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Wednesday, December 6, 2017

The last IWSG for 2017!



IWSG (the Insecure Writer's Support Group) is a wonderful group of writers, who come together to share, encourage and support each other. As writers, we sometimes need a shoulder to lean on or are ready to assist others on their writing journey.

We post on the first Wednesday of every month and talk about our doubts, fears, or triumphs with fellow writers. To find out more about how it works, head on over here.

Special thanks goes to the never relenting, always amazing Alex J. Cavanaugh (this is his brainchild) and to the other co-hosts this month:  Julie Flanders, Shannon Lawrence, Fundy Blue, and Heather Gardner!

You can also find us on Twitter at @TheIWSG and hashtag #IWSG

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Can you believe it's the last IWSG of 2017???

That means it's time to lean back and consider this last year's ups and downs on the writing front with this month's question:

As you look back on 2017, with all its successes/failures, if you could backtrack, what would you do differently? 

First, I'm going to take a sip of hot tea and contemplate.

Hmmmm...
Hmmm...........

Hmmmmm....  (contemplation is a long process, right?)


My answer is. . .

*finger drum roll, please*

Nothing! I wouldn't change anything. Well, pretty much, anyway.

Of course, I wish I would have gotten more writing done, but that's a no-brainer for writers. Honestly, how many writers have you run into who say, "Boy, I wrote way too many words this year!" 

I'm betting you could count them on one hand. . .*ahm* one finger?

In other words, us writers never write or publish or do enough. At least, not in our minds.

My novella, A Glowworm,  was published as a Ubook, which was unexpected and definitely exciting.
And I had another short published in FULL DARK. Of course, the publishing front could have brought even more (remember: one finger no-brainer?), but I'm more than satisfied.

I dove into some new writing areas this year. Several very different ones. Maybe I could have done more research on some of them. Maybe I could have written more concise or more carefully or not have procrastinated on some projects as much as I did. But even here, each expedition into those new areas was a huge learning experience. Nope, I wouldn't change a thing there either.

I would have liked to decorate my writing room a little more. Does that count?

Ugh! Now, it's time to start planning next year's goals! Up the word count? Push up that publishing line? Go on a month long safari and conduct some serious research for a new plot? All right, maybe not the safari thing. At least, not in January.


So, what about you? What would you have changed this year or hoped to have done differently? Or are you super satisfied?


17 comments:

  1. I think the safari sounds like a great idea :-) I love that you look back and feel that you had a good year. It's good to reminded that we can be hard on ourselves at time and wish we had done more, when we should be proud of all that we accomplished.

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  2. Excellent that you're so satisfied with last year! Good for you! And with your positive attitude, I bet 2018 will be even better. :)

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  3. Weather-wise, January might be a good time for a safari. I'm so excited about your publications! Looking forward to what you get out there next year. ^_^

    I'm pretty happy with what's gotten done this year, too. I would be happy to get a similar level of work done next year. Similar but less anxiety. :)

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  4. Feeling satisfied is a good place to be . . . I think you are right though when you say writer's are probably never totally happy with their word counts and progress! The safari sounds like a fab idea by the way!

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  5. Two published stories is good! Nice to hear you are happy with your year. Yes, we all want to write more.

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  6. Don't underestimate the power that comes from dressing up your writing room. If your muse is happy, so are you.

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  7. Planning is a great way to get going for next year. No wonder you managed so much in 2017. :-)

    Anna from elements of emaginette

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  8. Hi! I'm new to IWSG, but I think I may've visited you from time-to-time with a Celebrate post.

    Happy to hear you wouldn't have changed much. Hearing about redecorating the writing room caused a little bell to ring in my brain. I like that idea! Now ... what would I change?

    Merry Christmas!

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  9. I'll post my usual year-end round up later on in December, but two things published doesn't sound that bad to me! I'm curious about this writing room redecoration though!

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  10. I'm happy with how this year went, too. I got a lot of writing accomplished and even published two books throughout the year.

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  11. I want a writing room. I'm so jealous. Men have taken over every room in my house. I'm trying my best to keep animal carcasses out of my living room, much less a room to myself.

    I didn't write enough last year either, so I am not the one-fingered writer. LOL.

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  12. Writers...we all wish we could've gotten more writing done. ;)

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  13. Yeah, I'm sure we could all wish we'd done a bit more writing, but I love it when people can look back and honestly say they wouldn't change anything.

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  14. More writing, more promoting. Manage time better would help with both. Love your attitude. Wishing you & your family an enjoyable holiday.

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  15. I want to go on a safari! I'd like to meet the person who says they wrote too much or just enough.

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  16. It's true that we always wish we'd written more. That's just how it goes with us writers.

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