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!
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December 1 question - In your writing, what stresses you the most? What delights you?
So much!
Stressors
- conflict - I hate when my characters are in dire situations - but it wouldn't be much of a story without that!
- updating back matter
- uploading new releases - hoping I haven't missed a step - & waiting for reviews
- paperbacks - which is why I haven't finished that step with IngramSpark...one day
Delights!
- building a new series - creating the settings, people, backgrounds...So much fun!
- banter
- characters - getting inside their heads, learning how they cope, finding what they need, helping them find their HEA
- those moments when my fingers are flying over the keyboard because the story is flowing
How about you? Whether you're a reader or a writer, what stresses you out about books? What delights you? Any of yours the same as mine?
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WEP News!
Over at the WEP Challenge Blog, we're ready for the December Challenge - Narcissus!
Because this is a busy time of year, we'll be allowing stories to be posted anytime from today to the 15th of December! Looking forward to all the stories produced by this prompt. My story will be in up in the next day or two.
We're also announcing the themes for the 2022 Challenges (HOW is it almost 2022?????).
47 comments:
Banter is always fun! Although a new series is tough for me as I have to world-build all over again.
Oh that last bit..when my fingers are flying over the keyboard..such delight!
-Sonia from https://soniadogra.com
When I first started writing, I didn't want to put my main character in stressful situations either. I've learned like you that we have to in order to have a good story.
I love that you put banter on your list! I love writing banter!
I don't mind putting my characters in dire situations, though...even if they wish I did. :)
That's why I have a huge checklist for every release - I don't want to miss a step. As a publisher, that would be bad.
I do feel sorry for the people in my books, and I think I subconsciously apologize to them all along until I can write them into a better situation. Great answer to this question. Much more detailed than mine, for sure.
Hi Jemi, your writing delights are the same as mine :)
Hi,
Sounds like you are very busy. I too enjoy working on a series. It is sometimes overwhelming but I still love it.
Wishing you a Merry Christmas and a safe crossover into 2022.
Shalom aleichem,
Pat G @ EverythingMustChange
I understand (I think) your stressors and love that despite them you have delight. And hope that the delights dwarf the stressors.
I feel like I am always updating back matter too.
Merry Christmas!
I love the moment when my fingers are flying over the keyboard too. Pure delight! Thank you for sharing your experiences.
Yeah, the world-building can be addictive. Sometimes too much so. Here's to the delightful side of writing.
When the story flows, there's nothing sweeter!
Hi, Jemi! I love that feeling of my fingers flying over the keyboard when I'm in the flow. Wishing you lots of flow!
Ha! Updating that back matter! I can soooo relate!
We think alike, Jemi, on both stressors and delights.
I think you could use the same world and supply new characters - maybe from more of the races. it would be great!
It's the best feeling!!
We do. and I do, but I have more fun. with the happy bits!
Banter is so much fun!!
I need to borrow your brain when I'm writing those parts!
Those checklists are invaluable!
LOL - you could be Canadian with that constant apologizing!! :)
There are so many fun parts to this job!
Agreed! Back matter should happen magically!
Thanks, Pat. Being busy is always good!
Wishing you all the best for 2022 as well!
There are always more delights! That's why it's so much fun :)
It's a never-ending battle!
It really is the best feeling!
Cheers to that!!
You're right - best feeling ever!
Hope you get that flow going as well after your Calgary trip!
It's so exhausting!
That doesn't surprise me!
Your stressors are real!! I'm stressed reading them. I love your delights, too.
Teresa
Hi Jemi,
I don't have a problem torturing my characters... Hey, it's life... LOL Thankfully it's fiction and we can not do any damage to them at all. The writing "highs" are wonderful. I just we had more of them!
HAPPY HOLIDAYS!
Great lists. Uploading new releases is definitely stressful. Yet so exciting at the same time.
Thanks - the stress is real!
That's so true - but it feels so real... :)
The delights are why we all love this job so much!
Exactly! Some of the same bits can cause both some stress and some delight!
Your post reminded me of why I like to write--the delightful parts of telling a story. Thank you.
You're very welcome! The delights are many and varied!
Ugh. Updating back matter. I had avoided thinking about that one for this post.
And yes, new characters, exciting moments of writing - those are great!
Hope you have a wonderful December of writing joy and life joy, Jemi!
Getting inside characters heads really is delightful and I agree with you and Tyrean - updating back matter is a huge pain.
I didn't read your WEP entry yet because I'm still working on mine.
Thanks so much, Tyrean! I hope you have a wonderful month as well.
Maybe we'll get magical backmatter updating tools for Christmas!
Back matter is exhausting!!!
No worries - looking forward to your entry!
Those are some stressful stressors and delightful delights... and they are part of the amazing rollercoaster ride that we've chosen to undertake.
We have to embrace both the stressors and the delights which contribute to the writing process. Both are equally important in shaping the stories!
You're so right - like the dark and light, both exist in the whole :)
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