because people would look at me weird if i would just randomly start journaling in the middle of class by hand so I've typed (on the phone) to ever write in the middle of class even though I usually write by hand at home...

[@dafneylevac7474]

For me, writer's block is : I am a writer and I am blocked, I need to go back in my story and fix what I need to block to not be blocked anymore. I also believe that not having any idea to continue the story is not writer's block, it's brain's block. Most of the time it means that I need to stop working on it and do other things, because focusing on it will not help me

[@living_after_]

I also have a short writing span. Ugh! I'm easily swayed by other things.

[@ashlkd19]

Interesting fact: Neil Gaiman drinks British breakfast style tea when he sits down to write. He switches to green tea if he feels like he has gained weight. And then switches to decaf green tea when he's staying up late to write. He also writes a lot between 3 to 5 am.

[@sadiemcc9363]

I do believe in writer's block. I believe that writer's block is when you have come to a certain part of a story and you don't know what will happen next, and you can't figure it out, ergo you are "blocked" from writing that story. It is quite probable that many writers use "writer's block" as an excuse to not write, but it is a real thing. I think it is probably is more likely to happen when pantsing, but I have never plotted so I don't know. By the way, I play the violin, and can tell you definitely that neither I, nor any musician I've ever met, as ever gotten "violinist's block." I don't think it's comparable to writing; playing music is like recording an audiobook, where you tell the story someone else has already written. I do wonder, though, if Bach ever got composer's block?

[@sjraymond3608]

Writer's Block...it totally exists. I get it often, but then I redirect myself. If I can't write, then I'll read and it'll put me back on track. I have a lot of favorite authors, but I think it would be interesting to see how Laurell K. Hamilton. I've read articles where she's been interviewed about her writing style. She said something that really stuck with me (mind you I was inappropriately reading her books in middle school...) and she said that she lets the characters tell their story. So she has this inner dialogue with her characters, like she's the one interviewing them. Another thing I picked up from her was to have theme music playing while she writes particular characters. I can't tell you how many Spotify playlists I have for my characters. Those really help get me in the right headspace.

[@AirwrekaDoesntRead]

The ad I got right before this video was for a Masterclass with Neil Gaiman, and I think that's a sign that I should write like him. I think I'll try to write this way, because he too is a writer after my own heart.

[@TheChriswood1]

I had the same advert 😂😂

[@irritation_at_the_nightclu1016]

this is one of the best channels on KZbin, every video is both inspiring and informative. thank you for making such great content.

[@KateCavanaugh]

Aww, thank you so much! I'm so glad it can help to motivate you. :)

[@ArtemissSage]

This was actually really interesting to watch. Mostly cause I'm glad to know that there are still authors out there who write by hand still. I find it a lot easier to write by hand for my original stories. As for writer's block, I don't really think it's a thing. I think it's more along the lines as you don't quite know how to get from one point to the next. If anything, it would be like having a map with Point A and Point F marked, but how to get to Points B-E is unknown. IDK, that's just how I see it. Also, I know this one might be hard, but would it be possible for you to try and write in the style of H. P. Lovecraft? I know a writing routine for him would be next to impossible to research, but I've been reading his work lately, and I find that he had this interesting way of writing that I don't see much of, and thought that it might be fun to try. Love your videos, and stay amazing :D

[@j.s.ramiro]

I like Neil Gaiman. I like Kate Cavanaugh. I "thumbs up" the video. I mean, what else can you do when presented with quality content?

[@perfectlyadaptable]

On writer's block: I do believe in it but I believe it is a catch-all term that is overused or used without explanation. Like you mentioned, it means different things to different people. And while I get Gaiman's point, I think there ARE "blocks" in all fields of work...they just don't call it a block. For instance, I am in the medical field and we deal a lot with "burnout" which I think is a similar thing to block. For me a block, at its core, is loss of motivation or momentum. The causes of this are different which makes it hard to defend sometimes. I think what Gaiman is getting at is, writers don't have blocks; they have laziness; that is what it means to him. And some definitely do, myself included; sometimes we like to get around the onus of doing the work of writing (because it really isn't enjoyable all the time and can just be grunt work) by claiming "writer's block!" That being said, I think it's a bit baby-bathwater to say "writer's block" doesn't exist. It is better, imho, to encourage people to "unpack" what they mean when they say "I have writer's block" rather than dismiss the term entirely. End ramble XD Great video by the way!

[@MasterTow1994]

The working on two books embraces the "procrastination of successfull people" aka productive procrastination

[@RebeccaYoder]

For me writer's block has been more like having an emotional block of some sort where you can't connect with your emotions in order to feel what the characters are feeling. This description does not originate with me, and I don't remember where I heard it. I actually came across it after I admitted to myself that I was really struggling to write. When I heard that definition, it made sense to me because that's what I was experiencing, and I thought, "So this is what writer's block is." I would say, though, that definition sounds more like a life problem or mental health problem that ends up affecting my writing. There was a time I didn't comprehend writer's block. I was never at a loss for something to write, even if I didnt know what to write. Do you know what I mean? But, yeah, I've gotten better, but there was a time when it was so difficult to connect with the characters that the effort of writing was just not worth it for me. Sad but true...as for someone to write like, how about CHARLES DICKENS! I've read that he would write while friends were visiting him and talking to him.

So if you feel your hand and fingers get tired after some pages, it’s probably because you rest you wrist on the page and move your fingers with your boned. Better to pick up your hand and let it suspend a bit, use your elbow more to move, and you’ll realize you’re using your muscles more, from your finger muscled to your forearm. This is what muscles are for and they’re more than happy to pick up the slack. You’ll find out as the hours go that you’re basically working out and your writing arm start getting fit, even your shoulder and chest and neck. Good luck. This has been a PSA against carpal tunnel syndrome.

[@werelemur1138]

For me, what I called "writer's block" turned out to be bipolar disorder. I'd have periods where I couldn't even see the point in sitting down at the computer, and others where the ideas would fly thick and fast but I didn't have the focus to sit down and actually write. There are also "stuck" periods, which is an issue with the specific story not working.

[@princesssimplicity5172]

I think there’s an interview now where Neil (first name basis 😂) says he writes from 1-6 PM. :)

[@mapleleaf922]

"You can write, You can do nothing, but You Can't Do Anything Other Than Write"

[@missk.7981]

I think that writer's block is a thing and is simply when everything you write sounds like shit and you can't get any good ideas. I also think that other professions don't have this "block" because it has to do with creativity which isn't needed as much in other professions.

[@ChandraArthur]

I love your reaction to the handwriting part. I'm dyslexic, my handwriting is terrible, and I can't spell so that would never work for me. That's why I handwrite in my journals, I never want to read them again. I think writer's block is just not knowing where to go or what needs to be done next. As you said, that could be because a mistake was made earlier in the process.

[@lydiabrooke8307]

Love the video💛 I was wondering if you’d like to try Suzanne Collins writing process!! I think it’s super unique and I’d love to see you try it☺️

[@darrenalmgren634]

This was a wonderful video :) was great to see how someone took Gaiman’s words on his process and do their thing. The main draw I took from his advice in the podcast, other interviews, and his Masterclass was to make the process of writing fun. Or at least more interesting than doing nothing. For him that’s having the physical process of using a fountain pen and having that physical work on a page rather than a screen. For others like Stephen King that means writing on a computer so it’s faster and you can get ideas out of your head as quickly as they come. And for Ian Fleming it was literally making it a hostage situation of write or die situation XDD which I found hilarious For me I went with something like Gaiman’s process because I saw value in it and realized how much I liked handwriting in my youth. I use Pilot G2 pens because I love them and they’re workhorse-ness of it (and I can’t imagine the patience and skill it takes to use and handle a fountain pen), and I have a specific brand of really nice notebooks that I dedicate to my fiction. Then when I’m editing, I have to go line by line and word by word to get it typed up. And it’s a wonderful editing process because I can honestly look at my writing as work and something that needs to be fixed. If I type it all the through, I feel like it’s done because it’s typed and I tend to abandon those stories. I love the video, again, and I’m glad it showed you some insights into your own writing process and how you are as a writer.

[@katiemanges8566]

you need a fountain pen! neil uses fountain pens! you don't have to push as hard to get ink so it's so much easier to write more pages!

[@mellowmallow4855]

5:29 Getting some JonSolo vibes

[@Vickynger]

i have never experienced writers block the way that most people describe it. so when ppl tell me they experience writers block i believe them, but i dont really understand it lol my only real problem when it comes to writing is procrastination 😩

[@KateCavanaugh]

Procrastination is totally my enemy too! I feel you.

[@BonnieDragonKat]

I have had times when I am so stressed that writing does not happen. But that's not Block it's exaustion. I think there could be such a thing as being blocked but it could be laziness or exhaustion also. Idols for me are JK Rowling, Rick Riordan, Nora Roberts, Cristine Feehan, PC and Kristen Cast. A writing help is The Better Novel Project.

[@ashlkd19]

Could you try writing like Jane Austen? She's my favourite author and I'd love to see her writing routine

[@connorfuges4936]

How do you do it Kate!?!? I cant even finish a first draft!

[@KateCavanaugh]

Oh man. This is a great question! I made a video ages ago about the ways to finish the first draft and also another, separate video on WHY you aren't finishing the first draft. I'll try to see if I can find the links for you. :) But honestly, once you're able to finish a first draft, you'll be able to finish ALL of them after that. It's like an unlocked achievement/skillset haha. So if you're not there yet, I'm sure you will be soon! :)

[@connorfuges4936]

@@KateCavanaugh Thank you so much for this!!!!

[@stephaniejean7429]

Same haha

[@Raindrop2424]

Just found your Channel and really enjoy that Series 😊👍 Maybe it would Be interesting to Write a day like a childrens Book author or a Poet and find out if there is a difference because all the authors you tried are mostly YA/adult authors. 🤔😊

[@wades2132]

He loves to write that first notebook draft in fountain pen also. He is REALLY into fountain pens as well. I used to have a hobby in collecting and writing with fountain pens, and when I heard him on Ferris’ podcast, I recognized how much he uses them by the way he spoke about them as well as his thoughts on different notebook quality. His acknowledgement of the decline in Moleskine paper quality a half dozen years ago or so was hardcore legit.

[@loca4crafts]

I think I could write like Neil Gaiman. I like his general writing philosophy. Great video.

[@alisonf.haring3411]

I have to admit I’ve always had my doubts about the existence of writer’s block. I know some people can get blocked in their writing but as you said, I’m convinced it’s more of a story block when you have to fix something in your story to keep on writing. Maybe it does exist, but I’ve never experienced it myself so I couldn’t say. Every time I got blocked was because of a lack of motivation and that’s just discipline, not writer’s block. In the other hand, writing is a very psychological experience (we are basically creating entire worlds and lives!!), so maybe it wouldn’t be so crazy if such a specific block did exist. Long answer short: I don’t believe in writer’s block but I understand those who do 😊 (and I cross my fingers I’ll never get blocked lol)

[@bytheBrooke]

writing by hand in class was SUCH an escape from science and math lessons lol! But I could never write a book by hand now that I'm so used to typing on a computer!

[@audiem.7353]

I write on paper too. I use post-its if I realise I ended a scene too early and I started another one. I also use arrows and asterisks if I need to change paragraphs or lines. I also cross out lines or parts or paragraphs. I write by hand because otherwise I am way too enclined to go back and edit.

[@AtlanticGiantPumpkin]

I would love to write by hand but I've got chronic pain. It seems so authentic. The problem is I've got joint pain and fibromyalgia so I can barely fill out a form without screaming.

[@malignantprose4828]

"Emulating someone else's style"... I call that being a Writing Chameleon! I'm so glad other people experience it as well!

[@samanthasmall8795]

I definitely believe in writers block though I’m not one who suffers from it, I feel like my problem is almost the opposite in that I get more than one idea at once and the same intensity for each. Like an ADHD that in turn causes a writers block because it paralyzed my mind lol and unlike yourself, I cannot bring myself to work on more than one project at once so I try to keep notes for other ideas as they come to me.... love love love this series you’re doing!

[@te-ter]

My definition of writer's block: State where you feel like everything you write does not sit right with what you intended and the brainpower you would usually pour into writing is drained. Do I believe in writer's block? Well, since writing is not all about inspiration, I think you cannot call lack of inspo a block. But as with all creative work, feeling the way I described above is not uncommon, although I am not sure about naming it a block. My favourite exercise with prompts is NOT PICKING your prompt. Just look at one and force yourself to write something about it. It is a great stretch for getting out of your comfort zone. Also, getting few seemingly unrelated prompts and trying a story that ties them all together. "You can write, or you can do nothing, but you are not allowed to do anything but write." (Written by memory, but I like this one.)

[@sandraschehl7032]

I did his masterclass online and despite the fact that my genre is drastically different, i gained so much from his insights and found him quite inspiring. I am not sure that I have it in me to write the way he does. but I still find it encouraging

[@BPRINC1]

Old video going to comment anyway to make sure you know, if you've learned this by now, sorry! When you have these things, ex: "Follow Jenny up" or "Zoom in on one box" that's stage directing and is a big no no for beginner screenwriters if you plan to sell it or submit it to a contest instead say something like, "There's a particular box with a stack of proof copies of books" and/or "Jenny looks down at the book on top of the stack." Now you have me missing screenwriting lol.

[@jackystar5099]

When I was writing I only wrote by hand. I couldn't do it on a computer because my typing skills are trash and my technological abilities are also trash. I almost feel ashamed since I'm a teen who can barely type properly but I just like the feel of writing by hand.

[@dsalet1]

Have you read "Ernest Hemingway: On Writing"?

[@sweetiepielarae]

I believe Writer's Block is real; writing is probably the most creativity-demanding thing, and that shit is HARD.

[@agagagagagyo]

alcohol and caffeine help. Alcohol and caffeine combined really help.

[@spiraldestiny1200]

I've been curious about this for a while now. What is the significance behind the color titles you assign to your stories? I know they have alternative titles, so I was curious about the rationale behind each color in relation to the story as a whole. :)

[@lizdavidson9962]

I'm with Neil. I don't believe in writer's block, but I also work on multiple projects so if I am stuck on one thing, I go to the other. I love you content. Makes me work on my own writing!

[@bigforestband]

Sticky notes, Kate, are the answer to writing out of order when you write by hand.

[@bigforestband]

Arrows are good too, sometimes.

[@KateCavanaugh]

STICKY NOTES. Why didn't I think of that?? That totally makes sense. I don't know when I'll write a lot by hand next, but now I'll know bahahaha. Thank you! :)

[@nikhilsukumar23]

Great video. Enlightening and relatable. 👏my issue is that I keep writing the plan but once I start the chapter one I get confused about the next pages even to complete the first chapter.🏆🌠🕊

[@7Bloodfire]

My favorite things about writing from hand are strikethrough, sticky ites, and actually turning pages to locate things...like a book, but not a finished book YET. It's lovely to see so many hand written pages and be able to put the plot point pages in different order, or several varioations of the same chapters together in order to figure out how best to fix something. I did my best writing that way early on. Before I got used to doing the entire processes of drafting and editing on the computer.

[@lordofentropy]

I haven't been able to mimic any of the writers that can actually finish books 😢

[@ladyredl3210]

Everyone needs a writing dog!

[@EllePlowPlow]

@31:55 yayyyyyyyy!!! Are you planning to redo any of the authors you’ve already done or will you be doing all new authors?

[@EllePlowPlow]

Btw, I’d recommend Diana Gaboldone if you are looking for new authors to write like.

[@grapefry]

I'm 50/50 on the writer's block issue. It's different for everybody. My writer's block is a block in motivation, not words. I like writing by hand. I started my camp nano novel in a notebook. I would hand write a chapter or a few scenes at a time and then i'd type everything up and that acted as like a first round of edits for me. I could make any changes, expand on the thing i had just bracketed. when i was doing that i had a pretty clean draft. it all went down hill week 3 because i had a ton of zero word days and to expedite the process i had to write straight in my doc.. But i plan on handwriting again when i'm not confined by the time limits of a nano.

[@moonpetrie]

grapefry Hello! I previously did exactly the handwriting process you describe, but for Camp NaNo I started with typing because I didn’t think I’d get enough done otherwise. Now I’m continuing to type that draft, but I love the idea of going back to writing a first draft by hand again someday. (See you in the next Kevin & Laura livestream, I expect!)

[@grapefry]

​@@moonpetrie Hey Moon! Yeah that was the issue i ended up having (not getting enough written words to meet my daily goal). I just think there's something special about things that are hand written. I think it's because as I write I can see the progress i've made in a more concrete way. But now I know for next camp and for regular nano to cut out the middle man and start typing. Will you be doing camp in July? (You'll definitely be seeing me in the next live, as i've only written about 600 words this whole month 😂)

[@GSDGamingx]

Real talk you are the most relatable authortuber I've found on KZbin, the only reason my first draft gets any progress is your channel. :)

[@kizzyfur]

You make the best faces.

[@writative8285]

I love me some Gaiman! One of my favorites. I dont believe writers block is an outside force. I believe it's a symptom of an internal problem. Maybe I dont know where the story is going, maybe I'm feeling physically bad and dont feel like writing, maybe the story has stalled and needs some excitement to get me back into it, and maybe I'm being too hard on my writing and need to write anyway. I've learned how to soldier on in each instance and now I don't get blocked. Different problems require different solutions but if it keeps me writing, I'm doing right.

[@Vidyut_Gore]

I have never suffered writer's block. I'm usually typing at top speed trying to keep up with my head churning out endless ideas. My first drafts can be 2-3 times longer than the final book. I just get everything out, then remove what isn't needed. But writing by hand doesn't work for me. I can write by hand, no problem. Great writing too, but then editing is.... I basically have to type everything again.

[@chloesa4487]

This series is so fun to watch! I've learnt quite abit and got inspired enormously too. Could you do a tutorial on scrivener? I just switched to that from Word and my god I'm so confused right now

[@VanessaMarieCreates]

I think that all the things you mention can be categorized as a form of "Writers Block." It's such a versatile term, lol! I believe that it does exist (though for me, I'll admit that I usually just call it feeling lazy--or stuck on a problem), I don't usually let myself say I have writer's block, even when I probably do, because I don't want to give myself an excuse to avoid my writing problems XD Did that even make sense? Who knows. Writers block is confusing.

[@kal-muzel875]

For me writer's block is a state of un-inspiration and un-motivation and I do feel the same think when painting and drawing sometimes it just has a name when writing

[@charcoalangel7536]

I've heard it called "art block" when doing art.