On this blog

Wednesday, May 4, 2016

IWSG - May 4, 2016

Today is IWSG day. Come join Alex J. Cavanaugh and all the other writers who support each other, make us all smile and think in this monthly hop. No one is mocked or sneered at. All are welcome. We have all been there.


The awesome and very nice co-host for this month is Chrys Fey 
Visit the website and look around: http://www.insecurewriterssupportgroup.com/


And visit the other posters in this blog hop, enjoy the thoughts and the advice and most of all (for me, at least) the realization that everyone has insecurities, and we can enjoy them, work with them, and understand that at times they motivate us.

My post this month deals with something that I certainly feel.  This graphic expresses it beautifully:


Don't we all feel that way?  We write, we think, we plot, we agonize over characters, we feel angst over whether we are promoting our published work, polishing the work that we hope will be published, smarting from a rejection, worried about whether our beta-readers will like the story, and whether they will tell us to scrap it, worried that no one will be willing to read our manuscript, and wondering whether we still have the spark, since it has been over three weeks since we set pen to paper or fingertips to keyboard.

We know that this is all part of writing, and we try to hold our heads proudly (those of us who have been beheaded...  No, wait!  I am trying to express something profound and normal, and humor is out of place...  Or is it?  Hm.  I'll leave the wisecrack in.) and soldier on.

So what can we do?  Realize that there are a lot of us soldiering on, accept that the feelings are going to arise no matter how fabulous you are.  Sarah Bernhardt, the great actress, had terrible stage fright before any performance of a part that people loved.  So we can acknowledge the worries, smile at them, and soldier on.  ...And maybe share our worries with our nearest and dearest, whether friends, family or co-writers.




10 comments:

  1. Hi Diana - it is keeping going isn't it ... taking on life as you need to -writing, taking breaks etc ... evaluating ... keeping in touch with the world as we've got our heads down .. cheers Hilary

    ReplyDelete
  2. ...a walk among those ravishing hedgerows you posted in your last one would be strengthening and, as well, generating smiles. Thanks!

    ReplyDelete
  3. That is a great picture to express how I feel. Soldier on!

    ReplyDelete
  4. Hi Diana!
    Ta-Nehisi Coates says it well. Writing is an act of physical courage. It's an act of valor. Alex was a genius to create this group so we can find and support each other. Bless him. Keep on staying strong! Best -A

    ReplyDelete
  5. Great quote and so very true! There are certainly days when I feel strong but so very tired. A good reminder to soldier on.

    Cheers - Ellen

    ReplyDelete
  6. A good reminder that being tired doesn't mean one is not strong. After a rest, the tiredness will be gone, but the strength remains.

    ReplyDelete
  7. Such wonderful advice Diana.. thank you! Have a great weekend!

    ReplyDelete
  8. Amen. I certainly feel that these days, especially with a two-year-old and husband needing attention, and then trying to write... ugh. Thanks for the reminder that I am strong! (I'm just tired too!) :-)

    ReplyDelete
  9. Thanks for that Diana. I definitely feel like that picture right now and it is so good to know we are all in this together.
    Anne from AnneHiga.com

    ReplyDelete
  10. You hit the nail on the head....great post!!!

    ReplyDelete