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. Feel free to JOIN in anytime.
An online presence has become a way of life. I honestly don't know of anyone who isn't online in some way, either by paying bills, communication via email, or through the ever-expanding highway of social media. There are a bazillion advantages to being online. But there are dangers, too. Keeping our identities our own is one of them.
As writers, our identities are part of our marketing platform, part of what will attract readers. It shows who we are and what we care about. But when you peel those writing layers away, we are people living in the world like everyone else. We are individuals. The fear of having that violated, for whatever reasons, scares the daylights out of me. It's happened to me once, and my identity has been threatened a few other times. Thank the cyber powers that the safeguards set in place worked. I may not have a lot. I might not be much in this world, but what I have and am are mine.
Have any of you had your identities compromised? Do you fear being taken advantage of through your writing identity?
Writerly Wisdom Wednesdays, posted on the third Wednesday of the month, is a regular meme for writers to share lessons they've learned along their path to publication and beyond. I haven't used it in forever. But I noticed that last year was tough on a lot of us, so I decided to bring it back to the forefront. Feel free to join me! The only requirement is that the post be brief.
There are days when all seems bright and airy. Then again, some are filled with doom and gloom. And with the fast-pace of life today, the two can sometimes blur. The one certain we have is the current moment we're living in. Right now. Yeah, that one. Other than that nothing is assured.
A multitude of variables bombard us each day that influence, affect, and change our activities, goals, attitudes, and motivations. I don't know about you, but every time I think my day is going smoothly WHAM! the unexpected happens. Wisdom: The unexpected really should be expected.
Although this quote could be relative to many people in numerous different walks of life, it is a hard-fast truth for writers. I could spend a dozen posts on methods of deciding whether to remain steadfast with a manuscript or shelf it; that will be for another day. The most valuable lesson I've learned about writing is that loving the craft will not always feel good. It's sacrifice.
So tell me: what's the wisest writing advice you've been given?
.jpg)
