The Insecure Writer’s Support Group ~ No#39

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!
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.
Today the IWSG co-hosts are Chemist Ken, Suzanne Sapseed, and Shannon Lawrence!  Don’t forget to visit and thank them for co-hosting.

At the beginning of the year, I decided to write a haiku a day. This would ensure that I write something EVERY DAY. It’s also a great warm up exercise to get creativity flowing. I did fall by the wayside on one or two occasions but did quite well overall. Whenever I missed out, then I’d write 2 or 3 to make up for the missed day(s). You know that common myth that it takes 21 days to form a new habit (or 30 days or some other magic number)? So I’ve passed the 30-day mark.

Now I’m working on transferring the habit to my longer project.

For those who have followed my flash fiction, you’ll know that, for me, 5 sentences is the magic formula. I need to work out a programme where I write 5 sentences a day, on the longer project.

 I’ve formatted all my A to Z letters, and also inserted the photos with relevant captions. Now I’ll spend the next two weeks tweaking the posts. More about this during the theme reveal on 23 March.

I’ll conclude with this quote:”I want to assure you with all earnestness, that no writing is a waste of time, – no creative work where the feelings, the imagination, the intelligence must work. With every sentence you write, you have learned something. It has done you good. It has stretched your understanding.” Brenda Ueland

 It makes me feel good about my haiku-a-day… and I’m thinking that 5 sentences a day will be more than enough…

23 Comments

  1. Alex J. Cavanaugh on March 4, 2015 at 7:19 pm

    You can do five sentences a day.
    I still need to format, but I have everything else ready with my Challenge posts.

  2. Tyrean on March 4, 2015 at 7:27 pm

    Oh, I love that quote! I agree completely with the idea that no writing is wasted!
    And, I love the idea of five sentences as the base – that’s perfect!

    And, A to Z already finished – wow! I’m so not there yet . . . I have a list.

  3. Hart Johnson on March 4, 2015 at 7:35 pm

    Five sentences is good. For A to Z I am doing a drabble a day (a drabble in its strictest sense is a story in exactly 100 words, but I don’t know that all mine will be real stories… they WILL though, be 100 words…

  4. Diane Burton on March 4, 2015 at 7:44 pm

    I really admire people who can write poetry. I seem to be deficient on that score. I’m so glad it helps you with your other writing. Best wishes!

  5. charitybradford on March 4, 2015 at 11:06 pm

    Great job with your goals! My goal is to write 30 minutes, stretch or some other form of exercise then write another 30 minutes until I’ve filled my writing time. 12-2pm. So far so good. That time can be wips, blog posts, editing for other people, whatever, but it has to be writing related.

  6. Doreen McGettigan on March 4, 2015 at 11:16 pm

    I would say you did pretty good with your haikus. I cannot ever win with daily word counts but I do so well with weekly counts. It gives me a chance to catch up if I fall behind.
    I need to finish outlining my A-to-Z posts…

  7. Patricia Lynne on March 5, 2015 at 12:00 am

    I’m almost done writing my A to Z posts. Looking forward to yours. =)

  8. L. Diane Wolfe on March 5, 2015 at 12:06 am

    I can’t wait to see what you’ve done with my photos and how it all connects.

  9. Anna on March 5, 2015 at 1:34 am

    Sounds like you’re on to something good. Keep it up 🙂

    Here’s my link if you’d like to drop by 🙂

    Anna from Shout with Emaginette

  10. Krystal Jane on March 5, 2015 at 3:26 am

    Love the quote! Starting small are the building blocks to any great habit. Maybe you’ll write more, but if not, you’re constantly moving forward and that is always good. ^_^

  11. Medeia Sharif on March 5, 2015 at 6:49 am

    Amazing quote. No writing is a waste. I have weekly goals I stick to, but I’d like to write daily like I used to.

  12. Murees Dupé on March 5, 2015 at 11:54 am

    That is a great quote, because even I now feel inspired. You can do it Michelle! Congratulations with your regular writing goal. That is fabulous.

  13. Arlee Bird on March 5, 2015 at 3:50 pm

    “No writing is a waste of time” is one of the best things about blogging. Now I need to write beyond my blog. A few lines would be better than none.

    Arlee Bird
    A to Z Challenge Co-host
    Tossing It Out

  14. Mary Aalgaard on March 5, 2015 at 6:06 pm

    You HAVE been busy! Wow. Already a good start on A to Z, and I haven’t even picked my theme, yet. I want to use Millie and Willie again. They are a creative and fun-loving couple. Maybe more of their back story, or what they’re doing in theatre class with the young thespians. That’s what I’m working on right now. Gearing up for the class that starts in two weeks!
    Cheers!

  15. Michelle on March 6, 2015 at 4:48 am

    That’s a really great quote and I definitely agree with it. I can see how writing a haiku each day would get the rhythm, would get words going through your mind, and get you in the mindset for the day.

  16. joylene on March 6, 2015 at 4:12 pm

    Excellent quote. I’ve heard the 30-day change method too. Yes, it’s all about diving into the mindset. Looking forward to what you come up with.

  17. Christine Rains on March 7, 2015 at 12:03 am

    Love that quote! I totally agree. And you can do it! 🙂

  18. Hilary on March 7, 2015 at 9:23 am

    Hi Michelle – good for you – having settled on a formula that suits you now is the time to work it through. The A -Z is a good testing ground … looking forward to the theme reveal.

    The quote is brilliant – there’s no time to waste … always make full use of those minutes – while giving yourself time to think and relax … cheers Hilary

  19. Toi Thomas on March 7, 2015 at 8:15 pm

    5 sentences a day. You can do it! I can do it. Anyone else struggling to write everyday can do it.
    Love the quote and look forward to your theme reveal. Thanks. 😀

  20. Julie Dao on March 9, 2015 at 4:01 pm

    Such a great tip! And no matter how many words you put down (3, 5, or 15) that’s more words than zero!

  21. Loni Townsend on March 9, 2015 at 5:39 pm

    Wow! It sounds like you’re really on top of things! Good for you for making writing a habit.

  22. C. Lee McKenzie on March 9, 2015 at 6:06 pm

    Congrats on getting all the AtoZ formatting done with images, too! That’s a big chunk of the work.

    Love your warm up strategies. I should get me a strategy. I’d do better with one. Maybe I’ll just steal yours.

  23. Lori L. MacLaughlin on March 10, 2015 at 3:50 pm

    Love the quote! A to Z done? Wow, you’re so far ahead of me. I still have many posts to write. Congrats on keeping to your haiku schedule! Sticking to a schedule is not always easy to do. Good luck with your writing! Looking forward to A to Z!

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