The Monthly Meeting of the Insecure Writers Support Group…

Insecure Writers support group

 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! Posting: The first Wednesday of every month is officially Insecure Writer’s Support Group day. Post your thoughts on your own blog. Talk about your doubts and the fears you have conquered. Discuss your struggles and triumphs. Offer a word of encouragement for others who are struggling. Visit others in the group and connect with your fellow writer – aim for a dozen new people each time.

                                            Be sure to link to this page and display the badge in your post.

Let’s rock the neurotic writing world! 

Our Twitter hashtag is #IWSG

                               

Writing Wednesday

Wednesday is also the day that I like to share writing, publishing and marketing information that I have learned on my journey to becoming a full time writer.

Each month we are presented with a question. The first question of this brand new year is:

What writing rule do you wish you’d never heard? For me it has to be the rule that first drafts are supposed to be awful. I have such a hard time sitting down and writing something from start to finish. I struggle with not editing as I write. It is a struggle but I will get there. It is one of my writing goals this year.

I don’t do resolutions. Goals work better for me. I accomplished most of my 2016 writing goals but not all of them. The few I haven’t accomplished are wreaking havoc with my #1 goal to stay positive no matter what.

The last few years I chose a word of the year. For 2017 I chose two phrases. Always have something to look forward to and Always be expecting something wonderful to happen. I haven’t quite completed my writing goals for the New Year. There is so much I want to do, too much. First things first, Realize Your Writing Dreams, the blog to book I wanted to have finished in November will be finished this month. I cannot wait to get to the editing phase. That’s what I will be doing for the next 27-days.

What are you working on? Do you have writing goals for 2017?

Happy New Year and Happy Writing,

Doreen

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22 thoughts on “The Monthly Meeting of the Insecure Writers Support Group…”

  1. That whole “don’t edit while you draft” is totally for short stories. =) Or people who write a whole book in 2 weeks. Personally, I have to edit the beginning and get it just right before the whole story will come. The characters have to be solid. The set up has to work. Otherwise, I’m building on a faulty foundation and the book is doomed to crumble.

  2. I love always have something to look forward to. That’s what I did this morning to get out of my warm bed and up into the cold. I’m also not so cool with bad first drafts–I want to at least TRY to make them good. But knowing the first one doesn’t have to be PERFECT is what matters for me.

    My IWSG post is talking about how to set realistic writing goals. The post is here on my StephanieScott website.

  3. It didn’t dawn on me until I read your post that I don’t make a list of resolutions but a list of goals. During the year, I also upgrade and add detailed steps to my goals.
    My writing goals for this year include compiling and publishing an anthology of short stories by 16 local authors; and editing two of my novels. But learning more about marketing my novels is a top priority.
    Happy New Year!

  4. I like your phrases! Full of hope.
    I plot and plan my stories to death before ever beginning, so my first drafts usually aren’t crap. Just need editing and fleshing out. Crap, guess I broke that rule…
    Happy 2017!

  5. Actually, one of my favorite writing phrases is Anne Lamott’s “shitty first draft”–because my first drafts are always, um, lacking. So I edit while I write, but it’s not the best practice to do too much of it. As for 2017 writing goals? You’ll get there.

  6. I also struggle with not editing as I write, and I also hated hearing that the first draft was supposed to be terrible. I found consolation in changing terrible to perfect, then it didn’t seem as frustrating. I still edit during the process, but refuse to let myself rewrite sections. Word changes or flipping a sentence here or there seems okay, but if I get into that deep editing mode, I’ll always and forever be on chapter 1.

    Congratulations on (almost) finishing a large writing project. That is reason for celebration.

  7. I have to edit as I write. It’s just how I do things. I’ve tried to just write, but I can’t. It ruins my process and my creativity.

    A blog to book, huh? We think a like. 😉 Best of luck to you!

  8. I’m glad I’m not the only one that feels that way about a first draft. I just can’t write and not edit as I go. I’ve tried, but in the end I fail because if something bugs me I need to figure out why and fix it before I can move forward. The idea of getting it done and then facing possible major rewrites later is scarier to me. Good luck in 2017! Hope it’s a great year for you.

  9. Editing as you go works for some people, so I guess the question is whether that’s working for you or if it would be better for you not to edit until the end. For me, personally, it works better if I just keep writing and jot down editing notes I want to come back to at the end. But that doesn’t mean it’s the absolute right way.

  10. I edit as I go. Something in my OCD character prevents me from going forward until I fix what’s behind me. Sometimes, I can go for pages, chapters even, before going back and editing. Whatever works.

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