Wednesday 1 October 2014

IWSG (Sept)


Huge thanks as always to our host Alex J. Cavanaugh

I am honoured to be one of the co-hosts this month along with;

This is an extra special posting for the group as it marks the first year anniversary of the IWSG Website. Well worth checking out if you haven't already.


To mark the event Alex and the team are busy putting together an ebook that will be free to download in a few weeks. Full of helpful tips, anecdotes and links it is sure to be a must-have for any writer embarking on their writing/publishing journey. 

Open for submissions

I don't think I have any 'new' writing insecurities this month (yay for that!) but I am suffering with the age old problem of time management. I want to write - I have notes and diagrams and pictures all neatly fanned out on my writing table just begging for me to sit down and act on them. I am just finding it tricky to find the time. I am hoping that things will calm down a bit after this week and I will be able to get organised. Anyway, I have decided not to stress about it for the next few days, it will get done. In the meantime, I am off to visit as many of you as possible this month to see what insecurities are doing the rounds at the moment and check out some of the tips and advice being shared.  

59 comments:

  1. Hi Suzanne - that's great you're ready to go .. and even if you can't get to sit and write - you have space in your grey matter to work a few things out ...

    The Guide will be hugely helpful to many .. and I congratulate Alex and all contributors to the obvious success of IWSG and the website ...

    Cheers Hilary

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  2. Good for you for not having any writing insecurities this month. Time management? Oh. That's a problem of mine, too. :-)

    Thanks for co-hosting!

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  3. I wrote about time issues as well this time. I never have enough! Best of luck to you.

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  4. Time is certainly the factor for writing. Enjoyed your post and great to see you on Alex's blog. Keep up the good work.

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  5. Thank you for co-hosting! The book is a fantastic idea. Hope you find time to write soon! :)

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  6. I hope october will be a great writing month for you.

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  7. *cough* It's October...*cough*

    Hopefully you find some time to write soon. I find I have the opposite problem--all the time in the world but no inspiration or motivation. Thanks for co-hosting!

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  8. Did we go back in time? lol

    Time can be a pain to have indeed, but it can be done

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  9. It might help to think in small chunks of time rather than waiting for that nice, long stretch that may never happen. Tell yourself, I'm using this half hour to write, then do the other things that are calling your name. You might find a routine for yourself.
    Thanks for co-hosting this month! What an exciting month it is for IWSG!
    Play off the Page

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  10. Ah, yes. Nothing worse than having the will to write, but not having the time to do it. Perhaps you'll get more time this fall.

    Thanks for co-hosting this month's IWSG!

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  11. Time. I finally set aside writing time after lunch. I don't have a specific amount or goal like so many words or chapter, but time to be quiet and write. You almost have to treat it like a doctor appointment. No matter how busy you are, you do have to keep that appointment. Thanks for co-hosting.

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  12. Time is a premium. Just steal a little bit here and there and don't stress what you can't get done.

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  13. If only there were more hours in the day! I often feel the same way—there's never enough time to get everything done and fit in the writing I have planned. Good luck with finding time. It will come.

    Nice to meet you through the IWSG, and thanks for co-hosting with me! :)

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  14. Time is my biggest issue, and I don't even have a life. lol I think it's mainly my mental time. I no longer have the ability to focus. =\ I need to meditate or something. lol

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  15. I hear you! We just moved into a new house and I've had house guests for the last 3 weeks. The last ones go home today, and I am SOOOOOO relieved. Time to get back to life as normal...or establish a new normal...for living in a new house--never mind the book release in 11 days. =)

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  16. There are never enough hours in the day. Sometimes I resent the need to sleep.

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  17. Hi Suzanne and thanks for co-hosting "us" this month. Where did you put the cookies?

    Ahhh, the time management issue. All I know is that each day provides an opportunity for us to write . . . or not to write. Either choice is valid and it's good you've accepted a bit of down time. Words and stories come out when they are supposed to. Sometimes, rushing them doesn't help.

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  18. I sure you'll find the time soon. Don't stress and yeah for all those notes waiting on that desk for you!

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  19. I think you've got the right attitude towards your stress. Stress is a "creative thought" killer. Thanks for co-hosting and good luck with your de-stressing time. I think you'll come back from your break with a light bulb going off!

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  20. I have to admit, I'm impressed with how well organized your writing style is. Go You! My writing table is the dining room table. I have a desk in our office area but it just doesn't have as much sunshine. So, I'm always shuffling my stuff around. Best of luck, I hope you can squeeze in more time. Thank you for co-hosting!

    Elsie
    co-host IWSG

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  21. I hope things calm down for you soon and you'll be able to find time to write. :)

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  22. Time can be hard to find, but usually you'll find it, somewhere. Good Luck!!

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  23. Time management is a problem I have too! I never seem to find my balance. Thanks for co-hosting this month. :)

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  24. I have the same problem, I know what I want to do, I just can't find the time to do it! I'll get there, though, and I'm sure you will too :)

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  25. Thank you for co-hosting IWSG this month, Suzanne, and for visiting my blog and commenting. As self-employed writers, time management is probably a top-of-the-list requirement for success.

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  26. Ah, I know what you mean, Suzanne! I struggle with this too. My other problem is that when I do make time to write, it's hard to actually write, because I'm paralyzed by the fact that it's all the time to write I have.
    Thanks for stopping by my blog and thanks for hosting!

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  27. Finding the time and organizing the time is the key issue in anything. I am certain you will get there and have a great time attacking your latest book. I am not a writer but I love what people have contributed to the book on writing, marketing and publishing. One day I will write that book on my mom's life

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  28. There really isn't enough time in the day for everything that needs to get done. I hope things settle down for you next week. Thanks for co-hosting.

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  29. We're in the same boat, this month, as far as no new insecurities to report.....and that's not a bad thing :) Thank you for co-hosting this month.

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  30. As long as you're ready when the time comes to write!

    Thanks for co-hosting!

    Heather

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  31. I've been struggling with time management issues lately as well! I always feel like I'm never doing enough. Well, at least you don't have any new insecurities this month. That's always a great thing! Thanks for co-hosting:)

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  32. Hope life calms down for you so you can carve out writing time!

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  33. I need time management too, or maybe we just need an extra few hours in a day? There is so much to this writing business. I'd be less busy if I took up cat herding as a profession.

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  34. Managing my time is always an issue for me since I'm slower than most. Just do the best that you can and the rest will fall into place! Thanks for co-hosting this month. Have a great day! Eva

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  35. Mastering time management is tricky. I think we all simply need more hours in the day. :D Seriously though, I hope you do manage to get eveything done that you want. Thank you for sharing and for co-hosting.

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  36. Oh that's always my biggest problem! I still haven't figured out how to carve out a consistent time of any length for me to sit down and write. But I keep trying.

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  37. That is my same problem: too little time. Then when I do have time, where did my energy to keep my eyes go???? I try not to stress over it either. It only makes things worse.

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  38. If someone would have the secret to perfect organization of time, I would be willing to pay a couple of dwarves for it. I have a lot of things to do right now, but I also have the feeling that my main problem is lack of organization. I hope you do find time to write next week.
    Dragon hugs!

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  39. Time. There's never enough of it, and I'm retired. You'd think I'd have all the time in the world. Not. Here's to finding the time you need to write.

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  40. I'm retired and my time is my own, but I understand your problems. Not stressing is the best way.
    By the way, my favorite color is purple also!

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  41. Making time to do what you want is always tricky. You're pulled in a lot of directions. BTW, I painted my office the light shade of purple on your blog. It's supposed to encourage creativity. Hope it works.

    Thanks for co-hosting this month, Suzanne.

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  42. Thank you so much Suzanne for hosting this very special edition of #IWSG. I love your purpleness!

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  43. Yeah, I just started a new job, and OMG, it's so hard to carve the time out of the day.

    It's there, I know it is. I just have to steal it back from the world.

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  44. Finding the time -- that problem never goes away. Hope the new month gives you more writing time. I'll hope for the same. Thanks for co-hosting!

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  45. Thanks so much for co-hosting this month!! Yay for not having any insecurities at the moment! As for time management, you're preaching to the choir on that one- I suck at it and specifically at finding time for writing in particular. But I'm sure you'll find the way and be back to writing in no time!

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  46. Thanks for co-hosting. I too struggle with managing my time. Great post.
    Juneta at Writer's Gambit

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  47. Time management! Yes, is there a class on that somewhere? ;) If there is, I'd love to take it lol. Good luck finding more time to write!
    Ninja Girl

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  48. Hi Suzanne. Judging by all the other replies, no one ever has enough writing time - and there's a constant feeling of being in some sort of writing-race. It really shouldn't matter if our books take ten years - as long as they're brilliant. I love the idea of simply deciding not to get stressed - you'll have to let me know if it works! Have a great autumn xx

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  49. Hi Suzanne, (I always wished I'd been called that when I was a kid, it seemed THE best name to have), you seem to have hit the nail on everyone's bugbear there - time. It would be nice to have one's own Narnia to go off to and write and then still be able to get everything done when we got back.

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  50. Finding time to write can be tricky - but then if we had completely empty lives and therefore loads of writing time we wouldn't have anything to write about.

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  51. I think we all suffer from time management :-( thanks so much for co-hosting this month!

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  52. Hi Suzanne! I'm still making the rounds, as you can see. A big thank you to co-hosting this month! You nailed my biggest challenge with your post ~ time management. I blocked out the past couple of days to devote time to co-hosting, but later today it's back to my writing desk, which is littered with notes, diagrams, and photos, and to back to my manuscript. Good luck ~ may your schedule ease and your words flow!

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  53. Hi everyone and thank you all so much for visiting and commenting here. I am trying to get round as many blogs as possible and offer a little IWSG love so apologies if it takes me a few days to catch up with you all. I have read some fantastic posts this month. The anthology should be a great resource.

    Thanks again!

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  54. I find that even with time to write now, it is hard to just sit at an organized time and do nothing but write, or even research for submissions.

    Thanks for hosting today.

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  55. It's SO hard to find time to write. I hope that this month brings you calm and time to achieve what you want. :)

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  56. Ah, yes, time. One of those tricky, slippery things. I hope you find some tucked away under the bed or hiding in the closet corner. :)

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  57. Time management is always so difficult. I hope you have calmer times ahead. And also that you had a great time hosting! :)

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  58. Time management is always a tricky one. Something always has to give. I know people who get up at the crack of dawn before people in the house are awake, so they can write. That one wouldn't work for me because I think it would probably kill me! There's always the other option of doing it when everyone has gone to bed for an hour. I spoke to someone else this week who works from about 11pm onwards for a couple of hours. I need my sleep though, so those two options don't work for me. For me, it's about managing the time I'm actually awake in the day naturally.

    What about working long hand for a time, so you can carry a note book with you where-ever you are and when you have ten minutes you can write a paragraph and over the space of a week you may have written a chapter and then have the time at a weekend evening to just type it up?

    But look, you have time management issues but still took the time to volunteer to be one of the co-hosts this month. Thank you x

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  59. Here's to a productive October. Hopefully you'll find some time and everything you've got stored up will come flooding out. And then there's NaNo next month. That forces us to squeeze time in ways we didn't think possible! Might be worth a shot?

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