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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!I was out of IWSG during my summer break, but I'm back. At the moment, I'm not feeling particularly insecure.
I know. *gasp*
What I am trying to do is just enjoy the journey.
I love creating my stories, my characters. My worlds. I love surprising readers with an unexpected twist. So what if I'm not a New York Times bestseller. Or even an Amazon bestseller (well, I am but only on some of the side categories).
It really doesn't matter because that's not why I do what I do.
So, I'll leave you with a short segment of Neil Gaiman's fabulous 2012 commencement address.
Why do you write (or whatever art you make)?
It is important we enjoy the journey.
ReplyDeleteDefinitely. Or why take it?
DeleteThe Gaiman address is brilliant. Here's to not feeling insecure!
ReplyDeleteWoohoo! Glad it worked. ;)
DeleteVery inspiring! Writing isn't about numbers and figures, it's about connection and emotion. And yes, we have to enjoy it.
ReplyDeleteLove Gaiman. She's a wise man. And you're right about connection and emotion. If I don't have that for the characters, I quit reading.
DeleteSo glad you're on the upswing. Always look at the bright side, eh? And when that light infests your eyes, the rest of life looks pretty epic too.
ReplyDelete"light infests your eyes" Love that imagery.
DeleteOooh, Gaiman is so much better than the guy who spoke at my graduation! And completely right, too.
ReplyDeleteYou must feel cheated! He has some great advice in that address. And, one is about enjoying the journey. :D
DeleteOh how I love those words from Neil Gaiman! Perfect for another perfect day.
ReplyDeleteAwesome that you're writing and enjoying the journey. Hope you had a good summer.
ReplyDeleteI did. Thanks!
DeleteHave to just enjoy it indeed as it takes seed.
ReplyDeleteThat it does, my friend.
DeleteGreat post. I love the Neil Gaimann clip. It made me laugh and it left me inspired. Thanks for sharing.
ReplyDeleteall the best
Jo-Ann Carson
Thanks for dropping by, Jo-Ann.
DeleteThat is a wonderful video. Thanks for sharing, Donna. And glad to see you back.
ReplyDeleteThanks! I wondered if I was going to come back, but I'm glad that I decided to.
DeleteI've been making up stories in my head constantly since I was a child. And so I HAVE to be a writer. Because otherwise I'm just weird and living in a fantasy world. Or, more accurately, a science fiction world.
ReplyDeleteNissa from
http://myantimatterlife.wordpress.com
I've always been entertained by my friends in my head. It's so much fun to get them out and on paper.
DeleteYay for secure feelings. Hang on to them and remember them for those insecure days that may pop up in the future.
ReplyDeleteHaha! Yeah, ride the wave before the crash, right? Because we know there's always a crash. :D
DeleteThank you, thank you, thank you!!!! This reminds me so much of the speech by Steven Jobs.
ReplyDeleteMake Good Art!
You have been an encouragement to me today.
All the best.
Shalom aleichem,
Pat Garcia
I'm glad it encouraged you. Neil speaks awesome words.
DeleteLove that! I've heard the speech before but that clip is a wonderful reminder - thank you! :)
ReplyDeleteI need to take the time to listen to the whole thing again. So much good stuff in there.
DeleteGreat words of advice he gave. Thank you for sharing it with us. I took a break from the IWSG last year. It's good to back, glad you're back too. :)
ReplyDeleteElsie
co-host IWSG
Thanks. It's good to be back. :D
DeleteI have Neil's full speech buffering right now. Thanks for sharing this Donna. We need to keep up our art no matter what. My writing is important to me and whether I write for myself or others, I want to put out my best work. Thanks for taking part in IWSG and enjoying the journey is wonderful news. :)
ReplyDeleteWriting for yourself is so important. If there are people who like it too, it's just frosting on the cake, imho.
DeleteI write because it entertains me for one. Don't watch television much. Two, I love tot entertain others.
ReplyDeleteI don't watch much TV either. It seems like they just drag some storylines on forever and then they start jerking the characters around and twisting them. I hate that.
DeleteI translate because there are too many bad translators out there and I figured I couldn't be any worse than them and it turns out me was right :)
ReplyDeleteYou are so right there! I heard from people on the Harry Potter boards that some of the translations for those books are dreadful. I'm glad you're good at it!
DeleteThat is wonderful video and what a speech. Thanks!
ReplyDeleteI know, right?! He's one of my favorite speakers.
DeleteGlad you are feeling upbeat and enjoying life, Donna!! Have a super September!
ReplyDeleteThanks, Nicola. You too!
DeleteHi Donna and welcome back to the group. Thanks for sharing this video, what Neil says is so true and encouraging.
ReplyDeleteThanks for the welcome. Yeah. He rocks it!
DeleteEnjoying the journey is important; you don't have to feel insecure. :) Enjoyed listening to Neil Gaiman's commencement speech. Thanks for sharing! :)
ReplyDeleteYes, it is important. We can get so easily distracted as we plunge through life.
DeleteThank you Donna and Thank you Neil. I came by here today looking for inspiration and motivation...you see, I'm trying real hard to reenter the blogging (and writing) world and it's become a real struggle for me. I had hoped to post for the IWSG this month, but did not make it. At the very least I decided to hope around a visit some old friends looking for inspiration and motivation. I knew you wouldn't fail me. I'm going to take this to heart and work even harder to 'make good art', even if it only be a blog post. I feel better now and confident I will be back. Look for me next month.
ReplyDeleteI'm so glad you found what you came looking for! *hugs*
DeleteThat's a powerful and inspirational video. I don't think I could ever stop producing stories. I'm driven to do it and want to entertain and enlighten readers.
ReplyDeleteAll good reasons to keep going, Medeia.
DeleteNothing wrong with not feeling insecure:) I actually started to feel the same way, which is why I probably don't do the IWSG anymore...even though I wholeheartedly support it! :)
ReplyDeleteI like the connectivity of the IWSG group. It's not all angst and I enjoy seeing people push through.
Delete