Michy - 4/23/2009 at 08:41 PM
Made ya look!
No, really, wait a few minutes and come back - I've got something for you, but I needed the thread first!
Michy - 4/23/2009 at 08:46 PM
Okay, here we go...
http://michysthoughts.blogspot.com/2009/04/writing-vacuums.html
First, read the blog post... then come back here and answer the questions that were at the end of the blog post. Write them in such a way that if
someone had not read the blog, they would understand what you were talking about.
If you have a blog where you talk about your writing, write a blog post about this subject and put the link here... spread the positive energy and
ideas for others and let's get pumped about writing together!
itzrissa2u - 4/23/2009 at 09:41 PM
I have been full time freelance writing for a little over 2 months now. Being alone at home writing doesn't make me feel like I am in a vacuum. I
think a big part of that is having a slightly spoiled 5 year old boy who always wants to be the focus of mom's attention. I like being alone, always
have, so being isolated isn't a problem for me.
My wise friend Michy suggested I go out and work at a coffee shop once a week to be around other people. The idea sounds awful to me. If I go out I
have to wear shoes and a bra- I hate that. hehe Seriously though, it might change for me the longer I am writing, but so far I like the alone time.
Keeping myself motivated when rejections keep rolling in is another story. I wish I had this great answer. I have some very dear friends like Susan
and Michy who will let me cry on their virtual shoulders. I have this wonderful forum and a ton of writer friends on facebook.
But really, this is a problem I haven't mastered yet. I do get discouraged. I am guilty of looking in the paper to find a "real" job. Writing is
scary. It has been a long time since I had to worry about money. I don't like it at all.
I am hoping I can get more focused and stay motivated. I am hoping for that one email that isn't a rejection letter. I am hoping that I will not look
back a year from now and say quitting my high paying job to write full time was a big mistake.
That might sound kind of gloomy to people- but it isn't true. You see, I still have hope.
Susan S. - 4/24/2009 at 06:52 AM
Sometimes, the writer's vacuum that I find myself in is self-imposed. When I first started getting depressed about all the rejections I was receiving,
I went into hiding. I'd still show up here, but I rarely signed in.
Looking back, I realize that made the depression worse. This forum is wonderful for motivating and encouraging. All I had to do was reach out. I hope
I can remember that in the future if I start to get discouraged again.
To help get me motivated to write, I did the homework assignment Michy made me do. In doing so, it helped me gather my thoughts and made me realize
why I don't want to walk away from writing...why I can't walk away from writing.
It's my dream.
I also decided (with a little advice from Michy) to return to my writing roots and go back to AC for a little bit. When I first started writing for
AC, I loved it. I loved the "You've been published!" email I received, I loved the comments I received...I loved writing.
I'm trying to recapture that enthusiasm by writing for AC again, but I will also be setting some time aside to contribute to other places. I am going
to try some lower paying, lesser known publications and work my way up.
I'll get there. I just have to keep moving.