Wednesday, November 1, 2017

#IWSG



Join Alex J. Cavanaugh and a multitude of writer's in this monthly hop to help support one another!

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!


Alex's awesome co-hosts are Tonja Drecker, Diane Burton, MJ Fifield, and Rebecca Douglass!

Due to more rejections that insecure feeling of doubt has been resurfacing and rearing its ugly head. My thoughts are in a downward spiral. What is wrong with my stories, with my writing. Each day I try to talk myself off the tipsy tightrope. 

If you're a writer than you know the long, long hours of writing and contemplation that goes into a novel, and that's only with the first draft. 

I think about taking a break, a long break. I've pondered this idea many times. But then I continue on~ saying to myself, I'll just finish this one final book. I have a few chapters left on my WIP. 

My intention is to take a sabbatical for the month of December. Whether I'll stick to my plans or dive into a round of edits, I don't know for sure. 

Perhaps this is true?














45 comments:

  1. Aw, sorry about all the rejections lately. I know far too well how much those can sting. Hope your sabbatical in December ends up being exactly what you need to recharge!

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  2. I'm sorry about the rejections. I know it's easier said than done but try to focus on all the great stories you've had accepted and published instead. There's nothing wrong with your stories!
    It sounds though like maybe a break in December would do you good. I hope it does and you enjoy the holiday season with those adorable grandchildren of yours. Take care.

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  3. Bummer on the rejections. It's not you.
    A month off sounds like a good idea. I think you need it.

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  4. Sorry to hear about the rejections. It's tough, but a month off will help refresh you. Enjoy those cute little grandbabies!

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  5. Oh man, that last meme hit it right on the button! I think about my writing all the time. Whether its about a specific story line, details of a character I don't particularly like, about how I should be on social media more, about how I should promote more, about submitting more, about being rejected, about writing that poem that's been lingering in my head, about how much I'm NOT actually writing, about how much I SHOULD be writing, about how my writing does or does not sell, about how my writing SUCKS, about how I'm not "really a writer" at all, etc., etc.,

    Wow, that was exhausting. I can go on and on and on.

    Hang in there writer. We get you.

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  6. Concentrate on the successes... all the stories already published and doing well!
    The December break is probably just what you need!
    Happy IWSG Day!

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  7. Sometimes you really just gotta get away from this writing thing! It helps give you some perspective and breathing room. Good luck!

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  8. I plan to take a sabbatical this December, too, and just read as much as I can. At least a few weeks in December, for sure ;)

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  9. I don't think rejections get any easier do they? I know exactly what you mean but it sounds like we are thinking in a similar way at the moment - finish this draft and then take the festive period off. Keep going, keep believing, hopefully good news is around the corner for us both.

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  10. I'm back from my month off, but now I need more time to recover from that break. So much has stacked up that I'm sure I'll never get on top of it. However, I have to say it was wonderful. Here's to your December away.

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  11. I think it's healthy to take a month off, or at least a few weeks. Take it if you need it! :) Hope everything looks up soon!

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  12. About the only time I truly take a vacation from writing is when we travel. But you do need to recharge the batteries from time to time. Sounds like this is the time, for you. Hope it does what you need, and you can recover some of the confidence this month has battered out of you.
    —Rebecca
    My IWSG Post

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  13. There's a lot of truth in that quote, but giving yourself a vacation can be wonderful. it's a time to live life again and take a break. Whenever I let myself do that I come back to my writing energized.

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  14. I'm sorry about the rejections. Taking a break is a good thing tohugh. Recharges your batteries, gives you some new experiences to take back to your writing whenever you get back to it.

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  15. Take a break, but don't be surprised once the pressure is off you start up again. It's in your blood. hehehe

    Anna from elements of emaginette

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  16. Sometimes we have to take a break. This business can be SO heartbreaking sometimes. But then, they do say it's always darkest before the dawn!!! Believe me, I'm right there with you right now when it comes to dealing with rejections and doubts.

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  17. My creator thinks about thinking about writing. Actually, uh, lately she's considering that in between those long, hard novels, she might instead put out some mini-reads. Ya know, shorties. About 1000 words or somewhere in there. Gives 'em free as "samples" to, hopefully, intice readers to check out those longer novels. Still keeps her mind and fingers active while building up a list of works...and gives time for her to imagine that "next" full-length. Aaaand this is I.B. Nosey signing off. Thanks for letting me stop by.

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  18. Rejections can be tough, but it's true most of them are subjective. Just because the story didn't interest them, it doesn't mean it won't interest someone else. And there's nothing wrong with taking a break, and I'm saying that as someone who is taking a writing break and having mixed feelings about it.

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  19. Rejections are always hard. Maybe a break will do good...and if your fingers start twitching, you can always write.

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  20. I've gotten some of those myself this fall and it's tough. But I try to put myself in the agents' shoes and think about it from their perspective. Maybe they don't love it. Maybe they don't have an editor to send it to. And then I keep querying. I also know this book might not find an agent. Then I can try small publishers. If that doesn't work, I can write another one. Of course, it kills me to think about shelving this book. Then again, I read about an author that finally got a book deal. The publisher wanted to see what else they had and picked up four of his previously written novels!

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  21. So sorry things have been depressing for you Cathrina. Rejections can do that for sure. Sometimes we all need a break to be refreshed and get a new perspective on things. I know you'll do what's best for you. Thinking of you.

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  22. I plan to take a sabbatical from editing during November and December since that’s what’s been stopping me from writing. I hope to write during that time instead.

    I’m sorry to hear about the rejections. I keep getting them, too. One day, we’ll get that acceptance we are looking for.

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  23. Yup. That last quote is SOOOOO on. And with the need for social media, don't tell me you're not always thinking about whether this or that post or share will help promote your publishing career. You so are. (I am too.)

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