Wednesday 1 April 2015

IWSG (April)


Thanks as ever go to our host Alex J. Cavanaugh

Co-hosts for this month are Tonja Drecker, Toi Thomas, Rachna Chhabria, Fundy Blue, Donna Hole and yours truly!

April 1st is going to be a busy day around the blogosphere. Not only is it the start of the epic A-Z challenge but it is also Insecure Writer's support Day! Whilst I am not taking part in the A-Z, I am honoured to be one of Alex's co-hosts today so I will be surfing around to see what particular insecurities lurk this month.

Of course the first of April also has another special spot on the calender                     - April Fool's Day!

Apparently, the earliest recorded association between the date and it's connections with the playing of pranks and general foolishness, appeared in Chaucer's The Canterbury Tales in 1392.  Wikipedia

However, I'm sure there will be no pranks around here, just a bunch of supportive writers offering a word or two of support or encouragement. We all need that from time to time, right? 

My nagging insecurity this month involves waiting. We all know things in this business take time. A huge amount of time, effort and perseverance goes into the creative process itself but when you finally reach the end and have a lovingly crafted manuscript to share with the world, that's when the waiting really starts! It's hard not to count each week that goes by and then torture yourself with crazy ideas of what the wait might mean. Usually it alternates between they love it/they hate it. In reality of course it probably means it just hasn't been seen yet.  I don't have any magic tip for coping with the anxiety that accompanies waiting. If anyone out there does please share! But I try to distract my insecure mind with new writing projects and to take time to enjoy reading books from my ever increasing TBR pile. Remember successful writers are usually prolific readers too.  


56 comments:

  1. Hi Suszanne, I think I had my April Fools Day yesterday.
    Most interesting to read look forward to seeing you around.

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  2. Happy April Fool's Day, Suzanne! :) Thanks so much for co-hosting this month. I'll be participating in the A-Z Challenge through my other blog, lilicasplace. It's going to be an interesting month! Have a great day! Eva

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  3. Good though you have something submitted :) I'll be part of the a-z craziness this month.

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  4. Thanks for co-hosting this month, Suzanne :)! It's going to be a busy month! I'm the worst person at waiting - I can't wait patiently for anything! But it sounds like you've got a good way to distract yourself :) - hope you hear back soon!

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  5. Hi Suzanne - I hadn't realised April Fool went back to Chaucer .. but I live and I learn .. and yes - we have supportive writers/bloggers and not April Foolers around - I hope! Cheers Hilary

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  6. Hi, Suzanne,
    I did exactly what you're doing when I was waiting - a lot of writing. It helps to occupy the time. :)

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  7. waiting is a pain in the butt, but always something else to do to keep us busy

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  8. My head is flashing with fiction for the A-Z Challenge! Hope I've not been a fool to join in for the first time ever!

    http://www.keithsramblings.blogspot.co.uk/

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  9. Thanks for co-hosting today!
    The only way to cope with the waiting game is to work on something else while you are waiting. If you don't keep buys, you'll go insane.

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  10. Thanks for co-hosting today! That will keep your mind off waiting for a response to your submission!!

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  11. Distraction is the best way to deal with the waiting. Dive into a new project, or do something completely different. Thanks for co-hosting IWSG this month. The 'net is buzzing!
    Play off the Page

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  12. You're actually in the right path, Suzanne. New writing projects and reading books are good ways to divert your attention. That's what I do, too.

    Thanks for co-hosting!

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  13. I do the same thing when I'm waiting, and when the distractions aren't helping there is always wine and chocolate. =) Thanks for co-hosting this month.

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  14. I know that feeling! The best way to deal with waiting is to keep busy and start a new project. I try to always be writing something!

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  15. I so agree, distracting ones self with new work and reading is the best way, I've found, to deal with my butterflies... Thanks for dropping by and commenting on my blog! Lisa, co-host AtoZ @ lisabuiecollard.com

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  16. A good book is always an excellent distraction for me too. Thanks for co-hosting this month! :)

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  17. My Hubs used the expression "hurry up and wait." That's the way I always felt when an editor would ask for a submission. Hurry and proof the work one more time, send it off, then wait and wait and wait.

    IWSG #111

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    1. Forgot to say thanks for co-hosting this month.

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  18. I think you nailed it, Suzanne. Reading during stressful times if a wonderful distract for two reasons. Enjoyment and stress release. Kudos. Thanks for co-hosting.

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  19. I learned something today. I didn't know the first mention of this foolish day was in Chaucer.

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  20. Hi Suzanne, I get your state of mind. I am going through the same "they love it/they hate it." My advice would be to start writing something new and read lots. Just divert your mind from your submission. The waiting is killing.

    Rachna Chhabria
    Co-host IWSG
    Rachna's Scriptorium

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  21. Yvonne - Oh no, I'll have to check your post out!

    Eva - You too, thanks for visiting. Good luck with the challenge.

    Sharon - Oh yes, definitely.

    Rachel - Thank you :) best of luck with your new release today.

    Hilary - No neither did I till I did a little research!

    J.L. - It's the best way I've found!

    Pat - Oh yeah, never bored!

    Keith - Thanks for the visit. I wish you all the best for the challenge.

    Alex -Hope your coping with your busy day!

    J.Q - Thanks for the visit today :)

    Mary - Definitely a busy day round the blogosphere today!

    SittieCates - Glad it works for you too!

    Cherie - Oh yeah, wine and chocolate help too!

    Emma - Busy is best :)

    Lisa - Distraction is a good technique!

    Christine - Can never read too many good books!

    Diane - "Hurry up and wait" is an excellent saying!

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  22. Copyblogger had a great April Fool's joke on their blog. Thank goodness I read to the end--before I showed my stupidity!

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  23. Waiting is awful. It makes you want to pull your hair out. The best way to wait is work on other things. Or have a bunch of stuff out at once...something is bound to come back while you're waiting on the rest!

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  24. Joylene - Love losing myself in a good book!

    Lee- Glad you enjoyed your visit to the blog today.

    Rachna - Fellow co-hoster, my thoughts are with you also :)

    Jacqui - Easy to get caught out! Will have to check out the post.

    Megan - Great advice. Thanks for visiting today.

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  25. Forgot to thank you for Co-hosting this month Suzanne!!

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  26. Ahh, the dreaded waiting game. I'm not the best one to give advice on this since I have stalking tendencies (always checking submittable for a rejection/acceptance to come through). But distracting yourself by tackling your TBR list, writing your next story, etc is the best way to go.

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  27. Hmmmm..... Seems this month a lot of writers are worried about time and how long it takes them to get any writing done. I can totally relate. All we can do is keep pushing forward and eventually the book will be finished.

    Thanks for co-hosting this month's IWSG!

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  28. Waiting is for the birds... I find that a challenge as well. =D

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  29. Lisa - Thank you!

    Lidy - Thanks for taking the time to visit today.

    Ken - Patience is the key!

    RaShelle - Thanks for stopping by.

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  30. April 1st is also the birthday of Fred and George Weasley (if they'd been born). That's appropriate, isn't it? :)

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  31. I am not a patient person when it comes to waiting. I become annoyingly morose; and thinking that the selected agent has not even taken time to read my query yet is even worse!! Ugh. See how everything about writing is a challenge, lol.

    Loved Donna K's comment above. Yes, very fitting :)

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  32. Waiting is the worst! I think the only way to get through it is to stay busy. You still worry and feel the passage of time, but sometimes it helps to be working on something else.

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  33. Thank you for hosting this month!! I'm with you - the only way I've found to combat the anxiety is to distract myself. Writing helps!

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  34. Waiting never fails to drive me crazy. Glad you're able to distract yourself with writing and reading! :)

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  35. Thanks for co-hosting this month. As for waiting, sometimes I like it. It gives me a chance to just breath. But on normal days when I'm at my most human, waiting is painful. Best I can do is distract myself with writing, reading, cooking, and painting.

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  36. Thanks for co-hosting today, Suzanne!
    I'm not sure I'm the best at coping with the waiting game. As everyone said though, working on something else is the only thing that helps with sanity lol

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  37. Thanks so much for stopping by my blog and encouraging me. It's been a bit crazy...only this morning I decided to do the A-Z this year. Eeek!

    DB McNicol

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  38. In this modern age of social media where everything happens immediately, it is even harder to wait that long wait, isn't it. Writing (& reading) helps a lot. Thanks for hosting this month.

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  39. I have read it many times but I know it is true, the best way to ease anxiety about the waiting is to get yourself busy on a new project. Find some other plot that captures your passion again and dive in it! Dragon Hugs!

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  40. Thanks for co-hosting today. The comes when we set our babies free into the world, and move on to the next baby. Kudo's to you. Congrats! I hope you do not have wait long.
    Juneta @ Writer's Gambit

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  41. Hi Suzanne! Your post on waiting brought up vivid memories of waiting to hear about manuscripts I have submitted in the past! When the rejection finally came, I wished I was still waiting! My youngest sister has published two books, and she's waiting on news on her third. Her second book was a children's book. When I'm anxious and waiting for something important, I've been known to call one sister after another and talk excitedly on the phone while drinking several glasses of wine. Maybe I shouldn't recommend that! Thanks for co-hosting today! I had a blast doing it, and I hope that you had a great day too! Good luck, and may you receive good news very soon!

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  42. Yep, waiting can be a hassle. But at least writing and reading and keeping busy helps a lot. Good luck, Suzanne. :)

    Book Reviews by Lanise Brown

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  43. Donna - I didn't know that - very appropriate!

    Donna - Hope you had fun with the co-hosting too!

    Charity - Definitely, keeping busy is important.

    Liz - Writing is great medicine!

    Heather - Thanks so much for stopping by today :)

    Toinette - It can be a chance to think about your next project.

    Kathrine - Thanks for stopping by :)

    Donna - Best of luck with the challenge!

    Kai - Yes, maybe we are all used to living in the fast lane these days!

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  44. I'm with you on the waiting front. My MS is out on a full and partial at the moment, and so I've checked my inbox no fewer thann a thousand times as a result. Argh...

    Thanks for co-hosting this month.

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  45. I think most aspiring writers have no concept of the wait.

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  46. Hi, Suzanne,

    Waiting is terrible. I can so relate. First it was waiting several weeks before my offer was accepted for the condo I want to buy. Now I am waiting for any the response from an agent who had showed interest in my book at a conference. NOTHING. Three week has gone by and I haven't heard word. Not even if she had received it. I had sent a follow up email and still nothing. SO I think we all know how it is.

    There is NOTHING magical that can help. We just have to keep busy with other things and try not to think about it.

    I hope you get good new soon!

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  47. The wait is a hair pulling event. You're doing the right thing by writing and reading.

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  48. The waiting is the hardest part. It outright sucks. I hate it. And as I do the query thing again I have to wait. A necessary evil we have to put up with.

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  49. Ugh - the waiting game! It seems like we're always waiting. But it's a great lesson in patience, right? (I keep telling myself this ;) )

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  50. Man, the waiting game is the worst. Typically, by the time I hear back, I've sunk into thinking it's not accepted anyway.

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  51. Waiting truly is the hardest part. So much time spent on these little creations. Good luck with your MS.

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  52. If you're finding it hard to be patient and are stalking your inbox - congratulations! You are now truly in the query trenches. I know you can power through. I'm crossing my fingers for you, hoping you get an answer soon and it's an offer! Have a lovely weekend. :)

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  53. Reading is a great way to distract yourself when you're feeling anxious or apprehensive. And that TBR pile does have a way of getting bigger when you aren't looking.

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  54. I'm popping in late, but as they say, better late then never!
    I've learned from reading the experiences of others, that it's a waiting game which requires loads of patience.
    Thanks for co-hosting the IWSG this month!

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  55. Waiting is just the worst! I just try to keep busy and push the "what ifs" out of my mind as soon as they try to creep up.
    I just love your blog background and cover image, btw. Hummingbirds and unicorns! A woman after my own heart!
    Brandy from Brandy's Bustlings

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