Wednesday, December 3, 2014

#IWSG -- Do... or do not. There is no try.


From Alex J. Cavanaugh:
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 HERE and sign up. We post the first Wednesday of every month. I encourage everyone to visit at least a dozen new blogs and leave a comment. Your words might be the encouragement someone needs.

My awesome co-hosts today are Heather Gardner, T. Drecker from Kidbits, Eva E. Solar at Lilicasplace, and Patsy Collins!



Have you downloaded your copy of this amazing book yet? 


You can download it for free (almost) everywhere - Barnes and Noble, Amazon, Kobo, and Smashwords.


In other news...

I read a post from a woman on Facebook yesterday who wrote she had a multi-book deal with a publisher, the first book was completed and published, and she was trying to work on the second, but she just couldn't.

She was stuck. Afraid. Feeling...insecure.

What if she couldn't write the second one as well as the first? What if it had all been a big mistake?

I have to say, the comments back to her were so reassuring that they even helped me.

We can't worry about any of that. There is no guarantees in this world, but if we don't do anything we will absolutely never know what could have happened.

Sure, knowing you have more books to write to fulfill your obligations can be daunting, but at the same time, your only job then is to write. You already know your next books have a home.

And sure, it's not easy to write 'The End', but it won't happen at all unless you push through those fears and get out that laptop, or that pad of paper, and start writing.

Keep moving forward.

Write for yourself. Write what you love. 
Just write!

Today's inspirational message has been brought to you by...

59 comments:

  1. Well said! We just have to put a little faith in ourselves and keep moving forward a bit at a time. Sometimes looking at everything at once can be daunting but pulling it apart and seeing one thing at a time can make it easier.

    Thanks for co-hosting!

    Elsie

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  2. Hopefully I won't face the same issue next year. It looks like I'll be putting together book 2 next summer, when I didn't even think Book 1 would happen or lead to book 2. I'll take that courage with me! Thanks for co-hostins IWSG this month and happy holidays.

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  3. hahahaha Great post! :D

    Thanks for co-hosting. :)
    IWSG #151 until Alex culls the list again.

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  4. I always love that Yoda quote and it certainly fits the situation. Sometimes you gotta just keep on keepin' on. Oh, and yes, I downloaded my copy of the IWSG book. I'm so excited.

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  5. Heather!!!
    That picture is priceless.
    Can't worry about book two. Or three. Or four. The only way they are guaranteed to suck is if we don't write them.
    Thanks for co-hosting today!

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  6. Definitely! Our posts have a similar theme today.
    The best way out is always through

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  7. Very inspirational. I really enjoyed this post, reminding us that we've just gotta keep going. Life happens. We've just need to get past it.

    Thanks for co-hosting today!

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  8. "Write for yourself." So true. Lovely inspiring post. And that's very cute picture, too. :-)

    Thanks for co-hosting!

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  9. Sometimes all it takes is the right word or two to keep you going.

    I'm staying on your page until that bear wakes up. I've got to see what happens.

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  10. Oops! Typo. I mean, 'And that's a* very cute picture, too. :-)'

    I guess mistakes happen when we're not expecting it. :-)

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  11. We have to focus on the things we can control and let the rest go.

    I love that pic! Thanks for sharing it. :)

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  12. Well said, Heather. As someone pointed out her problem is on they'd like to have. We can't go wrong if we're doing what we love to best.

    I've found it helpful not to force anything but to relax and let the story take shape and then get it all down.

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  13. LOL! That picture of the penguin... just perfect!

    And I have always written for myself and written what I love. It's the best advice any writer could ever be given.

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  14. That's the best meme ever. lol And great advice. Thanks for co-hosting!

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  15. I think I needed to read this post right now, because I've been working on my dissertation. I have been freaking out about it as the due date approaches. As you said, the most important thing is to write it down. On the other hand, the dissertation is not what I love; what I'll love is all the free time I'll have once I finally finish it.

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  16. YAY! for #ISWG! I feel so blessed to be a part of it.

    I LUV that the writing community was so supportive of the woman. We really are surrounded by wonderful writer peeps!

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  17. I love that image. Run brave Penguin, run! Is he an extra for Penguins of Madagascar. Reminds me of the Penhguins pissing off The North Wind. Yes I saw the movie yesterday. Nice of you to co-host IWSG Gardner. We can't quit or do nothing, we have to move forward.

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  18. Thank you for the inspirational words! I can never hear them enough. Love the Courage image. Made me laugh out loud. Thank you for co-hosting!

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  19. What a wonderful message, Heather. Thank you. It never fails to amaze how wonderful writers are.

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  20. Love that pic!!! Yes, let's have courage today! :)

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  21. Great inspirational post!Fear is paralyzing. So what if you write something that stinks. At least there is something you can work with and change it into a much better piece. And don't we all know our first drafts are horrible??? Thanks for co hosting!

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  22. Could not have said it better. Really. I've been in that spot, not being able to write, but not with the knowledge my wip already had a home. I would LOVE to be in that position, so thanks for the kick in the butt, because even though I don't have a home yet for my current wip, it still must be written!

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  23. I think I'd be too nervous to sell a book before I'd written it.

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  24. Great advice! The worst thing we can possibly do is to do nothing at all.

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  25. Great picture and very encouraging post. Insecurities hits us all.

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  26. Man, that is a lot to worry about! But you're right, we can't focus on the negative. We have to say pos-pos-positive!

    It's a pleasure to meet you!

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  27. I understand completely. I know that I'll stress over the same things when I finish my first book and move on to the second. Just use that stress to make the second book even better!

    Thanks for co-hosting this month's IWSG!

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  28. Absolutely! I just need the courage of the penguin. :)

    shahwharton.com

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  29. Excellent write, one MUST have faith in one's self in any context of life whether it is writing, work, Faith and hope are essential.

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  30. Spot on, Heather!
    Also, a reminder that nothing worth having comes easy, the more you have to struggle to achieve it, the least likely you would take it for granted!
    Thank you for co-hosting the IWSG this month.

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  31. Knowing that next book is sold should be a good feeling.

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  32. I'm in much the same boat. I have a multi-book deal with a publisher and one of those books didn't have a single word written on it until last month. Talk about getting your adrenaline pumping!

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  33. great picture - and great message. you can waste an awful lot of time worrying when you really just need to be brave and get on with it. (easier said than done at times, but...)

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  34. Sometimes, I think a little fear is good. It makes us perform better, think more clearly, motivates us to rise to a challenge.

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  35. perfectly said! I agree with this and I hope it helps other authors to keep going and stay true

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  36. Great post, Heather. Thanks for co-hosting IWSG this month!
    Play off the Page

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  37. Awesome post Heather! Very encouraging. Thank you for that.

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  38. Great inspirational message. Thanks for sharing and thanks for co-hosting.

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  39. Great, Encouraging Post, Heather!!! Move forward!! Love the pic!!

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  40. Exactly! Nothing comes of nothing. We often surprise ourselves if we take a deep breath and see what we can do.

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  41. *LOL* Love that inspirational poster! Brave penguin. Hehehe! Great post. We all must just keep putting one foot in front of the other. Thank you for co-hosting today. :)

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  42. Write what you love is all any of us can really do. Yay for the IWSG Guide!

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  43. This a great supportive site.
    Thanks.

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  44. So true!
    It's simple and we all know it, but we need to hear/read it now and then. I personally do have to keep writing and move forward, cause fear has been holding me back. Thanks :)

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  45. I love that pic!! That penguin is brave, especially since it's going to have to run, lol! Great post, Heather!

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  46. Snerk. I love that picture. Always makes me LOL, but it rings true. Maybe we should all strive to do one brave thing a day.

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  47. I downloaded my copy . . . super excited! Great post--I need that poster for my classroom :-) Thanks for co-hosting!

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  48. I love the penguin and polar bear! lol I think it's the dream to get a multi-book deal with a publisher, but I think if it happened to me I'd freak out! I can really identify with the woman who wrote to you. You gave great advice in return.

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  49. OMG, I love that image. I am so sharing it, if you don't mind. It's priceless!

    One great thing about this group, is that we've all been there in some form or another. We've all looked at the empty Word document, aching to type, and feeling paralyzed. It really is one word at a time. One scene at a time. One chapter at a time. And eventually, one book at a time.

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  50. What a wonderful, inspirational message! And just what I needed to hear. Loved this post, Heather. And that picture is just too funny. Thanks for sharing.

    And thanks for co-hosting the IWSG! I downloaded the book—so excited! :)

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  51. Hard to keep in mind when the insecurities rear their ugly heads, but important.

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  52. Great post. One day at a time is the best anyone can hope for, even in writing. This is one of my favorite quotes from the movie "We Bought A Zoo".
    "You know, sometimes all you need is twenty seconds of insane courage. Just literally twenty seconds of just embarrassing bravery. And I promise you, something great will come of it."

    Juneta at Writer's Gambit

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  53. Amen! That question... what would you do if you couldn't fail.

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  54. Keep moving forward...I like that and it's my new mantra!

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  55. Great inspirational post, Heather!

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  56. Love the Yoda quote. It's my fav from Star Wars. Thanks for co-hosting this month. You rock!

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  57. Thank you for joining me, Heather.

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