Happy Insecure Writer's Support Group Day. IWSG is the brainchild of Ninja Captain Alex J. Cavanaugh.
Purpose: To share and encourage. Writers can express doubts and concerns without fear of appearing foolish or weak. Those who have been through the fire can offer assistance and guidance. It’s a safe haven for insecure writers of all kinds! Thanks, Alex, for starting this group and keeping it going. We are rockin' the neurotic writing world!
The awesome co-hosts for the December 2 posting of the IWSG are Pat Garcia, Sylvia Ney, Liesbet @ Roaming About Cathrina Constantine, and Natalie Aguirre!
December 2 question - Are there months or times of the year that you are more productive with your writing than other months, and why?
I'm more productive when the sun is shining. In Michigan, that eliminates November and February, the two dreariest months of the year. The Great Lakes affect the weather. Not just lake-effect snow, which is tremendous, but the lakes bring clouds.
Like many people, I'm affected by the lack of sunshine. That's when my productivity plummets. A sunny day makes me feel like I have a ton of energy. Usually, my writing increases. I say "usually." This year, my mind has been scattered. I know I'm not alone in this. I can't seem to focus.
However . . .
Tara Tyler started a blog hop called "30 Days of Gratitude." I joined. I figured I needed to focus on positivity and think about the good things in my life. Every day I posted I thought about what I have to be grateful for. Such a great reminder. The blog hop ended on the day before Thanksgiving. That made me more grateful than ever because, despite covid and not seeing my family as much as I wanted to, I had a lot to be thankful for.
I'm very grateful to Tara for another reason. I wrote every day for 30 days. For someone who hasn't written much all year, this was big. It was also encouraging. It lifted me out of the doldrums, reminding me I needed something to spur me on. A goal for each day. I need to keep it going. I'd like finish 2020 on a high point instead of the quasi-depression I'd fallen into.
I hope all of you are staying safe. That you stay safe through the holidays. See you next year.
Click here to find others on the Insecure Writers Support Group Blog Hop. Or go to IWSG on Facebook to see who’s blogging today.
So glad Tara's blog hop helped you. I've been remembering three things I'm grateful for when I wake up and when I go to bed everyday most of this year and it's helped me be more positive and happy with the life I have. And yes, I live in Michigan too and know how hard the lack of sun is sometimes.
ReplyDeleteI love your idea of thinking of 3 things to be grateful for at bed and when you wake up. You'd think we'd be used to the lack of sun, wouldn't you?
DeleteThanks for cohosting, Natalie.
DeleteI SO relate to your post, Di! We Michiganders are a seasonally moody bunch. It's taken me forever to get back into a new project but I'M BACK and it feels good! I recommend it. So plant hands on keys and get back to that next book I can't wait to read!
ReplyDeleteDid you include a kick to my rear? I think I felt it. LOL
DeleteThat's great her bloghop boosted your gratitude and your attitude.
ReplyDeleteThanks, Alex, and thanks for stopping by so often during the hop.
DeleteHi,
ReplyDeleteThat blog hop changed your focus. That's great.
My sister and brother-in-law moved three months ago to Knoxville, TN because they were tired of the Michigan weather. They lived in Lansing for the longest. They really wanted milder winters and sunshine.
Wishing you all the best.
Merry Christmas and a safe passage into 2021.
Shalom aleichem,
Pat G @ EverythingMustChange
Small world, Pat. I used to live just north of Lansing. I understand why they'd leave MI. Our winters are rough. Thanks for cohosting.
DeleteGood for you for doing the 30 Days of Gratitude challenge! I love to do gratitude challenges. I wrote about a few in Keep Writing with Fey. I started one (100 Happy Days) at the beginning of COVID, but had to stop because...life. Although, that would've been the best time to keep on going.
ReplyDeleteThanks, Chrys. The Gratitude hop changed my attitude. Covid had really gotten me down. I feel more positive now.
DeleteRemembering to be thankful is very important. No matter how bad things are it could always be worse. It's cringe worthy.
ReplyDeleteI'm grateful for a multitude of small things. Put them together and it's huge. It keeps me going. ;-)
Anna from elements of emaginette
Anna, you are so right--things could be worse. A lot worse. Hubs and I are still covid free. That's a biggie.
DeleteI'm so glad Tara's challenge helped you! That's awesome!
ReplyDeleteWishing you and your family a wonderful holiday season and a Merry Christmas!
Thanks, Tyrean. Back at you & yours.
DeleteIsn't it great when our blogging friends come up with an idea that generates enthusiasm? I've been hiding out and definitely not in the loop for a while, so I missed Tara's challenge. Drat.
ReplyDeleteI've been hiding out, too, and missed a lot. I'm very grateful I didn't miss Tara's announcement.
DeleteIt's evenings for me. I'd love to visit the Great Lakes area - in the summer, of course. I don't think I could take the winters there. However, I bet it is beautiful, covered in snow! I hope you are able to enjoy the holidays, and some writing time. Merry Christmas!
ReplyDeleteThanks, Sylvia. Merry Christmas to you, too. And thanks for cohosting. Summertime is a great time to visit. LOTS of people think so. LOL Be prepared for crowds at the lakes. Fall is beautiful with the color changes. Winter is great if you don't have to drive. Come anytime.
DeleteFocusing on gratitude is so important, even for the simplest of things. It's so easy to complain about all the ways life isn't perfect, while failing to see that it can still be very good.
ReplyDeleteAs for weather, I'll take your November and February in exchange for my mid-Illinois July and August. The seasonal affectation works opposite for me. :D
I wish I'd thought about gratitude sooner than the end of October. Focusing on the negative really dragged me down. Many thanks to Tara for organizing the challenge. I know what you mean about July & August. I used to live in mid-Missouri. Yikes!
DeleteI write best first thing after I get up and then later--much later--starting around 6-7:00 o'clock and writing into the night. It's quiet, no errands or household tasks nibbling away at me. It's MY time. Probably started when the kids were little and asleep. :) Great blog!
ReplyDeleteIt's great you've found what works best for you, Diana.
DeleteThe idea behind 30 days of gratitude was marvelous. When you focus on the positive, negative things seem to shrink, become less significant than we thought them. Although I doubt I could've participated this year: I was very ill most of October and the first half of November. Maybe next year.
ReplyDeleteSorry to hear you were ill, Olga. I hope you're better now.
DeleteI grew up in Oregon, with a ton of rainy days, so a lack of sunshine doesn't bother me.
ReplyDeleteNot sure I could live in the NW. I'd be depressed worse than I am now.
DeleteOh, yes, I like the idea of being thankful. I have so much to be thankful for I should not forget. And a dunshiney day makes me feel perky.
ReplyDeleteUm Sunshiney - I can't spell.
DeleteFunny. I read it as sunshiney, despite how you spelled it. LOL
DeleteI can relate re the difficulty of focusing this year.
ReplyDeleteIt's great you got all that writing done, though.
A lack of focus is more common than I thought. I feel pretty good about writing for 30 days.
DeleteEven with all the extra time I had over the summer due to Covid, my writing productivity plummeted. I just couldn't seem to get organized. Enjoy the holidays.
ReplyDeleteThanks, Ken. I know what you mean. Lack of organization/focus kept my writing from happening. I just felt bleh. Hope you enjoy the holidays, too.
DeleteI tend to allow myself to snuggle into my chair or plop at my desk and write when it's cold and dreary outside. Less guilt, I guess. LOL Have you tried a sun lamp?
ReplyDeleteI have a sun lamp. Just need to use it. LOL
DeleteBeing positive is a must in life, Diane. Thanks for the reminder. Have a beautiful holiday!
ReplyDeleteThanks, Victoria. Same to you.
DeleteThank you so much for stopping by my blog. It is nice to write on a sunny day. 30 days of Gratitude is a great hop. It really does help to count your blessings. You too stay safe throughout the holidays.
ReplyDeleteThanks, Toi.
DeleteSunny days make me want to go outside and play! So I think I write more in the gloomy weather, of which CA has had none, alas (we need rain!). But I know what you mean about the darkness, as I grew up around Puget Sound :)
ReplyDeleteAnd yes, embrace the triumph of writing every day, however much or little.
Interesting how we react to weather.
DeleteSounds like the bloghop was a great uplift. Tara is such a generous blogger who always helps others. I hope the positivity continues well into next year!
ReplyDeleteThanks, Nick. Yes, Tara is so generous.
DeleteI hope you had a wonderful holiday, Diane. That sounds like a great challenge. Every day for the past couple of years, I write down at least three things I'm grateful for. Some days it's harder than others.
ReplyDelete