Tuesday, January 27, 2009

Are you writing with determined joy?

Are you writing with determined joy?

I sttended my monthly writer's group yesterday. About eight of us join each other around a long oak table in the back room of the local library. We've got a system down where we share our monthly successes and goals one-by-one.

Invariably, a writer will admit to not being able to accomplish much of anything.

Life interfered.

Family visited, chores arose, travel plans came up.

But yesterday, that wasn't the worse scenario.

Many of us felt like giving up as writers. Publication is too hard. It costs too much. Our well of ideas has dried up.

Thankfully the reason why we attend writers groups worked.

One man shared how he wrote five books while working full time. Another writer said she carved off a set amount of time for her writing. Another attendee said her husband was her biggest cheerleader. A visitor said giving up wasn't an option because God constantly gives her a shove to do it.

Are you determined to write? But most importantly are you doing it with joy?

I left that meeting once again filled with enough joy and determination to write another month. I hope our online group does the same for you!

12 comments:

Kathryn Magendie said...

This online community is wonderful - and places like this are why. I do miss my NAWW girls writer's group that met every other thursday...we inspired and cheerleaded -but we do that via the airwaves now!

Donna M. Kohlstrom said...

Hooray for writing cheerleaders! Keeps us writers encouraged and moving closer to our writing goals!

BeckyJoie said...

So sorry I was unable to help cheer you guys by attending this month. I've had those times of discouragement too but can never stop writing. I love it too much. I may end up poor but I will at least be happy. :>) Did any of my friends happen to be guests this month?

Jessica Nelson said...

Writers have been invaluable to me! So much support and help. I am enjoying writing, but it's because I just started a new manuscript. LOL About halfway through I'll probably be thinking, Oh why did I do this?
LOL

Janna Leadbetter said...

I'm so glad I can answer "yes" to both of those questions. :) And I'm also glad your meeting was a success!

Angie Ledbetter said...

*waving to Kat, our most missed NAWW group member, but ecstatic we still have the Internet!* Yes to both questions, so I'm doubly blessed. I've found that when working on my WIP drags me down, I work on poetry or other projects. It's the perfect (and joyful) solution for me.

Writing group or community support is ESSENTIAL, IMHO, especially for women who tend not to value their own work and contributions nearly enough. :)

LisaShaw said...

Thank you for this!

For me it's carving out the time. My husband is already my greatest cheerleader in ALL things so I'm grateful...and joy? indeed I have joy so it's the time thing I'm working on. I seem to only be able to write once per week since the end of Dec. prior to that??? weeks!!

I apppreciate you Terri. God is using you to be the shove I need. Love you.

Melissa Amateis said...

Yay! I'm so glad your spirit is renewed.

I write with determined joy - at least I try. Sometimes it is more sheer determination and stubborness more than anything, though. And I agree, this online writing community is such a WONDERFUL support group!

Kathleen said...

I love that you keep bringing us back to the fact of intentionality ... in this case writing, but it's a conscious element to decision-making that affects every part of our lives.

Joy? You betcha. That, too, is intentional.

Be blessed,
Kathleen

elaine @ peace for the journey said...

I've been thinking a lot, as of late, to revisit an earlier manuscript--a bible study I wrote on Nehemiah. It's too lengthy for publication but holds my heart. After I finish what I'm currently working on, I am determined to take a third look (it's already been through a second re-write) and see if God would have me approach the material a little differently, perhaps more in the format of how I write on my blog.

No, I'm not giving up on my writing, but have put my thoughts about "self-publishing" on hold for the time being. The cost? Heavens...we won't go there. I've got a second son going to college in the Fall!!!!

Have a great week, Terri.

peace~elaine

Jenni James said...

YES! I feel that I am definitely writing with determined joy. BUt I use my old safe fallback and that's Everything happens for a reason. So If I feel I need to write these books and become a recluse, then by golly something will come of it! LOL! It must!

Renee Collins said...

Oh, I am determined. Maybe a little too determined. And the joy . . . well, sometimes are better than others. :)

Btw, how fun to regularly get together with a writer's group! I do, but only online, which is great, but not quite the same.