PRINTING OUT ANOTHER STORY?! (...finally!)

[@lorken22]

When I was like 16-ish and was fist on young writter's sites I could NOT take criticism AT ALL. Like, at one point I posted a public apology for how angry I got to people that gave me, to be honest, constructive criticism. So once I got past that point in my life and realized that I was the one being a butt-head I now prefer stronger criticism. It all evens out in the end lol

[@brucesterling2059]

i guess Im asking the wrong place but does anyone know a method to get back into an Instagram account? I was stupid lost my account password. I would appreciate any tricks you can give me.

[@shebreathesingold8043]

I really appreciate your transparency with your process, Kate. I really love videos where you show notes and all these personal things you're doing with your book.

[@TheThreeBookshelves]

Organization, hoooo yeah. This is why I’m such a Scrivener whore, the organizational opportunities! Hell, I have a Scrivener project for organizing my booktube ideas and schedule! This is also why I never do well with printing out my work to revise it, the wilderness of margin notes (even with a colour key!) drives me crazy. I think having the character be likeable in their own POV but a butthead from the other character’s POV is great! It highlights how A. different people see things different ways and perspective changes everything, and B. what you see on the surface might not be the whole story. George R. R. Martin’s A Song of Ice and Fire is the perfect example of this because there’s a character that EVERYONE, especially the reader, hates, but in book three you get his POV and suddenly your whole perspective of him changes and you understand why he is what he is, and he ends up being a lot of readers’ favorite characters (mine included). I love these looks into your writing and revision process! The more I watch the more I want to do some authortubey stuff documenting my process too.

[@hopekellner8520]

Ahhh I just ordered mine. Thank you so much for the step by step instructions how! Also you were totally right about the shipping, but the closest one is about an hour away...

[@dianeverrochi6468]

I'm in the "just tear it up" camp. Rip it to shreds, please! I have yet to have a beta reader actually do that though. So I end up translating for them. For example, "I feel like the point-of-view switches could use more transition" I turn into "this is choppy as hell, how did we get here?" And not in a "beat yourself up" kind of way but in a "major road construction here, fill in please!" kind of a way. I don't usually have enough time to go through quite as many drafts, because I'd never get anything done if I didn't have externally-set deadlines. So I usually like to hit the big stuff on the second draft, and then just the final tweaks and copy-editing on the third draft. I can think of a few stories that definitely could've stood more iterations, but it is what it is. For the really short ones, though, (like

[@KateCavanaugh]

Hmmm yeah, I don't know how well it would work for illustrated works either! I'd be super curious to hear about it if you ever give it a try. But I can't recommend enough seeing it long-form and in a different view than what you usually work with. In the past, I would hand-write my zero draft and then type it up for the next draft. I don't do that anymore, but the switching off for writing vs. reviewing/editing/revising has been ridiculously helpful. I could always just be a super visual person though! And I LOVE that you translate their feedback into a way that will motivate you more haha. That major road construction analogy killed me.

[@jessicanadodson8793]

Collaborating with another author can be one of the most rewarding experiences. It sounds like you're on the right track for moving forward with your project. (Knowing what needs to be fixed will always be half the battle, so you're already halfway there :) ) After finishing a draft but before editing/redrafting, I like to write a list of progressions that I've included throughout the story (character arcs, setting development/reveals, philosophical/theme reveals, character knowledge/discoveries, conflict build up, question/answer reveals, etc.) so that I can keep track of them as I'm going through the individual chapters and scenes. This helps me keep the progressions straight, keeps me from repeating or skipping certain steps in the progressions, and helps ensure the timing between progression steps/reveals is as it should be. Another thing I like to do is a POV read-through before diving into a full round of redrafting. I do this by separating out each POV character's scenes into separate documents. (POV 1 gets a doc with just their POV scenes, POV 2 gets a doc with just their POV scenes, and so on.) I then read through them one character at a time rather than in story chronological order, focusing specifically on character voice and continuity. If there are any inconsistencies, I can see them all the better this way. (If I end up making any major changes that will affect other characters or events, I jot detailed notes of it so I know to make additional changes during my story edits/redrafting.) As for beta readers... While I don't need (or really want) to be pandered to, I do prefer the absence of superiority-complex-driven comments or harshness for the sake of being harsh. If a person wants to read my story just to make themselves feel better about their own insecurities and/or to boost their ego, that isn't going to help me as a writer.

[@MrAmansa12345]

Thank you for sharing your process for printing! I have staples near me but it's around 100 dollars for 180 pages! Yet office depot is only like 20 something. I'd have to get it delivered but that's so much cheaper and I'm so happy I saw your video!!

[@LittleBargainNook]

Love this! How cool you print and bound your drafts, thanks so much for sharing the process. I’m planning to do this with my draft once it’s finished. Oh, yes I create keys too when editing, I think it helps keep things organized! Gotta love colored pens and highlighters! 😊

[@KateCavanaugh]

I really need to get on the highlighter train! So many times I have to underline but it gets too crowded with all my other pen marks. Next story I print out, definitely using highlighters!! :)

[@ElleVervain]

I'm probably waaaaaaay to late, but I'm myself more on the side of completely wrecking and destroying the stuff. :D

[@BedtimeBookworm]

I love seeing the challenges that come with co-writing! So interesting 😊 I LOVE Salt Lake, I went to grad school there and loved there for 2 years. It’s BEAUTIFUL!

[@EmilyBourne]

So bad at making keys. I just change colours every now and then. I’m too indecisive for it lol You are so good at vlogging. I love this video so much. I love the tail of your butthead character 😂😂 I adore handwritten notes 💞

[@KateCavanaugh]

Bahaha, I always start out with great intentions, but will inevitably misplace a pen and then just wing it. I think I made it ~halfway before my system failed this time haha. And aww thank you! Here's to hoping we can make her a little less of a butthead haha.

[@EmilyBourne]

Kate Cavanaugh always love your content. Really feel like I get a great sense of your process. Can’t wait to read one of your books!

[@LittleBargainNook]

I’m def one who appreciates if folks (myself included) just gives it to me real, just tear it up because then I am really seeing the errors and able to correct them. I feel we as writers get so close to our stories and so invested in our characters that we can’t or sometimes don’t want to see the flaws. But if others read the book and don’t soft soap it for us then we can make our stories the best they can be! Also, keep in mind you don’t have to take their advice, even if it is harsh. 😉

[@KateCavanaugh]

Hahaha that's such a great point. I'm with you. Give it to me plain. Speak exactly what you're thinking and I'll take what I agree with or can see your perspective on and go from there. :)

[@spicybookslady6922]

It's so interesting to see how you go about this project, writing with someone else.

[@KateCavanaugh]

Thank you! Yeah, it's interesting to me too and I'm doing it haha. I love hearing how others collaborate! And I think of ours as a somewhat "easy" road to doing it if you're writing together - we both took one POV character. I've heard others who write all the characters POV, switch off on writing description, etc. etc. Which sounds insane to me!

[@i55y_mcn]

@@KateCavanaugh Me and my friend are writing a novel together and I’m plotting whilst she fleshes it our into full chapters and we help each other with certain characters which we understand more and then work on the main character and villain together. However, we plotted the characters together and we check that everything is ok with the other before we make that our ‘final’ plan

[@raekline763]

Omg as a fan and someone who works at Office Depot I like you more now!!! Congrats on ur 3rd draft

[@BeccaCSmith]

This video hit home for me lol! Faith and I are about to start our third book in our trilogy and it's been such a learning process! We started writing the first book when we had only known each other for a year so it was a lot more difficult when it came to editing. We weren't sure what our boundaries were or how 'honest' we could be without coming across as judgy or mean. It was really horrible at times, both of us getting angry and irritated, but we worked through it and the book ended up being better for our brutal honesty. The second book was so much easier since we figured out how to communicate with each other and so far the third book has been even better. And Faith and I do the same thing! We go over each other's chapters and re-write the dialogue of the character that's ours. We both fully admit that I cannot write the voice of a 3,000-year-old vampire and she can't write the voice of a 19-year-old girl lol! Our writing style is drastically different, but it works for our books since there is such an age gap hahaha. If toning down doesn't work would it be possible to add a Clarke chapter to the beginning of the book, so that Clarke is introduced first? It could be short, but if the readers connect to Clarke first, then it might tone down the attitude or feelings of dislike? Just a thought :-)

[@KateCavanaugh]

OOooooohhh that sounds like it was super tough haha. I can't imagine co-writing with someone I don't know as well for that exact reason! (Which means my co-writer options are really limited bahaha.) Glad to hear it got much easier!! I'm sure all co-writers have to go through it in varying degrees. And we're not done with ours yet so who knows what could still happen haha. Ahahaha, I love what a gap that is in character voices! I don't know that I could write a 3,000-year-old vampire, either! When reading, I LOOOOVE when co-narrated stories have such distinct styles. And yessss that's a good idea! We need to do SOMETHING and introducing Clarke initially would definitely soften the reader. Currently we have Clarke's POV as the "ending"/wrap-up chapter - and she does it splendidly, if I do say so myself baha - so we'd have to work through if we'd want to change that or have Clarke's chapters just sandwiching the novel. It'll be something to think about. THANK YOU!!!

[@BeccaCSmith]

I know you hate prologues, but a good, short 'chapter 0' can always work lol :-) We did that with our second draft of Black Moon. The seventeen year old girl, Shea, was chapter one and we felt like the reader might not get into it right away because it's about a girl starting college. She only meets the vampire, Lucian, at the end of the chapter. We figured it needed a good vampire punch to start out the book, so Faith added a two page prologue of Lucian trying to track down Shea while at the same time devouring a couple in Ohio lol :-) It definitely gave an instant snapshot of who Lucian was without dedicating a whole chapter to him.

[@meghamg3302]

i think as a beta reader, i would give the harshest comments as possible because in the end, that's what I would want for my own writing. considering that the author cannot see their own flaws, they should be grateful to the beta reader for pointing them out. its the only way fixes can be done. to make sure we send only the best version out to the world.

[@lesliesanker381]

Love this collaboration....wish I was a Beta reader for it.... I do a coding system for my edits, too! Each scene has its own oversized index card with a list of things it needs work on, such as: Details, Grammar, Fix ( ), Facts, Senses, Tension, and others. I am very visual so I create the color code, first, then read and make my marks. Then I list the issues, filling in details and thoughts on each card for when I'm adding the changes in the PC. I always edit in pen/highlighters/markers right on a printed copy, but I also like using the font colors and highlighters in Word with side notes, too, because it's cleaner. Where did you find your discount code? Did you compare print shops for costs because your single copy seemed expensive.

[@KateCavanaugh]

Ooooh your system sounds so cool! Super detailed, I love it hahah. I may have to incorporate some of this into my own! And I just googled to find the discount code! I think Retailmenot has a lot of them. I didn't compare this time, just because I have a limited number of days in each location and can't have things sent to me. I've used Office Max/Depot before and trusted them to get it done before I left. In the future, I'd definitely put in more research to see if anyone else had sales going on! As for the price point, it was more expensive than printing Project Blue, but also thicker. I splurged and got slightly nicer paper so it wouldn't tear off so easily this time.

[@rowanstree]

Three years is amazing, it must be great to work with someone over such a period. When it comes to redrafting, I try to assume the opposite headspace from writing-hypercritical, always looking for ways to nitpick at everything in my story. I usually work with multiple drafts and always on my computer, but sometimes I reformat to an ebook and do a quick read through on my Kindle, which gives me a broader POV on the narrative. I like to receive feedback in a blunt way, but even working with clients who prefer a gentle approach, I can always be honest and forthright if I am constructive and polite, which I hope is a given anyway. Ultimately, my litmus test for anything I say in feedback is always the question, will this discourage or encourage. Likewise, I hope the feedback I get, however critical, is always framed in a way that is encouraging to the overall process of writing the book.

[@KateCavanaugh]

Oooooh I love that. I'm definitely going to be using it from now on! Will this discourage or encourage? Thank you for that!

[@imit1989]

I loved this vlog so much! I love watching your videos so much, you are always so cheerful, it makes my day. Have a blessed day!

[@KateCavanaugh]

Aww, thank you! Your cheerful comments always make my day too. :)

[@santanasg8445]

I loved how you filmed the video/ vlog, good luck with your story!

[@KateCavanaugh]

Aww thanks so much!

[@writingwithred2498]

Do you think it's easier to have it bound with the rings rather than just putting it in a binder or something? I always just print everything off at home and staple/paper clip chapters together. It gets slightly frustrating lol

[@theokiereader]

I can’t wait until I get to the point that I print out a first draft.

[@amberandrews6692]

oOh, I want to read this.

[@CodyMThomas]

it's Editor Brain, and you have to be critical, which is why it's hard.

[@aleksandragieralt7370]

Your story sounds great. Co-writing sounds challenging but fun as long as the two writers work well :). I'd love to do that with a writer friend :). Hmm . . . I had that with a character in my first novel. She was the opposite of a butt head - saw herself too much as a victim of fate to the point where it was cringy to reread. Sometimes in hindsight we realize we emphasize one characteristic. Maybe Clark needs something else to balance that butt head nature out?

[@KateCavanaugh]

It's always interesting what we're able to realize upon rereads that we hadn't noticed before!! I think Clarke has a lot of positive traits that come across in her chapter, but not in the other characters POV chapters, which is what makes things a little sticky. But nothing that can't be sorted out with revisions hahah. And I've had that same issue with a character before! Found himself as the victim of situations waaaaay too easily. It just wasn't compelling to read!!

[@aleksandragieralt7370]

Kate Cavanaugh yeah, that's true. I'm sure it will be great when you're done :). I think you maybe need to emphasize her other traits in tandem with her butt-headedness. If she's caring, show that, if she's intelligent, show that, you know? Give her other chances to shine :) I know nowadays it's considered bad writing if it doesn't benefit the main plot, but maybe Clarke needs a side plot for her chance to shine?

[@beya23123]

When I go to the Officedepot website it doesn't give me the option to choose a different project once under manual, and there are no options for a spiral bound book. Additionally, it doesn't seem to have as many options as I see in the video. Did Officedepot stop providing these services, or is it based on location and my location doesn't offer these services? If anyone can let me know it would be much appreciated! I would love to print out my WIP like kate has done.

[@tarakay7965]

Beya Valenzuela you’ve probably either figured it out or abandoned ship by now, but I believe it’s under “presentations” !

[@Avionne_Parris]

I'm in the editing process as well for Camp Nano (2 different projects, yikes) and I can only imagine editing a collaborative project. Regarding beta feedback, give it to me straight. I don't like kid gloves or beating around the bush. Anyone who can get to the heart of the problem and state it emphatically, I can appreciate it (providing its constructive criticism and not just plain meanness). With regard to your unlikeable main character, what you can try is layers or multifaceted characteristics. The YA anime-inspired fantasy I'm working on doesn't have outright good or outright bad characters but rather varying degrees of good and evil--i.e. like real people. My protagonist makes questionable moral decisions and my antagonist has moments of goodness. If she's kind of a butthead, ask yourself why she's that way: maybe she used to be the opposite and she taps into her butthead qualities because her mother was like that before she died. Or balance that negative quality with something positive like her no-nonsense attitude towards people who harm the environment. Try to have fun with it; if TV/movies/books can make a serial killer/BDSM-loving billionaire/murderous vampire endearing, I think you can make your MC loveable. Best of luck, hun!!!

[@KateCavanaugh]

I actually think she's pretty lovable in her chapters (ie when you hear her thought process). It's definitely what you said! She's multifaceted. So when you're able to see things as she's thinking them or understand why you're doing them sometimes you're like "awww." The problem is from other perspectives she comes across as insufferable, even though the actions are the same. Which we kiiiiiinda want, but I was ready to smack her in the face and I'm one of the writers! So readers clearly won't put up with that hahaha. I'm with you, I definitely want feedback to be given to me straight! Tell me what you mean, exactly, and I can parse how I can fix it. If you're worried about making me feel good, I start doubting any of what you're telling me. If that makes sense? Agreed, don't be rude, but definitely be straightforward.

[@novellyKJ]

If you like Clarke and Mandy from Clarke's POV but not Clarke in Mandy's POV, you might need to get to the root of why that is in their friendship. Like sure, Clarke can be overbearing and maybe Mandy doesn't stick up for herself enough, but there should be a basis for their relationship to stand on, a reason why Mandy wanted to be her friend to begin with, right? It's okay to have a butthead character and even tone them down, but if it doesn't come through why Mandy likes Clarke as a person to begin with, then the reader's not gonna understand their relationship at all. Clarke being a butthead can be toned down but if Mandy isn't being written like she likes Clarke at all, then it isn't going to work. Unless the point is to have a breakdown in their relationship because Clarke takes up too much space and she needs to be taken down a notch and Mandy needs to step up for herself. Like it could have started out that Mandy admired how assertive Clarke is and wanted to be more like her, but lost herself along the way, or whatever. But there's always a reason why a friendship forms. Even if Mandy likes Clarke for being a butthead sometimes, haha. Mandy has to like Clarke for some reason, you just have to find and make it more apparent. I'm a total sucker for feedback that tears my work to shred. I guess because I do the same thing, so really I need a second pair of eyes that may see what I miss to be just as harsh as I would be on myself, haha. Don't need kiddy gloves to get this book in it's best shape lol

[@KateCavanaugh]

Thank you, thank you, thank you so much for this comment. Yes, the point was to have a breakdown in their relationship BUT you totally helped highlight the problem for me. (It's so weird, it's like my mind was on the precipice of understanding it and how to fix it, but this comment pushed it over the top and things just CLICKED.) If we can show early on in the story WHY Mandi still loves and is friends with Clarke, it will make things infinitely better (and more rewarding!) later. And will seriously make so much more sense. I already have a few ideas that I'll bring up to my co-writer and work on the practicalities of this solution. Seriously - thanks so much. +1 for tearing it to shreds! I've loved hearing what everyone's opinions are -- it sounds like "firm, 0 kid gloves, and constructive" is the winner.

[@novellyKJ]

No problem, glad I could help! I figured it was one of those things that sometimes we just need a reminder for like, hey, show how the relationship is important before you break it, haha. This is why writers need each other, haha! Our brains will be ~almost~ there in solving a problem but you just need to talk it out with people who get it and think like writers do lol. This is why I love authortube! I don't have any real writer friends I can talk shop with and if I try to talk out a plot problem, my friend's and family's eyes just glaze over lol. Constructive criticism really is the best. It feels good when someone points out something they like, of course, but I also need them to point out all the things they think aren't working. But I tend to edit my own work and not a single line escapes the color-coded pens and tabs, haha.

[@MrVlandus]

Nice, lol

[@KateCavanaugh]

Thanks!

[@Cykotica]

Maybe instead of continuing to de-butthead one of your characters, the problem is actually with the other character being too unassertive, and they need to meat up a bit. And, of course I may be bias because I am pretty assertive and outspoken. ;) Right now I'm doing a read through and taking notes, kind of similar to what you're doing. Sometimes my notes are hilarious though. I found one from a few days ago that said, "Make sure to talk about banana cancel" No clue. :) I think I would prefer feedback that is brutal and honest. While there is no need to be a dick or tear someone down, the whole point of Beta readers is to find issues, and you can't do that if your ass is being kissed. A sandwich method of feedback can be used quite well!

[@KateCavanaugh]

Bahaha, I mean, on a personal level, that's totally what I'd say too. ;) That's part of where the conflict comes from, obviously, so that part comes across easily haha. It just needs to be less frustrating to read. BANANA CANCEL BAHAHAHAAH WHAT EVEN. I'm dying. I so want to know if you ever figured out what that note meant!

[@Cykotica]

Yes, actually I did figure it out. It's not very interesting though. Her captor gave her oatmeal (with vinegar in it) and a banana for breakfast, so she tried smooshing the banana in it to counter the bitterness. I wish it were more fun than that. :)

[@KateCavanaugh]

Bahaha I still think that's great though. Glad you finally figured it out. ;)

[@Cykotica]

tbh, I only really tried because of your comment. It was deep in my notes and I kept saying, "I'll figure it out later." haha. Motivation.

[@CDLatin]

I am a poet and author. I would love to beta read for you.

[@officialname9817]

Personally I’d want my beta readers to rip it apart if they’re too nice I get the feeling that their might be something worse they’re too scared to tell me