IWSG: The First Wednesday of the Month Attacks!

Logo for the Insecure Writer's Support Group. Picture of a lighthouse with text reading "THE INSECURE WRITER'S SUPPORT GROUP"

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!

 

The awesome co-hosts for the February 3 posting of the IWSG are Louise – Fundy Blue , Jennifer Lane, Mary Aalgaard, Patsy Collins at Womagwriter, and Nancy Gideon!

I’m squeezing in just at the last moment this month. Believe it or not, I’ve been happily focused on all the things that I am getting done this morning, and I completely forgot that it was the first weekend of the month.

In January, I started a bullet journal spread for the Five Daily Things I’m (supposed) to be doing for my writing career. It’s actually been working really well for me. Now that it’s February, I’m dedicating one of those “daily things” to revision. So, there are now three specific things to do daily for my writing career (read, write, revise) and two wildcards. (Things like submitting short stories to markets, or building my writing community.)

I fiddled around with adding a “something I’m looking forward to” element to my daily log, but for now, that seems like a little bit of a stretch. (It also turns out that I eat a lot of dehydrated fruit.)

I also joined up for a 52 Week, short story challenge on the Holly’s Writing Classes Forums. I’m doing better with writing short stories than I am with submitting them, but things are starting to look up. The novel-length experiment I’m working on is doing… interesting things. I have more subplots than plot, right now.

The people around me are going through a phase where they suddenly notice that I am writing a novel, and choose to comment on it. I think that has more than a little to do with the pandemic and not having anything else to watch. One of them–a gentleman I’ve known for years (and for novels, in writer speak)–suddenly looked at me about a week ago, and said… Are you… writing a novel?

I have also dragged a real-life writer friend out of her maybe someday haze and into actually revising the thing she’s working on. Oh, yes, I have. (I’m taking credit for it, anyway.)

So, now I’m off to add this blog post to my 5 things spread. If there’s anything you do in your bullet journal or organization that you’d like to have stolen share, let me know in the comments.

9 Comments

  1. Reply

    I like the idea of that five things spread. I may start small with two or three, but having a daily nudge seems like a great idea. Good luck with your short stories! 52 weeks, wow.

  2. Reply

    At least people are noticing you are writing!
    Keep writing those short stories. You will get better and better and then start submitting because you have so many and next thing you know, you are being published.

  3. Reply

    I hadn’t heard of the 5 Things spread. Any chance you could share more information or a picture? I’ve been neglecting my journal lately, and this sounds like a great way to get back into it and make it work for me.

    Good luck with your writing!

    • Reply

      I’ll do another bullet journal post and include pictures sometime next week. I want to try sharing a pdf or two, since I made some for myself. Five things is still something I draw by hand, lately.

  4. Loni Townsend

    Reply

    Sounds like things are moving along well. I like your 5 Things thing. I’m terrible at sticking to anything, but I like hearing you getting thinks accomplished and that your bullet journal is working well!

  5. Reply

    Sounds like a good idea to have those daily tasks. Something so satisfying about ticking them off, and you know you’re always doing something for your writing and your career. Like Alex said, it’s definitely good to have a bank of short stories to send out, and you can always write more while waiting for responses.

    • Reply

      I’m holding my nose and preparing to jump. I think everything’s spelled right, anyway. 😉

  6. Diane Burton

    Reply

    I like your idea of 5 Things. I might try it but only with 2 or 3 things to start with, like S.E. above.

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