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Mayhem, Of Course #IWSG

Posted on May 4, 2022May 3, 2022 by Loni Townsend

It’s the first Wednesday of the month, making today Insecure Writer’s Support Group day! I wish all of you Star Wars fans out there a happy Star Wars day. May the 4th be with you!

I’m actually writing this blog post early and using the schedule to make it publish on the right day. I’ve got to take my kid to the orthodontist, which is where I’ll be this Wednesday morning.

Life’s been busy lately with a few spiraling breakdowns induced by the overload that was April. My husband saw it–that wild look in my eye–and intervened a few days to try to keep me afloat. He convinced the kids to give Mama a break and helped me tackle half of my To Do list to his own detriment. The guy doesn’t get enough credit for how much he keeps me grounded when I get overwhelmed and start shutting down. It wasn’t until last weekend that I regained my footing and breathed easy for the first time in almost 2 months.

But amidst all the mayhem, I have been writing. I’ve got seven chapters in book 2 revised. Not bad, if I may say so. If I hadn’t been able to write, I think I’d still be a wreck. It’s the thing I do for me–not for the kids, not for the house, not for the dog or the husband or the friends. I guess that brings us to the question of the month.

IWSG Question of the Month – It’s the best of times; it’s the worst of times. What are your writer highs (the good times)? And what are your writer lows (the crappy times)?

Writing, in itself, is a good time. Oh sure, there’s the blocks, the revisions, and the stuff I have to fix that sucks. I scream in despair anytime I feel a major rewrite’s in order. It’s crappy when people tell me they hate my characters or they don’t see the point to my chapter.

But writing is therapeutic. I can throw a bunch of crap at my characters and have them scream in frustration while I cackle maniacally from behind my keyboard. The best of times are when I’m amused by something so absurd, I know no one else will appreciate it.

They do say laughter is the best medicine. It certainly helps when you’ve had an April like I have.

Do you ever find yourself entertained by the visions in your head? How are you handling this year so far? What are your best writer times?

About Insecure Writer’s Support Group
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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.

21 thoughts on “Mayhem, Of Course #IWSG”

  1. Natalie Aguirre says:
    May 4, 2022 at 6:07 AM

    Glad your husband helped you through your crazy April. And it’s awesome how much progress you’re making in your manuscript during your busy times. You’re right. Writing is therapeutic.

    Reply
  2. Melissa Maygrove says:
    May 4, 2022 at 6:51 AM

    Your hubby sounds like a keeper. I agree. Any writing time is a good time, even when it hits bumps. Good luck at the orthodontist’s. I went through that with two of my three.

    Reply
  3. Madeline Mora-Summonte says:
    May 4, 2022 at 7:14 AM

    Yeh for helpful husbands! And hoping May will be better, less crazy for you. 🙂

    Reply
  4. CD Gallant-King says:
    May 4, 2022 at 7:16 AM

    I get it. Even when times are crazy, I need to find writing time or else I’m an even bigger wreck. It provides comfort and focus, if only for a little while.

    Congrats on surviving and making progress with your revisions!

    Reply
  5. Alex J. Cavanaugh says:
    May 4, 2022 at 7:32 AM

    Glad your husband helped you maintain your sanity.
    I guess I’m just not mean enough to my characters…

    Reply
  6. H. R. Sinclair says:
    May 4, 2022 at 8:06 AM

    Yeah for help. Sorry it’s been so rough this year. Writing/creating is very therapeutic.

    Reply
  7. M.J. Fifield says:
    May 4, 2022 at 10:43 AM

    “I can throw a bunch of crap at my characters and have them scream in frustration while I cackle maniacally from behind my keyboard.” <—-Love this.

    I'm sorry April was so rough for you, but I'm very glad you had your husband to help you get through it. I hope May is kinder to you all.

    And hooray for revising seven chapters! That's awesome!

    Reply
  8. Anna says:
    May 4, 2022 at 11:29 AM

    This year is getting better and better. Hope that’s how it goes for you too—starting now.

    Love the squirrel. Is that new?

    Anna from elements of emaginette

    Reply
    1. Loni Townsend says:
      May 13, 2022 at 10:54 AM

      I drew the squirrel a while back, but I moved to make it my official avatar since I don’t have a recent photo of myself. When I redid my site, I figured I’d put it up there. 🙂

      Reply
  9. Liz A. says:
    May 4, 2022 at 1:18 PM

    I’m so sorry you had a difficult time. It’s great that you have a significant other that can help support you when you need it. Sometimes it’s great to have that one thing you do for yourself. Sometimes you really need it. Whatever keeps you sane, right?

    Reply
  10. Helen Mathey-Horn says:
    May 4, 2022 at 1:25 PM

    Yes, writing can be both the best and worst of times.

    Reply
  11. Heidi Angell says:
    May 4, 2022 at 2:07 PM

    I feel ya with the mayhem the last few months! Glad you’re able to still get things accomplished in all that.

    Reply
  12. Olga Godim says:
    May 4, 2022 at 2:29 PM

    I’m always entertained by the visions and scenes in my head. I’m a daydreamer at heart. Writing my dreams down – that is the hard part.

    Reply
  13. Arlee Bird says:
    May 4, 2022 at 2:46 PM

    Anyone raising kids gets a pass for not getting everything done and award for getting anything outside of home stuff done. My kids are all gone from the home, but just the daily household activities keep me from doing as much as I’d like.

    I entertain myself with my internal meanderings often. Sometimes I’ll burst out laughing at the silliest thoughts. My wife gets annoyed I’m sure.

    Arlee Bird
    Tossing It Out

    Reply
  14. L. Diane Wolfe says:
    May 4, 2022 at 3:30 PM

    I’ve always felt my writing was therapeutic. Putting our characters through stuff can help us deal, too.

    Reply
  15. ChemistKen says:
    May 4, 2022 at 9:16 PM

    Back before I began to take this writing stuff seriously, I wrote for the pleasure of dreaming up my own stories. Now that I’m hoping to get other people to read my stuff, it’s not quite as much fun as it was back in the day. Writing isn’t as therapeutic as it used to be for me. Hopefully your overload will soon come to and end.

    Ha, I wrote this post a day early too–but only because I got the days mixed up and thought it was due yesterday. At least I was on time this month.

    Reply
  16. Joleene Naylor says:
    May 5, 2022 at 12:39 PM

    He definitely sounds like a keeper 😉 But you already know that, haha!

    Reply
  17. Lori L. MacLaughlin says:
    May 5, 2022 at 9:17 PM

    Sorry your April has been so rough. I, too, am glad to see April in the rearview mirror. It’s great that your husband dove in and helped out. The orthodontist – I don’t envy you there. I went through that with both my kids. Congrats on all your revising and I hope the rest of your year is an upward spiral! Happy Star Wars Day to you, as well!

    Reply
  18. joylene says:
    May 6, 2022 at 9:40 AM

    Ah, Loni, your post is a perfect reflection on my life. Strange how that happens. I have a husband who keeps me laughing. Yours sounds very special. It’s nice to have a mate who understands us even better than we understand ourselves sometimes.

    Reply
  19. Esther O'Neill says:
    May 11, 2022 at 2:30 AM

    Hi Loni,
    April 22 was jinxed. And March. And February, May ? Amazing. In a nature reserve, a A squirrel came and watched our picnic. Just one question… A red squirrel ? Where I live, just below Scotland, they’re treasured, authentic descendants of the original Nutkin,.
    Once, in a Geneva park, we watched a troupe of nine red squirrel acrobats, high above, going through their routine.
    Whole new world for me, finally getting on the IWSG list – and – the really tricky bit –
    staying there. Everything seemed to work, then didn’t,
    This time, I did manage to post, at last, thanks to my truly brilliant husband, never appreciated enough . And my cousins – Aussies and Californians – both sets going through tough times.. Next project ? A real website, but not till we’ve finished putting up a fence.

    Looking forward to more.

    Esther

    Reply
  20. Kim Elliott says:
    May 15, 2022 at 2:54 PM

    Seven chapters sounds like good progress! I’m glad your husband was there to support you during the rough times. Wishing you lots of writing highs during your revisions!

    Reply

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Welcome to my blog. I post here on Wednesdays most of the time, but you can find me on social media any day of the week. My topics include my stories and writing, life at the Town's End, creating and tinkering with graphics, things I learn and think might be helpful to others, and the occasional amateur photo. Thanks for stopping by! I hope to see you around.

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