Wednesday, December 5, 2018

#IWSG for December 2018

The Insecure Writer's Support Group (IWSG) is the brilliant idea of Alex J. Cavanaugh. The purpose of the group is to share doubts and insecurities and to encourage one another. Please visit the other participants and share your support. A kind word goes a long way.

This month's awesome co-hosts are: J.H. Moncrieff, Tonja Drecker , Patsy Collins, and Chrys Fey!

This month's optional question: What are five objects we'd find in your writing space?

1. A big cup of water. I drink A LOT of water. Sometimes I flavor the water, but I don't drink anything else during the day.
2. Paper. Be it notebooks or scraps or whatever is lying about. I've gotten better about writing stuff down so I don't forget.
3. Pencils. I do have lots of pens too, but I write notes in pencil because my brain works faster than my hand, and I need to erase a lot.
4. The TARDIS. Several of them, in fact! A model, a lamp, a stocking, and string lights.
5. My cat. Well, I guess I can't include him as an object. His cat cube is to my right under the window. That's where he spends most days while I'm working.

This month's insecurities: Always it's about time. I just don't have enough of it. I'm far behind on everything I want to do. I know I should change my expectations of what I can do, but I always stretch beyond. On one hand, it's highly motivating. On the other, frustrating. The new year will have to come with some changes or the few white hairs I have will become a whole head of them!

How have you been over the past month? Anyone develop a time turner yet?

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70 comments:

  1. I drink a lot of water as well. I try to limit it to one soda a day.
    It is always about the lack of time...

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    1. Drinking so much water is the one good thing for my health that I'm consistent with. And time always interferes with me being better about finding time to exercise too!

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  2. That's so great you drink as much water as you do! I'm trying to get back to that myself. What do you flavor it with? I've tried lemon, lime and cucumber. I also like seltzer, the plain kind. I usually find the flavored seltzers taste too fake.

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    1. I use those little packages of flavoring. They're sugar-free, but it makes them taste sugary. My favorite is blue raspberry!

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  3. I need to drink more water. Time is always a problem for me too!! We need that cool watch that Hermonine Granger had in Harry Potter :)

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  4. I drink a ton of water too. It's funny I used to hate it but now it's really the only thing I want to drink. It's funny how many of us have cats in our space LOL.

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    1. No, it's funny how many cats allow us in their space. ;)

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  5. Water is important to me, too--after my 2nd cup of coffee. LOL When you find that time-turner let me know. I need one, too. Have a great month.

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  6. I don't know, your cat could be an object of affection. I drink lots of water too and always have a refillable container with me.

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    1. Ooh, nicely done there with the object of affection. My kitty is spoiled and gets loved up a lot. He will put a paw on my mouth to keep me from singing to him, though!

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  7. That's great that your cat keeps you company when you write. I never have enough time either and always have too much to do.

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    1. Where does time go when we become adults? I remember saying I'm bored all the time as a kid. How does anyone have time to be bored?!

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  8. I often have a cat on my desk. Rocket will sleep there while Star will chase the pointer on the screen. Not helpful.

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  9. I should drink more water...

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    1. It's the one good thing for me that I'm consistent with.

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  10. My small dog is like a cat. She likes to try to sit on my hands while I'm writing. Why do they do that???

    I also keep water nearby and paper and pens, though typing is far faster than writing for me - more legible too. :)

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    1. My cat used to want to sit on the keyboard while I was typing, but I used rewards to get him to go onto his cube and he does that now by himself. :)

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  11. I wish I had a time turner!
    Actually, I've been asking myself "is this what I want to do with my time" occasionally and that has been helping break some time-wasting habits. However, sometimes, I do want to just rest, so ... I have had to realize that I need rest-time as well as family time, work time, writing time, etc. It's hard to balance, but I keep on trying.
    Happy writing and life in December!!! Let me know if you find a time turner. :)

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    1. Yes, rest time is just as important. Some days I have to be nice to myself and let myself have a nap. I'm not young, and my body needs a little more sleep than it used to 10 years ago.

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  12. A Tardis is an excellent place to get extra mojo. hehehe

    Anna from elements of emaginette

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  13. Can't think of a better motivation than the Tardis. Happy writing!

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  14. I don't drink nearly enough water! I suspect that's the reason I had to be turned away the last few times I tried to give blood, and why it's become so hard to get blood draws. My veins don't pop out very well without drinking the amount of water I should.

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    1. Drinking water does help, but then if you're like me, you have rolling veins. The nurses always have trouble catching mine!

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  15. My cat is usually in my lap when I'm working at my desk. I probably should have included her as one of my five. She's never anywhere else these days. :)

    I'm far behind on everything I want to do, too. Maybe we need those Time Turner things from Harry Potter.

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    1. I think all the cats just think they're automatically included. They're essential, of course!

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  16. The TARDIS! Yay! I think including the cat works.

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    1. Now to get the cat into the TARDIS! *gets new idea of what to make a cat condo like*

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  17. I also have water and random scraps of paper on my desk. ^_^

    Best wishes with the time management! It’s totally possible to get a hold of it. I think it helped me a lot when I wrote down my ideal schedule and compared it to my actual schedule. It helped me see where I could find or make time or move around.

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    1. I should write mine out and stick to it. My ideal schedule would have me writing faster to keep up with it!

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  18. I keep a pitcher of water with sliced lemon handy at all times. And kitties are the best thing for the writing room, but Tardis is an awesome inspiration!

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    1. I'm happy to see all the water drinkers today. H2O rules!

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  19. I always have water, too, but for medical reasons I'm sure I've complained to you about in email. LOL

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    1. *LOL* Yes, but we all need lots of water no matter the reasons. :)

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  20. For just a second I thought you meant an actual TARDIS and I got so excited! haha.

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  21. I have a giant tankard of water sitting next to me right now. Otherwise, I don't drink enough. You and one of my local writer friends would get along great; her entire house is full of Dr. Who memorabilia, including a fireplace mantle covered in tardises.

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    1. Whoa. I am in awe of that many blue boxes. I can't get away with it everywhere in my home.

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  22. This is one of my favorite writing prompts. I've been enjoying reading everyone's writing space habits. I myself have a "cat-dog". Happy Holidays!

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  23. Cats are such good companions until they try to take over the keyboard. Mine used to love to tap the keys. Actually, he wrote some good stuff. Have a wonder holiday season, Christine.

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    1. Cats know the good stories. Have a lovely Christmas, too!

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  24. Never underestimate the power of the pencil. I love pencils and the ability to erase when needed! Have a Merry Christmas!

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    1. I sometimes think the erasers on pencils are too little. At least for me!

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  25. My cat used to sit at my feet when I was writing. Four years gone and I still miss her. No answer for the time thing. It's a swift river and the older we are, the more rapids we encounter.

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  26. A time turner would be the greatest. Or just a pause button. I'm not greedy.

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  27. Hydration is important. Time management is something it seems we all struggle with. Good luck I am sure you will find your groove. Happy IWSG Day and Happy Holidays.

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  28. I should keep water on my desk too. Must make more effort to get into that habit.

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    1. Must always have a cup with a lid too. Not just for spills, but so the cat doesn't dunk his paw in it!

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  29. It's always nice to have a furry friend at hand for company. Have a great Christmas. I know what you mean about time - if only you could hop into one of those Tardises!

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  30. When my cats visit my writing area, they usually feel the need to meow for food, or they constantly walk over my keyboard. Productivity decreases dramatically.

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    1. There are moments like that too. Especially when the cat knows it's nearly time for treats!

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  31. I could go for a bit more time myself!

    My husband and I just started watching Doctor Who this year, starting with the 9th doctor since that's what's available to stream for free with Amazon Prime. I'm totally getting into it now. And it'd be great if we could have our own TARDIS. Imagine just going inside popping out to a different planet for a while, do some writing, and then popping back in 5 minutes after we'd left? It'd be amazing!

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  32. I totally drink a lot of water when writing too! It helps me to make sure to rest my eyes every so often when I have to get up ;)

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  33. Oh, how I would love to have a time turner! I do have a replica, but sadly, it doesn't work.

    There never seems to be enough hours in the day. I hope you can take some time out to enjoy the holidays.

    Envying your water habit. Wish I was better about that.

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    1. Very cool you have a replica. I have a wand, but no core to make it magic!

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  34. I need to drink more water throughout the day. I do, but I still like to drink other stuff.

    I've never watched Doctor Who, so I had to Google The TARDIS. HAHAHA!!!

    I usually have a cat or two in my writing space, too.

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  35. Having a cat around is very important when writing. I'd just like a device that would take my thoughts and type them up. I'd get so much more done that way.

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    1. Oh yes, definitely! My fingers can't go as fast as my brain most days.

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