Wednesday, April 4, 2018

IWSG & Perseverance

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.



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!

And we’re revving up IWSG Day to make it more fun and interactive! Every month, we'll announce a question that members can answer in their IWSG Day post. These questions may prompt you to share advice, insight, a personal experience or story. Include your answer to the question in your IWSG post or let it inspire your post if you are struggling with something to say.

April 4 question - When your writing life is a bit cloudy or filled with rain, what do you do to dig down and keep on writing?

Great question!

Life is full of ups, downs, and more bumps in the road than springtime roads here in Canada where potholes proliferate more often than bunnies.

Because of this, there are times when my life is overwhelming and that is what bogs down my writing. But, writing is part of what gives me solace and hope, so I will always write.

To dig myself out of the dumpy days, I tend to switch projects. Because of my Tigger brain, I generally have a minimum of 3 projects on the go. One fiction first draft, one (or three) in various stages of revision, and one non-fiction project. Switching to a different project or even to a different part of the process always gives me that required boost.

How about you? How do you keep going?

45 comments:

Alex J. Cavanaugh said...

I couldn't juggle that many projects at once. There would be more plot holes than potholes.

L. Diane Wolfe said...

I have several stories I'm working on and when one doesn't entice me, I work on another.

Elizabeth Spann Craig said...

Lots of potholes here, too!

I had to sometimes juggle 2 projects at once when I was writing for publishers. But I kept making mistakes (accidental 'guest appearances' from one series to the other.) That's awesome that you can juggle them that way!

Crystal Collier said...

*high five* We do the same thing. =) If you can't find motivation one place, you can always find it in another, eh?

T. Powell Coltrin said...

My ADD makes me flit around when I need to change pace. and frankly, I think this is a good thing. Life sure does get in the way of writing though. :)

Chemist Ken said...

I like to have multiple projects so I can switch back and forth too. But I'll feel better about doing things this way when I finally manage to finish at least one of them.

emaginette said...

I wish I could keep that busy, but most days I just plod along. :-)

Anna from elements of emaginette

Carol Kilgore said...

My real life is so hectic that if my writing life was like that, too, I'd have long since been a crazy woman. I'm very much a one or two at a time project writer. I guess my little brain only stretches so far.

JeffO said...

Good for you for all the juggling! I tend to work on one thing at a time.

Natalie Aguirre said...

Loved your first line about life. At least my job is writing. Just doing it is comforting, especially when life doesn't give me time to write my stories.

Anonymous said...

"Tigger brain"! Love it! Juggling life and projects has always been my reality. And when it gets to be too much, I run for solitude, and the chance to just clear my brain.

Susan Gourley/Kelley said...

I'm terrible at juggling projects. Reading one of my favorite author's books usually inspires me.

Jemi Fraser said...

Lol! Sadly there often are but it’s the only way my brain works!

Jemi Fraser said...

It works so well that way!

Jemi Fraser said...

I can see that happening so easily!

Jemi Fraser said...

High 5!

Jemi Fraser said...

It sure does!!

Jemi Fraser said...

Lol! I hear ya!

Jemi Fraser said...

Plodding works! It’s all about moving forward!

Jemi Fraser said...

It’s probably more like I AM that crazy woman! 😃

Jemi Fraser said...

How I wish I could!

Jemi Fraser said...

You’re right! It is comforting!

Jemi Fraser said...

Me too! That alone time is a necessity!

Jemi Fraser said...

That’s such a good one too!

Nas said...

Hi Jemi!

Yes, we all feel in the slump at times but we have to keep plodding on. All the best!

Gwen Gardner said...

I’ve heard others say switching projects helps to keep you going forward. I’ve done it as well, except I had a tough time going back to finish up. New projects are so shiny and new :)

Unknown said...

absolutely! Sometimes I even dabble in poetry. It's horrible, but knowing i won't share allows me more freedom

Leslie S. Rose said...

You are a master juggler! Impressive. My writing buddies are the ones who keep me sane and continually inspire me when slump is in the air. Diving into a juicy book will get me back on the horse.

Nasreen said...

Just dropping by to say Hi again, Jemi!

Dawn Simon said...

Such a great topic! Rediscovering the play helps me immensely. Also, a nice outline helps; sometimes I stumble when I realize my path isn't as clear.

Have a great weekend! :)

Love Affair with Food said...

Awesome post, thanks for sharing!

Kelly Steel said...

Hi Jemi!

We do have to get into something else and then get back to work in progress. All the best!

Deniz Bevan said...

I like the idea of switching projects! I tend to do that a bit too, and the energy from one carries to the other (most of the time).

Sharon K. Mayhew said...

For me, a kind word keeps me going a long way. I recently went to a SCBWI event and had a paid critique. It was really helpful and I got some kudos that will help me through.

Michael Di Gesu said...

Hi Jemi,

Hopefully SPRING will be upon you soon. I am sweltering here in Florida, but I return to Chicago in a month or so. I have been coasting with now writing for over two years, I guess just waiting for something to stimulate my creativity... If has FINALLY happened. I'm currently working on a fun and exciting MEMOIR of a VERY unusual woman.... Already wrote 10K words .... Memoirs are so much easier because the story is already there. All we have to do as writers and make the story come to life...

Jemi Fraser said...

Thanks Nas!

Jemi Fraser said...

Exactly! Those shiny baubles need to be ignored sometimes! :)

Jemi Fraser said...

I love writing poetry as well - it's often an emotional release for me so I don't always share either!

Jemi Fraser said...

I don't know about master - if I was there, something would be ready to be pubbed! :P

Jemi Fraser said...

I'm just learning the outlining business - and it's tricky but I think it's helping!

Jemi Fraser said...

That switch can really help my brain!

Jemi Fraser said...

Me too! Sometimes it's tough to switch back though :P

Jemi Fraser said...

That sounds awesome! You're so right about those kind words - they do bolster us!

Jemi Fraser said...

Ice pellets are currently rattling the windows so spring might be a little bit away still! :)
The snippet you posted was great - hope the rest flows as easily!

Dawn Simon said...

That's excellent! Outlining isn't the most fun part, but outlines help me so much. I'm definitely a plotter.