The Insecure Writer’s Support Group (IWSG) is a place to share and encourage, where writers can express their doubts and concerns without appearing foolish or weak. It’s a great place to mingle with like minded people each month during IWSG day.
Every month there’s an optional question which may prompt folks to share advice, insights, a personal experience or story. Some folks answer the question in their IWSG blog post or let it inspire them if they’re struggling with what to say.
This month’s question is:
What would make you quit writing?
Check out how people have answered this month’s question, as well as the other insecurities and writing topics they may have shared by visiting the IWSG sign-up list HERE.
It’s a great question, isn’t it? This is one of the things I love about the IWSG – they allow writers to explore questions and topics like this in a safe environment. There are actually a zillion things I love about the IWSG such as the community of like-minded and supportive writers, their anthology contests, writerly resources, and the amazing founder of the group, Alex J Cavanaugh, who set up this wonderful group.
I’ve especially enjoyed participating in the IWSG monthly blog hop. It’s been so much fun to read other writers’ posts and share my own writerly insecurities and challenges. Lately, however, I just haven’t had the time or energy to participate in a meaningful way which isn’t fair to the other participants.
You’ll notice that I used the word energy up above. There’s two meanings to that – personal energy and actual energy, as in power for my laptop and devices. Not being plugged in constantly to an electric outlet is one of the huge downsides to living full time in a teeny-tiny camper. If I want to use my laptop, we either have to fire up the generator or charge it in the car while traveling. The situation isn’t ideal. I find myself conserving my laptop battery for actual writing or those endless admin tasks. Using my laptop while connected to the internet takes my battery from 100% to zero pretty darn quickly. Sadly, things like writing and posting my IWSG blog post, checking out other people’s blogs and responding to comments take a lot of juice.
The end result is that I’ve ended up missing posting some months (like last month) and, more importantly, I haven’t been responding to comments and visiting other people’s blogs. That just doesn’t seem fair to other folks, and it’s certainly not in the spirit of what the IWSG blog hop is all about.
So, on that note, I’ve decided that I need to take a hiatus from the monthly blog hop. Hopefully, it’s not forever. Who knows what the future will bring. In the meantime, I want to say a huge thank you to this community. Without you guys I never would have gotten where I am today with my writing!
Well, we hate to see you go! There has to be a way. Have you asked Leisbet how she manages?
Sometimes life is busy, especially in summer. I’ll mostly only post on IWSG day for a bit. (Although I did post this week with news that couldn’t wait.)
I won’t take you off the list until you’ve missed two months…
I’m sad to see you got too. I hope you figure out a way to come back and have your laptop function more of the time. That must be a hard part of living on the road.
Sad to see you go, but it’s more than understandable. It’s better for you to use your juice for writings—I love your characters and tales. Summer’s are hard with everything going on as it is. I’d honestly spaced IWSG last month and would have next week if I didn’t see this. Happy trails and am looking forward to your tweets or whatever when you do get a chance!
This is a season, and seasons come to a close, so i hope it won’t always be this way for you. Meanwhile, enjoy your travels and your writing!
It looks like you’re a week too early with your IWSG post. You’re on the ball, Ellen! 🙂 Of course, I totally understand what you are talking about. The answer (and you knew I’d say this) to one of your energy problems is… solar panels.
The answer to the second energy problem is harder to solve. As I’ve said to our communal friend JH Moncrieff, I have respect for – and slightly envy – professional authors who prioritize their writing. You’re doing an awesome job with your books, so I hear you about making choices.
It’s impossible to keep our blogs going, respond to comments, follow and interact with other blogs, write books, make money, promote our writing, and keep track of it all. Especially while traveling around. You could do what JH does now, post one writing-related blog a month and do it on the first Wednesday.
I will miss your monthly update. Wish we could just follow you around with our extension cord hanging out of our van.
But of course I realize how hard it is to keep up – even when you have enough power. I have thought a lot lately about quitting my blog. But then what will happen to all my photos? I guess they will join Scott’s on a hard drive never to be seen again.
I hope you guys are staying cool in the PNW, are racking up the national park sites, and are having a good journey.
I hope you find a way that supports your lifestyle and allows you to participate in IWSG. For me, some months I visit the co-hosts plus a few others. Sometimes it takes a week to do the minimum. Folks will understand if you can’t reply to their comments.
Cheers to you and your writing.
Lynn La Vita @ http://la-vita.us/write/
It’s funny how we take energy for granted when we live in a stationary home with immediate and accessible internet. Writing your fabulous stories and dealing with all the admin stuff has to come first. Keep those words coming!
Sometimes we have to pick our battles and let others go for the time being.
Yeah, I could see power being a drawback, though I hadn’t thought about it. I guess I take electricity and internet for granted now! Sheesh. Maybe I need to go off the grid for a bit.
Enjoy, then when you can. Let us know how it goes!
Well, sorry to see you go, but hopefully it’s not forever. Enjoy your travels and keep writing!
Oh, I will so miss you! Wishing you the very best on your new adventures! 💙
What I appreciate most about IWSG is that connection with other writers (even virtually) through this very difficult year+. These shared stories and comments comfort and encourage me. Your adventures on the road (like Liesbet) open up challenges as well as that sense of something new to explore. We’re planning our first trip away in over a year, just 5 or 6 days, and already I’m worried about the laptop (does it have enough memory? can I charge it?). Nurturing your writing in ways that work for you is most important, but I hope you will find your way to IWSG — maybe once a month is possible?
Sometimes we all need to recharge. I’ve been doing that for a while now myself. I’ve got to save my battery for stuff away from the computer. But I have been reading a lot, and I LOVED Smitten With Candy Canes! It was so much fun, I giggled a lot, and it gave me warm fuzzies. I can’t wait for your next book. 🙂