'Tis the season.... IWSG December

Time for another IWSG post!  Check out the website and sign up to join us!

This month, I want to take a moment and offer my thanks.  I've had a wonderful year, both personally and professionally, and I really appreciate all the support I've received from the blogging community.  This is a really great group of people, and I want you all to know that the time you've taken to visit my blog and your kind words mean a lot to me.

I hope everyone has a lovely holiday season!  See you next month!

IWSG - If it's not one thing.... (Writing entry)

Welcome, fellow IWSG'ers!  October is my favorite month, mainly because it's smack dab in the middle of fall, my favorite season.  In my mind, it doesn't get any better than cool days, changing leaves, and hot cider.

Fall also marks a return to my day job, and a shift in attitude.  Summers are laid-back and easy-going, but when the fall semester begins, I hit the ground running and don't stop until December.

No matter your career stage, be it unpublished author or multi-published superstar, it can be really easy to get caught up in work.  When you have deadlines, self-imposed or otherwise, it seems like every free moment is devoted to working toward that goal.

I'm not going to say that hard work is a bad thing.  Far from it.  But when we spend all day, every day working (day job, errands, chores, writing) it leaves no time for fun.  And if you're anything like me, down-time and fun help to rejuvenate my creativity.

I've been spending a lot of time working lately, and not a lot of time relaxing.  I've justified this because of my day job and looming deadlines, but I need to slow down and take time for myself.  If you find yourself in the same boat, I encourage you to do the same!

This is my entry for the IWSG Guide to Publishing and Beyond.  I give permission for this entry to be included in the anthology.  Here's my bio: Lara Lacombe writes romantic suspense with a scientific twist for Harlequin Romantic Suspense.  She blogs at www.laralacombe.com and loves to chat with readers!

IWSG - August edition

It's time for another Insecure Writer's Support Group post!  Be sure to sign up and join us as we share our fears and offer encouragement to the group :)

This month, I'd like to offer some support to those of you feeling frustrated.  I know this sounds like a cliche, but hang in there!  You can do it!

Image credit

IWSG - July edition

It's that time again!  Check out the IWSG website to sign up and join us as we talk about our insecurities and encourage each other to continue moving forward.

Where has the year gone?  I can't be the only one who feels like time is slipping through my fingers.  I'm trying my best to keep my head above water, but between my job, my writing, and everything else, I'm not getting as much done as I'd like.  Fortunately, my summer term wraps up in a couple of days, which will free up my schedule significantly.  I just need to take advantage of the extra time.

One of the things I've noticed is that no matter how empty my days look on paper, they manage to fill up with miscellany that keep me from meeting my writing goals.  My challenge for the rest of the summer is to make writing a priority, so that I can go back to work in the fall with a finished book.

It's not going to be easy, and I know my problem isn't unique.  So I've done something to push myself to work hard.  I've signed up for Camp NaNoWriMo, and my goal is to write 30,000 words in July.  That's a little under 1000 words per day.  I know there are prolific authors out there who probably scoff at my meager goal, but it works for me.

Do you have any tricks or tips to keep going when life gets in the way? Are any of you signed up for Camp NaNo?

IWSG - Enjoy the journey

If you're just joining us, IWSG is a great hop, started by Alex J. Cavanaugh, that has grown by leaps and bounds.  Check out the blog for a full list of participants, and to sign up yourself!

Hard to believe we're about halfway through the year already.  It seems like just yesterday I was snuggled under a blanket while the ice storm raged outside, and now I'm standing under or near every fan I can find in an attempt to stay cool!  It's becoming more and more difficult to take a moment to just breathe and to enjoy the days as they pass.

As our lives grow ever-busier, it's easy to overlook the everyday joys that occur.  For a lot of people, this means they start to pin happiness on some future event.

"I'll be happy when I get an agent."

"I'll be happy when I get published."

"I'll be happy when my book sells X number of copies."

I'm just as guilty of doing this as the next person.  But the problem with this attitude is that you keep pushing your happiness into the future, rather than grabbing onto it with both hands right now. "I'll be happy when," is self-defeating, because it's an ever-elusive goal. You're constantly moving the goalposts, and you can never win.

"Sure, I just signed with an agent, but I'll be happy when I have a contract for my book."

I'm not saying we shouldn't have goals or benchmarks to strive towards. But I think it's a mistake to decide that our happiness depends on meeting them.  Rather than focusing on future happiness, why not take some time to celebrate the joys in your life right now?

IWSG - How do you learn?

Welcome to another edition of the Insecure Writer's Support Group!  This hop is spearheaded by Alex J. Cavanaugh, and there is a website where you can add your name to the list and join us!

I don't know about you, but I've noticed that when I'm writing, whatever book I'm reading at the time influences my writing style.  For example, I've been listening to Diana Gabaldon's Outlander series on audiobook while driving.  If you're not familiar with her work, she writes epic novels that are packed with evocative descriptions and great dialogue.  Because of this, I notice that when I sit down to write I pay more attention to description and character emotion, and I spend more time exploring those aspects of the story.  I'm not trying to copy Diana's style, but being immersed in her example makes me more aware of those parts of my own writing.  Does that make sense?

I've also been reading a lot of Jim Butcher's Dresden series as well, and it makes me think more about humor and how it can be effectively used in writing.  The story and characters have to be right for it, but it's definitely something I want to try to explore in my own work.

Are you aware of other authors influencing how you write?  Do you have a favorite author (or three) that you use as an example of how to do something well?  Please share in the comments--I'm always excited to find more inspirations!

IWSG - March edition

Happy Insecure Writer's Support Group day!  I'm going to have to post and dash, as I'm swamped this month!  Between moving, organizing my writing group's conference, planning a wedding, and the day job thing, I haven't had time for much of anything else.  But, it's spring break next week, so I'm hoping to get some quality thinking/writing done during the lull.

No matter where you find yourself, keep going!  And remember...

Image credit

IWSG - February edition: It's the little things...

It's the first Wednesday of the month, which means it's time for IWSG! This hop is the brainchild of Alex J. Cavanaugh, and it's a great way for writers to encourage and support each other--check out the website or Alex's blog for more info!

This month I want to talk about motivation and reward.  I'm on a deadline for book 3, which has provided plenty of motivation, believe me.  But as I worked, I needed to find a way to measure my progress so I would know if I was on track, ahead of schedule (yeah, right!) or falling behind.

Basically, I took the number of words I had left to write, divided them by the number of days until my deadline, and voila!  I had my daily word count.  Simple, right?  I know, I know--you're shaking your head right now, thinking when is she going to get to something good?

I took it one step further.  I made a spreadsheet that calculated the number of words I had to write based on my current day's progress.  If I had an awesome day, word-wise, my minimum number of words for the next day decreased.  If I didn't get far, the number went up.  That was quite helpful when it came to planning my writing and figuring out how I was going to fit things in with the day job.  Before, I was doing this by the seat of my pants--I knew if I had a busy day coming up, I'd have to write more on other days to make up for a loss in productivity.  But having the actual numbers in front of me made it easier to see exactly how my project was coming along in the face of a looming deadline.

Finally, I wrote down my goals.  Every day, I wrote down the targeted word count, followed by my actual word count.  If I hit or exceeded my goal, I got a sticker for that day (thus rewarding my inner 5 year old. Because who doesn't love stickers?!).  Here's a picture of what my January looked like:

Yay for stickers!

There are a few things I hope you notice about this picture.  The first is that I have a lot of stickers.  That's because I used them as motivation.  On days when I was tired, when I couldn't think of the words, when I wanted to do anything but sit in front of the computer--those are the days I motivated myself by looking at the calendar and thinking "I got a sticker yesterday--I want to keep that streak going!"  It's a small thing, but having that tangible reminder was powerful for me.  So I forced myself to write, and you know what?  The words came.  And they weren't all crap.  Yes, there will be edits, but at least now I have something to edit!

The other thing I hope you notice is that there are days when I don't have a sticker.  But look closely: I still have a word count for those days (with one exception--we all have bad days!). Even though I didn't make my goal, I put words down on the page, and it got me a little closer to the end. Every little bit helps.

So, fellow writers, I encourage you to find your own motivation, and to reward yourself when you meet your goals, even if it is just a sticker on a page (I would have used chocolate, but I want to live long enough to write more stories!).  I've told you what works for me, but now I want to hear from you.  If you have a tried and true strategy, please share it in the comments!

IWSG - January edition

Welcome to the first IWSG post of 2014!  Be sure to check out the webpage for more information about this great community!

I know a lot of people have made writing resolutions this year, and I wish you the best of luck in keeping them.  Whatever you do, just remember...

Image credit

So let's strive to keep our thoughts positive as we move forward in this new year!

Until next month...

IWSG - December edition

It's time for the last IWSG post of 2013!  For more information on IWSG, check out Alex J. Cavanaugh's blog, or the IWSG website.

One of the nice things about being a writer is that I always get to ask 'What's next?'  What is going to happen in the next scene?  The next chapter?  The next book?

Image credit

The anticipation of not knowing exactly what is coming around the bend is one of the things I like most about writing.  On the flip side though, the uncertainty of working without a net can be stressful.  How are my characters going to get out of this scrape? How can they overcome these conflicts? What am I going to write after I finish this story? And most distressing of all: will I ever come up with another decent story idea again?

I think most writers are plagued by a surfeit of ideas.  The problem is picking one that you want to live with for any length of time, to really dig in and explore.  The insecurity comes from worrying that none of your ideas merit such examination.

So what's a writer to do?  I think the key is to keep writing.  Pick an idea and play around with it.  Maybe it will work, maybe it won't, but at least you're trying.  You may find that a tiny seed of an idea sprouts into a fully-developed story.

What about you?  Do you have the same worries?  What's your approach to overcoming the stress of the unknown?

IWSG - November edition

It's time for another edition of the Insecure Writer's Support Group!  Every month, we post about our insecurities or worries as writers, or we post words of encouragement to bolster each other.  For more information, or to sign up to participate, check out the IWSG web page!

This is a special post for me, as it's my first IWSG post as a published author!  My debut novel was released this month, and I'd like to take this opportunity to thank each and every one of you.  The support and encouragement I've received from the writing community has been amazing, and I appreciate the friendships I've made here.  You guys are awesome!

IWSG - October edition

It's the first Wednesday of October, which means it's time for another Insecure Writer's Support Group post.  For those of you who don't know, IWSG is the brainchild of Alex J. Cavanaugh, and it's a great opportunity to meet new people and find support.  Writing can be a lonely endeavor, and it's nice to know there are others out there who are facing some of the same issues and dilemmas.

This month, rather than airing more of my insecurities, I'm going to offer support and encouragement.  No matter what obstacles you're facing right now, know that you can overcome them.  Writing, like life, is all about perseverance.  Just keep putting one foot in front of the other (or one word or even letter after another) and you will get through to the other side.

It's not always easy, and there are times when it feels like you should give up.  If that's how you feel right now, give yourself a break.  There's no shame in stepping back and taking a breather--just know that you'll jump back in once you've recharged.

Finally, realize that you're not alone.  Perhaps you're the only writer you know in real life, and it feels like no one understands how much that form rejection letter hurts.  Does your family look at you funny when you do the happy dance because you've just solved a particularly thorny plot problem?  Do you feel like no one else in your life understands that working for 2 hours and writing 300 words can feel like more of an accomplishment than climbing a mountain?

Image credit

We get it.  We really do.

This is such an amazing community of writers, but more than that, this is an amazing community of people who are always ready to lend a virtual shoulder to cry on, or to lead a cheer of celebration.  So use us.  Share your joys, your fears, your struggles, your triumphs.  Be there for others as they do the same.  And most importantly, just keep going!   

Happy Anniversary, IWSG!

It's the first Wednesday of September, which means it's time for another IWSG post.  First of all, many congratulations to Alex J. Cavanaugh, creator of this amazing blog hop.  IWSG has been going strong for two years, and hopefully has many more years to go!  If you haven't joined this community, stop by Alex's blog to sign up and post with us!

Image credit

My insecurity for this month (yes, I'm only picking one, thank you very much) is related to impostor syndrome.  You've probably heard of this--it's the feeling that you are incompetent, and your successes are due to the fact that you've fooled everyone into thinking you know what you're talking about.

For those of you who don't know, I started my professional life as a scientist, which means I spent a little over five years in graduate school. Looking back on the experience, I think grad school is designed to foster impostor syndrome--imagine year after year of failure punctuated by the occasional success, so that you begin to think those rare successes are due more to luck than any skill on your part.  Anyway, I digress.

My well-developed sense of impostor syndrome often rears its ugly head in other areas of my life as well. And why not?  If you really put your back into it, you too can experience feelings of doubt and insecurity in any aspect of your life!

Lately, I've been worrying about my writing, and feeling like maybe my successes to date are due to a combination of luck and fooling people. Making them think I can actually write, when really, I'm nothing more than a hack with a computer.  What if no one buys my book?  What if I'm the biggest flop in the history of publishing, and I never get to write in this town again, and...  Or, perhaps worse, what if people buy my book and they hate it?  What if I disappoint all the people who have invested in my writing career?  They'll figure out that they caught me on a rare good day, and that really, most of my work is bad and they wasted their time on me.

One of the problems with impostor syndrome is that it's terribly insulting to those around you.  You really think you're good enough to have fooled everyone?  Please.  That implies a near mythical level of skill, something you don't have in the first place, right?  So how could you possibly sneak past all the 'gatekeepers' of your field?  My rational brain knows and accepts this, but still...  Fear is a powerful thing, and it doesn't play by rational rules.

So I guess I'm going to do the only thing I can: try my best to ignore the voices of doubt and worry, and keep plugging away, day after day (like the failed poet I am <g>).

How do you deal with doubt?  Are you a fellow sufferer of impostor syndrome, too?

IWSG - July edition

Hard to believe it's already the first Wednesday of a new month--where does the time go?  If you're just joining us, IWSG stands for Insecure Writers' Support Group, and it's a blog hop hosted by the wonderful Alex J. Cavanaugh.  Visit his blog to sign up and participate as we share our worries and stresses about this writing life.

Clark Kent puppy
www.123rf.com

I don't know about the rest of you, but I have a secret identity.  I write under a pen name, which is not that unusual.  The thing is, I've generally kept my writing life separate from my day job life, but lately the line of demarcation has grown thin.

I'm not ashamed of the fact that I write, or ashamed of what I write.  I just haven't wanted to talk about it much at work because of an irrational fear that I will no longer be seen as a professional.  My co-workers have in no way contributed to this fear, but it exists, nonetheless.  I really dread the day my students find out, because I imagine (again, irrationally) that the news will only serve as a distraction. I hope I'm wrong.

Most of my family and friends know that I'm a writer, but there is still a sizable contingent of people who have no idea.  I've always been a fairly private person, so it is not out of character for me to keep things close to the vest.  I guess I'm still trying to figure out how to talk about this part of my life with people who have already slotted me into a defined category.

What about you?  Do you have a separate 'writer identity,' or are you an open book?

IWSG - June edition

Welcome to the June edition of the Insecure Writer's Support Group!  This is the brainchild of Alex J. Cavanaugh, and I encourage you to check out his blog and join the list.  Baring your insecurities in public has never been so fun!

Here's a question for you: has anyone ever made you feel bad about what you write (and yes, I know the Eleanor Roosevelt quote that says no one can make you feel inferior without your permission, but still...)?  I've had this experience several times, usually at a conference.  I'll meet another writer, ask them about their work, and when they find out I write romance, the conversation tends to shut down.

"Oh," they'll say, their eyes casting about for someone else to talk to.  "I don't really read _those books_."  Insert a smirk and a scoff, and a remark about 'real' writing.

Why do we do this to each other?  Why do we try to make other authors feel that their work is somehow 'less,' whatever that means?  Can't we support each other, and celebrate the fact that there is diversity and limitless creativity in the writing world?

Maybe that's a little too kumbaya of me, and maybe I'm being naive, but I don't think of writing and publishing as a zero-sum game.  Rather, the success of other writers, regardless of genre, will only serve to help the community as a whole.  Haven't we seen time and again that the runaway success of one book will boost sales of others in that genre?  People find something they like to read, and it causes them to explore other options. Everybody wins.

So what's your response when someone dismisses what you do?  How do you keep their scorn and negative attitude from getting you down?

IWSG - May edition

Welcome to the May edition of the Insecure Writers Support Group! I missed April's post due to the A to Z blog challenge, but I'm back and I hope you guys will forgive my absence.

Today I want to talk about motivation.  What keeps you on track, writing-wise, when life gets in the way?  Do you have a daily goal in terms of word count?  Do you have a set schedule, a dedicated time to write every day?

As for me, I find that keeping a daily record of words written helps, because it makes me want to write even more the next day.  My schedule prevents me from writing much while at work, so I devote several hours every night to take care of my blogging and writing.

I love challenges like NaNoWriMo, be it the November full version, or the summer camps.  I signed up for the April camp, and challenged myself to write 20,000 words.  Although I am about 2,000 words short of my goal, I did manage to finish the manuscript I was working on, so I consider it a win.  I love the social aspect of the challenge, and the way my progress is mapped out every day.  There's something about feeling like part of a group that makes writing more fun and keeps me on track--after all, I don't want to be the slacker in my Cabin!

What about you?  How do you keep going when you're tired, or when the words just don't flow?

IWSG March edition - Social Media Madness

Be sure to stop by Alex Cavanaugh's blog to sign up for this hop, and to see a full list of participating blogs!

I have a question for y'all: what's your relationship with social media?  I blog (obviously), and I generally tweet and Facebook (although to be fair, the three accounts are all linked, so it's not like I'm posting unique content to each site).  I do not Pinterest, I do not FourSquare, I do not Google+ or MySpace.  I know that as an author it's important to develop a social media profile and build a brand, but how much is too much?

I'd rather focus my energies on a few key efforts so I don't spread myself too thinly.  Better to be good at one (or a few) things than to be bad at a lot of things, right?  I just hope I'm putting my eggs into the right baskets...

How many social media accounts do you have?  Is there a platform you prefer, or do they all rank the same for you?

IWSG - February edition

Can you believe it's already February?  That means it's time for another Insecure Writer's Support Group post.  Check out the full list of participating blogs on Alex Cavanaugh's blog.

This month, I'd like to talk about how to handle criticism.  I'm a professor, and you may know that there is a website where students rank their professors in terms of easiness, helpfulness, etc.  I recently discovered that my ratings on this website are abysmally bad--these students are essentially doing the digital equivalent of burning me in effigy because I'm apparently too mean, too hard, too uncaring, too whathaveyou.

On the other end of the spectrum are the students who call or email to tell me they think I'm doing a good job.  They're not quite as vocal as the haters, but there is definitely a non-zero number of people who like what I'm doing and want me to continue.

I think the truth lies somewhere in the middle.  I am not the 'worst professor evah' but neither am I the greatest.  I am human, which means I'm going to have bad days and make mistakes, and that's okay.

I think the same is true for writing.  There are going to be people who absolutely love what you write, and they can't wait for you to put something else out so they can read that, too.  These fans sit on the edge of their seats in breathless anticipation as you spin magic from your keyboard.

Then there are the people who hate your work, who think you're the worst, most untalented hack to ever pick up a pen.  These are the criticisms that are going to stick with you, that will keep you up at night and make you wonder if everyone else feels like that, too.

I'm not saying we need to dismiss our critics.  Far from it--I think it's important to try to parse out the truths in any critique.  There is, however, a nice way to criticize, and a not-so-nice way to criticize.  I most definitely prefer constructive feedback, but not everyone will provide that and sometimes I have to put on my armor and wade through the thicket of snarkiness, looking for the nuggets of truth that I can polish up and put to good use.

It's important not to let the haters get you down though.  There will always be negativity, there will always be snark, there will always be someone who enjoys crushing the dreams of others.  You can get a thousand compliments, but it's always the insult that sticks with you the longest.  The trick is to let it go.

And if you figure out how to do that, I hope you'll share your secret :)

IWSG - January edition

Happy 2013 everyone!  I joined IWSG late last year, and I'm excited to start a new year off with the group. One of my resolutions is to participate in all 12 IWSG posts this year.  Haven't heard of IWSG? Get thee to Alex Cavanaugh's blog and check it out!

www.123rf.com

We're starting a fresh new calendar year, a blank slate on which to write our goals.  With that in mind, I thought I'd share my 2013 writing resolutions with you all.

1)  Write every day.  I know this is standard advice, but it's not something I've been very good about doing in the past.  My goal is to write at least 2013 words per week.  Kind of an intimidating number, if attempted in one sitting. However, it translates into ~ 290 words per day, which is completely doable.  This should help keep me on track and keep the WIP's fresh so it's not so difficult to dive back into the stories when I sit down to write. Plus, a little bit adds up, and I think I'll be pleasantly surprised by how much I get done if I write every day.

I'm a bit visual when it comes to tracking my progress, so I printed off a Don't Break the Chain calendar.  The nerdy, office supply loving side of me is really excited to X-off days as I get writing done.

2) Blog more.  I've been a bit lax in keeping up with the blog.  I need to step up my efforts to connect with others and share my thoughts, so to that end, I'm kicking around ideas for some weekly posts.  The goal is to continue to build my online author platform, and at the same time tap into the wonderful community of support that writers of all stripes have built.  I'm looking forward to cheering others on as they work to achieve their goals this year!

3) Get published.  To a certain extent, this goal is out of my control. However, I'm not going to stop working to put out the best story I can, which I think will translate into publication (pause for your cynical laughter here).  I know that sounds kind of naive, but I'm still working to pursue traditional publication this year, and I will definitely keep you all updated as I gather rejections (and hopefully good news sprinkled in as well).

So those are my Big 3 goals for this new year.  What are your writing resolutions?  How is this year going to be the best yet for you?

Insecure Writers' Support Group - December edition

It's time for another edition of IWSG posts!  For a full list of participating blogs, be sure to check out Alex Cavanaugh's blog.

Can you believe it's already December?  I thought for this month's post, I'd take stock of my year in writing and tally up where I made progress and where I fell short.

Good things:
--I finished Edge of Trust.
--I submitted Edge of Trust, and the editor requested some revisions, which I am currently working on <yay!>

Needs improvement:
--I started 2 books and made progress, but I really wanted to have a second book in the can by the end of the year.  That's not going to happen.
--I participated in NaNo (twice, if you count Camp NaNo during the summer), and failed to win.

I think the biggest lesson for me is that I need to work on my daily writing progress.  I can't just plan to write for large chunks of time on the weekends, because that doesn't always work out.  I need to do a better job of taking advantage of the odd 30 minutes that pop up every now and then.

I also need to learn to ignore my internal editor.  I think that's my biggest roadblock to using the aforementioned spare blocks of time I have--I start writing, and wind up deleting because the words 'aren't good enough.'  Really though, any words are better than no words, am I right?

There are still a few weeks left in the year, and I'm coming up on my winter break at work.  I hope to take advantage of the time off and finish up the revisions for Edge of Trust and make additional progress on Edge of Danger and Edge of Truth.  The holidays are already a crazy time of year, but I think I can do it!

Good luck to everyone on meeting your writing goals during the holiday season!