IWSG – FEB 2024 – Feeling Bored, Unmotivated, and Uninspired?

Ninja Captain Alex J Cavanaugh created IWSG — because Alex understands we need a place to congregate, insecurity is part of our creative nature, and together we’re stronger.

On the first Wednesday of each month, you can write on any subject related to your writing journey or adopt the option of answering the month’s question. Either way, you’re in safe territory.

If this sounds good to you, sign up here.

IWSG’s Twitter handle is @TheIWSG and the hashtag is #IWSG.

Every month, a specific question is offered, which may prompt you to share advice, insight, a personal experience or a story. Include your answer to the question in your IWSG post or let it inspire your post if you struggle with something to say.

Remember, the question is optional!

February 7 question: What turns you off when visiting an author’s website/blog? Lack of information? A drone of negativity? Little mention of author’s books? Constant mention of books?The awesome co-hosts for the February 7 posting of the IWSG are Janet Alcorn, SE White, Victoria Marie Lees, and Cathrina Constantine!
Be sure to visit the
Insecure Writer’s Support Group Website!!!I’ve mentioned, too often I’m sure, that I’ve been lacking inspiration. I’ve lost my muse. Well, turns out I’m not alone. My friend and fellow author Hank Quense is also suffering. So! What is one to do? We’ve decided to reach out to other authors experiencing this problem through media. Here’s an invitation from Hank:

I have a problem and it’s one I haven’t encountered before.  But first some background.  I’ve been writing stories since the last century,  I’ve sold 45 short stories and published a dozen novels.  Several years ago, I started writing non-fiction and wrote books on fiction writing, self-publishing and book marketing.

My problem is I’m un-motivated to write more books or stories.

I’ve run out of nonfiction stuff to write about: any new nonfiction book will just be stuff I’ve previously written rearranged.  Besides that, I can’t get interested in writing fiction. Actually, I’ve developed storylines for three new novels, but when it comes time to start writing scenes in one of those stories, my brain goes into overdrive and comes up with a list of stuff I can do instead.  The odd thing is that the storylines are good.  The completed novel would be a great story. Unfortunately, I have no inclination to write those stories.

Much to my surprise, when I told my friend and fellow author, Joylene Butler, about this, she said, “Me too!”

Here’s how Joylene describes her lack of motivation:

My entire career as a novelist, I’ve always begun a new book during the final stages of my current one. Until now. For over a year, every time I sit down to write a word, I find myself up again and off to do something entirely different: wash floors, walk the beach, watch Youtube. What’s wrong with me? Where’s my muse? I can’t describe how weird this feels… it’s like walking into a room and forgetting why I’m there.

Joylene and I had a few Zoom meetings to see if we could come up with a project to get us back into writing.  We thought about a joint Youtube channel but that didn’t go very far.  Joylene mentioned that we can’t be the only two authors who have this problem and suggested we try to find others.  Her thinking was that new faces and perspectives could kick off an idea or a project to get us all back on track.

That idea led to the idea of Unmotivated Authors Anonymous (UAA) and this article.  If you’re an author who is currently unmotivated, why not get in touch with us by leaving a comment. We can all set up a chat and brainstorm together.

Learn more about us at:

Joylene’s webpage: joylenebutler.com

Hank’s webpage: https://writersarc.com

If you’re shy and would rather not leave a public comment, please contact me privately at cluculzwriter at yahoo dot ca.

The only thing that sometimes frustrates me while visiting an author’s blog is when I can’t find their name anywhere on the site, and/or it takes me several minutes to find the link to their comment window. A few times I’ve had to leave without adding a comment because I couldn’t find the window.

 

The post IWSG – FEB 2024 – Feeling Bored, Unmotivated, and Uninspired? first appeared on Joylene Nowell Butler.

The post IWSG – FEB 2024 – Feeling Bored, Unmotivated, and Uninspired? appeared first on Joylene Nowell Butler.