I had always been a writer since I knew how to make words. But I also had this issue where I had too many ideas and I would start projects but never finish them. Aside from school projects, I NEVER finished a single writing project. It really got to me and I felt like a failure. Eventually I stopped writing for about 4 years between ages 21 and 25, and at 25 I had a resurgence and decided I had lost myself. I wanted to find me again. Now, a year later, I'm halfway through a novel and I know exactly why I was able to get this far. soo... PROTIP: Have people holding you accountable for your writing, and people excited to read it. PROTIP2: Realize that you have lots of great ideas, but when you start one, you need to finish it. You have many MANY years left to work on your other ideas.
bookishbirthright I think it's down to you to make the story stick, not the story :) if you want to write a novel, just keep at it. Nanowrimo is a great motivation for this xx
Hey Kat! KAT! Do not. I repeat Do NOT Write your debut novel for anyone other than yourself! Write it as if you're not a bookTuber. Pretend that nobody knows about what you're writing. Pretend that nobody has any expectations. Just do it for you.
Don't worry about your debut novel being the right one. By the time you finish one, polish it and work with crit partners and/or get an agent and go through edits with your agent, YOU WILL GROW as a writer and the stories you write in the meantime may supersede that first completed one. You learn the most when you complete stories. Kat, you've got this. ^_~
the idea thing. I LOVE when I get a new idea for a story or a scene or something. what usually happens though, is I get so excited about it and then I work it up so much that I eventually become overwhelmed by it, lose interest, and then get ANOTHER idea and repeat cycle. Its ridiculous.
For so long I felt exactly like you, but with time I learned to be free from all those worries and just think about the story, and nothing else. Now I am so happy, I am in the last stages of finishing a story that started as scripts for an animated tv show and that eventually I decided to turn into a book series. In the adaptation process so much changed, I felt like I was never going to finish it, I got stuck many times on things I Thought I had already figured out and that did´t work anymore, but this month it happen! I finally went back to the basics and it has work, I haven't been doing much else except writing, I am so motivated and happy. My advice is just forget about all those doubts, fight them and for a few days just think about your characters, don´t write, just get deeply inside your head, whatever story seems more clear to you, pick that one to finish... You can do it Kat!!!!
I can totally relate to you going back and forth between ideas. It's really tough! I did it all the time and would have 3 or 4 story drafts at once. With the story I'm writing now, I've been working on it for almost a year and am still excited about it because I've become so attached to it. But it took A LOT of pre-planning, world building, and character creating until I got into a steady groove of writing the story. Now my brain keeps coming up with new ideas and plot points to add to it. I think what helped me to choose which idea to work on was taking a break from all my writing for awhile. Then I came back to the ideas refreshed and chose to work on the one I felt the best about. I wish you the best, Kat!
I love how honest you are =) I've barely written anything in forever, I got bitten by the perfectionism bug so hard, I open up a Word document to work on a story and I freak out =( I'd say there's no huge rush for you to get published, like you said you definitely need to be confident in what you're publishing =)
Oh Kat, I feel ya. The nitty gritty of editing and reading stuff over and over again feels like eating the same thing every day for weeks. I'm revising my hopeful debut these days and I haven't watched any tv or played any video games in weeks. It makes me happy to know that someone else can't even (even for different reasons)~ but good luck when you DO do it and I'll read whatever the hell it is just because I love your humor!
KAT! I can't tell you how much I relate to everything you said! Those have been my exact thoughts and feelings since NaNo. I thought I was the only one!
I have to say, I'm REALLY loving these videos!! I mean, I love all of your videos, but.... I just love these because we get to find out a little bit more about you in these. Also, 7 VIDEOS IN A WEEK!! ITS SO GREAT!!
The biggest thing I can tell you is write for you. You totally have to forget the people who want to read your work. Remember why you started writing and focus on that. You have to shut yourself in and just be connected with you and your story. The novel I worked on during NaNoWriMo and the one I'm working on now are two completely different stories. But I have vowed to myself I won't start working on another project until I finish this one. I'm in the same boat as you where I have 15 novels sitting in my computer and none are ready to be shared for publishing. As hard as it is you have to focus on one story, and finish it. While totally forgetting the world around you. Focus on you and your writing. The marketing department will take care of making sure your novel sells. Just write :)
This video is so right on so many levels. I have tons of stories that are not even fully complete- I'm talking from beginning to end, not just edited and revised. Not sure if I've EVER truly completed (revised and edited) a huge story. It's so depressing. But then I just get so excited to start more ideas that I push the others aside. Being a writer is hard... but I wouldn't have it any other way.
I now make me coffee before watching these now, sooo good. You're writing life sounds like a Rollercoaster, I couldn't even imagine. I'd be watching tv all day for stress relief lol. About your future books, you've got some really decent followers and subscribers Kat, we love you. So whatever and whenever you decide to get a book publish we will support it. I know I will 😊
i TOTALLY AGREE WITH THE FEAR OF SUCESS AND FAILURE! We have so many of the same struggles, i have so many book ideas but i don't know which one should be my debut. Good luck with your endeavors KAT!
I'm loving this series so much.And this was one of the topics I was looking forward to the most tbh.It's so hard to be committed to all the writing thing,I need to finish the writing part and I'm actually looking forward to the editing part,though,but I'm in that "everything I write is crap" phase right now,so yeah,that's hard.
I wanted to talk about my writing and how happy I am to see vlogs from you I can watch, but the words aren't coming out right so I just wanna say... Kat you rock.
I also took NaNoWriMo seriously for the first time last year. I always "participated" by writing a synopsis and three chapters and never continued on with it. In 2014, I had a moment where I stood and cried "Hoozah!" I have a wicked idea! And I've been at it ever since, but now I've been loosing little interest, feedback from friends isn't too good, and new ideas keep popping up. THE WRITER'S STRUGGLES. I'm hoping to finally find that story that sticks to me so I can have more fun with and hopefully get 50,000 words! I'm just 14, but I've know since... birth I've wanted to write stories and share them. Good luck to all the writers over here and you Kat! 📚💪
I definitely know how you feel, Kat. I've written 3 books so far, of which I indie published two, and it's just hard and scary. The hardest part of it all is getting an agent - queries are just really complicated and hard to write. And getting rejected is just the worst part of it all because, the more you get, the more you feel like your story maybe isn't actually as good as you thought and you start to doubt yourself. But, your stories seem to be really awesome so I'm sure you'll find an agent quite quickly, once you get yourself to sit down and do it ;)
i have that EXACT same problem. I currently have 22 book outlines sitting in my note taking app. I can never decide which to work on because i get so excited about them all.
How do you feel about short fiction? I think it help solve or lessen some of your problems 1. If you have so many ideas in your head, you can get them out on paper faster. 2. Writing/editing/revising a short story is a lot less daunting than writing/editing/revising an entire novel. 3. There won't be that debut story pressure. You could get the story published in an anthology or a magazine, among the works of many other writers.
I think most writers can relate to your struggles! Fear of success is a huge thing whether people understand it or not. I wanted to be an author right out of highschool but I found that I wasn't able to move on to the next level and get serious until I went to college. I took a lot of cultural classes and found that deciding what I wanted to say with my book helped me commit. Then again, I'm only just starting the querying process, so who knows if that actually worked in my favor! Keep at it though!
I wrote a book last year and I thought it was IT. It was the fourth book I've written and I thought it was the book I wanted to get published.... until, I realized it just wasn't good enough. I totally understand that gut feeling and early this year I finished my fifth book and I feel EVEN BETTER about this one. I'm editing it now and it's hard and I feel insecure sometimes, especially while trying to write its sequel. I just go at it a little at a time. Just working on it a little makes me feel better. It took me a month before I felt ready to edit. Just keep moving Kat! I say go with your gut, but don't give up!
yup! yup! yup! I have had a fantastic book in my head for 10 years. Every year I start getting it on paper and then re-start it. This year I would like to get it all on paper. Iiiiii hear ya!
Kat, you just described the fear I have had for twenty years. The excuse I have subconsciously (until recently) used is if I never finish anything then theres always the possibility that I am a great writer and my books a best seller. If I send it in and it sucks then I will know I am a fake and so will everyone else. But Kat I dont want to be a downer but we never know if we will make it til tomorrow and your ideas are fabulous. Dont let your fear paralyze you for twenty years. Go for it!!!
I'll say this on the whole thing. I LOVED your Nanowrimo blogs, because they gave me life when I was trying to complete my first 50,000 words. But, your the writer. I'll buy and read whatever you publish, because I feel like I've been a part of the process. I have a connection with these characters even though I haven't met them yet, but I also know that as a youtuber you give a crap ton of info about yourself to us and I'm okay with you wanting to be protective of this part of you for a while. I enjoy whatever you do offer, but I get that it's your choice to do so. I'm basically just Team Kat! WOOO!
It was super bizarre watching you video, because you talked about everything that I feel about my writing, and I don't even have a finished first draft. I have major rewrites ahead of me. Let's forget the fear of failure and just do what we have to do! It would be only a few weeks. I can tell you for sure that you will fall in love with your older stories again. Happy writing! PS: will you go to BEA this year?
You're keeping up with this really well! Also my writing is about the same because the next scene I have to write is something I'm dreading so I'm stuck where I am until I make myself write the scene.
That "I'm not failing if I don't try" feeling is something I'm intimately familiar with. And I'm guessing you'll already know what I'm about to say: that feeling is a lie. The moment you decide to give something your all - and screw the scary feelings - is the moment you start winning. It's hard and uncomfortable and, yes, sometimes you'll fail and that won't be fun. But I promise you it's infinitely more rewarding than being stuck in a grey limbo of a "safe space". I've been a subscriber for a long time and a quiet cheerleader through the "like" and "share" buttons, and I also think I could be a fan of your work based on the ideas you share and the thoroughness with which you approach your writing. Just thought I'd throw in my two cents because this is something I'm so passionate about, and it would make me very happy to see you succeed. :) Apologies that this is my first comment as far as I can remember. I don't tend to comment for big BookTubers because it seems so unlikely that it'll yield any kind of meaningful connection. Anyway, I thought this was worth it. Hope it helps!
Hey, Kat! I feel your pain. Revision is usually the hardest part for me; but sometimes it helps a lot to get another person's eyes on the draft. As the author, you are so close to it that it can be hard to see what someone else would see. Do you have people in your life who you trust to show a draft? (I say "trust" , because showing someone a draft is a vulnerable thing to do).
i just read the excerpt of "Storyteller" and really like the idea!! I was picturing you as Sarah the whole time haha! Take your time on writing, make sure you're happy with it, that's what matters the most :DD
Hello Kat! I feel exactly as you. I wrote my own 50k words for Nanowrimo but then... I abandoned my story. And I feel upset because I really want to finish that idea and I´m completely sure that my story will never be published but at least, I´ll have my story with an end.
It's an amazing accomplishment to say you truly finished a novel. There are so many people who say "I want to write a novel someday" but only a select few manage to do it. Go you!
Oh Kat... I completely understand the fear of success and failure. I have the same problem. But believe me when I say that you have a good start. You have so many loyal fans already. Even if you do write something that ends being crap, most of your fans will still pick up any other book you put out. Its a trial and error type process. I can tell you are passionate about writing which should mean that even if you fail, you will try again. Its only a bad story if you say it is. You have the potential to write amazing things. You just have to learn to believe in yourself the way we do. Or at least like I do.
Hi Kat :) I don't know exactly where you are in your process with The Study Group, but have you tried beta reading? Like choose one person you trust with your work and have them look it over. Sometimes when you look at your own work for too long you end up missing the same thing over and over. Having fresh eyes can invigorate the process. Where ever you are in it at least :) as well as don't be afraid to have multiple books in your arsenal. Many authors have 3-4 books already written before their first is even published! You can do this! We all want to read what you've written because we've become invested in your channel! Take your time! You've got this
I had a writers 1-2-1 meeting recently and one of the things the guy said was that presenting a current readership to a publisher can be a strong persuader. So your fans who want to read your books - they can be a great benefit to your career as a writer :)
Hi Kat :) I'm always really looking forward to your writing-themed videos and I watch all your NaNo vlogs and live-shows when they are on in November. I completely understand the pressure that's on you because of us but I think (hope) I speak for everyone when I say that no matter what and when you publish, we won't judge you for it based on whether we liked the book or not. Not every genre is for everyone and that's fine, that's what variety is for. It would be boring otherwise. I don't think you should write and publish for us. I think you should write what you want to write. Your book is not for your viewers/readers. It comes from you and you need to be happy with it and not worry too much about us. And I'm sure a lot of people (probably not everyone, but that's okay, too) will be happy with it as well. Take your time xo
I have the same problems when writing. Right now my excuse for not writing is I have to many books I committed to reading and reviewing. My t.v. is lacking too because of this. 😢 I have a two year plan right now. This year is to read and review as much as possible except for November so I can participate in NaNoWriMo and then next year concentrate more on writing and less on reviews. Hoping to have the rough draft of my first novel finished by the end of 2017. Fingers crossed I stick to my plans.
Don't worry Kat even if you were to write a crappy debut novel, (which probably wouldn't happen) there would still be many, many people who would continue to read anything that you were publish. Being able to write a novel for people to read is a great thing and I hope you don't give up on finishing one!
Don't worry, Kat. No matter where you decide to go with your writing, you will always have supporters. Even if your debut isn't that great, many people will still read whatever work you put out next :) Personally, I haven't been writing much lately either. Mostly it's because of school. :$
I also have many of the same problems. I started taking writing seriously when I was 11. Now I'm 16 and have 2 first drafts but no finished ones. (Ok. They're not 1st drafts, but they certainly aren't finished.) I also can't stick with an idea, and editing a novel is just daunting! I mean, when you open up a document and it takes thirty seconds just to load... there's this plummeting feeling in your stomach like, "I have so much to do..." But at the same time, I want so badly to get these books edited! I love them so much, and I've been making stories for years. I know I can do it! I just need to do it! Your videos have been immensely helpful in staying focused on my writing career so far. Thank you! Maybe you could do a series with you're editing journey. (Like "Today I'm moving scenes around. This week I'm fixing a character's plot line) Or you could even just start something on twitter. People like me could follow along and we could all finish something!
You just summed up all my anxiety and fear about writing. Like, all of it. The fear of failure kept me from working on my novel for years. Years. I'm a perfectionist so I always felt that my book had to be absolutely perfect the first I wrote it or I would be a complete and utter failure. And then someone sent me Neil Gaimon's quote on first drafts: that no one will ever see it. Now I'm on the second draft of my paranormal horror young adult novel (the first in a five book series) and I should be sending it out to agents in June. July at the latest. Move at your own speed, Kat. If you're not ready then you're not ready. Don't worry about what other people think or whether you'll disappoint your fans. Write for you. It always has to be for you. (And, I have to say, thank God another writer has as short of an attention span as myself. I get distracted with pretty new ideas constantly. Yay, I'm not alone!)
I'm terrified of showing my parents my work, I'm a younger writer (16) and I let my friends read it and we work on stuff but to my parents it's like they think I'm innocent and adorable and that it'll be all contemporary but really it's like *hides gore and murder* hahah yeah
That's so awesome you're writing that young! Congratulations! And don't feel bad about not showing your family your writing. They'll see it when you're ready.
Lol I totally feel the same way! I'm 19 and I've been writing since I was in elementary school. And right now I'm writing a book with controversial topics that I'm not sure my mom would be cool about...lol She's an author herself, so I should probably have more faith that she'd be understanding, but I've written more things than I can count and I still haven't showed her my work. But honestly, the fact that you're writing at such a young age should make your parents proud no matter what :)
I'm 16 too and have the same problems. I show them the occasional short story or excerpt, but it's usually the nicest parts. I know they'll understand, but I've gone so long feeling iffy about it, it's hard. I also draw. For a while, I wouldn't draw people kissing because I was scared my mom would think I was weird or something, but I did once anyway and I hid it in my desk. My mom found it, and you know what she did. "Amanda, who's this?" "Um... book characters." (This was the truth) Then, she smiled and said, "Are you sure? That's not you?" "No!" She laughed and said, "I know, I know! Don't worry. NIce job on the hair." I was worried for nothing! It's hard to overcome, but sometimes it's just ourselves being anxious. I'm told it's a teenager thing, and I'll grow out of it.
Oh my gosh, i'm a sixteen year old writer too and my struggle is the same! I don't show anyone my writing because they never ask to see it and i don't want to ask for fear of what they might think!
estefany delgadillo Do they know you write? You don't have to ask someone to read your stuff if you don't want. Say you like to write or that you write ___ (books, stories, etc.). If they like that stuff, they'll ask you for more info. Then you can say, "I mean, I have a finished story on my computer if you want to read it..." or "I'm working on something right now if you want to read it..."
I have so many of the same thoughts! I just bought Scrivener, so I'm planning on organizing all my ideas now and after that I'll have to really push myself to actually write.
Writing is freaking hard and I have so many ideas but I don't know how to put those ideas onto paper. My plan for now is to put away the large projects, wait until NaNoWriMo 2015 and just focus on practicing writing. I went into NaNoWriMo 2014 last minute because my friend convinced me to join her and now that I know how it feels to take a part in such an event, I know how to approach it. So for now I'm just writing things from daily prompts and just gaining an understanding of how I write. Kat, I can't wait to see where you go for this year, especially NaNoWriMo 2015 and I hope that I can win it this year!
I just read your excerpts, and I really liked the storyteller. Reminded me a little bit of Inkheart, and I would love to read something in this direction again!
I love watching you vlogging!!! : ) no matter what, whatever the topics are keep going & doing it a lot more videos + (and love watching you drinking a cup of coffee) that's made my day cuz I love coffee too & that's so inspired me a lot, I love you Kat & always support you ^_^❤
What you're describing just about everyone goes through, as to the fear of people's reaction to something you create. But as to your follow through.....wow, it's like you're in my head. I always have trouble polishing a story that feels done to me. Your description was perfect. I have found that printing a hard copy and setting it aside for a bit, then read it with a red pen in hand. Maybe it's just because I'm older, but I find "rough" spots pop out to me better when I'm reading a hard copy. And setting it aside a bit takes the finished feel off of it. So you are reading what is there, not what your head thinks is there because it is in your head already. How long do you set it aside? As long as it takes to not feel fresh, it varies. It helps to start writing something else, reset the old memory banks sort of thing. I have gone back to things I set aside the year before and red-penned the hell out of it. And it's fun again.
as a writer, you kinda scared me with this video. i hadn't thought of some of the things you're worrying about as far as after a book gets published and i'm trying to push all of my new found worries way, way, way into the back of my brain so i won't freak myself out. as far as your writing progress, or lack thereof, i completely understand! i just went through a period of time where i wasn't sure what i was doing with a project so i just completely avoided it up until a few days ago because i couldn't stop thinking about it. writing is my passion, my dream career and i really just needed to get it together in order to get closer to fulfilling that goal of getting it published. i think that you have nothing to worry about as far as people liking your book. whatever you chose as your debut novel will be amazing and you will continue to release amazing novels through the duration of your career. it's okay to bounce back and forth between projects, as long as your progressing in each of those. sometimes we need a break from a certain plot so we can get new ideas for it and have a clear mindset when we do find our way back to it. don't worry about doing it in a perfect or proper way, all authors have their own writing process. just do whatever works for you. i really can't wait to read whatever you do chose as your debut novel, i know it will be amazing. just don't stress over it. breath, have a sip of coffee & write. you got this. :)
The same happen me while writing so I kind of give up, I mean I try to write but then I block myself. So I understand you and I think you're going to do a good work.
I feel you so much! I'm sitting here with a Nanowrimo-winning-novel next to me and while I was writing it in November, I was beyond excited to edit and polish and finish it, but right now, everything else seems so much more interesting. Like the stacks of books next to my bed that all wanna be read. Or the 10th season of Grey's Anatomy that wants to be watched. Or the next book that wants to be written. But on the other hand, I REALLY want to finish what I have started... ughhhh
I used to have the exact same problem. Falling behind in NaNo was discouraging and made me want to not write and writing outside of NaNo was pretty much nonexistent. But this last year I focused more on the habit of writing than on the number of words (and I still got almost twice as many as I'd gotten ever before during NaNo: 100K words in 29 days = craziness). In November I decided to establish the habit of writing...which almost fell through because I didn't get started until the 2nd. But I've written every day since then in some capacity. In November and halfway through December I was mostly drafting this year's NaNo project. Then I set that draft aside and got back into revising my NaNo 2011 novel which is the book that comes before the book(s?) I wrote this November. When I don't feel like writing, I write about how I don't feel like writing. I write about how crappy my day was. I vent about how stupid people are and whine about how tired I am. Or I just write about what I did that day and what I plan to do the next day. Whatever I write about, I don't stop until I have 1,667 words of thought vomit (which is surprisingly manageable because I can complain), not because I plan on using those words for anything, but because I know that if I don't write when I don't feel like it, I'll fall out of the habit of writing and be back where I started, and I'm not sure if I could go there again. I've been much happier since starting to write consistently every day and now I look back on the basket case I was and think, "How on earth did my husband put up with THAT?" I'm not worried about my life slipping by and missing the chance at my dream anymore because I'm making active strides toward it every day and fortunately: "Writing is not like dancing or modeling; it’s not something where - if you missed it by age 19 - you’re finished. It’s never too late. Your writing will only get better as you get older and wiser. If you write something beautiful and important, and the right person somehow discovers it, they will clear room for you on the bookshelves of the world - at any age. At least try."---Elizabeth Gilbert Sometimes I know the evening is going to be busy and I have to get my hour of revising done in the morning--one of the easiest ways to ensure that I work on my novel instead of journaling. I even set a timer, which I pause when I have to get up and go to the bathroom, or fix my music, or go make another cup of tea, so that I make sure I'm not counting my distracted time. I try to plan my day around writing when I know it's going to be busy (there's a great 99U article called "How I Kept a 373-Day Productivity Streak Unbroken" by Jamie Todd Rubin that you should read), but on Christmas Day and New Year's Day I was so swamped with Christmas parties all day that I had to stay up late to write when I got back or got my house cleaned up (those were definitely journaling days). I've found that my key to not getting bored during revisions is to look at the characters and to get to know them better. I try to add layers of complexity to them, to give them lies to believe, and sometimes have their actions and thoughts conflict with what they're saying. I check for stereotypes and for reverse stereotypes to try to make them real. I've found that the more I get to know myself, my fears, my motivations, and the things I'm afraid to tell anyone--the things I don't want them to see, the more realistic I'm able to make my characters and the more excited I am to get into writing. They become my own weird imaginary friends, because in the era of the Internet where we can edit everything to death and only show the side of ourselves that we want to show, most people will never let me get to know them that well. And I always work from big to small. I can't sit down and try to work on prettying up sentences when I know that my plot and characters aren't exactly what I want yet (I'm shooting for a special kind of magic in writing that satisfies my inner reader and I'm not stopping until I get it as close as I possibly can), because there's nothing as suckish as having to delete a scene you worked hours on. I've done that before and absolutely loathed cutting that precious scene that I worked so hard on, but it absolutely had to go. Today was day 114 of my productivity streak (if I did the math right), and while it's not always going as quickly as I'd like, the revisions are indeed happening, which is more than I can say for any other time in my life. You can do it Kat. I know you can. Follow your own advice. You give great advice...for noveling.
I too am writing a book. Regarding that, you kinda just talked about mostly everything that is in my head. I think that's weird, but I'm glad that I'm not alone. I wish you luck.
Dude...I am right there with you. I have been wanting to be this writer my whole life and just now at 42yrs of age I am now getting my butt in gear and writing everyday because I too need to get my crap together. Of course that is if I want to be a true writer as my passion has gotten more intense these days, as I know it is no confidence.
I'm currently taking a screenwriting class and it's different from novel writing. It sort of forces me to do things I've never thought I could. It's good and interesting. I do get how you're feeling right now. I have so many projects and ideas both scripts and novels that it's driving me crazy. I also have a fear of failure and success. I'm mostly in fear of failing at college and afraid of succeeding in my career and dreams. It's a strange and depressing feeling but glad to see I'm not the only one. :)
You need an editor that you trust and then you won't feel so alone. You need someone to have your back. I'm sure we will all be glad to read something by a youtuber and be really biased anyway!! We love you!!! You go Kat!
First of all, you should totally do more writing based blogs! I love getting your tweets sent to my phone and seeing the advice for writer stuff you always RT. Second of all, I know how you feel! There's so many ideas in my head but I never feel as if I can get it perfectly down. Also, relating back to your other video, I feel like I have to wait for the "perfect moment" to start writing it out. I wish I could get out of this slump because I have a beautiful story that is demanding to be written but I can't get it down, you know?
I know exactly what you are talking about Kat ! I'm also scared and unsecure about writing even though I know that's what I'm good at but you really need to believe in yourself that's how it's gonna work ;)
I get you. I hace the struggles aswell. I have like 6 story's which I do not work on right now, but I did just a few months ago. I'm just bad at staying at the same story because I never plan an ending so I keep on writing and writing and then it is shiiiii.
You and I are exactly alike when it comes to writing. I have ideas all over my room just waiting for me and I'm a junior in high school and it's so hard to read and write and do homework. I wish I could just go straight into writing as a career but my family says I have to have a "real" career. My #1 goal is a author.
Hey Kat! My post-NaNoWriMo writing has been in a bit of a slump as well. I took NaNoWriMo as an opportunity to take a break from a project I've been working on for years. After November though, I didn't feel like doing anything with either project. This week though, I've started some structural revisions of my old project. Hopefully I'll finish it soon. Then again, I said that last year too. haha. Oh the writerly struggles.
I have the exact same problem. I'll start a project (whether it be a writing one or other), but after working on it for less than a week, I'll jump to another one. Or I'll be writing, and some other thing will distract me, like Netflix…or RUclips… I also tend to write my stories in reverse order or in no order at all. I'll write the end first, beginning second, and middle last or something like that. Anyway, good luck with your writing, and I'd love to read anything of yours that does end up getting published!
I've had the same problem with writing this past year as well. So many ideas have been coming to me lately and I haven't been able to decide what exactly to write about, which has caused me to just not write. It is also difficult because I'm 15 and barely have time to even read or do anything because of school and other stuff... I'm really hoping to just get a lot of writing done over the summer, while I still have time to!
I have the same problem--"Just finishing it...I can't complete things..." and you're right, it might just be both the fear of success and failure but I made this year the year to finish things, to have follow through. And it is scary knowing that when people out there do, if they do, read my book, what if they don't like it. What if "I never live up to my own expectations, as well others, when it comes to my book? I'm working on making this year the year I finish a book completely--from start to finish with at least one round of edits. I'm so glad you're blogging again. And I really like these new videos. had that very same cup and my daughter dropped it and broke it Sunday. :(
I totally agree with revising over and over again to perfection. It's really bad. It distracts me and then discourages me that I'm not going to be a good writer and never going to be successful. Also, I can never get the stories out of my mind and put it down on paper. It's sort of complicated. I'd rather just write it in my head on the spot but it doesn't work that way.
Man, kat Iove your hair. I've wanted to cut mine for a while, its REALLY LONG and i wasnt sure but i prefer it cut shoulder length so i think im going to. I love watching your videos, and hearing about your writing :)
Some advice that you've heard a million times before: 1. Don't get distracted by the best, shiniest idea- you'll never finish. 2. Your 1st novel won't be perfect. And your audience knows that. 3. Still waiting for them. Feeling the weight of expectations is stalling you out.
I've never done an actual NaNoWriMo during actual November, but I'm doing something similar right now where I gave myself January + February to write a complete draft in. Six days left (counting today) and four chapters left. I'm pretty excited right now because I'm pretty certain I'm going to win. Yay!
I did not win nanowrimo this year, i quit out in the middle, so this month i returned to my work, i wasn´t expecting it to be good and then, it was instant love, now i've gone up to 50,000 and i can't stop writing. I usually stop in the middle of a project (just like you) but i think it was because i didn't like writing it, i'm having so much fun with this novel, i'm so happyy
I feel you on the not being able to complete something! I'm a senior in college and I've been working on the same project off and on since 10th grade! It's a really good idea and I'm obsessed with it but I just don't have the time!
Oh Kat, I can relate so much! I don't have the exact same issues, my problem isn't that I can't pick an idea, but that I can't really figure out the entirety of the plot of my idea. This means I can't outline and I can't write without an outline. It's just making me feel really guilty and miserable because I know that I should just sit down and do it! Anyways, best of luck to you! Please keep us updated, I love these videos :)
I also think it's hard to stay focused when editing, and when I'm working on lists and plot outlines. I finally finished a character list last night after months of on-and-off spurts of focus, and I was so proud of myself (I know right?) and I have to do a whole new list for all the male characters now! But it's all part of the art.
PUBLISH THE YA THRILLER!!! i am 100% sure it would be more enjoyable for us (the viewers) to something like this cause you read these kind of books and we watch your reviews on them so we would enjoy it more :)
I know I'm watching this really really late, but I just found out you had a vlog channel! I'm not a writer and I'm not exactly sure if what you feel about being pressured to write and having a fear of living up to others expectations or not is anything similar to what I'm thinking it's like, but maybe this will help, kinda sorta, hopefully? I have a giant problem with procrastinating. With reading, drawing, and a lot (a looooott) of other things, but in the end one thing you should know is that if your book or what ever you are working on comes out how you wanted it to, if you're satisfied with it, if you love it, then it doesn't matter if it isn't up to others standards.
I understand all of these fears, worries, anxieties, etc etc etc you've got going on there! Let me give you the best piece of advice I have for you...since my NaNoWriMo piece is still waiting to be finished I'm on the internet in August (AUGUST! I HAVE 3 MONTHS TO FINISH AND GET READY FOR NEW NANO...hyperventilating now...) ok, As an Indie author, a published author, etc etc I want you to know that when you write YOU ARE AN AUTHOR! You share excerpts, you do a blog, you vlog...you are an author. The publishing part is just the cherry on top you fantastically caffeinated author you.
Haha you are in the same boat as me! Not writing a lot, struggling to pick a writing project to focus on... I have the same issue. I honestly have hardly even looked at my NaNoWriMo novel since winning, I was so burned out on writing. Now I'm sort of trying to pick something for Camp NaNoWriMo since that's coming up, figure out what I need to research beforehand... so complicated! I wish I had more writer friends, it would make it a lot easier to motivate each other.
Also this is a struggle I have with writing too! I have way too many story ideas and I just don't know which one to stick with. IT'S SUCH A STRUGGLE.
Basically describes my life
I had always been a writer since I knew how to make words. But I also had this issue where I had too many ideas and I would start projects but never finish them. Aside from school projects, I NEVER finished a single writing project. It really got to me and I felt like a failure. Eventually I stopped writing for about 4 years between ages 21 and 25, and at 25 I had a resurgence and decided I had lost myself. I wanted to find me again. Now, a year later, I'm halfway through a novel and I know exactly why I was able to get this far. soo...
PROTIP: Have people holding you accountable for your writing, and people excited to read it.
PROTIP2: Realize that you have lots of great ideas, but when you start one, you need to finish it. You have many MANY years left to work on your other ideas.
I literally have a notebook for every story idea and most of them aren't even written in yet.
Story of my life. SO many ideas, so many first 5 chapters, yet no commitment. I can't find the story that has stuck yet! *URGH* ;-;
bookishbirthright I think it's down to you to make the story stick, not the story :) if you want to write a novel, just keep at it. Nanowrimo is a great motivation for this xx
Hey Kat! KAT! Do not. I repeat Do NOT Write your debut novel for anyone other than yourself! Write it as if you're not a bookTuber. Pretend that nobody knows about what you're writing. Pretend that nobody has any expectations. Just do it for you.
Don't worry about your debut novel being the right one. By the time you finish one, polish it and work with crit partners and/or get an agent and go through edits with your agent, YOU WILL GROW as a writer and the stories you write in the meantime may supersede that first completed one. You learn the most when you complete stories. Kat, you've got this. ^_~
the idea thing. I LOVE when I get a new idea for a story or a scene or something. what usually happens though, is I get so excited about it and then I work it up so much that I eventually become overwhelmed by it, lose interest, and then get ANOTHER idea and repeat cycle. Its ridiculous.
SPY THRILLER BOOK? GIMMIE GIMMIE.
I'm really enjoying this channel lately, these coffee with Kat videos are really fun
For so long I felt exactly like you, but with time I learned to be free from all those worries and just think about the story, and nothing else. Now I am so happy, I am in the last stages of finishing a story that started as scripts for an animated tv show and that eventually I decided to turn into a book series. In the adaptation process so much changed, I felt like I was never going to finish it, I got stuck many times on things I Thought I had already figured out and that did´t work anymore, but this month it happen! I finally went back to the basics and it has work, I haven't been doing much else except writing, I am so motivated and happy. My advice is just forget about all those doubts, fight them and for a few days just think about your characters, don´t write, just get deeply inside your head, whatever story seems more clear to you, pick that one to finish... You can do it Kat!!!!
I just wanted to say that I LOVE ALL YOUR "WRITING" VIDEOS, they are amazing. Keep em coming.
I can totally relate to you going back and forth between ideas. It's really tough! I did it all the time and would have 3 or 4 story drafts at once. With the story I'm writing now, I've been working on it for almost a year and am still excited about it because I've become so attached to it. But it took A LOT of pre-planning, world building, and character creating until I got into a steady groove of writing the story. Now my brain keeps coming up with new ideas and plot points to add to it. I think what helped me to choose which idea to work on was taking a break from all my writing for awhile. Then I came back to the ideas refreshed and chose to work on the one I felt the best about. I wish you the best, Kat!
I absolutely LOVE coffee with Kat. Like this is the best thing, I hope you keep doing it!
I love how honest you are =) I've barely written anything in forever, I got bitten by the perfectionism bug so hard, I open up a Word document to work on a story and I freak out =( I'd say there's no huge rush for you to get published, like you said you definitely need to be confident in what you're publishing =)
I FEEL YOU ON A SPIRITUAL LEVEL.
Seriously, your words have been my thoughts the last year. Novels are hard.
Oh Kat, I feel ya. The nitty gritty of editing and reading stuff over and over again feels like eating the same thing every day for weeks. I'm revising my hopeful debut these days and I haven't watched any tv or played any video games in weeks. It makes me happy to know that someone else can't even (even for different reasons)~ but good luck when you DO do it and I'll read whatever the hell it is just because I love your humor!
Absolutely killing it with all these videos Kat! :)
You're doing a great job with all these updates Kat!! SO MANY VIDEOS
I'm sure anything you write will be amazing! When your first book comes out, I will definitely read it :)
KAT! I can't tell you how much I relate to everything you said! Those have been my exact thoughts and feelings since NaNo. I thought I was the only one!
I have to say, I'm REALLY loving these videos!! I mean, I love all of your videos, but.... I just love these because we get to find out a little bit more about you in these. Also, 7 VIDEOS IN A WEEK!! ITS SO GREAT!!
The biggest thing I can tell you is write for you. You totally have to forget the people who want to read your work. Remember why you started writing and focus on that. You have to shut yourself in and just be connected with you and your story. The novel I worked on during NaNoWriMo and the one I'm working on now are two completely different stories. But I have vowed to myself I won't start working on another project until I finish this one. I'm in the same boat as you where I have 15 novels sitting in my computer and none are ready to be shared for publishing. As hard as it is you have to focus on one story, and finish it. While totally forgetting the world around you. Focus on you and your writing. The marketing department will take care of making sure your novel sells. Just write :)
This video is so right on so many levels. I have tons of stories that are not even fully complete- I'm talking from beginning to end, not just edited and revised. Not sure if I've EVER truly completed (revised and edited) a huge story. It's so depressing. But then I just get so excited to start more ideas that I push the others aside. Being a writer is hard... but I wouldn't have it any other way.
I now make me coffee before watching these now, sooo good. You're writing life sounds like a Rollercoaster, I couldn't even imagine. I'd be watching tv all day for stress relief lol.
About your future books, you've got some really decent followers and subscribers Kat, we love you. So whatever and whenever you decide to get a book publish we will support it. I know I will 😊
Hey Kat! You do awesome book videos but I love hearing you just talk about writing and life! You are a really awesome person!
Omg KAT, no matter what you write, we will read it, and we will love it. Because it's by yoooou.
i TOTALLY AGREE WITH THE FEAR OF SUCESS AND FAILURE! We have so many of the same struggles, i have so many book ideas but i don't know which one should be my debut. Good luck with your endeavors KAT!
I'm loving this series so much.And this was one of the topics I was looking forward to the most tbh.It's so hard to be committed to all the writing thing,I need to finish the writing part and I'm actually looking forward to the editing part,though,but I'm in that "everything I write is crap" phase right now,so yeah,that's hard.
I'm loving the daily vlogs, Kat!
I love Coffee with Kat, it's nice too hear more about you!
I wanted to talk about my writing and how happy I am to see vlogs from you I can watch, but the words aren't coming out right so I just wanna say... Kat you rock.
I also took NaNoWriMo seriously for the first time last year. I always "participated" by writing a synopsis and three chapters and never continued on with it. In 2014, I had a moment where I stood and cried "Hoozah!" I have a wicked idea! And I've been at it ever since, but now I've been loosing little interest, feedback from friends isn't too good, and new ideas keep popping up. THE WRITER'S STRUGGLES. I'm hoping to finally find that story that sticks to me so I can have more fun with and hopefully get 50,000 words! I'm just 14, but I've know since... birth I've wanted to write stories and share them. Good luck to all the writers over here and you Kat! 📚💪
I definitely know how you feel, Kat. I've written 3 books so far, of which I indie published two, and it's just hard and scary. The hardest part of it all is getting an agent - queries are just really complicated and hard to write. And getting rejected is just the worst part of it all because, the more you get, the more you feel like your story maybe isn't actually as good as you thought and you start to doubt yourself. But, your stories seem to be really awesome so I'm sure you'll find an agent quite quickly, once you get yourself to sit down and do it ;)
i have that EXACT same problem. I currently have 22 book outlines sitting in my note taking app. I can never decide which to work on because i get so excited about them all.
How do you feel about short fiction? I think it help solve or lessen some of your problems
1. If you have so many ideas in your head, you can get them out on paper faster.
2. Writing/editing/revising a short story is a lot less daunting than writing/editing/revising an entire novel.
3. There won't be that debut story pressure. You could get the story published in an anthology or a magazine, among the works of many other writers.
I think most writers can relate to your struggles! Fear of success is a huge thing whether people understand it or not. I wanted to be an author right out of highschool but I found that I wasn't able to move on to the next level and get serious until I went to college. I took a lot of cultural classes and found that deciding what I wanted to say with my book helped me commit. Then again, I'm only just starting the querying process, so who knows if that actually worked in my favor! Keep at it though!
I wrote a book last year and I thought it was IT. It was the fourth book I've written and I thought it was the book I wanted to get published.... until, I realized it just wasn't good enough. I totally understand that gut feeling and early this year I finished my fifth book and I feel EVEN BETTER about this one. I'm editing it now and it's hard and I feel insecure sometimes, especially while trying to write its sequel. I just go at it a little at a time. Just working on it a little makes me feel better. It took me a month before I felt ready to edit. Just keep moving Kat! I say go with your gut, but don't give up!
At least you've finished a story and are on to editing. I haven't been able to finish before getting distracted, or loosing interest.
yup! yup! yup! I have had a fantastic book in my head for 10 years. Every year I start getting it on paper and then re-start it. This year I would like to get it all on paper. Iiiiii hear ya!
Kat, you just described the fear I have had for twenty years. The excuse I have subconsciously (until recently) used is if I never finish anything then theres always the possibility that I am a great writer and my books a best seller. If I send it in and it sucks then I will know I am a fake and so will everyone else. But Kat I dont want to be a downer but we never know if we will make it til tomorrow and your ideas are fabulous. Dont let your fear paralyze you for twenty years. Go for it!!!
Yay I love these daily videos. Don't stop :) it would be cool if you did one on how you set up and film your videos. Maybe even editing them too.
I'll say this on the whole thing. I LOVED your Nanowrimo blogs, because they gave me life when I was trying to complete my first 50,000 words. But, your the writer. I'll buy and read whatever you publish, because I feel like I've been a part of the process. I have a connection with these characters even though I haven't met them yet, but I also know that as a youtuber you give a crap ton of info about yourself to us and I'm okay with you wanting to be protective of this part of you for a while. I enjoy whatever you do offer, but I get that it's your choice to do so. I'm basically just Team Kat! WOOO!
It was super bizarre watching you video, because you talked about everything that I feel about my writing, and I don't even have a finished first draft. I have major rewrites ahead of me.
Let's forget the fear of failure and just do what we have to do! It would be only a few weeks. I can tell you for sure that you will fall in love with your older stories again.
Happy writing!
PS: will you go to BEA this year?
You're keeping up with this really well! Also my writing is about the same because the next scene I have to write is something I'm dreading so I'm stuck where I am until I make myself write the scene.
That "I'm not failing if I don't try" feeling is something I'm intimately familiar with. And I'm guessing you'll already know what I'm about to say: that feeling is a lie. The moment you decide to give something your all - and screw the scary feelings - is the moment you start winning. It's hard and uncomfortable and, yes, sometimes you'll fail and that won't be fun. But I promise you it's infinitely more rewarding than being stuck in a grey limbo of a "safe space".
I've been a subscriber for a long time and a quiet cheerleader through the "like" and "share" buttons, and I also think I could be a fan of your work based on the ideas you share and the thoroughness with which you approach your writing. Just thought I'd throw in my two cents because this is something I'm so passionate about, and it would make me very happy to see you succeed. :)
Apologies that this is my first comment as far as I can remember. I don't tend to comment for big BookTubers because it seems so unlikely that it'll yield any kind of meaningful connection. Anyway, I thought this was worth it. Hope it helps!
love the intro to these videos!
Hey, Kat! I feel your pain. Revision is usually the hardest part for me; but sometimes it helps a lot to get another person's eyes on the draft. As the author, you are so close to it that it can be hard to see what someone else would see. Do you have people in your life who you trust to show a draft? (I say "trust" , because showing someone a draft is a vulnerable thing to do).
i just read the excerpt of "Storyteller" and really like the idea!! I was picturing you as Sarah the whole time haha! Take your time on writing, make sure you're happy with it, that's what matters the most :DD
Hello Kat! I feel exactly as you. I wrote my own 50k words for Nanowrimo but then... I abandoned my story.
And I feel upset because I really want to finish that idea and I´m completely sure that my story will never be published but at least, I´ll have my story with an end.
It's an amazing accomplishment to say you truly finished a novel. There are so many people who say "I want to write a novel someday" but only a select few manage to do it. Go you!
Go for it! Getting to the end of a novel is one of the best feelings in the world. YOU CAN DO IT!
OMFG, I just read the excerpt of story teller, please give me more, I NEED MORE. It's better than coffee, and I don't say that lightly, you know that.
Oh Kat... I completely understand the fear of success and failure. I have the same problem. But believe me when I say that you have a good start. You have so many loyal fans already. Even if you do write something that ends being crap, most of your fans will still pick up any other book you put out. Its a trial and error type process. I can tell you are passionate about writing which should mean that even if you fail, you will try again. Its only a bad story if you say it is. You have the potential to write amazing things. You just have to learn to believe in yourself the way we do. Or at least like I do.
Two videos in one day? Beast Kat is a go!
Hi Kat :)
I don't know exactly where you are in your process with The Study Group, but have you tried beta reading? Like choose one person you trust with your work and have them look it over. Sometimes when you look at your own work for too long you end up missing the same thing over and over. Having fresh eyes can invigorate the process. Where ever you are in it at least :) as well as don't be afraid to have multiple books in your arsenal. Many authors have 3-4 books already written before their first is even published! You can do this! We all want to read what you've written because we've become invested in your channel! Take your time! You've got this
I had a writers 1-2-1 meeting recently and one of the things the guy said was that presenting a current readership to a publisher can be a strong persuader. So your fans who want to read your books - they can be a great benefit to your career as a writer :)
Hi Kat :) I'm always really looking forward to your writing-themed videos and I watch all your NaNo vlogs and live-shows when they are on in November.
I completely understand the pressure that's on you because of us but I think (hope) I speak for everyone when I say that no matter what and when you publish, we won't judge you for it based on whether we liked the book or not. Not every genre is for everyone and that's fine, that's what variety is for. It would be boring otherwise.
I don't think you should write and publish for us. I think you should write what you want to write. Your book is not for your viewers/readers. It comes from you and you need to be happy with it and not worry too much about us. And I'm sure a lot of people (probably not everyone, but that's okay, too) will be happy with it as well. Take your time xo
I have the same problems when writing. Right now my excuse for not writing is I have to many books I committed to reading and reviewing. My t.v. is lacking too because of this. 😢
I have a two year plan right now. This year is to read and review as much as possible except for November so I can participate in NaNoWriMo and then next year concentrate more on writing and less on reviews. Hoping to have the rough draft of my first novel finished by the end of 2017. Fingers crossed I stick to my plans.
Don't worry Kat even if you were to write a crappy debut novel, (which probably wouldn't happen) there would still be many, many people who would continue to read anything that you were publish. Being able to write a novel for people to read is a great thing and I hope you don't give up on finishing one!
Don't worry, Kat. No matter where you decide to go with your writing, you will always have supporters. Even if your debut isn't that great, many people will still read whatever work you put out next :) Personally, I haven't been writing much lately either. Mostly it's because of school. :$
I also have many of the same problems. I started taking writing seriously when I was 11. Now I'm 16 and have 2 first drafts but no finished ones. (Ok. They're not 1st drafts, but they certainly aren't finished.)
I also can't stick with an idea, and editing a novel is just daunting! I mean, when you open up a document and it takes thirty seconds just to load... there's this plummeting feeling in your stomach like, "I have so much to do..." But at the same time, I want so badly to get these books edited! I love them so much, and I've been making stories for years. I know I can do it! I just need to do it! Your videos have been immensely helpful in staying focused on my writing career so far. Thank you!
Maybe you could do a series with you're editing journey. (Like "Today I'm moving scenes around. This week I'm fixing a character's plot line) Or you could even just start something on twitter. People like me could follow along and we could all finish something!
You just summed up all my anxiety and fear about writing. Like, all of it. The fear of failure kept me from working on my novel for years. Years. I'm a perfectionist so I always felt that my book had to be absolutely perfect the first I wrote it or I would be a complete and utter failure.
And then someone sent me Neil Gaimon's quote on first drafts: that no one will ever see it.
Now I'm on the second draft of my paranormal horror young adult novel (the first in a five book series) and I should be sending it out to agents in June. July at the latest.
Move at your own speed, Kat. If you're not ready then you're not ready. Don't worry about what other people think or whether you'll disappoint your fans. Write for you. It always has to be for you.
(And, I have to say, thank God another writer has as short of an attention span as myself. I get distracted with pretty new ideas constantly. Yay, I'm not alone!)
Thank you for this video, as it reminded me to actually open my NaNo novel document that I haven't touched in months.
This video inspires me to start writing, because I HAVE stories in my brain just dancing around, but...there is so many what ifs. The struggle.
I'm terrified of showing my parents my work, I'm a younger writer (16) and I let my friends read it and we work on stuff but to my parents it's like they think I'm innocent and adorable and that it'll be all contemporary but really it's like *hides gore and murder* hahah yeah
That's so awesome you're writing that young! Congratulations! And don't feel bad about not showing your family your writing. They'll see it when you're ready.
Lol I totally feel the same way! I'm 19 and I've been writing since I was in elementary school. And right now I'm writing a book with controversial topics that I'm not sure my mom would be cool about...lol She's an author herself, so I should probably have more faith that she'd be understanding, but I've written more things than I can count and I still haven't showed her my work. But honestly, the fact that you're writing at such a young age should make your parents proud no matter what :)
I'm 16 too and have the same problems. I show them the occasional short story or excerpt, but it's usually the nicest parts. I know they'll understand, but I've gone so long feeling iffy about it, it's hard.
I also draw. For a while, I wouldn't draw people kissing because I was scared my mom would think I was weird or something, but I did once anyway and I hid it in my desk. My mom found it, and you know what she did. "Amanda, who's this?"
"Um... book characters." (This was the truth)
Then, she smiled and said, "Are you sure? That's not you?"
"No!"
She laughed and said, "I know, I know! Don't worry. NIce job on the hair."
I was worried for nothing! It's hard to overcome, but sometimes it's just ourselves being anxious. I'm told it's a teenager thing, and I'll grow out of it.
Oh my gosh, i'm a sixteen year old writer too and my struggle is the same! I don't show anyone my writing because they never ask to see it and i don't want to ask for fear of what they might think!
estefany delgadillo Do they know you write? You don't have to ask someone to read your stuff if you don't want. Say you like to write or that you write ___ (books, stories, etc.). If they like that stuff, they'll ask you for more info. Then you can say, "I mean, I have a finished story on my computer if you want to read it..." or "I'm working on something right now if you want to read it..."
I have so many of the same thoughts! I just bought Scrivener, so I'm planning on organizing all my ideas now and after that I'll have to really push myself to actually write.
Writing is freaking hard and I have so many ideas but I don't know how to put those ideas onto paper.
My plan for now is to put away the large projects, wait until NaNoWriMo 2015 and just focus on practicing writing. I went into NaNoWriMo 2014 last minute because my friend convinced me to join her and now that I know how it feels to take a part in such an event, I know how to approach it. So for now I'm just writing things from daily prompts and just gaining an understanding of how I write.
Kat, I can't wait to see where you go for this year, especially NaNoWriMo 2015 and I hope that I can win it this year!
This is my eternal writing struggle exactly! At least I know I'm not alone.
I just read your excerpts, and I really liked the storyteller. Reminded me a little bit of Inkheart, and I would love to read something in this direction again!
I love watching you vlogging!!! : ) no matter what, whatever the topics are keep going & doing it a lot more videos + (and love watching you drinking a cup of coffee) that's made my day cuz I love coffee too & that's so inspired me a lot, I love you Kat & always support you ^_^❤
What you're describing just about everyone goes through, as to the fear of people's reaction to something you create. But as to your follow through.....wow, it's like you're in my head. I always have trouble polishing a story that feels done to me. Your description was perfect. I have found that printing a hard copy and setting it aside for a bit, then read it with a red pen in hand. Maybe it's just because I'm older, but I find "rough" spots pop out to me better when I'm reading a hard copy. And setting it aside a bit takes the finished feel off of it. So you are reading what is there, not what your head thinks is there because it is in your head already. How long do you set it aside? As long as it takes to not feel fresh, it varies. It helps to start writing something else, reset the old memory banks sort of thing. I have gone back to things I set aside the year before and red-penned the hell out of it. And it's fun again.
as a writer, you kinda scared me with this video. i hadn't thought of some of the things you're worrying about as far as after a book gets published and i'm trying to push all of my new found worries way, way, way into the back of my brain so i won't freak myself out. as far as your writing progress, or lack thereof, i completely understand! i just went through a period of time where i wasn't sure what i was doing with a project so i just completely avoided it up until a few days ago because i couldn't stop thinking about it. writing is my passion, my dream career and i really just needed to get it together in order to get closer to fulfilling that goal of getting it published.
i think that you have nothing to worry about as far as people liking your book. whatever you chose as your debut novel will be amazing and you will continue to release amazing novels through the duration of your career. it's okay to bounce back and forth between projects, as long as your progressing in each of those. sometimes we need a break from a certain plot so we can get new ideas for it and have a clear mindset when we do find our way back to it. don't worry about doing it in a perfect or proper way, all authors have their own writing process. just do whatever works for you. i really can't wait to read whatever you do chose as your debut novel, i know it will be amazing. just don't stress over it. breath, have a sip of coffee & write. you got this. :)
The same happen me while writing so I kind of give up, I mean I try to write but then I block myself. So I understand you and I think you're going to do a good work.
I feel just the same way about my writing. Good to know, i'm not alone :)
i just reread a work i discontinued since last year and it reads really awesome.
I feel you so much! I'm sitting here with a Nanowrimo-winning-novel next to me and while I was writing it in November, I was beyond excited to edit and polish and finish it, but right now, everything else seems so much more interesting. Like the stacks of books next to my bed that all wanna be read. Or the 10th season of Grey's Anatomy that wants to be watched. Or the next book that wants to be written.
But on the other hand, I REALLY want to finish what I have started... ughhhh
I used to have the exact same problem. Falling behind in NaNo was discouraging and made me want to not write and writing outside of NaNo was pretty much nonexistent. But this last year I focused more on the habit of writing than on the number of words (and I still got almost twice as many as I'd gotten ever before during NaNo: 100K words in 29 days = craziness). In November I decided to establish the habit of writing...which almost fell through because I didn't get started until the 2nd. But I've written every day since then in some capacity. In November and halfway through December I was mostly drafting this year's NaNo project. Then I set that draft aside and got back into revising my NaNo 2011 novel which is the book that comes before the book(s?) I wrote this November.
When I don't feel like writing, I write about how I don't feel like writing. I write about how crappy my day was. I vent about how stupid people are and whine about how tired I am. Or I just write about what I did that day and what I plan to do the next day. Whatever I write about, I don't stop until I have 1,667 words of thought vomit (which is surprisingly manageable because I can complain), not because I plan on using those words for anything, but because I know that if I don't write when I don't feel like it, I'll fall out of the habit of writing and be back where I started, and I'm not sure if I could go there again. I've been much happier since starting to write consistently every day and now I look back on the basket case I was and think, "How on earth did my husband put up with THAT?" I'm not worried about my life slipping by and missing the chance at my dream anymore because I'm making active strides toward it every day and fortunately:
"Writing is not like dancing or modeling; it’s not something where - if you missed it by age 19 - you’re finished. It’s never too late. Your writing will only get better as you get older and wiser. If you write something beautiful and important, and the right person somehow discovers it, they will clear room for you on the bookshelves of the world - at any age. At least try."---Elizabeth Gilbert
Sometimes I know the evening is going to be busy and I have to get my hour of revising done in the morning--one of the easiest ways to ensure that I work on my novel instead of journaling. I even set a timer, which I pause when I have to get up and go to the bathroom, or fix my music, or go make another cup of tea, so that I make sure I'm not counting my distracted time. I try to plan my day around writing when I know it's going to be busy (there's a great 99U article called "How I Kept a 373-Day Productivity Streak Unbroken" by Jamie Todd Rubin that you should read), but on Christmas Day and New Year's Day I was so swamped with Christmas parties all day that I had to stay up late to write when I got back or got my house cleaned up (those were definitely journaling days).
I've found that my key to not getting bored during revisions is to look at the characters and to get to know them better. I try to add layers of complexity to them, to give them lies to believe, and sometimes have their actions and thoughts conflict with what they're saying. I check for stereotypes and for reverse stereotypes to try to make them real. I've found that the more I get to know myself, my fears, my motivations, and the things I'm afraid to tell anyone--the things I don't want them to see, the more realistic I'm able to make my characters and the more excited I am to get into writing. They become my own weird imaginary friends, because in the era of the Internet where we can edit everything to death and only show the side of ourselves that we want to show, most people will never let me get to know them that well.
And I always work from big to small. I can't sit down and try to work on prettying up sentences when I know that my plot and characters aren't exactly what I want yet (I'm shooting for a special kind of magic in writing that satisfies my inner reader and I'm not stopping until I get it as close as I possibly can), because there's nothing as suckish as having to delete a scene you worked hours on. I've done that before and absolutely loathed cutting that precious scene that I worked so hard on, but it absolutely had to go.
Today was day 114 of my productivity streak (if I did the math right), and while it's not always going as quickly as I'd like, the revisions are indeed happening, which is more than I can say for any other time in my life. You can do it Kat. I know you can. Follow your own advice. You give great advice...for noveling.
I too am writing a book. Regarding that, you kinda just talked about mostly everything that is in my head. I think that's weird, but I'm glad that I'm not alone. I wish you luck.
Dude...I am right there with you. I have been wanting to be this writer my whole life and just now at 42yrs of age I am now getting my butt in gear and writing everyday because I too need to get my crap together. Of course that is if I want to be a true writer as my passion has gotten more intense these days, as I know it is no confidence.
I'm currently taking a screenwriting class and it's different from novel writing. It sort of forces me to do things I've never thought I could. It's good and interesting. I do get how you're feeling right now. I have so many projects and ideas both scripts and novels that it's driving me crazy. I also have a fear of failure and success. I'm mostly in fear of failing at college and afraid of succeeding in my career and dreams. It's a strange and depressing feeling but glad to see I'm not the only one. :)
You need an editor that you trust and then you won't feel so alone. You need someone to have your back. I'm sure we will all be glad to read something by a youtuber and be really biased anyway!! We love you!!! You go Kat!
First of all, you should totally do more writing based blogs! I love getting your tweets sent to my phone and seeing the advice for writer stuff you always RT. Second of all, I know how you feel! There's so many ideas in my head but I never feel as if I can get it perfectly down. Also, relating back to your other video, I feel like I have to wait for the "perfect moment" to start writing it out. I wish I could get out of this slump because I have a beautiful story that is demanding to be written but I can't get it down, you know?
I know exactly what you are talking about Kat ! I'm also scared and unsecure about writing even though I know that's what I'm good at but you really need to believe in yourself that's how it's gonna work ;)
I get you. I hace the struggles aswell. I have like 6 story's which I do not work on right now, but I did just a few months ago. I'm just bad at staying at the same story because I never plan an ending so I keep on writing and writing and then it is shiiiii.
You and I are exactly alike when it comes to writing. I have ideas all over my room just waiting for me and I'm a junior in high school and it's so hard to read and write and do homework. I wish I could just go straight into writing as a career but my family says I have to have a "real" career. My #1 goal is a author.
Hey Kat! My post-NaNoWriMo writing has been in a bit of a slump as well. I took NaNoWriMo as an opportunity to take a break from a project I've been working on for years. After November though, I didn't feel like doing anything with either project. This week though, I've started some structural revisions of my old project. Hopefully I'll finish it soon. Then again, I said that last year too. haha. Oh the writerly struggles.
I have the exact same problem. I'll start a project (whether it be a writing one or other), but after working on it for less than a week, I'll jump to another one. Or I'll be writing, and some other thing will distract me, like Netflix…or RUclips… I also tend to write my stories in reverse order or in no order at all. I'll write the end first, beginning second, and middle last or something like that. Anyway, good luck with your writing, and I'd love to read anything of yours that does end up getting published!
I've had the same problem with writing this past year as well. So many ideas have been coming to me lately and I haven't been able to decide what exactly to write about, which has caused me to just not write. It is also difficult because I'm 15 and barely have time to even read or do anything because of school and other stuff...
I'm really hoping to just get a lot of writing done over the summer, while I still have time to!
I have the same problem--"Just finishing it...I can't complete things..." and you're right, it might just be both the fear of success and failure but I made this year the year to finish things, to have follow through. And it is scary knowing that when people out there do, if they do, read my book, what if they don't like it. What if "I never live up to my own expectations, as well others, when it comes to my book? I'm working on making this year the year I finish a book completely--from start to finish with at least one round of edits.
I'm so glad you're blogging again. And I really like these new videos.
had that very same cup and my daughter dropped it and broke it Sunday. :(
I totally agree with revising over and over again to perfection. It's really bad. It distracts me and then discourages me that I'm not going to be a good writer and never going to be successful. Also, I can never get the stories out of my mind and put it down on paper. It's sort of complicated. I'd rather just write it in my head on the spot but it doesn't work that way.
Man, kat Iove your hair. I've wanted to cut mine for a while, its REALLY LONG and i wasnt sure but i prefer it cut shoulder length so i think im going to. I love watching your videos, and hearing about your writing :)
Some advice that you've heard a million times before: 1. Don't get distracted by the best, shiniest idea- you'll never finish. 2. Your 1st novel won't be perfect. And your audience knows that. 3. Still waiting for them. Feeling the weight of expectations is stalling you out.
I've never done an actual NaNoWriMo during actual November, but I'm doing something similar right now where I gave myself January + February to write a complete draft in. Six days left (counting today) and four chapters left. I'm pretty excited right now because I'm pretty certain I'm going to win. Yay!
Good luck! You can do it!
I did not win nanowrimo this year, i quit out in the middle, so this month i returned to my work, i wasn´t expecting it to be good and then, it was instant love, now i've gone up to 50,000 and i can't stop writing. I usually stop in the middle of a project (just like you) but i think it was because i didn't like writing it, i'm having so much fun with this novel, i'm so happyy
I feel you on the not being able to complete something! I'm a senior in college and I've been working on the same project off and on since 10th grade! It's a really good idea and I'm obsessed with it but I just don't have the time!
I'm kind of the same way. Procrastination and self doubt are probably the reasons we haven't really written. :(
I really hope you'll get it done sometime :) I want to read it so badly!
Oh Kat, I can relate so much! I don't have the exact same issues, my problem isn't that I can't pick an idea, but that I can't really figure out the entirety of the plot of my idea. This means I can't outline and I can't write without an outline. It's just making me feel really guilty and miserable because I know that I should just sit down and do it! Anyways, best of luck to you! Please keep us updated, I love these videos :)
I also think it's hard to stay focused when editing, and when I'm working on lists and plot outlines. I finally finished a character list last night after months of on-and-off spurts of focus, and I was so proud of myself (I know right?) and I have to do a whole new list for all the male characters now! But it's all part of the art.
PUBLISH THE YA THRILLER!!! i am 100% sure it would be more enjoyable for us (the viewers) to something like this cause you read these kind of books and we watch your reviews on them so we would enjoy it more :)
I know I'm watching this really really late, but I just found out you had a vlog channel! I'm not a writer and I'm not exactly sure if what you feel about being pressured to write and having a fear of living up to others expectations or not is anything similar to what I'm thinking it's like, but maybe this will help, kinda sorta, hopefully?
I have a giant problem with procrastinating. With reading, drawing, and a lot (a looooott) of other things, but in the end one thing you should know is that if your book or what ever you are working on comes out how you wanted it to, if you're satisfied with it, if you love it, then it doesn't matter if it isn't up to others standards.
I've been reading more than writing, and I'm hoping to get back on the writing train in the summertime!
I understand all of these fears, worries, anxieties, etc etc etc you've got going on there! Let me give you the best piece of advice I have for you...since my NaNoWriMo piece is still waiting to be finished I'm on the internet in August (AUGUST! I HAVE 3 MONTHS TO FINISH AND GET READY FOR NEW NANO...hyperventilating now...) ok, As an Indie author, a published author, etc etc I want you to know that when you write YOU ARE AN AUTHOR! You share excerpts, you do a blog, you vlog...you are an author. The publishing part is just the cherry on top you fantastically caffeinated author you.
Hi Kat! For next vid would you feel comfortable talking about your high school/ college years?
Haha you are in the same boat as me! Not writing a lot, struggling to pick a writing project to focus on... I have the same issue. I honestly have hardly even looked at my NaNoWriMo novel since winning, I was so burned out on writing. Now I'm sort of trying to pick something for Camp NaNoWriMo since that's coming up, figure out what I need to research beforehand... so complicated! I wish I had more writer friends, it would make it a lot easier to motivate each other.
Yes! This! Exactly! I thought I was the only one... It's terrible of me but I'm so glad I'm not the only one. Misery truly does love company lol