reading & reviewing less common writing craft books!

[@AbiofPellinor]

Okay one this is a great breakdown of writing books... but more importantly - KITTY!!!!

[@princessoftheworld1107]

😂😍😍she's so adorable

[@gotitmemorized9449]

So it isn’t exactly a writing craft book, but one book that I loved is Big Magic: How to Live A Creative Life, and Let Go of Your Fear by Elizabeth Gilbert. She breaks down what she considers the creative process, more geared towards the writing process, but can be applied to anything creative. I found it really helpful to read when I got stuck and gained a lot of new insight and inspiration.

[@annamiller2057]

Oh! I have that book on my "To Be Read" shelf, but haven't gotten around to reading it yet :) Thanks for reminding me of it & giving it a shout out!

[@faabyy21]

Wait wait wait wait storyville was written by my college writing professor 🥺 i adore him! Ahhh im so excited for him 😭😭😭

[@KateCavanaugh]

Whaaaaaat, that's so fun!!!!

[@faabyy21]

@@KateCavanaugh can i email him your video? Haha

[@Iwasonceanonionwithnolayers]

@@faabyy21 please update later when you do!

[@evelynocean7587]

Haha did you end up sending it?

[@nocturnus009]

Since they are rarely discussed in the writing craft book discourse: Scene and structure by Jack Bickham is really amazing (gratitude to Marisa Mohi for putting it on my radar); This Year You Write Your Novel by Walter Moseley (the book people ACTUALLY intend to recommend when they recommend King’s On Writing) is as bare bones as one can imagine. It’s insightfully useful because it opens up space for aspiring writers to develop their unique StoryCraft toolbox; the Follow up book, Elements of Fiction, is the book one needs to read once the writer has their draft completed & in need of polishing guidance; Wonderbook by Jeff Vandermeer is a visual journey that gives aspiring writers the permission to go deep into their creative journey (it creatively lives up to his new weird genre).

[@KateCavanaugh]

Ahhhh, thank you for this list, Charles!!! Excited to dive in.

[@nocturnus009]

☕️✍️📝@@KateCavanaugh ☕️✍️📝

[@nocturnus009]

Gratitude for sharing @@Mandy_James , there are some insights within the writing creative community, but there are also undiscussed [yet?] or undiscovered insights within the creative community at large. For a while I have pulled mileage from Drawing on the Artist Within by Betty Edwards. I was able to get the 4th Edition of Drawing on the Right Side of the Brain on sale as an ePub. My physical copy is the 3rd ed. She reworked this edition to incorporate her 5 questions for saturation & make the stronger case for intertextual play in art instruction & pedagogy in general. The 5 questions, Perceive the: Edges, Negative Spaces, Relationships and Proportions, Chiaroscuro & Gestalt. Understanding the 5 can clarify many issues in taking a story in creative limbo to a tangible composition.

[@maggiegoncerz2072]

I love Lake Tahoe! My grad school campus is in Incline Village, NV, just a mile off Lake Tahoe! I loved going to residency and spending free time on the shores. I can't wait to visit again.

[@charlesjoseph9842]

The first writing craft book I ever read was Writing Magic by Gail Carson Levine. I stumbled upon it in the library when I was ten, and I instantly fell in love with it. I had already decided that I wanted to be a writer, but this book was what really spurred me on and made me want to seriously start improving my writing. I honestly don't remember the actual advice in the book, but now I kind of want to see if I can find my copy again to take a trip down memory lane. 💖

[@KateCavanaugh]

Oooh, that is some kind of magic! I love hearing what books inspired people when they were young and convinced them they could do it too. :) I'd love to hear if you find it and pick it up again!!

[@BonnieDragonKat]

I love that book!

[@johndogwater]

I started reading 'Steering the Craft' a while back, so nice to find other folks so excited about it. It's nice, it's small, it's a lot like kittens.

[@Kelly-ib1hf]

In my journalism program in college, we studied On Writing Well and many style guides. We also did the "cut your story in half" exercise over and over. You'd be surprised how much the principles of writing strong non-fiction carry over into writing clear, impactful fiction.

[@saralynn7308]

I always go back to Writing Down the Bones by Natalie Goldberg.

[@jackfairy666]

Thank you so much for this vid. I’ve loved Ursula LeGuin’s books for so long. I never knew she wrote a writing craft book. I’ve ordered my copy today! 👍

[@tharo4390]

I just ordered Steering the Craft, Save the Cat Writes a Novel, and The Poetry Handbook by Mary Oliver. I also printed out Bernadette Mayer's 82 writing experiments. I plan to make April an intensive personal writing craft workshop month just for myself. This video makes me look forward to going through the exercises in Steering the Craft, thank you for the motivation!!

[@Detrasystem]

My favorite underrated writing book has to be Damn Fine Story by Chuck Wendig. It's a lot like Steering the Craft, I think, in the way that it talks specifically about the art of storytelling rather than the structure of the plot, but it has so many resonant points I haven't really heard many authors talk about before. I always find that after reading that book, my writing improves tenfold. I actually do use it as a guide while I'm writing, haha! 10/10, absolutely recommend.

[@windguardien]

I recently read Anne Lamott's Bird by Bird (It made an appearance in this video at B&N!), as well as Natalie Goldberg's Writing Down the Bones. Each were so easy to fall in love with, the distinctive writing voice each writer wields. I've also enjoyed Chuck Palahniuk's Consider This. Thank you for telling about your experience with these books! I'll certainly be working with Le Guin's book soon, on your recommendation!

[@a.k.nicolae9621]

I just placed the steering the craft I hold at my library. I LOVE books on the writing craft, and I REALLY Love the ones on motivation. Lol

[@johndogwater]

Them dogs playin is super cute.

[@nerdmommy7114]

The first writing craft book I've read was 'If you can talk, you can write' by Joel Saltzman. I was 10. And it changed my life! I became more confident in just starting to write. It wasn't a craft book, rather it's inspirational for beginning writers or non writers wanting to try writing. Then I read 'From Where You Dream' Robert Olen Butler. It taught me to tell my stories in a cinematic way. These were my first writing books. I've recently reread them, not as good as they are compared to other popular books, but I cherish them as they remind me how I got inspired to write. I also recently read The Secret of Story by Matt Bird and although it mainly focuses on visual storytelling, I like that it talks about the craft of storytelling itself. Character dev, etc. I highly recommend this book. I love your vlog and reviews! Hope you have more of these!

[@luvBB4lyf]

Awwwww little kitty!!! She's so cute!!

[@AndreGarzia]

I'm really enjoying the Wonderbook by Jeff Vandermeer. I don't know if you've seen in it but oh my, that book is full of good content and the presentation is so inspiring that sometimes I just want to look at the pretty artwork and let my subconscious mind absorb whatever it want from it.

[@wendyscribbles]

Chuck Wendig is a person I don't hear get enough attention for his writing craft books. Besides The Kick-Ass Writer book and the Damn Fine Story he has a like 6 mini ones that are like 500 ways to tell a better story and 500 ways to be a better writer. They are some of my favorites and if I hadn't stumbled across these books and his blog early on in my writing journey I probably would have given up and just called it quits before I even got past the first draft.

[@deadlightsindisquise5380]

Hey Kate! I just wanted to say thank you for the great energy in your videos! They make my day :)

[@TudorLofi]

I only went to Lake Tahoe when I was 10 and it was below freezing! Hope to go back there someday :)

[@AdventuRyn_]

As someone who's in-process with multiple works, this is incredibly helpful. Most "writing advice" books I've encountered haven't helped much, but these sound both fascinating and useful. :)

[@theastrochemist]

I love Ursula Le Guin so much. If you've never read it, would highly highly recommend checking out The Left Hand of Darkness

[@lokiblue5125]

Thank you so much for these! Will be picking up these books ASAP

[@rodneylopez5073]

Okay, I love your cat! So cute!!! 😍❤😍❤ My most recent writing craft book wasn't a "book" per se, but a livejournal site by Jim Butcher. It was not only informative, but also extremely entertaining. The way he broke down the process he uses for writing was simple but colored with his personality which gave a lot of weight to his process. I particularly enjoyed how he hated this process and only followed it to prove his teacher wrong only to end up writing the first of his (arguably) most famous series of books. The writing craft book that has stuck with me though is "How to write Science Fiction & Fantasy" by Orson Scott Card. He provides very good ideas on world building, establishing and "working within" the rules of your books universe. Over time, his writing tips have really stuck with me.

[@emroseehret]

kitten in your notebook!!! what a studious little girl

[@africajourney2182]

Thank you for the recommendations. I'm definitely checking out On Writing Well and Steering the Craft.

[@helenaseryma4341]

I love your videos. Really helpful. I'm working on revising and editing my first novel.

[@BethWagnercomicwench]

I am right there with you with Steering the Craft. I love that book so much!

[@rainyhammer9235]

I would love for you to readthrough Revising Your Novel by Janice Hardy. It's about revising. I haven't really heard anyone talking about it on AuthorTube.

[@KateCavanaugh]

REVISING ADVICE IS WHAT I NEEEEED. I'll check it out!

[@rainyhammer9235]

@@KateCavanaugh I also need revising advice as well. And there is so little information on AuthorTube where they talk about their processes of revising. I have been reading this book and I find it helpful, but I would love to see other people reading through the same craftsbook because I always look at the book in a different light.

[@HellsMirror]

I haven't read it yet, but I recently picked up Mur Lafferty's I Should Be Writing. Since I've listened to the podcast with the same name, I think it probably won't be too much of a book about the craft itself, but more of a getting started and keeping the motivation going kind of thing

[@annamiller2057]

My favorite craft books are: 1) 'The Writer's Journey: Mythic Structure for Writers' by Christopher Vogler and 2) 'Wired for Story' by Lisa Cron. The last craft book I read was 'Save the Cat.' Overall, it wasn't my cup of tea. However, I liked that the "Fun and Games" section was explained as being where most of the movie trailer’s clips are from. Thinking of "Fun and Games" as being the "movie trailer" moments helped me and made things click.

[@RKStumblingbear]

I am currently reading The Heroine's Journey by Gail Carriger.

[@beateadriana]

Alexandra Sokoloff. Both Stealing Hollywood and Writing Love. Very similar, with some key differences.

[@ISOShakespeare]

Thank you, Kate! I am so tired of the Save the Cat cult worship. I ordered Steering the Craft as I have been eyeing it for months. Your critique helped me take the leap. I hope you do the workshop on this book!

[@KateCavanaugh]

I want to!!! I'm thinking of setting up some lives and corralling a few friends to join.

[@one_smol_duck]

I agree with this so much. I'm sure Save the Cat has worked for a lot of people and that's great, but it's not the be-all end-all of writing advice.

[@charlieri6338]

Aaargh I've been wanting to buy Steering the Craft for a while because I love Le Guin's writing so much and I just need this book *now*

[@mathildehirth8408]

I’ve been waiting SO LONG to see ze kitten!!! 👀🐈‍⬛ So cute 💕

[@zoedeathstar3751]

Love yah Kate, cat help anxiety. Keep writing!!

[@sentarose]

I just finished Writing your novel from the middle by James Scott Bell. I am putting the mirror moment in all my books from here on. Brilliant.

[@RKStumblingbear]

As you talked about Steering the Craft, I realized suddenly I have read it. I hadn't recognized the title, but I remembered the content.

[@MeredithPhillipsWrites]

Kieren Westwood had a great idea similar to the dictionary prompt in a recent video: he uses a random word generator online and just clicks 'generate' until he gets a combo that seems to speak to him in some way. So easy, but a really great way to get ideas flowing! I recently read "Writing for Emotional Impact" by Karl Iglesias and _really_ enjoyed it. I struggle with writing layered and multi-dimentional characters, so it was super helpful for me and I ended up doing a whole video review of it. Highly recommend! The NYT book lowkey looks so good haha! I'd read through that all day long.

[@billyalarie929]

>*talking about I Give You My Body* >"pulling in and out" hahahahahaaha

[@therealannataylor]

My FAVORITE craft book is John Truby’s The Anatomy of Story. He goes deep into character, symbolism, symbol webs, and using plot to reinforce theme rather than stating it outright (which has always felt rather preachy, but I didn’t know how to NOT do it). He also has SO MANY goo examples to show you how to work through your own story. It’s fantastic.

[@KateCavanaugh]

I NEED TO READ THAT ONE, YES!

[@therealannataylor]

@@KateCavanaugh do iiiiit! I’ve learned so much from it.

[@Geert2682]

It's an excellent book that's changed my life, but it took me multiple reads to absorb (over the course of a year). I do still refer to it on a weekly basis. Contrasted with 'On Writing' by Stephen King, now that's a beautifully written book but not exactly full of actionable advice for outlining. John Truby's book is the polar opposite in both ways. King dismisses outlines, Truby is all about that outline. Read both, and find your own process!

[@pattyellis5359]

Well, I got 3 writing books from 2nd hand book shop. 1: Becoming a Writer. By Dorothea Brande. 2: Writing English with Style. By Dianne Shober. 3: Writing Erotic Fiction. By Judith Watts an Mirren Baxter. Only brief read them 2 years ago when I got them, have some good points from what I can remember - only read the info in what can help me in certain areas that I feel that I need to improve.

[@JessicaPawlitzki]

I adore William Zinnser's books! His writing style is the idol on the pedestal I'm looking up to. Apart from those I love "The Book You Were Born to Write" by Kelly Notaras (for the no-nonsense attitude to writing, editing and publishing a book) and "Writing Tools" by Roy Peter Clark (in equal measures as a workbook for the building blocks of a book and as a checklist for the manuscript).

[@willow8783]

A couple of books on my craft book TBR right now are, "Romancing the Beat" and the new "Save the Cat Writes for TV". I really want to see how techniques used to craft television series might be applicable to writing a book series, especially in how to maintain subplots smoothly. The populace at large has really come to find some level of comfort in the way their favorite shows are written and can really get sucked into binging that type of content. It'd be interesting to see if/how we might translate that same feeling and psychology into a book series... if that makes any sense outside of my own brain, lol! Chuck Wendig also has some decent writing books.

[@thiadesg]

I have read a few (Save the Cat! Writes a Novel, On Writing by Stephen King, Zen in the Art of Writing by Ray Bradbury, ...) but my recommendation would be Story Genius, although the example that is integral to the book doesn't fit my preferences.

[@bellamin4549]

Would you recommend Zen in the Art of Writing? It’s in my Amazon cart but can’t decide if I want to get it. Story Genius is one of my favourites.

[@thiadesg]

​@@bellamin4549 I don't know if I would recommend it, it's been a long time and all but at the time I rated it 2 stars (aka nothing bad, but also nothing good)... I also don't like this author's famous book, so maybe he's simply not the author for me. He might be for you though. Any chance you might find Zen in your local library?

[@bellamin4549]

@@thiadesg thank you for that. That helps my decision. In waiting for the ebook from our library so I’ll go that route 😊

[@wrighty321go]

Ok now time to go out and buy all the books about writing

[@currentlyearth8867]

Always awesome, Kate C.👍👍

[@marek3505]

I started reading Stephen King when I was 10 because his books were so easily found at flea markets. When I picked up On Writing by him it was the first time I really thought of writing as a serious option. I was the first craft book i have read and still my favorite. I want to pick up a couple from this video now!

[@KateCavanaugh]

I still love On Writing! I reread it every few years.

[@elizabethc7428]

"Study is Hard Work" by William Armstrong (The author of "Sounder")! It's not exactly a craft book, but it is about how to use your time well when you are trying to study something. For actual craftbooks: "How to Write a Sentence" by Stanley Fish. It helps you think through the micro levels of writing.

[@emmaanstee5137]

Love this video Kate - I have a few craft books saved on Scribd and 'On Writing Well' is one of them so I'll have to pick that up soon but I'm thinking next I want to read 'Zen in the Art of Writing' by Ray Bradbury. Have you read that one? Maybe you could do like a craft bookclub and we could all read them together?

[@BonnieDragonKat]

Scibd is my favorite app. I have a pile of craft books to read there.

[@pippinhart7340]

I just finished John Truby's The Anatomy of Story! It can get a bit winded at times, but it covers elegantly incorporating theme, writing dialogue with multiple thrusts, and setting, which I feel sort of falls toward the wayside in craft books. Absolutely rich in example, too! (I found out about it because Lessons from the Screenplay, a channel I love, cites it all the time.)

[@terencejohnson4502]

Last writing advice book I read was "Write the fight right." For those of us who what to write fight scenes. It's an ebook by Alan Baxter, Author and martial arts instructor. I thought it was good, pointed out a few obvious yet still popular mistakes. Hopefully one day he'll plug one of my books. Hope this input helps.

[@jenniferchen5351]

I would always recommend 'Air & Light & Time & Space: How Successful Academics Write' by Helen Sword. It has lots of advice about barriers to writing that can apply to any writer. I like to dip into it when i need a dose of reality when I start obsessing over the perfect conditions to write. It is especially useful to academic writers (unsurprisingly) because it stresses that most academic writers were never taught how to write, they had to learn along the way. It motivated me when I was struggling to write for my degree. I'd also just recommend Helen Sword's books in general on writing style, especially if you are writing nonfiction but really to anyone because her voice is refreshing and engaging.

[@jillswan9654]

It might not be the greatest craft book out there, but it is the most memorable one I’ve ever read: “Consider This” by Chuck Palahniuk. I feel like this one had stuck with me more so than many others because the advice he gives is actually quite contrary to a lot of standard advice for writers, but also seems to work? Also, I was completely surprised by the arrival of the baby kitty! She’s so cute 🥰

[@gussiefick2590]

I highly recommend Writing a Great Movie: Key Tools for Successful Screenwriting by Jeff Kitchen. It's all about storytelling and even includes using the enneagram to create characters. I'm not a screenwriter, but what he presents in the book applies to novelists as well.

[@Iwasonceanonionwithnolayers]

I would like this to become a series

[@axlaru]

I'm very slowly making my way through save the cat. If you want a revision focused craft book there's one called The Last Draft. I haven't actually read it yet, though.

[@LauraGomez-bl2so]

YOU HAVE A CAT. S/he's so cute and tiny.

[@KateCavanaugh]

Glad you enjoyed it! There are SO MANY writing craft books out there that I also understand it can be a bit of a slog finding the good ones, which I think is why the same get parroted over and over here on authortube. But I'm excited to explore more and do really love the craft clubs run by Tamara and Laura for a similar reason! :) And yes, she's precious! :)

[@AlisUnicornFarm]

All these years of watching and I forget you live in my city! 🤣

[@booksnoozeandrea8625]

I'll have to check out “I give you my body” and “Steering the Craft”! Thank you, Kate!!!

[@quinnsmusings]

Crafting Category Romance: Art of the Fiction Haiku by Amy Lane was wonderful, and I'm currently doing 12 Steps to Sensational sentences by Sacha Black and loving it!

[@broadwaybutterfly310]

You should read Wired For Story by Lisa Cron! I had to pick up this book for my creative writing college course (Narrative Techniques) and i liked it :)

[@kaylajames9334]

Would you mind reading Story Trumps Structure by Steven James? It is one of the very few writing books specifically for pantsers.

[@rosalynransawbooks]

If you're looking for more craft books to read, I highly recommend "Building Great Sentences: How to write the kinds of sentences you love to read" and "How to write a sentence and how to read one"! They're both kind of unique craft books that focus on writing really compelling and beautiful sentences. Also, both were available at my local library!

[@StephanieLilienthal]

I like Dita von Teese’s quote - you can be the ripest, juiciest peach on the planet. And there will still be people who don’t like peaches. ‪･ᴗ･‬ It’s a hard lesson to learn, but an important one. You can’t please everyone. 🤷🏼‍♀️ By the way! I enjoyed “Romancing the beat, how to write kissing books” by Gwen Hayes. It’s a very quick and light read with kind of a Formular to writing romances & Tipps along the way. It was great ☺️

[@iokei7926]

I just finished the criminally underrated "The Story Structure Secret: Actions and Goals" by Marshall Dotson which, despite the occasional spelling and copy errors, is the first book to actually get me to a finished outline. I've tried the Save the Cat Beat Sheet, the 3-Act Structure, Etc. and Dotson's 6-Act structure with emphasis on character action and goals really put the structure in perspective. I like his sense of humor and it's a short and affordable read. 100% Recommend.

[@LeahRummel]

I'm going to have to pick some of these up! I just started Story Genius by Lisa Cron but am not far enough in to have formed an opinion yet lol.

[@jimenatierna3408]

Kitty! They are so adorable!

[@raquelrussoo]

Story Genius and Wired for Story by Lisa Cron are great :)

[@maebelline]

Yay always love a video notif from you Kate!

[@KateCavanaugh]

Yay! :) :)

[@Neil-writer-author]

My kitten will be a year old in August. Yours is so cute.

[@KateCavanaugh]

Awww, that's so sweet!! What's her name?

[@KateCavanaugh]

Or his name! Their name!

[@Neil-writer-author]

My boy’s name is Flint

[@BeccaCSmith]

Ursula K. Le Guin is a goddess lol! I love her so much! And just thinking of her Earthsea Series gives me serious nostalgia!! I’ve only read her book and “The New York Times Manual of Style and Usage.” But now I want to read “On Writing Well!” I’m not sure about Diana Gabaldon’s only because I don’t write sex scenes, but if I ever decide to, I would definitely read hers lol! Her books are pretty steamy hahahaha!!! (And I’m obsessed with Vin!!! I kept re-watching her clips hahahaha!!)

[@rochellavanderwal9320]

Seeing your lil baby kitto reminds me of the good old days when my two rescues were still that small

[@Wallisimo]

wait. During the campfire blaze ad break...do you fill out a DnD character sheet for your story characters? That is such a freaking good idea!!!

[@aviimax]

craft in the real world by matthew salesses!! very very good 10 outta 10 would recommend

[@billyalarie929]

hey kate, i don't see the link for the collaborative drafting you did with Bentley House Minis.

[@StephanieLilienthal]

Ohhh I tried to read “I give you my body” a few months ago, but damn, the writing in the local accent really threw me off, ngl. The examples she used were from her outlander books which are written like that. And someone told me that you easily forget the accent and fall into the book once you read it as a whole. But as excerpts it was a little tough for me. I couldn’t focus on the text in front of me 😅🙈 I need to get my hands on Storyville! That looks so good! It tickles my Illustration brain 🥰 And a golden girls reference?! Yes please! 😄 And your right, it’s fascinating that our language changes - the way we evolve as a community along with how we speak. And yes! Even mistakes etc get picked up into our language. I mean the reason Americans write “Color” and not “Colour” is because you bought newspaper placements by the letter. And “Color” was cheaper than “Colour” Lake Tahoe looks amazing! It’s so beautiful 🥰♥️ And oh your little kitteh 🥺 Your own little void 🥰

[@pamelaberry6875]

Dreyer's English by Benjamin Dreyer is a good read. Its written well, and isn't dry. I think its even a little bit funny.

[@one_smol_duck]

This is tangentially related, but when you talked about the book being too graphic to read on a plane (next to a stranger), it reminded me of the last time I was on a plane and decided to watch one of the free in-flight movies they offered. It was rated R, but I assumed that they would cut anything too bad out given it was offered by the airline. I was just going along watching my movie when suddenly there's a scene with full frontal nudity, and I'm sitting there desperately trying to cover it up with my hands while a child and his father stand next to me in the aisle on their way back from the bathroom. 10/10 most embarrassing plane experience I've had.

[@AzzaYCF]

Oh no!! How awkward! 😂😅

[@lostinabookcase3796]

Oh! I'm just getting into podcasts. Are there any good author/writing podcasts??

[@johndogwater]

That little kyitten has decided it's your familiar.

[@herothebard]

kate: "I don't know how many people have a dictionary still" me: *looks at my pocket dictionary that always sits somewhere close by if I can help it. has had since I was 7 years old. uses all the time.* "I am the exception aren't I"

[@mariavalente6304]

Hi Kate! Do you know where I can find a physical version of "I give you my body"?? I would love to buy one by can't find it. PLEASE HELP!

[@tblackthorne]

have you ever done any of the exercises? I’d love to have you read what the exercise is and we can do the exercise “together” and you read what you do

[@reginaduke7451]

Seeing you at Lake Tahoe made my life complete! LOL And you flew into Reno! Sigh. So close and yet so far. (wait...this is getting creepy, lol). Sorry. Isn't our climate great out here? I've lived here so long, I can no longer breathe in humid climes. That makes me a "desert rat." :) I passed through San Antonio once, and literally could not move away from the air conditioner. I needed to feel the air going in and out of my lungs. LOL This is a great video. I know which book I'm adding to my collection! Thanks for the excellent reviews. Love and hugs! (and I finished the proofread!!! vampire sequel goes off to the formatter!!!)

[@KateCavanaugh]

AHHHH CONGRATS REGINA!!!!! YOU'RE CRUSHING IT. It's been so fun seeing your progress through this book!!!

[@happinesss2]

Sorry, sudden rant, but... I honestly hate strict writing advice that say "DON'T DO THIS" and "DON'T DO THAT" like ADVERBS ARE BAD (although I do like how they explained the adverb can be included in a better adjective or verb choice) because it varies by style. Also if we all followed those rules, we would all have very similar (and somewhat boring) writing styles. Plus it seems like a style/trend thing in my opinion, where we opt more for scarcity and stripped down language in this moment in time but this is bound to change in the future. I can see flowery language making a return because that was the big thing back in like Jane Austen and Shakespeare eras and all trends come back. ALSO also, I understand that there is better flow with simpler language and better impact with carefully constructed, meaningful, to-the-point language, but I also wonder at times if we're just "dumbing it down" for readers and making it so they can essentially binge books like we binge TV nowadays. It seems to be aligning with our shortening attention spans. For example, another rule is "don't use complicated, long words" or whatever, but I personally love words, and ever since I was little, I loved learning new words and practicing them. Of course don't sound so pompous or have the words come out of nowhere, but I also see no problem in introducing new words that are longer than average. Again, this is how people learn. It reminds me of my childhood when I picked up vocabulary, and I think I can express myself better with certain words that have specific nuances. And even a word like "percolate" seems to be thrown out so often lately. I hear it and read it everywhere, and that wouldn't have been a thing had someone decided "eh no that word.. people won't get it." You look that up or use context clues. Anyway, rant done.

[@cicilavezzo9544]

What's your kitty's name? You keep saying her name but there's too much background noise to hear it! is it Ben, Bin, Vin, Ven? She's so cute!!

[@KateCavanaugh]

Vin! :)

[@Iwasonceanonionwithnolayers]

"I COULD care less" gah!😤

[@AuthorZaraHoffman]

Love the whole video! The pets with you had me 😍 but I’ve also been meaning to read I Give You My Body but haven’t yet. I’ll move it up my list based on your reaction! Can you do How Fiction Works by James Wood? Also, any of Zoe York’s Publishing How To books.

[@hilarybush2748]

I've read "On Writing" by King and I did like that one, but I also really jived with Ray Bradbury's "Zen and the Art of Writing". I think it's more inspirational/philosophical, but I found it helpful for encouraging me to keep going at a time when I felt burnt out at my day job. I feel like that one talks more about how to keep going and where ideas come from. I'm so glad you made this though, because I had no idea Ursula K LeGuin wrote a craft book and I'm going to go buy it, as well as "I Give You My Body" because I, too, want to write some steamy sex scenes. lol XD

[@KateCavanaugh]

BAHAHA RIGHT. I know I'd heard of Steering the Craft before but hadn't connected that freaking Ursula K LeGuin wrote it!!!! And I enjoyed "I Give You My Body" a lot more than I thought I would and I was already looking for that kind of advice! Perfect scenario. :) I'm excited to pick up Zen and the Art of Writing for next time!!

[@robertmiller2921]

are you writing in Google docs instead of Scrivner now?

[@graciemacie4334]

Wait what’s the cat’s name again..?

[@johndogwater]

I can't stand "I could care less". The first time I heard it I was like - do you even know what you're trying to say? So you're telling me you do care somewhat!?

[@christinec28]

Gabaldon's book is very heteronormative. As an erotica writer, I wasn't impressed with it personally. If you want some book recs on writing sex scenes, let me know!

[@rev6215]

The way she just threw her book 😭😭

[@writingwithred2498]

*Side Question* I've noticed that you're using Google Docs more and more lately and less in Scrivener. Are you switching over to Google Docs like a lot of authors on AuthorTube? I love scrivener but I find that I need to use Google Docs more simply for the cloud and speech-to-text (the PC version of scrivener doesn't have dictation, at least that I can find). I'm just curious!

[@myragracedelansig2539]

❤❤❤❤❤

[@bedadays1763]

Your a spiderman fan?