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.
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!
AUGUST 04th QUESTION – What is your favorite writing craft book? Think of a book that every time you read it you learn something or you are inspired to write or try the new technique. And why?
I don’t own many books on writing craft but I do want to build a collection of craft books.
Any suggestions are welcome! Please include info on how the book helped you!
What I’ve Learned From My 100words100days Challenge
The challenge is straightforward – write 100 words minimum over 100 days.
The 100 words can be for any project you’re currently working on. How difficult can that be? Right? The main thing is that you write at least 100 new words, every day.
I’ve tried this challenge twice and completed it once. It’s not always smooth sailing, especially when you get close to the end.
Today is day 35, so I still have a LONG way to go.
Here are some thoughts I want to share:
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100wordsX100days is an excellent way to keep impostor syndrome in check!
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It has helped me to discover my writing style: I feel energized and am productive when faced with the prospect of writing in short bursts.
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It helps tap into creativity by approaching each session in a different manner.
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It confirms that when it comes to writing, there is no one-size-fits-all and no one correct way in which to approach writing.
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From day to day, you never know what will happen and some days you may find it’s a tight squeeze – but 100 words is a 100 words! Plus there are days when the writing doubles/triples… I wrote 1197 words on one of the days!
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I’m terrified at the thought of doing a 30 day NaNoWriMo challenge. I much prefer the 100X100 challenge. The thought of a 80,000 word draft in one month scares me.
Have you done NaNoWriMo? Do you think I should try it – at least once?
Happy IWSG Day!
I am probably doing NaNoWriMo this year. Not sure how well it’ll go but I am keen to take the plunge.
I have kind of just started reading a few books of late. Right now Im on Save the Cat Writes a Novel. Somehow basics that you do know but which skip your mind now and then. Though Im just half way through.
Best of luck with your challenge! It sounds like a productive one.
Excellent work! I have done a number of NaNo’s (the timing has been off the last few years, but I think I did 11?) It’s 50,000 words, so it your book is longer (all of mine are longer–lol) it’s just the first 50,000. Still a challenge! I loved it because it made my internal editor shut up. When you push yourself outside of your normal word counts, you don’t cut anything (until it’s over ;)). Really a different way to look at writing. Good luck!
I saw you were off to a good start with the challenge.
Save the Cat! Great book.
Here’s a good criteria for a writing craft book: someone who was a screenwriter. These people must write visually, without the aid or buffer of prose, to tell a story. This helps a reader emote rapidly as well as turn the page.
Suggestions: Save the Cat by Blake Snyder, Wired for Story by Lisa Cron, The Anatomy of a Premise Line by Jeff Lyons. Of course, everybody adores Anne LaMott’s ‘Bird by Bird’ because she honestly presents ‘how to’.
The 100 words in 100 days challenge sounds interesting! I have done NaNoWrimo many times and had determined that it is a mad push for me that leaves me exhausted every November at a time when things are already overwhelming. I started in college and it was really great when I had that break in school but made exams way more stressful than they needed to be. I think a steady approach like the 100 days challenge would be much more suitable to the average writer who has to juggle a day job.
I’m part of a fun group on Facebook, The Writers Storm and they do sprints as a group several times a day to help people catch a time that works best for them. I’ve also been in on the #5amwritersclub but it’s hard for me to remain consistent with the group and I don’t feel as much push with them so much as just support in the moment.
Cheers on your writing adventures!
100 words a day is doable for me! I like this and will try, once again, to implement it! Thank You for the inspiration.
Finding what works to motivate you is the most important thing. Looks like 100 x 100 works for you. Kudos!
I like hearing your progress with the challenge. You can do it!
100 words a day. Seems easy enough, but I know better. It’s hard work, and you should feel great doing it. Thanks for sharing.
Anna from elements of emaginette
Two more months – you can do it, Michelle.
That’s great Michelle! I’ve notices as well that the freedom of short flow helps the process. That’s why I spend months world building and sketching characters… there is such a freedom in the creative process.
I love that you’re challenging yourself–key to staying focused. 🙂
Happy IWSG Day, Michelle! Yes, I have done NaNo. I did the challenge successfully last November, but April and July’s efforts weren’t as successful. Regardless, I’m still further than I would have been. I like your 100 wpd goal. Maybe that’s where I should go next. Wishing you 3100 words in August!
Happy IWSG Day, Michelle! Yes, I have done NaNo. I did the challenge successfully last November, but April and July’s efforts weren’t as successful. Regardless, I’m still further than I would have been. I like your 100 wpd goal. Maybe that’s where I should go next. Wishing you 3100 words in August!
Cheering you on! You’ll finish and you’ll have a lot of words to put to good use!
Hi Michelle – congratulations on reaching for your goals. I know many recommend ‘Save the Cat’ … good books are worth reading, as one can learn from that author’s cadence and how they approach their craft. Take care and all the best – Hilary
Hi,
I can only say that I’ve done NaNo five times and finished three times out of the five. Each time I finished it was because I concentrated only on NaNo. NaNo demands intensive concentration if you’re taking it seriously and want to do the first draft of a book you would like to write.
All the best on your 100 X100 days journey.
Shalom aleichem,
Pat G @ EverythingMustChange
I may try the 100 day challenge. It might help kick me back into a creative space. I have tried NANO, but found it too stressful.
Glad you are enjoying the challenge.
Thanks for stopping by.
The nice thing about 100 words is the amount is so small that it is easy to get in and hard to come up with excuses to why you don’t have time.
I’ve done NaNoWriMo before and though it’s not a challenge for me, I personally don’t like the stress of it. I know it’s a great place to meet others. I don’t know, I suppose I’m more of a free-range chicken lone wolf person when it comes down to actual writing. ;P
♥.•*¨Elizabeth Mueller¨*•.♥
Nano is 50k in a month, or 1667 words a day.
100 certainly sounds easier.
I have two reference books for writers. One is about preparing to write a certain type of setting. The other is about writing book reviews, aimed especially at writers.
Did anyone from your area win at the Olympics this year?
Joe Kovacs, from my neck of the woods, won silver for Shot Put Throw.
I seriously thought I’d left a comment already, but I guess I only imagined it. Glad the challenge is going well for you. The 100-word challenge sounds more my speed than NaNo too, but I never say never.