Wednesday, August 7, 2013

Insecure Writers Group--Who Knew?





Because this is my first post as a member of the Insecure Writer's Support Group (IWSG), I thought I should share its mission with readers of the J.Q. Rose blog who are not sure what it's all about. Author Alex J Cavanaugh explains it this way:


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!

Posting: The first Wednesday of every month is officially Insecure Writer’s Support Group day. Post your thoughts on your own blog. Talk about your doubts and the fears you have conquered. Discuss your struggles and triumphs. Offer a word of encouragement for others who are struggling. Visit others in the group and connect with your fellow writer - aim for a dozen new people each time.

Let’s rock the neurotic writing world!
# # # #

But wait a minute...who believes writers are insecure? Afterall, aren't writers the ones who brave speaking in front of small groups as well as to crowds at famous writers' conferences? Aren't they the ones who are talking with folks one on one at library gatherings, flea markets, festivals, and even in school rooms?

Let me tell you a secret. Writers are great actors. When getting up in front of a group,  our guts are squirming and our knees are knocking together so loudly, we hope the crowd can't hear them. Sometimes a quick race to the bathroom precedes the eloquent, enlightening, entertaining talk to the audience. Yeah, we're just a bunch of adolescent kids in adult bodies scared to death we will make fools of ourselves and disappoint the people we care about.

But somehow, we are driven to share our writing with others in order to brighten readers' lives. We want to make people laugh or shed tears or just feel something. So we act like we are self-assured in order to give a piece of ourselves to readers. And it is exhilarating and so worth it--when it's all done!

Thanks so much for stopping in for my maiden voyage into this group. Come on back the first Wednesday in September and every first Wednesday of the month thereafter (and maybe tomorrow for the Hobby Hoedown event with Anne Stenhouse. She shares her foray into belly dancing.)

Please take time to hop over to other blogs and hear their voices. You can find a list at Alex's IWSG page


14 comments:

Suzanne said...

Hi! I totally get the acting - in the real world I'm a teacher. Put me in front of a class and I can talk the hind legs off a donkey. Before the lesson I am a bundle of nerves but they'd never know it :)
Suzanne @ Suzannes-Tribe

J.Q. Rose said...

Hey Suzanne, you are so right! I like you can talk the hind legs off a donkey! Thanks for stopping by.

S. L. Hennessy said...

Welcome to IWSG and congrats on the brave admission of insecurity! It can be tough to drop the bravery act.

Michelle Gregory said...

welcome to the IWSG group.

J.Q. Rose said...

Thanks so much for your welcome and leaving comments. I've had a lot of fun visiting the blogs, but oh my goodness. I wish I could hop onto every one of them. So much talent and support. Looking forward to the next month's posting.

Joylene Nowell Butler said...

So happy to see you here, or for want of another greeting, It's about time! Happy IWSG.

Annalisa Crawford said...

Hi J.Q - welcome to the group, and thanks for visiting my blog today. It's great how we can bluff our way through and pretend to be secure, isn't it? Although I don't know how I'll feel if I ever have to talk to a large roomful of people - 10 has been my maximum so far :-)

L. Diane Wolfe said...

There's a saying - fake it until you make it. I faked it long enough it no longer scares me.

Rachel Schieffelbein said...

Welcome to IWSG!! That's very true, about faking confidence. I did my first reading at a library last night and I was so nervous! But I made it through. :)

Tess Grant said...

Well said, JQ. Sometimes being something is more about pretending than actually being.

J.Q. Rose said...

I like that, Tess!

Misha Gerrick said...

Couldn't have said it better myself.

Welcome to IWSG!

J.Q. Rose said...

Thanks, Misha!! And thank you for the welcome.

Melissa said...

This is the part of being an author that scares the living daylights out of me. I (like a lot of authors) am a total introvert, and a social misfit. LOL
I may not survive publication...well, maybe publication, but definitely NOT book signings.

Great post! Welcome to the group! :)
August co-host and IWSG #110

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