Wednesday 4 January 2017

Insecure Writer's Support Group (Jan 2017)


Happy New Year everyone and welcome to the first IWSG posting of 2017. I hope you are set for a great writing year ahead.

I've decided to banish insecurities for January . . . in fact I'm hoping the positive feelings will continue way past this month. I have been researching and making notes on a new story idea and I'm keen to throw myself into this while I wait to hear back from other submissions from last year. 

I've carved myself a new writing space at home and equipped it with the necessary notebooks, pens, post-its and other artefacts designed to stimulate my writing muscles!


This month's optional question is; What writing rule do you wish you'd never heard? 

This is a tricky one to for me as I'm not a big fan of writing rules in general! I think the real writing magic occurs when we break some of the conventionally held rules. Of course, I follow the mechanics of spelling, punctuation and grammar but otherwise I think it is fine to experiment. 

I also have to say I'm not a fan of the mantra 'write every day' or 'write 1000, 2000 words (or whatever) every day.'  I think this can be setting yourself up for failure and putting too much pressure on yourself can be counter-productive.  I appreciate it probably works admirably for many, and that's great, but for me it's not helpful. I think the creative process is a very personal thing and it is about finding what works for you and, more importantly, what makes you happy. 

Happy writer = productive writer! 


Thanks to Alex J. Cavanaugh and this month's team of co-hosts;

                                                                   Eva @ Lillicasplace
                                                                       Crystal Collier
                                                                    Sheena-kay Graham
                                                                         Chemist Ken
                                                                          LG Keltner
                                                                     Heather Gardner






21 comments:

  1. How exciting about the new story idea! Best of luck with it this year.

    And I agree with you about writing rules. Just because something works for one person doesn't mean it would for all. Writing's already hard enough work without forcing yourself to follow something rigid like that!

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  2. Hi Suzanne - good luck with the new writing project in your new writing space ... that will be a real treat encouraging you on ... Your 'rules' - yes I'd agree the fewer the better - but be sensible, as others need to be able to read it comfortably ... enjoy 2017 - cheers Hilary

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  3. Hope your positivity does last longer than January Suzanne, I feel the same way.

    Yvonne.

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  4. Happy New Year and I so agree with what you've said. You've got to be emotionally free to write and not trying to follow a bunch of rules.
    All the best for 2017.
    Shalom aleichem,
    Pat Garcia

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  5. Good luck with your new idea!
    I'm with you on the writing every day thing; just because we don't write every day, doesn't make us bad writers. Every writer has their own individual process.

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  6. Good Attitude to begin the new year. Great post, Suzanne. And I agree with you about some of those rules.
    Good luck with your submissions. The waiting is very hard on us writers!

    Happy New Year!

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  7. Hope you keep that positive attitude!
    I don't like that rule either. I've never written every day. I do better in spurts.
    Happy 2017!

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  8. I agree. Writing everyday is impossible. I think about writing and plotting and pacing everyday. Does that count? I think it does. I try not to go too long without writing though. The kids are back in school today:)

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  9. I ignore all the rules - I thought we were supposed to ;-)

    Good luck with your new project. Keep the positivity!

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  10. Yay for the new project! I hope it keeps you pumping for a while.

    You're the third person today who's ripped on that rule. Basically, as long as we keep the wheels greased (so it's not nightmarish to jump back in and MAJORLY draft when required,) I think we're good. Every person functions differently, and you have to do what works for you.

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  11. What works best for you is what is best indeed. Damn all the other rules.

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  12. It's a great idea to write every day, but I don't often do it. At least, not in a WIP. I think "write every day" is more a suggestion to help writers motivate themselves, though. That's how I look at it...as motivation. :)

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  13. I completely agree with you. There are times when I can write everyday, but sometimes I lose the path of my story and require a time-out. I can't force myself to write because of a silly word goal. I need to be sure what I'm writing is the best for the chapter and story. I've been known to take month-long breaks, but it's always worth it when I come up with the perfect solution to a problem.

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  14. Hi everyone, thanks for stopping by and your lovely comments. Here's to a great 2017 for us all!

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  15. I don't get to work on my fiction everyday but I too don't subscribe to the rule of that we must be cranking out words for our book everyday. But even if I'm not working on my novel on a daily basis, I still do other things related to it- maybe I might be researching a topic, for example.

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  16. I think much of a writer's voice comes from which rules they follow and which they don't. I write when I have time to write, and if that means I have to skip a day here and there, then so be it. Everyone has their own way of doing things. Hope you're having a great new year so far.

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  17. Yay for banishing insecurity!! Sounds like you are ready for a great 2017. Awesome. :)

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  18. Rules are made for a reason...and for writers that is to learn them, understand them and then to know when and where to break them!

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  19. Hope you remain inspired throughout the year. Happy 2017!

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  20. I agree that every writing progress is personal, adapted to fit an author's personality and life.

    Best of luck with 2017!

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  21. Any rule which puts too much pressure on the writer is probably a bad idea - a little pressure can be a good thing, but it's easily overdone.

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