a full day of writing, plotting, prepping my 100K challenge, and answering your questions!!

The days are dwindling before October is here and that means the 100KQ4 challenge is right around the corner, too! This vlog has one full day of revising (soooo close to the end of ACFoC), brainstorming and outlining my thriller, and some fun crochet and packing montages while I answer y'alls writing-related questions! Please do answer as well. The more writers answering, the better! :)
1:12 Why do pantsers try so hard to outline if they're more comfortable writing a different way??
3:10 If you could spend a day writing anywhere in the world, where would it be?
5:56 What do you do when you're stuck on a scene in your WIP?
10:02 How do you make the editing process easier, especially if you've written a Zero Draft?
13:15 Do you define books by what they mean to you? Like the book of your heart or soul or mind?
16:06 I always hit a point, about 30-40K into my story, where I start to feel lost. Do you experience this too? What do you do to keep writing?
19:11 How much reading for pleasure do you do when drafting?
21:53 What do you think is missing from Authortube?
25:11 What motivates you to finish your story?
28:00 If you have multiple ideas, how do you chose which one to work on?
29:27 What kind of stories are on your writing bucket list?
D I S C U S S I O N Q U E S T I O N S :
Any or all of the above! Whatever you want to share. :)
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[@saralynn7308]

To the first question: As a pantser struggling to become an outliner, it's because my revisions are utterly daunting and I take a long time to write a draft because I write myself into a spot and I have no idea where I'm going. My hope is that outlining will make those revisions a little less intense and will light the way forward so I don't get stuck so often.

[@ringsroses]

As a fellow pantser, I find that having a writing journal or document helps with this. I'll leave notes on chapters/characters/whatever and give myself specific guidance for the next writing day. And often I'll sleep on it over a weekend with a challenging scene. I think pantsing requires an acceptance of time to ruminate and let pieces fall into place. I took three months off my wip over the summer and swam most mornings. Randomly everything fell into place for my next round of edits.

[@saralynn7308]

@@ringsroses Yes. I keep a book journal, but it hasn't helped with stalls or the really messy first drafts. The outlining attempts have been more beneficial.

[@charmedvenuss]

I have seen "books of the heart" be the antithesis of writing to trend? Like writing story you love but don't fit into one genre or trend to make it easily marketable

[@KateCavanaugh]

That makes total sense in line with the advice I've heard! I just hadn't pieced together that was more explicitly what some people meant, but it absolutely fits!

[@tonyaroche7733]

I had to pause at the 4 minute mark because I’m too excited to wait to comment.😁 If I could spend the day writing anywhere, it would be on a train. As a matter of fact, on my bucket list I have “ writing retreat on a long, multi-day train ride.” Ok, back to the regularly scheduled program. 😇

[@KateCavanaugh]

STOP THAT SOUNDS SO COOL. I love that!! I’ve always wanted to do a cross-country train ride too. A writing retreat? You’ve given me a dream!! Bahaha. You let me know if you ever find one, I’m joining in!

[@tonyaroche7733]

@@KateCavanaugh there’s a three day trip between Denver and Chicago (one way). Wouldn’t that be gorgeous during autumn? 🍂

[@FidinaQuery]

Omg I love train rides, that would be my go to too. Or to just read a book on a really long train ride❤

[@herothebard]

I’ve written on a train I think it would be so much better if you got a multi day trip in a little carriage would be so fun!

[@bwezil]

Literally same. I’d save up for years to afford to just exist on a coast to coast round trip on an Amtrak with the observation windows. It would be the most amazing thing ever to be able to drink coffee and write on a chill train ride

[@kristinarose111]

Yyaayyyyyy 100,000 challenge!!!! I’m so excited! I have no words!

[@KateCavanaugh]

Saaaaaaaame! I’m starting to feel ready! (Good since there are so few days left lol.)

[@juliakauffman3639]

hopefully you'll have 100,000 by the end 😅

[@reginaduke7451]

Lovely video! Your yarn collection is so remeniscent of my past! LOL I still have some stuffed away in a closet, but piano has become my crochet break. I'm so glad you are going to Disney!!! How fun!!! I am about to create a cover for my (cheaper) black and white planner, but I'm fighting off a migraine. Better today, but not gone yet. boo-hoo. So your video is like a gift (viewed through blue-blockers). Have a great time! Love you!

[@JimmieHammel]

I think the "book of your heart" is the first BIG MAGICAL PERFECT idea you ever had... the one that made you think maybe you could be a writer... but that you're never able to get "perfect."

[@NerdySillyGirl]

What I'm trying with my actual story is planning one act, draft it, then plan the next one. It doen't remove the fun of discovering the story while also helps me avoid fumbling around later on 😂

[@aleahmarasigan5818]

perfectly on time to watch alongside writing! i also wanna thank you for being such a comfort youtuber and there's something magical in the way that you do your videos that keep me entertained while allowing myself to be productive with you. I hope you have a great day!!💕

[@KateCavanaugh]

Omg. Thank you so much for this comment, I appreciate it! 💜💜

[@floriia1096]

Hi Kate! Thank you so much for sharing your writing journey with us, I've been following you for a while because you inspire me to actually sit and write, because is something I struggle a lot, I have many ideas but I can't sit and put them to paper/screen LOL! So thank you! Sending you tons of love!

[@ninanatascha]

I have a book of my heart. It is a book about death and grief and star-crossed lovers all set in the city I live in. I love all my books, but this one is the one of my heart. It has a lot of meaning to me and I can't seem to let it go

[@Irrlichtwinter]

To me, the "project of my heart" is the manuscript I wrote when I was fifteen. I still hold on to the dream that someday, I will rewrite it and make it into what my fifteen year old self wanted it to be. But I'll need to gain a lot of skills (especially worldbuilding skills) first. The stories I write in the meantime are not any less dear to me, there is just a special sheen of nostalgia to that one project that showed me that I *can* sit down day after day and get the work done.

[@KateCavanaugh]

I love that answer. I hadn't factored in nostalgia at all, but the story I feel closest to being "the project of my heart" is definitely tinged with a lot of it too, a longtime idea.

[@TheKoffeeVerse]

As a pantser, even I have to plot at some point. Usually after the first draft when it's time to flesh out scenes and character development. I absolutely can not plot/outline when I'm first getting the story out of my head. But after that during edits and revisions I do use some plotting/planning.

[@abbywhite2935]

Loved this vlog/Q&A style video!

[@KateCavanaugh]

Aww yay, I'm so glad! There are so many fun questions left to go through too, it's been a while since I pulled the questionnaire out!

[@Lara_Ameen]

As someone who has written 36 scripts (yes, really), has an MFA in Screenwriting, took undergrad screenwriting classes for my Film Studies major, and wrote a supernatural TV drama pilot that I adapted into an adult contemporary fantasy novel for my PhD dissertation (and is currently querying said novel), I would absolutely encourage you to write a screenplay or a pilot! As with any writing, you will write many bad scripts before you write a good one! Good luck! For writing projects on my bucket list: - the YA horror novel (a haunted house story) that I’m currently drafting (adapted from a horror pilot I wrote last year) - keep adapting my own work (TV drama pilot to novel) - develop my enemies to lovers adult romantasy idea

[@GelatinSkeleton]

i think when it comes to your heart/soul book, i’ve always interpreted that as that One Special Idea that you’ve been thinking about for ages and ages and ages. for me that’s a story i’ve been writing and rewriting since i was 15 (i’m 31 now) that’s about vampire cats. it’s silly on its face, right? but it’s so close to my heart and my development as a person. i can’t bring myself to just let that story go too soon, especially since i still have a lot that i need to work on in terms of craft. i have lots of other ideas that are also very close to me and that are irreplaceable, but they’re not The Story in my mind.

[@KateCavanaugh]

That totally makes sense! Thank you for answering!! Also vampire cats sound incredible, I would totally read about them bahaha. That is right up my alley!

[@RumoHasIt]

I was lucky enough to actually write and finish the book of my heart. Writing it was an all-consuming obsession and I wrote 650 pages in about 7 weeks. Book of the heart was like meeting my soulmate in literary form. Every chapter is my favorite chapter. It wasn't a story I outlined deeper than act 1, but it BECAME the book of my heart as I wrote it because of how honestly I was willing to write my MC. It's the story I would want to read again every year for the rest of my life, and includes all my favorite tropes.

[@KateCavanaugh]

Ooooh, I love that! It's so fun it not only has all your favorite elements, but the experience itself in writing it was wonderful. All-consuming in the best way. I am seeing a recurring theme about how a "book of the heart" is just the writer's most favorite things all in one book and that no one will ever love it quite the same way because THEY were the only target audience the whole way through. That does help me to understand a bit more!!

[@A_Bookish_Obsession]

Q1: I agree with what you said, but I also think a lot of it comes down to, pressure from the community to perform the act of writing in a specific way- in the "correct way" if you will (according to way too much of authortube/writertube) Q2: I live in an apartment, but I remember my favorite place to write was a hammock at my parents place which I wish I had access to in my own place. Sadly I can because I live in an apartment complex, but also because I am newly no contact with my parents for personal reasons. Q3: the way I approach scenes I'm stuck on really depends on why I'm stuck. Sometimes that requires just making a note and pushing through, other times that calls for more brainstorming or research, and sometimes skipping it is best it really depends. Q4: Honestly, I don't. My writing process is kind of a mess. Q5: I like to think that most written books are written from the heart, mind, soul, etc. I think telling people (not you but the advice you're referencing) not to sell their soul book or the books from the heart is harmful rhetoric within the community. It's that thing that steers the fun and creativity of a project into strictly capitalist gain, which I think is the thief of joy. Q6: I think the break from act one into act two is always where the trouble comes for me. As to how to get past it ... I'm still figuring that part out. 😅 Q7: Sometimes a lot sometimes nothing. The amount that I read while drafting depends on where I'm at in a project. When I used to participate in a November event that shall not be named, I used to get so hyperfocused on writing I would hardly do anything else outside of that. (I also have undiagnosed ADHD and diagnosed PTSD so 😅) Q 8/9: I do think there are gaps in the community, but I'm sure how to articulate that just yet. As for what motivates me to keep going? My roommate, without them I'd have abandoned so many projects by now. 😂 Q10: In the same vein that I am a mood reader, I also like to think that I am a mood writer of sorts, so whatever I feel pulled to write is what project Ill work on. Q11: Project Savior (for a backburner project) as for new projects Project Atlas.

[@chelseabartlett8082]

Omg the writing in Maine mention lol. I live in Maine so I'm writing in a bookstore/café there right now! ETA: I had to come back to talk about the "book of my heart" thing because this is really interesting to me too! As someone who's been writing since I was a little kid, writing books since I was a teenager, I have one specific book project that does feel like a "book of my heart" to me. It isn't really autobiographical at all, at least not any more than any other book, but I think of it that way because of how "me" it FEELS. Like, it's about the sense of the book, the influences that have gone into it and how formative those particular influences were for me, it's about the emotional journey that this book in particular covers. It's like the epitome of "write what you would want to read" for me -- it just does all of those particular, niche things that I really love. It's the book that got me an agent, and then it also didn't sell on submission because it wasn't marketable enough. So, lol, there you go haha. This is what it means for me to call this book the book of my heart, but I imagine it's different for different people -- I wouldn't be surprised if it often does come down to that sense of the book aligning with the author's internal sense of themselves a lot of the time though!

[@KateCavanaugh]

I love that you described it that way because my Scooby Doo x Princess Bride story is exactly that way and the closest I felt to understanding what people meant! Bahaha. Also SO jealous of your Maine cafe writing!! I’m sure it’s even more beautiful than I’m imagining.

[@chelseabartlett8082]

@@KateCavanaugh That's so cool and interesting that you feel similarly about your Scooby Doo x Princess Bride story -- which I always love hearing about by the way! Maine is certainly beautiful! I hope you get to see it and write here someday!

[@inimitablebooksllc]

Woo! A new video! I've been binge-rewatching your old videos.

[@KateCavanaugh]

Aww yay! Yeah, I’m on a roll. Also because I wanted to get my back log out before the 100KQ4 started!!

[@inimitablebooksllc]

@@KateCavanaugh Very valid. Will you be doing weekly vlogs for the challenge or just a monthly wrap up to cut down on video editing time?

[@KateCavanaugh]

Right now I have the first day and monthly wrap-up and random weekly vlogs planned!

[@chillgamingchannel1283]

When I am stuck I quit for about 7 years apparently.

[@PublisherGatineauHills]

Canada would welcome a Kate Cavanaugh with open arms. Signed, a Canadian.🍁

[@ghost-pages]

Can't believe I forgot until this video that I can just skip scenes and come back to them later. Thank you!

[@jaepelton]

Your Q&A’s are my favorite! Like a mini podcast

[@KateCavanaugh]

Awww, I love that! I'm a big podcast fan so it's wonderful it gives those vibes!

[@terencejohnson4502]

Feeling lost, what do you do to keep writing? Being lazy, moody and working full-time I often leave it days to write. But a re-read of what's gone on or keeping a summary helps me refresh. When not writing, I'm thinking about the story. Challenge then is to remember the genius ideas I have. What motivates you to finish your story? Totally agree with Kate, "a skill unlocks once you have completed your first novel." I would add Finish? Obtain a printed copy of your "finished," story and weep at the mistakes that got by all your hard work.

[@Francis-d2l]

Read Steven pressfields book the war of art, absolute essential

[@Francis-d2l]

Take this any way you'd like, "Walk them through the darkness to the gardens of delight"

[@OverAndOut09]

I consider a “book of my heart” to be a story I more than love. I’m obsessed with it, with the characters, with the world, I can’t get it out of my head, I don’t wanna stop I’m so excited to write it, even on “bad” or hard writing days I still love it, I’m even loving figuring out kinks and plot holes and such. It has tropes and ideas I love, things I wanna talk about, it’s just everything. I don’t think you’ll only have just one in your life, but I do only have one right now - my Frankenstein/Hamlet horror trilogy.

[@RumoHasIt]

Agree with all of the above!!

[@KateCavanaugh]

Ooooh, see I love hearing that you don't think there will only ever be just one book of your heart! That was the vibe I'd sort of gotten up until now. But this makes way more sense to me bahaha.

[@bwezil]

To the first point: I’m so glad someone has pointed out that yeah, outliners might want to go the other way too. Maybe it’s just the corner of writing KZbin I’m on, but it seems like everyone is starting to disregard pantsing entirely for outlining when that’s NOT the point! You gotta learn how to balance to whatever ratio works for you. I’ve been a hardcore outliner since high school, and for me? I have literally thousands of pages of notes and comments of just me outlining and revising the outline again and again without ever actually starting anything. If I just committed to writing something, at least I’d have a rough draft to revise! But I also don’t have to abandon my approach entirely, either, because there are benefits (like you’ve described). Thanks for getting into it, and framing it so well as “trying something new,” because you’re right. Mixing it up when our current approach isn’t working for us, no matter where we’re starting from, is the best advice we could ask for! I also want to say that I’m a recent subscriber, and it’s been really neat to watch content on your processes and thoughts las you write. It’s nice to see how a regular person (but professional writer!) tackles the issues we all face. I’m learning a lot!! Also, good luck on the 100k words!!

[@Francis-d2l]

If I ever get a mystery out, it'll be a good indication that I'm far FAR too good at what I'm doing (or attempting) right now.... for now though, I'll leave the mysteries up to you, professionals😊

[@Yukimiko0001]

I always wondered how to choose beta readers. I have written many stories (some up to 200k some picture books for children), but I never showed them to anyone after my family said I should get rid of this crap, but after many positive responds, while talking to others online I wonder how I could find someone trustworthy and neutral to give me their opinion.

[@KerriB]

I am determined to finish an outline one day! I just get too excited and jump straight to writing because I love discovering things alongside my characters. Going from finished outline to writing sounds like a really fun challenge though so I really want to do it. I just need to find the time 😅

[@avsambart]

I know it starts tomorrow but I haven't done a single prep 🤣 but hopefully I can still do okay-ish! Is there any hashtag or discord for this challenge?

[@erinrichellez]

Hi Kate! I loved this video and the discussion questions that comes with it :) Here's My Answers to the Questions- Q1- For the first question about why pantsers try to outline, for me at least, it's always been that I've been drawn to the idea of outlining (I'm actually in the middle- a plantser if you will), and I feel like it'd be helpful if I could get an idea fully outline and onto the page through outlining methods. However, I've recently had an epiphany that made me realize outlining is never going to fully be something I can commit to but it's always a good resort when trying to figure out where to go next. I like the chapter-by-chapter outlines best because it gives me the freedom of doing both outlining and getting started on writing in a position where I don't feel like I rigidly have to stick to something, if that makes sense. Q2- So I have agoraphobia which makes it hard for me to leave the house, but I have a dream of writing at my college library. Q3- For me, I tend to journal when I'm stuck on a scene, or I add a note of what I want to happen in the scene and go back to write the scene when I have a better perspective to write it. Q4- I actually have never gotten to the editing process (for a long time, I edited as I went but I've forced myself to stop doing that) because I have never finished a project. This is actually the longest I've been planning a project (it's had numerous drafts but never a finished draft). Q5- yes and no. I feel like every book I work on (even if I drop them and never finish them) is a piece of my soul and sticks with me and just overall makes me a better writer. Q6- YES!!!!! This is typically the moment I restart the draft but I'm planning on punishing through this draft until I get a final version of it. My advice would be to find something you love about the story- a favorite scene, a song that your story reminds you of, etc. just something to make you fall back in love with writing it. Q7- As of lately, I barely do any reading when drafting to be honest, but I'm trying to get back into reading and writing at the same time. Q8- I agree a lot with what you said. I'm totally old school by doing a tag for my first video back haha, but I'm looking forward to seeing what this next era in authortube has in store for us! Q9- What motivates me to finish a story is the playlist I create for each project and the Pinterest board. I want to do it justice too, which might be why I haven't had success in completing a story. Q10- I honestly believe the right story comes to you when you need to write it. When it comes to ideas that you have but don't have time for, I think that jotting them down (like you did) is a great way to keep them, but I honestly think that the idea that ignites a spark in you is how you choose one. Q11- Currently, a musical is on my bucket list, a collection of short stories is on it, and other things that I want to explore genre wise. But the projects I'm working on is my fantasy-sci-fi, my romantasy, and my poetry book collection.

[@YunaKatz]

Ciao Kate, I loved your video, thank you so much! 🌻🌹 Oh, my writing bucket list … I still haven't finished my children's book, which I've been working on for over two years. It's a shame. I've collected so many ideas for this story, but I find it difficult to sit down and write. To be honest, I fear my inner critic so much that I prefer not to write. It's stupid, I know *sigh*! I wish I could write badly, just get my story done and not give a shit until it's time to revise.

[@Francis-d2l]

Writing bucket list: style and genre. Braid comedy with rhythm and then horror, practice each form in auto and then grammatical writing, for at least an hour, then, to twist the plot, add a single bead, or axiom, (from an admired author) to further entangle any loose ends for reasons of sequel of course but, add gas (ink) and ignite with attention, (or affection) as you probably will.

[@herothebard]

I’m going to answer the questions bellow 1:12 Why do pantsers try so hard to outline if they're more comfortable writing a different way?? I’m a very hard core plotter, to the point that I can’t start a story until I know everything about the world and what the story is about. So I’m not sure I can say anything about being a pantser. I definitely agree with what Kate said though about trying something that doesn’t feel as natural to you just to find what of that particular way of writing does work. I only started planning novels about 5 years ago. The first few books I wrote were all pantsed and the stories were never as good. I personally feel that once I started planning what my stories were about and asking the questions that I needed to know then I was able to make a better story in the long run. 3:10 If you could spend a day writing anywhere in the world, where would it be? 😅 I would love to be able to go back to the cabin my family owned when I was a child and do my writ there. Unfortunately the family sold it 10years ago and I can’t go back. But I would have loved to have that cabin as my writing space. 5:56 What do you do when you're stuck on a scene in your WIP? If I’m ever stuck on a scene then it means I didn’t get enough world building done, so I often times will take a step back and ask myself what that scene is about and why is it difficult to write. 10:02 How do you make the editing process easier, especially if you've written a Zero Draft? I don’t know if there is a way to make editing easier. I often call it revision hell because it’s awful to be stuck in edits forever. 13:15 Do you define books by what they mean to you? Like the book of your heart or soul or mind? I’ve only had one book that I might have defined as “having a piece of my soul” but that is because I have so much of myself wrapped up in the main character, he isn’t me, he has a different life and different goals and ambitions, but we react the same way to things. So much of who I am is tied up in that story and it was such a therapeutic process of writing it. 16:06 I always hit a point, about 30-40K into my story, where I start to feel lost. Do you experience this too? What do you do to keep writing? There is usually a point where I don’t know what I am writing anymore, it’s usually around the half way mark where I start to wonder what is next or what is the end of the story. I personally find that taking a step back and potentially doing some extra planning to see where the character is and where the end of the book is and figuring out how to get the character there. 19:11 How much reading for pleasure do you do when drafting? I think I read a lot less when I am in the middle of a big project 21:53 What do you think is missing from Authortube? Writers who’s experience are vastly different, I’d love to see more writers of colour, people who have disabilities, and strangely enough I don’t see a ton of male writers on authortube and it would be great to see more of that. 25:11 What motivates you to finish your story? It’s hard to say because I am a very self motivated starter and I often get lost in my projects because I am so motivated to write them. 28:00 If you have multiple ideas, how do you chose which one to work on? I will chose what is calling to me the most, something I am fascinated with at that moment and really speaks to something I want to say. 29:27 What kind of stories are on your writing bucket list? I personally don’t have a writing bucket list.

[@FidinaQuery]

Book of my heart is an interesting question. As much as I love stuff like Lord of the rings or Harry Potter, I can only describe something that’s of my heart when it’s led by a female protagonist. I can only relate to that since I’m a girl. So for the book of my heart written by other people, it would be Anne of Green Gables and Pippi Longstocking. It’s a female protagonist that you can root for and almost want to be. And for some reason, it can’t be an adult one, it has to have that certain innocence that speaks back to my inner child. But that’s just me. And yes, I totally agree with you about things you write yourself have a certain element of you or part of you, either in the protagonist or the side character or even the plot you choose. ❤ PS: thank you for another lovely & comforting video, Kate. Each and every one of your video is so special and so cozy and watching it is usually the best part of my day❤❤❤❤❤ Also, can’t wait to start #100kwithkate, aaaaaaa😂❤

[@rylanwow]

for that first question, i think that many pantsers would be outliners if they tried it more simply because outlining is a skill. of course it's going to feel bad and uncomfortable at first because you don't know what you're doing yet!! its like writing a whole book for the first time, that shit is hard and uncomfortable too. I think this whole dichotomy between pantsing and outlining is a hinderance to most ppls processes because they think they have to be one or the other when usually what is successful for ppl is learning a mix of both, and obviously if the thing you try initially is successful (pantsing), it would feel counter intuitive to try the other thing (outlining) especially if it feels harder. anyways that's my rant about outlining. It's a separate skill!!!!!! and i think most writers should at least try learning it!!!! (this is coming from someone who used to be a "pantser" too btw)

[@Francis-d2l]

Also, you obviously write from a fuel of elation as well as anxt, I love your energy and enthusiasm, I haven't even seen the whole video, but I am just a, loathsome old creature, still writing out of only anxt, but maybe I could become inspired again, I think this may have come to me at the exact time I needed it, thank you for getting yourself out there!

[@smartfunny15]

I also skip scenes when I feel low on the imagination. I realized this at a writing retreat that I could rewrite my working novel or add brand new scenes with the “what if” scenarios I made into a list to build my protagonist’s world.

[@abbyreadsandstudies]

oh! beautiful crochet projects! i'm currently making my moms friend and her husband a granny square blanket as a thank you gift for letting us stay in their house for a week in england! i believe u can bring wood crochet hooks on the plane. Gonna see what will happen 🤞

[@Francis-d2l]

Making the parts of yourself into the characters in the story is what I call a stan lee device, as an uneducated person I had to come up with tge idea of braiding, from rhythm to concept, to genre, using the environment, and emotion to stitch it all together, as you may imagine, dialog was the most difficult part of developing for me.

[@ringsroses]

Q1: I agree with your answer. But especially to underscore that I pants my zero drafts and then I use that to inform the outlining I do in my drafts. I love pantsing because it's just fun to explore without getting trapped by my expectations from an outline. It helps me to get more attached to my characters and then I actually want to edit. Rewriting zero drafts is more productive than revising in my experience. As to the story of the heart question, my personal take is that it's a thematic thread that's often obvious in an author's body of work rather than being a single story. It's just that some writers devote that energy to a small body of work or one specific story while others have a larger, less focused one. I think even the most commercially focused writers have little signatures that reveal the heart work.

[@grshjelm1984]

I really have a terrible tendency to just fly off before I figure out what the story actually is, but I am working on that - because I would actually like to know a little bit more what I am going to write rather than just suddenly find out as I go. As fun as that is, it does not help me in finishing stories as well, so. I will be doing my best to actually get that done in Q4 because this sounds like such an interesting challenge 🙂

[@Francis-d2l]

It's just lovely to see someone with an inkling of enthusiasm for creation these days, all these others seem to be bent on destruction or something, the world needs many more of you!😊

[@ejwrites1]

As a pantser, I prefer to be a reverse outliner for revisions and rewriting :)

[@sara.e.evelyn]

I love your videos! It makes me feel like I'm actually being productive instead of procrastinating my current WIP...

[@KateCavanaugh]

Lolol! As someone who also uses KZbin for procrastination (I mean...inspiration...), I'm glad I can be the for you! Bahaha. Good luck on your WIP!!

[@RuthOEAtkins]

I LOVE Refuse to be Done! Have recommended it to so many writer friends. It's so useful and practical. His "omit weasel words" exercise has helped me so much :)

[@KateCavanaugh]

Ooooh so glad to hear that! Can’t wait to dive in.

[@realmoffreyja]

Had to comment to say I love how your office is evolving into its own character! So cozy and creative and screams Kate which is weird to say because I don't even though I don't know you personally. That chair looks too comfy.

[@KateCavanaugh]

Awww, thank you so much!!! I'm really loving its evolution too. And it is SO comfy! :)

[@kaylacook1522]

One of my favorite writing books is Writing the Breakout Novel by Donald Maas. It's a little outdated but he has a workbook as well. I use it a lot during my revision stage

[@KateCavanaugh]

Oooh, I'll have to look that up! There can still be a lot to gleam from outdated craft books. If anything, it's fun to see what the industry used to be like, too!!

[@Tamy-qo7oh]

The story I am writing right now feels from the heart. It has nothing to do with m life but through my characters I am writing some of my inner truths in a way? I did not write in so long, because whenever I tried I was kind of checking myself, but now I am not holding back.

[@KateCavanaugh]

Oooh, that's another common element I'm seeing now! That the "book of you heart" is just so specifically for you, and in the writing, definitely not holding yourself back at all.

[@UndyingLight117]

I love how much you absolutely glow when you talk about writing!

[@KateCavanaugh]

Thank you!!! 💙

[@berry1068]

No questions , no comments, no answers. I just want to drop this tomato here 🍅hehe (:

[@KateCavanaugh]

Hehehe 🍅♥️

[@Francis-d2l]

Percolating eh? Ever feel like there's just a frickin circus going on up there that no one else ever gets to see?😅

[@KateCavanaugh]

LOOOOL. Yes! 🎪

[@DreamingTruth.author]

Thank you for sharing ❤

[@KateCavanaugh]

[@JimmieHammel]

As a discovery writer, YES, I get stuck a quarter of the way through ACT 2, but there's a reason for that for me. . . It's because I don't know how the book ends, and the first half of ACT 2 is the MC trying to solve their problem the WRONG way, and if I don't know what the RIGHT way is, how can I know which way is the wrong way? I usually just skip ahead to the next part I can firmly see, then come back to the missing chunk of the story after I finish the rest of it.

[@elizabethdelafield7533]

I would love to return to Lake Windermere in England and write at one of the tables near the lake shore OR on the boat as it tours the lake.

[@KateCavanaugh]

Oooh, I love a lake! That sounds so lovely. I've also just looked up Lake Windermere and all those photos are so serene!

[@elizabethdelafield7533]

@@KateCavanaugh It was one of the most beautiful places I've ever been. :)

[@shebreathesingold8043]

I plot because I like to understand what I'm writing as I'm writing. I don't like to be in the dark. The one time I tried to heavily pants, I realized I was just generating plot and that wasn't impressive at all, especially because I never quite knew what the point was, and as soon as I figured the point, I had to lose most of that generated content anyway. I also realized that after you pants, you have somewhat of a story, and now you *have* to be an outliner because you're going to revise multiple times and no longer "make it up as you go" and if I was that afraid of writing with a plan, writing would always be difficult. So, I really got into outlining and found that so much easier and rewarding. The best part of outlining for me is when I finally start drafting, all my scenes feel more complex and layered. You'd be surprised how much info your mind naturally weaves into a scene when it knows what the heck that scene is supposed to be doing in the grand scheme. I always find references/parallels/thematic undertones/etc as I'm writing. It's so fun to write scenes and get chills by how much meaning is in them.

[@Francis-d2l]

Your first thought, the style of "pantsing", as you call it, I'm glad, I think, that you limited it to just one article of clothing,, what i would like to know here, when outlining in this style of, "pantsing", is it that you're just, dressing up the story? Are the so called pants going on or coming off? or do you ever get the notion of just going complete "stripperville" on an outline, and trying very diligent to not get too graphic or distracted by the style or the content itself to allow the characters (and the environment) their nuances as well?!❤❤❤ I dig your ditch honey, we should collaborate😎

[@solosforthesavior]

Could you do a study with me with lots of typing?

[@KateCavanaugh]

Like a video or a livestream? I stream writing sprints over on Twitch and keep my sound on while typing, so lots of noises over there!

[@solosforthesavior]

@@KateCavanaugh either or

[@solosforthesavior]

I see, but maybe you could do one with a different camera angle?

[@solosforthesavior]

I see, but maybe you could do one with a different camera angle?

[@e_nyuszi]

woah, omg I'm early today! love you Kate!!! can't wait to watch!! 💗💗💗

[@KateCavanaugh]

You’re first!! 🏆💛

[@e_nyuszi]

@@KateCavanaugh yay haha!