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It's about 5:30pm on Wednesday and it suddenly hits me.....today is the first Wednesday of the month....and that means it's time for another Insecure Writer's Support Group post.
(runs around, arms flailing, before regaining composure)
Ahem....
Hosted by uber-blogger/writer, The Amazing Alex J. Cavanaugh, the IWSG is a forum for writers, of every ilk, to share their thoughts, their hopes, their dreams.......and their insecurities, of course. This month, Alex is being aided and abetted by Colorful Chemist Ken, Super Suzanne Sapseed, and the Warrior Muse herself, She-Hulk Shannon Lawrence ,so show them all some love for their efforts, o.k?
To me, one of the biggest fears about trying to be a writer is doubt.
Doubting that you have the drive.
Doubting that you have the desire.
Doubting that you have the talent.
When it comes to the writing thing, I've been having a lot of doubts. My lack of blog posts since the new year is a strong indicator of that. I guess I'm in the "Do I Want To Do This" phase of my writing journey. I know it's nothing new or unique, but that's where I find myself all the same.
Don't get me wrong, I love writing and I love telling stories. What I'm not loving is the hard work to get it done. Oh sure, I could blame lots of things as to why I'm not writing as much as I should. Job hunting, house hunting.....all sorts of things. The bottom line, though, is I'm just not feeling it.
And that doubt is pretty scary.
One of my main consolations is that I'm fairly certain it's just a phase I'm going through. I seem to visit Doubtsville once a year......then I get over it and things go on as they were. It's during these little trips that I like to go back and read some of my old projects. While I'm not one to blow my own horn, it's kind of cool to read something and think "Did I write that? Man, that's not bad." It helps spur me on and, frankly, a little spurring wouldn't hurt right about now.
As with everything, though, this too shall pass.
For the rest of you, I hope your writing is going swimmingly and the ideas are flowing along.
Talk to you soon!
11 comments:
It will pass. Look how long I went in between my last couple books. I wasn't sure I'd write anything ever again.
Runs around, arms flailing - that's called a spaz attack!
I'm currently working on a fiction piece, my first in almost five years. I didn't think I could do it again. But I can and so can you. I guarantee your slump won't be as long as mine.
I've been in that phase about 2 years. I still occasionally write a story start, or edit my unfinished projects, but nothing to brag about. I console myself that at least I'm doing some amount of writing.
I hope you find your groove again soon Mark.
Happy Wednesday, have a good week.
I fight doubt every day, Mark! With the added doubt that maybe I'm too old! Like maybe I'll die before I ever get a book published! It wakes me up in the middle of the night. LOL! If that happens, at least I'll have died trying! Meanwhile I keep slogging away because I don't want to regret never having tried. I hope that you're feeling it soon! Good luck!
The biggest fear we all have is doubt, so enjoy the small victories and remember past success. Good reminder Mark.
Yeah, I have doubts every once in a while, too. It's a part of the process. Luckily I have an almost childlike ability to forget about them after a day or two and then go back to my stories like I never had adoubt in the first place. Works for me, I guess.
Yeah, you want to do this--you know you do. We all have doubts. Doubt can kill us or give us fortitude. I don't think you're ready to doubt so stride forward through that onerous fog of doubt and you'll reach that clear smooth sailing that lies ahead.
Arlee Bird
A to Z Challenge Co-host
Tossing It Out
Yep, been there on the doubting thing too. So glad my name isn't Thomas, ha ha. But I'm sure you'll regain your momentum, especially if you do the A to Z this year, which I hope you will! I've loved what you've done in the past and look forward to what you might do this year!! Hint hint!
She-Hulk, rawr! I was recently in a doubt phase. The way I ended up coming out of it was to realize it was putting pressure on myself to get published instead of just enjoying writing. When I calmed down on that pressure a bit and just started writing whatever came to mind, regardless of sale-ability, I started having fun again. I hope you can find your way out of the writing doldrums.
Yes, it will pass. I have my ups and downs and twirling loops. Life can drain us, but eventually you'll be driven to write again. Have a good weekend. :)
For what it's worth, I've found that I actually get fewer of those "Do I EVEN...." attacks the longer I write. (Going on 14 years now.)
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