#IWSG: Doldrums

It's the first Wednesday of a new year.  It's time for the Insecure Writers Support Group, whose mission is 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! IWSG is the brainchild of Ninja Captain Alex J. Cavanaugh Thanks, Alex, for starting this group and keeping it going. And thanks to this month's awesome hosts:  Allison Gammons, Tamara Narayan, Eva E. Solar, Rachel Pattison, and Ann V. Friend

Day after day, day after day,

We stuck, nor breath nor motion;

As idle as a painted ship

Upon a painted ocean.

Water, water, every where,

And all the boards did shrink;

Water, water, every where,

Nor any drop to drink.

You may recognize the above from The Rime of the Ancient Mariner by Samuel Taylor Coleridge. In maritime terms, the doldrums refer to calm periods when the wind disappears. The doldrums also refer to listlessness, inactivity, stagnation. Since before Christmas, I’ve been in the doldrums with my writing. I’ve written the blogs I’m committed to, but the work on my WIP is in a holding pattern.

First, I blamed it on the six weeks I spent in Arizona, visiting my son and his family. Hubs says I have a permanent crick in my arm from holding Baby Girl so much. He might be right on that. I took every chance I got to hold her, especially since we won’t see her again until August. She called more to me than my WIP. Then I blamed it on jet lag from returning home and all that being gone for so long entails. Whatever, the doldrums have me in their grasp.

I may have mentioned before that my writing chapter (Mid-Michigan RWA) promotes our own version of NaNoWriMo (National Novel Writing Month). Each month we publicize our goal for the month then encourage each other on progress. This month I said I needed some butt-kicking to get my WIP back on track. Our organizer, Alyssa Alexander, gave me the first kick. But after two days, I still haven’t even opened the file.

I can support others, kick others, encourage them, but what can I do to get myself going?

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.

Insecure Writers Support Group - Winter Blahs

It’s the first Wednesday of the month and time for the Insecure Writers Support Group. The purpose is 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! A big THANKS to Ninja Captain Alex J. Cavanaugh for starting this group and keeping it going. And thanks to this month's awesome hosts Gwen Gardner, Dolorah, Sarah Foster, and M. Pax!

The groundhog saw his shadow on Monday so it’s six more weeks of winter. No surprise there. In six weeks, spring arrives—whether Punxutawney Phil or Staten Island Chuck see their shadows or not. Spring can’t come soon enough. Although we didn’t get the snowfall Boston and the East Coast did last week, the Super Bowl Snow did a number on Michigan with record snowfalls. Not on the Lake Michigan coast, even if we did get dumped on. After all, our 159+ inches of snow last winter didn't set any records. We’re lucky about one thing, though. They do know how to remove snow here. Even sidewalks. That was a surprise for me last winter. This nifty machine with a plow just drives down the sidewalks along main thoroughfares and removes the snow. I’m not talking downtown either.

Since the snowplows quickly keep our roads clear, there’s no reason for cabin fever. Yet, mentally I feel like I’ve been cooped up for weeks. Am I writing? No. Not really. Okay, I’ve written my blogs (except a week ago Monday). But getting back to my Work-in-Progress? Nope. I’ve gathered tax documents, dug out receipts for taxes (family and my writing), attempted to bring order to my office. And I’ve watched a lot of television. Blame Amazon Prime for offering complete episodes of shows I didn’t watch first time around. Watching “Farscape” could be called research.  Well, I do write science fiction romance.

A new month, a new beginning. I need that proverbial kick in the pants to get back to work.

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.

P.S. A follow up on last month’s post. I still am overwhelmed by the support, prayers, and well wishes for my sister whose bout with influenza led to pneumonia and serious heart problems. She is doing so much better now. Thank you all very much.