re-outlining & writing chat while I set up my project in scrivener! 

Literally so hyped for when your books are published so I can buy them all 😅

Related to what's said at 10:59 one of my favorite quotes is: "Inspiration exists, but it has to find you working." --Pablo Picasso

"My 'new' computer that I've had for like 6 months now." OMG relatable.

I love that the authortube energy these days seems to just be “I’m writing stuff for fun and having a good time!” Also as someone who is way too type-B to outline watching you set up your Scrivener is the most satisfying and impressive thing I have ever seen haha!

I had to giggle when Zelda looked at you like, 'Wait-what? Are you serious? You want me to move?" Lol.

Sooo, I don't know if this exactly answers a certain question,. It sorta answers a handful of them I suppose. Writing, to me, is like breathing. I need it to live. At one point of time, I am almost positive it saved my life. It is so important for my mental, and thus physical, well being that my mom not only allowed me to write on school nights, even before I started my homework, but encouraged it. She saw how much it helped me be a better person, how it allowed me to live a better life, and so repeatedly told me I shouldn't feel ashamed for writing, even if I still had homework to get done. Now, I shouldn't have spent the whole night writing and not work on my homework, but homework didn't need to come first.

I just wanted to say that I really love these videos, bc they motivate me to take my own writing more serious and be more consistent. I stumbled on this channel by accident, Ive never watched any videos about writing and its so nice to see other young people working on their stories, since I dont personally know a single person that writes even for fun.

literally i bought scrivener because it was the only software i could find that had an easy way to pull up two docs side by side!!! love that feature!

for fanfiction and original flash fiction (short stories etc), I always use word because even if it's longer/multi-chapter, it makes it less daunting to write it, but for original works that are novel-length, I use scrivener because it's really clear and easy to use, and i can switch between single-scene view and seeing the entire document etc

I use Google docs for outlining, drafting, editing, and revising. I also use Word for final reviews. Scrivener has essentially turned into my expensive series bible collection. I also use notion to take notes and track project progress otherwise things would really be all over the place.

I use Scrivener as well! I love its Quick Ref feature, since I can just have my outline notes floating beside what I'm working on. While writing the first draft, I like to write all the scenes in chronological order - cause, otherwise, I'd probably drive myself insane. 😆 I'm still discovering my characters more as I write the first draft, and I'm watching their arc play out, soooo if I did anything otherwise, I'd probably just end up with a big fat mess on my hands. 😂

Me watching this while re-outlining myself😄

1. Mainly google docs, it helps with writing group 2. I do whatever I feel like for my outline and then draft the novel start to finish but my timelines are usually not quite linear. 3. I wrote a little bit in primary and secondary school but I didn’t really get serious about writing until last March at the beginning of the pandemic. Read a lot during class tho. 4. Each book has been different and I’m still figuring out my style but I brainstorm and pull any ideas from my working ideas page that work in the story. Then I flesh out some worldbuilding elements. Then I write my thin outline (2,000-4,000 words) then my thick outline (8,000- 20,000 words). I also recently implemented a question section (like a FAQ almost) where I can drop questions I have (as the reader might also) and then answer them when I finish the outline or the chapter I’m working on. 5. Because I am still unpublished, I follow my inspiration a bit more. However, I tend to treat my writing more as a business than just art. I figure if I can make money at it. I will have the freedom and free time to do it more. 6. I very much think it can be both. I won’t have to do a job that I hate and write on top of it. I essentially have two jobs until I make it as a writer because I’ll never stop treating writing like a job. 7. I don’t plan to query any novels that have less than 3 revisions. And most likely my target is 4. 8. I haven’t revised a full novel yet (I’m working on the first one but my second night overtake it). However, I have refused a novelette beginning to end. I start by sending my first draft to my writing group. Then I revise it. If it is a short piece I might put it in again. Otherwise I will do a reread or send it to betas. Then one more reread and a tune up before sending it out.

I literally love your video style so much 😭❤️ the questions are awesome!!! Also thank you for linking my vid!

Your thoughts on inspiration reminded me of a favorite quote -- I believe it was Pablo Picasso. "Inspiration exists, but it has to find you working" (Oh and I use scrivener)

I write in Pages on the MacBook, then export as Word to my editor. I have a tendency to write out of order, but that really created a nightmare on the 100K book. :( I'm working to change that. I wrote all the way through school! :D After seeing YT authors have great success with outlines, I have finally finished one for my new romance and I'm working on the narrative. Fingers crossed. I'm hoping it will save me tons of time in revisions. I am unable to write on the same project every single day. But I do write something every day...my 2021 journal is currently over 30K words. Writing for relaxation: When the Big A changed their algorithms and started ignoring me (I quit giving them back half my earnings as advertising), I made the decision to go wide and also to write books I've wanted to write all my life. I love my Romance universe (because I've created such a sweet and wonderful world and cast there), but I'm letting myself write vampires and aliens and dystopians as well. Re: publishing, I hire a professional editor, then agonize and end up using 95% of her suggestions, then do several proofreads, fix those things, ad infinitum, and finally publish. I'm trying a new method with the new book (outline is really helping) and I will insert a read on iBooks app as I revise the first draft. I create a timeline (already done now because I have an outline!!!!) and fix all those problems. Except the ones the editor finds. Sigh. Wish me luck!

I'm glad I'm not the only one sprawling across lots of writing programs haha. I write in 4 the Words (which I LOVE), revise in Google Docs, and polish/send from Microsoft Word.

For the first question, I'm using Scrivener for WIPs, although I'm trying to outline the plot into a grid for the first draft before the whole detailed outline for the second draft. I'm using Google Drive for fanfics, as they're easier to edit if I'm out or bored. I was using Word for the WIPs, but I found it hard to keep track of everything and now that Scrivener 3 was released for Windows, it made my life easier.

1- When I write, I actually use pen and paper, and then do my 'first filter' into Scrivener for posterity. 2- I write all over! One bonus to writing some of the ending (if you know what that is) first is that you can infer some of the things that need to happen leading up to those points :D 3- Never wrote in school...I liked to draw then. 4- At first, i pantsed the first few chapters, and after a few more chapters, i had more of an idea of what I wanted to happen, and began to plot the rest of the story. 5- I write when I can. It's more of getting a chance (time) to write more than doing it because 'I should'. You should write whenever you want to, and if you dan't want to, don't force it. 6- I have no idea, I'm not at that level. 7- I have a plan for this, though being my first book, I'm not sure how it will work. I want to finish the story I'm on now, then set it aside and hopefully I have an idea for a second story, write that, while learning more and then going back and editing the first. i will at least wait for a few months before going back to the first. :D 8- I will find that out after my first draft is finished LOL

Love the little tidbits about your student writing habits! I would totally write in class as well - but in tiny script so a) other people couldn't read it & b) my notebooks would last longer. :D I love this Scrivener function that they finally added to Windows with the latest update: dialogue highlighting! It's under Edit > Writing Tools > Dialogue Focus & really great if you want to focus on your dialogue during editing (or drafting, I guess).

I love the synopsis part for each chapter or section! lol

Q1: LibreOffice - it's free. Q2: Still learning my process but have three documents and a spread sheet of tabs. (1)The novel itself, in order. (2)Notes for future scenes. (3)catchphrases or gestures that belong to certain characters. Q3: Long time since I was at school. Q4: Never outline. Start, then note the scenes on my spread sheet, helps me keep track. Q5: Mostly try to turn up at the weekend. But it's easier powered by inspiration. - Q8: Finish first draft, go back over it, fix whatever I notice. Shelve it, work on something else; come back to the previous masterpiece to find out, actually...

Get ready- it’s a long comment 1. Word. That’s all I had back in the 90’s 2. Non-linear. My brain spits out scene ideas randomly and I then write quick notes about them. My process is best described by the Doctor when he was trying to describe time: wibbly-wobbly timey- whimey. If I try writing in order, it sucks the fun right out of it. 3. Throughout all my school years, but especially starting in middle school straight through college, I’d be writing stories during class- especially if an idea just came to me. One of my most favorite writing memories is when I was in community college with my BFF. We started writing this ridiculous story about us (but with different names of course) finding ourselves in California and dating celebrities and she’d write a scene then I’d write a scene and it was so awesome! The story is very soap-opera like but that was the point. And I still have it in a binder that 4 inches thick (I think. Idk. It’s huge). 4. I either write or just have in my head a very vague outline. If a scene comes to mind and I can’t write it out fully, I will make quick notes about the main things I want to happen. I cannot do in-depth, start to finish, every scene thought through kind of outline. It’s sucks the fun out of it. My brain is done. It’s the same reason I can’t write the ending right away- writing the ending means I’m emotionally done with the story. 5. If inspiration strikes me, because of my many chronic illnesses, I still might not being able to write it out because of bad brain fog (it’s real and it’s frustrating). I think- just write when you want to. If you have deadlines that’s a different story. 6. Depends on the person, the genre, and type of story (novel or short story, etc). I have switched over to working on short stories instead of novels. My strengths in writing include getting the readers attention right off the bat (usually 😐), and leave them with answers but hopefully wanting more. If I feel like there is a website or magazine or what have you that one of my stories seems a good fit for, I’d send it in. That’s my goal for this year- get published or try to get published one of my short stories. 7. It never feels ready. But one of my writing friends when you get to the point where you’re so sick of looking at it and editing it and thinking about it, and you’ve gotten feedback and then better feedback, it’s time. 8. Reread it after I write, mostly because it’s very satisfying. Letting beta readers read it, taking some time off from the story, then I want to have it either read out loud to me (I think Word can do that now), or read it out loud myself which also works.

I use Word or Open Office and when I have to share or collaborate (on nonfiction only up til now) I also use Google Drive. I've dabbled in different outlining methods but when I think I'm finished, I always have to go back and add or remove stuff. Sometimes I spot those things in the outline and other times I only see what needs changing as I write. My main focus now is on increasing my freelancing income or getting a real, professional job so I only do a little bit of fiction writing but I do a little bit of it almost every day. My goal is mostly to keep my skills sharp enough to write something publishable after my finances are more or less in order.

Ohhh I was wondering what happened to the Scooby Doo Murder Mystery! So glad to hear from it again ♥ It seems like we all have different understandings of the word outline. My outline is verrry extensive - so much so that some people told me it's basically a zero draft. But noooo I reject that idea haha :D

Can't wait for when your projects get published someday. They sound really interesting. I'd love to read them.

I mainly write in Scrivener. I like that I can have all my notes in one program and not have to have multiple documents to keep track of all of the story information. I do not draft my scenes in order. I do not purposely jump around, but especially during Nanowrimo, I will write whatever comes to mind. I did write as a hobby during school, but I was a bigger reader, even reading in class. I do not outline until after the first draft is done. That is more to help me see where I need connecting scenes between my major plot scenes. I schedule time for myself to write for at least ten minutes a day. Sometimes I will continue past that, but if I am having a mental block day, then after ten minutes I allow myself to move on. I do a Zero Draft first, which is drafting the story out of order. For the First Draft, it consists of putting those scenes in order, doing the outline and then adding needed scenes. For my Second Draft, I will be more mindful of putting myself in my characters head and sensing the world the way they do. This is where most of the description gets added and the language gets cleaned up (less telling).

1. I'm working on a chromebook most of the time so I use Google Docs. 2. I draft in a mostly linear fashion. 3. ..I can't even remember if I used to write during class, I've been out of school for too long, LOL. Probably? 4. For novels (which I don't usually write anymore) I make a list of scenes and put them on notecards. I have also used and enjoyed KM Weiland's techniques from her book about outlining, where you're really just asking yourself questions about the story and slowly shaping it in a notebook. I haven't actually used the 3 act structure for outlining; that seems like something that would be more useful for me in revision (which is not something I've really done). 5. I agree that the "you can't wait for inspiration" advice is for professional writers. I have a whole practice around keeping myself inspired though, I call it "feeding my creativity." And YES, on the micro level, if I don't feel like writing something I had planned I write something else! I don't have answers for the rest of the questions, since I have no experience with those things. I imagine that even if I was writing as a pro I'd still have writing for myself, even it was like.. writing poems in journals or something.

I love making themes for my Scrivener to make the colors more fun! Abbie Emmons has a great video on it!

Before I answer any the questions, I must say this is a great way to connect the community together and boost the video, so it brings the art of Authortube to more home feeds everywhere. I outline linearly. At this point in my writing experience, I re-outline the whole store every time I make a developmental edit. For the third draft, I outlined, but used bullet points. Graphic outlines have confused me, so I stick with linear outlining. It's so true how we all have a different definition for outlining. I didn't know people used other outlines than what I considered as linear. When it comes to writing during school, I can relate to writing during classes. As the years changed and life demanded more from me, I had to find small pockets of time to manage homework, resting, relationships, and other hobbies. Lately, there has been less time to write during in person classes. The schoolwork is more demanding, but we get free time on occasion. Last time I wrote a story during class was when we were watching a movie. It also helped how I wrote on paper instead of typing it.

Character-ception! LOL Haven't used Scrivener for names--good point.

I completely understand this about not transferring software. But I use Scrivener, both on my computers and I also have Scrivener on my phone as well as Dropbox. This works fine for when I'm working by myself. But I would have to agree that if you are co-writing, Google Docs is the way to go. :)

1: I write in Word, on 4thewords, and gdocs depending if I'm streaming or not. 2: Linerally. I don't like bouncing around very much. 3: Oh yes, I wrote a lot. I did a lot of good amount of writing whenever I could. After high school, it was usually on a bus as I went to school or work. 4: I plan about 10 chapters at a time then as I continue writing, I add more planned chapters to get to where I need because the plot forever evolves on me. 5: If I waited for inspiration every time I want to write, I'd do it a whole lot less. I try to write everyday in some way. Or do something writing connected, like editing and planning. *shrugs* 6 and 7 is....something that I think about often so I just shrug at them for now. 8: Oh, um. It usually goes Write - wait a month - reread/note taking - rewrite/fix things - wait - reread/note take - rewrite/fix things - send to beta readers and get notes. I haven't gotten past the first rewrite so far on a lot of my stuff yet.

1. Scrivener!!! And Google docs (same!) 2. I write fairly linearly as well, but same as you, I'll skip a scene if I'm not feeling it and go back later (usually after a good night's sleep and 1,001 replays in my brain) 3. I write in between life happenings. 4. Definitely outline! I get writer's block if I don't outline.

Q1: I'm doing line editing on one of my WIPS in Microsoft Word because I wrote it all on Word so it's easier for me (and I also love the Track Changes feature so I can see areas where I'm not line editing much and where I'm line editing a lot/go back to a previous version). That being said, I have a BUNCH of messy documents with my beta notes, developmental notes, synopsis, character sheets, so I bought Scrivener to organize all of them, and that's what I'm using for the WIP I'm currently brainstorming. Q2: Yup! I brainstorm out-of-order, do the actual story-structure/outline in-order, and write in order! It helps me stay on the same pace as the characters. Q3: I'm in school right now, so for virtual classes last year, it was great to split screen my class and my Word Document and just write while teachers took attendance/ranted about random things/lectured on something they already talked about! I'll miss that going back to in-person school. Q4: Very. Very. Very. Thoroughly. Q5: I write continuously because it's something that's good for me (to stay in the habit) and to keep me motivated. If I only wrote when I was inspired, I'd never finish anything. That being said, different things work for different people. Q6: I'm not really old enough to think in terms of financials yet, but I think it's possible! They say to do work that makes you happy, and writing can definitely do that. Creative burnout is all-too-real, but there are ways to learn yourself and find a way around it (changing up your projects, taking a vacation, using a new method of writing, etc) Q7: Also too young to know. I'd guess that I'm ready when I have something I'm proud to show the world. Right now, all the books I've written have been for myself and only for myself and I'm proud I finished them, but I know they're not great quality! I've also written stuff and then two months later looked back on it and been able to completely rewrite it much better. I don't want that to happen with anything I publish, so I suppose that when I can look back on something for a long time and consistently think it's good is when I would attempt publishing. Q8: I reread the story, take developmental notes, change developmental things. Then, I do a round of line editing for the whole story. Once it's in decent condition, I send it to my CPs for feedback. I use their feedback to do another round or two of developmental editing, then I just do line edits. Like I said earlier, I just do this for fun, so maybe it's not the most thorough method, but it works for me!

>"sometimes you need a three day break" or a multiple months-to-year-or-more break. thx depression

Great video Kate!

I always use scrivener, because I find it so much easier! Sometimes I plan in google docs though. No, I do not write my scenes in order anymore. not since I found my new drafting method. I've been writing since I was 15, so more than half my life (can you imagine?) I outline using various methods, but most recently Katytastic's 3act, 9block, 27 chapter and STC. I think that writers should attempt to write as much as they can, but not force themselves if they're not feeling inspired. Nothing wrong with writing for an income, and having a guilty pleasure story just for you. I have no idea. I guess when the critique from CP's/betas only needs a quick tweak to fix. Ahh, my revision process. It's long. Three different lists, two different rereads, lots of colourcoding and highlighting and physically rewriting everything.

I tried Scrivner and loved it, alas, I am too much of a grandpa and always go back to Microsoft Word 😂 (P.S. We should do a writing sprint stream together soon, so we can announce the details of our... project)

Oooooo these questions sound fun I'll list my answers below! 1 - I just got scrivener in preparation for camp nano, and I'm really liking it so far! Before this I pretty much exclusively used google docs, but I was starting to get really annoyed by how slow it got when I would forget to separate my wips into multiple parts. 2 - I actually tend to outline linearly and draft totally out of order 😅 3 - During elementary school I was notorious for being the weird kid at recess sitting off to the side writing instead of playing tag or whatever everyone else was doing. In high school I had to transition into being homeschooled because of mental health reasons, which turned out to be amazing because I was allowed to have a say in what sorts of things I did for each subject. I talked my way into getting time for my personal writing projects to count for my English grade! 4 - I feel like my outline process is constantly changing, but recently I've developed a system where I just open up google docs and infodump everything about the story in chronological order. This means all my character and worldbuilding notes gets mixed in with the outline at first, but when I go through and sort everything out afterwards I have a pretty solid idea of how everything is going to go down. 5 - I like to do something writing related every day, but that doesn't always mean physically sitting down to write. Sometimes I'll just make a character playlist or look into a hobby a character has or even just reread the last little bit I wrote. Pushing myself to write every single day has always just leads to bad cases of burnout, but if I don't feel at least a little connection to the story every day it'll start to slip away from me and take a ridiculous amount of time to get into the next time I try to write. (I'm gonna skip the last few because I don't feel qualified to answer them 😳)

Scriveners Linguistic Focus is amazing when editing or searching a text for specific kinds of words. I luvs its. O_o

1. I mainly use Google docs. I've used word in the past, but I love the ability to access my writing anywhere that I have internet access. I don't always have my computer on me and it's great to pull up my work in progress on my phone and make notes on paper if I'm out etc. 2. As far as inspiration goes, I'm of the belief that as best as possible you should just get it down on the page. Books come together in the edits. I've wasted so much of my time trying to write something that's perfect the first go around. My favorite part is coming back after the first draft is done and reading through it again and making changes and edits and expanding on things and seeing the project with the better idea of what's going to happen. So now I don't stress myself out during the draft and I don't wait for inspiration. Sometimes I've written a whole scenes that were just one line to begin with and then when I went back I was able to expand on it so much when I had the inspiration. I always get the bones of the project down and then inspiration will come for me once I am more comfortable and understand what is going to be happening. 3. I find outlining to be one of the most stressful parts of any project. However, I just started a new book and I took the time to sit down and outline, and it's enabled me to write a chapter a day now. I do find that with all of my outlines I always end up shuffling things or writing more than I originally thought. So chapter 4 will always end up being chapter 7 because I end up writing so much in between what I originally thought it was going to be between 3 and 4 if that makes sense. 4. If I take the time to outline, I always write in order. However, I will always write scenes if they come to me fully formed in the moment so I don't lose the magic of it. I'm writing two projects at the same time right now. One of them I've outlined one of them I'm pantsing. The one that I am pantsing I'm writing out of order as scenes or chapters come to me. It's funny, because between the two projects I'm at the 50% mark but with one I can see clearly what's going to happen at the end and the other one I have no idea what will happen because I'm working through it live. 5. I am writing a series and I know that I will be ready for publishing when the entire series is written as a whole. And then with my other project, I think you just know when you realize that it's not going to get any better and the longer you linger with it the more tinkering you will do. I've hit publish on pieces based off of a gut reaction only. 6. I have loved hearing you discover what has always been my writing process. I will write a chapter or a scene and then before I start again later that day or the following day, I go back and reread what I wrote the previous day and I edit as I go. That has always been my process and it has always made the most sense to me for how my brain works. As for editing a piece as a whole, that is where I struggle the most. And I find to be the most intimidating.

Oooh I found the thing you said about not allowing yourself to move onto the next chapter until you’ve edited the current one really interesting! I’ve been doing something similar for my current draft (except I tend to work on 2-3 chapters in parallel so I can circle around if I get stuck), but I know the most common advice is to not do that and just write first edit later ‘because you’ll never finish otherwise’. So it’s very reassuring to hear about someone else doing this!

Scrivener is the only way! Lol. I’ve been using it for my books since 2013 and will never go back. That being said, if I’m typing a cover letter or quick document for something I’ll do it in Word… but I hate every minute of it. 🤣

I tend to write scenes out of order. If I don't have more for a scene at the moment, I will go to another scene and come back to it later. I'd write a lot when in school. Both during and after. Practically all the time was writing or reading. Not in college though. It's 100% assignment related work. No time for it during college.

About 11:05 that controversial question Elizabeth Gilbert introduced in Big Magic, That inspiration can jump from creative to creative, she illuminated that in The Signature of All Things. It’s worth a read together. I keep recommend the Neil Gaiman episode of the Magic Lessons Podcast (Episode 207) she makes a side comment about how she had reservations about her Moss biologist protagonist in that book world be received following Big Magic.

I use Scrivener and I am doing outlining in Plottr which has an export to Scrivener feature. Oh and I haven’t completely done it yet, but it allows you to plot a series. As I am not the best at plotting I haven’t mastered that yet. But at least you can see how it all goes together.

that scrivener code...had to do that SEVERAL times in the first few years 😏

1. I use Scrivener 1, Scrivener 3, Word, and Word 95 (it is dependant on the project) 2. I don't write all scenes in order 3. 100%, all of my writing so far has been done during school. Not in class but while i am in school. 4. I don't outline 5. I don't think writing when inspiration hits works for me because I still end up finish my books even without inspiration 6. I already don't write to relax, so probably not 7. I don't know when it's ready for publication, I've never tried traditional publishing. How I know it's ready for self-pub is when I've finished draft 3 or 4 and I know I'm happy considering it "finished." My first drafts are often very strong in that they barely change in the next drafts. 8. I edit a few times after my first draft, always more of a story + grammar edit (I make few typos but they're still there)

My answers to some questions: Q1: I primarily use Word or Google Docs, but I use Scrivener for Outlining (and just sometimes writing) Q2: I draft linearly, but I outline by writing down the beginning, middle, and end and then put scenes/chapters in randomly. Q3: I tried and made time during school and wrote a lot on the weekend and used to write during classes, though I maybe should have paid more attention in Latin Class... Q4: My outlining methods change, but I think I have found one that works for me (basically just writing one sentence for every chapter/scene, depending on what I feel like, and then switching them around while drafting if necessary. But it's a very very loose outline). Q5: Writing without inspiration is something I still need to learn, but it is possible when you really love the story. Q6: I find it hard sometimes, even though my writing has not been published or monetized in any way. Part of that is my perfectionism that peeks out every now and then and makes it hard to see writing as something fun rather than a chore to get where I want to be. Q7: Can't really answer that, because I am so far from publication in any way, but I do believe that no matter if trad-pub or self-pub if you love the story it is more likely to be liked by others. But there are so many factors to publishing and I am by no means a professional. Q8: I have no process since I have just now started editing a story and am so lost... Watching a lot of videos to figure out what to do.

Q1: Google docs is my mainstay at this point. just like Word was my mainstay until i found Google Docs (because Word was..... problematic, and when i found Docs i couldn't switch over fast enough) Q2: i write the scenes as i think of them, and then worry about how to maneuver it in the order i think is best, much later. sometimes i keep them the way they are, just as an experiment, to see if i can make the nonlinear aspect work for what i may be (i.e. what i THINK i am) going for, emotionally and in terms of how i see the story flowing. Q3: i only started to take the idea of being a writer seriously at 19 years old. so i was just getting out of high school by then. but when i got to college (the year or so that i did), the thoughts were there, but i wasn't really a very good student to begin with, so i had to focus all my energy on school....... and ultimately failing anyway. Q4: lol i outline by writing the story. Q5: i try not to be what i consider arrogant, and assume that i should only be writing when inspiration hits. THAT SAID, while i strive to write as frequently as possible, there are days where my brain just simply will not do it. that tends to be most days, honestly, but there ARE days where i can pull out a 200 word day and feel REALLY good about it. so it's not so much "when inspiration hits" as, "when will my depression shut its fucking mouth for 5 minutes" days. Q6: this is my goal. i'm gonna say yes, because otherwise..... i'm not gonna think about it. Q7: uhhhhhhhhhhhhhh, i'll get back to you on that. Q8: UHHHHHHHHHHHHHH, I'LL GET BACK TO YOU ON THAT?

I just realized that my first draft is actually a zero draft, because my 2nd draft (now my really 1st draft), is very far from it.

Question 1: What word processor do you use? Answer: I use Google Docs! I used to write in Word, however, I prefer Google Docs because if I ever get an idea for my stories, I can just open up Google Docs on my phone and write it down. I don't have to wait until I get home to write stuff down. Question 2: Do you always write your scenes in order? Answer: Hell no. In fact, I think the way I write my scenes are pretty interesting because I have never seen anyone else do it. I'll have random one-sided conversations with the characters in my head - a character talking to the main character - and I'll write the conversation down. If I am starting a new story, it helps me figure out what the characters are like and if it is an older story, it helps me get in words in a less daunting manner. Question 3: When you were in school, were you able to work on your writing or personal creative projects? Answer: Yep! My Creative Writing course required us to participate in NaNoWriMo. And if I wasn't in that class, I would always have Google Docs pulled up on my Chromebook during classes just in case I had an idea. Question 4: How do you outline? Answer: I don't. I'm a pantser through and through. I will go into the story with some ideas for characters, how to start the story, a couple of other scenes, and that's it. Question 5: How do you feel about only writing when inspiration strikes or do you think writers should be writing each day? Answer: I usually only write when inspiration strikes. I find that forcing myself to write outside of those bursts of inspiration sucks the fun out of the story for me. However, I wouldn't say one is wrong. It depends on the person and their thought process. Question 6: Can you make writing both a steady revenue AND a means of relaxation? Can it be both at that level? Answer: I'm honestly not sure on this one. I would have to say it depends on the person's look on it. If they only view it as work, it's work. It honestly depends on the person. Question 7: How do you know when you know when your story is ready for publication? Answer: I can't really answer this question cause I have never finished a story before. Question 8: What is your process for editing after the first draft? Answer: I can't really answer this question cause I haven't finished a first draft before.

Figured I'd go through the questions for the fun of it lol I have scrivner but I dont really like it much. Honestly I stick to Google Docs or Word. Word is my favorite. I outline linearly but write all over the place. I wrote a 105k story while in junior year of college. Still not sure how. I like outlining but my outlines are very skeletal. So I'm more than willing to move things around. I write only with inspiration except during nano. I don't plan to monetize any of my stories. So with the next question I don't plan to publish. After a first draft i leave the story alone for a semester (I'm a teacher so my life is measured in semesters lol) and then go back to it. Love the generators for places!! I suck at thinking of names for places so I use generators and then merge some together that feel right.

'write it now' or 'write4now', I forget the name of the writing software, but either way, they are both very good to use. They are quite expensive but they, both, have some excellent extras handy for novel writing. I'm curious about 'campfire blaze'. I've heard Daniel Greene mention it during a few of his you tube vids.

Oh and I'm excited because I now have a furry writing companion. My new roommate has a cat and I love her so much! (The cat, not the roommate,lol)

When your books are published.....do you realize all your subscribers will...... instant succumbed to success!! Due to your followers!!

I NEED A BOOK OF YOURS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I mostly use microsoft when I'm at home and then google docs when I'm at work - I tend to have to fit writing in whenever I can and I've been doing that since I was in elementary school lol I don't outline but I do edit a lot as I work on my draft just because I like to write as cleanly as possible and then I give that to alpha readers.

Q1: I mainly use Google Docs due to me being a hobby writer & I don’t think I’m good enough to write a novel XD Q2: Yes totally. A lot of the time, random out of order scenes just pop in my head & if I don’t get it down then I’m just gonna forget it. Q3: Gonna answer this as someone who is currently in school. Since we all had school owned laptops (Chromebook 14s no less) I could easily sneak in some writing whenever I had free time. Q4: Outlining? Who’s that? I don’t know her. Yeah honestly, outlining is just not for me. Since I focus more on short stories, I guess my brain doesn’t feel the need to outline. Q5: Well…my writing experience isn’t everyone’s writing experience. I personally can’t write every day cause I have a lot of hobbies to juggle. As much as I wouldn’t like to admit it, I do feel like someone who has to write whenever inspiration strikes else I just stare at a blank document all day. I think those are all the ones I can talk about as the rest of the questions seemed aimed at novel writers or publishers😋

🎶into the thick of it🎵

Question 1: What word processor do you use? I started using Campfire Blaze because of your vlogs and I am 100% in love with it. It's got everything I wanted out of Scrivner in a format that I can understand how to use. I've tried Scrivner and just couldn't get a handle on how to use it. Before CB, I stuck to Google Docs. I absolutely need the portable-ness of a cloud based processor so I can work on my project anywhere Question 2: Do you always write scenes in order? I try to write linearly, but I will hit a wall with a scene and at the time won't be able to figure out how to get around it, so I move on to keep the dopamine going and keep my ADHD brain from giving up completely. Question 3: When you were in school, were you able to work on your writing or personal creative projects? I really started writing for fun in 8th grade and by the time 9th grade rolled around, I was completely ignoring full classes to write. I don't think it helped that my 9AP English teacher basically encouraged it! I managed to get through high school like that and once I started university for creative writing is when my love for the craft really took a nose dive. My university experience wasn't great, my depression got completely out of hand, I was in a super toxic relationship for half of my university career and the weekly critiques on what was basically a zero draft for me really did a number on my mental health. Luckily, once I graduated and took a year or so to recover, I found my love for writing again! Question 4: How do you outline? I really don't? This is probably a huge reason why I don't finish any of my projects like, ever. I basically zero draft until I get bored or a newer shinier idea pops up and I drop my old project like a hot potato and peruse the new idea until that gets old and the cycle starts anew. Question 5: How do you feel about only writing when the inspiration strikes or do you think writers should be writing each day? I don't write every day. I'm just not built to sit at a keyboard and produce words 7 days a week and not get burned out with in a few weeks. But, if I'm finding it hard for me to focus on writing or I just can't seem to see past the current brick wall I made for myself, I'll step away from the keyboard for a little bit, but I won't allow myself to just not think of the project. I'll still be doing something toward the project like thinking of what a character would do in this situation or what that character would have on their driving playlist or whatever. That way I'm never fully away from a project, but I'm still doing something that doesn't take as many spoons as the physical writing was taking. Question 6: Can you make writing both a steady revenue stream AND a means of relaxation? Can it be both at that level? I really have no intention of getting anything I write published (mostly because nothing is ever finished but still). Writing for me is 100% a hobby and coping mechanism. I do it because it's fun, the community is awesome, and I can work out some of my traumas through characters for free Question 7: How do you know when your story is ready for publication? ("I just completed my first story; should I focus on publication or shelve it?") They never are. Stories can be worked on indefinitely and still not be 100% ready for publication. A lot of authors I've seen even say they're still finding things in their stories that they would've liked to change or work on more even once they're out in the world. Question 8: What is your process for editing after the first draft? Once I finish a first draft, I'll let you know! lol

My rational mind knows that it's utter nonsense and self-deception - but I'm still searching for the "perfect word processor". I haven't figured out yet, how to let go of my perfectionism and write a shitty, crappy first draft. I foolishly hope that out there is a word processor which can magically shut up my devilish inner critic and help me to let go and just write *sigh*. I love your videos, Kate, they help me to keep writing. Thanks a million! :-) (I'm Swiss and want to apologize for my poor English.)

Q1: I use Word mostly. But I like Google Docs. For the life of me, I can't get comfortable with Scrivener, even though I know it's supposed to be awesome for novel writing.

Literally wrote a 4 page summary by hand, transferring to my computer right now, and am color coding each part of it as main plot, subplot one, subplot two, etc. and then I’m gonna break down the scenes I have currently and will organize those by summary too. (Do you see to what extent I am avoiding actual writing? 🤣😭)

Hi Kate! I have a question for you or anyone who writes in Scrivener: For your 2nd, 3rd, etc. drafts, do you create a new Scrivener project for the full rewrite, or do you create a new folder in the same project? Let me know what works for you!

Our Corgi puppy Willow will jump up into my lap and write with me just like Zelda did! ❤ Totally wonderful way to work! I love how scrivner lets me separate acts and chapters and scenes, but the cork board feature is something I have to do in person with post its instead of on a screen. I have been outlining my multi POV story since April and Im nowhere near done... Anyone else a pathological outliner?

Which do you find better for plotting? Campfire Blaze or Scrivener?

Kate, do you know of a non scrivener app or program that has a cockboard option. I need something that I can use with my editor to structure 3 part chapters (the content is completely interchangeable and I need something that we can drag and drop etc

I’m writing a book called Apocalypse and it takes place in the year 4042

do you ever revise non-linearly? my current WIP has me revising from the midpoint out and it's been super interesting!

well, i don't know how i edit a first draft since i'm in the thick of it right now. i use Scrivener to draft and left my book for six weeks, *and* i just found out i hit 30 subs today!

What do you use for speech to text?

Are you planning any special camp write with me?

I use Google docs just so that it doesn't get lost on my 7+ year old laptop haha

Whatever happened to the video of you unboxing your computer? Unless I’m delusional 😭

Is your kitty cat a girl or boy