I TRIED WRITING LIKE R.L. STINE // a writing vlog
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- čas přidán 29. 10. 2019
- Time to learn R.L. Stine's secret to writing over 300 books, outlining a novel in 4 days, and not getting sucked down the hole of writer's block.
0:08 What's R.L. Stine's writing routine/process, anyways??
6:03 The experiment!
16:31 Bonus thoughts & R.L. Stine motivation & also the crappy alternative titles I came up with for Project Death...
☟↓ QUESTIONS FOR YOU BELOOOOOW! ↓☟
D I S C U S S I O N Q U E S T I O N S :
What do you think of R.L. Stine's process and mindset? Do you think you could outline an entire novel in 4 days? (And also....2 weeks. 2 weeks to write a first draft. AHH.) With enough practice, do you think you could get there? (I don't think I could.)
Do you have any authors you might be trying to channel their ~writing spirit~ this NaNoWriMo?
L I N K S M E N T I O N E D :
The writing program created by R.L. Stine on his own website!: rlstine.com/rlstine-writing-pr...
The Writers' Digest article about his routine and pet peeves: www.writersdigest.com/writing...
A quick version of R.L. Stine's (and others!) writing routines: www.writersdigest.com/whats-n...
Some quick quotes: awritersden.wordpress.com/tag...
🌎 F I N D M E O N L I N E :
🐤 Twitter: / cavanaughwrites
📸 Instagram: / katecavanaughwrites
💛 Patreon: / katecavanaugh
🔆 Website: katecavanaugh.co/index.php/blog/
✍️ Medium: / katecavanaughwrites
🙌 NaNoWriMo: nanowrimo.org/participants/wr...
🎥 E Q U I P M E N T U S E D & W H A T I W R I T E W I T H :
*My bullet journal / writing & travel notebook: amzn.to/2UkrF0r
*My main camera for vlogging and time-lapse: amzn.to/321RbtW
Scrivener for my word processing needs: www.literatureandlatte.com/sc...
*My "rainbow pens": amzn.to/2ZAiWIw
*My tiny camera with a gimbal for on-the-go and motion-lapse: amzn.to/2ZtQzzF
Aeon Timeline to create visual timelines for my stories: www.aeontimeline.com/
*these are affiliate links!
💌 S N A I L M A I L M E :
PO Box #1022
607 E. Blanco Road
Boerne, TX 78006
#authortube #writingvlog #writingexperiment - Zábava
~OTHER "I TRIED WRITING LIKE" VIDEOS~
J.K. Rowling: czcams.com/video/dDGt7pJPHIE/video.html
Stephen King: czcams.com/video/0UvWU8bEbPw/video.html
Authortubers: czcams.com/video/rYI5Rp_mhxk/video.html
Brandon Sanderson: czcams.com/video/EJfldHXFKk8/video.html
Shonda Rhimes: czcams.com/video/7QU0mU2rO3g/video.html
ALSO: I realize R.L. Stine's real first name is probably Robert and not just straight Bob (thus the R) but look...he goes by Bob, okay? Let me be surprised by this bahaha.
Ok
Try writing a movie with robbie Jones
It's Rbob, but the R is silent.
Goosebumps was my freaking CHILDHOOD. The fact he can write one in TWO WEEKS and actually name it before is mind blowing lol
His books are pretty short, though, about 20,000-30,000 words or novella-sized. Basic math, but that's 10-15 days writing 2,000 words a day.
The thing with his titles is that, especially with fear street, they are more like miniature prompts. For example: the prank call. If I told you to come up with a 30k horror story about a prank call, you probably could. Don't be discouraged by that.
That's an excellent point!!
In that same vein, you could try out all your potential titles and see if any work as a prompt to continue your story. Maybe one makes you think about it in a different way?
I'm 23 years old Thai women. I fall in love with R.L.Stine yesterday. I read his book for first time, I bought it from 2nd hand store only 10 Bath (about $0.2) and now I obsessed with it!!!!
I hear you saying the titles of your book and for some reason think "Say My Name" would be a good title for Project Death, but then I get that Destiny's Child song stuck in my head lol.
Saaaaaame. I'm now walking through Animal Kingdom with it stuck in my head so I blame you.
You're probably not looking for suggestions on titles but one just popped up in my head and I just felt like sharing... Death's Name but it's probably dumb...🤣
@@KateCavanaugh bahahaha!
@@purplehermit Gah! I love that scene in Breaking Bad!!
I'm such musical trash that I thought of the Beetlejuice musical....
One of the best days of my childhood was a trip to a yard sale, where I found a giant box just FULL of Goosebumps books, and the original owner sold it to my mom for like ten bucks and I was on cloud nine for like a year straight after that. He definitely inspired my interest in horror and my interest in writing at a young age, so I loved this video ugh. Also I’m so excited to see where Project Death goes!
My mom sold all mine at a garage sale and I wish I still had them!! The one with the dummy done f'd me up to this day 😂
@@nikkireigns Quite a funny coincidence, perhaps April's books are yours lol.
Your reaction to his name being Bob reminded me of the moment it hit me that some of David Bowie’s friends probably called him Dave. Like, could you imagine calling David Bowie just plain DAVE?!
TehBuggy oh my gosh, now I can’t stop thinking about this! 😂
Several suggestions for your book name -
"Death Trade" "Death Deal"
"Trade of Death" "Deal of Death"
"Name Reaper" "Names of Reaping"
"Dead/Death Market" "Death Exchange" "Death-changer" (last one is a play on 'game-changer' or 'name-changer')
"Hallowname" (Hallow = Saint, so literally "Saint-name"... or even "Saint Death"? Maybe he visits once a year lol)
I like Name Reaper the best :)
Between him and Christopher Pike.... They inspired my New Adult Urban Fantasy. 🎃👻🍫🍬🍭
Kali Angel Christopher Pikes were everything to me. Have you listened to the teen creeps podcast? They talk about all the old books in that genre. So good!
Don’t know if you’re interested in suggestions or if it fits the story but how about, “Death Knows my Name”? I would wanna read that!
YOU SHOULD DO 'MY NAME IS..." AS THE TITLE. DON'T SAY THE NAME, JUST MY NAME IS.
I have a week (5 days) to "discover" the story, working from basic 3-act structure all the way to a details scene map. I'm on the same camp as R.L. Stine: the more I prepare before sitting down to write, the less likely I am to get stuck. In fact, I don't believe in writer's block at all. Period. Whenever I get close to getting stuck in a scene or sequence I just skip to another part of the story I want to write more. I tend to write out of order (as in: write the ending before the middle and only then tackling the first chapter, for instance). I've been doing it for years and it has worked wonders for me so far.
This NaNoWriMo I want to channel my inner Gaiman. I'm going to try to write magical realism for the first time and I need all the help I can get. I'm a plot-driven author. Lyrical isn't really something I've done before. I'm not sure I can...
As a title I really love The Name of Death! I actually wanted to suggest it before I knew you had thought of it! But keep up the good work, it'll come in time!
I love how inspired you are by him!
Yes! A childhood obsession with his books and now, as a writer and an adult, he can inspire me in more ways! It's awesome.
You’re getting closer to 30,000 subscribers! You deserve them, congrats Kate!
Woooooo! :) thank you!
I am also terrible at titles! I called my current project The Crow for the longest time and then was like "help I need a title??" to my bff and she came through with a good one.
Like Harry Potter, Goosebumps wasn't allowed in my house growing up (although I wasn't super mad about it... horror was *not* my thing), but I also can't imagine completely outlining in 4 days. I'm having a hard enough outlining in a month... and I'll be channeling my own writing spirit this NaNo b/c I don't think I have the capability to do much more than that (two jobs plus writer life~)
Growing up we weren't allowed to read his books. I remember my older brother getting caught with a whole stack hidden in his closet. I need to read some! Love these videos. Helps me with trying out different processes.
Catalleya Storm same! I wasnt allowed either!
*were you in Fahrenheit 451?*
Panic!withsomecoffee Christian Conservative Midwestern Homeschool lol. So no SpongeBob, rugrats, live TV, R. L. Stine, Halloween *anything*, Mulan, Scooby Doo, TMNT, etc...., with Harry Potter til way later and no watching movie adaptations if we hadn't read the book in advance. No game consoles either. Or Pokémon, Digimon, Yugioh, MTG, D&D, etc...
Took a LOT of catching up to do...
You get caught having watched or read the wrong thing and it was hell to payyyy
@@KaterinaDeAnnika all of those. Except we were allowed to watch Mulan. Just not anything with magic. I've since become a rebel and now I'm here. Lol.
Thank you for MORE perspective & inspiration. Color me incited to do the month long keyboard Rumba 🕺⌨️💃... FINGERS AT THE READY! ✍️✏️📖
Preparing the outline chap by chap sounds scary but it's a GREAT idea. I can't wait to try it out! Thanks Kate, as usual, for creating this series. I'm loving every moment of it. I've also learnt alot through the writers you tried writing like and through YOU! Pls continue this series!
the fact that you missed the chance of doing the pun 'He goes as Bob iRL' left me sad hahaha Don't ask me why but I thought you were going to say that :)
Ive never heard of rl Stine before also nanowrimo in 2 days (it gets closer by the second)
me too, didn't even know goosebumps was a book series.
Oh yes, a new writing experiment! Wait a sec, I'll get my coffee! ^_^
I actually think „Don’t Say My Name“ would be a really nice title. :) And I also really like „The Name Of Death“!
These videos always inspire me so much!!!
I loved his books so much as a kid that they were the only thing my parents could ground me from when I would get in trouble! I had collected almost all of them until one of my younger cousins needed more books to read, so I gave them all away. Your writing experiment videos help me to realize that writing routines exist, in which I have no routine at all (or maybe I do but I can't see it, haha). Also I do agree with R. L. Stine's quote, to write for an audience! Some stories are meant to entertain!
Omg I’m so ready for this
WOOOO.
Yayayayay the perfect way to start my morning 😍 Love your videos!
I was so excited to this this come up in my feed. I love RL Stine. I met him several times and he’s a lovely man, so humble. 💜
I love R.L.Stine.
SAME.
Oh my gosh, I'm watching this video right now and have just learned about Mr. Stine's writing program. It's literally the most helpful writing tutorial I've ever seen - and I've seen loads! Thank you sooo much, Kate! :-)
Yes!!!!! I've been waiting for this! 🎃❤
Loved this! Thank you. I was actually wanting you to do this, and you did! :D
Yay!! 🙌🏻 I’m so excited! 🎃
🎃🎃🎃
NaNo’s rolling up fast! Hard to believe it!
I really enjoy these writing like vids. It’s been a great way to play with other writing styles to find/rediscover your own methods. I’ve been curious about Tolkien or Brian Jacques’s work styles since they have written the stuff I want to do.
I love how enthusiastic you are in the video, just great.
Hi yes, titles are the hardest, I too have a long list of UGH!!! bad titles. I still haven't found the "ONE "yet... I get so inspired by all your videos, love the pupirone too..lol thanks for all your time working out these Authors writing routines, I find them really cool and take a few ideas here and there to make it my own. Happy Writing NaNo this year.
Hey girl you totally inspire me you rock keep going!!!
Awww yay, thank you! I'm so glad. :)
It's always fun to watch you try out these different writing/novel prepping styles. :)
The only writer I’m going to channel during Nano is you Kate! 😂 You’re so motivating!
He’s written so many. I’ve even found some without barcodes and stuff at Goodwill. Just random books I never knew existed.
Another great video, and perfect right before the start of Nano! I am so happy you did another experiment, and R.L. Stine is truly an inspiration, especially because of the breadth of his production during the years.
Always interesting to follow your process and trying out new things.
Good luck with Nano (I'll be trying to reach 50k in two weeks, which kinda makes me "similar" to R.L.Stine... apart from the difference between the final products, ah!) !! Always love your videos!
I'm finishing up some heavy outlining now. Super excited for NaNo!
This is an awesome video. I might wanna try writing like him, too. I love RL Stine, he is incredible, especially with his routine & fact he claims he does not get writer's block. He can do a book a month, so incredible & inspiring. I loved his books as a kid and did a book report on him in 5th grade lol.
Your struggles with naming this has wormed its way into my brain. As I was falling asleep I couldn't help but brainstorm for you. The only one I can remember is "The names in my hand". Maybe this sparks something for you! And I understand you. I am not happy with the name of my project either...
I had finish a first draft in two weeks. Those two weeks were unforgettable 😵. Haven't touched it to edit until today 😅.
I love RL Stine! And loved this video! 💜💜💜
This one was sooo gooooood 😍 Goosebumps used to terrify me ahaha 😂
I have never left you a comment, I think. Or maybe I did months ago. But I wanted you to know that you are my favorite Authortuber (can you say that?😂). I love all your videos, but especially your "I tried writing like" videos. Please, keep doing them 💜💜
POSTING EVEN BEFORE THIS STARTS BECAUSE I'M SO EXCITEDDDDDD FOR R L STINE KAAAAAAAAATE
ALL OF MY SPOOKY DREAMS HAVE BEEN FULFILLED!!!
The summer before seventh grade, my family had no TV, and I read a Goosebumps book a day (I also baked something every day). They definitely hold a special place in my heart! I've also been trying to lay out a detailed outline for this NaNoWriMo, and aaahhhhhhh I only have two days. o.O
The fact that he comes up with the title first is...something I can’t even process LOL titles are Hard. It’s interesting to me though that he outlines in four days! It makes me feel a tiny bit validated that I just, essentially in freak accident form, plotted the last half of my nano project in one sitting. (I’m pretty sure I blacked out for part of the process hahaha) but thank you so much for doing these videos! I love them, and I think his process might be whose I try to incorporate throughout November~ Good luck with Nano!
I'm starting my outline today. Yeah, you heard that right. This is going to be a painful month.
Goosebumps are the first books I remember reading as a kid. Welcome to Dead House came out when I was 8 years old, so I probably read other books before that, but I don't really remember. I do have a copy of Bambi from the first grade sitting in my bookshelf.
What about just “In the Name Of”?
I love all your videos
OMG, I can't wait to watch this!! And, to answer your second question, the person whose spirit I'll be trying to channel this NaNoWriMo is definitely you. I get that you're not published yet, but I really would like to try the fast drafting method. I usually can get a story finished pretty quickly depending on how interested I am in the premise.
I have a list of stories I'd like to get written and hopefully submitted to a couple lit mags over the next two months.
Plus...I heard back from that lit mag I mentioned a while ago...the two stories I submitted to them were rejected :(
But it's okay! I still have 4 more lit mags to hear back from and two of my stories are "in-progress" on Submittable, so keep your fingers crossed! I should hear back from one of them any day now (before Nov. 24th, I think), and I think it's my best story yet.
I also submitted a story that got a higher tier rejection from one of the most respected lit mags in the country to a BIG name lit mag. They pay $2/word, and the story is 8,279 words, so...Definitely keep your fingers crossed for that one!
I hope you're doing well and that life is going smoothly for you. Give Duke a head rub for me lol!
Take care!
RL Stine's book is all about my teenage day 😍 I still remember the saga series was the best ❤
Hey Kate! I am very much looking forward to your videos this Nano! They always help me get writing done and I am hoping this draft goes well! I am working on the 3rd draft of my book, and it has been a struggle. This is my first Nano and I am incredibly excited!
Also - you had the Seven Deaths of Evelyn Hardcastle open on a tab and if you haven't read it, you should! I finished it all in one day! It was amazing! One of the best murder/fantasy books I've ever read.
right before NANOWRIMO, perfect motivation!
His Masterclass is AMAZING
Came here to say he had one!! I'm saving up so I can take his and Gaiman's.
Chelsea Writes Books I got into Masterclass really early. I’ve taken like 40 classes. Gaiman’ Sis really good too. Last Black Friday they did a 2 for 1 membership deal. Keep your eye out for that and maybe you and a friend can go in together
God I wanna read project death!!!!!!! Every time you talk about it it sounds amazing!! (I really like The Name of Death as a title.) 💀💕
The Goosebumps books were my childhood and the Fear Street books were my teenage years.
It's been a while since I read any of his books but I loved R L Stine when I was younger. In fact it was him that got me reading horror in the first place
R.L Stine literally was my favourite Point horror writer. I got a gold medal at the library for the summer reading challenge after reading The Baby-sitter. Beach House is one of the first books I can remember reading other than Enid Blyton's famous five books. The Hitch-Hiker was the most shocking twist in a book I ever had growing up! He's my childhood hero, and will always hold as one of my favourite authors.
I honestly had no idea who R. L. Stine was... but I loved your writing vlog, as usual
!
I love when the "writer brain" thing works, and everything in a novel makes sense.
Also, I wanted to ask if you'd mind doing a tutorial for the timeline thing?
Hi Kate!
You are such an inspiration. I like thinking up names, so I thought I'd post a few ideas!
What's in a Name?, Out, Damned Spot! (Allusions to Shakespeare), The Desert of One, The Cost of Living (could put 'cost' in red on the cover), The Art of Murder.. that's probably been used, Strategic Demise, Thirsty for Life, Toron's Red Project (sorry, I don't know the spelling), Toron's Dark Project, Death's Messenger, A Messenger to Dispatch, Costly Existence
Looking forward to doing Nano with you!
I don't know how I haven't watched this one yet but there it was, buried deep in my watch later list, unwatched. Ok. first off, I just had a great idea. You should do an I tried EDITING like so and so video. Because, well, because I said so :P Also, calling yourself out on your book "titles" you're the best haha You've got some solid ideas for names! You're not as terrible at naming things as you think!
@Kate Cavanaugh just wanted to say thank you, i have been watching your videos for only few weeks, but you have inspired me to get back into writing. I am currenly starting a book, which i have had ideas about for a very long time (project spiral) would love your opinions on some stuff in the future!? Keep up your amazing work i frikkin love your videos :)
Your videos encourage me so SO much for NaNoWriMo and all of my other writing projects 💕❤️🥰
My parents didn’t like me reading these as a kid, so whenever I was able to smuggle one out of the public or school library, I felt so sneaky, and I think that made me love them even more. 😆
“What’s in a name?”
Hey Kate,
First, you're "I write like" series is what helped me discover authortube, which I am joining officially next week for nanowrimo, so thanks.
More importantly, I figured a way around Google's answer in the video. There are 235 Goosebumps books. Google it that way, and you get a better answer.
Good luck and happy writing for nano!!❤
big fan of Rlstine😍
Happy first day of namorimo!!
Writing this comment before watching all of the vid: R.L. Stine also got me into reading as a kid! His books were just so exciting, before reading them I didn't realise books could be so much fun. :)
I really like R.L Stine's method, I'm actually doing something similar with my Nanowrimo. My outline is down to even having small bits of conversation I want to have happen. In September I also used a method like this and I was able to finish a novel in under a month (mind you it was just over 50k) and while I had a mid-writing outline change it feels pretty solid. This Nanowrimo I feel extremely confidant in my writing goal and think having a book plotted out so deeply means the book is already written in a sense, you're just copying it from your head to the paper. Now as for outlining in 4 days. I've done it! I had an epic fantasy novel I world built, made characters for, and outlined in 7 days, three of those days was for outlining. My biggest help was just picking subplots for characters and riding through the consequences of their actions.
I completely agree. Just because something has a similar basis as something else doesn't make it boring. My favorite Goosebumps book is number 9 I think it is, the ghost next door… 9 could have been let's get invisible. I forget. In any case, I do remember the story, and while I see very similar elements in all of the other books, there are still some books that are infinitely better then some of the other books in the Goosebumps series alone. Nightmare a fever swamp was great. Shocker on shock street wasn't all that good. And honestly common now that I am 20 years older than when I read all those books, I would probably not like any of them because they're just below my level of reading comprehension. But I can still breathe I appreciate the effort that he puts into them. And I still like the characters and I think the characters are part of what makes all of his books amusing.
R.L. Stine is what made me want to write. When I was a little kid and read his books, I wanted to create something like that. Now at 24 yrs old I still read his books. I have a small collection.
I love R.L. Stine!! Can you do James Patterson?
I didn't think titling all of my chapters would help me but it actually did. I find that often it helps with the setting or direction. Even if you feel like you need to change it. In my current project I changed one chapter names from the very generic "proving grounds" to the much more fitting (all be it juvenile) "Carbon Fiber Hardbody" and boom 17 pages in a night. I know it's not going to work for everyone, but worth giving it a try.
I laughed so hard when the list of all your projects came up instead of titles 😂😂
Bootfuly 🔥🔥🔥💛❤💙❤💜💙
The best writing day that I ever had was 27k. Practically a goosebumps novel.
Or in my case Act 1 😣
Thanks for your hardwork Kate 😀. You're keeping me on check and motivating me to finish my book.
I'm doing Act 2 for Nanowrimo 🙂.
Outlining in four days sounds difficult. I can barely do it in two months (but that’s main my procrastination.) But a novel in two weeks?!? Insane! I love your ‘writing like,’ series. Has doing it changed your writing routine?
Yes, could you do a video on the best tips you've learned from this series so far?! Like a guide video of quick tips to reference for those of us who forget things as soon as we...wait, where am I?
Instagram stories brought me here
Bahahah! SUCCESS.
Even if his works are formulaic, I don't think that's a bad thing! He's spent years perfecting how he writes his books, and it works, therefore he can keep pumping out great books. I find it's the same with art too, once artists find a simple original style that's appealing, it's a lot easier to make more pieces. It's just hard to get there!
Also, are we able to suggest names? 'Death by Name ' would be mine 👀
Greetings from a year in the future! I just did that Google search and he's up to "at least 31." Good job, Bob!
My brothers loved the Goosebumps books as children. I am definitely someone who has to plot extensively before I can write. Otherwise, I have no idea what to do, where to begin, etc. On a slightly different note, I would love to see you do a I Tried Writing Like Mary Higgins Clark. She's another super prolific author.
It wasn’t his “Goosebumps” series that got me into writing and reading. I was an adult by the time that series came along. However, his “Fear Street” series was pivotal for me.
I work at a library and he came to a book event we had years ago (and he does NOT make appearances so we were super lucky) and he is an absolutely lovely person.
you should try one of those title generators where you put in key words and it formulates different titles based on the words you used. It's similar to a name generator, but for titles!
How motivated you are makes me feel bad, because I haven't been able to write anything more than a paragraph for 7 years 😂 but these videos make me want to
Loving this "write like" series! I think R.L. Stine and Stephen King's routine is the most doable so far. Here's a title suggestion for your project death: "they all die in the end."
I love your titling method, I've adopted it and all of my works are 'Project [gemstone]'... except for Project Neon... which, ok so I guess we're both bad at titles :P
More than a pretty face and a great voice CZcamsrs don't get enough credit thank you for all you do and endure
I like “in the name of death”!
Here's a title idea: "The Exchange" or something playing on that idea. The verb or the action of trading names rather than death angle? Hopefully that sparks more ideas for you.
I grew up reading R.L. Stine's Goosebumps series - at least what was available in my school libraries. Love most of his books. I hate the dummies and gnomes books because those things creep me out - they still do. His other books don't scare me at all. They are interesting and fast-paced!
your title brainstorming reminds me of this one regina spektor lyric: "If you never say your name out loud to anyone
/ They can never ever call you by it"