#IWSG Oct 2018: Picking myself up again

Posted October 3, 2018 in Creative Writing / 8 Comments

The Insecure Writer's Support Group badge

It’s time for another Insecure Writer’s Support Group post to boost my confidence and encourage myself to engage with the writing community. The IWSG post on the first Wednesday of every month.

This month’s co-hosts are:  DolorahTanya MirandaChemist Ken, and Christopher D. Votey

For some strange reason, I ended up answering this month’s optional question last month (not sure how that happened!) so today’s post will be an unstructured waffle instead.

This past month has been a tough one for me. After a glorious summer break filled with lots of writing, reading and family time, I found it hard to go back to work in September. Don’t get me wrong, I enjoy my job and feel lucky to have it. But at times I find it hard to fit in everything else around my work, and I miss spending time with my daughter. I’ve been feeling tired and stretched thin lately and this, combined with the darker mornings and dropping temperatures, has given me a bad case of the blues.

As a result, I haven’t written anything (not even a blog post) for a whole month. I simply couldn’t face setting my alarm for 5:30 am and dragging myself out of bed to get my writing done. Every morning I told myself I would work on my WiP in the evening, but by the time my little one was in bed I just felt exhausted and mentally spent. Self-doubt and guilt began to creep in, and my dreams of finishing this novel were beginning to fade.

However, October is a new month. I have some new goals and I know it’s possible to reach them if I just commit to a little writing time every day. It won’t be easy, but I need to get back into the saddle, as it were. At the same time, I know I need to find a good balance and not push myself too hard. Writing is important to me, but looking after myself is vital.

I’ve actually been toying with the idea of entering the IWSG Anthology Contest. I have an idea that would fit the masquerade theme quite well and have been mulling the details over in my head. Working to a deadline could produce the motivation I need right now, so I might give it a go.

What about you?

I’m sure most of you have experienced this ‘burnt-out’ feeling before-how did you get through it? Anyone else planning to enter the IWSG anthology contest? 

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8 responses to “#IWSG Oct 2018: Picking myself up again

  1. Good luck, Tizzy. Sometimes just getting the rest you need can help with the burnt-out feelings. Ice-cream helps too 😉 As for the writing: try twenty minutes at a time. It has a deadline, a sense of accomplishment and it moves your story forward. I’m entering the IWSG anthology contest too 🙂 Happy writing!

    Ronel visiting on Insecure Writer’s Support Group day: Course Correction

    • Thanks, Ronel. I’ve felt much more positive this week since my little girl is sleeping through and I’ve been getting more rest. Thanks for your advice, 20 minutes is a good, manageable amount for me.

  2. I think I’ve been in burnout for about three years. I don’t write as consistently as I should. I hope you do write and submit that story for IWSG. Never know, it could be the cover story 🙂

    • Sorry to hear that, but I hope you don’t give yourself a hard time for not writing consistently. If you write at all then that’s great! Thank you for your encouragement, I have started the story and hopefully I will get it done. Luckily I have a little time off work soon to work on it.

  3. You can do this! I had that burnt out feeling a bit this weekend and it’s kind of leaking into my week but I am trying to fight it best I can and pick myself up. We can do it and we can be great doing it as well ^.^ I hope October will be a better month for you x

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