I TRIED WRITING LIKE NEIL GAIMAN FOR 2 DAYS // a writing vlog 

"As a writer you have to finish things." Best advice ever

The other thing Neil does (and I've just adopted) is starting his writing day by using a different coloured ink so each day's work can be separated visually

Other Authors: I write by hand Me: Oh cute, you think I can read my own handwriting

I got an add for the Neil Gaiman MasterClass when I clicked on the video! I love coincidences like that haha

I'd love to see an author who is more research heavy- maybe a murder mystery author? I'd love to see how they fit research into their routine

Neil Gaiman's: "you cant do anything other than write," is really helpful for me, once I tried that technique out, I found out, that I write more and am more focused on my novel... Without this video I probably wouldn't have found his advice, so thank you really much for doing this challege and sharing it!

Could you do Rick Riordan's routine, Tolkien and GRR Martin.

I clicked on the video and the first ad was a MasterClass taught by Neil Gaiman. 😂

I think the handwriting aspect of his approach benefits in the transcription of the work to computer. You are more likely to look at a sentence or paragraph and rephrase and summarize a point more concisely.

For myself, I feel like calling a writing difficulty “writer’s block” makes it harder to resolve it. I don’t want to give up my agency by treating the problem like a mysterious force outside my control. I try to recognize the specific problem. Am I struggling because I don’t know what happens next, or because I’m worrying that none of what I’ve written is any good, or because I’m just plain tired? Knowing the cause gives me the power to find solutions.

Writer's block: When you don't plan enough of your story out and you're at that dull point and WHAT THE HECK GOES NEXT and then you kind of lose interest in it.

Writer's block is definitely real. Just that it's usually misinterpreted. All it means is: my brain is blocked and I have no inspiration to write this story right now. So, yeah, its definitely real.

This may or may not be useful, but there is a cool tool for writing screenplays called Fountain which does all of the formatting for you automatically, you just write a plaintext file and put certain things like character names and descriptions in all caps. I've used it before and it was pretty cool!

You should do lemony Snicket's writing routine. I love him!!!

I can’t even IMAGINE writing a novel by hand. I’m sure it’s beneficial in ways but my hand cramps so fast. I’d get a paragraph in and quit.

Hi Kate! I'd love to see a JK Rowling or Ernest Hemingway writing routine!

I very much do believe in writer's block because I've gone through it several times, but that being said, I actually think what it is differs from person to person. For me, it is being unable to get what is in my head written down. It isn't that I don't know what I want to write, it is just that no matter how I try, I just can not get it out of my head. I go to write something and my mind goes completely blank no matter how much I knew what I was gonna write beforehand. I couldn't do his routine just because if I don't have multiple things going at once, I can't concentrate. It is not uncommon for me to have a video in the background and a game of solitaire in the background for when I'm thinking. The word count thing is something I could aim for while I write, especially since it is flexible. I don't actually look into writing routines because I can barely sit still to write let alone follow a writing routine like most authors. That being said I really love Tolkien and Margret Weis. Their books are what made me want to write in the first place.

I have such similar routines as Neil Gaiman and Nora Roberts. I write 6-7 hours by hand. All 1st drafts are written by hand and I work on multiple projects at once. I love the relaxed therapy of the smell of a leather journal, ink from a fresh fountain pen and the feel on smooth paper. It's just glorious! Thank you for sharing!

Here's my biggest question about this series. All of these writers focus on writing multiple hours a day. I'd be interested to hear what their writing routines were like when they were still working a day job. I highly recommend only using paper with margins for handwriting! When I get random ideas that the story isn't ready for I jot them down in the margin so I don't forget! My old lady pup, Ruby, also hates storms. When the real bad ones hit at night she'll wake me up and won't leave me alone until we go into the bathroom and close the door to sleep. I think she's watched too many movies about tornados hahahah. I do not believe in writer's block on my own part. If I'm not writing or don't feel like writing it's because I'm either A)staring at some other shiny thing that is taking up my time or B) lazy.

I've been pretty impressed RU-vid recommendations. Really enjoyed the video and I'm excited to watch more.

I also think he has a cute cabin in the woods he goes to when he does write.

Great video! And I'm loving this series, keep it up. :) It was actually authors like Neil Gaiman, Andre Dubus III, and Joe Hill, who inspired me to try writing a first draft by hand. And having finished, I can say I'm not going back to doing the first draft on the computer any time soon. Yes, it takes some getting used to. Yes, it takes a while (7 months of writing a page every single day either before or after work). And it does help with being more purposeful with your words, but the biggest takeaway I've found is that the story is so much more concrete in my mind than when I wrote on the computer. I still recall most of the events even two weeks after having not picked it up. Whereas when I finished on the computer, there were huge swaths of story that were just gone from my head despite having just written it. It's the difference between walking through town and driving--the journey takes longer but I feel a stronger connection to what's around me, vs going faster and only remembering the landmarks and odd bits that stuck out. That's just me, though. It's definitely not for everyone. And on writers block... I guess I'm going against the majority of comments and say I don't believe in it. *sweats*

A 33 minutes video? Yay!! I love this serie!

This is my favourite series of yours, and I'm so happy you're doing Neil Gaiman's routine! I use the two of you for motivation all the time.

Do Cassandra Clare's writing routine!! That would be so cool!!

Have you tried a typewriter? Might be a good middle ground between hand and computer.

Wow. A Neil Gaiman video. Looking forward to this one

I'm a bit late to this video, but I wanted to comment on the writer's block/no writer's block quote. Here's the thing...yes, those people DO have blocks sometimes. Writer's use a special name for it because, well, we're word people and we cope by naming things and describing them and, generally, using our words to define what we know. I'm a musician, a writer, a teacher, and a whole host of other things as well, and I've experienced "blocks" in each one of those things. For example: I play the piano. There are days when I'm practicing a piece, where I cannot, no matter how hard I try, play a section of the piece correctly. My fingers won't play the right notes or the right rhythms and I can't make them do so. However, I do think that sometimes we use these "blocks" as an excuse not to work on whatever it is we're supposed to be working on. Whether we are writing, or playing an instrument, or whatever, there are going to be times when our brains just can't cope with what we're doing. As long as we acknowledge the block (preferably without getting angry about it) and walk away for a set amount of time (read: a reasonable amount of time), and then come back to the project, we can deal with the "block" and don't have to pretend it's not a thing. Neil Gaiman calls it "getting stuck", he's just got different words for the same thing.

I like the idea of multi-day trials of writing methods! And I like this series. My suggestion is Agatha Christie. She was my favorite author when I was a teenager.

Girl, I freaking love these writing vlogs! I’m obsessed!

The ad I got right before this video was for a Masterclass with Neil Gaiman, and I think that's a sign that I should write like him. I think I'll try to write this way, because he too is a writer after my own heart.

100000000% believe in writers block!!! I had writers block for a few years, then I started watching your video and immediately got back to writing!! THANK YOU, YOU KIND SOUL! 😊 I would describe writers block as not having any ideas for a new story, and just not in the mood to write. Request: jk Rowling ( her outlining plan ) ( and I know you don’t really outline but I thought I would try ) Also maybe try one of your author tube friends writing routine! If they have one!

this is one of the best channels on RU-vid, every video is both inspiring and informative. thank you for making such great content.

I need more of these Kate!! They're sooooo good!!

I would love to see you try to write as Daniel Handler/Lemony Snicket ^_^

Hi Kate, Thank you very much for this excellent video. RU-vid served it to me in recommendations, and I am so glad they did. I'm now subscribed, and looking forward to the next instalment of this series. Take care, Casey

I'm also not really sure what people mean by writers block? I think different people are using it to mean different things. There's only really one thing that stops me writing, which is fear of failure (which can be pretty immobilising, but I find ways to break out of it... like switching to hand writing, actually!) I'd love to see you try a scriptwriter's routine. I have SO much admiration for good scriptwriters right now, as there are brilliant shows coming out in the UK written by the likes of Phoebe Waller-Bridge and Russel T Davies that are just - ugh - AMAZING. And I watched Sense and Sensibility last night, having only recently realised that Emma Thompson wrote the award-winning screenplay for it, and I just think it's great. I love that Neil (our best friend Neil) has also experimented with other writers' routines... maybe one day soon there'll be a crop of 'I tried writing like Kate Cavanaugh' videos!

You are incredibly awesome for making this video. Huge fan! Omg!!!

This is such a great idea! Thanks for the great content!

I’m really grateful for your channel. I found you about 2-3 months ago. After college, I stopped enjoying reading for pleasure and quit writing. It’s been like 3 years but stumbling upon your channel and watching the writing challenges you do and your passion and excitement for writing has inspired me back into it :) I have a hard time finishing things and will hop around from idea to idea and abandon a story. Going to try this routine tomorrow!

I was just bingeing your videos while writing earlier and I'm so happy you uploaded today (although it's upsetting I did not get the notification from RU-vid).

ALWAYS love your vids-thanks for sharing!

Hello! I'm new to authortube and just came across your channel and am LOVING this series! I actually took Neil Gaiman's masterclass and he's wonderful! Helped me find my writing voice by telling me to do exactly what you're doing in this series: choose a few of your favourite authors and try to write like them. Turns out, it's much less fun writing like someone else (probably because it's all based on comparison and when does that make anyone happy?) so I accepted and now enjoy my own voice for what it is. This is a super fun series, I'm binging right now! Thanks! All the best, Lovis

Real talk you are the most relatable authortuber I've found on RU-vid, the only reason my first draft gets any progress is your channel. :)

I've been hooked on your 'I've Tried Writing Like..." series. Good stuff! Great for contrasting different writers, processes, and styles. 👍👍

Thanks for this video! Loved it!

yesss i live for these experiment vlogs!!

😂 You are so endearing, it makes me want to read everything you've written! I assume RU-vid showed me this because of all the Gaiman process videos I've watched and I'm glad it did. You've got a new fan!

I partially believe in Neil Gaiman’s statement on writer’s block. My definition of it would be the absence of any ideas or ability to write (excluding physical or cognitive disabilities). I believe that while it exists, many writers don't experience true writers block; maybe symptoms of it, certainly writer hurdles, but hardly a complete inability to write or think about the writing process in order to further/complete their story. It can manifest under many circumstances, or through nothing at all. I’d imagine mental illness like anxiety or depression can easily trigger it. Thankfully that hasn't happened to me... yet. Regardless, my point is that writers block is a thing, I just think a lot of people experience something similar but completely different.

I so love your channel. Finally a good channel for writers.

I really love how you plot your books Kate! I am looking forward to your published book especially Project Blue and Death!

Aaaaahhhhhhhhh Lucifer!!! It's an absolutely amazing show.

This was a wonderful video :) was great to see how someone took Gaiman’s words on his process and do their thing. The main draw I took from his advice in the podcast, other interviews, and his Masterclass was to make the process of writing fun. Or at least more interesting than doing nothing. For him that’s having the physical process of using a fountain pen and having that physical work on a page rather than a screen. For others like Stephen King that means writing on a computer so it’s faster and you can get ideas out of your head as quickly as they come. And for Ian Fleming it was literally making it a hostage situation of write or die situation XDD which I found hilarious For me I went with something like Gaiman’s process because I saw value in it and realized how much I liked handwriting in my youth. I use Pilot G2 pens because I love them and they’re workhorse-ness of it (and I can’t imagine the patience and skill it takes to use and handle a fountain pen), and I have a specific brand of really nice notebooks that I dedicate to my fiction. Then when I’m editing, I have to go line by line and word by word to get it typed up. And it’s a wonderful editing process because I can honestly look at my writing as work and something that needs to be fixed. If I type it all the through, I feel like it’s done because it’s typed and I tend to abandon those stories. I love the video, again, and I’m glad it showed you some insights into your own writing process and how you are as a writer.

I’ve been going through a spout of writers doubt that’s been stopping me from writing, but somehow your video really inspired me to write today. So, yeah, thanks for this awesome video! : )

My favorite things about writing from hand are strikethrough, sticky ites, and actually turning pages to locate things...like a book, but not a finished book YET. It's lovely to see so many hand written pages and be able to put the plot point pages in different order, or several varioations of the same chapters together in order to figure out how best to fix something. I did my best writing that way early on. Before I got used to doing the entire processes of drafting and editing on the computer.

So excited to see this one!

For me, writer's block is : I am a writer and I am blocked, I need to go back in my story and fix what I need to block to not be blocked anymore. I also believe that not having any idea to continue the story is not writer's block, it's brain's block. Most of the time it means that I need to stop working on it and do other things, because focusing on it will not help me

i just want you to know that this video single handedly got me out of my writing slump that i’ve been in since nanowrimo 2014. i think maybe i’ve written just a little bit after that, but not really WRITTEN. so thank you so much, if i ever finish this novel imma put you in the acknowledgements hahah

I absolutely adore this series!!

i Love Neil Gaiman, I purchased the masterclass and maybe ended with more psycological problems than before. Like everything he said made sense and I just wanted to cry. For me is not a block, is like a mix of troubles that get in the middle of your work. Like kind " I just don't know were the plot goes" or this is plain awfull or im having seconds and third and fourth thoughs on my work. But I always can write something even if it is a shit. So there's always that. I would like to be capable of writing like those big classical authors like Jane Austen or maybe Agatha Christie (that would be amazing) but i just cant write the god damned thing all by hand or even in a writting machine. I loved your video. And im definetly a fan. Grettings from Argentina and also sorry for my typos they are bigger than me. kisses!

Awwww, your pupper, though!!!

you had such good timing with this video! i LOVE that it's so long!! I'm halfway through american gods (first NG book i've ever read) and loving it! i totally agree with him about writer's block--i think you can get stuck with a story but you can always use a prompt or something and still write. ps. i had no idea lucifer was originally a neil gaiman book!

Yay! Neil gaiman is my favorite! Fun video! Thanks. :)

I think it was so perfect that there was a masterclass ad with Neil Gaiman playing before this video. Lol. Love your writing like videos, Kate!

He loves to write that first notebook draft in fountain pen also. He is REALLY into fountain pens as well. I used to have a hobby in collecting and writing with fountain pens, and when I heard him on Ferris’ podcast, I recognized how much he uses them by the way he spoke about them as well as his thoughts on different notebook quality. His acknowledgement of the decline in Moleskine paper quality a half dozen years ago or so was hardcore legit.

Writer's Block...it totally exists. I get it often, but then I redirect myself. If I can't write, then I'll read and it'll put me back on track. I have a lot of favorite authors, but I think it would be interesting to see how Laurell K. Hamilton. I've read articles where she's been interviewed about her writing style. She said something that really stuck with me (mind you I was inappropriately reading her books in middle school...) and she said that she lets the characters tell their story. So she has this inner dialogue with her characters, like she's the one interviewing them. Another thing I picked up from her was to have theme music playing while she writes particular characters. I can't tell you how many Spotify playlists I have for my characters. Those really help get me in the right headspace.

For me, writer's block is anything that gets between a writer and their writing. This definition means that a cat on your keyboard could be writer's block, or a lack of inspiration, or having a word on the tip of your tongue, or the siren call of Netflix binging, or your computer suddenly dying, or a creative burnout, or a depressive episode... lethargy... lack of motivation. Whatever. I like my definition because it validates a very common experience among writers (the block itself) without mysticizing or deifying and almighty and insurmountable block. I would also posit that creative endeavours are the ones more likely to have blocks. Artists, songwriters, poets, and so on. Maybe a cellist doesn't have cellist block, but the person who wrote the instrumental music that the cellist was playing might have had a musical block. In short, I believe in writer's block, but I don't believe that it's something a writer can't work past. Every block can be pushed past. Move the cat, read a book for inspiration, take a nap, put pen to paper, push forward however might be necessary to get over a particular block. (or, in the case of burnout, take a break and destress.) Blocks can't stop you unless you let them. ✌❤

Yaaay, Neil Gaiman is one of my all-time fave writers! And you made this video almost on my birthday! :D I am now considering it a birthday gift, hahaha.. Seriously though, I comment before I watch for this one, so I'm gonna go watch the video now xD

Oh my goodness, my favorite authortuber writing like the writer of my favorite book ever! (American Gods)

I'm with Neil. I don't believe in writer's block, but I also work on multiple projects so if I am stuck on one thing, I go to the other. I love you content. Makes me work on my own writing!

I did his masterclass online and despite the fact that my genre is drastically different, i gained so much from his insights and found him quite inspiring. I am not sure that I have it in me to write the way he does. but I still find it encouraging

I'm going to try to actually work on something for a day... Or tomorrow...

I love you. You are inspiring me to try to get past my writer's block

this is cool!!! have you tried combining different bits from diff authors for a hybrid routine?

This is a very fun channel! Now I'm thinking of doing my own AuthorTube thing.

Lol I love the fact that you're so honest with your attention span I'm totally the same! 😂 I always watch your videos to re-inspire my writing Love from Australia 😊

I mean, I am not a writer, but you routine videos are so enjoyable! You are such a cool person :D

I'm so early!!! You are my favorite author tuber!!!

Love the video💛 I was wondering if you’d like to try Suzanne Collins writing process!! I think it’s super unique and I’d love to see you try it☺️

GOD BLESS YOU !!!! this is such a good series !!!!!

I really like the flexibility in Gaiman's process, but the handwriting would drive me nuts. I'm right with you, my handwriting is atrocious, lol.

This was actually really interesting to watch. Mostly cause I'm glad to know that there are still authors out there who write by hand still. I find it a lot easier to write by hand for my original stories. As for writer's block, I don't really think it's a thing. I think it's more along the lines as you don't quite know how to get from one point to the next. If anything, it would be like having a map with Point A and Point F marked, but how to get to Points B-E is unknown. IDK, that's just how I see it. Also, I know this one might be hard, but would it be possible for you to try and write in the style of H. P. Lovecraft? I know a writing routine for him would be next to impossible to research, but I've been reading his work lately, and I find that he had this interesting way of writing that I don't see much of, and thought that it might be fun to try. Love your videos, and stay amazing :D

I hate writing by hand. Lol. I'll try this nonetheless. Edit: i have a pretty hardbound notebook that i somehow don't wanna write into.

Thanks for the Neil Gaiman podcast!

I see writer's block as either a lack of motivation or feeling defeated by being stuck on something

I love these videos!

I think I could write like Neil Gaiman. I like his general writing philosophy. Great video.

I had a commercial for Neil Gaiman's master class come up right before this video. That was accidental perfection. Also I love your videos, and this series!

Writing in notebook by hand in high school is the crux reason I cultivated a love for literature. Like I absolutely agree with what you said about the nostalgia of it!

Great video. Enlightening and relatable. 👏my issue is that I keep writing the plan but once I start the chapter one I get confused about the next pages even to complete the first chapter.🏆🌠🕊

I like Neil Gaiman. I like Kate Cavanaugh. I "thumbs up" the video. I mean, what else can you do when presented with quality content?

Ive just started to watch Neil Gaiman's Masterclass and so this was super interesting to watch!

This series is so fun to watch! I've learnt quite abit and got inspired enormously too. Could you do a tutorial on scrivener? I just switched to that from Word and my god I'm so confused right now

I love and admire your dedication to these style of writing like x or y authors and it makes me want to try a few of them! Maybe not this one though! 😅

I love your style! Where/how do you print your drafts for revision?

You are so inspiring. Love your videos❤

Kate, Your videos are fantastic. I had severe writers block. I watched your video on how to write like Stephen King for a day. I got up the next day and switched the computer on and got going. I am now half way through my detective crime novel. Thank you so much. You deserve every success in your work. Your favourite writing aid is coffee? My favourite writing aid is pancakes. 😋

15:20 this is so weird for me because people would look at me weird if i would just randomly start journaling in the middle of class by hand so I've typed (on the phone) to ever write in the middle of class even though I usually write by hand at home...

writing by hand in class was SUCH an escape from science and math lessons lol! But I could never write a book by hand now that I'm so used to typing on a computer!