I debated if I should even post a blog entry today. Over the last two months, I haven’t been able to get online and visit other blogs, and it’s terribly unfair to post something and have someone comment on mine without returning the visit. The fact of the matter is that between work and my kids, I just can’t do anything else. I started to visit blogs at 6:50 AM this morning, leaving myself 40 minutes before having to start work. I literally only visited one blog before my son walked in and all my blogging goals for the day went out the window. *sigh*
But it’s Insecure Writer’s Support Group Day, and I didn’t want to skip out. Am I an insecure writer this month? Yeah. I’m struggling with my rewrites, both in making it flow right and finding the time to actually get words down. I got less than 1K this past month, and I’m going to have to rewrite all of it. But every writer knows that struggle.
Instead of focusing on my insecurities, I want to shout out to everyone out there. 2020 hasn’t been a kind year, and for those of you who have had it harder than the rest of us, my thoughts are with you. It’s been a truly crappy year for many, and my lack of personal space and time is nothing compared to the greater struggles many of you face.
So tell me your victories, if you have any. Big or small. Maybe you finished a paragraph. Maybe you beat cancer (looking forward to that for my mom – only a few chemo treatments left). Help me fill my gratitude cup at the end of this day, and I hope there’s something I can help celebrate with you.
About Insecure Writer’s Support Group
You can find the sign up for the IWSG here. We owe Alex J Cavanaugh a huge thank you for thinking this blog hop up.
2020 has been insane, to say the least. And you want a victory? You posted this blog. VICTORY! Even if you only wrote 1K words, that’s better than not writing those words (even if you’ll have to rewrite). Work still got done. Be proud of yourself!
Let’s see…Appa (my dog) had to have surgery yesterday, but he is in AMAZING spirits, and I can already tell his recovery is going to be good. I’ll take that win. I’m taking all the wins I can at this point, like I feel so many others are.
Hang in there, and keep smiling. The sun always comes back out. 🙂
I’m so glad you post, even if you are pressed for time! I love your little slice of life, your writing, your kids, your art. The crazy times of our day make me appreciate that my writing insecurities are pretty small in the big picture of life. And that realization, in turn, has allowed me to lighten up and try to have a little fun with it. I’m grateful for family and friends, and those who will see us through to the other side.
Hugs and prayers for your mom!
I’m so happy your mom only had a few treatments of chemo left. Sending her and you hugs. Take care!
I am right there with you Loni. 2020 has been incredibly challenging and i pray every day, you find time to breathe and do what you need to do for you too. Let’s see, a victory? Growing closer with my children. I’m also 35 k into my draft and I admit I have grown so much as a writer and eventhough my word count is small, my writing growth is huge. Blessings to you for peace and hope and dreams come true 🙂
It’s okay. I like knowing you are doing well, okay, and just busy. I am 5000 words in my series novel Ghost Pirate. I am working on creating 3 courses. Hope you had a great day. Happy IWSG!
Yeah, this year has been kicking everyone’s butt. Do what you can. It’ll get easier *fingers crossed*.
No victories to talk about, but we did drive out to Pasadena today. It was nice to get out of the house. And we managed it before the curfews (our county is on curfew after the looting et al). Yeah, plague wasn’t enough. Now we have riots. Good times…
May your mom beat it!
I finished my story and it’s with my test readers now. First time I’ve finished a full length story in five years.
No worries, Loni. No one’s head is in the right place or their plans going according to plan.
Working and raising kids are a full-time job. The fact that you are trying to blog and write is awesome. I know this to be true because that’s what it was like for me before my husband died and my daughter left for college and our adult relationship. You’re doing awesome!
Fingers crossed for your Mom!
Thanks for the reminder about filling the gratitude cup. I’m getting better at recognizing those small moments throughout the day where I can smile and be thankful.
Life is cra-a-a-azy these days. Try and find the small moments that make everything seem right. I love sitting on the deck in the early mornings with my husband (of 50 years) listening to the birds sing, laughing at the squirrels racing up the trees and watching the garden grow. We enjoy our coffee, sometimes talking, sometimes just silent. Those years when working and raising kids, I had to give up writing. I didn’t have the energy or the drive to do it. That’s okay. There are many seasons in your life. The little things will make each one precious. Hugs,
JQ Rose
I’m in the opposite situation as you. Right now I have lots of free time, but I’m still not getting anything done. Sure I’m making some progress on my WIP, but not enough to justify all the time I have available to me. Combined with the fact that I’m not blogging much, not making contacts with other urban fantasy authors, not working on my supposedly new website, not finding a cover designer, etc., etc., I feel like I’m just screwing around with this writing stuff. When I think about those writers who are doing all those things and making a living from their writing, I feel like a couch potato.
BTW, it was your comment to my IWSG post from last month that reminded me I’d forgotten about this month.
Some days my schedule is full, some not so much, and I struggle like Ken does to get anything done.
DLP has now published 3 books in the middle of this mess with 1 more to go next month. I’m hoping the one in September will be normal!
Sending positive energy your way, for you and your mom. I think we all struggle with trying to juggle it all. So glad you posted today! Thanks for sharing!
This year has definitely been rough. Sending healing thoughts for your mom. My dad is going through cancer treatments right now, too, though not chemo. We’re hoping this will cure it. I’ve been adding a few words to my WIP here and there, not much, but anything is still progress. Don’t worry about not having time to return visits. I totally understand. I’m in the same boat.
I’m sending positive vibes to your mom, Loni. Much love and healing to her!
I love that you’re looking to fill your gratitude cup! Right up my alley! (And goes hand-in-hand with my post today!) Here’s my contribution: the warm weather is arriving which means flowers in my yard. Yes! (Don’t count the ones that I almost killed because they came back). I am *finally* a certified life coach and certified master NLP practitioner. Best of all, I get to see my son today. I haven’t seen him since February. Woo Hoo!
Elsie
I’m glad you decided to post, Loni. I know this has been a tough year. I totally understand where you’re coming from. Because I can fall into depression very easily, I’ve developed a way to meet each day head-on. Before I open my eyes, I give thanks for my family, my home, the roof over our heads (long story, but we don’t have a home in Canada, just in Mexico), my friends, my wonderful neighbourhood, my body, the ability to move and walk and dance if I want to. I know it’s corny, but it’s working. I won’t go into detail, but we (my family) have had much tragedy in our and so I’m particularly grateful for all the simple things, like IWSG, your post, my IWSG friends, and life in general.
This year has given the old one-two punch to all of us, and you’re right to think that while it’s bad it could be worse. I feel so terrible about those who’ve lost jobs and are struggling to buy food, pay rent, keep their kids safe. Glad you found the time to post even if it was difficult. Sometimes doing regular tasks in irregular times helps.
Sending good vibes to your mom!
I finished some edits for a short story and read through it again to look for stay typos. I think I can call it finish now, so I’m celebrating that.
I haven’t been able to write during the pandemic. At first, I was just too freaked. Then home school started (two teens = 10 courses) and kabam, there went any free time. These days I’m throwing myself into gardening.
I’m glad you did post. I always worry about the internet folks who go silent. We’re all weirdly busy in all kinds of ways right now, so it’s totally understandable.
I’m finally starting to settle into the plague world. Several really good writing days in a row, now, and I’ve even gotten some words on projects I thought I was going to have to give up.
Well, Loni, you achieved more than me – or rather you got to comment on my post far faster than I got to read yours. Being Insecure means everything is excusable – well, that’s my excuse for this late visit.
Best of luck to your mum. Sorry to hear you’ve not had much time for writing and blogging. You’re right that we do need to be grateful for what we’ve got. We’ve been pretty lucky too in that my wife and I both work from home and are doing well, maybe better than normal with getting holidays refunded and not spending on clothes and other expenses! But I’m looking forward to the day we’re past it. We’ll get there.
I have a feeling of deja vu, so forgive me if I commented already.
I’m sorry you are short on time to blog and write. I’ve been there, and it’s crappy for us creative types.
I’m in a different place than many. I’m a nurse, so I have work. With few exceptions, life has gone on for me in a fairly normal way. I’ve been very, very blessed through this crisis, and so I’ve done what I can to give back… donated money to the local food bank… ordered food from local restaurants… hired people needing work to do jobs around the house. I hope this crisis passes soon, and that our economy will weather the storm.
Keep going! It’s hard to carve out time for blogging much less writing stories. I limit my blogging to only IWSG posts. Hope you are having a great summer!