IWSG: "Dam" These Insecurities

It's December! Yay! And the first week, to boot. That means it's Insecure Writers' Support Group Wednesday. Click here for more information about the amazing IWSG.

 

This month I'd like to share some "dam goat" pictures found at this link.

 

Amazing, huh? Talk about the hooves on those goats. They must walk in some sticky sap before they scale that steep climb.

 

How does this relate to my writing insecurity? Sometimes I feel like other writers can scale the writing climb better than I can. I'm not like the goats who can get all the way up there and hang on. I'm not strong enough or talented enough or good enough.

 

Or blah blah blah blah...

 

This is my insecurity in so many areas of my life. It sucks. Why can't I feel like I'm good enough? "Dam" this feeling of inadequacy.

 

Do you have these feelings? Are you struggling to keep climbing or staying put without falling off the writing roller coaster?

 

Hugs

 

Writing Jewels

IWSG: Where's the Muse?

Wow, is it really November already? I feel like I just posted my October Insecure Writers' Support Group post. The first Wednesday of the month has arrived. Again. Time is flying too fast.

For more information about IWSG click HERE.

My insecurity this month is about my muse... or lack thereof.

 

Has my moment of words passed?

 

Talk about being insecure, right?

 

Multiple stories swirl in my mind, but to actually complete another book seems like climbing Mt. Everest--minus the frost bit nose and toes falling off. Thank heavens.

 

I know I will continue writing, but some days, man, it's just tough. Motivation rippled through my body and soul for years, and now... Well, now, where is it?

 

Perhaps other things are taking precedence, or I just need to give myself a good kick in the butt. Who knows, but I still have my ideas, and maybe I don't need to write them all in a year. I've got time. Time is on my side.

 

Thanks for letting me vent this insecurity. It has been plaguing me for quite some time now and causes great stress on my brain. No fun at all.

 

Do you feel this way sometimes? How do you pull yourself out of this awful place?

 

Hugs

 

Writing Jewels

Insecure Writers' Support Group: Wisdom from Gandalf

Another lovely Insecure Writers' Support Group Wednesday is here. For more information about this great forum, click HERE.

As I gathered with some friends to watch The Hobbit, a particular exchange between Gandalf and Bilbo stood out to me.

Biblo: Can you promise that I will come back?

Gandalf: No. And if you do... you will not be the same. 

 

What does Bilbo do? He goes to bed. 

 

Yes, he heads to catch some winks with expectations to go on with his life as normal in the morning. He most likely begged the Hobbit gods to make the houseful of impolite dwarves swarming his kitchen to disappear by the time he awoke.

 

Baggins cowers away, tempted more by the comforts of his established and quiet life.  When he wakes and finds himself alone, the itching Took inside him drives him out if his quaint home to join the dwarves and Gandalf on their dangerous adventure. The hobbit didn't know what was ahead of him but he went regardless of possible incineration or countless other gruesome deaths.

 

We as writers take on a similar journey. Although, hopefully minus sleeping on the ground and fighting trolls and dragons (at least not in our minds). 

 

Journeying on an adventure with words does not have any guarantees. There isn't a contract at the beginning saying it is going to work exactly how you want it to.

 

There are ups and downs and depression that hits when you least expect it. 

 

But through the words that often times cramp our fingers from typing, we are not the same as when we began. We are better, far better for it because we tried regardless of the end result. 

 

So keep on writing.

 

What are your thoughts on this subject?

 

Hugs

 

Writing Jewels

 

 

Insecure Writer's Support Group: No More Too Serious

Happy Insecure Writer's Support Group Wednesday! Thanks to Alex J. Cavanaugh we have this ingenious outlet to vent our writer's woes or uplift with wisdom.

 

Last night, I saw Austenland the movie from the brilliant all-absorbing novel with the same name by Shannon Hale.

 

I haven't laughed so much during a movie in a long while. Seriously, I had some good knee slapper moments. With some luck, I didn't snort up a storm in the process (that happens to me, sadly enough, but with great endearing effect).

 

Hale's book was amazing and the movie didn't fail to entertain. At every turn there was something to chuckle about, be it a character's line, a fake duck shooting, or an arrow to the eye. I rather enjoyed myself and would recommend the film and, more importantly, the book one-hundred percent.

 

I bring this up because I can relate to Hale's character Jane. I'm lost in my own dreamland with my perfect "prince" and the perfect "ending". But my life already is perfect in it's own right. 

 

Jane finally realized that life was more than just Darcy. She threw in the towel and started living for herself. She stopped taking things so seriously. And once she de-Austen'ed her bedroom, she was able to pick up and move on.

 

So, this is to say that sometimes I (maybe we) take life too seriously by focusing too much on what we don't have, instead of what we do have. Here's the chance to unclutter your life and stop being so serious.

 

Do you feel burdened by seriousness? Do you feel like you could use some more chuckles in your life? And how do you unclutter the busyness of life? Have you seen or read Austenland? What did you think?

 

Hugs

 

Writing Jewels

IWSG: Taking that Terrifying Leap

Hi there, fellow IWSGers, friends, and followers alike. Alex J. Cavanaugh hosts Insecure Writers' Support Group. It is a fantastic place to find support from other writers; they may just have the same insecurities as you. It is a great venue to vent or to share writerly wisdom.

 

Today, I'd like to discuss my insecurity that the general public will reject my words. See, I am going to be releasing my book Félicité Found as a self-published work. I don't have a publisher backing me up. I just have me and me alone. It is freaky to take this step with hopes that all my hard work will shine through as a quality product. However, I know if I don't follow my heart and have confidence in my story, then I will regret it. So, as a friend of mine recently taught me: "Live life with no regrets." I guess here's taking that terrfying leap into the unknown. It's my story and I love it. And that's all that matters!

 

Come Monday, August 12, 2013, you'll be able to purchase my first baby, Félicité Found. And there will be a blog tour going on, to boot. Here's the tour schedule:

 

Monday, August 12: Sara Bowers

Tuesday, August 13: Elise Fallson

Wednesday, August 14: Jolene Perry

Thursday, August 15: Nick Wilford

Friday, August 16: Rebekah Callor Grow

 

A thousand thanks for their willingness to participate. There will be some fun content each day and a chance to win a paperback copy of the book!

 

See you then and hugs.

Also, do you have similar insecurities about your writing?

 

Writing Jewels

Insecure Writers Support Group: Defining

Hello there, fellow IWSG'ers and followers alike. For this edition of the Insecure Writers Support Group brought to you by Alex J. Cavanaugh, I'd like to discuss "defining."

Some back story about where this post's idea came from...

I'm listening to Midnight in Austenland by Shannon Hale. The main character's ex-husband left her for another woman (the cheating jerk). Now she doesn't think of herself as a successful internet business owner or the mother of two great kids; no, she thinks of herself as one thing: a divorcee. She has defined herself as something she considers negative.

This got me thinking about what I define myself as... And do you know what? I tend to define myself with all things negative instead of flowering myself with positive adjectives.

For instance: I'm single--in the bad sense that I have failed the dating scene miserably. There must be something wrong with me if I can't capture a guys attention... haha However, I should be defining myself as single in the sense that I can do anything, go anywhere, and not have to worry about a husband or children at this time of my life. I'm free as a bird!

Often times I feel that since I'm not published, I must be a terrible writer. All the rejections pile up and make me depressed. Therefore, I define myself as a crappy writer at times. Yet, I am a writer. Just because I'm not published by one of the top 5 traditional publishers (YET) doesn't mean I'm less of a writer than anyone else. I am a writer because I write and that is what should define me--not that New York Times Bestselling Author is printed on my book(s). Although, I would rather fancy that being the case. :)

Anyway, let's take a step back and re-evaluate how we define ourselves and make sure it is positive. We'd all be a measure happier, I think, if we consider ourselves better than we do.

Do you fall into the defining yourself negatively trap? How do you define yourself? Have you read Midnight in Austenland or any other Shannon Hale books for that matter? If not, you're missing out folks!

Writing Jewels   

Insecure Writer's Support Group: Stupid Movies/Insecurities

I watched a movie the other day that many people have raved about. The movie was released a few years ago, yet I haven't ever watched it. The flick showed up on my Netflix-you-might-enjoy-watching-this-movie list. I put it in my queue thinking I might watch it one day just because peeps have mentioned it's a good one and rather hilarious.

Well, when I was sick a couple weeks ago, I finally backed down and watched the said film. I won't say which one it is as not to offend.

All I can say is: I. Hated. The. Movie.

Ok, hate is a strong word. I'll opt for disliked.

From the first scene until the last one I felt myself becoming stupid to stupider to stupidest, not to say I was stupid from the very beginning. Although, perhaps I was stupid even to watch the movie to begin with, eh?

That being said, no matter how much I thought: "This movie is stupid. Why am I watching it? I should just turn it off. My brain cells are disappearing in great numbers with every second I continue watching this stupid movie." I just couldn't stop watching it. I was pulled in by its sheer stupidity that I had to find out what was going to happen. Ugh!

This makes me think of how my brain works--no, no, I'm not saying I'm stupid--I'm saying that how my brain functions is like watching this movie. As a writer, I'm extremely critical about my writing, very insecure and dwell on these insecurities until they fester and grow to enormous sky-scrapper sized blobs of insanity. I just can't stop feeding them, therefore I take counsel from my fears when I should just turn my fears off and have faith.

Faith in my craft. Faith in my journey. Faith in, well, ME--Julia King and I'm supercool!

Like the rather stupid movie I watched, I shouldn't pay heed to these fears. I should just write because I've got stories to tell. It'd be so much easier that way and far more productive. But how to do that when the insecurities are so ingrained in the miniscule fibers of my brain? That is the million dollar question!

I don't know. I don't know if I'll ever know. All I can do is keep going. All writers with insecurities can do is keep going. It isn't easy but it is worth it.

So stop watching a stupid movie if it's stupid. And stop adding fuel to your insecurities. Start thinking about how ridiculously awesome you are!

So there!

Writing Jewels

Insecure Writer's Support Group: 5th Edition

A couple weeks ago, I saw Orson Scott Card author of ENDER'S GAME speak. He brought up something that I'd like to share on this Insecure Writer's Support Group Wednesday. Granted, he was focusing his talk on education, but I think it will relate to writing, too.

He talked about credibility--the credibility that comes from gaining a university degree. After four years (or more, if you were me) you obtain a degree. A lot of work is put into schooling. I know far too well. I spent many hours sitting in the math lab. Lots of hours writing papers. And tons of hours sitting in classrooms. But I did it! Now I've got a piece of paper that says I have a Bachelor in Anthropology degree.

Well, how does this relate to writing? As writers, we want that credibility that comes from having one of our books or all of them published. But is that really where credibility comes from? Ok, yes it is...sort of. But, it doesn't have to be.

We are credible because we write! Just deciding to scribble down a story and finishing chapter after chapter is credible. Just because you're not published doesn't mean that you aren't an author.

Yet, obtaining publish-dom is a fantastic goal to keep you typing out words. Having a book on the shelves at the local bookstore or online definitely will make you jump up and down, giggling up a storm (ok, that's what I will do). By all means, don't let not getting that big six figure book deal keep you from thinking you are a credible.

Just keep going. Keep writing. And be happy along the way. You are writer and that makes you AMAZING! An inCREDIBLY amazing person.

PS: Orson Scott Card also said that it doesn't matter where you get your education, be it Harvard or a community college or through reading books or community classes. It's the fact that you have learned something that matters.

The fact that you write is all that matters! And by golly, I've learned so much more about writing by writing a book than I EVER did during my college degree. This time could very well count as a masters program. :D

I hope this has made sense. Perhaps, I've just been blabbing.

Anyway --> *hugs* Especially if you are struggling right now with your writing. :)

    Writing. Jewels.

ISWG: Fourth Edition

For more information, click here

If you read my post from a couple weeks ago, you'll know I brought up how I lost my desire to write there for a while. Well, to be honest, I almost quit the whole writing thing altogether. The thought of continuing with my dream made me literally ill, like I wanted to crawl into a hole and die a brutal death rather than going through the writing process again. Yep, it sucked. Bad. And I became rather depressed due to the situation.

I had to give myself a break, and even shelf a project for a bit to distance and detach myself from the dreaded burden that was weighing me down. It literally felt like I was dragging a couple hundred horses behind me who were galloping the other direction at the same time. Ugh! I'm exhausted just thinking about it.

One night, I had a cathartic event that helped me, even just a tiny bit, to dig myself out of my deep hole of writing despair. I decided to start plotting out an idea for a new project, which I have started working on. I thought that if I started with something fresh and new that I'd whip myself into shape. You know what? It worked. IT WORKED! Hallelujah and jump up and down and twirl in circles like a giddy little girl!

So what I'm saying here on this #ISWG Wednesday is:

1. If you need to, take a break
2. Shelf a project for a while to distance yourself from it, to breath again
3. Work on a different project to get your writing blood boiling again

Writing is not easy for sure, but in the end it is WORTH IT!

What are your tips to get you writing again? How have you overcome wanting to quit?

Writing. Jewels.

IWSG: Third Edition

I thought for today's Insecure Writer's Support Group post, I'd share an encouraging quote. It was said by a past leader of the church I am a member of. Religious or not, I know it'll be inspiring to writers. Or for whatever you are passionate about. So, here it is:

"There is within each of us a divine spark of greatness. Who knows of what we are capable if we only try? The abundant life is within reach if only we will drink deeply of living water, fill our hearts with love, and create of our lives a masterpiece." -- Elder Joseph B. Wirthlin, The Abundant Life

I have seen the spark of greatness in me as well as countless other people in my life, writers included. The sparks that direct our lives are priceless; they lead to beautiful adventures and endless possibilities. Those sparks will lead to the creation of masterpieces in our lives, if we only try.

So, I encourage you, and me alike, to continue to add fuel to your creative fire(s). There is greatness inside of each of us itching to be unleashed. Keep that in mind, friends. Whatever you are passionate about, keep on doing it. If you've lost your passion, find it again. The masterpiece is there waiting on the horizon just within reach. All you have to do is reach out and grasp it.

What are your thoughts about this quote? Do you have any encouraging quotes you'd like to share? And by golly, thanks for stopping by.

Writing. Jewels.

PS: I will be posting my monthly goals on the first Friday of every month. Other than that, I'll be posting on Wednesdays as usual.

Insecure Writer's Support Group: Battling the Storm Within

Here's to another lovely edition of the Insecure Writer's Support Group. I'm posted today instead of tomorrow due to the U.S.A Fourth of July holiday. Topic today ---> there's one thing that constantly gets in the way of my writing:

ME

Yep, you read correctly. Me. Me. Me. I think that might be a common connection between writers. Here are some reasons why I get in the way:

• I'm my own worst enemy
• Laziness 
• There's a storm brewing inside
• I get distracted
• Lack of motivation
• Writer's block
• Being overwhelemed

I'd like to focus on one of those items on my list. There's a storm brewing inside. For me the initial battle is getting myself sitting in front of the laptop with the Word document opened. I write when I get home from work or on Saturday. Now, folks, the last thing I want to do after a long day at work or on my weekend, is to work again. I get tired really easily, therefore, I can only do so much. But these are the only times I can really work on my writing.

When I arrive home, about 40% of me wants to relax, 40% wants to write, and 20% is giving me a guilt trip for not being productive. The tug-of-war continues until my mind feels like it will explode. If I choose to relax, at the end of the night I'll feel terrible. If I decide to turn on the laptop and work, I'll feel accomplished and happy with the results of a good nights writing/editing.
The trick is to get myself at the laptop. When I get home, I automatically get my laptop out and ready to go. I'll get dinner and then plug in earbuds and I'm off. It takes me a few minutes to get into the groove, but once the music drowns out the world and I'm invested in my story, I'm loving the process.

So, whatever gets in the way of your writing figure out a method to overcome it, then move forward. You can do this! Man, if I can, anyone can!

Do you get in the way of your writing? What are the things you battle with when it comes to writing? How do you conquer the sludge that keeps you from writing or progressing with your art with words?

Writing. Jewels.

Insecure Writer's Support Group: Part 1

So, dearest support groups members and followers, here's the scoop: Every first Wednesday of the month, I’ll post about my writing struggles, triumphs, and anything I can say to push other writers forward. Alex J. Cavanaugh (author/blogger extraordinaire) is hosting this group as a source to uplift writers through their writing journey. This industry is not easy. At all. The more support you have, the better.

So for my very first support group post, I want to talk about motivation... Or rather, the lack thereof. Ugh!

I've been going through a major motivation to write/edit rut. It drives me BONKERS. Because I haven't been as studious with my writing, I caved into comparing myself to other writers.

Why do you think this is?

I've got an answer, one of many perhaps. Note: I'm not trying to be cocky with what I'm about to say. I say this with great humility because I've had to work hard to get to where I am. Being away from my words for a long period of time makes me forget how good I am. Yes, I'm not Shakespeare, Jane Austen, or J.K. Rowling, but I'm Julia King--the writer of FÉLICITÉ FOUND and BOUND. My books that only I could write.

Motivation and confidence come when I'm deep in the thick of my stories. It isn't until then that I forget all the other crap going on in my mind. IE: I suck at writing. Or others write better than me. The list goes on and on. You know how it is.

I have to work really hard at maintaining the stamina to write...consistently and not let all the distractions of insecurities cloud my vision. Being in my words helps conquer those venomous, parasite-esque, debilitating, and destructive feelings. 

So, how do you overcome being unmotivated? Or not working as hard as you know you can? How do you overcome lack of confidence in yourself as a writer?

Writing. Jewels.

What I Really Want

So, my big post for this week will go up tomorrow. I've joined "The Insecure Writer's Support Group", hosted by Alex Cavanaugh, author and blogger extraordinaire. For more information about the group click here. Stop by tomorrow to see what I post.


As for today, I'm going to post about the things I really want.

• To bask in the sun on the Cinque Terre
• Something sweet to eat (must include chocolate). I'm almost done with my 21 day no sweets goal. 16/21 down. But I said in my month of June goals that I wouldn't eat sweets this month. I'll see what happens
• A boyfriend who will end up as my hubs
• To go on a really long trip across the world and back
• To get a publisher. Sigh
• To have laser eye surgery. Twice in as many weeks, I've taken out my left contact and it has somehow gotten itself stuck behind my eye. Freaky
• To write full-time. Sigh again
• To be a New York Times Bestselling Author (it WILL happen, mark my words). Super sigh
• To be a mommy
• To travel some more
• To finally have my own doggies
• To be financially secure
• To figure out what I'm going to do come September

So, what do you really want?

Writing. Jewels.