[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

Happy IWSG Day!

Thank you to the IWSG hosts for the month of August: Tara Tyler, Lisa Buie Collard, Loni Townsend, and Lee Lowery!

Thank you to you, and thank you to the wonderful IWSG hosts who are spreading the writing love this month.

Do You Create For You?

I don’t take what I do personally. Not anymore. I design at work. I’m a graphic artist. Logos. Print publications. Whole event planning with decorations based on design. I often get a few bits of information from invested leaders and then I’m asked to run with it. I’ve learned in time to create multiple ideas based on what people plan to use, to attend, to read. One idea never seems to come together the way I need and want it to. Do what part of my work stems from me, and what stems from others?

This month’s IWSG Question asks: When you set out to write a story, do you try to be more original or do you try to give readers what they want?

Some of my design work is for me, but long ago, I let go of personal attachments to my art. Someone is always tweaking something, doesn’t like one font, or maybe they do. Men and women clients do not see the end product with the same eyes.

Is writing the same? I think genre matters. I remember brain storming my manuscript years ago. I had multiple ideas I’d been exploring with 500 words or less short stories. Based on what my writing friend said at the time, I went with the idea she thought sounded most interesting. So I’ve poured my heart into my story ever since, based on something I thought would appeal to a larger audience, and not what I thought would appeal mostly to me.

So to answer the question, I guess I do both. Interesting ideas matter so much and as I’ve aged I realize I don’t have time to dig into what I necessarily want. I want to appeal to the audience. I want others to want to read my thoughts and inspired by messages. The thoughts are mine. The pictures I’ve created with my words are mine. There’s no easy answer. But I know the message in my heart and if I don’t appeal to the audience, they may never get the message at all.

How about you? How do you come up with your ideas to write? Ever created a story based on what someone asked you to write?

I’d love to hear it.

So what about you? What jars you into focus? What helps you get back into a scene when you have to step away for a bit?

Writing Updates

The summer has been a sprint. I’ve been traveling for two weeks on two separate trips with only 44 minutes of sleep between the two. I made it! I even managed so make some fantastic edits on a creepy suspense scene and my editor loved it!

Happy IWSG Day. May the rest of the month bring your exactly the inspiration that you need.