Monday, December 19, 2022

Happy Holidays From IWSG

 


Are you having a white Christmas? Does the sight of that snow make you want to run? If the latter, I guess your holiday cheer is more fear. Can't say that I blame you though. Just looking at it and thinking about driving in it make me want to return to sweat inducing summer. But then that would be rushing life, so I guess we sit back and enjoy what comes.

That also means there is no issue with taking a break during the holidays from writing and/or work and just enjoying yourself. It will be there after the festivities are done. Enjoy the moment and don't think when you will write, work, etc. You will.


Whether it is far down another road like this or a few days after all is said and done over the festive season. You will. Remember that and be in the moment. Simply enjoy whatever you celebrate, however you celebrate,(unless you do some weird satanic sacrificing ritual. That would be bad. Just a little FYI), and whoever you celebrate with.


But don't enjoy this much or things may go astray.

Do you plan on writing over the holidays? Any good plans over the holidays? Do you feel like you are doing nothing or letting your writing/self down if you do take a break?

Finally, here is a cheery note when all the cheer is through this holiday season. Are you going to enter? Think about it after the cheer and polish those pitches. Lots of time.


HAPPY HOLIDAYS and NEW YEAR
From the
Insecure Writer's Support Group
(We'll be back for IWSG Day on January 4th.)

Monday, December 12, 2022

5 Ways to Recharge After Suffering Writer’s Burnout

by Colleen M. Story


We’re coming to the end of the year—which means you may be feeling writer’s burnout.

Even a regular year of writing can be taxing. Add in a book launch (or two?), NaNoWriMo, and a few challenges on your WIP, and you may be thinking that you’d be just fine if you never wrote again!

But don’t worry. That’s the weariness talking. And weariness—even if it’s creeping into burnout—can be fixed with the right kind of rest.

Try the following suggestions and see if, by the time the new year comes around, you don't feel ready to pick up the pen (or keyboard) again.

1. Get Some Extra Sleep

Most of the time, you have to tend to the body first. Trying to restore your mind, emotions, and creativity while you’re still dragging around physically doesn’t work.

Writers are consistently up against deadlines and expectations. It’s common to end up at the end of the year feeling physically exhausted.

If you haven’t gotten a good night’s sleep in a while, you’re getting sick more often, or you’re experiencing more aches and pains than usual, you need this type of rest.

Solution: Take some time to tend to your sleep routine. Make sure you have a comfortable, quality mattress (they should be replaced every 5-8 years usually), that your room is cool and quiet, and that you keep all technology (including televisions) out of the bedroom.

Then incorporate a daily stretching routine or yoga practice to ease muscle tension. Finally, give yourself at least a weekend to rest as much as you need to. Use naps as much as you like!

2. Give Your Brain a Break

Writing takes a lot of brain power. We have to keep our settings, characters, timelines, and plotlines straight, and then we have to make sure we reach all our editing, publishing, and marketing deadlines.

After a year of writing, marketing, and book launching, your brain needs a break. Sleep will help, but it’s not enough.

If you suffering from brain fog and you’re taking longer than usual to get your projects done, you need this type of rest.

Solution: Try meditating, crafting, coloring, and long walks. Then schedule at least half a day once or twice a week to banish browsing and let your brain veg out. Rekindle your love of daydreaming.

3. Cater to Your Feelings

The writing life is a roller coaster. We all feel the ups and downs. Writing acceptance! Writing rejection. Great review! Poor review. A day in the writing flow. A day of writer’s block.

If you’ve spent the year “sucking it up” through a variety of disappointments, you need this type of rest.

Solution: Share your feelings in a journal. Establish and maintain boundaries with other people. Take a step back from demanding relationships for a while. Do what makes you feel happy. Be self-indulgent! Grant yourself a day to do anything you want without guilt.

Then go back and re-read all the positive comments and reviews you’ve received on your writing.

4. Court Your Muse

After a year of writing and marketing, your creative muse may have gone into hiding. We expect it to always be there for us, but sometimes we ask too much of it and it naturally withdraws.

If you’re suffering from writer’s block or can’t come up with a new idea to save you, you need this kind of rest.

Solution: Get involved in activities that inspire you. Spend some time in nature. Allow yourself to experience beauty in any form. Expose yourself to some fine art or good music. Spend a day trying on outfits you love.  Spruce up your writing nook so it feels more conducive to creativity.

If you like, try writing something completely different than you usually do: a children’s story, poem, or personal essay.

5. Shut Out the World

Particularly if you’re an introverted writer, you could be suffering from sensory overload. All the interacting on social media, book signings, conference going, and other demands of the writing life can have you craving a dark room and lots of alone time. 

If you’re more irritable than usual or feel like your nerves are on end, you need this type of rest.

Solution: Indulge your inner mole. Shut yourself away from the world for a day or more if you can. Take a weekend to curl up with a good book or rent a cabin by the lake where all you’ll hear in the morning are the birds. Silence can be incredibly restorative.

 

NOTE: Through December 2022, all of Colleen's writing ebooks are on sale for only $2.99 or less! Get your copies here. You can also find free chapters of her book and a free giveaway here.

 

Colleen M. Story is a novelist, freelance writer, writing coach, and speaker with over 20 years in the creative writing industry. Her latest release, The Beached Ones, is from CamCat Books. Her novel, Loreena’s Gift, was a Foreword Reviews’ INDIES Book of the Year Awards winner, among others.

Colleen has written three books to help writers succeed. Your Writing Matters is the most recent, and was a bronze medal winner in the Reader Views Literary Awards (2022). Other award-winning titles include Writer Get Noticed! and Overwhelmed Writer Rescue. Enjoy free chapters of these books here.

Find more at her author website (colleenmstory.com) or connect with her on Twitter (@colleen_m_story) and LinkedIn.

 

Wednesday, December 7, 2022

Its #IWSG Day, December 7th

 


#IWSG Insecure Writer’s Support Group
December 7th

Sign Up And Become a Member
Our Twitter handle is @TheIWSG and hashtag is #IWSG.
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. 


The next IWSG Twitter Pitch
will be January 25, 2023!

Check out details on our #IWSGPit page.
There have been so many success stories over the years –
your manuscript might be next. Start polishing those stories and pitches now.

The awesome co-hosts for the December 7 posting of the IWSG are 
Joylene Nowell Butler, Chemist Ken, Natalie Aguirre, Nancy Gideon, and Cathrina Constantine!


OPTIONAL IWSG QUESTION

December 7 question - It's holiday time! Are the holidays a time to catch up or fall behind on writer goals?

For me, it depends on the year.  This year is a matter of keeping up. I am neither ahead or behind. The goal is to stay on target with 2023 goals and plans.. I finished a rough draft during NaNoWriMo, which I won 52K. I have a discovery draft of my first novel, one of six planned in my Midlife Ghostwalker series

In December I am  doing edits and writing a short story for my newsletter optin related to the series.  I hope to publish the first three in series along with short by July-Aug 2023.  The challenge is to do enough to stay on target.  


This month spotlights are:

IWSG Member Book: Little Ragdoll: A Bildungsroman- 
https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/41556326-little-ragdoll
Craft Book: Self-Editing for Fiction Writers- https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/180467.Self_Editing_for_Fiction_Writers