Purpose of IWSG: 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!
To join IWSG visit
Ninja Captain Alex J. Cavanaugh here.
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While celebrating the end of this year’s A to Z Blogging Challenge, I suddenly realized we’d arrived at the first Wednesday of the month. And we all know what that means: Insecure Writers Support Group!
April proved a frenzied month, both personally and professionally, and without getting into grisly details, any insecurities I have are on hold until life settles down. So today, instead of a regular post or an A to Z wrap up—which I’m saving for next week—I’ll be sharing a few inspirational blog links and quotations I hope will distract us all from any lingering doubts—even if only for a moment or two.
The Gift of Insecurity, Rachelle Gardner (blog post)
“Let yourself feel satisfied for brief moments, then go back to the natural state of the writer: insecure, frustrated, driven. It’s a great life, isn’t it?”
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“The reason we struggle with insecurity is because we compare our behind-the-scenes with everybody else’s highlight reel.”
~Steve Furtick
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The Writer’s Guide to Overcoming Insecurity, Men with Pens (blog post)
“There will always be people who don’t like what you do. But there will also be people who absolutely love what you do. Focus on those who want to hear from you and forget the rest. Especially Mr. Insecurity. That guy’s a jerk.”
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“If you find yourself asking yourself (and your friends),
‘Am I really a writer? Am I really an artist?’
Chances are, you are.
The counterfeit innovator is wildly self-confident.
The real one is scared to death.”
~Steven Pressfield
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Insecure Writer Bingo, Miriam Joy Writes (blog post)
Mired in insecurity and in the midst of a real or imagined writer’s block, Miriam created a game called Insecure Writer Bingo. Check out the game here. As for the antidote, you’ll find it below. In fact, skip the Bingo and go straight for the antidote. Title this one: DOCTOR MOTIVATIONAL.
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“The world always seems bright when you’ve just made something that
wasn’t there before.”
~Neil Gaiman
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and WRITE BRAVELY!
VR BARKOWSKI 
Neil Gaiman is my hero. My fantasy is that I will wake up one morning to find a comment on my latest post from him, saying he loved it and will write of it on his blog. Ah … Hey, I write fantasy — I can dream things like that! 🙂
I think it was Theresa Milstein who mentioned Neil Gaiman as a present day Mark Twain. For writers, especially, I think she’s absolutely right. Neil cuts to the chase.
all we need is a lil soft slap of motivation n inspiration..
rest all falls right then 🙂
True! Although it seems we are sometimes forced to endure many random blows before inspiration gets its chance to spur us on. 🙂
Aloha,
Congrats on finishing A-Z 🙂
I’m stopping by as a co-host of IWSG and just wanted to say hi from Alex (Does that mean I’m a borg:)
Thanks for the early morning inspiration – I may forego on at least one cup of coffee now 🙂
A pleasure meeting you. Thanks for stopping by, Mark!
Thanks Hon; I needed these quotes.
And in case you didnt’ know; you are amazing and I’m so glad that your rejoined the blogging world after your long hiatua. You consistently inspire me VR.
……dhole
Right back at you, Ms. Donna Hole! I’m so glad your (well-deserved) April hiatus is over. I missed you!
Motivation can sure help push us through, besides yelling Bingo can be fun to do haha
Absolutely! Bingo is fun, not something to shun.
Thanks for all the inspirational quotes. Hmmm, maybe I AM a writer. I sure don’t have any of that “wild self-confidence” Pressfield described. Matter of fact, no matter how many readers swear their “love” for my book, I can’t shake the feeling that in reality, they only like ME and are just saying that so they don’t hurt my feelings.
I know that feeling, Susan, believe me!
Great quotes! I especially loved the one from Steve Furtick.
Furtick is right, although we rarely look at things from that perspective . . . unfortunately.
Thanks for stopping by, Mike!
Congrats on finishing A-Z. I really enjoyed your blog posts.
These are great quotes. I liked them all but the one by Rachelle Gardner especially.
Congrats to you, Jai! You completed both A-to-Z AND Camp NaNoWriMo? I am humbled!
Putting insecurities on hold sounds like a good idea. Sometimes putting stuff on the back burner allows them to get to the front. Sometimes ideas have to settle in before they emerge again fully formed. I hope this makes sense lol
I agree, Sue. Insecurities are usually born of our past, what’s already happened, what’s behind us. It’s always better to look to the future rather than dwell on the past. Insecurities are the lessons we carry with us as we move forward. We can’t let them eclipse our future.
This reality that everyone is scared behind the scenes didn’t hit me until recently when I have had several new writers reach out to me in private for advice. I was shocked anyone would reach out to me, because I’m just me and not Neil Gaiman or JK Rowling. Every time I read what I wrote I want to go back and change things, even if it’s not a matter of a blatant error. Good to be reminded others feel this way as well.
Agreed. That’s why I loved Rachelle Gardner’s blog post on insecurity as a gift. Not only do all writers experience insecurity, but the idea that it’s a tool we can use to spur us on is really kind of empowering.
This was such a great post. I need to print it out, put it in a frame and read it every morning.
I like Dr. Who okay. I’m not a rabid David Tennant fan or anything, but I’ve listened to YouTube audio at least fifty times int he last couple of days. 🙂
Love the Furtick quote. Heard it before, and it bears repeating.
The Furtick quote is especially salient because it focuses on a simple truth, one most writers tend to ignore. Why do we do that?
Sorry you’ve had such a frenzied month. I hope your troubles disappear, the sun comes out, and life goes back to normal. Thanks for the encouraging quotes! 🙂
Frenzy has its benefits. It kills complacency and keeps things… uh… interesting? 🙂
The Steve Furtick quote is so true. We only see the NY Times best seller’s best – we don’t see the normal crap they produce.
Exactly, Alex. When we hold a first draft up against a NY TImes best seller’s polished copy, how can we not feel inadequate?
LOVE those quotes!! The Gaiman one was a great way to end it! It truly is incredible to ceate somethng brand new!! 🙂
I agree! I love thumbing through my manuscripts. I’d love it even more if I could do it in a bookstore. 😀
Those are great quotes! I liked this post very much.
Thank you, and thanks for swinging by, Gina!
I love the Neil Gaiman quote. That may be the real reason I write. Hope things settle down for you soon.
Me, too. I love making stories. 🙂
Thank you for the inspiration! Needed that today, mos def.
Glad it helped, Milo. Thanks so much for dropping by!