I’m typing this out right now (that would be the morning of March 2nd) because it’s the first Wednesday of the month (I can’t believe it’s March) and it’s IWSG day.
So here is the post about my recent writing insecurities. There are many.
Let’s start with the fact that I’m typing a blog post at the 11th hour. (Or the 12th or 13th hour or whatever.) I haven’t been able to keep up online. I’ve let comments pile up and need to get to those. I’ve been spotty on social media. Also, aside from all this, I’m not actually, you know, writing so there’s that. Also…LIFE. There are ALL OF THE THINGS happening and I’m struggling to get the basics done. I’m somehow managing to get through with a “the-show-must-go-on” mindset. So there you have it.
As for the question of the month, that’s an easy yes.
Have I ever been conflicted about writing something? Actually, as I’m typing that, I’m going to emphasize that affirmative to a “hell yes!” So many times for so many reasons, yes, I’ve been conflicted, hesitant, and downright scared to write something. The times I did it anyway, I have some regrets. The times I didn’t do it, I have some regrets. That, I believe, is The Way of the Writer, is it not? I think that’s a common experience we writers share.
What about you, fellow writers? Have you ever been conflicted or hesitant to write something? To put it out there? How did that work for you? Any regrets?
IWSG Question of the Month
March Prompt – Have you ever been conflicted about writing a story or adding a scene to a story? How did you decide to write it or not?
IWSG (Insecure Writer’s Support Group)
This post is part of IWSG , a monthly blog hop/prompt started by Alex J Cavanaugh.
Lemon Shark 
I suspect telling you that you have nothing to feel insecure about won’t work because … you have insecurities. The whole purpose of their existence is to keep you from believing in yourself. And you have to be the one to stomp them to death and sweep their lousy, stinkin’ remains out the door and down the steps.
Just know that you are admired and loved regardless, and you have friends who are cheering you on and hoping you will soon beat this infestation of doubt into submission. (You can, you know.)
Sending you loads of encouragement and love! I have great faith that you will prevail! 🤗💖🤗
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Marcia! Proper LOL! 😂 “stomp them to death and sweep their lousy, stinkin’ remains out the door and down the steps.” That is something I didn’t know I needed to read until I read it. I love you.
Oh, and then… All of the feels for that next part (which I didn’t read until after I finished laughing). So, I’ll edit to say that I needed to read *that*, too. Thank you, lovely. 💖💖💖
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PS, Love you back! 💖💖💖
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I’m so glad you got a “proper LOL” out of my comment, Sarah! Laugh every chance you get, I say. It’s “good for what ails ye” as my grandmother used to tell me! I do hope it helped a bit, and as for the feels, they’re always there for you, any time you need them!
You’re welcome, and give a holler when you want more of the same! More Big Hugs coming your way! 🤗🤗🤗
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It IS good for what ails ye. 🙂 And I may take you up on that holler when I want more of the same. Right back at you, my friend. I’m here–not going anywhere. (((hugs))) 💖💖💖
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💖🤗💖
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When I’m conflicted or hesitant about writing something, I do it anyway, let it rest for awhile, and then decide whether it should stay or go. Recently, I’ve been more conflicted because of the current zeitgeist about what language we can and can’t use in fiction.
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Oh, Liz. Yes, that is a difficult situation writers find themselves in. (Love your idea of writing it no matter what then letting it rest a bit before deciding.)
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If I’m the only one reading it until I make the decision, I have nothing to lose!
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True. And I have a lot of “shelved” writing (in drawers or in folders on my laptop). They anxiously await the decision of The Writer. 😉
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All in good time, eh?
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Exactly. 😉
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HI Sarah, I must be honest that I don’t feel like this at all. I write whatever I want and whenever I want and I publish a lot of what I write. There are people who don’t like my writing and who criticize it and sometimes I learn and improve from those comments. There are also lots of people who seem to like what I write and I am grateful for those people and they encourage me to keep going. The more I write, the more encouraged I become because the more support I find.
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That’s wonderful, Robbie. You are lucky. Or perhaps just confident. Or both. 🙂 It was a broad statement that all writers have insecurities. (But…there’s a huge number of people in the “Insecure Writers Support Group”.) 😉 Keep on writing!
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HI Sarah, I think that I have just come to realise that you will never please everyone but that some people will appreciate your work. I suppose what I am saying is I have reached acceptance of how writing and life work. Even famous authors like Stephen King have loads of 1-star reviews if you look on Amazon.
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That is so true. We will never please everyone–in life or in writing. That’s just something we all live with. I just think a lot of writers have regrets about publishing something for whatever reason (it’s not who they are anymore, they have improved as writers, it wasn’t the right market…whatever) or regrets about choosing not to publish something. 🤷🏻♀️ Insecurities are part of being human. Write on! 🙂
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Nope, not conflicted. And life? Oh yes, and a close brush with death puts things in perspective a bit. I had the opportunity to ask myself ‘if I die tonight, what will have mattered these last months.’ Sobering. I’ve always sucked at social media, And I don’t even care. 🤣
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There are definitely times when I don’t care. I just don’t. And then, somehow, it sneaks back in and I feel like I must continue the whole “online presence” thing. 🤷🏻♀️ I’ve always had a love/hate relationship with social media. Well, honestly, I think it’s more of a sort-of-kind-of-like-or-tolerate/hate relationship.
Yes, I saw your post. I am so sorry you went through that. Sobering, indeed. Understatement: I’m glad you’re okay. 💗
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Take care of yourself, Sarah. There’s no falling behind. There’s only moving forward. There’s no catching up on the past. There’s only meeting the future. Face it willingly and with an open heart. Know what your circle of influence is and make sure you are surrounded by, or surround yourself with, positive vibes. Outside that circle you have no influence. Accept. Remember that quote by a very wise man? Hugs. 💖
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I love this comment so much. “There’s no falling behind. There’s only moving forward. There’s no catching up on the past. There’s only meeting the future.” I should print that out and put it on my computer. I’m trying very hard to keep positive vibes with me. I’m also trying to embrace whatever life throws at me to keep my One Word promise. It’s a work in progress. Thank you, Norah. 💖 I hope you’re well.
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We’re all a work in progress, Sarah, with the emphasis on ‘progess’, how little there may seem to be of it, it’s there. Take care of yourself.
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It’s always good to be reminded that, even if there’s only a little progress, it’s still progress. Thanks, Norah. 💖
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I have to remind myself too. 💖
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I don’t know what you are talking about Sarah. I mean, I’ve absolutely never written a whole zombie-themed flash fiction piece for an anthology, then second-guessed myself, asking the oh-so-patient editor to treat it as a mere placeholder while I worked on the real submission, then said, no I’m going with it, then said the equivalent of burn all records of this story. That didn’t happen at all.
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It’s a good thing that never happened. 🧟♀️🧟♂️ Conflicted Writer Apocalypse!
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I’ve often been conflicted about writing something – I’ve usually chickened out.
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I have, too, obviously. And I think most writers have been but, like Liz says here, “do it anyway, let it rest for awhile, and then decide whether it should stay or go.” Go for it, Simon. Sci-fi geeks await. 😉 👽
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I think I should take a page out of your book 🙂
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*rips page out of book*
*hands to Simon*
🙂
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*takes Sarah’s page*
Thank you… I could just copy it 🙂
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I like Liz’s comment about writing anyway, and letting it rest for a bit. Then, sometimes, if I’m a bit nervous about it, I say, “Let’s see what happens” and press Publish.
The Show Must Go On Mindset is a heroic mindset, if you think about it. The soldiering through something, the Getting The Job Done No Matter What.
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A heroic mindset? Huh. You know, it really is. Soldiering through and getting it done. You never know what is going on backstage while you’re watching the show. That could be an entire blog post right there. Thanks, Ruth. 💖
I agree. Letting a piece rest a bit is good and, if we may regret not doing it anyway, just press “publish”.
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Oh yeah, Sarah. Best laid plans, life happens, all that stuff. I think we all have times like that. Which reminds me of another cliche… Don’t sweat the small stuff. Sometimes that’s the only way I get through the week. 🙂
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Life does, indeed, happen. 🙂 That’s a good thing and I’m trying to use my One Word (embrace) to deal with whatever life brings.
My grandmother said that all the time: “Don’t sweat the small stuff.” 💗 I’m trying. Thanks, Diana.
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❤
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I think any time you put your heart out there for public scrutiny (words on the page) you’re going to have insecurities. It takes a brave person to lay it on the line.
By the way, I feel your pain with writing/social media/the whole keeping up with life thing- I’m like a sheet flapping in the wind these days, also.
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“a sheet flapping in the wind…” 😂 That’s a visual. I’m sorry for laughing. I can relate. Keeping up with all that has always been difficult for me and it’s not getting any easier. Speaking of which, I’m behind on Instagram and miss your lovely flower photos.
Yeah, I completely agree. Any time you put yourself into something and lay it out there for all to see, it’s going to create some butterflies. I regret very few pieces, to be honest, so I’m glad I put most of them out there. But, again, the times I decided not to, I regret those, too. So is the writer’s life. Hope you’re well, Jacquie. 💖
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Glad I could give you a chuckle 🙂
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I think being conflicted about writing only reflects the general sense of conflictedness in your own life (and I’m including me in this!). We all have that sense (apart from Robbie, apparently) at some point or another. And, trust me, I’m conflicted a lot at the moment…
On the writing front, all the time, but I generally write it anyway, and cut it later when I’ve had time to mull it over – and before it gets a wider audience than me. I remember being very conflicted about a scene in Ravens Gathering. It was, I concluded, far too graphic. The end result, after the changes, was shocking enough.
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Yeah, we all have that sense of conflictedness at some point. I do think especially writers (artists of all sorts). Some more deeply than others, some more often than others. But we are united in our struggle. I’m sorry you’re having a conflicted cluster at the moment.
As for the Ravens Gathering scene, sounds like you made a good choice there. It’s like what Liz said in the comments about letting it rest a bit then making a decision and publishing it. Hope things get less…conflicted for you very soon, my friend. 💙
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Thanks for your kind words, Sarah. You take care of yourself
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Thanks, Graeme. I’m trying. Though I never did find the good, “real” Turkish Delight” so I’m not doing that good a job of it. 😉
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Is that because you haven’t tried hard enough, or it’s just not available to you? If it’s the latter, I’ll have to come up with something – wouldn’t want you to miss out!
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I tried! But, in fairness, it was during Christmastime so it could have contributed. I’ll look now when it may be more available. Still, I want the real stuff. The kind the White Witch conjured in Narnia. If I find some, I’ll send the link along for your approval first. 🙂
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I’ll look forward to it. Happy hunting!
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Hi Sarah, I have also fallen behind on the blog and social media. There are so many other things to do in my real life. And once one day slips, so does the next and so it went for me. Although I haven’t been writing, I’ve been reading. You can’t do everything. As for feeling conflicted about either writing something or not writing it, yes to both. Though I think I would like to delete some of the things I’ve written. Take care, Sarah 🧡
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It is a slippery slope, my friend. 😉 But, I’ve always said, real life comes before online stuff. Always. And you are so right but it bears repeating: I can’t do everything. (That should be taped onto my laptop.)
I think most of us have been conflicted at some point about some piece. Though try not to delete it. You may regret that, too! 💖 I hope you’re well.
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Hi Sarah – you’re right. Real life comes first. Also, I haven’t deleted anything yet!
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I feel like this with every book I write. Even some blog posts and reviews. I think most writers fall into this category, so you’re in good company, my friend.
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I agree. Most writers have at least visited if they don’t live there. And if you’re there, I am in good company. (Though, really? EVERY book? That’s surprising to me. You don’t seem at all hesitant or conflicted. You seem confident. And your writing is awesome. It’s interesting… Pfft. Writers.) 😉
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What an ego boost! Glad I’m able to fool some people, lol. Now I’ll go celebrate with some Reese’s Easter Egg chocolate!
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Haha! Well, it’s true. But, still, go. Chocolate. And maybe some wine. 🍫🍷
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Downright scared to write? Yeah. I have the sometimes. Writing can be so much fun, but it can also be pure torture, and you never know which way the writing’s going to go.
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Writing can, indeed, be fun. Parts of it are a bit troublesome, though, I agree. I think different parts for different writers, or even different parts at different points in our own writing process.
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I was, at one time, very afraid to write and to put that writing out there for others to read. But a Beautiful Warrioress i know lent me her confidence, her courage and her strength…she believed in me and my writing…and it was one of the best things i have ever done. ♥️
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Hello, my old friend! Wonderful to see you.
This warrioress sounds brilliant. I think, perhaps, she got lost somewhere along the way… But she is wise, believing in your writing, because it is gorgeous and I’m glad you shared that writing with the world. #mast 💙
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You write about falling behind and then there’s me who takes a whole month to get around to posting a comment! I suppose I offer up comradery in the fact that you’re not the only one who struggles to keep up?
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Hmm… A whole month? Shall we compare times here? I think not. How interesting this post is. I haven’t reread it, but the title alone is…foreshadowing an unpredicted absence. Cheers to you, my friend.
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