Purpose: To share and encourage.
Writers can express doubts and concerns without fear of appearing
foolish or weak. Those who have been through the fire can offer
assistance and guidance. It’s a safe haven for insecure writers of all
kinds!
Posting: The first Wednesday of every month is officially Insecure Writer’s Support Group day. Post your thoughts on your own blog. Talk about your doubts and the fears you have conquered. Discuss your struggles and triumphs. Offer a word of encouragement for others who are struggling. Visit others in the group and connect with your fellow writer - aim for a dozen new people each time - and return comments. This group is all about connecting! Be sure to link to the IWSG page and display the badge in your post. And please be sure your avatar links back to your blog! If it links to Google+, be sure your blog is listed there. Otherwise, when you leave a comment, people can't find you to comment back.
Let’s rock the neurotic writing world!
Our Twitter handle is @TheIWSG and hashtag is #IWSG
March 7 question - How do you celebrate when you achieve a writing goal/ finish a story?
The awesome co-hosts for the March 7 posting of the IWSG are Mary Aalgaard, Bish Denham, Jennifer Hawes, Diane Burton, and Gwen Gardner!
Before I get to the question, I need to get to my neuroses. That is to say, I need to confess that I've been making painfully slow progress on much that needs doing. I can blame part of that on a visit from my mom--it's always worth it to drop my work for a bit when we have our rare chances to be together. But I'm also doing what always happens when I'm at gaps in a project. See, Death By Adverb has gone to my proofreader, so I'm just waiting to hear from her. But of course, that would be the perfect time to get my promotional materials together, and maybe even to submit some short stories. Have I done all that? Maybe almost?
Hey, speaking of that promotion, if you want to help out with release day (which I announced last month but had to reschedule because I failed to notice I'll be out of town), the big day is March 28. Drop me a note in the comments, and I'll share the materials. If you want a pre-proofing ARC to review, let me know that, too.
 |
| Isn't it a lovely cover? |
So... in a way I guess my first paragraph answered the question of the month. When I reach a goal, I drop everything and look dazedly about me for a week. Then I beat myself up for a few days because I'm getting nothing done. Then, and only then, do I start thinking about what still needs to be done, and get to doing it.
I guess that's not much of a celebration. So I'll throw in some chocolate. I eat chocolate when I reach a goal. I also eat chocolate when I don't reach a goal, but never mind about that!
How about it? Can you suggest some better ways for me to mark the goals and accomplishments?
I think it would be hard to get much writing, marketing, or anything done when your mom is here. Sounds like you did the right thing to spend time with her. And smart move to change your release date.
ReplyDeleteYeah, I'm not feeling too bad about not working much while she was here. Mom time is precious, and limited.
DeleteThat sounds an awful lot like how I "celebrate." :)
ReplyDeleteGood luck with the release!
We both need to work on it!
DeleteI think you're normal :)
ReplyDeleteToday my spouse and I went out and bought new backpacks. That might also be a good way to celebrate--by preparing to spend even more time away from the computer!
DeleteChocolate is always good. I would love to help. Congrats on the newest book!
ReplyDeleteThanks! I'll send you an email!
DeleteChocolate can be used for pretty much any occasion. I think it's good to take a break and relax a bit once a big goal is reached. And, time with your mom is precious.
ReplyDeleteMary at Play off the Page
Chocolate is one of the main pillars of life :)
DeleteI started to read the ARC you sent though and am thoroughly enjoying it :-) Chocolate is such a versatile thing - good for celebrations as well as an everyday pick-me-up.
ReplyDeleteOh, good! I do seem to recall your heroine uses chocolate pretty liberally :D
DeleteI tend to feel lost when I finish something too and don't really celebrate because I'm not sure what I'm supposed to be doing now that it's done.
ReplyDeleteYeah, even though I know there's a bunch of stuff that has to be dealt with, for a little while it's hard to change gears and get going.
DeleteI eat chocolate when I feel good, each chocolate when I feel bad, eat chocolate when I feel nothing. Honestly I probably eat too much chocolate.
ReplyDeleteBut hey, if you want help promoting launch day, drop me a line.
I will drop you a line. And I don't think there's such a thing as "too much chocolate"
DeleteI hope you and your mom had a great visit. I am usually exhausted by the time I finish writing! It can be hard to get promotional information together when I feel tired. :) Good luck. I would be happy to help you promote on release day on my Author Tracker blog: https://jessicahaight.blogspot.com/
ReplyDeleteJust let me know. haightjess at gmail dot com
~Jess
We did have a nice time. At 89 she doesn't do long hikes with me anymore, but she's still a great companion :)
DeleteAnd thanks--I'll send an email with the release info, which I DID finally get together :D I'll be tight with making the release date, though, as my proof-reader broke her arm! Doesn't stop her reading or writing, but logistics are suddenly eating up a lot more of her time :o
Don’t beat yourself up for not getting anything done. Take it from me...it makes it worse. Tell yourself it’s okay. Give yourself slack and then commit to one thing you need to do. Just one. When it’s done, reward yourself then move on to the next. Good luck with Death by Adverb!
ReplyDelete