am I just a quitter?? | LET'S CHAT: trends across passions & hobbies
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- Опубліковано 27 бер 2024
- As I've started crocheting more and more, I've noticed some burgeoning trends between the textile art I create and my writing projects! When I fully DNF a project or put it on the backburner it's usually for one of four reasons:
1) I'm not skilled enough yet (ft. Scooby Doo x Princess Bride & my hexagon bag)
2) My own heartache is spilling over and infecting the project (ft. my NaNoWriMo scarf and Project Death)
3) The project just takes foreeeeever, almost like the opposite of the "shiny new idea syndrome" (ft. my blanket & The Meridian Maps)
4) I actually DO finish it but don't feel comfortable giving or gifting it to anyone as I'd planned (ft. my dragon amigurumi and Project Purple)
Of course, one of the wonderful things about both writing AND crochet, is that even the bits and bobs we don't use, we can often repurpose. Plus, so long as you use stitch markers or back-up your projects, you can always return to them, weeks, months, or years later.
D I S C U S S I O N Q U E S T I O N S :
Does any of this resonate with you?? Do you have any hobbies where you're starting notice patterns or trends between it and writing, in regards to how you work or create?
Do you have any hobbies or different types of art you're hoping to try out this year?
Could you put your DNFs into categories? (I'd also love to know if you have DNFs for categories of books you've read, too!)
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This year, I started crocheting again. Like you, I had learned when I was younger, but all I knew was the chain stitch and double crochet. I had never read a pattern before, but Instagram flashed me an ad around Christmas for a sweater pattern that was so cute. I decided to just do it. I've learned several stitches via UA-cam to follow this pattern and so far, the back is done and the front is well underway. I went into this with the idea of fighting my issues with needing to do things right the first time. I often spend too much time learning aspects of a thing before just trying. I thought crochet would be a good way to try a new "jump in and learn as you go" philosophy because no materials would be wasted. If I messed up, I could simply frog it and try again. It's been a really rewarding experience to learn new things and be proud of myself without punishing myself for perceived failure or lack of skill.
Awww omg I love hearing that!! I’m so glad it gave you an opportunity to challenge yourself! Please update me when you’ve completed your sweater!
Are you kidding me??? That red dragon is the cutest little thing ever and any one who wouldn't fawn over getting that as a gift has no sunshine in their heart.
I *love* when writers compare writing to another art hobby, because there is so much overlap and you can learn so much by doing this. I hope you do more videos like this in the future that allow you to analyze writing through a different artistic-perspective.
I am the worst for starting things and not finishing -- books, writing, art, videos games, tv series, even movies!
I keep a scrap journal for random ideas and I always allow myself to write up random story ideas and scenes that pop into my head but I really only have one WIP that I work on at any given point in time. I think it's partly that I recognized that I personally can't switch modes so easily.
I utilize my actual journaling time for brain dumping and keep the scrap journal for anything that could someday become a story. It helps a lot.
Dropping my ambitions helped a lot, especially after five+ years of chronic illness. I think most of writing is just putting in the boring work and understanding that it's always going to be that big blanket project. Just the commitment to showing up and working even knowing that each deadline isn't actually an ending until it's over way at the distant horizon.
I know some writers get that burst of manic passion and finish a novel that's not half bad. I think most of us end up being more monogamous, focusing on a passion project at a time over years of effort and routine. I think it's okay to be the latter, the work is still compelling. I think it just takes that acceptance of what you personally are looking to write vs the writer you wish you could be.
I've got this series I've been working on and it is the story I've been trying to write since my teens but I think I felt like I should be more prolific, write in more genres, explore more stories. So I meandered for some time before I finally sat down and accepted that this is the story I actually care about.
I feel like unfinished projects are often about the journey we're on. Creative people have lots of interests but fewer committed passions. Lots of flings, a few long term partners 😂
My word for this year is "finish", because I am good at starting, but not finishing xD But we have to remember that it's sometimes ok to not finish everything we start =)
Every project I crochet teaches me something. Sometimes it teaches me what TO do, and sometimes what NOT to do. 😂
For the bag! Crochet 3 of the blue centers, and then work each color block on all 3 pieces, and then finish with the white edge for all 3, then you can connect the pieces with the same white yarn. This guarantees your guage and spacing is identical for the parts of the hexagons that match up!
hah today after 9 years i returned to crochet/knitting and NOW you drop this video omg
PERFECT TIMING! :)
I hope you have so much fun returning to it and that it feels like coming home in some ways. :) What are you planning to work on first?
Okay hobbies aside, I love the earrings!!
THANK YOU. I got them at a little farmer’s market!
Omg 😳 you’re my unicorn!! I learned to crochet at around 4 from my grandmother Concietta❤ I’ll be 65 this year! so glad I found your channel and proud to subscribe 🎉
I find the ‘when have you actually quit vs just put something down for a while?’ question really interesting, and I’d definitely recommend Tim Clare’s ‘Knowing When to Quit’ episode of the Death of 1000 Cuts podcast. I like to believe whatever I need to believe in that moment. If I’ve grown so jaded with a project that it gives me relief to say I’ve completely quit it, then that’s what I think to myself. If it gives me hope and satisfaction to tell myself I’ll one day return, then I do that. What actually happens in the end doesn’t matter so much to me as managing my mindset around it. We’ll only know for sure which projects were truly quit when I die and can write no more!
My grandma taught me how to crochet when I was a little girl. I have been getting back into it myself. This is so...fun that so many of us have this in common.
oh my god that anecdote about the Scooby Doo meets Princess Bride (which sounds amazing by the way) hit WAY too close to home. The first ever real novel I wrote was a MESS. it was 200K words and I bit off way more than I could chew. I was doing some weird nonsense that straight up would not have worked outside of some avant garde kind of thing which I was not. But I had to finish it. At the time it was painful and I felt awful when it was done, but looking back on it, that was one of the best learning experiences with writing I had in those early days.
This is me! I start and stop (or pause)a lot of projects. Some I know I’ll finish at some point others probably not both crocheting and in writing. I’ve actually have a goal this year of finishing a few of the crochet projects before I start a new one or at least before buying new yarn lol and committing to getting one story drafted and edited. Fingers crossed!
Mostly I know this is just how I am and try to give myself grace instead of being hard on myself.
The little dragon is so cute! I hope you make more, even if you don’t gift them! Love hearing about all your writing and crochet projects! 😍🥹
Thank you for being so open. Personally, I think it is a skill being able to drop projects when necessary. I struggle a lot with that. I have so many open projects (not writing but work related). They are clogging up my mind. I think by my nature I like to deep focus on just one project at a time. Having too many demotivates me, as it slows my overall process. I need time to switch and get back into something else. And yet I just don't know which ones to drop.. but I also had projects on hold because I was lacking skills and then came back to it once I had learned more. That is kind of nice to see how far I have come :)
I love the fact that you aren’t giving up on crocheting, only giving the nano scarf new life. I’m still chugging along with my Milwordy blanket… it feels slow going, but I know that it’s going as fast as it needs to. You know? Lol. 😂
FOR SURE. I love your blanket, too! I still love the idea of tying my writing in with crocheting somehow, just not NaNo-specific bahaah.
@@KateCavanaugh Sounds like a good idea! 👍
@@KateCavanaugh Oh! For me, crocheting little characters is harder than granny squares... Lol. I also have a video on here on how to crochet a granny square if you want to watch it. It's good for beginners, or those that have forgotten how to make squares (trust me, for a while I had forgotten). Lol. 😁
I've been crocheting since I was 8 (16 years!!) and I'm now starting to write crochet patterns to sell soon. For any beginners who happen to be reading this comment, I have some Advice:
1: The worst part about crocheting is weaving in the ends. This is one reason why Amigurumi is nice for beginners, because you can hide the ends on the inside and you don't have to actually weave them in.
2: Hats, arm warmers, and scarves are good beginner projects, but consider if you'll actually wear them. A book sleeve, kindle case, tarot/MTG card case, dice bag, or bowl cozy are all simple projects that might be better suited to your life.
3: If you struggle to make rectangles without them getting all wonky, put a stitch marker in the first and last stitch of the row so you don't miss them.
4: Blankets take absolutely ages to make, even if you work on it every day. I've made scarves that have taken 150 hours, so imagine how long a blanket actually takes.
5: If your least favorite part of crocheting is making a long chain, and then crocheting that first row into the chain, I highly recommending watching tutorials on Foundation Single Crochet, or Foundation Double Crochet. It's a little tricky to figure out at first, but it saves SO much time once you know how to do it.
THE FREAKING ENDS. I realized this pain when I made my partner's scarf and alternated colors so I had a tooooon of ends to weave in and omg bahaha. Definitely a skill I hope to get better at (but will also be more mindful of the projects I choose to begin with so I have to do it less 👀).
ALSO TAROT CARD CASE HOW HAVE I NOT STUMBLED UPON THIS EARLIER. Going to search for this and start adding even more to my To Be Crocheted list immediately.
Thank you so much for your advice and PLEASE let me know when your patterns are ready to sell! (Or if you need a super beginner to test them bahaha.)
This is such a fun peek behind the crafting curtain. I totally identify. I stopped crocheting blankets because they attract dog hair and it's almost impossible to get it out. I did learn how to knit, with the goal of being able to make my own sweater. I got good enough to knit in the round, and the sweaters I made for other people were adorable, but the one I made for me resembled a crocheted blanket. So I don't do that anymore. I made my goal, and that was that.
I'm much more dedicated to writing and piano. But the brain needs a respite, something fresh and new. So I'm doing computer courses on Brilliant. LOL Love the video. You are wonderful. And you have so much talent!!!! Love you! 💜💜💜💜💜💜💜💜
I don't really have any creative outlets other than reading and writing, but in 6th grade, my home ec(sp?) teacher showed us how to do needlepoint and that was really fun! I have minor cerebral palsy (most people can't tell unless they were to pay attention and see my hands shake lol) so threading a needle is basically impossible, but I wouldn't mind getting back into it from time to time.
I've been reading Bookshops & Bonedust and I absolutely love it. It's getting me in the mood to write my fantasy coffee shop story so I'm planning to work on that for April. It'll have actual coffee recipes I made in the back of the book. ❤
I love your little red dragon, he's so unique and special! 🐲 I found myself nodding eagerly so many times during your video. I have a lot of hobbies too, and I tend to jump from watercolour to knitting to writing to gardening to hand lettering to learning languages … It's perfectionism that makes it hard for me to stick with a project and finish it. Deep down, I still think I need to find “the right hobby”, the one I'm really passionate about; and the one I love and am at least a little bit talented at. On the other hand, it's the learning process that's fun.
I love your videos, Kate, you're awesome! ✨
I used to crochet a lot. From the quick glimpse of your hexagon project and not knowing what pattern you used, it looks like your stitches were in the wrong place. It's hard to describe, easier to show, but it looks like you put the new stiches in the space between the stitches of the previous round. Which basically made each round short by at least 2 stitches per "side" of the hexagon. They should have been in the topmost part of the stitch of the previous round so that each round got progressively bigger.
I used to do thread crochet, where you make images in the crochet project, like Christmas trees and mountains scenes. Those projects were usually table runners or adornment for armchairs and the back of couches. I don't think I have the attention span for that now - lol
Try using that "fluffy" yarn for the dragons. It's a bit of a hassle to get the hang of it at first (at least it was for me, but it might also have been, because I used white yarn and couldn't see the stitches very well), but it's much more forgiving overall. (And the figures usually end up being a little bigger, too!)
Good luck with all of your heart projects! 💜
I’ve been wanting to try the fluffy yarn so this really is the perfect excuse! Thank you!!
My mom was an excellent quilter/seamstress. She hoarded fabric for someday. Beautiful stuff. Probably why I'm a declutterer. Have a lovely day
Hmm, I just realized that one of my writing issues is the same with knitting. I know I went wrong somewhere but could really use someone to physically look and show me how to course correct.
I also feel you hit the nail on the head with this entire video.
OKAY WAIT YES. I should add that to my list too! Sometimes it's not even someone else, it's just Me, Several Weeks/Months/Years removed that can see it.
The dragon is definitely good enough to give. Everything can be better, but it does not mean it is not good enough. Dragon is neat.
I think that's great you took apart the scarf and gave yourself permission to give the yarn a new life without those unpleasant feelings attached to it. I have a few writing projects going and I think they are only considered quitting it if you have no desire to return to them. I would like to get back into embroidery starting and keeping momentum is the toughest.
Oooh, embroidery is so fun! I've dabbled in that a bit and want to get back into it this year, too.
This is inspiring me to go back to crocheting! Love this video, and totally agree that shelving/abandoning projects (although I never officially call my stuff "abandoned" because I always do circle back around eventually) is totally normal! And the reason I do it most is because I realize it's not the right time (or I'm not in the right headspace, or I'm not as skilled as I want to be for the story yet). And yeah... NaNoWriMo 😬
This couldn't have come at a more perfect time! I was actually inspired by your scarf last November to do a writing related temperature blanket for this year! I've been keeping on top of tracking the word counts, but am about a month behind on the blanket itself. I feel the same way as you for a lot of my writing and knitting/crochet projects. There are projects I started in both that I just can't make myself finish. I have one writing project that's near and dear to my heart that I've rewritten a handful of times, but I don't see it going where I want it to. My big yarn projects that I always seem to start, but not finish, is sweaters. Some haven't been finished because I acquired new skills that made the current sweater less appealing to finish, others I just let languish for too long and couldn't jump back in. And I really understand the gift-giving dilemma, I've made things that I thought were cute and really cool, but just didn't live up to what my expectations were to give as a gift. I can't wait to see what else you make!
This was such a great conversation, Kate. Thank you! It's so relatable what you mentioned, the tainted project/hobby is spot on. My family and I recently went through a very scary period, and I put everything on hold because I was so worried I would taint the things I love.
Happy to see you unravelling that strip XD I was going to suggest doing it for some catharsis!
That tiny dragon is absolutely adorable.....
Aww THANK YOU!
Definitely relate. I have so many fanfic and og stories left unfinished but also a TON of hobbies that I did for a few weeks and never picked up again like piano or guitar. But there are some that I return to every once in a while like painting or making journals. I was so hellbent on doing Twitch co-working streams. It’s always like an itch that can’t seem to go away and when you dig your toes into the water, you realize that it’s not for you…. Has happened countless times.
I learned how to knit when I was a kid, relearned as a adult, taught myself to crochet after that, and If I tell you I’ve no idea how to read a crochet pattern and just wing it every single time. Gees like I could not for the life of me do a omigoumi (did I spell that right who knows?) I did a few scarfs, a few hats, jumped into a blanket that I gave up on mostly because it is so boring to do 1000 of the same stitch over and over again. Maybe I will unravel it and make a few hats for people. The point is it’s not just a you thing to give up on things and it’s not a failure to give up on something.
Hey kate its been a while since I seen a video of yours. I like that painting on the shelf back there. With the palm trees and ocean. I use to crochet to. I should get back into it to. I have a blanket that my great grandma crocheted back when she was alive. Its so nice to.
I don’t think there’s any way to judge when you’re out of your scope until you’re right in the middle of it. I definitely relate though. Im so attached to my current story, I started it when I was back in college but I had to stop because it was so overwhelming. I had no idea what I was doing. Now, with more studies and outlining, I restarted it and made a deal with myself to finish it before starting any other novel because I’ve yet to write a full story. It’s always snippets or disconnected scenes. Who knows if I’ll share or publish it when it’s done but at least it feels more doable the version I wrote way back when.
i’m sorry scooby doo meets princess bride??? that is literally the coolest concept i need to know more!!
I remember the OG days with Project Scooby Doo Meets Princess Bride.
This might be a repeat post. I did something weird.
I like the term UFOs for projects that aren't finished and may never be finished.
My UFO is a screenplay called From the Moon to the Earth. I have an outline and the first part of the screenplay but I just don't know when I'll get back to it.
I truly feel there are projects that we do so we can prove to ourselves that we can. And that's okay. I like the NYC Midnight writing challenges to get that feeling, even if some of the feedback is sometimes ehh. I like the screenplay ones so I retain that skill.
I make blankets for my cousins and SiL kids and I have 5 still to make. I took a break because my twins wanted me to make them blankets and I didn't want to put that off. Of course, last week I had to frog one because I made a mistake in row 1 and needed to start over.
I'm learning tablet/card weaving this year. I'm on 8 card projects and that's a good start.
That’s so funny! I was just learning to crochet because I was inspired by Elyse’s granny square tutorial!
YESSSSSS, I need to go look up that tutorial! Also if you haven't already, cannot recommend Toni at TL Yarn Crafts enough! She has great crochet content and some really helpful tutorials too. :)
@@KateCavanaugh Thank You!!
this was such an interesting concept, pairing your crochet projects with your writing!
Thanks Grayson!! 🧶🖋️
The crochet mistake isn’t as bad as you think it is. Just make the next two hexagons the top of the bag and that one the bottom and do a single crochet stitch attachment on the inside of the bag instead of a slip stitch attachment.
You're an ENFP. The main cognitive function you use is extraverted intuition, which seeks new ideas, possibilities, and theories--so your day is filled with a hundred, "Look, a squirrel!" moments. This also means that starting or exploring something new is more attractive to you than finishing something old.
I've taken the MBTI several times over the past decade and have never gotten ENFP. That's so interesting that's how it comes across though!
i agree there is a period of grieving when you DNF a project.
Oooh for sure. And some projects require a longer grieving period!
Like you it was my gran who taught me to crochet and knit and she had me knit baby jumpers for babies in Africa which was a simple stocking stitch and a very easy pattern, something that can easily be done in a day or two. For crochet she had me make slippers and mittens, for this she made along side me. When I started again a few years ago I made a granny square blanket for my mum and it did take me a while to do as it was something that I didn’t do on a daily basis it was just something that I would pick up whenever the mood took me as such it took me two years to make and it’s big enough for a single bed only so not big enough for her bed, but she loves it and decided that she would use it more as a throw. On its completion I decided I wouldn’t make anything of that size again as such I have made a few baby blankets. However, I recently had the confidence to make a cardigan for the first time and yes there are mistakes as the sleeves are too long, but I have learnt from that and will be making a cardigan for my mum. When she gets it is another story (I have to get the yarn first!!). To note granny squares you can make bags, mittens, hats, cushion covers, it doesn’t need to be a blanket. I have found if I put a time limit on myself then I don’t enjoy the process, and I would rather enjoy crafting than not. 🙂🇬🇧
I love fibre arts because a lot of the creative fear and dread that basically stopped me from writing all together is for whatever reason more manageable when it's knitting or crocheting.
I also have a ton of mental health issues that just make crocheting more accesible than writing. I can be creative without needing to expend mental resources I don't have. Most of my crochet is following someone else's creative plan and idea, with some room for me to iterate, instead of putting pressure on myself to create and execute an idea entirely from scratch (which is essentially what writing is).
I find that fibre arts isn't associated with as many lofty ideas about being an Artiste™ or writing your Magnum Opus, or being born talented or a Writer™, so if I mess up a crochet pattern I don't feel like a bad person or not good enough or like somehow takes away from my personhood. It still hurts, it's still hard to have to undo work or give up on a project or to mess up over and over again, but it's just has less psychodrama I guess? And less pressure to fulfill some artistic stereotype or to find conventional sucess by getting published. I just crochet because I like crocheting. It makes me happy and even when it's frustrating it's worth doing more than not doing. And I like finished objects too, and having a tangible tactile thing that I can make visible progress on and can be finished without needing approval or acceptance from an industry or other people.
When my mental health got a lot worse and essentially became a pretty debilitating chronic illness, I basically lost the ability to write in any sustainable or enjoyable way, and so finding new creative outlets has been kind of essential in giving me ways to express myself when a huge part of me was lost. It also allows me to identify and tackle tendencies I have within the creative process that showed up in both my writing and other artistic endeavours. So I really resonate with this video!
I'm a notorious hobby-hopper and project-collector. I start 6 things and finish maybe 2. Recently I made a deal with myself to only have 5 WIPs, and that I could only start a new one if I finished one. Then promptly started a 6th a couple of days after.
I think we all deserve to play though. Not every story needs to be finished - sometimes we just need to try things, and then set it aside once the experiment has run its course. It's never a waste of time. I recently recycled the opening image of an urban fantasy I half-wrote in 2019 for a horror short story. It's much more powerful now than it was in its old configuration.
As long as we keep creating and keep having fun, we'll reach our goals!
OMG YES. I love the way you put that. Some projects are just play!! And we definitely all deserve to play. :)
It is always okay to rip a piece and restart when it isn't working. As someone who tends to make patterns up rather than follow, I rip often. Its okay to start over.
Listen if someone gave me a little cute dragon that they made I wouldn’t care if they were perfect or even if the stitches or whatever were off because to me it’s the time and thought that is put into the gift. It’s adorable and I love it and your family will love them.
re: mysteries: you could always just go the edgar allen poe route and make the solution to the mystery completely unhinged
Lolol that's true -- always an option!
I still have a mile a minute afghan I started for my granddaughter back in 2006 (When she was born) and it still needs two panels to be attached to be done! So I totally get what your talking about~ Maybe/hopefully? I might have it finished by the time she turns 20(sih?)...🤣
I just ordered a 'how to do cryptic crosswords' book and a rubik's cube for hobbies :3 there's a whole technique behind cryptic crosswards and I love wordplay so excited to learn.
I’m also curious about when things are WIP versus quitting. I have some stories in mind where certain parts of them are so clear but I get overwhelmed with putting it all together and keep procrastinating on giving it real, concentrated effort. Also unrelated, where did you get those earrings 😍
hey i just started to learn to crochet! good timing!
I would love to get this little super cute dragon. 😍
And I don't think it's necessary to finish all projects we start, as long as it's not a symptom of a kind of psychological issue.
There are some story's of mine which are waiting to be finished. And it's fine. Sometimes I think, we are just too harsh to ourselves.
I love doing junk journals but always leave them aside before sewing them together... why?!?😅 they are basically done but I just abandon them. My story... well, after my complete success last year at the Nano challenges (first time ever trying) the way I felt DRAINED got me feeling a bit adverse to writing which is sad, so I decided to use camp to see if I can make it a habit to at least spend time on my project, main motivation being I need to finish at least my first draft (that I'm doing while transcribing what I had handwritten on my Zero Draft and adding) so that I can start working on book 2 which I'm very excited to work in as I have a few scenes already in my head since half way writing book 1 😅. My Zero Draft is not finished as I need about 4 to 6 scenes to finish it, but apparently, I just have an aversion to finishing projects 😅
The red dragon is so cute!!! Absolutely gift worthy as he is! Can you share the pattern for it?
perhaps somewhat related....i recently accepted the fact that im slow (or rather i do stuff slow lol). i write slow, i read slow, i crochet slow, i draw slow, hell i even drink slow (still working on my iced coffee from 8 hours ago 😅). i spent years comparing myself to literally everyone because it seemed that they all wrote faster, drew faster, etc than me (i was also like 16 which also probably didnt help lol), but i've (very, very recently, like two months ago??) accepted that hey i enjoy my writing sessions, i like spending time crocheting a singular hat, and there is literally no consequence (yet) so it's okay if i go slowly. and it's only slow when im comparing it to other people, to me, it's just my pace.
sorry to anyone who suffered through my whole rant lol
Ok, I can crochet almost any project but I cannot do amigurumi something about the little fiddly bits that bothers me. So I would be thrilled to bits to receive that little dragon (I think you have too much self doubt xxx) .
I learned doing granny squares and crochet coat hanger covers (Old School) I got taught the stitches by crocheting a heap of chain then going 1dc, 2dc, 1tr 2tr and so on row after row. It is tedious but once you learn the stitches and how they are written you will never forget them. It's like learning to read without first learning to spell. it doesn't make sense.
Also be aware of your hook size. different size yarn requires different size hooks . I noticed that my tension was too loose so used a 3 hook instead of a 4 on 8ply yarn. To test your tension stitch a 10 x 10 square ( it will give you dimensions on the yarn packaging) and see if it matches if not go up or down a hook size 🙂
I use everything from cotton to 12ply yarn now days. It is too hot here for scarves and most of the time blankets but may I suggest crocheting with cotton yarn it makes a light weight project that is useful for all year round
😁
I loved that you pulled out your (they who shall not be named) Scarf . YASSSSSS!!! that is exactly what I was hoping for, sometimes things just don't work out. But that doesn't mean the thing you make out of it can't be fabulous!
I have also had writing projects that I am just not happy with. My Detective Duke series I wrote them. but it left me entirely whelmed LOL So. Move On to the next shiny idea. (or in my case not) and just cheer everyone else on! Much love xx
In my head, there’s a difference between WIPs and active projects. WIPs are things I’ve started but haven’t finished yet, and I will consider them WIPs until I either finish them, decide I will not finish them, or die. Active projects are what I’m working on right now.
I started crocheting a blanket when I was fourteen, ten years ago. I took a decade long hiatus on it, but resumed progress like two weeks ago. It’s not dead until it’s dead imo.
Oooh that’s a great delineation! I think I’ll start using that too. And good luck on your blanket!! :)
I never got to learn crocheting, my nana was right handed and myself left lol so she decided I’d just learn knitting and cross stitching and be fine with that. 🤣
I love hobby parkour 😄
At this point, I'm actually avoiding trying new hobbies and new projects in my existing hobbies (knitting, crochet, sewing) and new writing projects.
A project is no longer a WIP for me when I realize that the idea is just not ready and delete what I have written, both chapters and notes pages. These projects wind up in one of two places in my mind the idea in hibernation pile where I still want to write basically that story but that version is not working for some reason, the feeling it's missing something or maybe I've been writing for awhile and I love the ideas but everything feels fundamentally off like one or more of the major choices I already made must have been wrong for the story, but I'm not sure which ones, thus I scrap that version and take a breather before hopefully one day starting over. Then there's what I call the story scrap yard this is where stuff goes when I realize that the the story they were first in is one I no longer wish to write that there are major aspects of it that just no longer appeal to me or I can't see working for a book, but there are smaller bits that I like and can rework someday into a whole new unrecognizable story so when I unravel the project like you did your scarf and mull over those smaller pieces I have left.
Sometimes a story just doesn't have the legs. Quit. In fact you did a vid on this “It’s O.K. to quit,” in July 21.
My last two published books - killer robot - pub: June 22 and an Alt Victorian history - pub: Feb 24, got shelved a couple of times. Started the Robot in Apr 2013 and the Victorian tale in May 18. But I write just for me, no deadline, no hassle, just for the fun of taking a one sentence idea to over 80k. Don't bin your work and it's got the possibility of becoming WIP again or not.
I definitely have a massive graveyard of projects I've started and dropped. Some of them I'm planning on coming back to and some of them I don't. Most of them are outlines or a few thousand words but I do have a couple I've drafted but don't plan on coming back to, a modern fantasy that was the first thing I ever did a full draft on and a cosmic horror that was basically an exorcism of some feelings (incidentally from the 24 hour novel challenge). I have one I drafted the big beats of that was maybe just both too edgy and too dark for me to really want to sit in. I have TiGS, which I have drafted a couple different versions of and have since trunked again since I just don't have the skills for it yet and it's going to be super long, kind of like the Meridian Maps for you. The weird thing is I recently came back to a project I thought I never would look at again, a project that came about from me looking at a teen urban fantasy TV show and seeing a ton of potentially interesting stuff that didn't get capitalized on. I don't know if I'll ever actually write it but I had a good few weeks tinkering with it.
Also in the fibre arts community a lot distinguish between WIPS and unfinished objects/projects. So maybe the projects that you're not actively working on but might work on are unfinished projects until they either become WIPS or just things you shelve forever. Sometimes i think its okay to have ideas you just tinker with without any overt or set commitment.
Y'know, crocheting and writing do go well together. . . Telling yarns is what we do, after all. 😇
STAHP. 💙🤣
Eeek! Made my day to see a video so soon!!!
I like non perfect blankets. I can't even make a line of crochet
Imperfect is how you know that they're handmade with love! :)
@@KateCavanaugh it looked wonderful to me
we are our own critiques
I have projects my mom started that I finished and hope to give to a future grandchild one day
Am I a quitter or do I have ADHD lol
I've been reading Cal Newport's latest book and he advocates reducing the number of projects to work and focusing instead on quality, deep work on, ideally, one significant project. It seems like your attention is always diffuse, never focused, and that the productivity-enhancing tech that you use impairs your ability to focus, instead of amplifying it. This is my observation - could be wrong - but in the spirit of randoms giving advice to complete strangers presumptuously, I feel like if you dropped the apps, the 'tools,' and focused on one writing project with all your attention, ideally in a low-tech way like writers used to do, you'd find your DNFs dramatically reduced. That's been my experience.
Oooh what apps or tech are you referring to, out of curiosity?
I think your comments were probably right on for me about a year or two ago. And maybe even six months ago, still trying to balance my other pen name stuff with the Kate Cavanaugh goals.
Unfortunately with my health stuff, I’ve been forced to work on mostly one project at a time (ACFoC) but even still I find it fun to have a little handwritten morning project or short story at night.
That said, I HAVE enjoyed keeping my focus to just one for goal setting purposes! I’ll probably keep it up.
I'd watched you since you've been living with your parents. It was like 5 years ago probably. And you were an aspiring writer, who was going to write and self publish ya books
It's saddens me that five years later you speak about writing as a hobby of yours, confirming for yourself and your audience that you're not really believe you're going to be a published writer, you're just a hobby writer with a UA-cam job about writer's vlog.
I haven't been really watching you for couple of years at least, but sometimes i come here to check on you
And you're seem really fragile and on nerves. It seems you're going through another imposter syndrome period of your life, maybe you're even know that the way you present yourself is not what your life is, but have to keep the façade to make money, idk..
But you really need to push through, you know. You must finish a difficult project even if it's hard, long and you have bad feelings about it. You have to go through it all to be able to summarise the experience and make the process more familiar and easy for yourself. Otherwise you're stuck being an intermediate writer, writer-hobbist. And it's not a good place for a nervous wandering mind.
You may delete this comment if you like, you might even ban me - it's up to you, but you are stuck in a limbo of unfinished projects and i wish you to find your way and find the balance in life, where you're not rushing yourself, you're not over existed, but you're content and going forward with the purpose even if the steps are small. Cheers.