It is time for Insecure Writer's Support Group! I am so excited about the new website and can't wait to spend some time checking it out.
This month I've been revising (or hiding from revising to be completely honest). My insecurities are much the same as last month. I can get lost in my writing during drafting but I get discouraged easily when I'm in revision mode. It is so hard to get my story to live on the page the way it does in my head. Time seems to be more of an issue this month too. My husband has a different schedule and homeschooling keeps me busy. Oh and potty training, how do you write and potty train a toddler at the same time??? Maybe I should set up an office in the bathroom... I get so discouraged when I don't get much time to write. I suppose its just the stage I'm in. I wish I could write for a few hours a day and still homeschool, make homemade meals, keep up on the house and everything else that needs done. I seriously wish that I didn't have to sleep. I would much rather write all night.
Now for What's Up Wednesday!
What I'm Writing I'm revising, sort of. I've been having a horrible time fitting it in. I won a three chapter critique from YA Buccaneer's Talk Like a Pirate Contest so I am using that to motivate myself to get my first three chapters as amazing as I can so that I can send them in :)
What Inspires Me Right Now I've been finding a lot of inspiration on the Women Living Well website and in the book (that just released BTW!). Oh, and Captian Hook on Once Upon a Time. I love his character and all the ship scenes.
What Else I'm Up To
I am trying to make the house feel like fall. I love a lot of things about the Gulf Coast but I miss fall feeling "fallish". It almost looks like fall outside and it is cooler but cooler is still in the 80's most of the time. Because it doesn't feel like I want it to outside I've been using fall scented candle melts, decorating with pumpkins, eating lots of Macintosh apples and baking pumpkin things. It is helping.
I decided to join Women Living Well's annual homemaking challenge this month too. It looks fun and motivating.
Besides that I'm trying to work out. I am a much happier person when I get some exercise. I've been running 3-4 days a week and doing some yoga/Pilate/dance type workouts. Running is an excellent time to sort out writing problems :)
Congrats on winning the chapter critique! That's great motivation to polish up those chapters. Finding time to squeeze in writing is definitely difficult. This just seems like a busy time of year, you know? Here's hoping we both find the time soon. :-) You know, I'm behind on Once Upon a Time, but the parts I've seen with Hook are pretty great. I love what they've done with the character. Have a great week, Sarah! :-)
ReplyDeleteIt does seem to be a busy time for everyone. Hopefully we will both be able to report some great progress next week :)
DeleteYes if we could take out sleep then we would have a lot more time lol.
ReplyDeleteIt would be pretty amazing!
DeleteLife can get in the way of writing but all you can do is prioritize and do your best. Good luck Sarah.
ReplyDeleteVery true. Thanks :)
DeleteI loved Neverwhere. It's one of my favorite Gaimann books. Congrats on winning the contest! Its great to get some fresh eyes on our WIP. I agree that running (or walking swiftly on a treadmill...I'm not coordinated enough to run) is a great time for plotting and working on scenes. I do a lot of my dialog on the treadmill.
ReplyDeleteI haven't read anything by Neil Gaiman before so I am very excited to start this one. I've heard amazing things about him.
DeletePotty training is tough. The little one I'm a nanny for has just started. She is so proud of herself when she goes. I give her something to do while she sits on the toilet so she doesn't keep getting up. Hope it goes as smoothly as it can for you and your little one.
ReplyDeleteCongrats on winning the critique! Sounds like a helpful thing to have.
My son has the basic concept down but not the timing. It is going to take some time and patience and perhaps some extra mopping... He is very proud when he goes too. It's so cute.
DeleteI think potty training is one of the reasons I avoided having kids, but it not a good reason. Have you every heard of anyone who didn't learn it eventually. I went through that mode where I loved drafting and hated editing. I've turned a corner a bit on it mainly because I've found a process that lets me check things off a list when i'm done and it helps to see the light at the end of the tunnel.
ReplyDeleteIt isn't my favorite part of parenting but it is so nice when its all done and over. I won't miss the diapers at all.
DeleteI think that's a large part of my problem with revising, I don't really have a process yet. I'm hoping that it will get better
Oh, congrats on winning the chapter critique! Especially with the struggle of having kids at the same time. Sticking with writing while juggling the rest of life is, I think, the mark of a truly determined and committed writer. :)
ReplyDeleteor a stubborn one anyway :)
DeleteOh my gosh! I'm potty training my twins at the moment... what is writing again? lol
ReplyDeleteTwins! That would be REALLY busy! I feel like I spend the entire day running back and forth to the potty with just the one.
Deletewell done on winning the chapter Critique. You're so much more creative with you homes in America. I think the only time we really put up any form of decorations is Christmas and even then it can sometimes feel more like a chore than a joy.
ReplyDeleteIt is a lot of fun to decorate but yes, it can feel like a chore sometimes. I try to keep it simply so that the house reflects my favorite seasons but it isn't to much work. Fall is my favorite season of all :)
DeleteCongrats on winning your chapter Critique! Very nice! Potting training is never easy, I always have said it isn't something they are going to do for the rest of their life....just takes patience and before you know it!! Potty trained!
ReplyDeleteThank you! It certainly does take patience. He loves being "big" though so that is helping a lot :)
DeleteI'm a much happier person when I exercise too! And my mind does a lot of wandering - SO helpful!
ReplyDeleteCongrats on the critique! And have a great week!
It is very helpful :) It makes limited writing time more productive, I think.
DeleteThat's exactly what I need--To Work Out!!!
ReplyDeleteI've been at it for about 2 months. I'm so glad I did.
DeleteCongrats on winning the chapter critique. Awesome! Good luck with your revisions. Have a great weekend!
ReplyDeleteI wish I could write instead of sleep, too--imagine how much we would all get done! Try not to get too discouraged with revisions, and remember that YOU wrote a whole book, which is amazing :) revisions are tough but so worth it. Keep going!
ReplyDeleteFor me, time for writing waxes and wanes, and I've learned to *try* to flow with it. Sometimes, finding time for writing just doesn't happen. When that's the case, I try to steal little snippets of time for thinking about scenes, characters, etc. Honestly, I think the time in my head is nearly as valuable as the time I spend getting words on the page.
ReplyDeleteGood luck with those revisions! I can't wait to see it when you're ready. :)
I loved NEVERWHERE by Neil Gaiman. Hope you enjoy it too! That's awesome that you're making your house feel like fall even though it's warm outside. And Macintosh apples are delicious. My mom swears by them for baking and she'd know! I hope you can find a nice chunk of time for revisions this coming week! :)
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