Insecure Writers Support Group is an awesome group of encouraging writers, started by the awesome Ninja Captain (no hyperlink needed) Alex J. Cavanaugh. Even Ninja Captains have work to do and busy days, so Alex is sharing his love of IWSG by sharing some of the work. This month, I have the honor to be one of the hosts, along with Jamie from Mithril Wisdom.
Purpose: To share and encourage. Writers can express doubts and concerns without fear of appearing foolish or weak. Those who have been through the fire can offer assistance and guidance. It’s a safe haven for insecure writers of all kinds!
Posting: The first Wednesday of every month is officially Insecure Writer’s Support Group day. Post your thoughts on your own blog. Talk about your doubts and the fears you have conquered. Discuss your struggles and triumphs. Offer a word of encouragement for others who are struggling. Visit others in the group and connect with your fellow writer - aim for a dozen new people each time.
2012 is gone and done, and 2013 is here. It's a time of reflection. A time to ask questions. A time to make goals.
Have we changed, grown, found new hope?
Or are we still stuck in a morass of insecurity?
Yes, and no, I think. When we sit down to write, we hope, we change, and we grow. We defy insecurity.
However, there are those moments, especially for me in the revison process, that I answer yes to that second question.
A few days ago, I was in state of total fear, sure that my novel Champion in the Darkness sucked in a complete and undeniable way . . .and I started OCDing on fixing everything, at once, immediately . . .and chocolate breaks and walking breaks, and whining breaks weren't fixing anything. Thoughts inside my head went like this: What was I thinking setting myself a release date in February? Am I crazy? There's no way this novel will amount to anything good by then, if ever.
And then New Year's Eve, I sat down and decided to just read a section without listening to that insane inner editor, and I found a part I really liked. Thoughts inside my head went like this: "well, if they (the readers) make it this far into the book, this part is mostly good. Releasing this book in February will work. Somehow it will."
So, my writing goal goals for 2013 are:
1. Defy Insecurity. Write. Hope. Dream. Write again.
2. Publish Champion in the Darkness in February.
3. Revise Champion in Flight (sequel to Champion in the Darkness).
4. Decide what do do with Captain Wrath. (I thought I would know by now but I don't.)
5. Finish and Publish Short Stuff - an anthology of poetry and short stories.
6. Write a rough draft of Champion Refined by Fire (working title).
So, what are your goals this year?
Are you ready to defy insecurity?
79 comments:
Just sic Captain Wrath on those insecurities! You'll never fix everything to perfection. Just make it the best you can.
And thanks for co-hosting the IWSG today!
Great post. That's one reason taking breaks to read other authors' books is helpful. After getting into one of these 'my writing's no good' funks, I'll read a passage written by someone else and think 'Wow. That sounds a lot like my writing. Maybe mine's not so bad after all.'
Good luck in 2013! And thanks for co-hosting the IWSG beast. :D
#137 until Alex culls the list again.
Excellent post, and yes I'm ready!
My goal for 2013 is to complete my third novel in all it's dark, twisted glory. It would also be awesome if I could stay this excited about the project all the way through to the end—it would probably get finished sooner. :-)
~VR Barkowski
Setting goals is not something I'm used to doing but it can't hurt, right?
Nice post.
Heather
Thanks for co-hosting!
My #1 goal this year is just to remain consistent and on track. I need to keep shopping around those completed pieces, and keep working in the works in progress - no excuses, and no procrastination!
Just polish it to the best of your ability and it will be ready.
Defying the insecurity is huge, I think. Insecurity, doubt-- blech-- they can be such walls in the writing process though. Some days I just need to get in bulldozer mode and write through all the emotional muck. Best to you in the coming year-- sounds like you have your goals firmly in mind!
Thanks for co-hosting! The only way I can deal with the fear and insecurity is to just keep working, even when I'm afraid.
I'm glad you were able to push back that insane inner critic! Good luck with all your goals. :)
Congrats on your co-hosting gig!
My post is also about goals... actually, I think it's probably going to be a hot topic amongst bloggers for this IWSG posting.
Good luck with your goals - sounds like you're well on track!
Happy New Year!
I'm feeling fairly optimistic so far.
I'm glad I'm not the only one who looks at a book with a set release date and starts to panic. I think this is normal. You have great goals for 2013. You can do it!
Thanks for co-hosting IWSG this month!
I have my goals and wifey and I are are busy proclaiming them out loud as our tradition is every year.
Hi, new member of IWSG. Joined half an hour back. My goal for 2013 is little similar to yours: defy insecurity and have a stronger belief in myself.
Thank you for co-hosting.
My writing goal for 2013 can be summed up as "Feel the fear and do it anyway." I've come too far to back down now. ;)
Goal #1 Write good, interesting, sexy stories and remain true to myself, no matter what the mean people say! Best of luck this year!
Fixing everything at once in a frenzy of insecurity is probably a mistake...not that I've been there. At least make a backup first. I hope you have a fantastic new year and a successful book release!
'Defy insecurity' I love that! Cheers to an awesome 2013!
Defying insecurity! I love that and this is the year to do it. February sounds like a great time! :) Best of wishes.
Wonderful goals for this coming year! You can do it!
Happy NEW YEAR!
WE all FREAK when time is running out. BUT take a VERY DEEP BREATH... and then take another! Take a few days and walk away from it. THEN look at it again with fresh eyes.
You will know if it's ready. Just remember a release date can be changed if you feel in your GUT you are not ready.
YOU will know and GO FOR IT!
ALL THE BEST for 2013!
those are some serious goals!
I am also visiting from IWSG and my main writing goal this year is to be published - somewhere, anywhere.
Time will tell :)
I honestly didn't even stop to think what my goals were until you asked. lol
I believe they are to:
1. Revise my novella.
2. Start something new.
Starting small. X)
Defy Insecurity. Write. Hope. Dream. Write again.
Love this! I think I'll ste...er, borrow that for my own :D
Best of luck!
Alex - LOL - great suggestion. Captain Wrath would do a great job at that. And it's an honor to be part of IWSG.
Awesome post! I can totally relate! I'll feel great about my writing one minute, but the next, I'm wanting to trash it and start over. I think we all must feel this way because I'm seeing a lot of the same on the blogs I visit, which is inspiring to know I'm not alone. Keep rocking the keyboard! That's the only way to silence the demon in our heads! :)
Here from Alex's blog. I think you have some doable resolutions. I'm still mulling on mine. Will probably post them in the next week. Congrats on your novel. May this year be your Lucky 13.
Enjoyed your post am now a follower.
You should have emailed me. I had the same 'this whole thing stinks' attack last week. I think it's mostly panic, because I feel better about it now.
I look forward to your release, Tyrean, and reading it. :D
I'm looking forward to the release of your Champion series and will definitely be reading. Good luck with your goals!
Squash that insecurity. Go, go go you can do it :)
Melissa - Thanks for the tip! Best wishes in 2013!
VR - Thanks, and best wishes for your 3rd novel!!!
I wrote and published ten short stories on my website in 2012. My top priority for 2013 is to write and publish ten more. It was an enormous undertaking last year, much more than I realized; this year, at least I know what I'm getting myself into.
Heather - Goals can help sometimes. Thanks for stopping by today! Best wishes for 2013!
Bob - Good goals! Consistency and focus are both good! Best wishes for 2013!
L. Diane - Thanks for your vote of confidence!!!
Julie - That's what I need - a bulldozer!!! Thanks! Best of wishes for 2013!
Elizabeth - You're welcome! Continuing to work ahead even in the midst of fear is definitely the best way to beat it.
Rachel - Thanks! Best wishes for 2013!
Michele - Thanks!!!
Patsy - Happy 2013 to you too! Best of wishes!
Cherie - Thanks for your encouragement!!! Best of wishes for 2013!
Stephen - I like that tradition!
Rachna - Great goals! And welcome to IWSG!
Pauline - love your goal!!!
Hildie - love those goals - especially staying true to yourself. Best of wishes for 2013!
Tonja - Thanks for your encouragement! My husband, the computer guru of the house has my pc on automatic back up every single day - he's a lifesaver.
J.A. - Cheers for a great 2013!
Lexie - Thanks for your vote of confidence!!! Best of wishes for 2013!
Michael - Thanks! All the best of 2013 for you too!
Green Monkey - just keep working at it, and it will happen!
Debra - Those are great goals! Looking forward to your novella!
Mark - wow! Thanks! Best of wishes for 2013!
Celeste - Thanks for your encouragement! Keep rocking your keyboard too!
Andrea - Thanks! Hoping that this year is my lucky 13.
M Pax - Thanks for the offer of e-mailing - I'll probably take you up on that next time! You are so sweet! It's been good to get to know you.
Julie - Wow! Thanks!!!
Suzanne - :-) Thanks for your encouragement!
Good goals! I need to make a list like that for myself.
Allison (Geek Banter)
JS - Congrats on your success! and best of wishes for your next goal! I'm looking forward to reading more.
My goals this year are pretty difficult. I want to 1) lose weight 2) buy a house and 3) buy a new car.
If I accomplish any one of those three, I shall be satisfied.
As far as writing goes, I'd like to publish two books.
I know how you feel. Sometimes I read something and think, omg, what was I thinking? This STINKS! But then I'll come back and read it again and think, holy cow, this is brilliant! Probably it lies somewhere in between- which means, there's hope!
Insecurity plagues all writers. It's so tough to put your heart and soul into something, then put it out for all to see. I think those are great goals!
Insecurity is a tough one to crack. For me it definitely ebbs and flows. I have several goals, but one of the top ones is to always have fun writing. Another is to continue my new middle reader series since the first book was incredibly fun to write!
Happy New Year and thank you so much for co-hosting!!
Those voices of insecurity in our heads can be so discouraging but I am so thankful I listened to mine and checked and rechecked and drove everyone around me INSANE reading and re-reading my book before it was released. I am so happy I listened to my editors with an open mind, they gave me so much more confidence.
I wish you the best of luck and hope you will keep me posted so I can share your release news.
Sounds like a great plan for the new year. I'm sure we all feel that our work isn't up to par, or, at least, how we want it to be.
I'm glad you are pushing through the insecurities.
well, whining sure didn't work for me either :)
Sounds like you have an awesome plan to get things done. You go for it.
.......dhole
Chocolate and walking breaks -- awesome! I usually do the chocolate followed by the walking (food guilt. I've eaten so much over the last two weeks. Eek!)
Hey! I have a book coming out in Feb. too - we can go through the same cycle of insecurity! At some moments I'm excited to get it out there...and at others I'm nervous about getting raked over the coals for one thing or another. But that's just part of the fun, right?
I'll join you in the defying insecurity!
Awesome goals for 2013.
Defy insecurity--I like that! God didn't give us each our own little light to hide it under a rock, right? Which is why I'm smiling over my debut novel out this month, and most of my goals revolve around getting it out to the universe now, and writing the sequel. Thanks for cohosting the IWSG~cheers
I had one of those moments recently where I thought I was a horrible writer. I had to get up and take a break, not worry about the story I was working on. Once I relaxed, I was able to go back to the story. =) I always remind myself during those moments that they will pass.
Defy insecurity. Cheers to that!
I always hear that voice whenever I'm getting ready to hand my writing over to someone to read. I can't imagine how loud it will grow when my story gets published for anyone to see. Ack!
Defy insecurity. I like it. Sounds like a battle cry - and I wish I was more the warrior type. Actually, I think I'll post it above my computer so I see it everyday. Thanks!
My middle name is InSecuRity, but yeah, I'm gonna defy it! Good post. I love IWSG!
Thank you for hosting IWSG! Yes, lots of goals this year. I'd like to triple the output, but we'll see. I need to take it one day at a time.
I love the "defy insecurity" exhortation. We'll shout it as our battle cry!
I'm totally ready to defy insecurity!
Thanks for the post & for co-hosting.
Happy New Year.
My goals for this year are to finish my current WIP, begin querying it, and then outline my next WIP. I think I'll be able to defy insecurity on some days, even fly above it on others. But, I know it will seep its way in sometimes, so I make sure that little editing takes place on those days. Otherwise, I tend to throw the baby out with the bathwater. :(
Good luck on achieving all you 2013 goals. Thanks for co-hosting IWSG!
I also think you have a great plan! Thanks for co-hosting the IWSG, and best of luck in February!
Julie
I love your first goal. Perfect.
all the best with those goals - mine are to get those two drated WIP finished, done and dusted:)and to continue to enjoy myself in the process
Good goals and they look doable too. I'll be cheering for you.
All great goals worth pursuing, and cheering for! Wish you all the luck for 2013.
I like your attitude! Best wishes with everything! If you need any help with a shout out I'd be happy to oblige once you release Champions of Darkness.
I am very eager for your book to come out. It is one on my must buy list - which will be nice right now as I've been having trouble finding anything descent to read.
Sometimes inner editors are more of a pain then a help. Don't listen to them too much, as they will just discourage and a writer never thinks their own work is good enough to publish no matter how many edits it goes through.
Allison - lists can help sometimes. Best of wishes for 2013!
Michael - those are awesome goals! I hope you find success!
mshatch - I like that - there is hope! I agree.
Ciara - Thanks for your encouragement!
Steven - having fun writing is a great goal, and I think writing for middle readers could be really fun.
Doreen - glad I'm not the only one who has to recheck things, and thanks! I'll make a note of you for my release!
Miranda - Thanks!
Donna - whining never really pans out . ..glad we both stopped and started getting stuff on the page. :-)
Nickie- I know the food guilt thing - and the Christmas vacation food thing . . whew. It's a good thing I'm already a member at the Y.
Nicki - I guess it is part of the fun and the excitement of prepping for a book release. Looking forward to your book!
Golden Eagle - Thanks for joining me in defying insecurity! Best wishes for 2013!
Jamiayres - Congratulations on your new novel!!! Cheers!
Patricia - they always pass don't they? Thanks for the encouragement!
Luanne - Cheers!!! I'm hoping that defying insecurity will help this last month before release.
ekcarmel - glad you liked it, and a good idea. I think I need to post it by my pc too.
Jess - I love IWSG too! Thanks!
Marta - one day at a time is all we can do. Thanks for stopping by!
Jeff - Shouting with you!
Mina - Great! Thanks for stopping by!
kim - Yes, I have to be careful with the baby and the bathwater on my doubt days. Great goals for 2013!
Empty Nest - Thanks!!!
Loca4crafts - Thank you! Happy 2013!
alberta - great goals - especially enjoying the process!
elin - Thank you! Cheers to 2013!
damyanwrites - Thank you! Cheers for you too!
Stephen - Thank you, thank you, thank you - and I'll make a note of that!
Jack - Wow! That's sweet! Thanks! I think you're right about the never feeling finished part.
Phooey on insecurities! I think you've set some really great goals for yourself. I love the Defy insecurity. Write. Hope. Dream. Write again one. Best of luck to you in 2013. :) Thanks for co-hosting IWSG this month!
Defy insecurity! I like that. I am trying not to beat myself up to much because I can't yet write at the speed I want to write. I keep,telling myself that I have to learn how to do it and I'll get there eventually. Yesterday went pretty well! Good luck on your book release! I know I'll be buying it!
Candilynn - Thank you for stopping by!!! Best of wishes to you too in 2013!
Angie - Best wishes for your word count, and Thank you for your awesome encouragement and support!
Those sound like great goals! I particularly like the first one:
"Defy Insecurity. Write. Hope. Dream. Write again."
I go back and forth like that, too, Tyrean. We are our own worst critics. I even want to go into my published novel and start editing again!
Don't listen to that inner critic. Everything will be fine :-)
Yes, I'm ready, and I'm glad you are too.
Happy New Year, Tyrean, and thanks for co-hosting the IWSG.
-your newest follower
Great goals Tyrean! I love that so many authors are focusing on short fiction now. One of the really cool side effects of digital publishing is that it's no longer cost prohibitive for publishers and authors. :-)
Here's to defying insecurity!!!
Best wishes for 2013!!
I love your goal #1. And I'm sure your book will be great by February!
My plan for 2013:
1. Write one drabble (story told in exactly 100 words) for every day on my blog.
2. Write for pleasure as much as possible, not just for academics.
3. Every weekend, spend some time (1 to 2 hours) writing the WIP I began last November.
4. Stop letting life get in the way of my writing. Prioritize some time for writing every week.
I think I'm ready to defy insecurity. :D
I shall let Kirk know about the Aliens there as well, he has his work cut out for him. (Gingerbread men usually end their lives without heads it seems...)
Great post! Now if only I could get some actual goals together. I have been doing everything by the seat of my pants for far too long. :)
we all have those "i suck" moments!
and the good writers plow thru and work on their writing until they can smile at it =)
so excited for you & your goals! yay!
Hope you are able to meet all of your goals in 2013. Happy New Year!
Good luck with your goals!
moonduster - Thanks!!!
Gwen - Thanks for that awesome, and very real, encouragement! I'm glad I'm not the only one.
Rawknrobin - Thanks for stopping by!
EJ - Thanks! I agree that digital publishing has really been a change for authors . . .and for readers. We get a chance to write, and read, from a variety of sources.
Lynda - Thanks! Best wishes for you too!
kmckendry - Thanks for the encouragement!
Chary - Those sound like very good goals!
Jack - Kirk definitely has his work cut out for him.
Melissa - oh, I do that too . . .I just try to intersperse some goal moments in there to keep me going.
Tara - Thanks!
jaybird - I hope so too. Happy New Year!
Diane - Thank you!
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