When life throws obstacles in my way

From the past few months, life has been throwing a whole lot of obstacles my way, and these have stopped me from working on my manuscript. I have been doing so many freelance projects that I have no time to write my own stories. I just managed to work on the second draft of my love story and it took me ages to do that and I’m sure I didn’t do a great job.

I have been so late for a book review that the editor of the newspaper had to send me a gentle reminder about it. But she was also very understanding when I told her that I wasn’t well.

My books to be reviewed list is piling up. My critique partner Mark Noce has sent me his new novel for feedback.

I have ignored my blog and blog buddies’ for days. I have no clue what’s happening in blogosphere.

I feel that to cope with all my other writing and writing related activities, I need to put aside my own manuscript for a few days. That’s the only way I’ll get any work done.

How are thing with you all? How are you managing your writing with other things?

IWSG Post – Did you ever say I quit

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.