Hello IWSG readers and writers! It has been awhile since I’ve posted (not sure I remember how) so I need to remind any new readers out there (and myself) that Insecure Writer’s Support Group is for any and ALL insecure writers. Yes, that would be me! We’re here to support each other and that’s been desperately needed during the past year or so. Agree?
This month’s optional question is one I had to think about: Has any of your readers ever responded to your writing in a way that you didn’t expect? If so, did it surprise you?
I can answer with one word: No. And maybe that’s why I’m an insecure writer. I can’t recall anyone responding to my books–fiction or nonfiction–in a positive or negative way. Oh, wait! One lady I play bean bag baseball with has come to mind. She complimented one of my stories in Woman’s World Magazine and told me how much she loved it. She said it in such a dreamy voice, I believed her. 🙂 She even read it twice. Mmmm, I feel a little better now. Encouraged! Maybe I should try to write more short romances. It has been an entire year.
Just out of curiosity, how much have you written during this pandemic? I’ve been totally blank and blocked. I feel I’m just now getting back to normal, but not quite there yet.
I just wanted to pop in today to participate in IWSG day and promise you this new leaf I’m turning: to blog each week on something writing-related. Hope you’ll sign up or tune in so we can encourage each other. Good writing, and I’ll see you again next week!
That’s a great story. One piece of feedback like that can be enough to keep us going. I’ve had stops and starts during the pandemic, but I’m trying to go straight ahead now,
Awww, thanks for your comment, Nick. Hope the both of us can hang in there and accomplish more this year!
Fun story! It’s great that you got to hear someone’s response in person. I hear you on not being able to write with everything that’s been going on. I’m finally getting back into it after a lot of fits and starts this year.
Jenni, sometimes it’s good to turn off the world; hard to do though. Thanks for rising!
Welcome back! Glad you could remember something.
I was at least able to finish, polish and submit the story I’ve worked on for four years now. That’s about it though.
So good to be back, Alex. I’m glad you were able to focus on that story. I’ve had a difficult time focusing.
Thank you for stopping by to say hello. 🙂
You know when someone loves your writing when they say it in a dreamy voice. 😀
Good luck with your new weekly schedule! As Ray Bradbury said, “Write a short story every week. It’s not possible to write 52 bad short stories in a row.”
Tanya, I was just thinking of that Bradbury quote yesterday. I see your comment as affirmation that I should give it a try. Thank you for popping in. So sweet of you to offer encouragement. 🙂
Bean bag baseball sounds fun! Well done on surviving the pandemic year of awful that was 2020. Don’t beat yourself up about it. Welcome back, and good luck with your new schedule. 🙂
Emma, Bean bag baseball is very fun! It’s for oldies. 😂 we walk around the bases. I pray 2021 is a great year for all of us! ❤️
That’s wonderful you are back. Last year was so rough. I barely worked on anything of my own. (However, I did have a really killer garden and new patio. LOL)
Gardens and patios are so important! And I love your patio! ❤️
That’s a lovely memory to treasure!
I’ve had one reader email me and I use that letter to sustain me!
Thanks for popping in, Jemi. Positive, complimentary emails are so precious! Hope you’re a scrapbooker. 😉
It’s so great to have positive feedback! Good luck with your writing!
Absolutely! Thank you for popping in and leaving a comment.
Hi Jessica! This is my first time here. I’ve connected with you online through your twitter and pinterest links. Bravo to you for receiving a comment about your article from a reader. Good for you!
I’ve been struggling, but I’ve kept writing during the pandemic. And no. I haven’t published any books and have not received any feedback on my writing from readers. Only blog post comments. All best to you!
Hi Victoria, thanks for dropping by my blog. Sorry I’m just commenting. Congrats on being able to write during the pandemic. I wish I’d forced myself to write during that time. Now that things are getting back to normal, all my responsibilities are happening too! Stay in touch, and keep blogging!
In some ways having no response at all is worse than having a bad response. If you are sending out stories for publication, even a personalized rejection is vastly more affirming than a form letter.
The pandemic has been an enormous drain, physically, mentally, emotionally…all of it. I made good progress on the first draft of a novel, then hit a wall, hard, around the first week of November and haven’t touched it since. Now that we are well into Spring (and I have been fully vaccinated), I can feel my mind freeing up and am again feeling the compulsion to write.
I agree about the “no response.” Silence doesn’t seem very complimentary. 🙁 And it does convict me to leave reviews and let writers know when I like their books and stories. I’m glad you’re getting in the mood to write again! Let’s do it. Time is valuable and life is short!
Weirdly, I’d prefer to have reviews for my books even if they are negative, at least there is a response!
It has been difficult to write these past 15 months, though I am trying to change it around with setting goals. Not easy.
I like reviews too, Luciana, positive or negative, as long as I can tell they’ve actually read the story or book. Goal setting usually works for me. I have to have something to work toward! Thanks for commenting!