Today’s the day for the Insecure Writer’s Support Group (IWSG) where, on the first Wednesday of every month, writers get together to share their insecurities and offer encouragement. The IWSG was created by Alex J. Cavanaugh, and you can learn all about it and sign up for it here. 
I had writing plans for this summer. Not big ones, but small ones I thought would be doable. I’d market my new book and get started on my next one. I’d get back into blogging. As I’m turning the page from July to August, I’m realizing the summer is nearly over and I’ve hardly accomplished any of the things I’d wanted to. This will be my second blog post since last year, so there’s a tiny bit of progress. I just need to build on it.
The idea was to continue to get up early over the summer and use that time to write before having to go to work. That doesn’t work well, though, unless I go to bed early enough to still get 7-8 hours’ sleep. A foggy brain does not a good writer make. It was a great plan, in theory. But I can’t believe how hard it is to make myself go to bed early. Between after-dinner family time and doing what needs to be done, it’s 10:30 – 11:00 PM before I know it.
So my insecurity for this month is that I won’t be able to turn my schedule around, salvage the summer, and at least get my next book started. Can I do it? We’ll see. Wish me luck!
The ISWG question for this month is: What pitfalls would you warn other writers to avoid on their publication journey?
I think the biggest pitfall for an independent/self-published writer would be to not go the extra mile to put out a quality product. Professional editing, proofreading, and a professionally designed book cover are essential if a writer wants to be taken seriously. It’s the only way self-publishing will lose its stigma of being inferior to traditional publishing. Self-pubbing has come a long way, and we need to keep it moving forward.
© Lori L. MacLaughlin and Writing, Reading, and the Pursuit of Dreams, 2018. All rights reserved.
Writing, Reading, and the Pursuit of Dreams 
Lori! Welcome back.
I couldn’t write in the morning. My brain doesn’t come on until at least ten am.
LikeLiked by 2 people
Thanks, Alex! I’m just the opposite. I can’t write at night. My creative brain has shut off by then.
LikeLike
It’s good to read your posts again, Lori. Believe me, every writer I know has stopped blogging/writing at some point.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thanks, Jacqui! That’s good to know.
LikeLike
Oh yeah. I did the early morning writing for a while and it only works if you get a good night’s sleep. But since I no longer have the time I used to in the mornings (I have to get both children and my husband up, ready, and out the door by 6:55AM), I don’t do much writing in the morning anymore.
LikeLiked by 1 person
I know what you mean. Once school starts up again at the end of August, any free morning time will be gone.
LikeLike
Nobody but those who do this understand just how much time and energy it takes, and it’s daily. Even when we’re not blogging, we’re writing, or figuring out the balance between the two. Then factor in the rest of our lives, and you’re lucky to get any sleep at all. Great to see you here again. Missed your posts.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thank you, Lee! That is so true.
LikeLike
You can do it, Lori! There’s still time! Interesting how different we all can be when it comes to writing time. I’m a morning person & seem to be my most productive early in the morning before the rest of the household rises. Later in the day, I’m brain-dead! lol Wishing you the best with your plans!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thank you, Sandra! And that describes me to a “T”.
LikeLike
The summer went really fast for me too. I stayed up with my writing but not some of the other things I wanted/needed to take care of. I stay up late and do my writing and have since my kids were little. Then I got by on 5-6 hours of sleep, but I’m making sure I get 7-8 now.
LikeLiked by 1 person
I didn’t need as much sleep when I was younger, either, but I can’t do those long nights anymore.
LikeLike
A good product is paramount. I’ve tried to read too many self-published works that I had to put down. I know I’ll read the author again, because the trust is broken. I’m glad you go the extra mile. I wish everyone did. 🙂
LikeLiked by 1 person
Yes, unfortunately I’ve run across books like that, too. It’s always so disappointing when that happens.
LikeLiked by 1 person
I agree Lori, I’ve seen many great books put out with sub-par covers and production values, and it’s such a shame!
LikeLiked by 1 person
It really is. They could be so much better.
LikeLike
All pitfalls I’ve fallen into too, Lori. Thank you so much and I wish you well as you get back into your writing grove. I’m trying too. The summer hasn’t been as productive as I would have hoped due to house projects. I bought a house last year and am painting all the trim now. I love it so much 🙂 Have a lovely rest of your day 🙂
LikeLiked by 1 person
New houses are always a lot of work, but there’s such a sense of satisfaction once you’ve gotten everything the way you want it. Thanks, Erika!
LikeLike
I’ve never been a morning person, so early morning for me is running/working out, where my brain need not be engaged. And if I don’t do it in the early morning, it won’t get done.
You are spot on about self-published work needing to be the quality of traditionally published work in order to be taken seriously (not withstanding some crap coming from the publishing houses these days). Revision, editing, and polishing are crucial to a successful book.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thanks, Lee! It’s funny how people seem to be either morning or night people. I wish I could be both.
LikeLike
I’ve missed you. Turning a schedule around is really hard. I have also been trying to turn mine around. I was getting up earlier than had one really, really late night and boom, have not quite made it back to that time I had going. I wake sometimes but don’t get up and hit snooze. Ah well, I am giving my self-permission and will celebrate if I manage to naturally get back there.
I agree about staying professional in self-publishing doing all the things that make a quality book. So happy to see you back. Happy IWSG belated, stuff has kept me from commenting yesterday and part of today, lol. Here I go.
LikeLiked by 2 people
Thanks so much, Juneta! I know what you mean about that one late night setting you back. Then it’s hard to get back to waking up early. But you can’t beat yourself up over it. Those things happen and life is what it is.
LikeLiked by 1 person
People who are going through a similar thing as you can be a great source of encouragement.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Absolutely! It’s good to know you’re not the only person going through these things.
LikeLiked by 1 person
So true, Lori, that working (a “real” job) and writing is difficult to accomplish. And I totally agree with your advice on writing! Thanks for dropping by my blog. And I love the photo here, of the castle!
LikeLiked by 2 people
Thanks, Lisa! We just have to find that balance. One of these days…
LikeLiked by 1 person
SLEEP. Yes. My 10 month old got so thrown off by our recent vacation that she’s up 3 times each night. It’s like having a newborn all over again. *sigh* We’ll get back to productivity when I get a solid 6 hour stretch at night. =)
LikeLiked by 1 person
My kids are teens now, but I remember those days. It seems like sleep is still hard to come by. Hope you can get caught up!
LikeLike