IWSG

*****  PHOTO:  Kai Charles



It is the first Wednesday of the month and time for the  Insecure Writer's Support Group to offer support~   IWSG is the thoughtful idea of Alex Cavanaugh!  If you want to join click on IWSG and sign up~




"Time to release our fears to the world – or offer encouragement to those who are feeling neurotic. If you’d like to join us, click on the tab above and sign up. We post the first Wednesday of every month. I encourage everyone to visit at least a dozen new blogs and leave a comment. Your words might be the encouragement someone needs"

Thank you Alex! 




Last night my daughter found out the theme for her winter guard show,  'On Thin Ice'.  
Maybe this could be analogy of the writing process?!

We as writers, weather many storms.  We have to brace our doubt, dance with our muse and continue onward in a blinding storm, to make our story a  reality.   I think all art forms know how crazy the weather can be.    It doesn't matter if you write books, stories, songs, pen poetry, create an artist's window.  Art is a venture on thin ice.  Will anyone get my view, will anyone like it, will I be able to reach people-connect with them?!  Will they like my characters, my words, my vision?!   We hope we aren't blinded by our passion and rejection(you know that glacier that sweeps over you).  We try to prepare, study, ask others to read our work, take criticism and continue on-as we brace more storms.

   We are like those frozen snowflakes-unique and hoping to create something vivid and memorable-like the storm of 99.  (it is just an example-stop thinking what storm-stop it!)


Sometimes we are just twirling in the wind, hanging on for dear life as the big adventure swirls around us.  We see other succeed and we are happy for them, yet we haven't.  We have to remind each other-they also weathered many storms of rejection.  Each storm you face is a badge of courage. You are a survivor-still willing to skate on more thin ice and face more uncertain weather.  We have to be like ice-fragile yet strong!


Our friends are like the weatherman or woman offering us hope~   Remember everyone has a beginning and storms to share.  WE all have to brave the ice before we can bask in the sun!
So keep chipping away at the ice and remember sometimes we writers just have to take a break and chill!

Sorry for the bad pun and the winter references, but seriously we all need to walk
 away, make time to chill!  Brain freeze is the same as writer's block-put the ice cream down!



Yes, self publishing is like the weather forecast-filled with hope!



Let us love winter, for it is the spring of genius.
– Pietro Aretino





“Lives are snowflakes - unique in detail, forming patterns we have seen before, but as like one another as peas in a pod (and have you ever looked at peas in a pod? I mean, really looked at them? There's not a chance you'd mistake one for another, after a minute's close inspection.)
Neil Gaiman, American Gods 




Comments

I like the snowflake analogy. We are all unique even as we are all similar. That goes for all artistic forms. It's a blend of offering skill as well as something pleasing.
Ella said…
Alex-I knew you would like my chill! *smiles* Thank you~ Damn, I really didn't want to think about snow, just yet...

Diane Burton said…
Great analogy with the weather. Some days it feels like I live in Alaska with its many months of winter and other days it's like living in Arizona. We just hang in there and "weather" all the storms.
Sherry Blue Sky said…
Wonderfully supportive and encouraging, Ella......in the end, we create because we must, whether other people "get it" or not........and many, many do:)
Brian Miller said…
ah nice analogy....we def risk when we put ourselves out there with a story...and hope that people get it...there are things we do to make sure they do...but def there will be some that dont...
Great analogy! I especially relate to the brain freeze part. :) Here's to venturing out in spite of the times we've fallen in the ice. Yeah, gotta face those fears and keep going.
kaykuala said…
Agree with the analogy! Writer's block going by what it says is a temporary thing. Once inspired it'll move. Great words of encouragement Ella!

Hank
Toi Thomas said…
Weathering the storm daily.
Thank you for this post.
Kay L. Davies said…
So, I'm not the only one with brain freeze? Such a relief.
I really like the idea of your insecure writers' group.
Luv, K
wonderful tribute to us who have a pencil either without lead or just needing to be sharpened

I appreciate the snowflake analogy
and much appreciate Alex Cavanaughs idea of IWSG and your mentioning about the support everyone should give each other by leaving a comment on each other's blog site.

I continually harp on this because although some may be more 'refined' or write in a particular style that is 'popular'(its subjective) we should support all

gracias for this, ella
Shelly said…
Hi, Ella:

I loved your analogy with regard to snowflakes and storms.

Great post!

Hugs and chocolate!
ed pilolla said…
art is a venture on thin ice, indeed. really well said throughout. inspiring.
Ella said…
Ed-Thank you! I am still reading your inspired list poems~ Wonderful challenge Ed *smiles*

Shelly-I will be by to see what you are up to~ Thank you so much-Hugs to you! Sorry, I gave all the chocolate away-but I'll get more for you ;D

Nene-You should join! YOU have a beautiful voice-I love your poem about the sand-wonderful :D

Kay-YOU should join in! It would be fun-You are so witty~ :D

Toinette-I love your name-so pretty!
Thank you so much *smiles*

Hi Hank-Yes, we have to keep skating to break that spell! ;D
Thank you~

Charity-Well said-yes, we must keep bracing the storm~ :D

Brian-It is a journey-some can weather it and some can't. I must admit I am finding it a harder trek-since my time alone is gone! Even at night when I try to fly solo there are a few owlets that find me. Thank you~

Sherry-So true! It is a must and those who don't feel it-can not understand its trance dance! ;D
Thank you~

Diane-I can so relate! I lived twice in Alaska and visited Arizona-lol I know what you mean-we have to find our way, our voice! Thank you~