Wednesday, March 7, 2012

Insecure Writer's Support Group - Breathe



On the days that I don’t believe in my writing, and I’m having trouble seeing the worth of strangling words into sentences to hang a story by a gnarled plot rope, there are three things that help me:

1.       Prayer

2.       Reading other people’s posts about writing

3.       Reading my own published writing. True, it’s all poetry, short fiction and devotional writing, and most of it is on-line, with little in print. But it helps. A lot. Even when I see mistakes in those published pieces . . . I still can say, “There, that’s me. I’ve done it before, I can do it again.”

What helps you breathe past the suffocation of writer’s insecurity?

Take a moment and breathe . . . then go write!

If you want to find some amazing, encouraging, inspiring blog-writers, go check out The Insecure Writer's Support Group hosted by Alex J. Cavanaugh, the awesome blogger and author of CassaStar and his recently released Cassafire!

20 comments:

Cherie Reich said...

Great post! I do sometimes look at my published works, so I can see what I have accomplished. Plus, I find taking a break to read other people's work can inspire me to keep writing.

Tyrean Martinson said...

Cherie - Thanks! Having little bits of writing published helps! Reading other people's work either inspires me or leaves me feeling daunted by their amazing ability to write.

Luanne G. Smith said...

Yep, I don't know if it's arrogant to say, but sometimes I go back and read something I've written and think it's not half bad. Sometimes I cringe too, but we'll not talk about those passages. :))

I think it does help to look over our work and realize how much effort we've put into it, and that some day it will pay off.

Brianna said...

Excellent advice, Tyrean! Right now, I'm praying a lot for inspiration and motivation!

Alex J. Cavanaugh said...

I know the first one works but I don't go back often to read my own stuff. I've not read either of my books since they hit final form!

Lynda R Young as Elle Cardy said...

Prayer is a powerful thing and yes it works!

Allison said...

Good advice! And even if you don't have previous published writing, you can take a look at past writing and revel in how you've improved.

Allison (Geek Banter)

Karen Lange said...

Oh yes, these things help me too. Good stuff, Tyrean!

Tyrean Martinson said...

Karen- That's great!

Tyrean Martinson said...

L.G. - I don't think it's arrogant to say that. We all have gems we love from our our words, and I think it helps to keep us going.

Tyrean Martinson said...

Brianna - Thanks! I'm praying for that too!

Tyrean Martinson said...
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Tyrean Martinson said...

Alex - I think you could read your books and be inspired! However, I've been through my current WIP nearly three times now, and it needs at least one more go through before I hand it off to anyone else . . .by the time it gets published, I may not want to see it again for a long time.

Tyrean Martinson said...

Lynda - Amen!

Tyrean Martinson said...

Allison - Thanks! I agree. I think reading our past writing and seeing improvement is a huge inspiration!

Tyrean Martinson said...

Karen - Thanks! Glad to know they help you too.

Angie said...

Those are great ideas, Tyrean. I also try to remind myself that I've done it before and remind myself of the nice things people have said about my writing.

Tyrean Martinson said...

Angie - Thanks! I like the one about the nice things people have said . . . I need to remember that one too.

Tara Tyler said...

excellent advice! thanks for the inspiration!

Tyrean Martinson said...

Tara - Thank you!