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.
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The best of times? That moment when a reader comes up to me and says they LOVED my books and can’t wait for the next one. Makes me want to do a happy dance right then and there. Then there are those moments when I’m writing and I’m on a roll — the story is running through my head like a movie and it’s all I can do to write the words down fast enough. Just seeing my books in print and holding them in my hands is right up there, too. Those moments are golden.
The worst of times would have to be the opposite — when someone doesn’t like my stories (which is perfectly okay, to each, his own) or when, for whatever reason, the words just aren’t there and no matter how long you sit and stare at the computer or notebook, nothing’s happening in bookland. That can be incredibly frustrating. And so can not having time to write in the first place. Life in general has become way too busy and exhausting. There just aren’t enough hours in the day. I don’t know how many times I’ve wished I had Hermione’s time turner. I could get so much more done that way.
But until that happens, I’ll keep plugging along when I can. I’ve added another several hundred words to my WIP over the past couple of weeks, so Yay!! That’s progress!
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What are your most memorable moments?
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© Lori L. MacLaughlin and Writing, Reading, and the Pursuit of Dreams, 2022. All rights reserved.
Writing, Reading, and the Pursuit of Dreams 
YES and YES! Best and worst of times. Funny how all we writers share those same moments, isn’t it? That’s what makes us family here at IWSG!
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Absolutely!
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Having that response from a reader more than makes up for those lean times of writing. The highs outweigh the lows!
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I so agree!
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Even if it’s slow, progress is still progress.
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Yes! Slow and steady….
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I can relate to all of this. It’s weird how some days the words flow smoothly, and other days they just won’t come.
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I wish I knew what the difference was so I could avoid those unproductive days.
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Agreed, Lori. I’ve read a few of my 1/5 or 2/5 reviews and they make me wonder if the people even read the book! Still, there they are, for eternity. Me, I loved your book!
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Sometimes I don’t think they do.
Thanks so much, Jacqui! (Happy dance ensuing…)
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Kind words from a reader go a long way to heal us from the negative ones.
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Yes, they do! They always make me smile.
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The definite and heart-racing rush of an acceptance letter. Nothing like it on Earth. 🙂
Anna from elements of emaginette
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That must be a wonderful feeling, too!
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I don’t generally mind if someone says they don’t like my writing. It might initially sting, but there’s often something to be learned from criticism – sometimes I made a bad choice, sometimes it tells me something about how to market the book (if the wrong audience is reading it). The worst part is when someone leaves a rating of 2 stars but doesn’t explain why. Why did you give it 2 stars? Did you not like it? Or are you just being a ***** for no reason?
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Those are very good points. I completely agree about the low ratings with no explanation. They are not helpful at all.
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Those times when you can’t get the words down fast enough are crazy! I sometimes get up and walk (which is soooo dumb) because i get antsy with everything going on in my brain!
Congratulations on the recent progress! It all counts!
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They sure are crazy and wonderful! I take walks when the words aren’t there to clear my head and get things rolling again. Thank you!
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I guess as writers our Highs and Lows sound similar.
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Yes, I’m reading that on a lot of other blogs. I can see how that would be.
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That time turner would be nice, but I bet I’d waste the time…or just nap.
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Ha, ha, naps are good, too. 🙂
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Having someone comment favorably on a published work is, indeed, a high! And you’re so right – if someone doesn’t like your book, well, there are millions of others out there. Each to their own. Keep plugging away – every few hundred words adds up! That’s certainly been my philosophy.
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I like that philosophy! 🙂
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I have often longed for Hermione’s time-turner myself! Then I remember that the key is not to work myself so hard, it is to work smarter. I often forget that lesson so force myself to re-evaluate my Smarter plan every 4 months. It has helped a lot.
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That’s great that you found a system that works for you!
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Being on that writer roll is so nice!! I once started in the morning with the plan of getting in a few hundred words later. Next thing I knew, my husband was home from work- and he’d worked overtime. I was still in my pajamas and hadn’t eaten stopped to eat. Good times. (only fellow writers understand that. Anyone “normal” would have thought I was a lazy loser sitting in my jammies all day drinking tea and eating almonds.)
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I live for days like that.
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You know, I think I face the low of people not liking my writing every time I submit to critique group. Most don’t care for verbose epic fantasy with winding plots and unlimited characters. But like you said, to each their own. I try to focus on the high you mention and keep on plugging away.
I hope the words keep on flowing for you!
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Sounds like you need a different critique group, one that loves fantasy.
Thanks! I hope you make lots of progress, as well!
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