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. 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.

If you’d like to join us, click on the tab above and sign up.

The awesome co-hosts today are Feather Stone, Beverly Stowe McClure, Mary Aalgaard, Kim Lajevardi, and Chemist Ken!

Today’s question –

Do you have any rituals that you use when you need help getting into the ZONE? 

Yes, I have several rituals that I use! Normally they work. It’s been different the past eight weeks; I’m still trying to find new rituals that might work to help me focus.

Normally I work from home, so the pandemic has not affected my ability to work. I know I’m blessed because so many others found themselves out of work and “stuck” at home without income.

My husband, who is normally out of the house for fourteen-hours a week, is home. He’s treating this as an extended vacation.

Lately it seems as soon as I’m in my zone I hear “When you’re finished” or “When will you be done?” I’m sure you all realize how quickly any interference takes you out of your zone.

We don’t normally get to spend a lot of time together, so I’m enjoying every minute of Netflix binge watching, afternoon walks and meals we are eating together.

My normal ritual is to play a game of Words with Friends, make a cup of tea (occasionally wine), and to have some sort of finger foods close by. Sometimes the finger foods are M&M’s or jelly beans but lately I’ve been trying to stick with apple slices, grapes and cheese. Honestly sometimes only candy will do.

I need background noise when I write so I either have the news on low, or I use my headphones and listen to music.

Daily word counts don’t work for me (especially lately.) I prefer weekly word counts. That way I feel I have a chance to catch up if I need to skip a day or two and it helps me feel like less of a failure😊

How about you? Do you have writing rituals? What are you binge-watching? Are you and your family doing okay?

Happy writing,
Doreen

AND today  we announce the release of the next IWSG anthology!

Voyagers: The Third Ghost

AND-The e book and paperback for Realize your Writing Dreams are both now available wherever e books and paperback books are sold.

Thank you for reviewing and sharing! (I’ve received some bizarre troll reviews that make accusations that aren’t true and honestly make no sense at all.) Has that ever happened to you? What did you do, if anything?