Wednesday, April 4, 2018

IWSG Wednesday





The first Wednesday of every month is officially Insecure Writer’s Support Group day. Members post about their doubts and fears, discuss struggles and triumphs, and offer words of encouragement to others who are struggling.

April 4 question - When your writing life is a bit cloudy or filled with rain, what do you do to dig down and keep on writing?
This question really hits home, as it no doubt does for most authors. I can go from a glass half-full to a glass half-empty in the drop of a sale.
Finding balance is tough. We all need goals, something to strive toward. But when those goals aren't reached it feels like failure. So we step back. Maybe we take in a movie, read a good book or take a few days off.  
All we can do is lick our wounds (just a figure of speech:), take a deep breath, grow our writing and try again. In the words of the immortal Scarlett O'Hara tomorrow is another day.


40 comments:

Elephant's Child said...

I hope all of your tomorrows are filled with sunshine and promise.

nashvillecats2 said...

Great post Sandra, When"Today" is not too good, one has to think of the futre,

Yvonne.

Valerie-Jael said...

Your books are great, that's the thing to remember! Hugs, Valerie

Pat Hatt said...

Hey, maybe you could start a trend. Actually lick wounds for luck. People are gullible and believe such stuff lol

Alex J. Cavanaugh said...

Taking in a movie is always good.
That clock is funny, especial Adult Beverage.

Annalisa Crawford said...

My writing clock would have a few more toss/retrieve/start overs! I'm struggling to fix on my next project, so I'm reading and decorating in the hope ideas will spring forth.

Anonymous said...

The writer's watch face is very clever. Fortunately I am not a writer and I just publish on my blog and be damned. It's interesting though, because at times I really do polish posts, that is mostly improve sentence construction, but that makes them no more or less interesting.

L. Diane Wolfe said...

Sometimes the chaos becomes the balance.

JFM said...

I cannot even begin to know what authors must go through Sandra. The highs and the lows. The in-betweens. What a rollercoaster ride!
I wish you the very best Sandra 💮❤💮❤💮

Jamie Ghione said...

Hope you find the balance you are looking for.

RO said...

As a reader, and friend of authors, there's no way I could do what you all do. Coming up with stories and actually making them make sense on paper has to be tough. Add to that the meeting of consistent deadlines. Then add to that the other parts of life, and I would be a basket case. I have no idea how you do it so gracefully. I like the idea of being able to read , do crafts or watch a movie to relax though. That keeps me sane in many instances. Great post and hugs...RO

Jeanie said...

That's a good question, Sandra. Sometimes it takes a time like that to jumpstart me. To me, deadlines help. Even if I put them off to the end, it gives me a target. Interesting post.

Sandra Cox said...

Lovely wishes. Thank you, EC.

Sandra Cox said...

For sure, Yvonne.

Sandra Cox said...

Thanks, Val. You put a smile on my face.
Hugs received and returned.

Sandra Cox said...

Ewwww. Though you have a point on the gullibility. Grin.

Sandra Cox said...

Says the movie buff. Heh heh.
Hmm is that saying writing can drive you to drink? Ha!

emaginette said...

And tomorrow always starts off fresh and new. :-)

Anna from elements of emaginette

cleemckenzie said...

Scarlett and I would hit it off, I think. Here's to a fresh start every day.

Crystal Collier said...

And it's a darn good thing tomorrow is a fresh day, because sometimes I feel like today has been stomped on, run under the tires, dragged through the mud, and then done all over again. Everyone needs a fresh start, eh?

Christine said...

This is great advice for struggling in general not just writing.

Sandra Cox said...

Right there with ya, Annalisa. I'm winding up my project and trying to figure out my storyline for the next.

Sandra Cox said...

Good for you for polishing and improving. Posting takes time and effort. Thumbs up.

Sandra Cox said...

All to often doesn't it, Di:)

Sandra Cox said...

Thanks, Jan. Much appreciated.
Rollercoaster ride pretty much sums it up:)

Sandra Cox said...

An ongoing endeavor:)

Sandra Cox said...

Read, craft, and watch movies...You're a wise woman, Ro:)
Hugs received and returned.

Sandra Cox said...

Agreed, deadlines--if reasonable--are helpful.
I was once given a deadline of a month to do a total rewrite and we'd just sold our house and were moving. Yikes.

Sandra Cox said...

Indeed:)

Sandra Cox said...

Here's to:)

Sandra Cox said...

Ha! Well said.
Indeed we do need those fresh starts:)

Romance Reader said...

Yes, this is great advice and applies to everyone! All the best!

Sandra Cox said...

A good book or movie works for any ailment doesn't it, Christine?

Sandra Cox said...

We all need to take a step back times and evaluate at times, don't we?

Bleubeard and Elizabeth said...

I broke my keyboard today, so this is brief. I used to worry when someone removed their name as a follower. It felt a bit like how you felt. I have finally come to terms with it, and realize not everyone can appreciate what I write about. So glad to see your words of wisdom, dear Sandra.

Birgit said...

Love what you wrote which we can take for more than just writing and, fiddle Dee Dee, Tomorrow is another day:)

Sandra Cox said...

So sorry to hear about keyboard. Sigh.

Sandra Cox said...

Fiddle, Dee, Dee, indeed, Birgit:)
Smiling here.

Out on the prairie said...

Just like with a painting, one must step back and look it all over often

Magic Love Crow said...

What a great post Sandra! Wise words for us all! Big Hugs!