IWSG: Author Envy

 

 

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 - and return comments. This group is all about connecting--and we owe it all to the amazing Ninja Captain Alex!

Let’s rock the neurotic writing world!


Our Twitter handle is @TheIWSG and hashtag is #IWSG.

The awesome co-hosts for the March 1 posting of the IWSG are Diedre Knight, Tonya Drecker, Bish Denham, Olga Godim, and JQ Rose!


Every month, we announce a question that members can answer in their IWSG post. These questions may prompt you to share advice, insight, a personal experience or story. Include your answer to the question in your IWSG post or let it inspire your post if you are struggling with something to say. 

Remember, the question is optional!

March 1 question - Have you ever read a line in novel or a clever plot twist that caused you to have author envy?

Have I? Oh, man. First, every time I read one of Ivan Doig's novels, I am totally humbled and convinced that I don't know *anything* about writing, or even about the English language. Then there are the plots and characters of many of the big names in mysteries, who leave me wondering if I have an idea in my head.

But here's the thing: once in a long while, I read a line that I wrote... and think, Hey, that's good. Those are the right words. Or that was a great plot twist. I have occasional days when... I'm pretty sure I can write? At least sort of. Well enough? As a writer, I survive on those moments of knowing I can do it, moments that get me through the times when I wonder why I even try with my little bitty gift.

How about you?

Writer update: I'm working on the revisions for A Coastal Corpse, trying to apply everything I learned this quarter teaching my class at the Senior Center. I really do think I can salvage the book and that is making me kind of happy. I haven't gotten any more stories out, but have sent out another residency application.

Work this week has been pretty minimal, though, as I've been in California visiting my son (and regretting what proved to be a stupid decision, i.e., to drive down I5 and back inside of a week, just as meteorological hell broke loose on the whole region). I've done some work, but mostly am enjoying my visits with family and friends.

Write on!

©Rebecca M. Douglass, 2023
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Comments

  1. That's true, there are times when I got back and read something I haven't looked at in awhile and think, "Hey, that's not terrible..." It's a nice feeling. Or at least nicer than the feelings I have when I'm in the middle of revisions.

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    1. Oh, yeah. Though I am getting better at revisions. In some ways, my biggest problem is that I tend to see too many ways the plot could have been done better, and then I want to do a whole new version of the book…

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  2. Glad you're revisions are going well and that you're enjoying your visit with your family. I hope you have a safe trip home.

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    1. Made it home! We actually managed to dodge the worst weather, and never had to put on the chains.

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  3. Hi, this comment is from Pat Garcia. For some reason, your blog site will only take my comment unless I do it anonymously.
    Keep hanging in there with the book. If you think you can salvage it, then you can. Don't give up. You can do it. Shalom shalom

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    1. Thanks for the encouragement. As for commenting… I just discovered that on my iPad (where I have that problem) I can only comment as logged in if I allow cross-site tracking. Apparently Blogger has outsourced the comments stuff to another outfit? The trouble is, for the most part, that’s not something you want turned on. I really shoulda paid and gotten a WP account :(

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    2. I still don’t know why this is only true with *some* Blogger accounts. This makes me feel there must be a setting on the blog itself that I haven’t figured out.

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  4. I'm glad you're making progress on the book. Enjoy your family time!

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  5. "A Coastal Corpse." I love the title, Rebecca. It's great that you can salvage the work you've done on it. I hope your words come together well. Those moments when my words do come together are magical. It has happened more for me when I'm speaking to an audience and I can feel my impact on the people . I want to move the readers with my writing. We shall see. Have fun with your family!

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    1. Thanks! I had a good time with the kids, and am back home and working on the story again :)

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  6. It's hard to abandon the words you've carefully crafted but necessary sometimes. Good luck with your editing (better than salvaging) :-)

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    1. I said 'salvaging' because I was tempted to just abandon the book. But that is hard to do--especially since the characters have become real in my head. I just need to work harder at making them real on the page.

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  7. Yeah, those moments of feeling competent, of reading something you have just written and thinking: Dash, I'm good! Those are treasured flashes of happiness for many writers.

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  8. Once characters become real in your head, you can bet they've made a home in your heart ;-) Can't let them go now.

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  9. Thanks for stopping by my blog. It is nice when we find ourselves happy or impressed with our own words. Thanks for sharing.

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