Why You Haven't Finished Your First Draft...(+ Tips)
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- Опубликовано: 1 авг 2024
- Plus a bonus quiz to identify why you're struggling! (Time stamps below!)
The First Draft is the biggest hurdle & it took me a long time too: 0:27
Advice Disclaimer: 1:00
The MOST important thing to do is identify WHY you haven't finished a first draft yet: 1:37
4 categories of people who haven't finished a first draft: 1:45
QUIZ TIME: 1:57
For The Worrier: 3:10
Standard Advice & How Fanfiction Might Help You?: 3:28
5 Tips: 4:33
For The Dreamer: 6:33
Honest Talk Time With Yourself: 7:17
For The Squirrel: 8:51
Quick and Dirty Tip: 10:32
For The Technical Issue(...r): 11:59
Unlike the others, best advice is to READ: 12:57
Reach out to other writers, but...: 14:08
My First Draft Process: 14:58
Reiterating that first drafts are hard and moo points: 15:52
There's no better feeling than reaching "The End"!: 16:38
Questions For Youuuu: 17:13
Bloops: 17:41
D I S C U S S I O N Q U E S T I O N S :
Do you have a typical place within the first draft where you start to struggle?
If you've typed "The End," how many half-drafts did you write before completing a full first draft?
Do you struggle with anything I didn't touch on?
L I N K S / O T H E R S T U F F M E N T I O N E D :
Coming soon...
F I N D M E O N L I N E :
Twitter: / cavanaughwrites
Instagram: / katecavanaughwrites
Blog: katecavanaugh.co/index.php/blog/
NaNoWriMo: nanowrimo.org/participants/wr...
I'm a 'the dreamer'. When i think about my stories, they're good thoughts. Exciting thoughts! But when i write words, they're bad words. Rubbish words.
.....I'm in this comment and I dont like it
Most relatable comment in the history of comments.
Yes me too
Well for your writing to improve you have to write. Take it like this it's not that you write bad. It's because your writing abilities haven't caught up to your writing vision. And for that to happen you have to write. You'll only get better at something when u practice it. Writing is the same.
@@sunsett21 and reading! Writing is pointless if you aren’t constantly consuming the work of others. IMO it shouldn’t be super similar to what you’re trying to write but really anything.
The best first draft advice I received was to just "tell" in the first draft and you can "show" in the rewrite/ edits. We use this in screenwriting. In the first draft, just tell what happens. Tell the setting and the characters and write on-the-nose dialogue. You've got to tell the story, and if you focus on editing and rewriting before you tell the story, you'll never get it done.
Edit: to the worldbuilders and character-creator types, it's possible your talents make you more designer than author, and that's great. There are many creative endeavors that don't require writing hundreds of thousands of words. I'm not saying your novel or screenplay will necessarily be that long, but you certainly will write that much before being published. If you don't want to write hundreds of thousands of words, there are other ways to express your creativity - learn to draw, design video games, create D&D bio's, etc.
This reminds me of Kris MF
for the edit section.
those authors who fall into this category can still continue to write but pour that 'designer' side on side projects for their novel specially if they both love designing and storytelling. create wikis, character profiles, character illustrations and short stories about the characters in that world on the side when your creativty is in the 'drought' period when it comes to writing. you could make it only for self to see, not for publishing. it would also be a great way to practice writing without starting from zero or if you don't want to touch your works professionally. it's helpful in igniting your creativity, passion and inspiration. ❤
Took me 3 years to complete my "first" 1st draft... 1 year to complete my second 1st draft...and, thanks to my discovery of NaNoWriMo many years ago---15 days to complete the 1st draft of my third story.
I started out as a Worrier, but, NaNoWriMo turned me into a Squirrel/11-month non-writer----I'd crank out my 50K and I'd stop. Then, the following NaNo, I'd write 50K of a NEW story and then stop. It took me several NaNo's to realize what I was doing to myself. I've never LOST a NaNo I've participated in, but somewhere along the way I let the accomplishment of completing 50K take the place of completing the manuscript.
I've now started using November NaNo and Camp NaNo to go back and redraft/finish all my open manuscripts. Most of the half-finished ones are in the same vein, so I know I could probably just combine some.
Now I'm more of a Technical Issue...r. I'm still a relatively fast-drafter, but I have a problem with my endings not being strong enough. I'm not much of an outliner (I've tried and can only manage a vague connect-the-dots blueprint). It's starting to look like my 1st drafts are really just long-winded outlines that I have to fumble my way through. But, that makes for an unwieldy approach to noveling, lol....
I had the SAME EXACT problem! Only my solution has been the reverse. I use NaNo and Camps to work on new, first drafts and the rest of the year is spent editing/revising/redrafting.
Ahaha, if it's unwieldy but works, I see no problem with it! I always find my first drafts - even with all my outlining - are ultimately more like Zero Drafts because of how bare bones they are. We all have our own little quirks to this thing.
I'd definitely love to fix my first draft process to include more description - so that I don't have to squander so much time trying to fix them later haha - but am starting to think it's just how my brain works. Alas.
Worrier/Dreamer. The Asperger in me makes me want to write more lore and history and details about the mythology and that my grammar and English is super bad. But the ADD in me has already planned out seven books in that series, and how every single book begins and ends.
Squirrel!! haha I'm a worrier writer. I write. Reread and write. And rewrite again. Cause I feel like it's never good enough. Your advice about whiting out words is brilliant! I never thought of that!! This info is gold for me! I hope this helps me continue writing instead of rewriting my work. What kind of writer are you, Kate? I don't know if you mentioned it or not.
Moo point hehe
I hope it does too! I'll keep my fingers crossed for you. I think I've been all of them, but most recently, I'm a mix of The Worrier and The Squirrel. So I feel you. I'm also just generally having a hard time with this current story and rewriting large chunks of it, so it feels like writing a first draft again haha.
And there's a Joey quote for everything!
I think I'll try to white out the words too. It sounds like a great idea.
The best advice I've ever gotten is "don't edit while you're zero drafting". It helps me get drafts out so much faster now, because every time I feel myself getting stuck on crappy sentence structure or scene structure, I stop myself and go "NO, leave it. That's what editing's for" and I just keep going. The most I'll do now while zero drafting is pop in a note on Word that I need to fix it later.
I think I’m a squirrel/dreamer who worries on occasion 🤔
A HYBRID. I feel you.
Same!
Same
Haha, I’m actually a combination of all of them. You may be too! Here’s how you can tell: you sit down at your desk and open your document, and then you just kinda...
*aaaaAAAAAAAAAAAAHHHHHHHHHHHHH*
Love finally writing the ending of a novel. It's what keeps me pushing through all the headaches!
Agreed! It's seriously the best feeling.
Oh, wow. How did I just find you?? I’ve been doing a Dreamer/Squirrel loop on the same story concept since March 2017. I needed some of this tough love talk as I tell myself I’m actually going to finish it this year.
Your advice for the squirrel is spot on. Thank you for this video!!
Needed this! I was feeling like a mix of all of the above and you nailed it with the advice. Thank you thank you thank youuuu!
The turn the font to white tip OMG thank you! I needed this advice because I just could not stop re reading my writing!
Great video! Thank you for discussing the obstacles and doubts we face while writing.
I absolutely loved this and I absolutely love you!! This helped so much!! Thank you ❤❤
Yes! All of this! I am all of these! Thank you for making this video! How had I not seen it before now? Great topic and the tips are awesome! Thank you so much!!!!!
1:13 I felt that! The main reason I subbed to your channel is because you discuss and show the process frequently. All of the discussion about the process is energizing and inspiring to me
I've been binge watching your videos and just LOVE your style! I used to have all of these problems you mentioned, but things have improved since I switched to writing short stories from novels. The hardest part I find is the kind of resistance you feel when you try to push through the storyline (I write from the very beginning to the end). I'll try your advice about one sentence for each scene. Thanks for your final remark. It's really motivating!
RUclips is serving me up some of your older videos and I have to say that I love this one! It was filled with such great insight and advice.
Brilliant and fun!
I had this video about how to stop procrastinating in my "watch later" for three years.
Finally finished it
I need a writing buddy bc I can’t hold myself accountable.
Want to be mine? I'll be yours!
Torchwood Pride yes please. DM me (instagram.com/austine_powers_
This is late but can i be your writing buddy
Sunflower Gacha yes. My Instagram is curmudgeon_intensified if you wanna add and dm me
@@10feralratsinacoat76 i added you
Great writing advice I'll try to take it and not get too stressed over writing a first draft
I'm a bit of all of these. Since I have been focused on work and college and kids for the past 18 years I haven't finished anything. This is the year though. Done school, kids are adults & moving. Liking your videos, thanks for sharing.
I know the beginning and the end....and there are minimum twenty chapters in the middle I have no idea about.
But my main issue is, I can't write at home and don't have the money to go to the pub every day. At home, I barely manage two sentences without getting distracted and stopping. At the pub, I easily write two or more full pages at Arial 8px in a single session. Problem, I can't go to the pub without buying a drink, they don't like that, and I don't have the money to go more than once a week.
Kilravok library?
"Turn what you've already written to white" just BLEW my MIND
It blew my mind when I first saw her do it too!
I knew it, I’m procrastinating!😫 It feels like I’m in a rut. Research, revise outline, research, self doubt. There’s the loop.
Great video!
I just found this through my recommended, and this was sooo helpful. I feel like at times, I'm a bit of all of these. haha. I'm at least a cross between a squirrel and a Technical issue-r--I'm midway into my novel and feel like I'm not sure what to do (or, I THOUGHT I had everything laid out in my head (Dreamer), but the more I come to different cross roads, I keep feeling like I don't know what's going to happen and stop writing for a bit to figure it out), so I come up with other stories that would be more fun to write on the side (I've avoided starting them, usually...unless it's a short story.
I love the tip of getting a sentence down for each scene. That one in particular will be very helpful to me!
Also, glad to see that two years later you feel like you still can't title things. lol
I'm really close to finishing my first zero draft! (Thanks for giving me the words for the process I'm doing right now.) I've never finished a story before so I'm both nervous and excited. I feel like I've been dragging my feet up to this conclusion which I think just falls under procrastinating. ^^; thanks for the tough love!
Thanks Kate for another ripper video! I think I'm a worrier/ squirrel because the shiny new idea alleviates the worries... for the meantime. So many great tips to try!
I am a very green writer and your videos have been invaluable to me. I feel like a bit of a creep lurking through your entire backlist, but you're the perfect balance helpful and entertaining.
I feel you, that's my current combo, too. Hope the tips are able to help! You inspired the idea for the video. :) It's awesome that you just started writing too. I always love to hear how people discovered that they enjoyed it.
And no worries, I go back through people's old videos alllll the time haha.
is so funny to me to watch this video right now bc i haven't even started to write the first draft lol, but this is actually a very helping video so ty sm! :)
Oh god, I'm the Squirrel... Also a bit of the Dreamer! When I start a new story idea I dive in HARD, brainstorm and explore all the ideas, do all the research and create all the character bios...and at some point I just hit a motivational wall and then get distracted by new and shiny ideas. I love that you have created ways for each type of writer to fight against their bad habits! Really helpful! :D
Oh my god, I love that Video:D I am on my first dreft I definitly wanna finished since 2 years and I always hop on another story idea eventually -.- I am a dreamer squirl now. Once I was a worrier but know Im just stuck.
These tips are awesome! Thank you for making this video. I've finished two first drafts before, back in 2016, but in 2017 I started a bunch and didn't finish one. I tend to be a combo of the squirrel, dreamer and technical issue-r. I love your one-sentence-per-scene idea for the squirrel, and maybe that can work for dreamers, too.
I'm dreamer-ing my current draft and have come up with every excuse in the book to do something other than write the dang thing. But I've made a deadline from myself, and I'll try a new approach. Both Susan Dennard (who has some helpful blog posts) and you have inspired me to push through it.
That's a great point! I could totally see it working for Dreamers. And I do love Susan Dennard! Her blog really is amazing. Good luck with your new approach and your deadline! Let me know if you want an accountability buddy, I've got a deadline set for myself, too. (End of February.)
So glad I found this video! Very helpful!!!!!
So glad it could help you!!
Thanks! That’s quite helpful!
I'm in the same boat where I've started writing a first draft many times but never finished any.... only... I've been cycling through this process for eleven years now x'D But I'm still trying to finish it! And I think I'm going to do it this year! I've written up a full outline for the first time and I'm making really good progress :D My writing is hella boring and super trashy, but I'm moving along and I'm super excited XD
Thank you for the video! I'll definitely be employing some of these tips in my writing. Wish me luck!
When she said, "it's all in their head." I felt that. 😂
Thank you, thank you, thank you!
Thanks Kate 💞
I’m a dreaming worrier! 😂
ash092007 same. . . .
The Dreamer: " You read me for absolute filth. I'm utterly pleased with this video." Thank you.
I would say my story was pretty much the last one you mentioned. I new the ending but I just didnt know how to connect it. Also I spent nearly two years writing it because,well, life. I was so invested in the world that I found myself struggling to finish. Not to mention I didnt want to leave it. Plus it was an emotional ending and I didnt know if my heart could take it. It couldn't by the way. I finally did it and found the connection but I know for a fact when I go back to edit it needs A LOT of work. There are lots of things can can be added for a better flow but worrying about it now wont let. I'm still trying to process that for now, until I edit, I am done with that world.
Fantastic writing advice video. I tend to worry most in the middle of a story, but I tend to overly rush the end of a first draft, which gives me more work in my first editing revision. Currently, I'm struggling through my second draft, fighting thoughts to give up on it because of some very complicated plot points at the narrative's climax, which I need to sort out.
You pretty much nailed my problem too. Editing and revising is such a different kind of challenge than the first draft. But a lot of that, for me, is because I create so many problems in the rushing/skipping over/changing important subplots midway through the first draft. We're just making extra work for ourselves! (But I'm also convinced it's impossible not to -- I don't know anyone who doesn't struggle somewhere in revisions.)
Brilliant video! Such great advice! I feel like I've been every one of these at one point in time lol! But the Dreamer is definitely me more often than not. ("Stop pointing over that way, there's nothing there" I laughed so hard!!!!)
I've definitely been all of these at one point or another too. I'm more Squirrel/Worrier right now but goooosh, when I get stuck in that Dreamer phase, it's so hard to get out haha.
Also I have SO MUCH of me talking to myself that I cut out, it's honestly ridiculous hahaha.
I can definitely be a Squirrel too lol! And I absolutely LOVE your outtakes hahaha!
I'm a squirrel, and I think one of my problems is that I write a lot of beginnings to stories so I'm good at that but as I move towards the middle I'm less experienced with it and I feel like my writing just gets so bad and then I get a new idea and I want to go back to writing a beginning cause thats easy and nice and I'm good at it......
So yeah, it's a bit of a problem
Same here! I've been pushing myself because I find that past the beginning I have no idea how to continue the plot or the story. So recently I've taken it upon myself to outline it as I go, and things have become clearer.....and not so clear, at the same time. I have vague ideas but actually making them detailed has made me really think about the story line and change things up. It's interesting and I'm actually excited to continue it onwards.
@@thesmileshow9651 I've always been an outliner but I realised that the method of outlining I was using wasn't right for me. Since writing this comment I've perfected an outlining process that's great for me and have finished outlining 7 stories. My goal for this year is to complete a first draft for at least one of my stories by fast drafting (and not trying to make it perfect!).
Good luck with your writing journey, I hope you find a good outlining method for you because it really helps to see the whole story clearly.
I'm in squirrel category. Get so bored, with story, characters, everything. Tried working on different stuff at the same time, helps a little. Once i know the ending, so hard to motivate self to finish. To Get past 40% mark will be miraculous.
I kind of answered YES to all of them! Agh! Great video. So true about not comparing to other books, it's toxic! Its nice to think that I have all the answers though, I just don't know them yet!
RIGHT. It always makes me feel a little better (until I wish the answers would come faster haha).
Last time I tried Nanowrimo, I got stuck in the middle. So now, I've been plotting. The story is so much clearer and it's getting me excited. I hope I can finish it this time
Definitely the technical issu(er) here! Everything just starts going really great, so fluid and then... I get stuck, either in the middle of a scene, or a chapter, and then takes me sooooo much to finally get into the writing/ story set and move forward- but definitely, best thing I can do in those cases is to read similar stories to mine!
Yesyesyes. I completely understand that. I have the issue where I'll have written the entire rest of the draft and STILL not know exactly how to connect the scene that I skipped.
I know! that's why it also makes it so hard for me to do that:( bc I know if I skip, there's no way I'll be able to connect the scenes 😅
Thank you so much :-) February 8 is my birthday, I saw that after clicking on this video one out of your 222 videos
Well HAPPY BELATED BIRTHDAY! 🎉🎉🎉
"...you've written half drafts before... And then there'd be a new idea, a prettier one ... One I didn't see the problems for, yet."
How dare you call me out XD
I needed that. I am taking that quote to the bank. Depositing it and drawing interest... The truth will set me free and I thank you for speaking it.
Worrier-dreamer combo
Holy cow thanks!
Thanks
I'm definitely a squirrel, although I don't jump projects voluntarily. Rather, something in my life makes me stop writing for a while and then I have a new idea and the other one is left behind. Excellent tips :)
Oooh, that's an excellent point. I find it's hard, when life gets in the way, to feel the same mojo for a story, and I usually turn to another idea instead, too.
I'm a dreamer squirell! I get distracted by all the dreamer, worldbuilding stuff, that leads to new characters and subplots. As always, love your video!
Ahhh yes! Dreaming up solutions and the solutions being more characters/subplots is the best/worst kind of thing haha. And thank you! :)
awesome video
Lol Pinocchio voice was funny Kate
I'm a worrier and a dreamer. I never get very far (a lot of times not even past the first chapter) because I hate my writing and just keeping getting stuck with not knowing how to phrase things and paint a picture. And when I do like my words or just say fuck it (usually during nano) I tend to come up with better ideas that have be scrapping them anyway and starting from the beginning.
I am also stuck on my draft. I think, it is the big hole in the middle. I keep on thinking, it is not exciting/interesting enough. But NaNoCamp gets me motivated now! I am planning to sit in the library in the coming weeks, to concentrate on a good plan for April. Review my outline, identify scenes to be written, research more on how to construct an interesting middle.
So glad Camp NaNo has you motivated! I totally understand being stuck in the draft and unsure if anyone else finds it as exciting or as interesting as you. Or if it's just ~enough~. Best of luck with the middle (that can be so hard) and on Camp in ApriL! :)
Turning my text white/light-grey has actually helped me a bit.
woah. feel kinda attacked during the dreamer part xD.
Thanks for the talking to xD
I woke up to your video playing in the background like the Dramatic voice of an angel telling me EVERY LITTLE BAD WRITING THING I DO. Good God woman it's like you're spying on me. Calling me out on ALL my little ticks. Even ones I don't realize I'm doing *shakes head*
Now I feel like an ass. Ugh. *subscribes*
Bahahaha I am both so sorry and so happy. This comment is amazing. If it makes you feel any better, you're not being an ass by yourself! I've literally been/done every single one of these things at one point or another. I like to think I'm over most of them (though some will always suck me back in).
And I know this isn't exactly what you meant, but I don't care, I'm going to start telling people I have the dramatic voice of an angel hahaha.
For the worrier (which I have been and still sometimes am), I'd also say that if you do these tips and just keep writing, you might find new ideas in later acts that will make your story SO much more interesting. Yeah you might end up with a zero draft that has tons of plot holes but that's what later drafts are for. If you are worried about the words themselves, line editing is for a later draft. The point of the zero/first draft is to get the story down even if it sucks right now. You can make it not suck later.
Worrier and Squirrel, with a little bit of dreamer and technical...
I never know how to end my stories not just novels but even short stories and poems. These were great tips i think i'm gonna try that one sentence outline thing because i've been wanting to outline for a couple of months now :P
Oh, that's really interesting! Yeah, definitely try the one sentence outline. I also find that often I don't know how to end it, like around 85% of the way, but know technically what the ending 95-100% of the way is. I haven't found a solution then. I kinda just flub around with different options until one feels "good enough" haha.
Hi, I just found your little corner of the internets over here, and I am very grateful ~ thanks Kate!
This was a terrific video, I've made some notes and found several of your points insightful. I have one question: What was Point 4 (of your personal drafting approach), "something-something pyramid"?
Thanks again!
I'm the Technical Issuer ~ (love it)
LD Tynan
I related 2 minutes in, haha! I am AWFUL at getting stuck at the "idea dump" phase. That's the exact reason I've not completed my first draft. I keep coming up with new ideas and before I know it, I'm rewriting the whole thing
I'm a squirrel, but instead of having half drafts I just have ideas that I like, and then a new shinier idea interrupts and I can't settle on anything, which causes me a lot of doubt for a few good months before I settle on a project.
yeah, I figured out my problem... I always avoided the first 6 steps and started writing without knowing anything more than my characters' names :)....
That's all of me with my different projects.
I feel like I'm stuck being "the dreamer" because every time I sit down and try to write I transform into "the worrier". Definitely going to try the white text thing, because my main problem is that whenever I try to write I suffer an immediate stream of embarrassment and imposter syndrome as I'm working. I'm not even reading back the words, I just feel self-conscious that my thoughts are suddenly in a physical form in which they can be attributed to me and judged. O_O
A dreamer for real and the squirrel 🐿️ 😂
I guess I'm the dreaming squirrel, but more squirrel than dreamer. Looking back at my old work, I did this a lot more before I started writing with an outline. Now that I started using outlines, it's so much easier to push through.
I'm struggling with my middle.
I'm a squirrel... Well that fits my ADD.
Honestly, I'm glad I procrastinated for years. I wrote half a draft when I was 12 and 13, and didn't know how to continue. After years of having the story brew in my head, it actually makes sense, and _so_ much less cringey.
The same thing happened to me, but I finished the first draft! I wrote 35k words over the course of a year, and I hardcore pantsed the entire way. I had no idea what was going on and just threw whatever worked into the story. This combined with my amateur writing resulted in a mess of plot. I let it sit for 2 years while I developed the world and story. I also wrote it on and off but never finished anything. But about half a month ago, I came back to the story, properly drafted it out, and I’m currently sitting at 22k words and climbing. Feels good to finally accomplish something
I'm a squirrel that's worried about it's dreams. Oh, and I have some technical issues, too.
The problem for me it that I'm almost all of the above and I haven't figured out the ending for my stories to connect them cause it's a trilogy and I realized three days ago that the one I have been writing for two years is the second book instead of the first and I'm now writing the first and my brain is burnt out because of the second and I've got all of these ideas but when I go to put them down, I forget them.
Also I just don't have a writer writing buddy. MY best friend helps me work out kinks in the story and offers suggestions when we talk about it. She's a great friend but I feel like I'm always going off track.
U know why I couldn't finish
Cuz I wrote 10 pages, then I just forgot I had started to write because of exams and I realize that I have a book to write because of this video in my recommendations. Thank You 😊
I'm definitely a worrier. I read 80-100 books a year so I have a lot of resources to compare. Usually during my writing breaks I'll "refresh" my mind by reading for fifteen minutes. Sometimes the reading will give me help for my own story, but other times it can discourage me. My main issue with writing is I have the story down, but I don't know the best word choices. I love reading analogies, personification, and just the magical way something can be described in books, but that doesn't come naturally to me. When I read my work back I see that and it always frustrates me. I'm in the habit now where if I think of a sentence I like (Ex: With clinched fists, she pushed herself out of the chair. or I let the promise of a soft chocolate chip cookie and long nap pull me down the rest of the track.) it'll be my goal to find somewhere to add it in my writing. If anyone has any tips for this I'd be well appreciative.
I'm definitely a dreamer. My problem is I can visualize everything but have no idea how to put that to paper. The struggles 🤣
I was writing a magic book then decided (intelligently I think) that my story was too big to be the first thing I wrote. So I started writing a pirate book. And I really like it, I write on it everyday ... but now I want to write something contemporary because I realized my “historical fantasy” isn’t historical at all and I feel like it needs to be more realistic.
I need to write enough of my story for the Sunk Cost Fallacy to kick in. But I never end up getting anywhere close to being that far. >_>
I love this advice and am currently ignoring it. I'm rereading the first 17k of a total redraft (I did have a first draft) because I don't remember which bits were in which draft XD
Thanks for the awesome tips! I will try them out! Hey are you doing campnanowrimo? Have you shared your editing process? I struggle about half way thru and sometimes i just stop writing it and move on. For camp nano I am gonna write from an outline for the first time lol should be fun!
There will be a video up on Friday about Camp! :) So you've got perfect timing haha. I'm super excited to hear how writing from an outline works for you. It's always fun tinkering at the writing process and seeing what works/doesn't. (And sometimes what works for one story doesn't for another! Which is equally amazing and frustrating.)
Squirrel. I’m definitely the squirrel.
You are so cute! “How??” Great tips, I think it’s a matter of self editing instead of throwing up words on a page and glueing your butt to the seat!
Baha thanks. :) And yes!! Butt to seat is always the most important part.
Hey Kate. Big fan of yours. I always struggled with getting the words down until I came across your zero draft concept, I'm now writing almost 3000words a day. With that said, I actually have a question - where do you find beta readers? For people who aren't surrounded by writer friends and youtube authors?
I am definitely a dreamer.
I am absolutely a squirrel. I think my problem is that the scope of what I come up with is too big for me (for now). I also have a hard time with the middle part of my stories, like I have the beginning and end locked and loaded, but I haven't the faintest idea how to get from A to B.
I've been getting into the habit of rotating between my incomplete stories whenever I get stuck on one, with a rule that I cannot change stories until the next month (my new years resolution). Honestly I've gotten a lot more progress on each story then in the past so it kinda works, but I don't know if it's really a good idea to do or if I should just stick to one story until it's done.
1000x yes to accountability! Although I find that making other writers my accountability partners also has a way of getting me stuck, because they understand being stuck so much that we cut each other too much slack. On my most recent novel, I just opened it up to the internet to have anyone who wanted to sign up for an email list, and promised to send them 2 chapters a week until it was done. That DEFINITELY lit a fire under my butt.
Ooooh, I could totally see how that would get tricky. I've had to add/drop accountability buddies for a similar reason. Some people and personalities, we'll be great motivators, and others we just end up being waaay too understanding haha.
I can't even imagine what a huge motivation that is! That sounds terrifying to me haha. I'd love to hear/watch a video on how you decided to start that. Do you have the story all mapped out entirely and then it's just the writing of the chapters that needs to be done each week? SO many questions! haha.
I'm 43,000 words in and struggling to find motivation to actually write the blasted thing
Mixture of squirrel, dreamer and technical issue... I'm way too easily distracted, I procrastinate too much by drawing characters and choosing character songs... And I'm just bad at putting an end to a story (it's just going on and on and on...)
Omggggggggg yassssss 🙏🏾🤲🏾🤲🏾🤲🏾🤲🏾 QUEEN
I'm a combo of a squirrel and worrier! I have finished my book, but I can't get passed the editing process. I'm on #13, yes round 13 of edits. I did send it to betas twice with great feedback, but even that took forever. I had a total of 10 betas and 1 cp and it was a nightmare! Some wanted more than two chapters and a couple of them wanted the entire book. I'd get feedback at different times and some times not at all. I played the waiting game and by the time I decided to stop the beta process because it was frustrating me, I lost the drive. Then my cp changed a whole bunch of stuff and suddenly it was becoming her book baby and not mine. I haven't picked it up in months and I miss it. Maybe I do need to start a YT channel to keep me accountable and so that I have others who'll understand my rants lol. BTW I really enjoy your videos!
Oh gosh, revision hell sounds like a nightmare. The question of if it's ever good enough or always tinkering is so real. Your beta reader experience is terrifying. I'm worried something like that will happen if/when I open it up to people I don't know as well.
And I'd totally watch a youtube series about getting back into writing and staying accountable! That's half the reason I make videos sometimes too haha. And thank you so much! :)
Kate Cavanaugh My betas were either long time friends or family. Maybe that was my mistake? My husband thinks I should take the plunge and do YT videos. He says he feels bad not being able to understand my grief lol.
Definitely take the plunge!! I've had several authors and writers from author tube offer to beta read / be critique partners. And there's a fantastic camaraderie, so I'm sure you'd find others who had poor beta reader experiences too and want to talk about them haha
The algorithm wanted me to see this today... 🤔🤔🤔
2:10 2:22 2:36 yeah, past Kate completely calling out Past (specifically Last November Charles);
6:45 ... YEAH INTP problems
I am a worrier with a technical dificulty.
I'm a Squirrel to some extent but currently, I'm just struggling with figuring out what my plot is in any sense of the word. I feel like there is nothing that excites me, that I want to explore in my writing. Do I wanna write about sailors and criminals and power struggles? Do I wanna write my entirely figured out vampire story/? Or the one with a demon instead? Or tart some YA love story? I don't know. None of them pull me in more than the other. I want to write! But I feel like the experience of being writing is the thing that pulls at my heart while any concrete story or premise is just the same as any other. Kate, have you experienced such a thing before?