Today is September's contribution to Alex Cavanaugh's Insecure Writers Support Group.
Why am I an Insecure Writer this month?
Because I don't know the future.
I wasn’t planning on posting today, figuring I would just skip a week, but then I remembered it was ISWG Wednesday. And since I didn’t wish to lose my place on Alex’s list (I’m currently at #37), I thought I’d better get my butt in the chair and write.
Those of you who saw last week’s post know one of my cats is sick. She seems to have gotten somewhat better, but it’s unclear whether that’s temporary or a sign of things to come. So basically, the family and I are just going to have to wait, one day at a time, trying to remain optimistic, until we know for sure.
It occurred to me that it’s much the same way for newbie authors. We pin our hopes and dreams on the idea that one day we’ll be good enough at this writing stuff to be published AND that people will actually consider buying our book, but we have no assurances this will ever happen. We just have to keep the faith while experiencing the ups and downs of the writing journey.
Easier said than done. But you already know that.
If only I had a crystal ball.
ChemistKen
What a great post. That is a good analogy.
ReplyDeleteI'm praying that your cat continues to improve.
IWSG #179 until Alex culls the list again.
Thanks for your thoughts and prayers.
DeleteGlad not losing your spot motivated you.
ReplyDeleteSometimes hope is all we have.
Sounds like the writer's mantra.
DeleteI hope your cat continues to improve. It is so hard when a pet is sick, and they can't tell you how they feel or what is wrong. It makes for a very helpless feeling.
ReplyDeleteAs for fear of the future, I get that too. I'm working on 2 first drafts right now -- one MG and one YA -- and I have no way of knowing if these drafts will turn into a story worth telling, or if my agent will think they're marketable, or if any editor will want them. Sometimes that makes it hard to keep typing.
But the alternative is to quit and have no future as a writer. So ... I keep typing.
I hope your cat will be well and stay well. It's always worrisome when a pet is sick.
ReplyDeleteWhen you figure out how to see the future, will you share the secret? Pretty please?
ReplyDeleteMy thoughts are with you guys - I really hope your cat feels better soon.
Thanks for visiting my blog and your encouragement, as you know I have been feeling a little uncertain about what the future holds too! Stay, strong, keep believing, we will get there.
ReplyDeleteSorry to hear about your cat, I know how upsetting it is when a beloved pet is poorly, I hope she continues to improve.
I don't think I'd want to know the future, because what if it's bad and you can't change it. I prefer to remain optimistic, and that's not really an option when you know everything.
ReplyDeleteI hope your cat continues to get better.
I'm glad to hear that your kitty is doing better. I hope that continues and you are able to enjoy lots more time with her. Take care.
ReplyDeleteI'm sorry to hear about you cat. I hope she's back to herself soon. Faith is a good thing to have. =)
ReplyDeleteHope your cat feels better soon. The future is a tricky thing but we all keep working anyway.
ReplyDeleteCrystal balls ruin dreams because there'd be no need to dream... ;)
ReplyDeleteI hope your cat gets better.
There's no guarantees but I take great comfort in the joy that is writing process itself... and the growing process. I see how writing has grown me, how much I've learned, it's satisfying... enough to keep me striving for more. Keep striving!
ReplyDeleteAh, yes, a crystal ball would be great. Or maybe it wouldn't?? Sometimes it's blind faith that keeps us moving forward.
ReplyDeleteI hope your kitty feels better soon! And as far as seeing the future, I like to think that even if you see it, that seeing it alone would end up changing it. So perhaps it's better to act as if you know, but plan for the worst anyway?
ReplyDeleteI hate that your cat is still struggling. I always want to make things better, and sometimes you can't. The two of our chickens that didn't get killed in the massacre last month still aren't laying eggs. We got some new ones Saturday, and we're finally getting eggs again. But I still want the two old lady leghorns to recover.
ReplyDeleteAs for your writing, I would buy your fan fiction now. I'm struggling to finish my current editing job so I'll have to critique on the plane, hint, hint. Sep 18.
Oopsie. I meant have time to critique on the plane. And thanks for adding the name/url option because Blogger won't let me comment about half the time.
DeleteIt really is hard to not know the future about your writing career. I just kept reading great writing articles and reading awesome books in my genre and improving my craft over time. And don't forget to write everyday!
ReplyDeleteOPEN YOUR MIND! Look in the crystal ball! Wait. That never works. Seriously, though. I think it is impossible to tell the SPECIFIC future, but broadly, the persistent person will eventually get there. Does that help? Maybe this book. Maybe not. But if you keep writing books it will happen.
ReplyDeletewell, the real trouble is that we have to remember not to give up. Everyone who eventually makes it simply didn't give up. That's it. just keep going and it'll happen.
ReplyDeleteSorry to hear about your cat, I hope he improves. As for the future, I write with the knowledge that I WILL succeed. (Now, it may never happen, but if I let those doubts in, I'd give up today.)
ReplyDeleteI hope your kitty gets better!
ReplyDeleteThe waiting part of writing is killer. Especially when you see others having luck. When's it my turn often echoes through my head. But as long as we don't get up, our turn will come.
I had a sick cat, too, and had considered calling the vet to have him come out and put her to sleep. She wasn't eating or pooping. So... disgusting as this sounds, I decided to check her butt. Turns out it was crusted over with a stool that didn't get out. I soaked her butt in a warm one inch bath and was able to dislodge it. Then I blew her dry with my blow dryer. Talk about recovery. Garagee is back strutting her stuff across the living room floor. Hope your cat feels better very soon. If she /he didn't make it, I'm truly sorry. We have 3 cats left out of 6. I know too many. But we're at a lake where people seem to think it's okay to dump them off before heading back to the city.
ReplyDeleteI think people don't naturally fear the unknown or the future. We just fear what we think will happen, which we think will be negative. But, it's not innate in any of us to fear the unknown, or else babies would be scared every day of their lives, being so unknowing as they are. Once I learned this, it changed my perspective on things.
ReplyDeleteI really hope your kitty starts getting better real soon! Just love her all back to good health. :)
If only, indeed! Wouldn't it be great to see into the future and determine if all the hours and effort we put into writing will be worth it in the end? Heck,yeah!
ReplyDeleteI hope everything works out for your cat. Hopefully she'll start to feel better soon! I'm sure it's hard to wait though...