The purpose of the IWSG is to share and encourage, posting on the first Wednesday of each month. You'll find writer doubts and concerns without fear of appearing foolish or weak. Support and a common understanding spread throughout the group as many fellow writers can relate. So, here's my monthly post.
Life is the measure with which most of us write our stories. Whether sci-fi, paranormal, or contemporary, the worlds we create are ever-changing, challenging, and active. At least we hope we accomplish those elements.
So what do we do with a character who falls off the horse and begins to sink in his/her struggle within the plot or subplot we've created? We might add a scene of lowered tension, a breath of fresh air for the character to reevaluate the situation. But WE decide what's going to happen. Ultimately, it's in our control. Real life is not that defined.
2014 was a year of total and absolute GRRR.... for me, for many reasons. There was health issues, ailing parents with growing needs, and regular stuff like raising my four kids. I won't get into any of those right now. The one I'll briefly mention for this post is a writing related struggle. It's very hard for me to come clean about this, but here goes: I broke up with my agent right before Christmas. It had been coming for a while, for reasons I won't say here.
Point being: I now feel like the rider who's been kicked off a her horse and is terrified to get back in the saddle. There's mud in my mouth, and I'm full of dirt and muck. My palms are blistered, and frankly, my attitude is a bit ornery. The luster that once drove my writing passion has evaporated somewhat. Now, I didn't say totally. It's taken me a little bit, but over the last two weeks I've been going over manuscripts that, unbeknownst to me, had been neglected. I've even been in touch with some amazing writer friends (you know who you are), and thrown myself back into the critiquing pool. I'm writing up possible submission logs for my various manuscripts. But the fear of going it alone again has me almost paralyzed.
Has this ever happened to you?
