Insecure Writer's Support Group:

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 this page and display the badge in your post. And please be sure your avatar links back to your blog! 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.

The awesome co-hosts for the November 5 posting of the IWSG are Jennifer Lane, Jenni Enzor, Renee Scattergood, Rebecca Douglass, Lynn Bradshaw, and Melissa Maygrove!

Every month, we announce a question that members can answer in their IWSG post. These questions may prompt you to share advice, insight, a personal experience or story. Include your answer to the question in your IWSG post or let it inspire your post if you are struggling with something to say. 

Remember, the question is optional!

November 5 question - When you began writing, what did you imagine your life as a writer would be like? Were you right, or has this experience presented you with some surprises along the way?

Hi everyone,

 

How have you been? I took a break from my Substack and my blog for the months of September and October. Now, I am trying to get back into the groove. I found this month's question to be coincidental with my musings on my writing life. 

 

My writing life currently survives in the fringes of my regular life. It is early mornings before the sun is out, late nights, or even 2:00 AM after I help a child go back to sleep. It isn't what I had imagined when I started this journey.

 

I didn't identify as a writer. I read all the time, made up stories in my head, and journal when I felt like it. 

 

In 2018, my life took a turn and I ended up broke with a lot of time on my hands. I read some articles on how romance writers are making it big and joined the group 20booksto50K on Facebook. They made it sound so easy. Write the book, market, rinse and repeat. 

 

It was going to be great. I would wake up in my country home, meander over to my vintage typewriter with a cup of tea or coffee, and write for a few hours before heading into work. When I'd get home from work, I'd spend the evening editing and doing marketing. Then, I'd fall asleep with more ideas in my head.

 

It didn't work that way for me. I have learned so much about my writing. I don't care to write on my vintage typewriter. It is pretty to look at but I don't have the time to type on paper and OCR it into a Word document. I only get 30 minutes every day to write. I need to be as efficient as possible. I can't churn out books. I need to have time to think, write a bit, scribble in a notebook, think some more, and write a little more. I don't know if I want the lifestyle where my income is dependent on how fast I can write the next book. I love the process of crafting my stories. 

 

The journey is what makes it enjoyable for me.

 

You know how I mentioned before that I took a break and now am trying to figure out what I want to do with my writing life. For fiction authors, what do you blog about? Do you write about your life, books, or content marketing? Is it different from your newsletter? My blog is drifting along at the moment and I want to do something different. I'm just not sure what that would be.

 

What about you? I'd love to hear what you think.

 

Hugs,

Allie