On the first Wednesday of every month, members of the Insecure Writer’s Support Group (open to anyone and full of great resources and information for writers) post their answers to a monthly prompt on their blogs.
Authors benefit from getting an insightful prompt for generating more blog content, and IWSG links all respondents, which is a way for writers to discover
May 4 question – It’s the best of times; it’s the worst of times. What are your writer highs (the good times)? And what are your writer lows (the crappy times)?
I do enjoy the act of writing itself, but I’d say the highest of the high times (in the context of writing) for me is actually the community aspects of the work. I love shopping early drafts and brainstorming ideas with the Word Still Writers Circle, talking about what beta readers got from an early preview, chatting about some aspect of craft with a writing class, workshop, or convention, and taking a deep dive into the themes and issues that I enjoy writing about with family, friends, and readers.
The worst of the worst? Feeling too bogged down, uncreative, stressed, or otherwise unmotivated to go on, especially when there is a commitment (even a self-imposed one) on the line. Those days when I just stare at a blank screen and a blinking cursor. Or when I find myself starting over on draft after draft because it doesn’t feel right, but I’ve already told friends and fans I’m working on something. It’s really about the feeling of letting people down, including myself.
Fortunately, the highs can directly combat the lows! I’m grateful to have a fun and creative writers critique circle, and a highly supportive friend and fan base.
I think we all relate to your writing highs and lows. But the best thing really is having a supportive writing community. It makes all the difference in slogging through the hard times to enjoy the good times.