[I wrote this post as a member of the Insecure Writer’s Support Group where we share our worries and also offer support and encouragement to each other on the first Wednesday of every month. If you’re a writer like me and you’re looking for a bit of support, you can click the link and sign up here

Thank you to our awesome co-hosts this month:Feather Stone, Beverly Stowe McClure, Mary Aalgaard, Kim Lajevardi, and Chemist Ken!

Check out our IWSG homepage for recent news and events.  And as always, thank you to founder Alex J. Cavaugh 🙂 

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Does writing make you happy? Is it the process of writing, the creative juices that flow as you find yourself spinning a new world, new characters, and all the possibilities? What is it about the craft that draws you the most?

I think for me, its the time I spend in another place, another head, and envision all the lessons I can share, or wish I would have learned for myself.  I think it’s diving into a problem solving world, and one I know I can control and change. 

Right now, I’ve spent the last ten months working with my editor to develop my manuscript into something I know I”ll be proud of one day. I’m not as far as I want to be, only 31K in. I wish I had twice the world count, but right now life is a balance. I can’t write all the time. I can have a schedule to help myself, but my schedule is sort of blown. 

This month’s IWSG question asks: : “Do you have any rituals that you use when you need help getting into the ZONE? Care to share?”

I’m finding new routines. I don’t write as much as I want. But when I do write, I write with purpose and each minute is maximized. 

My routine goes as follows:

I have to have a cup of coffee.

Then I grab a few necessary props:  A favorite book in my same genre and same voice as my own work, my rough plot outline, and most recently my iPad. Lately my dogs can’t seem to let me work at my computer station, howling and crawling up my leg until they are both plopped in my lap with one of my fluffiest blankets.

Once I am in my perfect spot on the couch, I always begin writing the same way. If I’m creating new content, I first read a chapter in my favorite book and decipher what works and what pace the author set successfully. After I’ve read the chapter I turn to mine. I analyze my plot sketch.  I study my own flow and consider whether I’ve been too wordy and need to cut description in order to maintain a reasonable pace. I reread and adjust words. I adjust dialogue and add writing tags. I usually go paragraph by paragraph, writing then rereading, editing, and then on to begin another new paragraph. This technique seems to keep the character motive fresh in my head. It also helps me analyze whether or not what I’ve written is true to character.  

I write maybe a couple of days of week. Would I like to write every day? Definitely. But I don’t beat myself up.All we can do is be happy and do what we can with where we are and with what we have.

Happy IWSG Day 🙂