The Insecure Writer’s Support Group ~ No#66
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!
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.
The awesome co-hosts for the June posting of the IWSG are: JH Moncrieff, Madeline Mora-Summonte, Jen Chandler, Megan Morgan, and Heather Gardner!
Don’t forget to visit them and thank them for co-hosting!
Our Twitter handle is @TheIWSG and hashtag is #IWSG.
ANNOUNCEMENT
Guidelines: The IWSG Guide to Writing for Profit–This will be a non-fiction book like our Guide to Publishing and Beyond.
What to write: Share experiences about making a profit as an author, what it takes to become a successful writer, the many skills a writer needs to learn other than writing, share the experience going from hobby writer to published author (without making it a self-promotion piece), the fallacies behind writing for profit, the little known facts learned along the way, what you wished you knew when you first started writing, or marketing tips based on experience of what has worked and what hasn’t. Please include a title, your name, and a link to one of your sites. Send as an attached Word file or pasted into the email.
If you have any questions, email us at admin AT insecurewriterssupportgroup.com
Word limit: 500-1000 words.
Submission eligibility: All members of the IWSG Blog Hop, IWSG Facebook group and/or members of our IWSG Goodreads Book Club. It’s free to join any of these groups and a great benefit to be a part of these communities.
Deadline: July 31, 2017
Send your piece to admin AT insecurewriterssupportgroup.com as an attached Word document and note which IWSG group you belong to. Please include your name, a one line bio, and one website link.
The one hundred best entries will be included in the book. * * *
Every month, we announce a question that members can answer in their IWSG 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.
Remember, the question is optional!
JUNE 07th QUESTION: Did you ever say “I quit”? If so, what happened to make you come back to writing?
No, since I started writing, quitting has never been an option. I may have taken an extended break from writing (definitely unplanned though) but I’ve never considered quitting altogether. I see writing as an ongoing journey that never ends. The fun is in the journey, the destination is just a bonus.
By the way, that’s how I arrived at my blog name.
What about you? Have you ever been so fed up that somewhere along the line you made a conscious decision to quit? Are you interested in submitting to the upcoming Writing Guide?
Hi, Michelle,
Happy to read that you would never quit! I love that about you and your writing!
I feel as though I may…. it’s just not going anywhere for me and I have no desire to write for myself. I sincerely hope that will change, but as of now…
KEEP WRITING….. especially those fun and snappy flash pieces.
.
Fed up? No. Exhausted? Yes. Here’s to the seasons of life that allow us to pursue our dreams, and the ones we push through, regardless of how much they keep us from it.
Love thinking of writing as journey! One that’s full of twists and turns and exciting sights. 🙂
I’ve never quit, but like you, have had extended breaks.
I could never quit, but there are times when frustration gets the best of me and I turn my back on the computer. My chair always swivels back around though. 🙂
An ongoing journey – that’s a great description, Michelle.
I’ve never quit for very long, but it definitely has crossed my mind a half dozen or so times.
Happy writing in June, Michelle!
Everyone needs a break now and then. I’m glad you never wanted to throw in the towel completely!
Breaks are necessary. For me, it’s in those downtimes that I am most creative.
I haven’t quite yet either. Too stubborn for that. 😉
I’m on that same path. It’s nice to know so many others are too. 🙂
Anna from elements of emaginette
Hi Michelle, glad that you never even thought of quitting. I like what you have said ” The fun is in the journey, the destination is just a bonus.” Its such a wonderful way to sum up our writing life.
Good for you, Michelle! I love your spirit. That’s cool about your blog name too…I had no idea.
I’ve whined about quitting before, years earlier, when I was getting tons of rejections and there was no light at the end of the tunnel. But that was mostly because I needed reassurance. I can’t imagine doing anything else!
I know nothing about making a profit with writing, so no submissions from me! And I’ve had some of those extended stays away from writing, but never a thought of quitting. 🙂
Extended breaks, sure. Time spent not writing while thinking through some ideas, definitely. Not actual quittage? Nope.
Fantastic for never deciding to quit. Go Michelle! Thank you for your kind comment on my blog. It really cheered me up.
Since I started taking my writing seriously back in 2009, I decided to never quit either. It’s part of me and I can’t change that;)
Sigh….actually seriously considering stopping at the end of the year or after I finish my 3 WIP projects plus one to finish a trilogy).
I’ve never been tempted to quit either. Writing keeps me sane.
It’s cool that you’ve never wanted to quit writing. At times, I’ve wanted to quit fiction writing, because I’m too slow publishing books. However, I keep coming back to it. Short films and comics also have my passion, so I’m trying to find a balancing act.
I’d be interested in writing a piece for your Writing Guide, probably the topic of switching from a hobby writer to a professional.
Keep smiling,
Yawatta
I couldn’t agree more. Writing is about the journey and the process. When it becomes a job (like when a pub tell you what to write and when they need it…) it isn’t fun anymore. I like doing things my way on my time, lol.
http://www.jessicatherrien.com
Great idea for the anthology. It will be so helpful.
Hey Michy. Glad to hear there’s no chance of you quitting! Keep writing!
No one in their right mind would want “writing for profit” advice from me. Unless they have some sort of complicated “Producers”-style scam to lose money.
IWSG June
Good to know you’re not quitting! 🙂 Keep writing, stay well.
I relate to your words! So exciting about the new anthology. Can’t wait to learn from the more experienced. Have a lovely week.
Ah…so that’s what the name refers to. Love it!
Never really quit but have taken breaks tho short. Happy Writing & IWSG
Juneta @ Writer’s Gambit
I’ve always loved the name of your blog and now even more so after reading about your journey. Such a great way to look at writing!
Extended breaks can be a good thing sometimes – but giving up is impossible!
If it were easy, everyone would do it, right? Some days are easier than others, but even when I *quit* I knew on some level I wasn’t really quitting. Onward and upward.
Yes, the journey has its own rewards, although reaching the destination is nice sometimes.
I’m with you! I enjoy the learning and the growing and the trying too much to quit! 🙂
Hi Michelle – quitting isn’t an option once I realised I could write … so onward with the writing journey exploring where the path leads me – good luck with yours. The anthology does sound as though it’ll be brilliant – cheers Hilary
I considered quitting twice, but couldn’t imagine a life without writing, so I never got around to quitting.
As for submitting… I’ll let you know if suddenly I turn a profit. 😛
Didn’t know that’s how you came up with your blog name, but it totally makes sense.
I’ve seen a common theme to many of these posts. We might get frustrated, but quitting is never a serious option. Looks like the long haul it is!
I’m glad you’ve never considered quitting! And what a great reason behind the name for your blog. I love it.
I have had seasons of not writing, but I could never give it up entirely because it’s the journey I reflect upon to see if I’ve grown. I just wrote about it on my personal blog in a post called Why we write, not even knowing about this month’s question. I guess it’s been on my mind.
There are times we need a break from writing, but a break and quitting are two very different things. Writing is something very hard to quit, I would think.
Hi Michelle, just wanted to let you know that I’ve nominated you for the Mystery Blogger Award as I hope more people will find your blog.
https://thewrightsdaysoffun.blogspot.co.uk/2017/06/mystery-blogger-award.html