What a Writer is Made of...

A writer is the sum of her life's experiences.

Welcome readers and writers to this month's session of the Insecure Writers Support Group--one of the last threads of blogging that keeps writers connected. The other social medias are not as personal as the blogging we once shared. When I started blogging about 15 years ago (holy cow!) I was so thankful to find other writers through blog hops and challenges, especially the April A to Z and then the IWSG.

I like to think blogging faded away because we all started writing more, and the thing we had to give up was blogging. I'm very thankful for the writer friends I've made and the IWSG keeping us posting at least once a month! And I try to keep in touch as much as I can. We understand each other...

• For most of us, writing isn't what pays the bills; we have real jobs to support our writing habit
• We have to find spare moments to write
• Sometimes, we go for days or weeks or more without writing a single word
• A song, strangers, mishaps, dreams, and more can all be sources that spark a new story or scene
• Our characters speak to us--usually at inappropriate moments =D
• Editing sucks the life out of finishing a manuscript
• We are our own worst critics and struggle putting ourselves "out there"
• Queries & Submissions are so strenuous to write, yet so easy for agents/publishers to ignore or negate
• We are perseverant because we have to be strong for our stories
• We crave reviews and critiques, while at the same time dread them--it's hard to share our work (it's a piece of our souls)
• A kind word or comment from a single reader can inspire us to keep writing
• Talking with other writers keeps us sane

Do you feel some of these? What would you add to this list?

Our writing journeys all started in different places for different reasons, but we are compelled to share our stories. It takes special people to suffer through the ups and downs of writing. Keep at it!

Lastly, I hope to get at least one more Tuesday Writers Chat session in before the holidays, but October is going to be insanely busy with my hub traveling all over creation for work. Then the end of the month will be bittersweet as my oldest son moves away, on to his next big adventure. I might consider NaNo this November to fill the void. But life usually fills the void for me, so we'll see!

I hope you wear your writer's costume this October and find time to work on your stories!

What is your Purpose here?

Davy Jones What Is Your Purpose Here GIFfrom Davy Jones GIFs

For this month's IWSG post, I have a little testimonial...

I've been wondering about it lately. Doesn't everyone have a purpose? In this world, people can influence each other by their words, actions, appearance, and even slight glances; and all of these things are judged with a myriad of interpretations...

I always have good intentions. But sometimes my joking is taken the wrong way. I acknowledge my faults and besides my snarkiness, one of the worst is being quick to judge. I've been aware of it for many years. Though I've tried and am still trying to be better, I've lost friendships over it and wish I wasn't this way. I try very hard to be friendly and see the good in everyone. I try to encourage and uplift as often as I can. But I have many down days. And those are the times my guard falters and the gates holding me back release unintended thoughts, for which I am quick to apologize. But despite of all the good, positive kindnesses, it seems the harsh words are remembered most. This vicious cycle makes me doubt myself and my purpose.

I never thought I'd be a writer. Then, I was led down that path. I was happy and hopeful that I was supposed to reach masses and become a positive influence. Now, I've been stalled for a few years. Bills, my hectic job, and other responsibilities have made it almost impossible to dedicate much time to not only writing, but marketing and going to events. Without a publisher, it's all on me. Even though I just published a new book, it took more than twice as long to get it done, and I haven't spread much word about it--though I'm very thankful for those in my small circle who've helped! Then I see another animated movie with many common elements of a screenplay I submitted to a contest and made it to the semi-finals in. Is the world trying to tell me something? I'm wondering if my purpose is on another path.

I'm so thankful for you all. Sometimes my writer friends are all that keep me going. I won't give up on writing completely. Maybe I just need to take my time and put less pressure on myself to produce. We can only do what we can do, right?

I hope I didn't bring you down -- January seemed to be an especially dreary month that lingered on forever! You know writing things down is cathartic, especially when other writers can relate. That's what the IWSG is for. Thanks for listening!

And in the spirit of venting, chatting about life & writing, I'm going to re-boot our Writer's Chat.

WRITER'S CHAT

on Discord

1ST & 3RD TUES EACH MONTH

STARTING FEB 6 @ 7:30 PM EST

Let me know if you're interested in receiving REMINDERS & the LINK by sending me an email - to TaraTylerTalks on gmail. It's been a while and we need to catch up!

PS - I love supporting other writers. Sherry Ellis had a recent release of the 4th book in her Bubba & Squirt MG adventure series--this time they explore Paris in an exciting search for their dad! Here's a link to it and my review: CITY OF BONES by Sherry Ellis

Let's hang in there!

Here we go again

Happy New Year, take 2023!

Welcome to IWSG Jan 2023

How many times have we gone through the motions of vowing to change in the new year? Too many to count, for me! But the change in year does remind me to try harder or resolve anew, as it were... I always have big plans, lofty goals, and personal growth promises that inevitably fizzle out. I realize now, that when I plan these things, I'm at the end of my holiday break from work. It's easy to reach for high hopes and dreams when you have a ton of time on your hands!

So this year, I'll be more reasonable. I'll go easier on myself. I'm going to keep up with the Blogging at least once a month for IWSG -- your voices are what keep me chugging along on this writing journey and expressing my thoughts is wonderful therapy! Eating better and exercising more gets a jump start when I go back to work and get away from sedentary-dom, eating out, and extra sweets with company and the holidays! Not that I didn't love every minute of it! 

And Writing more. I really want to work on this. It was so much easier to begin the process. We start out bright-eyed and hopeful. Sure there are many obstacles along the way: will anyone like our writing? will we ever get published? will anyone buy it? -- some of you are in these stages now! But once you've been through those, the harder challenges arise: critics, marketing, failed publishers, and pandemics! Well, I'm over it. I have to make a plan, plotter that I am, and stick to it. If I want to call myself a writer, I need to keep writing, right? (haha) And that means I need to keep working through all the hard stuff that goes with it. So that's what I would like to do. We'll see how it goes...

Thank goodness I have support from you all! And I want to jump back into our weekly WRITERS CHAT! TUESDAYS @ 7:30 PM (EST) It is time.

We use Discord - a private chat group website. Please join us if you can!

And lastly, a piece of my heart is missing as we said farewell to the sweetest dog in the world just before Christmas. Comet held on long enough for our middle son to come home and say goodbye. Having my family fill my house, I was able to make it through the difficult time. And now that they're gone and I'm taking down the Christmas decorations, the house is even emptier, deafeningly quiet. I need some time to heal before I make him a scrapbook - so many tears. Dogs are the best, we don't deserve them.

I hope you enjoyed your holidays and are looking forward to a jamboree for 2023!

via GIPHY

We'll have fun, fun, fun?

It's August IWSG Day!

I have to hurry up and enjoy my last couple weeks of freedom! Since my summer vacay is winding down, I'm getting the most out of it by meeting friends for lunch, shopping, and writing/editing my boo-tay off! -- all the things I never have time for during the school year. And with the aspirations I'm hoping to undertake, I may not get a summer off again... I'll elucidate more if it comes to fruition. (Don't you just love big words?? 😆)

A big THANK YOU to my reading volunteers. I just sent off CONDUCTION to them and can't wait to gobble up their feedback. I also have two events coming up that I'm super excited to do. It's about darn time!

Not much more to add, just plugging away to get ready for what's ahead and hope I'm prepared for any sudden surprises. But I do have one last special announcement...

The Writers Chat is up and running! After getting some feedback, we are chatting again. We need connections and a safe place to share ideas, speak our minds, and get encouragement. Here are the deets:

TUESDAYS, 7:30 pm (EST)

on a private Discord Channel (very easy to join and use w/o worries)

the Writers Chat link

Next Tues (8/10) our topic is: Planning - Plotting vs Pantsing

but we usually get side-tracked, so anything is on the table...

We'd love for you to join us. Let me know if you want to be on my reminder list or if you have any questions about it.

I hope your August is fruitful and things aren't too crazy in your part of the world.

Don't let it get you down -- Write it out!