Wednesday, June 7, 2023

IWSG & Don't Stop!

The Insecure Writer's Support Group is the brainchild of Alex J. Cavanaugh. He, his clones, minions, friends, and fellow authors make it an amazing event every month.


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Purpose: To share and encourage. Writers can express doubts and concerns without fear of appearing foolish or weak. Those who have been through the fire can offer assistance and guidance. It’s a safe haven for insecure writers of all kinds! 

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June 7 question - If you ever did stop writing, what would you replace it with?

I don't plan to stop writing any time soon. If I ever do, it will probably be because my hands are too sore to continue. I have some issues with arthritis and I assume at one point, the pain will be too much. Hopefully that point is a couple of decades in the future.

If Dragon dictation software ever integrates well with Macs and becomes available in Canada, I may try that. But dictation only does so many things, and the fixes it requires are currently more difficult on my hands than actually typing.

One of my other hobbies is playing piano, but if my hands can't type, they won't be playing either.

I'm not a big movie/TV watcher, so, I guess I'll have more time for reading!

My To Be Read list should only take me a dozen decades or so...

How about you? What other hobbies take up your time? What hobbies do you wish you had more time to enjoy? How big is your TBR list?

23 comments:

Elizabeth Spann Craig said...

Sorry about your arthritis! I'm with you...I'd really like speech to text to improve dramatically. I hear that it's coming soon. :)

Alex J. Cavanaugh said...

Sorry it's a struggle to write sometimes. If it gets too bad, have someone type for you!

L. Diane Wolfe said...

I'm sorry Dragon doesn't mesh with MAC. I have the software and it's good for non-fiction but not so much for fiction. Too much to go back and fix later.

Carol Kilgore said...

Sorry about your arthritis. My TBR list is huge, and it multiplies like dust bunnies under the bed.

Pat Garcia said...

Hi,
I do hope that arthritis does not prevent you from continuing with your writing.
All the best.
Shalom shalom

emaginette said...

I have a friend with severe arthritis. Her and her specialist are always trying new methods to slow it down. So much to choose from.

I wouldn't be surprised if you're doing the same thing. Don't give up hope and you could try Live Transcribe (a phone app) to at least capture some of your work for the future.

Take care

Anna from elements of emaginette

Susan Gourley/Kelley said...

Ouch for the hands. I get it. My left thumb for some reason is giving me issues. Hope your hands stay healthy enough for years and years.

cleemckenzie said...

I'm sure there will be something very efficient to make writing a possibility even when our physical selves aren't up to the task. Sorry about the pain in your hands. Hope you can find some relief. We need more sweet romance from Bloo Moose to enjoy!

Tyrean Martinson said...

My TBR list is huge. I have library books, new books, and stacks of books I want to reread in various places around my house, and then there's the TBR list on Goodreads - that's mammoth. Don't stop writing, Jemi! I love the way you create communities of caring people.

Rebecca M. Douglass said...

Sorry to hear about the arthritis in your hands. I hope you're able to find ways to stave that off for a few decades.

I agree about the TBR pile--no way do I get through that in my lifetime, so if nothing else, when I can't write or hike or travel, I can read for decades.

Natalie Aguirre said...

I hope your hands never hurt so much that you can't write or play the piano. Or maybe the voice technology will improve.

Olga Godim said...

Oh, reading - my favorite hobby. I hope your hands don't pain you too much. Maybe in a few years, they'll invent non-touch typing, sort of holographic projection keyboard. The technology has developed so fast during the past couple of decades, I stopped being surprised at what is possible.

Elephant's Child said...

I am sorry about your arthritis and so glad that you don't plan to stop writing any time soon.
My to be read piles are not piles but towers. Teetering towers.

Sarah Foster said...

I'm sorry about your arthritis. Hopefully it'll be a long time before it affects your writing, and by then there will be some new technology that can help you more!

Jemi Fraser said...

Elizabeth - with the way AI is improving, I hope so!

Alex - thanks :) I'd have to work myself up to that one!

Diane - the quotation marks are SUCH a pain!!!

Carol - mine too! So many great books out there!

Pat - I hope you're right!

Anna - thanks for the hint! That's a new-to-me app :)

Susan - thanks - you too!!

Lee - I hope so! Tech is improving by leaps and bounds lately! And thank you!!

Tyrean - I love the anticipation of having so many books to read! Thank you so much! I hope to continue for decades to come!

Rebecca - I hope so too. Thank goodness for great books!

Natalie - thank you! I hope the same :)

Olga - I wouldn't be surprised either - technology is incredible!

Sue - teetering towers - I love that!

Sarah - thank you! I'm counting on the tech!

Lynda R Young as Elle Cardy said...

Just become so successful with your writing that you can hire a typist ;)

A Hundred Quills said...

Haha! I agree about that to-be read list. I enjoyed reading your answer.
Sonia

Patricia JL said...

Stiff fingers does put a damper on a lot of creative things. It's something I worry about not just with writing but knitting. The best we can do is hand exercises and to be gentle on them.

Denise Covey said...

Here's to strong hands and a cure for arthritis Jemi, which is a long time coming! We can always do a Barbara Cartland and recline on our pink sofa and dictate to minions.

Jemi Fraser said...

Lynda - LOL - there's an idea!

Sonia - and I keep adding to the TBR!

Patty - good advice! My daughter enjoyed knitting and crocheting for a while, but it was too hard on her hands :(

Denise - LOL - that would be so weird!

Yvonne Osborne said...

Hi Jemi,
Nothing can take the place of writing and I hope my brain can always come up with the right word. I, too, have a piano but it sits in its out-of-tune-estate. I have reclaimed my writing room which is unheated in winter so that is a huge boost to my inspiration. Amazing what a difference your surroundings make and how much distractions can interfere with the writing process.

Nick Wilford said...

At least there is no shortage of books to read. However, I really hope you can manage to keep writing for as long as you can.

DMS said...

Most of my hobbies involve my hands. Right now I spend a lot of time painting and taking photos. I hope your arthritis isn't a problem for you for a long, long, long, long, time (if ever). :)