October, 2020
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Writer At Work (An IWSG Post)
It’s the first Wednesday of the month, which means it’s time for another action-packed installment of the Insecure Writer’s Support Group.
(As always, I’m assuming that if you’re here, reading this blog, you’re already familiar with the IWSG, but if you’re new and on the prowl for more information and/or a complete list of participants, please click on the above link.)
This month’s awesome co-hosts are Jemima Pett, Beth Camp, Beverly Stowe McClure, and Gwen Gardner!
This month’s (optional) question asks, “When you think of the term ‘working writer’, what does that look like to you? What do you think it is supposed to look like? Do you see yourself as a working writer or aspiring or hobbyist? If the latter two, what does that look like?”
In theory, I am a working writer. And I’m fortunate to be a working writer who doesn’t have a day job of any kind. At least not one that, you know, earns me any money. Not that writing earns me any money, either, because, you know, it doesn’t. My last royalty payment earned this reaction:
(Apparently, if one wants to sell books, one has to actually tell people said books exist. Which, just…ugh. I don’t like that.)
But yeah. I’m a working writer. And for me, that pretty much looks like an anxiety-ridden basket case constantly on the verge of a full-blown breakdown because she knows she’s not doing enough. Not writing enough, not publishing enough, not marketing enough, not anything enough. (Though, to be fair, I’m not convinced I would ever think any amount of writing/publishing/marketing/anything would be enough. Anxiety is my co-pilot!)
I don’t know what being a working writer is supposed to look like. (Not the way I do it, from what I hear. Which is true. If your goal is to make money from writing, you really don’t want to follow my business plan.)
I imagine it’s one of those things that will vary from one writer to the next, depending upon that particular writer’s particular goals.
And my goal, as has been stated in a lot of these posts lately, is to just do my own thing and don’t care if anyone else likes it.
(Sorry, y’all…this is apparently my new favorite gif.)
And on that note, I’m outta here. Thanks for stopping by today. I’ll try to do better the next time.
Stay safe and well, all.
Preptober
Today, I’ll be talking about my goals for the month. It’s been a while since I’ve done one of these posts (I just checked. My last one was way back in May.) so while this post would normally begin with a review of the previous month’s goals, this time we’re going to jump right into the main event.
October Goals
—Complete first draft of Full Circle
Full Circle is the third book in my fantasy series. Back in January, I said I wanted to complete the first draft by the end of the year. I’m hoping to cross it off the list this month, but to be completely honest…I don’t think that’ll happen. I just don’t think I’m getting enough done every day. It was going all right for a while, but I seem to have hit a lull. I’m still going to try, though. Maybe I’ll surprise myself. I was thinking of treating it almost like an October edition of NaNoWriMo, but we’ll see what happens. I just may take a 31-day nap instead. Or, a 26-day nap, rather, as it’s like October 5th or something like that.
—Prep for NaNoWriMo
That’s right. I have, once again, signed up for the November event. I’m planning to work on the Terrible Romance Sequel and hope to develop a little bit of a scene list ahead of time, but I don’t know if that’ll happen. A scene list would imply that I have some sort of idea for this story and what might happen in it, and I don’t…really have that. I have a concept—which is certainly no small thing. I just have no idea how or even if I can actually write it.
But the story itself is only half of my NaNo prep this year because this year, I am the Municipal Liaison for my county. And I am the only ML for my county. Which is totally fine and certainly what I thought would happen when I applied for the position.
Anyway, part of my job is to schedule and host events for other Wrimos in the area. This year, because of a certain global pandemic, all official events will be virtual. This month, I need to work out what that will look like for my area.
—Read a book
I hate that my reading goal is so…pathetic. But what I hate more is knowing that even though this goal is so pathetic and tiny, I still may not accomplish it.
—Walk at least three miles every day
As always, I’m just trying to do something healthy, as I generally fail in the area in every other aspect of my life.
And on that note, I’m outta here. I have a lot to do and no time to do it in. Tune in Wednesday when I take part in the October edition of the Insecure Writer’s Support Group. Unless I opt for that 31-day 26-day nap and forget. Which, let’s face it, would be such a me thing to do.
Thanks for stopping by, everyone. Hope you’re all safe and well.
D5 Creation