Today is the
first Wednesday of the month, making it IWSG time. Thanks to Alex J. Cavanaugh
for hosting this, and thanks to all the fellow co-hosts who help this thing
function month after month. Today I get to be one of them, which means I get to
visit a chunk of the group, which I’m really looking forward to.
But enough about that.
Today what I’m feeling insecure about
is so basic it’s stupid. I’ve gotten out of the habit of writing. With A to Z
and all the outside work that April brings, I've had all kinds of excuses not
to sit down and write. I thought about writing, I talked about writing, but I didn’t
actually done the work. Today that stops. I’m locking myself into a
local Panera and not letting myself leave until I get some real writing done. No
distractions. No excuses.
That’s my insecurity; what’s yours?
I'm in the opposite boat. I want to write more and can't get enough time. LOL
ReplyDeleteThanks for co-hosting. :)
IWSG #134 until Alex culls the list again.
That happens to me at times. :-)
ReplyDeleteAnyway, good for you, Melanie. Happy writing!
Thank you for co-hosting this month's IWSG!
If you're going to lock yourself up, Panera is a great place to do it.
ReplyDeleteThanks for co-hosting!
After A-Z, I honestly get that. It can be draining. But go get those words! (And don't forget food and water)
ReplyDeleteI wish you luck. I go back in forth between words flowing and then I have to yank them out the hard way. Wish I could find a middle ground.
ReplyDeleteOh snap! That should've been the insecurity I pssted about too! Last month I was all braggy about how I'm okay w/ taking a writing break and that it's good for a writer to do so---but now I've fallen into the trap of struggling to get back into it. I think your no distractions/no excuses thing is the key. Have fun! Get an asiago bagel w/ veggie cream cheese for me.
ReplyDeletePanera!! I'll join you:) Blogging in general is a challenge, because it takes away precious writing time. A necessary "evil" to keep up with fellow writers:)
ReplyDeleteMy insecurity is that I want to hide myself away to write, but I feel obligated to stick with blogging while my short-story collection is being offered at a reduced price. Promotion = blahs.
ReplyDeleteI actually went to a cafe yesterday for the same reasons. I manged a 1,000 words on my new book but more things are calling me from my writing all the time.
ReplyDeleteI've been there, WAY too many times. I know how it feels. Once you push yourself to do it, you feel much better.
ReplyDeleteI have the same insecurity. Out of habit. Blah. I like your plan, and Panera is delicious. I have a couple local haunts that might see my shiny computer, and they have good food and coffee, too. Thanks for co-hosting IWSG this month.
ReplyDeletePlay off the Page
Not to worry, Melanie. This feeling will pass. I promise. Thanks for co-hosting!
ReplyDeleteI've gotten out of writing too because of the Challenge. I'm going to force myself to write tomorrow after IWSG Day (another distraction).
ReplyDeleteI hope you start writing again soon. :)
Sharing your situation in April/early May as well. I opted out of A-Z this year, so my excuses were lined up even earlier than yours! Good luck moving forward and thanks for co-hosting.
ReplyDeleteooooh, Panera !!! ;-) I consider "thinking about writing" and "talking about writing" also writing. Because you need to let characters and stories simmer in your head, so that's what you've been doing. :-) Best of luck !!
ReplyDeleteThanks for co-hosting the IWSD today, Melanie! Enjoy all your visits today. It is really fun to get out and meet new-to-you members and familiar ones too. I wouldn't dare lock myself away in a Panera ~ too many tempting goodies! At a local Starbucks I used to go to on the way to work, a man was there every morning writing away on yellow, legal-sized tablets with a black fountain pen. I always wondered what he was writing about, but I didn't want to intrude. Good luck with your writing in May!
ReplyDeleteI hope to get back to writing in June. Just not in the right "place" yet with all the stuff going on. Panera wouldn't work for me, as there's too much people watching to do in there.
ReplyDeleteExactly that. Not getting enough writing done. I'm also realizing I have to let go of something with what is happening in my life until mid July. So, I'm going to try and get done what I can on the writing front, and enjoy the weddings of both of my children, yes, both, and be happy that they are happy, then I'll glue myself to my desk and get the job done in July. Wish me luck! Thanks for co-hosting this month! Lisa, co-host #IWSG, @ http://www.lisabuiecollard.com
ReplyDeleteEveryone has times like that. I think you should take a break and see how you feel when you get back to it. You may need to recharge your batteries. Maybe a change of scenery would be good for you. Just do something relaxing.
ReplyDeleteGood for you Mel! You will write!!!!!
ReplyDeleteI find that all it takes is that discipline to sit down in front of the document - then it flows. Good luck and thanks for co-hosting.
ReplyDeleteOh do I hear what you're saying. It's so easy to set aside the very thing you love doing and focus on blogging because it's something you've contracted to do, and others are looking for your posts. My writing screeched to a halt in April. Now I wonder if I can ever pick up that story again. Guess I'll find out.
ReplyDeleteI've recently come out of a between-project panic, and sometimes just getting started is the hardest part! Best of luck! :)
ReplyDeleteUm, am I the first to mention that 'Panera' and 'no distractions' are contradictory? At least for me. You appear to be one of those enviable people who can block out all distractions. Good luck!
ReplyDeleteJust trying to do the whole A to Z challenge would be more than enough to make me insecure. Just wait for the creative juices to return now that April is over.
ReplyDeletePanera is the best for writing! I think A to Z is a tremendous writing feat, as well. I have been writing but it has been SLOW.
ReplyDeleteMy insecurity is that I will never write anything as good as I already have. Anyone else face this? The expectations get higher and higher.
ReplyDeleteEspecially when you're in a rough or difficult part of the writing, it can be easy to shelve the work for a while. For me, though, I insist on writing at least a little every single day. Otherwise, I can fall out of the flow too easily.
ReplyDeleteHi Melanie, I’m stepping into the same boat as you. Now that April is over I haven’t been getting any writing done. I’m just spent after all I did for National Poetry Month. And though I know I should be writing. Or at least try to write, I just can’t. Sigh, I wish I can lock myself in Panera right now too. Thanks for co-hosting.
ReplyDeleteI wish I could go hide in our local Panera, but they haven't finished construction yet.
ReplyDeleteNo distractions? But today is IWSG day and you are co-hosting! Hmm. Lots of people participate AND get writing done. Good luck Melanie.
ReplyDeleteI have the same insecurity (thanks for finding my blog and commenting...we seem to have the same issue!). I miss A to Z and do better when I have a topic to write about. I am still writing my story but it is slowing down, considerably.
ReplyDeleteHow was Panera? Love that free WiFi!
www.heathermccubbin.blogspot.com
LOL I could make a list of excuses. I did so well then, poof, the creativity vanished. Hope you get yours back. Thanks for co-hosting this month.
ReplyDeleteIWSG #108
Hey Melanie, thanks for co-hosting with me this month. I could name a dozen insecurities. My biggest insecurity now is worrying that the panel judging my WRiTE CLUB piece will think it's not worthy again. Of course, it wouldn't stop me from trying again next year. Have a great day. Eva, IWSG co-host
ReplyDeleteApril can be a super challenging month for writers in the A-Z Challenge. You deserve a bit of a break. I hope you had some time to yourself and even had a great snack from Panera's. Yummy!
ReplyDeleteElsie
I could stand to write more myself, but as I said in my own post this month, my motivation is shot right now.
ReplyDeleteAny snacks you plan to get while you're at Panera?
I planned on getting a green smoothie, which I did, but I also got a chocolate chip cookie, which I didn't plan on, but boy, was it good.
DeleteI feel like I haven't written in forever! I really just need to force myself to do it.
ReplyDeleteThanks for co-hosting! Hope you're getting lots of writing done.
Getting back into the writing habits have been unfamiliar and strange. But life finds a way.
ReplyDeleteGreat job on the co-hosting, Melanie! Yes, as the others have said, I've been there too. Just think, all it takes is one concerted effort and you'll be away again :-)
ReplyDeleteThat's what I posted about today, too. Hope you got some writing done at Panera!
ReplyDeleteI never did write at a local coffee shop or eatery, sounds like a nice idea. I hope you did it.
ReplyDeleteLast year during the challenge I recall not writing much. This year I was better, although, this week I've been slacking. I have been doing other writing related things at least, so I'm not a complete slacker.
ReplyDeleteI'm glad you have a handle on what do to. I'm stuck. Still stuck, but I'm just a determined as you are to get writing again. It must be in our genes. :-)
ReplyDeleteAnna from Elements of Writing
Hi Melanie, Thanks for hosting. Good luck with getting back into the swing of things.
ReplyDeleteAngie
Haha! You're brave.... everytime I go into Panera, I end up eating a Pick Two and nothing is written (I do enjoy the nap, though :)
ReplyDeleteSeriously, though.. I hope you wrote a ton and got a lot done :)
(Is poetry in my future??)
Had to laugh at no distractions at Panera. How about that whole display of deliciousness? And all the customers don't bother you? I need silence to write in my writing cave. Thanks for hosting!
ReplyDeleteI tried writing in a Panera once and ended up creating a new recipe and planning a dinner party, but that's my crazy issue. I hope it all worked out. Sometimes we can shake the writing bug and something we can't find it. As long as the desire it still there, I feel pretty good about it. Thanks for co-hosting and sharing.
ReplyDeleteGood luck getting back into the writing habit. Thanks for co hosting. Juneta at Writer's Gambit
ReplyDeleteThe A to Z Challenge is writing too. It's just not books. Have a productive weekend ;-)
ReplyDeleteI wish I had more time for writing.
ReplyDeleteWork seems to be gobbling up ALL my time. *sigh*
Thanks for co-hosting IWSG this month.
(I know I'm late... but you know what they say - better late than never...)