Hello everyone. This is going to be my last post for the year of 2025, and I wish you all well. But before bowing out before the major holidays, I wanted to drop my final Insecure Writer's Support Group post for the year. If you haven't heard of the Insecure Writer's Support Group, it is a monthly blogfest that was started by Alex Cavanaugh many years ago, and it's still going. You can sign up for it HERE.
What is the purpose of the IWSG?: It's to share and encourage others. The IWSG is a place where 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.
When do you post?: The first Wednesday of every month is officially Insecure Writer’s Support Group day. Post your thoughts on your own blog. Talk about your doubts and the fears you have conquered. Discuss your struggles and triumphs. Offer a word of encouragement for others who are struggling. Visit others in the group and connect with your fellow writer - aim for a dozen new people each time - and return comments. This group is all about connecting. Be sure to link to this page and display the badge in your post. And please be sure your avatar links back to your blog. Otherwise, when you leave a comment, people can't find you to comment back.
The "X" (formerly known as Twitter) handle is @TheIWSG and hashtag is #IWSG.
The awesome co-hosts for the November 5th posting of the IWSG are Jennifer Lane, Jenni Enzor, Renee Scattergood, Rebecca Douglass, Lynn Bradshaw, and Melissa Maygrove!
Every month, we announce a question that members can answer in their IWSG post. These questions may prompt you to share advice, insight, a personal experience or story. Include your answer to the question in your IWSG post or let it inspire your post if you are struggling with something to say.
Remember, the question is optional.
November 5 question - When you began writing, what did you imagine your life as a writer would be like? Were you right, or has this experience presented you with some surprises along the way?
When do you post?: The first Wednesday of every month is officially Insecure Writer’s Support Group day. Post your thoughts on your own blog. Talk about your doubts and the fears you have conquered. Discuss your struggles and triumphs. Offer a word of encouragement for others who are struggling. Visit others in the group and connect with your fellow writer - aim for a dozen new people each time - and return comments. This group is all about connecting. Be sure to link to this page and display the badge in your post. And please be sure your avatar links back to your blog. Otherwise, when you leave a comment, people can't find you to comment back.
The "X" (formerly known as Twitter) handle is @TheIWSG and hashtag is #IWSG.
The awesome co-hosts for the November 5th posting of the IWSG are Jennifer Lane, Jenni Enzor, Renee Scattergood, Rebecca Douglass, Lynn Bradshaw, and Melissa Maygrove!
Every month, we announce a question that members can answer in their IWSG post. These questions may prompt you to share advice, insight, a personal experience or story. Include your answer to the question in your IWSG post or let it inspire your post if you are struggling with something to say.
Remember, the question is optional.
November 5 question - When you began writing, what did you imagine your life as a writer would be like? Were you right, or has this experience presented you with some surprises along the way?
I had all kinds of weird ideas to be honest. Here's a breakdown:
I thought landing an agent would be easy for some reason.
I thought that writing the book was 90% of the process, but then I discovered that it's only 10% of the process lol.
I thought that I'd never get sick of my own writing. This was completely wrong as rereading and rereading the same things I've written (to look for errors or inconsistencies) started to make my eyes glaze over.
I thought because I got "A's" in my English courses and was a fantastic speller, that I wouldn't make spelling errors. For example, there's no way I would confuse the words "bare" and "bear." Only idiots do that, right? Well, I guess I'm an idiot then, because I made those self-same mistakes in my written works.
I thought that (for every single book) someone else did the blurb on the back of the book. That's definitely not true (although there are those that do have this privilege).
I didn't know that word count was so important.
I was oblivious to marketing. I thought people just "found" books the same as I "found" books in a bookstore and that there would be all of these eager readers.
I thought that writing a book was a rare thing. It isn't. Everyone (and their dog too) is writing a book. The rare thing (it turns out) is readers. For every twenty people writing a book, there's probably one part-time reader out there.
I discovered that men as a gender have almost completely abandoned literature. That was a real wakeup call.
So...to answer the question...I guess I imagined my life as a writer as having to deal with none of the above. I would have been ensconced in a narcissistic bubble of privilege doing a rare thing and celebrated for my talent. This just isn't how any of it works. I quickly came to understand and appreciate writing in a different way. I should be grateful for the stories that have entertained me all of my life, and that if I truly love writing...my role should be to read what others have written because people are so desperate for good readers. It's like an attention thing. Give it a go, and if you aren't someone who has "whatever it is that warrants attention" then maybe you should try your hand at showering your attention on someone else. Making someone else's life better, whether or not they even know what you did, has its own rewards.
Happy Holidays and have a fanciful New Year! I do hope that 2026 is a better year. That's all I'm going to say about that.