Wednesday, June 6, 2012

Insecure Writer's Support Group


It's time for another meeting of the Insecure Writer's Support Group, hosted by Alex J. Cavanaugh. Hello to all of my fellow insecure writers!

Ever since I finished my novel, I've been wallowing in insecurity. Learning about the publishing process and working on query letters and a novel synopsis has cranked by usual anxiety and insecurity all the way up to 11, to borrow from Spinal Tap. :D

When I make the mistake of letting insecurity get the best of me, I tend to become frozen and end up not doing anything, which only serves to heighten my anxiety. That's where I've been the past few weeks, as I've withdrawn from blogging and stopped working towards my publishing goals.

I realized I was just being foolish and essentially letting my insecurities win, and I found I missed blogging anyway, so I decided to get back to it this week. I'm so glad I did, as just being active again on Monday gave me a new burst of energy and the resolve to stop wallowing and get my butt back in gear.

So at the risk of sounding like a total sap, I just want to say again how grateful I am to be part of this wonderful community. I'm amazed at how much better I felt after catching up on my blog reading and cheering on other writers' successes and milestones.

This was just the thing to shake me out of my doldrums, and I managed to get back to working on my queries with renewed enthusiasm. If you find yourself letting your insecurities get the best of you, I would suggest a trip around the blogosphere as a great way to get those pesky demons back in check. It's an amazing and exciting time to be a writer, and I think this community is proof of that. 

To wrap this up before I get too sappy, I just want to share one of my favorite writing quotes. It's one I think we need to remember whenever our insecurities threaten to get the upper hand.


“you can, you should, and if you’re brave enough to start, you will.” ~ Stephen King, On Writing

 

34 comments:

  1. Keep on keeping on! The road never ends - we just find time to make interesting pitstops. Congrats on completing your novel. Now the next part of the journey begins.

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  2. Blogging never fails to inspire me!

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  3. Huzzah! Yeah, it really does help to mingle with other writers to get that motivation back. Long live the internet. :)

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  4. Blogging and my writing group do help. I think we all need wallowing time.
    The learning time, man, nothing points out how much you don't know like learning different aspects of the craft of writing and publishing.

    When it gets too overwhelming, just pick one thing one aspect of writing and do it to move forward. Shut down the mind to all else and just focus on that little bit. It helps get you past the deer frozen in the headlights of the semi truck mode.

    (I, of course, have NEVER been there lololol! excuse me some guys with white coats are at the door)

    Hang in there!

    Sia McKye OVER COFFEE

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  5. My plan to fight insecurities over querying and the inevitable rejection is to keep writing. Once I get the second one done, I'll send out the first. I get frozen with anxiety too, so I think this is the best plan for me.

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  6. It's so hard to put yourself out there and it never gets easier to be rejected BUT nothing will ever happen if you don't try.

    That's what keeps me going :)

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  7. It's like the lottery slogan - you can't win if you don't play. Glad to have you back in Blogdom :)

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  8. I hear ya. An hour or two bloghopping always manages to get me out of the doldrums.

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  9. Go ahead - get sappy!
    Evil has a way of cutting us from the herd where we'll wallow alone in negativity.
    And bonus points for the Spinal Tap reference!

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  10. Yay! I'm glad you're beating those insecurities back. And the blogging community is the best. :)

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  11. Glad you've got yourself back on track! I have withdrawn from blogging, but only because I am so short of time. Getting back online and reading others' posts, however, is like meeting back up with a group of old friends - I'm not going to stay away so long next time!

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  12. Reading about other people going through the same things always helps me. It puts my fears into perspective. I'm glad to see you back.

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  13. @Derek, thank you! You're so write about the interesting pitstops, love that.

    @Kyra, I agree 100%.

    @LG, thanks, and huzzah back to you. :D

    @Sia, LOL, I've definitely been in the frozen deer mode, thanks so much for the advice. And those guys in white coats will no doubt be showing up at my door next LOL.

    @Tonja, that's a smart plan, I've thought about starting a second novel too. Good luck with both of yours!

    @Johanna, that's what I keep reminding myself, if I don't try I won't get anywhere so there's nothing to lose. Thanks!

    @Carol, thank you, I'm so glad to be back. :)

    @Karen, it's like therapy LOL.

    @Alex, LOL, I love Spinal Tap. And you're so right about the herd, it's great to get back in it. :)

    @Cherie, thanks!

    @Linda, I know what you mean, that's exactly how it feels. Glad to have you back as well! :)

    @Annalisa, thank you!

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  14. You're not alone in your struggles, Julie. We're all either where you are now, were there, or will be there soon enough. :)

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  15. Beautifully said about blogging, Julie. I know we all managed without it, but I sometimes wonder how. Keep your spirits up and onward with the task at hand.

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  16. Thankfully the writers blogging community is awesome. :)

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  17. Hi Julie ... we can get moments like that can't we - frustrating too .. as we know if we just start and keep on all will be well.

    Love the quote ..and good to see you back .. blogging is so supportive ...

    Cheers Hilary

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  18. @Madeline, thanks, it's good to know at least we are all in this together. :)

    @Karen, oh, thanks!

    @Kittie, thank you, and I agree, even though I've only been blogging a year and a half I now can't imagine not doing it.

    @Charmaine, I totally agree! :)

    @Hilary, thank you, I'm so glad to be back. :)

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  19. Julie, I think it is completely normal for all writers to feel this way throughout our writing lives. I've been there many times, certain I'm going to give up for good. I always return.

    I, for one, am truly happy your returned to blogging. Don't ever give up!

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  20. What a great post. Glad we met. Good luck & hang in there! :)

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  21. We have a lot in common! I'm a huge animal lover too. I have a mini farm in the the city:) And I drag around my anxiety wherever I go. I completely agree with you on how amazing the blogging world is for boosting morale. Looking forward to hearing more from you!

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  22. Hi Julie. I can so relate to your issue here. But you're quite ahead of me. I imagine I'll suffer from doldrums, insecurities and anxiety when I get to your level. I love the quote. It reminds me that to be a writer takes courage.

    Good luck with your letters. May you get positive responses real soon.

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  23. @Michelle, thanks!

    @Susan, aww, thanks, that's very nice of you to say. I won't give up and I'm very glad you always return.

    Melissa, thanks, I'm so glad we met as well. :)

    @Honey, oh, it's always great to meet another animal lover! I'm looking forward to hearing more from you too, thanks so much.

    @Myrna, glad you like the quote, it's definitely one of my favorites. Thanks so much for the good luck wishes, I appreciate it!

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  24. Glad you got over that. What works for me is to just get moving and do something. That usually shakes off the inertia.

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  25. I got goosebumps at the end.... thanks for sharing and welcome back, Bluddie :)

    (Hands over executive rights to use said Bluddie word as needed :)

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  26. On Writing is my writing bible. haha. I found writing a synopsis harder than writing my novel. It drove me crazy. Good luck on your querying adventure! :)

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  27. Oh, I love that quote! I'm the same way in that my anxiety will often make me withdraw from everything. I'll get myself in such a mess of fear about writing and publication and being good enough that I suddenly lose the desire to touch any of it. Ugh! That's why I did BuNo, because I was stuck in a blechy place.

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  28. No doldrums! They're all mine I tell you! Mine!!
    Nice to meet you, and yes, you couldn't be more right. The writing community is quite unique and special. I've never come across anything like it!
    Glad you popped by! : )

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  29. @JL, that's a good cure for me too, I just have to force myself to stop wallowing! Thanks!

    @Mark, oh, thank you, you are very kind to share the Bluddie word LOL. And I'm glad you liked the quote!

    @Michael, I love it too, and I'm totally with you on the synopsis. It's much harder than I imagined it would be. Thanks!

    @Shannon, I hope the BuNo is helping you get out of that blechy place, that was smart to sign up. That's exactly how I am with fear, I end up not even wanting to touch anything.

    @Escape Artist, I will gladly share the doldrums LOL. Thank you and I'm so glad you came by as well!

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  30. Glad to hear you shook it off! I love On Writing by Stephen King. I've read it several times! I love this online writing community too!

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  31. @Lisa, thanks so much! Your wonderful comments about my excerpt really contributed to helping me shake it off. Thanks again!

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  32. Really enjoyed looking through your blog and loved the Stephen King quote. Visiting from IWSG :)

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  33. @findingmycreature, oh, thank you, I'm glad you liked it. It's great to meet you, thanks!

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