I'm not sure why I am feeling so accusatory toward it at the moment, but it seems to be taunting me. Oh wait... I've got it... I just passed my anniversary and I forgot to throw a party. So why not today? I have a winner to announce for VR's book giveaway. It is summer (if stormy) and I have a four-day weekend on the horizon. So let's have a party!!!
 |
| Cheers! |
SIX YEARS!!! That is a pretty long time, ne? I've grown in a lot of ways. This blog really helped me find my voice. I think writing as yourself is a different sort of exercise from writing as narrator—you learn what you sound like without the story filter and I think it makes the story voice truer, too.
So CHEERS to perseverance and voice!
I've made a TON of fabulous friends. This is a wonderfully supportive community and surely would have gone insane somewhere between then and now without you. Many many of you have become real friends, not just blog friends, and I will always be grateful.
So CHEERS to FRIENDS!
 |
| Time for a group hug... |
This blog has also sometimes given me reality checks I totally didn't want but probably needed. I can't really give a toast to that because I really can't endorse reality, but I do comprehend its necessity at times.
And this blog supported me through going from being a writer with a single first draft to my name, to a published author. I've written... I think 18 books now (20 if I count the Shot in the Light as a trilogy) and have traditionally published three and self published the trilogy. I have a lot of work to go here. I'm not convinced I know how to really make a book shine. I want to write hard back best sellers and I'm not there yet. But if any support system can get me there, this one can.
 |
| Have a truffle... good for good times and bad... |
So all that said, I am still in my slump... Thought I was coming out of it, but I am struggling like crazy. The fact that I've delayed my first blog of the week until Thursday is never a good sign. Not only could I not get out story words, I couldn't eve seem to get out blog words.
Part of this is the GAP. It was so long that I really didn't write. Inertia is real.
Part of it is my ridiculous Game of Thrones obsession, so what I WANT to write is all my theories about what it going to happen and why. I have been through this with Harry Potter and I am totallya junkie for this stuff—looking at what is written and writing what comes next. If you both watch and read, I posted my Jon season 6 predictions yesterday. I will do all the major characters (Dany next)
I have managed about 21K words on the WiP. I also got EXCELLENT feedback on Also Appearing from Johanna Garth (THANK YOU) that I actually think I know how to address, so that will be my July project.
It is all still just my shaken confidence. But I think that place where we know we need to improve, while painful, is critical to doing the work to grow. When we get confident, and for a while there I think I sort of was, we can stagnate. Let's just hope this doesn't make me physically grow. Writing has already been bad enough where that is concerned...
18 comments:
Happy anniversary! I agree it's the friends we've made along the way that have made the journey worthwhile.
Just keep writing. Your confidence will return.
Write it out... ride it out; confidence is fluid and will return. :) Happy anniversary! X
http://shahwharton.com
Congratulations!
Continuing to learn and to grow in our craft is one of the best things about being a writer. We're never really "done." (Although, I would really like to be "done" with self-doubt and fear and....) :)
Applause for your blog anniversary!! :-) Louis Lamour wrote that water comes when you turn on the faucet -- so the words will come when you sit down and start writing the first thing that comes to mind.
What helps for me is to write the back cover blurb for my novel that I am writing as in
It is the era of The Great Gatsby.
America has spanned the continent, survived the War to end all wars, and bursts with false fire in the stock market.
Criminals are the new heroes. Science is the new god.
And one lonely, undying man seeks to evoke an innocence that never was by making the first talking Western movie.
With his wizard, Nikola Tesla, Samuel McCord awakens an ancient evil.
Now, he must find a way to save those who have unknowingly become the prey to Something whose hunger never ends.
After I wrote that, the fire to finish the novel consumed me. I wish you many more happy years of writing. :-)
Happy Blogsiversary!! Your published list is impressive and in just six years?! I really hope my blogging helps me out like that!!
Your inspiration will return! Just jump back on that horse!
Happy Blogversary Naked Hart :) Thanks for the group hug, lol. I'll have to read your GoT post, I'm obsessing over it too. Hoping someone chops off Melisandre's head! Kings Landing is in for a bout of tyrani, though that will just make it easier for Dany to take over.
Good luck with your writing projects. And congrats on all you've accomplished with your writing and blogging.
Happy five year blogversary. (Don't worry, I kinda missed my 10-year mark.) With all of those books, you most certainly do have a career as an author.
I'm not even sure when my blog o versary is, but this makes me want to go check. It's pretty awesome you've been at it for so long. I think I've been around for most of those 5 years! I remember when your first book came out.
Happy Blogiversary. I'm sorry you're going through a fallow period. Hopefully this is just the rest before things catch on fire (in a figurative, good way).
Congratulations for hanging in there and more so for publishing the books. You've made pretty good progress in my estimation. You started your blog nearly 4 months before I did so we've been in the game for about the same amount of time.
I wish you well in whatever is to come next.
Now, even though it's early AM, please pass me a glass of champagne and a couple of those truffles.
Arlee Bird
A to Z Challenge Co-host
Road trippin' with A to Z
Tossing It Out
Congrats on the blog birthday. That is a long time. So many distractions this week have kept me from getting to my WIP. I'm trying to put GoT out of mind until next season.
Something I haven't done either, recognized a blogging anniversary, but I haven't done anything as dramatic as write 20 books. So very awesome! Congratulations! And Happy Anniversary, celebrate - you've done an amazing job, if you're never satisfied, you'll always be moving forward!
Happy Blogiversary, Tarty!
Confidence is all about working through our fear of failure. As long as we don’t quit, we can’t fail. Eighteen books! What an achievement. Pat yourself on the back and keep writing.
Regardless of what we write, or how long we’ve been at it, the blogging community encourages and supports without judgment—a rare and awesome thing.
I can’t remember if I thanked you for allowing me to visit last week. Even if I did, it can’t be said too many times: thank you, thank you, thank you!
VR Barkowski
Congrats on the six year anniversary!
I can definitely understand about the delay on writing, whether it's on a story or the blog. With me, real world concerns have taken huge chunks out of my writing time (I mostly write on the weekends) so I haven't taken pen to paper since late May.
Blogging is usually a different story all together. I do great posting a re-cap on my Tumblr blog, but I'm pretty horrible trying to come with blog posts in order to write a weekly recap on my Blogger blog.
Father Nature's Corner
happy anniversary!!!
I totally forgot about mine back in January. I think it was like my 5 year one, too, or something
Happy bloggerversary!
You can do this! *waves pom-poms*
You deserve a spectacular celebration for your fabulous blog! May dozens of hardback bestsellers lie in your near future, and fame and fortune and full-time writing be your reward for both your talent and your kind heart. Thank you for being my blogging friend, Naked Hart.
Ooh, I see so many that I want to read but will definitely read Strings since it's scary. I need a little invigorating and horror is right up my alley. :D Great blog post!
Post a Comment