#IWSG Encouragement is Everything

It's Insecure Writer's Support Group Day! If you'd like to join us on the first Wednesday of every month, you can sign up HERE. 

As always, thanks to Alex Cavanaugh for hosting, as well as the awesome co-hosts this month, Joylene Nowell Butler, Jacqui Murray, Sandra Cox, and Lee Lowery!
 

This month's optional question: Is there someone who supported or influenced you that perhaps isn't around anymore? Anyone you miss?

Answer: All my supporters are present and accounted for! My mom, sister, daughter and husband are my biggest supporters. 

Even so, my husband is my biggest supporter! Because of his encouragement I went to school, earned my degree, and discovered my love of writing. 

My husband is also my biggest fan (other than that one fan who always checks in to see when my next book is coming out LOL). He is the first to read my books and stories and says he loves them even though I know my cutesy paranormal cozy mysteries are on the opposite spectrum of what he usually reads. 

Whatever I'm endeavoring to do, my hubs is always my biggest supporter and fan. 

I used to play women's soccer, and he came to every game to cheer me on, referring to himself as my "athletic supporter" 😆. 

Grateful doesn't begin to describe how much his encouragement means to me!

Who is/was your biggest supporter?

#IWSG: #FearSucks #NoNegativityAllowed

 

Welp, it's January 2022 already! 

Happy New Year! 

This is the first Wednesday of the month and the first Insecure Writer's Support Group posting of the year. Need support or advice from the best writing community out there? Join us HERE.  

Thanks so much to Alex Cavanaugh for hosting, and to this month's co-hosts: Erika Beebe, Olga Godim, Sandra Cox, Sarah Foster, and Chemist Ken!

This month's optional question is: What's the one thing about your writing career you regret the most? Were you able to overcome it? 

Answer? I wish I had started writing sooner. I'd wanted to write for years, but circumstances were never right (according to the negative mind chatter that also said I couldn't do it, so why bother). And I wish that I hadn't let my fears keep me from actively writing once I did decide to start (you know, that negative mind chatter thing again that stopped me from putting words on paper because they weren't good enough). 

I've come to the conclusion that fear is the root of all evil. How many times have I let it get in the way?  How many times have I given negativity too much space in my head? Too many to count on both counts. 

Now I write because I can't not do it. Right or Wrong, Good or Bad, I just do it, which is what I should have done all along. 

Why does it take so long to learn a valuable lesson?

Do you let fear or negativity get in your way? 

What do you regret the most about your writing career,

and have you overcome it? 

#IWSG: What Stresses or Delights You?

 

It's hard to believe, but it's December and the last Insecure Writer's Support Group posting of the year. No worries, though. We will be back in January and if you'd like to join us, GO HERE to sign up. 

Thank you Alex J. Cavanaugh for hosting this event every month, and thanks to this month's co-hosts who make it all possible: PJ Colando, Diane Burton, Louise – Fundy Blue, Natalie Aguirre, and Jacqui Murray!

If you're struggling with what to post, here is this month's optional question:

In your writing, what stresses you the most? 

What delights you?

The lack of confidence in my current WiP stresses me out. Part of me wants to skip this book, which is the 2nd draft of book 2 of the series. It needs a lot of work, such as fleshing out the characters to make them feel more real, and establishing a firmer sense of setting... but I've lost interest in it. And that's a huge amount of work to put into something I've lost interest in. 

*sigh*

Instead, I want to start a new series (already outlined) from the beginning and add the details as I go along, those details that I know are missing from my current WiP as noted above. I think (hope?!) that the details will keep me grounded in my own story, unlike in my current WiP. "They" say to get the words down fast and go from there, but I'm wondering if that's not the best way to write for me. 

But, I have to finish my current WiP...DON'T I😵???

What would you do?

Do you write fast, then flesh out? 

Or write slow, and include all the details? 

What stresses you out?

What delights you?