THE KITCHEN TIMER WRITING METHOD | 10 guidelines for a healthier, more satisfying writing routine!

[@simpleandclever]

There were a lot of things worth talking about in this video, but I was really impressed by the slow-mo laundry pod toss action shot. Cinematic!

[@cassie_hart]

I'd so love to be able to do this method! I don't think I can convince the kids to leave me alone for long enough tho 🤣 I might try half hour sessions tho, and see how it goes. Love experimenting with things to help productivity and also feeling good about things, being more kind to ourselves etc.

[@Rec426]

This is definitely an interesting method! I’ve been feeling a little unmotivated with my dissertation and not wanting to work for very long. Maybe this may work in giving myself pressure to do more focused work in a timely manner and make sure I get proper breaks in between so I can stay motivated? I’ll have to try this in the next week and see how it works for me :) thanks for letting us know about this method Kate! It’s always great to learn about new methods of working and to see if they work for you :)

[@ashleybpedigo]

I think if the kitchen timer method worked for you (and it looks like it did! Yay!) you might consider reading Deep Work. I read it about a week ago, and have decided to make a bunch of changes to my daily routine based on the ideas found in the back half of the book. I love the idea of keeping your journal with you, and doing hour on, and then some time off sounds great. I remember reading about the kitchen timer method in Lauren's book several years ago and it came to me at the right time, too!

[@fralou_sind_kreativ]

Personally I love writing for one hour. The routine I had last year and that I'm trying to get back to is to write two hours straight in the morning from 8 to 10 a.m. Since I have breakfast at 10 a.m. my stomach is my timer :P After that I do whatever I have and want to do during the day. This way I start string and feel amazing the whole day. But I feel often that when I write for one hour, my focus is different. I'm getting more in the zone. I like finding an ending that feels good. Being cut off by a timer is not a nice feeling. Especially when you are in the zone. But the natural ending comes better with an hour for me and after two hours as well. Hope you'll find your own way of a routine with what you've learned. Sending love and creative vibes

[@sydney2802]

Wow, this method sounds like it'd help! I tend to get distracted during 1 hour sprints bc that is just too long for me, but maybe 30 min would work best for me. I think the 'mindset' I've really tried to incorporate into my routine and general life is something along the lines of 'I may not have done what I wanted to do, but I did my best and I can do my best tomorrow and hope it's a bit better than today's best.' It helps to remind me that yeah, maybe I don't always reach my expectations but any work is better than no work and momentum is key lmao.

[@cicada6849]

I've been meaning to try one of the methods from your videos, so I gave this one a go. It didn't really work for me, since my energy is so up and down it's hard to schedule things in advance, but I love the journaling aspect. It's nice to get all my thoughts out before working, and coming back to the journal when I felt stuck really helped me through the rough parts of my most recent story!! Thank you, Kate

[@markfloyd734]

LOLOLOL 15:36 Doggie paws trying to get traction on wood floors to run to the door!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Congrats on the self-care Kate!!

[@harveythepooka]

For me it's about input vs output. You can't control the output but you can control the input. We should all be tracking time vs tracking words.

[@theferalcollection]

Your trouble with the timer going off in the middle of your flow reminded me of the recent Writing Excuses episode "Oh No I lost the Thread."

[@MrsSukre07]

This method is definitely interesting in its own way. I’m always struggling to focus on tasks on hand and gets distracted almost at everything 🥲 I find this method to be very helpful in helping you focus on your writing in designated time and then giving you some time to focus at other tasks like house chores, reading, relaxing, etc. I might give this method a go. Thanks, Kate, for introducing this.

[@allisoncampbell1631]

Just wanted to say your dogs and feline overlord are adorable

[@TheLitGamer]

I literally did a “Yay!” when you mentioned Maintenance Phase. I love that podcast. So fun and informative.

[@JSSH-SCIFI]

Very helpful and comforting

[@moirasoma2863]

So happy to see a video from you! Hope you feel better❤‍🔥

[@KateCavanaugh]

:) :) Thanks Moira soma!! I've made a lot of little changes that have helped. It's slow to change, but I'm getting there! :)

[@moirasoma2863]

@@KateCavanaugh Im so glad to hear that! Your writing sprints has helped me immensly with writing my novel, and I love all your writing experiments❤️ Take your time and be well🙏

[@KayeRobs]

Hi, Kate. I'm sure this must have been mentioned before, but I notice you don't use dark mode for your writing, or on your great big timer screen. Going dark has helped my eye strain a great deal. JS. Hope all resolves for you soon, xxx

[@KateCavanaugh]

Thank you!! I'm actually typing to you in Dark Mode in KZbin Studio right now bahaha. I have my "Kate" stuff in Dark Mode but haven't changed my ~non-work stuff~ to that. I just made the change because of your comment, thank you!!! Turning up the warmth on everything has helped me a lot too. :)

[@KateCavanaugh]

Also just changed my Scrivener. THANK YOU!!!

[@carbmg]

I'm just curious about dark mode because I just don't feel it works for me, I don't know why. Is just for the vision fatigue? Tell me :D

[@JessicaLynnHurt]

@@carbmg Personally I'm similar to Kate where I can get pretty bad headaches or migraines from too much screen time. I've been using dark mode as well as orange/reddish light filters on all my devices for years and that one thing has significantly cut down on my headaches and I can look at screens for longer now. So yeah I do think it's mostly to help with vision fatigue/eye strain which can cause headaches but maybe for others it's different. I work a lot in Google docs for work and installed an extension called Google docs dark mode which makes the side bars and menu darker and that's also been really helpful for me, though I do still like to have the page be white since I find it easier to read. I also keep the brightness on everything pretty low. The only time it's on max is if I'm out in the sun usually. Putting a warm light filter (orange/red) on your screens can also help with sleep if you're using your devices in the evening since the blue light can make it harder for you to sleep, but personally I keep it on all the time for headaches

[@Heothbremel]

❤❤❤❤Certainly worth poking at :D I do timer sprints during Nano most years but not the rest of the year very much....

[@JessicaLynnHurt]

Great to see a video from you and also happy to see that you're continuing to prioritize your health and self-care ❤️ I really liked the kitchen timer method Patreon stream! It inspired me to give it a try for myself too. I struggle to stay focused on both my day job work and fiction writing so I think it could be useful for both. During your stream the stuff that I got done during those 2 hours usually takes me double or sometimes even triple that time! I'm also not super great at building in intentional breaks which is something else I've been wanting to work on so yeah, you've inspired me 👀👀 oh and also I love how to point of the method is to feel successful each day! I often find myself being like "oh well you didn't get this done or that done, or you took so long to do it" etc so it's rare that I end the day feeling successful despite actually getting a lot done. So that's a mindset shift I've been needing to make too (I was just taking to my therapist about this the other day haha and she told me the same thing so definitely need to work on congratulating myself more!)

[@vanessaglau1797]

Interesting experiment! It does seem great for balancing productivity with overall health which I'm also pretty bad at sometimes. Re one hour sprints: I sometimes participate in Writer's Hour where you can hop on Zoom with a couple writers at set times every weekday to write together for one hour (or more like 50 minutes) & that's been great because I can take the time to really get into the story instead of just churning out words like I would during 20 minute sprints. At the same time, I think 1+ hr sessions shouldn't be called sprints because the pace is just different & that's a good thing!

[@ghostyplans]

I do this, but I didn’t know it was this!!! I LOVE hour long sprints and then I give myself a 20 min break, and then another 40-60 min sprint.

[@kelly_seastar]

I'm about to start prepping for Nanowrimo. I'm using Katytastic's 3 Acts, 9 Blocks, 27 Chapters outline method, which is new to me. 45 minutes of writing might make it more managable.

[@MrsSukre07]

I used this method too for outlining ❤️ so helpful for someone like me who finds outlining very, very overwhelming 😅

[@adrabloodstone6388]

Another great experiment to see what works. Best part was Vin at the end playing under the pet bed and voicing her opinion.

[@keriant]

I do 4 sets of 20min sprints followed by 10min breaks and usually in just 2h total, i can get to an average of 2,600 words. It's awesome because my day job doesn't allow me that much time to write but I still want to feel like I'm being productive enough in the writing.

[@thebriarpatch9564]

I'm looking to try the Kitchen Timer Method- possibly tomorrow or the next day. :-)

[@claudiaf6637]

It's so good to see you're doing better. As for your questions, yes, I've done one-hour sprints; there were four of them in one session, with ten minute breaks between 1 and 2, and 3 and 4. There was a 60-minute break between 2 and 3 (for lunch). At the start if the session we did a goal-setting exercise, and at the end we celebrated ourselves and each other. But it was very exhausting. I will give the kitchen-timer method a go, though. One hour on, one hour off sounds doable, particularly at the weekend. Thank you for sharing this!

[@stephaniejean7429]

I love Lauren’s book!

[@KateCavanaugh]

It was SO fun. LOVED getting to hear her narration too.

[@olijacobs4465]

This video comes at such a good time. I'm thinking about doing this method for my Nanowrimo prep this year... It really appeals to me ! I love your writing experiment videos, and I love seeing you work healthier methods into your routines!

[@carmenhampton2946]

Love the video Kate(: Your animals are adorable 🥰🥰🥰

[@terencejohnson4502]

Hey Kate, glad this is working for you. I've been watching KZbin Vids about slow living recently and I recommend people take a look at the idea. Best of luck.

[@herothebard]

I have been looking forward to a new video. I think it is great to let the past go and move on as well as to just put up an hour and write in a journal or notebook with no other distractions for that full hour and whatever you get, is what you get. I think I might integrate that into my new planning and such for the future.

[@johndogwater]

So nice to see you happily getting your chonks sorted out. It's funny I kinda work to a less strict version of this naturally; I'll plan to do about an hour on something, usually run out of thoughts or patience at around the 45 50 minute mark, then take little or long breaks of undetermined length for dog snuggles or cleaning or whatever needs doing. Since I never thought of it as like - a method, my hours would sometimes include small distractions like getting a cup of tea, but generally it seems to work. I love the design of those milk bottles!

[@Caroline_Creative]

Yay a video 🎉

[@Caroline_Creative]

Also maybe first comment😮

[@KateCavanaugh]

🏆 YAYAY! :)

[@cookiemobyl]

I was supposed to see Panic at the disco but they canceled all their shows in Canada, seeing your clip makes me so jealous hahaha

[@MaryJoHeadrick]

I just bought the Plot from Half Priced books last week! I haven't read it but i really want to

[@pucksandpaperbacks]

This is such an interesting method. I might try it for myself. I work from home and this looks like a good way for me to take some breaks when I need them!

[@JuliaPressSimmons]

So glad to see a video. I'm finna join your Patreon because I think I'm missing out. Your last video touched me and helped me a lot. Thank you!

[@rochellavanderwal9320]

Funnily enough I used to do this during my times of studying at Uni. I did it in 20/25 minute chunks just to get my brain used to the 'we're doing this no matter how many hours it takes' kind of way. Now, i am happy if I can do my daily things in 15/20 minutes a day next to my work and I don't feel the need to be 'productive' in an amount of hours anymore. I didn't know this was a full on method and had guidelines! I am definitely upgrading my own systems to be healthy and fulfilling.

[@johntubbs6617]

yeah... 20-to-25-minute sessions work great all day, it's amazing how much can happen with work sessions like that all day. I say when the pets take a break their owner should too - 😊

[@jcandye1]

Awesome stuff! I'm gonna check out this book. Thanks :D

[@Chloe-do6wg]

This is really nice! Keep it up!🙌🙌

[@johntubbs6617]

I guess you can cook up a good story with this - Ding! it's done. They make blue light glasses - helps on more screen time. Kind of like the Flash Fiction Technique, find prompts from random selections and then structure it - then use method or journal where you write as fast as you can in 20 minutes etc... then go through that for prompts as well juggle the three stages to build about two full pages etc.. and build to a novella then up a novel etc... sounds like the black cat likes the idea. ding times up

[@HayleyHCreates]

I know the point of the video is the writing but the food you make here just looks super good XD

[@MarkandMarie]

I have that problem too. I feel like I so rarely get into the swing of writing for myself, so when I do get into a groove, I don't want to interrupt it. lol I am a grad student and an instructor for undergrads, so I WRITE A LOT for school and work. I always end up putting my own writing off and I'm like NO! I need to not! lol Since I write all day everyday for different reasons, I'm currently attempting to theme different days. lol Monday and Tuesday school/work writing, Wednesday personal publication writing, etc. lol

[@sabrinalecrivainmediaTM]

Ohhh a #blackcraftradio blanket🤩

[@EmmaBennetAuthor]

This sounds like it could be really helpful.x

[@michalehess2178]

I do this. I do fifteen minutes writing and a break. I can't sit for an hour. I have long term covid. I get vertigo. I am quite surprised how much I had written.

[@markc.7984]

Palmadoro! 25/5!

[@thiadesg]

I read this book a few years back and didn't remember that it included the kitchen timer method. Maybe it's time for a reread? :)

[@reginaduke7451]

Very enjoyable video. I miss you! but take care of yourself. Migraines are awful. I use several tricks to limit screen time including piano and staring into space while listening to music. LOL. I also change to warmer colors on my screen and enlarge the print. And of course, dictate. Love you, and wishing you the best!!!

[@johntubbs6617]

They make blue light glasses (much like sunglasses) they are orange in color though, but allow more computer screen time/

[@FeeBee3001]

Never done this method but it sounds similar to what I do already when I have longer times to write.

[@kikik5266]

I'm gearing up for Nanowrimo this year with my teen. I'm excited but I have never been successful. Hears to trying again.

[@kikik5266]

How do you just break from a creative flow? We're you able to pick back up where you stopped? Also, SA is my hometown!

[@rainyhammer9235]

Would Laura Graham's book be something you recommend if you want insights in the screenwriting business?

[@bodine219]

This method seems like I would *hate* it, but if it works for you I'm glad. :)

[@Iwasonceanonionwithnolayers]

It's too bad you're all done with the bangs, I was hoping you'd cosplay/thought you'd make a great Velma for Halloween 🤷‍♀️

[@Faeree]

I tried looking for that Writers clock and ...forgot the L \...please make sure you are spelling correctly before hitting enter >

[@KateCavanaugh]

lolololol

[@johndogwater]

Seems smort.