Tuesday, June 3, 2014

Insecure Writers Support Group

It's IWSG Day! IWSG stands for Insecure Writers Support Group and was founded by Alex J. Cavanaugh. You can follow other IWSG members here  and on twitter using the hashtag #IWSG.
Our purpose is to share and encourage.

These days I wonder if I'll ever write again. Retirement, renovation, weddings... set backs! Renovation is complete but now we have to put the house back in order. A challenge. Not as fun as it should be.

And while I'm contemplating where the new sofa will go, or what color rug to purchase to complement the new wood floors, time marches on, technology changes, marketing and social media become more and more important and complicated ... and I'm behind on keeping up with it all.

I know it's true that if we quit writing, we forget how to write. I've been there/done that before. The old saying if you don't use it you lose it is true. This is what writer's block is made of: fear. Fear that life is rushing by and I'm not accomplishing anything. I just pile ideas in my cell phone and hope someday my life gets back to normal.

Then I ask myself: what's normal? Haven't I been hearing a lot about the "new normal." Surely this isn't MY new normal! If so, I don't like it! I don't want it!

I'm keeping the quote by S.K. Gipson at the forefront of my mind: "Success may be measured in determination, but only those who persevere ever see success."

Persevere.

P. E. R. S. E. V. E. R. E.

Let's make a pact to persevere.




15 comments:

SK Anthony said...

I love that quote!

I think sometimes life throws too much at us and all we can do is take a step back. Is writing important? Sure. But sanity is important as well. With so much going on, I'd say I understand having to take the break. I know it's frustrating, but your real new normal will soon be here. If you're a writer, there's only so long you can go without getting back to your craft. So,what if you might be rough around the edges? As long as you don't completely stop and you come back with full determination, you'll be just fine. :)

stu said...

It's all right not to write though, if you don't feel like it at the time. It's there to bring you enjoyment, after all.

Charles Gramlich said...

I sure know that when I'm writing regularly the words flow so much more easily.

Jessica Ferguson said...

S.K. - life is really chunking at me right now. Of course, I'm the world's worst at organization anyway so it doesn't take much to set me back.

Stu - I go crazy when I can't write!

Charles - I agree. The more we right, the easier it is and the better the flow.

Mary Aalgaard said...

It's also like riding a bicycle. Once you've learned, you just need to jump back on the bike and get back into condition. You can do it!
Play off the Page

Diane Burton said...

Love the quote. I'm the world's worst procrastinator on getting my house in order. I'd rather write. I can live in chaos. Hubs has learned to do it himself. LOL I guess I'll have to get busy though. We have a wedding in August & a whole houseful of company. Might be good to clear off the guest beds. :)

Laura Clipson said...

You'll get there in the end, you just need to wait for an opportunity and jump in. Once you've found that first opportunity, more will crop up. Keep trying :)

Alex J. Cavanaugh said...

I don't think my life is normal.
We do start to lose it when we don't write for long stretches. I can attest to that!

Donna B. McNicol said...

You really hit close to home. It's been about 18 months since my last novel...too much life!

Now that I'm settled here in Ecuador, hoping to get book three in my mystery series (at least the first draft) done this month.

Keeping my fingers crossed for us both!

D.B. McNicol
Romance & Mystery...writing my life

Lucinda W. said...

It's a hard balance sometimes. Right now, with all 4 kids at home for the summer, it's hard to focus. GL!

Michelle Wallace said...

I think the "writing muscle" is like any muscle that hasn't been used regularly... it weakens...
On that note, I think I need to push my "writing muscles" to a whole new level...
Writer In Transit

Anonymous said...

I hear you on the wondering about if you'll ever write again. Sometimes life gets too busy. Hopefully, you'll be able to squeeze writing back in.

Shannon Lawrence said...

It's definitely easier to write more when I'm writing more. We all get busy, though, and can't beat ourselves up over it. Just do your best to jump back in, slip in writing time, schedule it, whatever, and you'll have it back.

L. Diane Wolfe said...

Persistence is the key.

My schedule varies from day to day, so my life can best be described as chaotic.

emaginette said...

I write everyday, even If some days it's only a paragraph. :-)

Anna from Shout with Emaginette