Wednesday, August 6, 2014

What to Remember While Building a Writing Career #IWSG



Welcome, Insecure Writers! If you haven't joined the Insecure Writer's Support Group yet, please, please do so here. You'll be glad you did. I can't imagine a more amazing group of people. Big thanks to Alex J. Cavanaugh for being an awesome leader and bringing us all together.

Today I want to highlight a blog post written by someone else. It was listed on Elizabeth Craig's weekly Twitteriffic post (if you don't yet follow Elizabeth's blog or Twitter feed, you MUST! She shares such valuable information).

Here's the link to the amazing post: 39 things to remember while struggling to build your writing career, by Kimberley Grabas on the Your Writer Platform blog.

Kimberley's post was such a breath of fresh air for this insecure writer. I don't know about you, but I'm struggling to keep up with all the information flying at me so fast. It's difficult to sort it out and decipher what will or won't work for me. I worry that I'm not pushing hard enough to reach more people, because the "marketing chip" that is naturally embedded in others is noticeably absent from me. I'm afraid of missing that "thing" that will guide me and help make sense of this rapidly changing publishing world.

This amazing list of 39 things helped me so much. I hope it'll help you, too. I was reminded to stay focused and determined. I was reminded to keep writing. I was reminded to be fearless, even in the midst of feeling so. much. fear.

Read the entire list.
You'll breathe a sigh of relief.
You'll be inspired.
I promise.

Did you read the list? What helped you the most? Do you have any advice to add to the list?

19 comments:

  1. Glad you were able to find something to help you! I'm definitely going to check out that list.

    Sarah Foster
    August IWSG Co-host

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  2. No, but I'm going to go read it now!
    Elizabeth posts the best links.

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  3. That list really is a breath of fresh air. Thanks!

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  4. I'm headed there now! I have the same marketing fears as you.

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  5. Love it! I get intimidated by all the greatness around me. I have to work on that. =)

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  6. I need to start following Elizabeth's blog. It's just hard to get to it all.

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  7. That is a great list. I don't have a marketing gene either but I think part of my problem with it isn't planning enough.

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  8. I don't think I have that marketing chip in me either.

    BTW, Elizabeth's blog is great, but she always puts out so many good links that I fall behind on my writing. :)

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  9. Great list! Always good to be reminded that everyone, no matter their career stage, feels insecure at times.

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  10. I knew I didn't have that chip. I wonder if I can get an App? Thanks, Julie. I appreciated your IWSG post.

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  11. It's always important to remind ourselves we are building a career as writers, beyond writing one or two books-- super exciting but just steps in what we all hope will be a solid career. Now I'm going to read the post you recommended. Thank you for the link!

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  12. I'm bookmarking that list so I can read it, again and again, and again.

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  13. Great list. I loved the part about not dress rehearsing for tragedy--awesome advice.

    P.S. If you set your links to open in a new window, people won't leave your blog when they go to your awesome links. Just some advice, take it with a grain of IWSG salt!

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  14. And this is a reason all writers should join IWSG! Sometimes we can't help but feel insecure, upset, angry, depressed, anxious, rushed etc., but we need to be reminded to take a breath and enjoy each step. Thank you!

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  15. Truly inspiring. I like number 39, choose your path. Sometimes I forget how much work it takes to go down the writing path. It's never easy, except to dream and envision. I wouldn't change it though, it's such a thrill to watch a barely-there idea come into fruit.

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  16. That's an awesome list! I'm going to borrow a few of her quotes for my classroom and myself! :)

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  17. Oh, I'm SO GLAD you shared that list with us, Julie. Holy. I NEEDED that. It was so motivating too… and it helped me step back and BREATHE. I think the hardest part about all of this is the noise… and it can be so difficult sometimes to shut it off, believe in our own uniqueness, and WORK. <3

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