The Insecure Writer's Support Group is the creation of Alex J. Cavanaugh to allow writers to confess any concerns or fears they have about the rollercoaster ride it is to become/be an author. This is an invaluable source for us to not only vent but also to encourage and support each other. I've met some really wonderful people who are in this group and discovered their blogs. I've read postings that have given me new ideas for my writing, and I can't recommend joining this group enough. Click on the link above for more information and to sign up if you would like to participate. There's a list of over 260 writers participating with links to their blog posts. The first Wednesday of every month, we post our IWSG entry. You can also join the IWSG conversation on Twitter using #iwsg.
I have a couple of things to confess this month. First of all, I haven't been writing like I should. Usually I write journal entries, book reviews, blog posts, Goodreads group postings, and the like. I've had a difficult time keeping up with my blog and book reviews, let alone doing any real writing for my memoir. The most shameful confession is that I haven't worked on my book. At all. And I really have no excuses. It doesn't matter how busy or not busy I am, I just have to carve time out for writing. That's it.
Though I haven't been writing my book, every night before I fall asleep, I think about how I'd like to write my memoir. The following is my list of ideas:
- Journal entry form ~ the problem with this idea is that the dates wouldn't be accurate since I only sporadically wrote about my feelings of grief in my actual journals
- Simple narrative from my perspective ~ this is the idea that for now seems to be what I'm going to go with. Everything I would talk about would be all from my own perspective. I can't speak for the rest of my family; I can only speak for me.
- Third person narrator ~ Between my freshman and sophomore years of high school, I spent two or three hours a day for a week writing about the grief I had experience during junior high and my freshman year. I still have it and am planning on rewriting it. I wrote myself as the main character with a different name, and all of the events in my writing happened to Alanis (my character name). I didn't really like that I wasn't using my own voice, however, so I doubt I'll be going this route.
A couple of months ago, I entered a short memoir contest with the theme being "Overcoming Loss." I thought the contest had practically been made for me! I didn't win nor was a finalist which was disappointing, but I did generate material that I can use for my book. As I look it over, I can see why I wasn't a finalist. I think I can do much better than that piece of writing. I think another reason I didn't win was because I didn't write enough about the overcoming loss part. Sometimes it seems like loss will always be with me, taunting me to overcome it.
My goal for this month is to get to writing. How can I say I'm an aspiring writer when I'm not actively working on making it happen? Well, I'm gonna make it happen! I want my post for next month's IWSG to tell you how productive I was in writing instead of having to confess I've done not a thing.
Happy writing! <3
You have a great plan for this month! I've never written a memoir, but from your options, I do like the second one. I'll be looking forward to reading next month's post about how productive you've been!
ReplyDeleteThanks! I'm hoping to have a lot of productiveness to report next month. :D
DeleteI guess it would depend on subject matter. If memoir includes difficult issues still happening today or things that would pain family, I'd go with option 3.
ReplyDeleteOtherwise, option 2 would be a great way to tell a memoir.
Looking forward to August IWSG. Challenging yourself is a great motivation tool. :))
I'll take another look at my third person narrative. It was really difficult to write because some of it had to be fictionalized to make it work.
DeleteThere are still difficult issues happening today, but this book is in me, just waiting to be written. It's been waiting for a long time. Every time I've written in my journal about my grief once I got older, I learn more about my own grief as well as grief in general. I keep learning new things about myself.
I don't want to cause any pain to any of my family, but they've also caused me pain in that they haven't been there for me the last 17 years. That probably makes me sound callous, but it's the truth.
I hope to have a lot to report next month. I'm looking forward to it, too! :D
And I bet you will have some great progress to report! Because once you've made the decision to do it, you'll find time.
ReplyDeleteThank you so very much for your encouragement and support! Yep, I plan on making the time; I just gotta! :D
DeleteMaking that online declaration is a great place to start. And it doesn't have to be large chunks of time. Twenty minutes here and there will add up over time and pages will soon be piling up. Best of luck in following your dream! :)
ReplyDeleteI'm hoping that by putting this out there, this will help me hold myself more accountable for taking some action. Time here and there is really good to know. I was trying to picture myself devoting two or three hours at a time, and with a 9 year old and a 2 year old, I doubt that would be all that possible, lol. Thanks for your support! :D
DeleteDon't beat yourself up too much because you haven't been able to do as much writing as you expect of yourself. Any writer's biggest challenge is to keep "butt in chair." It takes a lot of determination to find the time and crank the words out. But that's the only path to publishing. Good luck! :-)
ReplyDeleteGosh, that is so true. It seems like there's always all these other things that need to be done. Then before I know it, the month has flown by and I haven't written a darn thing towards my book, lol. I think I've got the determination. The words seem to be in there, just waiting to land on my page! :D
DeleteI've barely been writing this month either! Congrats on attempting a memoir, though--I think that's a really tough thing to do. And I'd definitely recommend going with first person--the one time I did attempt a memoir, I did a bit of a fictionalized version of it in third person, and my writing teacher told me it was too distancing.
ReplyDeleteI agree with you; I felt like third person was too distancing.
DeleteJennifer, it's very nice to meet you. I look forward to reading your stuff. Have a great weekend.
ReplyDeleteThank you, and it's nice to meet you, too.
Delete