Well hello there, Reader,

The festival this past weekend in my hometown was a blast! We lucked out with the perfect fall weather—a pleasant mid-70s with a light breeze.

I signed books, my husband unveiled two new coloring books and explained D&D to bright-eyed festival goers, and we gained plenty of new ideas for next time.

But amidst the normal questions, meet-ups with old friends, and befriending of a murder of crows—there was the same wistful phrase uttered over and over again:

I’ve always wanted to do this but…

It was the number one phase I heard this past weekend while at my booth.

Well, that and “How much is this picture here in the frame?”

The answer to the latter was: “They’re not for sale.”

Why have something on display that wasn’t for sale you ask? Because you see, in this age of generative AI, real artists like yours truly have to constantly prove we actually created our work. We’re forced to keep digital progress records of sketches and WIPs or face the collective wrath of those on social media.

Yes, I’m dreading storytelling going this route too. Which is why I’ve been keeping zipped progress backups of my work and more openly talking about my projects in my newsletter and on my site.

It’s also why I brought 5 original watercolors with me for the festival. Because having an original physical piece to pick up and point to when selling prints demonstrates human creativity in a way a machine cannot replicate. And they also make the booth look prettier.

But back to those statements of longing. Those “I’ve always wanted to do this buts…”

Those:

I’ve always wanted to paint watercolors…

...but when I tried it turned into a muddy mess.

I’ve always wanted to play D&D…

...but I don’t know where to start or what book to get.

I’ve always wanted to write a story…

...but I don’t know how.

I’ve always wanted to make a book…

...but I don’t know how to go from finished document to printed novel.

Questions they didn’t even dare to voice before, let alone google, until we asked: Do you have any questions?

So I’m going to ask you the same thing now, Reader, in case you didn’t have the opportunity to join us at the festival.

What’s YOUR burning question about writing, indie publishing, or storytelling? Just hit reply and ask away.

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Well until next time, this is your friendly neighborhood storytelling Kat wishing you a wonderfully creative week.

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Your cohort in storytelling,

Kat Vancil

🐱

PS 👉 Here are links to those newly released coloring books I mentioned + there’s still time to enter my Predestined Bookversary Giveaway.

​D is for Dragon 4: A Smaugust 2023 Inspired Coloring Book​

​Q is for Quest: A Naghatan Fisk Coloring Book​

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