Cloud Nine Girl

[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 June: SE White, Cathrina Constantine, Natalie Aguire, Joylene Nowell Butler, and Jacqui Murray!

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

What I know

One thing that anyone who’s ever been close to me knows, I don’t give up easily. Being a mom, working full time and then some extra time when I have to, not every day goes as I wish. Some days though I do manage to free up some time, and I take advantage of it, whether I’m in my car waiting for my son to finish Taekwondo class, or quickly accessing my story for a brief 20 minute writing marathon on my computer. I make it work. Writing helps me get through life, and I have to make time for that.

This month’s question asks, “When the going gets tough writing the story, how do you keep yourself writing to the end? If you have not started the writing yet, why do you think that is and what do you think could help you find your groove and start?”

Goals. A plan. A few inspirational books in my genre are always within reach. I can’t write every day. Some weeks I’m lucky to slip in a day at all, but I know when these days are. I do have a plan. Other weeks, I may have three days I can spare thirty minutes, an hour, sometimes two. I’m not one to sit down and write for hours and hours at a time anyway. But I do carry a small notebook and I brainstorm for 5 to ten minutes whenever I can squeeze it in to map out a new journey in a scene. When I can’t think of a place to start, I always seek out a book that inspired me once. I read a favorite chapter and I study the structure. That in itself, gets me moving.

Question

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 spring has passed now and I do have time to get back to writing. This last week was really good to me. I think I turned out 2600 great words and lots of scene development. I see the end of my story. Maybe I’ll be done this summer? I’m not sure. I can try. That’s all we can hope for some days 🙂

Happy IWSG Day. Don’t quit. Seek things around you that bring you energy. Look for inspiration at your fingertips.

[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 cohosts for the month of April:  Joylene Nowell Butler, Jemima Pett, Patricia Josephine, Louise – Fundy Blue, and Kim Lajevardi!

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

Writing Updates

I made it past the turning pointing in my book, but now I’m on to other complicated loose strings. Sigh. I know I’ll get it. I’m just running a little low on steam and time.

My Insecure Thoughts for the Month

Quite a few years ago, one of my relatives asked me, with what time do you write?

I smiled at her and said something to the fact that I get up really early and I write while everyone is sleeping. Back then, my kids were small. We had our simple routines and they’d go to bed fairly early. But now that I’m getting older, and my kids are getting older, I see some of what she had to say.

This month, I admit, I don’t have a free minute and I guess that’s my insecurity. I’m  not sure how to squeak out more time. Spring brings a plethora of responsibilities at my own job and with my kids both in middle school and extremely involved with school and after school life, it’s nearly impossible.

So I guess what I’d like to say this month is how the arts of practicing patience and grace are truly inspiring to me. I know how much I love to write, as the quote I found by Ray Bradbury speaks true to my heart.

Yet I’m learning to be kind to myself and to try to let go when I can’t be perfect. It’s hard for me. I don’t give up easily. Maybe it’s not giving up but realizing what you need to do for you, when you hit your max load.

So this month, if you’re anywhere like me, just be kind to you, do your best, and listen and learn along the way.  That’s all anyone can ask. That’s the advice I give my kids anyway.

Final Words

“If I waited for perfection… I would never write a word.”
—Margaret Atwood

I love this thought so much.

So happy IWSG day. I hope you have a wonderful rest of your month.

[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 cohosts for the month of February: Joylene Nowell Butler, Jacqui Murray, Sandra Cox, and Lee Lowery!

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

I don’t know about you, but I barely snuck this post in today, feeling like I’m living a constant three ring circus. I wouldn’t have it any other way though.

Writing Updates

I’m still fine tuning the final turning point in my story. I’m keeping my fingers crossed my editor feels like I finally answered all her character questions and making the emotion feel real to human nature, a buoyancy between hesitance and trust. Especially when the information discovered is deep in the past, slightly creepy and surfacing it may create a sudden sense of heightened danger. I’m liking the changes.

Thanking My Influencers

Influencers come into our lives for many different reasons. Maybe it’s a job switch and a mentor who knows how to show you where to start. Maybe it’s a teacher who read a poem and thought you had a special gift with wordsmithing and imagery. For me, I’ve had many influencers and I’m so grateful for each one.

Today, I want to say thank you to two of them who are still very much around: Mrs. Lafoy a current Western Romance Writer, my sophomore high school history teacher, and the woman I should have listened to when she said, “Go to college. Get a degree in teaching and history, and then write.” I swear so told me I had so many stories to share with the world.

And Raimey Gallant, I met her through our writer’s group. She has come in and out of many of my posts and every word she’s ever said in encouragement has really meant something big to me. She connected me with my current editor, and sometimes  that’s not always easy to find. A person who challenges you, who allows you to grow in your own way, because I really think we part of a giant garden and each one of us grows a little different.

Final Words

So thank you. Thank you to all the writer’s out there who wake up and try every day. I’m still trying too 🙂

Happy IWSG Day, all.

[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!

I’m thrilled to be a host this month along with Olga Godim, Sandra Cox, Sarah Foster, and Chemist Ken!

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

I don’t know about you, but these past holiday weeks breezed by so fast, and yet I caught quite the sniffle making me so frustrated at not getting everything done I really wanted and meant to do. Oh well.

Writing Updates

I’ve been working on the highest plot point in my story. The point of no return and face falling movement closely thereafter. It’s a research-based plot where History meets science with sprinkles of magical possibility. I thought it was perfect. Three edits later I realize I’ve revealed nothing new.

So this is my frustration for the month. Sheer joy at the progress of writing, then submitting, then failing on my face after feedback.

What do you do? I guess you get back on the horse and try again.

How about you? Did you manage any writing goals this month? Did you fall on your face like me? That’s okay if you did. It’s worth a good chuckle and results in a fresh new beginning of creative possibility. Don’t stop. I’m not.

Really Great Quotes For The Month

Creativity requires input, and that’s what research is. You’re gathering material with which to build. ~Gene Luen Yang

And also;
After all, the ultimate goal of all research is not objectivity, but truth. ~ Helene Deutsch

Final Words

Happy IWSG Day! I decided to forego the optional question this month, but I’ll be jumping around various blogs all day to see what you all had to say 😉