Writing Lessons

31 Replies

This is my first post with #IWSG the Insecure Writer’s Support Group.

From their blog:

Purpose: To share and encourage. Writers can express doubts and concerns without fear of appearing foolish or weak. Those who have been through the fire can offer assistance and guidance. It’s a safe haven for insecure writers of all kinds!

Posting: The first Wednesday of every month is officially Insecure Writer’s Support Group day. Post your thoughts on your own blog. Talk about your doubts and the fears you have conquered. Discuss your struggles and triumphs. Offer a word of encouragement for others who are struggling. Visit others in the group and connect with your fellow writer – aim for a dozen new people each time – and return comments. This group is all about connecting! Be sure to link to this page and display the badge in your post.
Let’s rock the neurotic writing world!

 

July 5 Question: What is one valuable lesson you’ve learned since you started writing?

I have been blogging for almost 3 years. I started my blog to see if I had the ability to write something that others would want to read. I was feeling pretty good about my writing then because I had two of my posts published on a couple of well know sites. Images of blog stardom danced in my head. Since that time I have continued to blog about topics that I was passionate about or was experimenting with creatively. For a while I did a lot of Flash Fiction 100 word challenges. I have attracted a moderate size following and made a group of blogging friends. I have come to a place in my blogging/writing where I want to develop more as a writer and attempt to write longer pieces with the goal of improved writing and maybe, maybe getting a short story or short book published. I have gotten positive feedback on several of my blogs/ flash fiction pieces, BUT…there is that insecurity there too. Am I really good enough that other people want to read my stuff and to actually get published?? So I am wanting to find a writing group that writes longer pieces, interacts with each other, and offers feedback. I am open to recommendations and suggestions. I have participated in an online group, Write..Edit..Publish (WEP) and just won their June 2017 Bridges Blogfest for my fictional piece of 1000 words. I will continue to write with their group but I am looking for others, too. So now for my answer to this month’s question:

What is one valuable lesson you’ve learned since you started writing?

Writing 100 word Flash Fiction stories was a challenge at first. I questioned if I could write fiction at all and then that I could actually write a complete story in 100 words. It turned out I could do both. What I learned from the limit of 100 words is that I could edit and hone my writing down and still write a complete story. The required editing helped me see how I can express myself more concisely.

The awesome co-hosts for the July 5 posting of the IWSG are Tamara Narayan, Pat Hatt, Patricia Lynne, Juneta Key, and Doreen McGettigan! Featured image ‘Writing’ via Wikemedia.

31 thoughts on “Writing Lessons”

  1. Dede Drucker

    As a daughter of a writer, writing is hard work. I didn’t receive my mother’s or my older sister’s talent for writing. Deb, if it gives you a peaceful place in your day, do it! I have enjoyed your writings with my morning coffee. Good luck with your creative spirit!

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  2. nissa_loves_cats

    Welcome to the IWSG. Your experience writing 100 word stories probably did you a lot of good. Years ago I used to write letters to the editor of my small-town paper. One is limited to one letter a month of no more than 350 words. My letters came out to 400 words. I had to practice taking things out to meet the word count goal while still having a letter that made sense. I learned a lot doing that. Now, alas, they have a call-in line so you don’t need to know how to write to appear on the letters page of the paper.

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    1. Deborah Drucker Post author

      Yes, having to go back and edit out words, phrases, and sentences has been a useful exercise. It is good to be brief when you are trying to get your message across to the newspaper, or even in a blog, in this world of shorter attention spans. Thank you, Nissa for your comment and for welcoming me. 🙂

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  3. J.S. Pailly

    I started off writing by trying to write novels. In retrospect, I think it would have been better to begin with much shorter pieces first. Trying to fit a story into 100 words or less is a far better way to start learning the craft.

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    1. Deborah Drucker Post author

      I can see how writing with a limit of words gets me to think about how much I really need to include in what I am trying to say. If I were writing without limits though I can do a more stream of consciousness style which I kind of like too because I think it is good to get your ideas on paper and see where it takes you. Then I need to go back and see what I want to edit out. Thank you for you comment and support, J.S. 🙂

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  4. doreenb8

    Congratulations on your win and YES you need to start writing longer pieces. Is it possible for you to find an ‘in person’ writing group or to even possibly start one? There is something special about meeting in person and clicking as a group.
    Good luck and we are so happy to have you join us for #IWSG DAY!

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  5. S.E. White

    Welcome to the IWSG group! Glad to see you, and your awesome cover photo. I live in Western Nevada so the view is very familiar 🙂 As to online writing groups . . . I’ve been looking too. There are thousands of book blogs but I haven’t had much luck finding *writing blogs. WEP is about the only one I’ve found. If I stumble on to one I’ll try to get back here and let you know about it!

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    1. Deborah Drucker Post author

      Thank you, S.E. I love the photo too. I found it on Creative Commons from one of the photographers at the US Dept of Land Management. I live in Southern California and we do have the desert here too, but I thought it matched well with the name of my blog. Thanks for keeping a look out for online writing groups and welcoming me. 🙂

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  7. Olga Godim

    Deborah, if you’re looking for readers, try wattpad. It’s an interesting website, very active with readers and writers. I have a few stories there, and the feedback has been encouraging.

    Liked by 1 person

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  9. Kelsie Engen

    That’s a great lesson to learn, one I should practice more. What I’ve learned is that it often takes more time to write a short piece of fiction than it does a longer piece–simply because every word has to be reevaluated and chosen much more wisely (especially when you only get 100!). And welcome to IWSG! 🙂

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  11. Toi Thomas

    Welcome to the IWSG. Congrats on winning the WEP challenge. Editing is something I still struggle with, but I’ve learned that everyone has something they excel at and something they struggle with.

    Liked by 1 person

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  12. Nick Wilford

    Welcome to the IWSG! You never know what you can do until you try. Flash fiction is great for giving you that achievement that you can write a complete story. Keep plugging away and you’ll have a book under your belt soon!

    Liked by 1 person

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    1. Deborah Drucker Post author

      Thank you, Nick. 🙂 Yes, getting some positive feedback on my writing has really helped and Flash fiction has been a good start. Thank you for your encouragement. 🙂

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  13. Mandy

    I love word and length limits in writing. Short 100 word limits encourage you to be more concise while long length limits ask you to delve into your topic even further than you might have otherwise. 🙂 It’s wonderful that you’ve had so much success with your blog so far! I think, for me, it’s been kind of the opposite experience. I’m still floundering. :-/ One day I’ll figure it out. Maybe. Until then, there is always IWSG. 🙂

    With Love,
    Mandy

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    1. Deborah Drucker Post author

      Well I really appreciate the readers I have but lately I have been thinking I am wanting to be more into writing than blogging. Maybe it goes along with my introvert temperament because I am not into large group socializing and talking. It depends on what you want to do. If you want to have a big following I think you have to follow a lot of other blogs. I want to concentrate more on writing at present. If you are talking about your writing you could get into more writing challenges like the 100 word challenges. 🙂 Thank you, Mandy.

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  14. Stephanie Faris

    As a full-time freelance writer in addition to being a novelist, I write all day and all night, it feels like! It certainly isn’t easy, but it’s very rewarding once we tackle all the challenges that come with it!

    Liked by 1 person

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  15. JoAnna

    I always love how you write from your heart and can relate to the “am I good enough?” question. I know that my writing could be better, and it will get better, but I am going to publish my book and continue my blog anyway, because there are so many stories to tell and issues I need to put out there. Time does not stand still. This insecure writer’s support group is a great idea!

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    1. Deborah Drucker Post author

      It is so hard to judge our own writing. I think it often can be better than we give ourselves credit for. The writing I did read from you book sounded good. Publishing a book is a big accomplishment. I was looking for a writing group. The IWSG looks like it does have resources available about writing books and publishing if I get to that point. 🙂 Thank you, JoAnna.

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