Today is May's contribution to Alex Cavanaugh's Insecure Writers Support Group.
Why am I an Insecure Writer this month?
Hmmm… now that I think about it, I’m not feeling all that insecure at the moment.
I’ve made progress on my manuscripts. I think I understand showing and telling better than I did last month. I even managed to spruce up my blog’s template (Although I still have to add my blog’s name to the masthead! How did I miss that for so long?)
It’s not as if I don’t have plenty of insecurities about my writing, but I’ve documented them all in my previous IWSG posts. I have no new insecurities. That’s good… right?
To be honest, I’m not sure I’m comfortable with the concept of being a secure writer, even if it's only for a little while. I mean, aren’t writers always supposed to be insecure and stressed out over the things they can’t control? Even writers who’ve published more than one book admit to being insecure at times. Look it up on the Internet. Nature abhors vacuums and secure writers. Obviously, something must be wrong with me.
Well, that settles it. As soon as I’m done with this post, I’m going to sit back and think real hard until I come up with some good old-fashioned, stomach-acid-inducing, not-being-able-to-sleep-at-night insecurities. Because if I can stockpile a few of them, I’ll be able to relax again, knowing I’m a proper writer.
BTW, if you wish to assist me in my quest for sanity, be sure to include your biggest insecurity in the comments below, and I’ll be more than happy to copy the ones I like.
My psychiatrist thanks you in advance.
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BTW, I know another writer who should be feeling pretty secure right now. Her name is Melissa Maygrove, and her debut book, Come Back, will be released next week, so all she has to do now is sit back and wait for the checks and the accolades to come rolling in.
Be sure to stop by her blog and remind her how secure she ought to be feeling. ;)
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This made me laugh. I think you should keep being secure and buck the trend.
ReplyDeleteIf only it were that easy. I'm sure another insecurity will raise its head by next month.
DeleteThanks for the kind mention, Ken! I'm feeling on top of the world and insecure all at the same time. I don't know what to do with that, so I'm just giving in and going with the flow. LOL
ReplyDeleteIWSG #224 until Alex culls the list again.
You should be feeling on top of the world right now. You've accomplished something most of the world will never be able to do. Going with the flow is an excellent strategy. Have you started the next book yet?
DeleteIWSG #41
Feeling insecure yet?
ReplyDeleteNo, just enjoy it! And know that it gives others hope there will be a moment when they don't feel so lost.
Yep. All I had to do was go back and read some of my earlier, and supposedly revised, chapters and all the insecurities came back. Sigh....
DeleteI'm secure in my insecurity;-) I still feel I'm conquering the show and tell thing too.
ReplyDeleteEven though I'm feeling better about showing and telling, I think I'm still a loooong way from conquering it. Thanks for the comment.
DeleteI can't believe I wasn't following your blog. Yet, I'm here lots. What's with that! Anyway, it's fixed. You're right, Ken. We're writers, therefore we're insecure.
ReplyDeleteI suppose if our insecurities were to go away, we wouldn't feel any pressure to make sure our words were the best they could be. So I guess insecurity is a good thing.
DeleteIt seems like I have a new insecurity every month. What does that say about me? I'm either overdramatic or paranoid. Ohmygosh, what's wrong with me? I need help. Send someone! Quick! What are you waiting for? Help!
ReplyDeleteElsie
co-host IWSG
It says that you're a writer, that's what. And you don't need help. Insecurity is what makes you good as a writer.
DeleteMy biggest insecurity is DROWNING. There is SO MUCH to stay on top of. I worry I won't be able to. I mean sure, I go through the cyclical 'I SUCK!'s, but mostly I am good with the writing... it is the SHARING... which means it's been cleaned enough and means I have learned all the steps... the most insecure-making is querying... I'm a bit stopped up on that front at the mo...
ReplyDeleteI'm not at the querying stage yet. That's another insecurity I have yet to face. Thanks for stopping by.
DeleteLOL! Thanks for making me feel good about my insecurities. =D Glad to hear you've overcome showing vs telling. Congrats!
ReplyDeleteI haven't quite overcome it yet. But at least I'm beginning to hold my own on the subject.
DeleteGreat post, you made me laugh at my lack of insecurities this month that actually makes me feel insecure. LOL Aren't we a bunch of loonies?
ReplyDeleteMaybe secure is the new insecure. :D You can have some of my anxieties.
ReplyDeleteYes I'll definitely give you some of my insecurities! My biggest one isn't so much getting published, but when my writing gets published, it'll be lambasted. Sneered at. Laughed out. Eye-rolled at.
ReplyDeleteTerrifies me! But your post made me laugh. So that's like an eye-roll at my own insecurities :-)
Here's an insecurity for you: I fear that my writing really sucks and that people only say nice things about it because they feel sorry for me.
ReplyDeleteNot having new insecurities is great! Hooray!! :D
ReplyDeleteMy biggest insecurity? . . . that's a good question. I guess it would be my posture because of the spine surgery I had when I was fifteen. Yup, that would be it. Tell your psychiatrist I said, "you're welcome." HAHA
I think you should enjoy not having any insecurities. Don't worry, one will sneak up on you when you're not looking. Happy writing!
ReplyDeleteIt's good to have some time off from those insecurities. Mine is about querying and publishers. I'm getting a bit paranoid about it since no one has shared positive stories about their publishers! Yikes.
ReplyDeleteEnjoy not being so insecure for the time being. Even authors can catch a break every now and then. We've earned it! We spend most of our time all wound up, and that's not sustainable.
ReplyDeleteYay to Melissa! So happy for her. And nope, writers aren't ALWAYS insecure. Maybe IWSG just points it out a little more. Glad your writing is coming along well. Keep it up!
ReplyDeleteYou crack me up! If you're out of insecurities, I'm sure I can find some to share :)
ReplyDeletelol, just enjoy your lack of insecurities while you have them. Thumb your nose at the vacuum waiting to be filled. You're still a writer... as long as you write.
ReplyDeleteLOL! I'm not sure but I *think* that any text that includes *anywhere* in it a reference to one's psychiatrist is...um...a reference to one's emotional maturity and willingness to admit they need help.
ReplyDeleteI love the title of your blog. I know the rules say you are supposed to read and comment on 12 posts and I was (no joke) looking for the names on the list that sound least scary and most likely to not mind if I step all over their blog with noisy, inept toes - and I came here anyway. Please don't turn me into a ferret.
LOL! Made me laugh.
ReplyDeleteMy newest insecurity is "anyway." Hubby told me I say that word as a filler. *cough* I used to say "so" as a filler. I don't write like that. Anyway, I should know better because I'm an editor. *clears throat* Anyway, what am I supposed to do to fill the silence besides not talk? *Ahem* Anyway, can I go back to "so" now? So lend me your psychiatrist, please.
And to think all I wrote about was paragraph formatting for ebooks because it will save money come book design time. So, that's all I have to say...anyway.
My biggest fear that I will not be able to write what I imagine in the way I imagine, and produce a story I love and that others might too.
ReplyDeleteJuneta at Writer's Gambit
This is such a great post :) My biggest insecurity is that nothing on the page reads how I want it to. Blah :(
ReplyDeleteYour post made me smile - a rare thing these days - so thanks very much for that. Since I was late paying, the bank repossessed my insecurities. I hope to have them back next month...
ReplyDeleteYours is the second post I've read today about feeling insecure about NOT being insecure, LOL. I think it's great that you're in a good place, and feeling confident. Enjoy it!
ReplyDeleteWoah--you're living the dream. No insecurity.
ReplyDeleteBTW, the blog name in your masthead... I did something similar when I forgot to get my business name (where I sell all my books) in the website masthead. It was in as an image, but Google doesn't troll images. Dang.
You can definitely be overly confident, and that's when you get complacent - but feeling secure is good, enjoy it... there's always next month :-)
ReplyDeleteNo new insecurities is great, Ken. I wish you happy writing :)
ReplyDelete