Quote of the Day: I’ve been absolutely terrified every moment of my life – and I’ve never let it keep me from doing a single thing I’ve wanted to do. Georgia O’Keeffe
Today is another group posting of the Insecure Writer’s Support Group! Time to release our fears to the world – or offer encouragement to those who are feeling neurotic. If you’d like to join us, click on the tab above and sign up. We post the first Wednesday of every month. You can also visit the founder Alex J. Cavanaugh for more info and links.
Question of the Month: Of all the genres you read and write, which is your favorite to write in and why?
I write mostly realistic fiction, contemporary settings, with characters similar to you and me. However, I love a good mystery. My favorite author is Sue Grafton. I’ve recently discovered a fantastic Minnesota author, Wendy Webb, who has been called the Gothic writer of the North. I read Daughters of the Lake and The End of Temperance Dare back to back and could not put them down! (I have reviews on Goodreads.) Then I answered the writing prompt for the IWSG in 2017 for mystery/thriller/suspense, I quickly created a story and it got accepted! So, maybe I’m a writer who uses realistic settings with people who are similar to you and me, but have an added element of suspense that raises your heart rate just a little and keeps you turning pages. Or, at least, that’s the hope.
I have arrived. The box of books with my first published short story “One More Minute” in it. Tick Tock: A Stitch in Crime Anthology. Dancing Lemur Press
As far as insecurities go, refer to the Quote of the Day. I love the artwork of Georgia O’Keeffe. I need to get some hung on my walls to remind me to work through the fears, to be bold, make a statement and not apologize. It’s time to live my life with reckless abandon. Write the book, step out of my comfort zone, talk to a stranger now and then.
Go. Create. Inspire!
Journaling Prompt: What’s the bravest thing you’ve ever done?
I love your quote of the day! Reminds me of that saying, “do it afraid.” 🙂 We can’t let our insecurities or fears stop us, after all.
I also like that saying. We can be afraid, and do it anyway! Thanks for stopping by, Michelle.
I think you have found your niche!
Thanks, Alex!
I like that quote! I definitely let fear and insecurity stop me way too much.
It’s time to change that tune and be brave.
Fear can certainly block you from doing a lot of things. And what a shame that is. Thank goodness we have examples like O’Keeffe to follow.
Yes!
You might have found your genre! Fear is paralyzing and as the song says is a liar. Fear tells us all kinds of lies. So yes, we will fear, but we must not let fear stop us when we want to do something.
Teresa
Amen, Sister! Let’s do this.
Love your quote of the day. I saw a movie about Georgia O’Keeffe and visited her museum in Santa Fe. What a thrill. I was surprised her paintings are so small. A lot of writers (self included) have fears–mostly about our work. Fear can hold us back, if we let it. Have a great month.
I would love to visit her museum. I’ll have to look for the movie. Thanks for stopping by!
I like writing that reflects life but has an added edge – so yours sounds great!
What a lovely thing to get a boxful of books containing your very own work. It’s good if we can use something like that as some kind of buffer against the fear.
Yes, Nick. Thanks.
Mary, you proved you could write that genre and do it well. I hope you continue.
Thanks, Diane. I’m working on something right now.
work through the fears, to be bold, make a statement and not apologize.
Really needed to read this today.
Thanks, D. I need to live that out.
What a great picture of all those copies of the anthology. You should be really proud of your story – it was great!
Thanks, Ellen!
Congrats on the acceptance and writing something you love. Happy IWSG!
Thanks, Juneta!
Love that OKeeffe quote! Thanks for sharing it. 🙂
Thanks, Madeline!
The box of books looks fabulous and I’m sure that exciting anthology image will keep you going when the dreaded “insecurity monster” rears its ugly head. *waving*
Yes. It certainly helps. As I sit on my deck this morning, enjoying a cool breeze and thinking about the novel. It’s time to write it.