Every time IWSG rolls into view, I realize that a
month has flown past at a dizzying speed. I’ve completed a few writing goals
for May, but my word count is pretty dismal. Every week I make a few writing
resolutions and at the end of the week, I shake my head at my snail’s place.
IWSG aka Insecure Writers Support
Group is a wonderful online group of writers who post on the first Wednesday of
every month, which is our let off all the writing steam day (else we would all
burst). We can grumble about our lack of attention, talk of our writing worries
and fears, mourn our pathetic word counts, discuss our querying frustrations, or
talk of any other writing related insecurity. Other writers who have been there
and done that, help us out with their advice and suggestions. Check out
the IWSG website for wonderful writing tips. You can read the
other IWSG posts here.
Many years down the line Ninja
Captain Alex J Cavanaugh (author of the Amazon Bestsellers: CassaStar,
CassaStorm, CassaFire and Dragon of the Stars) and founder/creator of IWSG will
go down in writing history for starting this awesome group. When great
scientists and inventors will be mentioned, Alex’s contribution to writers’ sanity
will be remembered.
June
question – Did you ever say “I quit?” If so what happened to make you come back
to writing?
Several times I have
decided that I will quit writing (by that I mean I will not submit my book to
publishers or query agents), but every time God has other plans for me.
Whenever the thought of quitting crosses my mind, there is always some writing
good news ringing my doorbell (it could be plenty of freelance work, lots of agent love during a twitter pitch contest, an
invitation to judge a competition in a school, a newspaper editor requesting a few
book reviews, a short story to submit, or to write some course material for
school books.)
Even if I am not
actually working on my books, I’m always writing something or the other. Its
then I realize that God wants me to keep writing, that he is indirectly
motivating me to keep striving, to have patience and enthusiasm and not give
up.
My “I quit” lasts just
for a few hours as after that God’s plans for me takes over. I am super eager
to read how you all have tackled the fatal disease of “I quit,” and how you all
motivate yourselves to keep writing.
Glad that God is telling you not to quit writing with all the good news and writing opportunities that come knocking at your door. I haven't quit either. Just taking a different writing path.
ReplyDeleteGod has a funny way of pushing us forward whether we want to move or not. He knows what we can do though!
ReplyDeleteI hear you about the month flying by!
ReplyDeleteWe have to keep an eye out for those signs, don't we? They're all around us, waiting for us to pay attention.
God has the master plan... He knows best!
ReplyDeleteAmen, sister! God is plotting our lives:) Isn't it true, the longer we are in this writing gig, the harder it is to quit?
ReplyDeleteI've decided to quit many times, but it never really happens. I guess I'm just hooked on plot and character and setting...
ReplyDeleteI've always said that I wouldn't have these stories if God didn't want me to publish them. And it is funny. When I get really, really frustrated, that's when God answers like "See? You just had to be patient." lol
ReplyDeleteI guess it's out of your hands then. :-)
ReplyDeleteAnna from elements of emaginette
How wonderful that you feel a spiritual calling to write. What finally pushed me into learning to write a book was telling my small group from church that I'd always wanted to write a book. They were like, You do?? Why aren't you doing it? And I didn't have a good answer. I published my first book six months ago and thanked them in my acknowledgements!
ReplyDeleteHere's my IWSG June post: how to survive the 'little quits'
It's a slog, but it's the Good Fight, I think. My writing is almost always slow, and sometimes it's particularly absent, but I've never said "I quit," though I will quit on individual stories in various ways.
ReplyDeleteGod always knows best.
ReplyDeleteI love it! Guess it's best not to fight against the divine, eh? I mean, if He wants you to write, it's definitely for the best.
ReplyDeleteAwesome that the author of us all continues to inspire you to be an author:)
ReplyDeleteKudos for being so open and listening to the plans God has for you. Which obviously are to keep writing! I think it's very important to pay attention to what God and the universe are trying to tell us.
ReplyDeleteWow, Rachna...
ReplyDeleteI always knew you wrote for others, but not to this capacity. Where would you even find the time for your own work?
I am in 'quit' mode for the time being. Just not excited about anything. Totally bummed about the last Twitter pitch I won. It ended up with a nay.
Put my PB aside. Just don't feel like illustrating. Once I get passed this, I hope to get back into SOMETHING... sigh.
ANYWAY... SUPER happy that you are busy with such fun projects. It's so much fun to KEEP BUSY....
Love your positive attitude. It will carry you far...in life as well as in writing.
ReplyDeleteWould love to keep reading you!
ReplyDeleteThat's wonderful.... writing assignments that keep pouring in just as you are tempted to rest the pen for a while. God is kind indeed . Keep going :)
ReplyDeleteGlad you have always had something to keep you going with your writing. :)
ReplyDelete~Jess