Wednesday, May 4, 2016

Insecure and Proud! / IWSG Day



It’s time for 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 and encourage everyone to visit at least a dozen new blogs and leave a comment. Your words might be the encouragement someone needs.
Hey, everyone! Chrys Fey here. This is my first time posting on our site for IWSG Day and I am thrilled. I have a motivational post for you today. :)


Many of you may know the motto “Mutant and Proud” from X-Men: First Class.

Well, I think our motto should be “Insecure and Proud!”
“Insecurity has always been defined as a negative emotion, yet it can be a motor, a driving force. ‘I’m insecure, but I’m going to work harder to be better’ . . . an insecure person is always striving for perfection.” – Sylvia Browne
Insecurity feels as though it is negative because it comes from us thinking we’re inadequate.

We aren’t good enough.

We don’t know enough. 

We don’t write enough.

We aren’t published yet.

But these insecurities come out of a good place...passion. If you weren’t passionate then you wouldn’t be insecure. You wouldn’t worry that you’re not good enough. You wouldn’t strive to be better. You wouldn’t have dreams of where you hope to go with your writing.

The fact we’re insecure means we care. We care about this beautiful and often cruel publishing business. We care about our characters. We care with every fiber of our insecure bodies.

And that is good.

No, that is great!

Embrace whatever insecurity you are feeling, because it means you’re dedicated. Because it means everything in the world to you to one day publish or write the story of your dreams. Because writing is who you are, and without it you would be lost.

As you work through your insecurity, you’ll grow. You’ll get better. That is what an insecurity is supposed to do if you handle it correctly and don’t let it defeat you.

So say it with me and say it like you mean it...


INSECURE AND PROUD!

***

NOW OUT!



Parallels: Felix Was Here
An Insecure Writer’s Support Group Anthology


Enter the realm of parallel universes!


What if the government tried to create the perfect utopia? Could a society linked to a supercomputer survive on its own? Do our reflections control secret lives on the other side of the mirror? Can one moment split a person’s world forever?

Exploring the fantastic, ten authors offer incredible visions and captivating tales of diverse reality. Featuring the talents of L. G. Keltner, Crystal Collier, Hart Johnson, Cherie Reich, Sandra Cox, Yolanda Renee, Melanie Schulz, Sylvia Ney, Michael Abayomi, and Tamara Narayan.

Hand-picked by a panel of agents and authors, these ten tales will expand your imagination and twist the tropes of science fiction. Step through the portal and enter another dimension!

PRINT LINKS:
DIGITAL LINKS:






46 comments:

Michelle Wallace said...

I'm INSECURE AND PROUD! *uttered in my most convincing voice*

Parallels is here...finally goes out into the big, wide world!
What an amazing collection written by an incredibly talented batch of IWSGers!
Congratulations!
Writer In Transit

Just Keepin It Real, Folks! said...

I'm fist pumping and shouting out loud, "INSECURE AND PROUD!"

Yolanda Renée said...

Today I'm feeling insecure in my insecurities, I mean really, do I even deserve to have insecurities. Don't you have to be good enough first. LOL Okay, it's early and I should have stayed in bed.
Parallels is out and I should be shouting it from the roof tops, maybe after I wake up!
No seriously. Parallels: Felix Was Here is out and IT IS SO COOL!

Liza said...

I do think my insecurities drive me, and so for that reason, I'm glad to be insecure...and PROUD!

Nicola said...

"I'm insecure and proud!" Great post Chrys. Thank you. Maybe, we should all wear a badge! I love badges :) Thanks also for the great newsletter!!

J.L. Campbell said...

Congrats to everybody in the anthology!

Mary Aalgaard said...

Excellent post. Excited for the anthology!

Heather M. Gardner said...

Great positive post!

Heather

L.G. Keltner said...

I love this positive post! I am insecure and proud! I'm also really excited about the anthology. I'm looking forward to a great month!

Leandra Wallace said...

Great post! I like how you point out that being insecure just means you're passionate about something. My personal life would definitely be less full if I didn't have my writing, even if it does sometimes make me want to pull my hair out. ;)

Sandra Cox said...

Woo Hoo, Chrys. Insecure and proud;)

Jen said...

Yep! I said it out loud!
Thanks for this wonderful post. I love the idea of something the world sees as negative being turned on its head, used as a motivator and a badge of pride. If we didn't care so much, we wouldn't be insecure. That is a LOVELY sentiment and one that I will carry with me. Thanks for this and the affirmation. I can see this on a t-shirt in the future...

~Jen

Alex J. Cavanaugh said...

Insecure, mutant, and proud - I can be all things!

Susan Gourley/Kelley said...

If we weren't insecure, we wouldn't keep trying to get better. Well said, Chrys. And how about that anthology!

Pat Hatt said...

Awesome way of looking at it indeed.

Crystal Collier said...

Not quite so insecure, but definitely proud. It's release week, which means I have nothing to be insecure about...for the moment. Here's to celebrating our unique awesomeness, eh?

Elizabeth Seckman said...

Excellent post, Chrys!! You're so right.

Hilary Melton-Butcher said...

Hi Chrys - so true ... but it's good - it spurs us on .. and great the Anthology is released ... good luck - cheers Hilary

Chrys Fey said...

@Michelle, I think I heard you from here. ;)

@Yolanda, but you ARE good enough. You're a GREAT writer. Now say it, SAY IT! :p

@Liza, that how to do it!

@Nicola, oh, a badge...I like that idea. ;)

@Leandra, my life would be very empty without writing. I wouldn't even be blogging if I wasn't a writer!

@Jen, I can see this on a T-Shirt too. :D

@Alex, you most certainly can be all things.

@Susan, exactly.

@Crystal, I'm glad you're not insecure at the moment. :)

@Hilary, it does spur us on.

cleemckenzie said...

I'm looking forward to seeing what you wowaful writers have come up with in this anthology! Congrats.

Joylene Nowell Butler said...

I'm so honoured to be involved with this anthology. It's full of great stories. Readers are going to be very happy.

Debra Renée Byrd said...

I'M INSECURE AND PROUD!! \O/

L. Diane Wolfe said...

Be proud! Or just get so busy you don't have time to be insecure.

Anonymous said...

That's something I've believed for a while. Insecurity keeps up working hard. But we do have to remember to not let it overwhelm us and also believe that we are good enough.

diedre Knight said...

You make a terrific cheerleader!

Unknown said...

What a positive post. I agree. I am definitely proud.

Zan Marie said...

Ha! I'm a card-carrying member of Insecure and Proud! And that's good...no...Great! ;-)

Cherie Reich said...

Insecure and Proud--love it! After all, if we aren't insecure about things, then that'll give us no reason to grow.

Juneta key said...

INSECURE AND PROUD! Great post. Yes I care.

Happy IWSG Day,
Juneta @ Writer's Gambit

Chrys Fey said...

@L. Diane, good tip on getting so busy you don't have the time to be insecure.

@Patricia, it's a great philosophy to have.

@Diedre, thank you! :)

@Ula, Yay!

@Zan, "card-carrying member"...I love that!

@Cherie, and growing is the whole point.

@Juneta, *Hug*


And congratulations to everyone featured in the anthology!

Julie Flanders said...

You're so right! I am proud! Great motivation, Chrys. :)

The Cynical Sailor said...

I'm trying to figure out where to get "insecure and proud of it" tattooed on me :-)

Cheers - Ellen

Chrys Fey said...

@Ellen, hahaha! That would be a funny and yet up-lifting tattoo. Maybe down your arm? :P

Terry Lee said...

Old destructive insecurities kicked to the curb...
INSECURE AND PROUD says Terry Lee!

Fundy Blue said...

Nicely done, Chrys! An inspirational post! "Insecure and Proud!" I'll remember that motto! And congrats on posting here today!

Patsy said...

I agree - Insecurity doesn't have to be all negative. I'll try to use mine to push me to try harder and create better work.

baili said...

i been never and not insecure ,unfortunately i meet people insecure who were so negative in their attitude and behavior instead of bring better out of them they tried to pull the leg of others ,i am content but restless to be better in life in all means

SK Anthony said...

YESSSSS!!!!
~~~> Insecure and proud, baby!!! <~~~~~

Because you're right: we SO care . . . sigh . . .

Congratulations to all the authors in PARALLEL!!!! Very exciting ;)

Chrys Fey said...

@Terry, yes, kick them to the curb!

@Fundy, thank you! :D

@Patsy, I know you'll try harder and create better work. You're great, Patsy!

@Baili, those are toxic people...the kind of insecure you don't want to be. It's best to stay clear of them, and let your insecurities make you better while their insecurities make them worse.

@S.K., we probably care too much, but we can't help it, can we? :)

Kalpana said...

Wonderful post :)

Diane Burton said...

Chrys, what a great motivational post. I never thought of insecurities that way before. I think you're on to something. :)

Roland Clarke said...

Motivated by your words, Chrys. So now I'm Insecure and Proud... and chuffed.

https://rolandclarke.com/2016/05/04/why-comment/

Chemist Ken said...

I think my insecurities are what keeps me going as a writer, strange as that may seem.

Chrys Fey said...

@Diane, I think I am too. ;)

@Roland, I'm glad you're motivated.

@Ken, I know just what you mean. It's the same for me.

Kalpana said...

Insecure and proud! And congratulations on Parallels :)

Tanya Miranda said...

Insecure, mutant, ostrich, and proud!

**buries head in dirt**

Going to check out the anthology. Congrats to all!