Wednesday, May 1, 2019

#IWSG for May 2019

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: Lee Lowery, Juneta Key, Yvonne Ventresca, and T. Powell Coltrin!

This month's optional question: What was an early experience where you learned language had power?

This is a big question. I had to think a while about it. I know I talked very young, but I was never a talkative kid (nor adult!). I also still have stories I wrote when I was five years old. I cannot ever remember not being in love with reading. It was my escape, my joy, my inspiration.

While I can't think of a particular time when I was that young, later on in my childhood, I started writing short stories about The Kingham Kids. (It was the group of children I grew up with in my neighborhood. We lived on Kingham Road!) I'd draw the title pages and write silly adventures that always ended in a terribly cheesy joke. The other kids would always gather around me, eyes wide and eager, and listened to the stories. They loved them. Later in life as adults, a few of them told me that those stories were one of the bright moments in their hard childhoods, and with the aid of my imagination, I helped them escape cruel realities for a little while. I knew they loved the stories, but I had never known just how much they meant to them.

The power of stories never ceases to astound me.

This month's insecurities: I'm doing a lot of things... just not writing. It's driving me bonkers that a story hasn't snatched me away and driven to write. So much is going on away from the computer, and then when I get online, all I seem to do is try to catch up on things.

I think I need to clear my metaphorical desk and sweep away everything so it's only the word processor's blank screen and I. I'm going to take a blogging break for the summer (end of May through August) and ease back from social media. I won't completely disappear, but I want all the stuff that seems to pile up on me out of the way. I'm a writer, and my number one responsibility is to write.

There will still be a few promos and guests are most welcome here. I'm always happy to help out other writers.

What do you do when the words aren't coming?

54 comments:

  1. I love how you wrote stories about the kids in your neighborhood, especially how reading them was an escape for them.
    Hopefully you can get back to writing soon!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. i am ERIC BRUNT by name. Greetings to every one that is reading this testimony. I have been rejected by my wife after three(3) years of marriage just because another Man had a spell on her and she left me and the kid to suffer. one day when i was reading through the web, i saw a post on how this spell caster on this address AKHERETEMPLE@gmail.com have help a woman to get back her husband and i gave him a reply to his address and he told me that a man had a spell on my wife and he told me that he will help me and after 3 days that i will have my wife back. i believed him and today i am glad to let you all know that this spell caster have the power to bring lovers back. because i am now happy with my wife. Thanks for helping me Dr Akhere contact him on email: AKHERETEMPLE@gmail.com
      or
      call/whatsapp:+2349057261346










      i am ERIC BRUNT by name. Greetings to every one that is reading this testimony. I have been rejected by my wife after three(3) years of marriage just because another Man had a spell on her and she left me and the kid to suffer. one day when i was reading through the web, i saw a post on how this spell caster on this address AKHERETEMPLE@gmail.com have help a woman to get back her husband and i gave him a reply to his address and he told me that a man had a spell on my wife and he told me that he will help me and after 3 days that i will have my wife back. i believed him and today i am glad to let you all know that this spell caster have the power to bring lovers back. because i am now happy with my wife. Thanks for helping me Dr Akhere contact him on email: AKHERETEMPLE@gmail.com
      or
      call/whatsapp:+2349057261346

      Delete
  2. I love your story about the Kingman kids!It would be so neat if you could edit and publish them now!

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    1. People have encouraged me to write a children's series about them, but I don't know if all of those kids would now appreciate it as adults!

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  3. That is a lovely story, Christine. Definitely something you should use to boost you up if feeling creatively down. An excellent reminder!

    I hope your summer social media break goes well!

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  4. Sometimes it takes a break to force the words to come.
    That's great you were able to cheer your friends with those stories and that they did have an impact.

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    Replies
    1. Thank you, Alex. Hopefully the break will help. It has already helped me not feel so guilty about getting to things online.

      Delete
  5. That's awesome how you captivated your friends with your stories. Sometimes stepping back can help catch up with what's preventing us from writing. Hope you'll still be around for the IWSG posts this summer.

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    Replies
    1. Thanks, Natalie! I'll still be lurking around. I love blogging and reading blogs from you awesome writers. :)

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  6. The Kingman Kids sound awesome! I hear you about life piling up and needing a blogging break. We'll see you on the flipside. Have a wonderful summer!

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  7. As a kid, reading was also my escape, my joy... this resonated.
    Enjoy your blogging break, Christine.

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  8. What I should do is clean and organize the house. What I actually do is read.

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  9. Hope that the time you take nets you tons of excellent words and stories.

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  10. How touching that your little stories impacted your friends.

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  11. I can't remember not enjoying reading either, it feels like something I've always done.

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  12. I love the Kingham Kids story! That's awesome!

    When the words aren't flowing for me, I do what you're doing: power down, go do something else, and try not to think about it. Enjoy your summer with your family!

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  13. I haven't been writing much either. So much else is going on! But I hope to keep chipping away at this WIP, see where (if anywhere) it's headed...

    We'll miss having you around online!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I'll still be lurking! :) Hopefully the words come easier for both of us.

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  14. I used to draw title pages. ^_^

    I love that story about the neighborhood! It has to be such a great feeling to know that your early stories have stuck with people and helped them. :)

    I binge shows on Netflix and Hulu when I'm not writing. It's an easier way to reclaim my writing time when I need it back, and it's an easy way to fill that time when I need a break.

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    Replies
    1. I binged the second season of Sabrina last week. Trying to resist watching something else! =P

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  15. What a compliment and an affirmation about your writing ability at such a young age. You spoke to the hearts of your neighbourhood kids and help them to master their worldly existence and the situations they had to cope with. Kudos to you.
    Shalom aleichem,
    Pat G @ EverythingMustChange

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  16. Wow! Your story of the Kingham Kids and the way they loved your stories and remember them is powerful!
    I hadn't thought about my own early storytelling experiences until I read this, and I remember scaring my friends (which is weird because I've never written horror as an adult) with stories of haunted paintings come to life (my mom had some second-hand store artwork which I found disturbing) and dark closets where people were half-eaten (my dad had a prosthetic leg which made for an awesome prop as I toured new friends around our house - and he was okay with it and told some of his own stories).
    I can imagine your stories were both encouraging and affirming, the kind where the Kingham kids rose to challenges and battled off anything troubling.
    Take a break - go outside, walk, enjoy your family, watch some fun movies, read some books. Maybe, do some timed writing to some fun prompts. I really like this little journal book called "Finish the Story" which I purchased on super sale in the Barnes and Noble bargain section and another book I purchased at a used book store. When I'm feeling low on energy and ideas, I have fun with those prompts. It helps me. But, if that's not a good idea for you, toss it, and do what works for you.

    ReplyDelete
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    1. eek - sorry for the overly long comment.

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    2. The Kingham Kids definitely always won. Not that I ever thought about that meaning then, but yes, it would have definitely helped those who had a hard time of it. I love that you used to write scary stories! I wanted to be a new Stephen King myself. No need to apologize for long comments. It was wonderful! :)

      Delete
  17. It must feel good to know you made a difference. See you when you get back. :-)

    Anna from elements of emaginette

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  18. That's really special how your friends told you those stories made a real difference to them. We often don't realize what a big impact we make on people at the time.

    Enjoy your blogging break!

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  19. Catching up on things always seems to be the problem, doesn't it? Heck, I'm already falling behind in my effort to catch up. Now that I finally have some time to write, I find it difficult to spend the necessary time on simply keeping up with email and chores like that. It feels like I spend all day juggling balls with nothing getting accomplished.

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  20. What an impact your early words made! That gave me chills!!
    Taking time away from social media is important for so many reasons - have fun filling your well!

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  21. I loved reading your story about how words impacted you at such an early age. I need to clear my metaphorical desk too. Just sit down and write!

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  22. I have a couple of stories I wrote when I was five, too. :) And I've been doing a lot as well, just not writing. *sigh* It bugs me, and I always say I wish I had someone to handle all of these others things so I can focus on writing.

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  23. What a powerful story. " . . .escape cruel realities for a little while . . ." That is truly the essence of any great story. Well done, Christine.

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  24. I've always loved reading, too. Happy Writing!

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  25. I know what you mean about needing to pull back from social media and promoting so you can just write. Feels like months since I allowed myself to do that.

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  26. Enjoy your break. You are so right- writers need to be writing. That's the number one priority.

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  27. Taking a blogging break sounds like it might be the right thing for your writing :-) It's great how your stories helped others when you were children.

    Ronel visiting for #IWSG day: Help Me, Please!

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  28. What a blessing to know the gift you gave so freely without thinking about it and for fun made such a huge difference in others lives. That is an awesome story.

    Sometimes I feel like I need a break, but I think I need to engage first to have something to break from and I know that is a crazy statement but it is an oxymoron inside of me or conundrum of a problem.

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  29. I love how you were able to bring your community together with words. Loved this post. Hope you have a great break if I don't see you before the end of May!

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  30. Maybe you need to be a quiet and dark room for a moment to hear the new story in your head. I promise it's there to snatch you away from life. Those characters are trying to drive you to write. Trust me.

    Teresa

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  31. It's a fine balance between social media promotion and writing. Sometimes it feels like we have to make a choice so enjoy your summer off.

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  32. I would have loved to sit and listened to your stories, too! Words are hard for me lately too. The only reason I'm getting anything done is because I'm co-authoring right now. So, I have no choice but to keep my writing fingers in gear. But my very own stories are suffering.

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  33. I don't ever not being in love with reading either. I was more verbal and told stories instead of writing them.
    Enjoy your blog break and summer with your family. See you back here in September ♥

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  34. I used to write when I was younger and then didn't pick it up until after my 5 kids were older. Glad I went back to it.
    A blogging break is a good idea. I find blogging and hopping take up a lot of time, but I love my blogger friends and don't want to lose them.

    ReplyDelete
  35. i am ERIC BRUNT by name. Greetings to every one that is reading this testimony. I have been rejected by my wife after three(3) years of marriage just because another Man had a spell on her and she left me and the kid to suffer. one day when i was reading through the web, i saw a post on how this spell caster on this address AKHERETEMPLE@gmail.com have help a woman to get back her husband and i gave him a reply to his address and he told me that a man had a spell on my wife and he told me that he will help me and after 3 days that i will have my wife back. i believed him and today i am glad to let you all know that this spell caster have the power to bring lovers back. because i am now happy with my wife. Thanks for helping me Dr Akhere contact him on email: AKHERETEMPLE@gmail.com
    or
    call/whatsapp:+2349057261346










    i am ERIC BRUNT by name. Greetings to every one that is reading this testimony. I have been rejected by my wife after three(3) years of marriage just because another Man had a spell on her and she left me and the kid to suffer. one day when i was reading through the web, i saw a post on how this spell caster on this address AKHERETEMPLE@gmail.com have help a woman to get back her husband and i gave him a reply to his address and he told me that a man had a spell on my wife and he told me that he will help me and after 3 days that i will have my wife back. i believed him and today i am glad to let you all know that this spell caster have the power to bring lovers back. because i am now happy with my wife. Thanks for helping me Dr Akhere contact him on email: AKHERETEMPLE@gmail.com
    or
    call/whatsapp:+2349057261346

    ReplyDelete
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