Friday, December 4, 2015

For my Insecure Writer's Support Group post I think I'll just focus on the dragon outside the window because he's really the sum of all my fears.

I missed Wednesday's Insecure Writer's Support Group, because I'm old and I forget things now and then. To make up for it, I'm putting up my IWSG post today, and it has to do with this picture, which (I hope) serves as some kind of writing prompt for all of us writers. Additionally, I hope it's great at reminding all of us that no matter how many stories and books we write and put on our shelves, the specter of insecurity lurks just outside the window.
This picture is called "Dragon in the Archives" and it was done by artist Michael Komarck. His website with more of his work can be found HERE, and I hope you check it out because Mr. Komarck is amazing. So I guess all that's left to do for this post is to air my particular insecurity of the month and so here it is: I have a fear (when I get into a project) that I will take on too much. To conquer this, I've had to learn that I alone allow my "dragons" (as in the picture above) to be as big as I want them to be. My goal then is to keep them small by focusing on a little bit here and a little bit there. Sooner or later the whole project will be finished. For me, it all comes down to spending "my spoons" wisely (look up spoon theory if you want an explanation of this) and not all at once. The dragon can be kept at bay by a mere glass window no matter how much he wants to get in, and I can always deal with the dragon tomorrow.

The IWSG is hosted by Sandra Hoover, Mark Koopmans, Doreen McGettigan, Megan Morgan, and Melodie Campbell! Author Alex J. Cavanaugh started the whole thing many moons ago.

11 comments:

  1. Wow, that is an amazing piece of art! I checked out his site as you suggested, and I'm in awe!

    I'm currently worried that I'm taking on too much, so I can understand your insecurity.

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  2. Beautiful art, that.

    I hear you on focusing on the small things here and there, especially because I routinely bite off more than I can chew. :-)

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  3. Cool artwork. Might be inspirational if I do tackle a fantasy piece, although I have already written about a dragon.
    It's like that goofy saying about eating an elephant. Focus on the small things and keep it in perspective.

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  4. You always find the best artwork. I can only imagine it must be hard to dig up a new insecurity every month.

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  5. I don't think that window will hold out the dragon for long.

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    1. The "window" is meant to be a metaphor than an actual glass window. You know...something that's as strong or as transparent as I want it to be. In other words, if the dragon is a stand-in for my fears then I am the one that allows the fear to enter in the first place.

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  6. I've been having a similar fear with my current WIP. I can't stop looking at it in a big-picture sort of way.

    Very cool artwork.

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  7. I just slayed my dragon, a six month painting project that left me drained. My insecurities don't arrive during a project but afterwards. Was it worth the time, expense and effort? I won't be able to answer that until I've had time to disconnect from my original intentions so I can actually see what it is I've accomplished, if anything.

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  8. That is a great image. It might be a part of my nightmare tonight.

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  9. That imagery works perfectly with your post. We need to starve that dragon and feed our confidence.

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