The Insecure Writer’s Support Group ~ No#60

insecure-writers-groupPurpose: 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!

Posting: The first Wednesday of every month is officially Insecure Writer’s Support Group day. Post your thoughts on your own blog. Talk about your doubts and the fears you have conquered. Discuss your struggles and triumphs. Offer a word of encouragement for others who are struggling. Visit others in the group and connect with your fellow writer – aim for a dozen new people each time.

A big thank you to our co-hosts for this month’s posting: Jennifer Hawes, Jen Chandler, Nick Wilford, Juneta Key, JH Moncrieff, Diane Burton, and MJ Fifield. Don’t forget to visit them and thank them for co-hosting!

Our Twitter handle is @TheIWSG and hashtag is #IWSG.

DECEMBER 07th QUESTION: In terms of your writing career, where do you see yourself five years from now, and what’s your plan to get there?

First I need to say that———–

image via http://bestanimations.com/Books/Writing.html

all images via http://bestanimations.com/Books/Writing.html

Now that I’ve got that off my chest, let’s get back to the 5 year plan. I’m sure it involves plenty of this:

animated writer inspiration gif

and hopefully, more than a few moments when the pen is sizzling and the words flow freely like this:

animated writing gif

To be more specific, the plan includes completing, polishing and publishing a non-fiction book (the first draft is almost in the bag!!)
I also plan to continue submitting short stories to various publications/anthology collections.

We’re experiencing typical December humidity and it’s zapped my energy. So I’m on a bit of a go slow. I’ll be visiting blogs over the next few days, so it may take me some time to get to your place…but I will get there!

So what does your five year writing/publishing plan look like? 

Happy IWSG Day!

72 Comments

  1. Angela Wooldridge on December 7, 2016 at 11:40 am

    We have un-typical December humidity here (in that it’s not cold and it’s not raining!)
    Love your gifs 🙂
    Good luck with the plan.

    • Michelle Wallace on December 8, 2016 at 6:00 am

      Are you telling me that not-cold and not-raining = humidity your side of the globe? If I’m reading you correctly, that would be more-or-less equivalent to a ‘rare cool summer’s day’ on my side of the globe. 🙂

  2. Pat Garcia on December 7, 2016 at 12:59 pm

    I love the cartoon. Beautiful!!!
    So happy that you are also almost finish with the first draft of your non-fiction book. Wishing you all the best and that it opens doors for you.

    Shalom aleichem,
    Pat G

    • Michelle Wallace on December 8, 2016 at 6:01 am

      Thanks, Pat!
      Still lots of work to do on the manuscript but I’ll get there. Step by step.

  3. Alex J. Cavanaugh on December 7, 2016 at 2:27 pm

    Awesome about the non-fiction book!

    • Michelle Wallace on December 8, 2016 at 6:02 am

      Yep. I hope it works out as intended. If not, I’ll try another publishing route.

  4. Ellen @ The Cynical Sailor on December 7, 2016 at 2:59 pm

    Humidity always saps my energy too. It’s hard to concentrate on things when the air is too thick to breathe and you’re dripping with sweat. Well done on having the first draft of your non-fiction book almost in the bag.

    • Michelle Wallace on December 8, 2016 at 6:04 am

      We have terrible humidity where it fries your brain and leaves you lethargic…thanks, Ellen!

  5. Megan Morgan on December 7, 2016 at 3:18 pm

    Lof the gifs! Congratulations on almost having your book in the bag. They can be hard to capture, can’t they?

    • Michelle Wallace on December 8, 2016 at 6:05 am

      That’s an understatement! It’s like a naughty kid who refuses to settle down and do what’s expected! 🙂

  6. Madeline Mora-Summonte on December 7, 2016 at 3:22 pm

    Good luck with those goals! You can totally accomplish them. 🙂

    • Michelle Wallace on December 8, 2016 at 6:07 am

      Thanks Madeline! 🙂
      Requirements: time, practice, hard work, and persistence…on a loop…over and over.

  7. Joy Campbell on December 7, 2016 at 3:43 pm

    Here’s hoping your creative juices continue to flow, Michelle!

  8. Dean K Milelr on December 7, 2016 at 3:53 pm

    Awesomeness on the non-fiction book! Keep at it and you’ll reach your goals right on time!

  9. Dean K Miller on December 7, 2016 at 3:54 pm

    I and still have trouble spelling my last name correctly! HA HA

    • Michelle Wallace on December 8, 2016 at 6:09 am

      What happened to the spelling? LOL
      Yep, it’s a never-ending process.

  10. Shelly on December 7, 2016 at 3:57 pm

    Hi, Michelle!

    I probably won’t post my ISWG post until Thursday evening. Waiting for the doc to tell me what is up with my arm. Three weeks ago a hard callus had grown. Now we’re waiting for the bone. Unfortunately, it’s been a delayed healing.

    • Michelle Wallace on December 8, 2016 at 6:11 am

      Hey Shelly!
      A hard callus on your arm? Hope you can still type/write/do your hairdressing duties? Look after yourself. 🙂

  11. L. Diane Wolfe on December 7, 2016 at 4:06 pm

    I think non-fiction is so much fun to write!

    • Michelle Wallace on December 8, 2016 at 6:13 am

      Diane, I agree! I’ve enjoyed the initial writing of this manuscript.
      I think that non-fiction allows for the growth & development of the natural writing voice.

  12. Christine Rains on December 7, 2016 at 4:13 pm

    Cheers to the words flowing! I hope to keep writing and publishing, and maybe the marketing will click. That last one is the trickiest part.

    • Michelle Wallace on December 8, 2016 at 6:14 am

      Christine, you are such a prolific writer!
      With regards to marketing? You’ll work it out along the way!

  13. Julie Flanders on December 7, 2016 at 5:15 pm

    I feel for you with the humidity. I am always dragging during the summer because it totally saps my energy too. I’m glad that we are in the cold weather months now here, although I know most people think I’m crazy to feel that way LOL.

    Congrats on the first draft of your book!! I’m sure it won’t be long now because it’s out in the world. Exciting!

    • Michelle Wallace on December 8, 2016 at 6:16 am

      Julie, every spare moment I have during the holidays, I’ll be working on the manuscript. It’s quite a challenge. Exciting and scary too! 🙂

  14. Hart Johnson on December 7, 2016 at 5:54 pm

    Oh, to be SMOKIN again! Best of luck to you!!!

    • Michelle Wallace on December 8, 2016 at 6:20 am

      Hart, you are always SMOKIN!
      Inspiration may be a little low at the moment but it’s always waiting to flare up again. You wait and see.
      Thank you, Hart!

  15. Cherie Reich on December 7, 2016 at 6:29 pm

    I think most of us hope that the pen/fingers on keyboard are moving a bit faster. Heh. Best of luck with your non-fiction book!

    • Michelle Wallace on December 8, 2016 at 6:21 am

      Cherie, your stats prove that your fingers move at an alarming rate! 🙂

  16. Tess Julia on December 7, 2016 at 7:17 pm

    Congratulations on the first draft! That’s quite an accomplishment. As always, great to hear from you 🙂

  17. Tyrean A Martinson on December 7, 2016 at 7:37 pm

    Way to go with your first draft!!! I’m looking forward to reading it when you finish, just like I look forward to reading all of your flash fiction.
    Happy Holidays and Happy New Year!!!

    • Michelle Wallace on December 8, 2016 at 6:25 am

      Thanks, Tyrean!
      You’ve revealed the secret…it’s simple…just keep plugging away…every day…onward and upward. 🙂

  18. CD Gallant-King on December 7, 2016 at 8:42 pm

    Post NO. 60? Does that mean you’ve been doing this for five years? Congrats! What were your goals five years ago? 😉

    IWSG December

    • Michelle Wallace on December 8, 2016 at 6:27 am

      CD, there was no plan! Five years ago, I was only starting out in fiction. Haha! 😉
      I didn’t plan on being a writer. I’ve always been an avid reader but writing developed later. I’m a late bloomer who’s trying to play catch-up!

  19. C. Lee McKenzie on December 7, 2016 at 11:31 pm

    A non-fiction book! I’m loving that. Here’s to getting that polished and into print.

    • Michelle Wallace on December 8, 2016 at 6:29 am

      Thank you, Lee! 🙂
      Now to get it polished and into print! *rolls up sleeves like a woman on a mission*

  20. Jemi Fraser on December 7, 2016 at 11:37 pm

    Humidity is the worst! Hope it breaks soon for you!
    (We had 6 inches of snow yesterday :))
    Yay on the nonfiction!

    • Michelle Wallace on December 8, 2016 at 6:32 am

      Thanks Jemi! 🙂
      We don’t get snow…not in the city along the coast where we enjoy a subtropical climate. Snow would be regarded as freezing weather.

  21. J.H. Moncrieff on December 7, 2016 at 11:59 pm

    Good luck with your goals, and finishing your book! It sounds like you’re SO close.

    We have the opposite problem here. Blizzard, blizzard, blizzard. Trade you?

    • Michelle Wallace on December 8, 2016 at 6:33 am

      Trade? Maybe for a day or two, hey? For the experience? 🙂
      It’s blistering…high humidity…leaves you drained and lethargic!

  22. Cathrina on December 8, 2016 at 12:25 am

    Yahoo!!! The first draft is nearly in the bag!!! Good for you!

    Loving your gifs!

  23. Patricia Lynne on December 8, 2016 at 1:09 am

    Humidity?????? Lucky. It’s super cold here with snow. You gotta waddle everywhere you’ll slip on ice. LOL

    • Michelle Wallace on December 8, 2016 at 6:35 am

      But cold is more conducive to productivity/writing…the brain works better! Doesn’t it?

  24. C.G.Coppola on December 8, 2016 at 1:15 am

    Love the Gifs… and so true!
    Keep working hard and you’ll get there!

    • Michelle Wallace on December 8, 2016 at 6:36 am

      Yep, I’m a believer that hard work pays off.
      Thanks for the visit!

  25. Anna on December 8, 2016 at 2:31 am

    I love realistic dreams. All things are possible though. 🙂

    Anna from elements of emaginette

    • Michelle Wallace on December 8, 2016 at 6:38 am

      You’re so right, Anna! 🙂
      It starts with realistic dreams. But we have to push ourselves in order to stretch and grow.

  26. Doreen McGettigan on December 8, 2016 at 3:43 am

    Congratulations on having your non fiction nearly done! Yay! That’s a great way to start the new year. I am trying to wrap my head around humidity in December:) I am freezing!

    • Michelle Wallace on December 8, 2016 at 6:38 am

      Humidity in December is the norm for me. 🙂
      Thanks, Doreen!

  27. Jennifer Williams-Fields on December 8, 2016 at 4:29 am

    Congratulations on the non fiction book!

  28. Nicola on December 8, 2016 at 7:03 am

    Great post! Good luck with the non-fiction book. Do tell us more when you’re ready to share. Can’t wait to hear about it. Have a fabulous month, despite the heat 🙂

    • Michelle Wallace on December 9, 2016 at 4:44 pm

      I’ll broadcast it as soon as I’ve edited…edited…edited! Not sure how many rounds of edits required. 🙂

  29. Shannon Lawrence on December 8, 2016 at 8:01 am

    We’re getting snow! Blech. It’s so cold there’s a 2 hour delay for temperature already called for tomorrow. Good luck with your goals! Here’s to more success!

    • Michelle Wallace on December 9, 2016 at 4:44 pm

      It sounds really cold! *shivers*
      A toast to more success!

  30. Hilary Melton-Butcher on December 8, 2016 at 8:46 am

    Hi Michelle – we’re into warm, damp at times, December weather … no doubt the cold, cold will come – we need it for the bugs … and the veg like the cold … good luck with those writing goals – you’ll get there … cheers Hilary

    • Michelle Wallace on December 9, 2016 at 4:45 pm

      Did you say warm? I’m surprised. Isn’t it supposed to be cold over there? 🙂
      Cheers, Hilary!

  31. Mary Aalgaard on December 8, 2016 at 2:57 pm

    Love the graphic of the skeleton with the smoking pen!
    It’s cold here in Minnesota!
    Take care and happy writing in 2017!

    • Michelle Wallace on December 9, 2016 at 4:47 pm

      All I want for Christmas is…a smoking pen! 🙂

  32. Juneta on December 8, 2016 at 9:29 pm

    Great post and plan. Love the pictorial story.
    Juneta @ Writer’s Gambit

  33. Michael Di Gesu on December 9, 2016 at 4:31 am

    You’ve come such a LONG way, Michelle! Congrats on finishing you new non-fiction book! That is so AWESOME!!!!!

    At some point I hope to write SOMETHING…. Ugh.. Life is always moving for me, but once I get back to Florida at Christmas I’ll have six months to get back on track….

    Have a WONDERFUL HOLIDAY! All the best in the new year. And if you need any atmosphere… feel free to contact me. I’ll always have time for you…

    Stay cool…. can’t believe I’m saying that when it is FREEZING here in Chicago….

    • Michelle Wallace on December 9, 2016 at 4:49 pm

      I need those ‘stay cool’ wishes! LOL
      You have a wonderful holiday too, Mr. Blurb King! And enjoy the new apartment! 🙂

  34. Denise Covey on December 9, 2016 at 8:57 am

    Hey Michelle. It’s hard to write in the heat and humidity, but write we must. Having our usual hot summer here, but thankfully I’m on some R&R in Sydney, then the Hunter Valley wineries north of Sydney. Trying not to think about needing to get 2 more chapters to my critique partners in 3 days’ time. I’m finding having these girls (I talk about them in my IWSG post) has made all the difference. 🙂

    • Michelle Wallace on December 9, 2016 at 4:51 pm

      Yep! The humidity hasn’t stopped me…I’m writing on! 🙂
      I need some of those ‘in-the-flesh girls’ to share discussions with. 🙂

  35. Murees Dupé on December 9, 2016 at 5:44 pm

    I know what you mean! It’s hot here too:) I thought I was the only one who still gets beat by the heat. I like that your 5 year plan includes to keep writing. Great progress on your non-fiction book.

  36. tara tyler on December 12, 2016 at 1:44 pm

    it is so hard to stick with writing! I’m glad that you do and that we have the IWSG to keep us going =)

  37. Nick Wilford on December 13, 2016 at 1:33 pm

    A bit more humidity would be welcome here! Good luck with your plans. The journalist in me would like to write a non-fiction book some day. Hope it all pans out well!

  38. Ryan Carty on December 14, 2016 at 8:47 pm

    Writing sucks my will to do most anything, and trying to write when it is humid and hot- NO THANKS.
    Congrats on the first draft being nearly finished. That is always such a relief, the first draft. It means more work, but somehow that work seems more focused.

    As for my five year plan- most of it involves keeping out of my own way for a change. We will see how that works out.

  39. Nicki Elson on January 4, 2017 at 3:58 pm

    I hope the humidity has calmed for you. Sorry I’m a month late getting here! Hope all is well with you.

    Happy 2017!

Leave a Comment


Notice: Undefined variable: user_ID in /home/writerintrans/public_html/wp-content/themes/bb-theme/comments.php on line 69