Wednesday, March 3, 2021

#IWSG - Top 5 Reasons to Keep Writing Even When You Don't ... Feel It!

 


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!

March 3 optional question - Everyone has a favorite genre or genres to write. But what about your reading preferences? Do you read widely or only within the genre(s) you create stories for? What motivates your reading choice?

The awesome co-hosts for the March 3 posting of the IWSG are Sarah - The Faux Fountain Pen Jacqui Murray, Chemist Ken, Victoria Marie Lees, Natalie Aguirre, and JQ Rose! 
 
 
 ***
 
I can't even tell you how many people asked how much writing I accomplished after we got sent home last March due to the pandemic.

It would have been a great idea. And, to be honest, I did try, more than once, to write new words. Unfortunately, new words did not come to greet me.

Well, not until very recently. They're not all good words, and the ideas don't have much staying power, but some words have been written.

And, I've realized just how important these words really are.

5. We are creative people and if we don't create the things we really love, we make mistakes in the kitchen instead. You heard me. Stop baking!
 


4. It's good for our family. They're used to us just up and leaving the dinner table, or an important family gathering, to 'get a few more words down on paper' and they've now seen entirely too much of us.
 
3. The people we normally rely on to bounce our ideas off of are SOOOOO BORED! What were we thinking cutting them off cold turkey like that? They need content!
 

 
2. Without us writing, I'm actually surprised the snack and beverage companies didn't go out of business. They're desperate for us to get back into the nosh, sip, and write zone again!

And...the #1 reason to Keep Writing Even When You Don't ... Feel It!
 
1. The people need entertainment. Readers, watchers, listeners, they're all out there waiting to be entertained.
 
 
If we don't do it...who will?

 
Write a few words. Then a few more. Before you know it, you'll have a whole paragraph!! 
 
Keep trying, keep writing, keep moving forward.
 
***
 
Release date: May 4, 2021

Dark Matter: Artificial

An Insecure Writer’s Support Group Anthology

Discover dark matter’s secrets…

What is an AI’s true role? Will bumbling siblings find their way home from deep space? Dark matter is judging us—are we worthy of existence? Would you step through a portal into another reality? Can the discoverer of dark matter uncover its secrets?

Ten authors explore dark matter, unraveling its secrets and revealing its mysterious nature. Featuring the talents of
Stephanie Espinoza Villamor
CD Gallant-King
Kim Mannix
Steph Wolmarans
Tara Tyler
Deniz Bevan
Charles Kowalski
Olga Godim
Elizabeth Mueller
Mark Alpert


Hand-picked by a panel of agents, authors, and editors, these ten tales will take readers on a journey across time and space. Prepare for ignition!

Print ISBN 9781939844828 $14.95
EBook ISBN 9781939844835 $4.99
Science Fiction: Collections & Anthologies (FIC028040) / Space Exploration (FIC028130) / Genetic Engineering (FIC028110) 

27 comments:

nashvillecats2 said...

This pandemic has played havoc with me doing work on my fifth book which is to "Celebrate" my late son's life.
I started it shortly after his passing then the pandemic arrived and it has thrown the cat amoongst the pigeons.

Have a good month.
Yvonne.

Liza said...

It is interesting how this pandemic has disrupted creative flow. You'd think with all this extra time we'd be writing like crazy. I had a personal circumstance that made it hard for me to write for a while, but I'm back, and grateful about that.

Alex J. Cavanaugh said...

Those are great! Really like the first one.

Cathy Kennedy said...

The pandemic hasn't phased me with my writing because...well, I'm not an author. I'm just a plain ole blog writer but I don't discount myself or others who do this for fun. It is an outlet to keep us to share or be distracted or perhaps a little of both. For me, I connect with bloggers who share not only their creative writing side but things going on in their lives. I think a great way to express myself is playing along with in various Q&As memes hosted in Blogosphere. Questions cause me to pause to think about each response before I put my fingers to the keyboard to answer.

I had to smile over #5. Over the years, my decorative dishes didn't turn out as I'd hoped but the food always tasted good and it was a lot of fun. Now speaking of the pandemic, it actually got me out of my wishful state of doing more things in the kitchen and has become an creative outlet for me.

We definitely need good writers, especially TV/Movie script writers. There isn't a lot of new quality entertainment being made nowadays like there was in the 70s, 80s, and 90s. If you're old enough then you know what I'm getting at here. For those too young to remember, believe it or not, there was a day when people did not give thought to offending anyone, they just created material that delivered laughs from the audience. Guess what? Despite sex, race, or religion the average guy and gal found no offense except a good ole fun movie experience.


If you're a writer, I highly encourage you to bring back some of that nostalgic style to your story line. Perhaps if the industry were inundated with this kind of material they can't deny the call to produce these kinds of books and movies any longer.

Best of luck to you and happy writing! ;)

Curious as a Cathy

Bish Denham said...

I haven't written a word in over a year. But your post is encouraging. Thanks, and I mean that, truly.

Hilary Melton-Butcher said...

Hi Heather - love your thoughts with that touch of fun brought over. Life has changed for most people ... one way or the other - stay safe and get on with writing, write, write!! Cheers Hilary

Joylene Nowell Butler said...

"I has boredom."

Haha, yes! That's the number 1 reason to keep writing. I totally agree. I'm actually writing again, and I feel ... wow, can't put it into words.

Jemi Fraser said...

It's been a weird year and I wonder if anyone has been able to do all the things they hoped to do. Now, I'll get some words done ... after I take the chocolate cheesecake out of the oven :)

Beverly Stowe McClure said...

Now I know why I'm not writing. Must get busy. Also, looking forward to the new Anthology.

L. Diane Wolfe said...

My husband is so used to me in front of the computer it would confuse him if I wasn't.

Heather M. Gardner said...

Yvonne – I hope your creative flow comes back so you can finish your very special project.

Liza – I’m grateful that you’re writing is back, too!

Alex – Thank you! : )

Cathy – Have a good day.

Bish – I feel you. I really do. We can get it back.

Hilary – Things did change drastically. I wish I had made different choices though. But, we live and we learn. : )

Joylene – That is great news! Fingers crossed for you!

Jemi – I’d tell you to stop baking, but I made a cake 2 days ago. : )

Beverly – A few words at a time. It adds up!

Diane – We don’t want to startle anyone in the home!

Olga Godim said...

I haven't been writing much lately. It has to change. I have plans.
Heather, I hate to sound picky, but my name in the list of anthology authors is wrong. It should not be Olga Livshin (which is my legal name, and thus unknown in the writing community) but Olga Godim (which is my writing alias everyone knows, I hope). My anthology story byline is also Olga Godim - there is no Olga Livshin in that anthology - and my website address incorporates that name too. Could you, please, fix it?

Heather M. Gardner said...

Olga - My apologies. It's been fixed and the information passed on to the IWSG admins.
HMG

Beth Camp said...

Gotta say thanks! This post made me giggle and appreciate anew what a challenge 2020 and so far, 2021, has been for all of us in so many ways -- including writing. Thank YOU for making me smile and dive right back in to my writing.

Heather M. Gardner said...

Always happy to help. : )

Fundy Blue said...

More humor! I loved this, Heather! I have been baking way too much, but I slowed down to write more in recent weeks. I was shocked to see my husband dusting because I was ignoring housework. And then he dragged out the laundry hamper and put it by the washing machine. I guess I'll have to re-engage with him and the house. LOL! Thanks for a hilarious post!

lostinimaginaryworlds.blogspot.com said...

Isolated for over a year with my disabled husband due to the virus, it was great to read your post.

Diane Burton said...

Good tips. The pandemic did more than make me more of a hermit than I was before. I learned what binge-reading and binge-watching mean. Stories finished? Zero, zip, nada. I've written words, a few, paragraphs I'll have to scrap. Focusing is a major problem. But I'll keep trying.

S.A. Larsenッ said...

You were not alone in finding words to write at the onset of the pandemic, and even throughout these few months of the new year. It's tough when so much uncertainty is swirling around you and your loved ones.

#5 cracked me up! And yes about the snack companies not going out of business. So true!

Heather M. Gardner said...

Fundy - That's awesome! At least he's helping!

Lost - Hope it made you smile!

Diane - Focusing is the culprit, but we will prevail!!

S.A. - Thank you! Glad you stopped by here, too!

Thanks for the comments everyone!

Rawknrobyn.blogspot.com said...

"I has boredom," so cute. Yes, especially during this pandemic.

I need to hear from you, my dear.
Please message me at Rawknrobyn@aol.com or Humankindnet@gmail.com. Thanks. You're past due for a winner's package.

Hugs.

Susan B.Rouchard said...

Thank you Heather for your host post. Your article just about sums it up. Hoping 2021 will get better. Happy writing. Love the pics.

Jen said...

Oh it's been far too long since I've wandered in for an IWSG post! Writing during all of this has been...interesting. I HAVE been writing but I also find myself doing a lot more work in the yard, needing that connection to the outside air and something that isn't a computer screen. We'll establish our schedules again; right now the important thing is to allow the words to come when we can and not beat ourselves up when the Muse is still a little bit skiddish thanks to world events.
~ Jen

Luciana Cavallaro said...

I loved your post and the 5 points you made. More creators needed, please :D Loved your sheep.

Susan Gourley/Kelley said...

LOL Good reasons! I actually got some writing done for the pandemic though not for the first few months.
Can't wait to read the next anthology and add it to my collection. I have them all.

Debra Renée Byrd said...

I definitely didn't get more writing done during the pandemic. I did fall into video gaming a lot more, though. lol

Heather M. Gardner said...

Robyn - We need cute! TY!

Susan B. - 2021 is already better! Let's keep up the good work!

Jen - Glad you're outside reconnecting! It's a good thing!!

Luciana - Thank you! Glad I could entertain!

Susan - I'm glad to hear you got some writing in! TY!

Debra - Video gaming sharpens the mind! It's true!!

Thanks for all the comments!
HMG