The Insecure Writer’s Support Group ~ No#83
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 November posting of the IWSG are: Ellen @ The Cynical Sailor, Ann V. Friend, JQ Rose and Elizabeth Seckman! Don’t forget to visit them and thank them for co-hosting!
Our Twitter handle is @TheIWSG and hashtag is #IWSG.
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!
NOVEMBER 07th QUESTION: How has your creativity in life evolved since you began writing?
I’m a creative soul. Music takes up a huge chunk of my creative life. I read music, write music and play the piano. I can play a little bit of guitar… just basic chords, though.
I can also read sewing patterns and I crochet. I’ve been involved in these pursuits from a young age.
Writing is the creative element that I’ve only really paid attention to within the last eight years or so…
Here’s the simple answer to the question of the month! One that everybody can relate to!
In other news, I fell off the #100words100days bandwagon. It just seems extra hard the second time around. Is it because I know what’s expected? When I mentioned that I’m still getting over the trauma of the first challenge, a writer from my local group hosting the #100words100days challenge said: “You know how the brain apparently forgets the pain of childbirth? Yea, THAT is how I’m doing the challenge again.” She definitely has a point!
Rules: Submit your idea for a WEP February 2019 theme by November 12 to admin AT insecurewriterssupportgroup.com. Nothing too U.S. culturally bound. Should have wide appeal. Winner announced in the November newsletter on November 28.
Prize: Feature in the December newsletter for the winner. And, of course, the winning theme will be the official February WEP theme! Visit the WEP blog for more information!
Happy IWSG Day!
I’ve fallen off so many wagons that I lose track. I think I might start that challenge, and since I’ve never done it, I really don’t know what I’m getting into. Fun!
It’s a great and mostly stress-free way of getting words down on the page. The main objective is sitting down for 100 consecutive days to write… something!
Sorry you didn’t finish that challenge this time. You did it before, so you know you do it. And that’s quite an accomplishment itself.
Play a little guitar, huh? Want to jam?
I’ll jam on the keyboard and you can play the guitar… safer that way. 🙂
I wish I could read and write music! I used to have a basic grasp of reading music, but there was no reason to keep the skill fresh or develop it, since I only played a small keyboard for fun. One of these days, I’d love to learn the dulcian (the bassoon’s Renaissance forerunner) and vielle (similar to a violin, with a longer, deeper body), so I’d have to relearn reading music then.
I’d love to learn to play another instrument, maybe the violin.
If you have dormant musical knowledge then it may not be too difficult to relearn. At least you have something to work from and it’s not a blank slate where you have no pre-existing knowledge.
You can always climb back on the wagon when your brain and you come to an agreement that it’s time. I know you’ll do it.
At the moment, my brain and I are at loggerheads trying to decide on writing-related things. 🙂 For me, the 100words100days challenge is a productive process. No question that I have to just do it again.
Love the pic. Definitely inspirational hehehe
Anna from elements of emaginette
I think it’s a universally relatable pic. Hehe.
You can try that 100 words a day sometime in the future. No shame in saying you gave it a good go. Twice!
At least I tried!
Maybe the timing was out… back to the drawing board…
I’m the same. I’ve always been creative, but writing is still something new to me since about 2011.
Oh, so I’m not the only one! 🙂
I always get the impression that I’m one of the odd ones… and everybody else has been writing for ages.
Sometimes the brain needs a rest. I’ve been resting my brain. 🙂
I wish I was better at writing music. I have one good song, and a couple of mediocre attempts, and a bunch of lyrics with no music. Lol! The Evolution of Creativity is me every single week.
Because I have completed theory examinations, I’m okay when it comes to writing music in the sense that I understand the technical aspects of the musical notation/score… 🙂
love the graphic: Evolution of Creativity! I’m tempted because of your post to join the IWSG. Thank you 🙂
Susan, you should join us. It’s a lovely platform to meet other writers and get inspiration as you move forward on your authorly journey! 🙂
Sorry you didn’t make the challenge this time, but you can always try again if it’s important to you. And awesome that you play the piano and guitar. I’m trying to teach myself the piano a bit and have always wanted to play guitar.
The challenge is VERY important to me.
It suits me (as a lover of flash fiction), boosts my creativity and also strengthens my writerly discipline. Plus I get to add to my word count and build my stories. 🙂
Love the cute picture.
Sorry you didn’t meet your challenge goal, but since you’ve done it before, you’ll always have that; plus you can always try again.
I adore music but never could read or write it. I guess I could still learn, but not sure if I should try. I’m tone deaf and probably shouldn’t be torturing people with my attempts at making music.
Yes, I can always give it another go.
I think I just need to rest a bit from first draft story-building, which is the purpose of the challenge…
I used to do a lot with music (reading, playing, composing, etc.) when I was still in school (despite many attempts, I never could learn the guitar), but stopped after graduation when I no longer had easy access to instruments. I miss that creativity outlet every day. I tried composing a song a little while ago, but had nothing but my iPad on which to work…it really wasn’t the same.
I’ve never done the 100 Words challenge, but I keep going back to NaNoWriMo time and time again. I’ve won a few and lost a few, but I’m always glad I at least gave it a shot.
The November NaNoWriMo would stress me out big time!
I have tried July CampNaNo, with realistic and manageable goals… and won! Wan’t too bad.
I still haven’t forgotten the pain of failure from my attempt at NaNo about four years ago, so I’m still staying away for now. Glad you were able to push yourself to challenging yourself again.
We have to keep on trying… pushing the boundaries… no matter how difficult.
Hi Michelle – love the ‘Evolution of Creativity’ … but you’re constantly working at something and are always fully engaged … especially here with IWSG and now WEP … let alone your 100 words challenge … just enjoy things -good luck too – Hilary
I think the words “fully engaged” nails it! The important thing is to just keep at it… and keep enjoying the process… which is the case with WEP and the 100words100days challenge – I enjoy both challenges! 🙂
Hey Mishy!
Thanks for the WEP shout out. Can’t wait to see what the entries for the competition look like. Will be hard to choose although the IWSG admin wasn’t hard seeing we all agreed on the top two!
Aren’t we all such creative souls but it seems writing puts a stop to all that other creative ‘foolishness’. I do bemoan the fact that I no longer have time. The only creative activity other than writing I hage time for is creating meals an baking. Ya gotta eat, right?
Yes, we gotta eat. No question, Den. 🙂
I’m so glad that the WEP challenge has been boosted to another level… and that the admins have their hands full with all the wonderful entries! Really exciting, isn’t it?
I hope you’re able to climb back on that wagon and keep going. Love the evolution of creativity!
I’ll pick myself up, climb back on the wagon and give it another go! Just need to time it. Timing is everything.
Music takes up a big chunk of my life, too, so I can completely relate. I think creative people tend to be creative on many fronts, simply because we love to explore what can be done, and are always looking for new skills that can express our creative desire. It’s why so many writers are also musicians, or good photographers, or quilters, etc.
Yes, I see your musical pursuits on Instagram! Really interesting… and exciting… 🙂
The exploration of creativity doesn’t really end. I’m always looking for new ideas within the classroom as well.
It’s best to bow out of something that just adds more stress. We need motivation and support, yes, but not so much that we’re forcing the words. Good for you. I so admire all your creative endeavors!
Thanks, Mary!
It’s important to give our creative minds a rest.
I believe that, even when we’re not in a conscious creative mode, something is happening behind the scenes – at a subconscious level. 🙂
Michelle, I rose to the challenge despite a grueling weekend of blood runs, posting a Christmas moment of eerie possession, lost love, and redemption … and you even learn a bit of Swedish holiday traditions! 🙂 http://rolandyeomans.blogspot.com/2018/12/bright-miragewep-post.html