Quote of the Day: Under any circumstance, simply do your best, and you will avoid self-judgment, self-abuse, and regret. Don Miguel Ruiz
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: What’s the one thing about your writing career you regret the most? Were you able to overcome it?
I regret not making writing a priority. I’ve frittered away so much time doing other things, some important ones like taking care of my family, some time wasters like TV, social media, and puzzles. I haven’t sunk my teeth into a project enough, yet. I can only vow to move forward with more conviction. That’s also my insecurity. Maybe it’s a sign that I’m not really a novelist since I don’t spend time, EVERY DAY, working on my craft.
Do you have goals for the new year? Mine is to finish the novel that I’ve been working on the past two years. I also wrote a 10-minute play for a festival. If that doesn’t pan out, I’d like to share it somewhere with an audience. Maybe I’ll do a coffee shop performance again. My siblings and I are planning on doing a long walk, a Pilgrimage, this summer. Covid and travel restrictions might dictate where that happens, but we have grand plans. I started writing in a journal to document the training and experience. I’ve already walked a couple days in 2022. I live Up North, so cold, snow and ice are factors. I have grips to put on my boots, which I love, but when the wind chill is well below zero, I stay home and do yoga.
My word for the year is WALK!
May your new year be filled with grand adventures and successes!
Go. Create. Inspire!
Journaling Prompt: What are your goals for 2022? Do you have a word for the year?
Happy New Year, Mary!
I believe that five minutes every day on the writing craft is the way to go. It’s practical and doable, and it will move your novel forward.
That’s why I like the 100days100words challenge.
A coffee shop performance sounds delightful! I say go for it!
While you’re freezing up north, I’m managing the hot weather my end of the globe. However, by February, our weather is unbearably humid.
Happy IWSG Day!
Ah. Greetings to you from the other side of the globe. Wish we could meet in the middle on the weather! Great advice on 5 minutes a day. Keep the goals short. I plan to do that. Cheers to your writing and adventures in 2022!
I don’t blame you for staying inside in those conditions.
Hope you get to do your long walk. It sounds like we might be nearing the mess of this with the latest variant since it’s zapping everyone.
Right. We’ll persevere. I’ll keep walking and writing and creating and connecting. Here’s to a healthy 2022!
Don’t beat yourself up too much about wasting time. We all do, and it’s important to relax. Good luck on your goal. I’m also hoping to finish my manuscript this year.
Here’s to making it to the finish line!
I sometimes fritter away time on puzzles, but then I think that the time spent wasn’t really frittering. It was giving my brain a mini vacation. I can return to writing with a clearer head and actually put something down that isn’t too bad.
Anyway, you don’t need permission to fritter. Just do it and enjoy. Hope you also enjoy more wonderful plays in 2022 and share that with us.
Thanks, Lee. I’ll keep working on the puzzle, writing, reviewing, and walking!
Hi Mary,
I don’t think their should be standard definitions for writing. It’s the quality of your writing time that matters to me. It sounds like you have many wonderful goals coming up 🙂 keep the yoga and writing strong 🙂
Thanks, ErikA!
Hello, Mary! Happy 2022!
I hope this year smiles upon us writers. We need a good break! 🙂
♥.•*¨Elizabeth Mueller¨*•.♥
Yes. Thanks, Elizabeth
We love doing puzzles. It keeps the mind sharp.
I think writing every day works for some but not for everyone.
True. Well, my mind should be sharper. I’ve been doing puzzles during the holidays and into the New Year!
I don’t walk when it’s too cold or too hot, but I finally got an exercise bike for inside for those days. Not to say I do it every day.
As far as writing each day making you a novelist, I feel it doesn’t matter how often you write. You’re a novelist when you finish a novel. I don’t write every day, but when I do write I get a lot done. A lot of writing happens in our heads between the actual typing anyway. Good luck on your novel project!
The Warrior Muse
Thanks, Shannon. I appreciate your positive reflection. You’re right. I’m in a slump, but can work through it. And, today is bitterly cold. I’ll be doing indoor yoga!
I’m joining you in the “make writing more of a priority” group.
Good luck with the play!