Time for another posting with the Insecure Writer’s Support Group, where writers can share their insecurities and encourage one another. IWSG was founded by Alex J. Cavanaugh and we share our posts the first Wednesday of the month.
The question for March 7 is: How do you celebrate when you achieve a writing goal/ finish a story?
I suppose it depends on whether or not the writing project had a deadline. If I’m working to get something finished in time, I will usually procrastinate and then exhaust myself. Like when I participated in the Blogging From A to Z Challenge and I was writing posts the night before (I do not recommend that method if you are thinking of participating this year). Or when I wrote most of my 3000+ word fantasy story in two weeks for the IWSG anthology contest in 2016. When I procrastinate my writing, no matter how much I may have enjoyed the process, I usually celebrate with a break from writing. When I was not working my day job, I watched too much Netflix, listened to music, played hours of video games, and spent time reading during these extended breaks. The problem with this is that I often have a hard time getting back into writing after the break.
Something that has worked far better for my writing is when I get into a writing flow. If I write regularly enough, I find that it is a lot easier to come up with ideas for stories. It does feel good when the ideas are streaming through my head faster than I can write them down. That is what happened with my most recent accomplishment. I participated in last month’s Write…Edit…Publish Challenge and shared a flash fiction story on my blog for the first time. (You can read it by clicking here). Even though it is only published on my blog, it was still nice to share something new, and the wonderful comments people had were thoughtful and encouraging. I am glad that I participated and I’m hoping to get an idea going for the next one. Writing things like that actually inspire me to celebrate by writing more, which is a better way to celebrate by far.
Along the lines of inspiration, I have been particularly inspired by a piece of music a few times this month. It is the 2nd Movement of Beethoven’s 7th Symphony in A Major. I would definitely put this on my top ten classical music pieces list if I had one. I hope it helps inspire your writing as well if you choose to listen.
Here's the direct link if the embedded video does not work: https://youtu.be/J12zprD7V1k
Isn't Leonard Bernstein an amazing conductor?
I celebrate with a break. Although like you, I find it hard to get back into the flow if the break is too long.
ReplyDeleteAlex, I need to work on keeping my breaks a bit shorter.
DeleteYeah, I find that if I write everyday, it becomes easier. Procrastinating though is a CREATIVITY KILLER. That's why I never put pressure on myself with deadlines like NaNo. Congrats on participating in the WEPC :)
ReplyDeleteThanks C.G. For me, the pressures of deadlines sometimes actually help me get something written. I still need to work on getting into a daily writing habit.
DeleteI like everything you wrote! I do enjoy writing more if I'm happy with what I just finished especially if it moves even just one person and they express that. I love classical too and read by it or study my Bible! It is not a good idea for me either to wait until I almost publish something to write. I need to re-write my stuff as it doesn't always make sense the first time. How creative to publish a story on your blog site. You got me thinking.
ReplyDeleteThank you, Mary! It does make writing more pleasant if at least one person expresses appreciation with it. If you're thinking of publishing a story on your blog, you should! You could join the WEP group at http://writeeditpublishnow.blogspot.com/ Their next theme in April is The Road Less Traveled.
DeleteThe only way I've ever been able to pull off A to Z is by writing most of my posts beforehand. So much pressure to write them on the fly. That is a beautiful symphony. Music can be very inspiring.
ReplyDeleteEllen, Music is so very inspiring!
DeleteSince I have not come up with enough ideas for each letter with my theme, I'm probably skipping the A to Z again this year.
Symphony No. 7 is my favorite Beethoven piece. Much better than 5 or 9 ;)
ReplyDeleteLiz, I agree. I think that Symphony No. 7 is highly under-appreciated.
DeleteEnjoy your writing and your music...and throw in some singing too, while you're at it!
ReplyDeleteI.B., I do throw in some singing once in while, in my car, alone ;)
DeleteCelebrating by writing more is awesome! I get on a high after reaching a goal and I want to keep on going. I try not to take long breaks, because you're right, it's hard to get back in the flow later.
ReplyDeleteChristine, A writing high is a wonderful place to reach. I suppose if I shortened my breaks and wrote more, I could probably experience it more often.
DeleteCan a person watch too much Netflix?? I'm not sure. LOL
ReplyDeleteSusan, I guess if we haven't seen everything on Netflix yet, then we haven't watched too much ;)
DeleteThanks for sharing the music!
ReplyDeleteYou're welcome, Yvonne! I'm listening to it again right now :)
DeleteTaking a break sounds like a good celebration to me!
ReplyDeleteLoni, breaks are really nice as long as you come back to the writing eventually :)
DeleteHow do I celebrate? CHOCOLATE!!!
ReplyDeleteKeith, I don't know why I didn't mention it in my post, but chocolate is always involved :)
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