One More Month #IWSG
It’s the first day of December and Insecure Writer’s Support Group day!
What makes me an insecure writer this month? Well, I’ve had to redo that companion novel WIP I’ve been working on, and now I’m losing steam. I submitted my second chapter a while back and my group didn’t have the response I’d hoped. The unlikability of my main character out-weighed the interesting aspects of the story, leaving them meh on the whole thing. I’d worried about this, and now that they confirmed my concerns, I went ahead and redid the whole chapter, which has led to a ripple effect through all the chapters that follow.
*sigh*
I suppose that leads to this month’s question:
IWSG Question of the Month – In your writing, what stresses you the most? What delights you?
Redoing stuff stresses me out the most. That’s probably why I’ve avoided book 2 all year, because that’s got a massive rewrite waiting for it. What I love the most, however, are those moments when the scene just bursts from brain to fingertips and I pour out character interactions that leave me grinning. Other people might not appreciate them as much (take chapter 2 for example), but the pure joy of these characters coming to life, no matter how petty they may be, is the reason I write.
As 2021 comes to a close, I find myself in a positive place. I’ve done some self-examination and realized I’m not quite who I try to be, but I’m accepting of that. For years, I considered myself an ISTJ because of how I try to manage my home life and what I actively work to portray to my family. But my procrastination, disorganized/messy personal space, and the fact I switch projects on a whim all point to me being a P more than a J. I retook the test with a more truthful answers of how I am versus how I try to be, and sure enough: ISTP.
Strangely, that knowledge is freeing. I used to feel guilty that I could never stick with one thing for too long, whether it be in writing, art, exercise, or whatever. Now, I’m just “yeah, that’s me.” It gives me a new perspective as I head into 2022, and I’ve got the rest of this month to figure out how I’m going to use that information.
What do you find stressful or delightful in writing? Have you ever looked at personality types? Are things looking up for 2022 for you?
About Insecure Writer’s Support Group
You can find the sign up for the IWSG here. We owe Alex J Cavanaugh a huge thank you for thinking this blog hop up.
