Writers Digest 101 Best Websites for Writers. SIGN UP! OPTIONAL IWSG Day Question: What steps have you taken to put a schedule in place for your writing and publishing?
I used to have a schedule for just about everything, but I’m not too good at sticking with any of them. Here’s mine for 2018.
Schedule 2018
I’ve been in a “personal purgatory of self-doubt” these past few months, and I couldn’t figure out why until I stumbled on an article about the insecure person’s personality. And Kapow! there it was. For one thing, I was reacting to the “humble brag” on Facebook. You know the author who “must drag themselves to their next signing.” Sigh. Such a chore. For another, I have a friend whose life is perfect and obviously quite enviable…according to them. How can it be that their life is spot on while mine isn’t?
After I read the article, I committed these quotes to memory:
“The insecure person tries to make you feel insecure yourself.”
“If you don’t feel insecure in general, but only around certain people, it’s likely they’re projecting their insecurities onto you.”
“The insecure person drops the ‘humble brag’ far too often.”
Armed with this information, I have no time for insecurity today, but just in case hugs are needed, here’s one and a quote to help ease anyone through those less than secure moments.
Big Hug Courtesy of Morguefile, rikahi
“People who are constantly bragging about their great lifestyle, their elite education, or their fantastic children may very well be doing so to convince themselves that they really do have worth.” Susan Krauss Whitbourne, Ph.D., ABPP
As you must know there’s a new anthology arriving in 2018. I love the title. Tick Tock: A Stitch in Crime. There were eleven winning entries, and each story while unique had to be based on the Tick Tock theme.
Stop by their blogs and congratulate the winning authors!
I’ll be putting in an appearance, too, [BRAG ALERT!] with my first attempt at something a tad gory. I’m still wondering where that story came from. Maybe some evil lurks in this heart and I’m just getting in touch with it.
Congratulations on being in this new anthology. I too would find it a challenge to write something gory. I do love murder mysteries and sometimes they can be gory but I do not have a taste for super gory, no slasher or chain saw stuff for me. It does bother me that women are often the victims. Read an interesting article that the Hallmark Channel has been very popular lately. I think people are hungry for good news and happy endings. Not denying that we all have dark sides. And I agree there is a lot of bragging on social media which does not necessarily reflect reality and it’s kind of boring too. Glad I found your blog. <3
I’m not into gore, either. I prefer a lighter, mysterious touch. Hitchcock had the idea, suggest and let the imagination fill in the details. Thanks for stopping in. I hope you’ll visit again.
Your writing schedule gave me a good laugh.
Congrats on being featured in the anthology, Lee! That’s awesome.
Sorry to hear about the crisis of confidence. I used to have a friend who humble bragged all the time to ridiculous levels, and I found myself often feeling resentful and insecure after an evening with her. It took me a while to figure out what the issue was, but now that I rarely see her, I don’t experience those feelings anymore. It’s funny the affect some people can have on us.
If you do read The Subtle Art of Not Giving a F*ck, Manson addresses the problems with our social media culture and the tendency people have to paint their lives as perfect. Interesting read.
That schedule made me chuckle…
So you’re into the evil and gory stuff at the moment? Well, I must say that story was really… heartless. But fabulously so! I love your writing. Period.
Happy 2018, Lee. 🙂
Ha! Guess I can’t hide behind that Ms. Nice Person anymore. Thanks, Michelle.
I think I could make myself crazy if I were to believe that social media posts truly represented 100% of my friends’ lives. I seem to have a large number of friends who travel to exotic places, and though I love to travel, I rarely have the time or money, and have only gone a couple places in the past few decades. Even so, I remind myself that they live normal lives in the in-between, but they only post the highlights.
I don’t understand why some people feel the need to make others feel . . . less. It certainly doesn’t make me feel any better to know I’ve made someone feel worse.
Congratulations on your foray into the dark side! I’m looking forward to reading that anthology.
I know. I’m in my sweats hacking away on my keyboard, no makeup, hair–well, being hair–and someone’s posting an updated profile picture on fb that makes Marilyn look shabby. “Oh well,” I say, sucking it up and brushing my locks.
I’d really like to write comedy, but I don’t think I’d succeed. I’m sticking with the dark and icky stuff for a while. 🙂
Good for you going dark! It’s fun to step away from the usual once in a while.
Those quotes are AWESOME. Being insecure only around certain people is a very telling sign. And whenever someone’s life looks all rainbows and sunshine on the social networks, it completely screams of a need to try to convince themselves more than anyone else.
Happy new year!
Hi Nicki,
Glad the quotes resonated with you. Thanks for taking the time to comment.
Congrats on your win! And I agree those people are annoying. I laughed at that schedule image. Here’s to a great 2018 for all of us! 🙂
I guess we’re all annoying in turn, but it’s fun to grump a bit. Thanks for the good wishes. Back to you with the same.
Hugs right back at you, Lee.
On the other hand, may I take this opportunity to tell you about my writing success, my swanky lifestyle, the rare orchids in my garden, my incomparable beauty and so on and so forth?
lol
Happy New Year, and thanks, as always for your support on my blog.
We already knew about all of that about you, Damyanti. And we’ve always appreciated your humility while envying you. Keep up that swanky lifestyle. I, for one, live vicariously a lot of the time.
Great things to keep in mind when we feel insecure. 🙂
Congrats to all on the anthology. How interesting that you branched out into a new area for you. Awesome!
Hi Stephanie.
Thanks. Did you see that you were among my winners in the Dec. Giveaway? I’ll need your snail mail address.
Love the kitty hugs, and appreciate the insight on insecurities! Congratulations on the story in the anthology! BTW, if you could add another “s” to Douglass in the list above I’d appreciate it 🙂
BTW, I love the writing schedule/plan. I’m not looking beyond the current project, for fear I’ll go skipping off after something new and fresh without finishing :O
Will definitely add that “s” I hate it when I misspell a name, so thanks for catching that.
Thanks! It wasn’t you–it got mis-typed on the IWSG page (they’ve fixed it now).
Great! Two esses it is!
Huge relief. I hate being the culprit! Thanks for letting me know.
Ha! Those perfect people are annoying. Congratulations on your anthology win! Can’t wait to read it.
Happy New Year!
I want to be perfect, but as you can see that’s simply impossible. Thanks, Gwen.
Happy New Year! Congrats on your story being a part of the anthology!
Thanks, Cherie. It’s very exciting to be included.
Congratulations, Lee! I’m honored and thrilled to be sharing the pages of the “time” anthology with you. Sweep the insecurities into the dust bin. You’re doing great. Keep in mind, most people post on FB the things that are going well, the brags, the outings, the accomplishments. We keep the disappointments to ourselves.
Take care and happy reading and writing in 2018!
Hi Mary! Thanks for stopping by to say hello. I look forward to reading your story.
Congratulations for your story making it into the IWSG Anthology. Loved the picture of your writing schedule 🙂
Rachna Chhabria
Co-host IWSG
Rachna’s Scriptorium
Hi Rachna. Thanks. And that schedule is the best I can do these days. 🙂 Glad you liked it.
That picture of your schedule is awesome… and inspiring 😉
btw, you need to add your wordpress blog link to your blogger profile page so I can click to it from your comments on my blog because I’m lazy… just saying 😉
I thought that had been done, but guess not. I hope I fixed it this morning.
I was thrilled to see that you are among the writers selected for the IWSG anthology, Lee! Congratulations! I can’t wait to read your story! A hug is always appreciated ~ sending you one in return! All the best in 2018!
Hi Fundy!
Thanks. I was a bit surprised at the inclusion, so I’m pleased you’re going to read the story.
Here’s to both of our 2018 year being fantastic.
Congrats on the story. There’s a reason why I don’t follow some people on social media. I don’t need to hear about their “fabulous” life. It’s hard enough work to feel fabulous in my own skin.
But you crochet and a I don’t know anyone else on this crazy place that does. You hold a special niche.
I loved the “pour yourself some wine” note. (That’s on my to-do list too!)
I’m sorry to hear you’ve been in a self-doubt purgatory, but I’m glad you found something to pull you out of it! Don’t focus on them, focus on yourself. And all the amazing things you’re going to accomplish this year 😉
And I will. Thank you so much for the visit today. I look forward to your return.
Happy New Year, Lee! And congrats about the story! So excited for you.
Remember why it wasn’t supposed to be included? I’ve been a little confused from the beginning, but then that seems to be my permanent condition lately.
Thank you so much for stopping by my blog. Thanks for the quotes; much needed. Congratulations on your story being featured in the new anthology. I’m so excited. I wish you all the best with your 2018 goals, whatever they may be.
Thanks, Toi. And my best to you for this fresh new year.
Hi Lee! Thanks for posting the winners for the new anthology. First time I’ve seen it, but I’m not around the blogs much ATM.
Love your quote. I think that nails the bragger. Oh, I’m so glad I don’t get those bragging Christmas letters any more. Sure to make you feel a failure, at least as a mother, if your child didn’t persevere through 3 uni degrees, a master’s and a PHD. Urk!
Happy New Year! I don’t make resolutions, at least out loud, but I have a quiet plan ticking away inside at all times.
The Xmas letter! I still get a couple, and I still wonder how on earth the people lead such a charmed and beautiful life. If I wrote one that was true, I’d have a melodrama. Happy New Year!
So true! And it’s so negative, we don’t need that! AND CONGRATS!
I think I should do a whole month on humble bragging. Marking that down for the future.
Hi Lee – congratulations on the anthology entry … great news: as too its publication … I shall enjoy the read. It’s funny isn’t it – if people constantly talk about how they are etc … shows their lack of sensitivity and insecurity … I’ll be simple and easy going – cheers to you – and here’s to more dark writings in 2018 (well light ones too if you wish!) … Hilary
Congrats on the anthology and to all of the other winners! Can’t wait to check it out!
Thanks, Sarah. Look forward to your response to the book of stories.
Congrats to the winners and to you for your honorable mention. And thanks for the quotes. I try not to be insecure but I’m really writing under contract and public marketing events, not that anyone would ask me to do them.
There’s a story about why I’m in that anthology. I may share it later. Keep trying not to be insecure. That’s the best strategy.
I love your quotes.
Juneta @ Writer’s Gambit
Thanks, Juneta!
Aw, the Calico looks just like my Patches. You have to watch her though. She may hug you one minute then bite you the next.
Your goal list looks a lot like mine.
Congratulations on the Anthology. Looking forward to reading it.
Those Calicos! You’ve got to keep an eye on them all the time. Let’s reach our goals together this year!
The board is very funny! A lot of people try to put the best image across on Facebook, but you do have to read between the lines. Hope your writing goes well this year.
Thanks, Nick, and I’m sending you the same wishes.
Ooh–Humble Brag. Love that phrase (and new to me). Isn’t that true.
I love the idea of the “humble brag,” and I think I’m going to do a bit of it to see what happens. 🙂
Yep, the braggers usually are the most insecure. Farcebook and the like are nothing but a clip show anyway, and I hate clip shows lol
:-0 And now they’ve come out and told us how we’re being manipulated. We knew it, but their admission was kind of like the tobacco industry’s late admission of guilt.
It’s called crabs in a bucket. One tries to rise above it all and the other crabs pull him down. Just have to X those people out of our lives.
I like your goal board, especially the ending.
I like the image of crabs in a bucket! It’s perfect.
Congratulations to you and all of the winners!
I have fallen both into the trap of saying too much on social media, and feeling left out of the big social loop. It’s a tough balance and it’s tough to know how much to share and when not to. I want to stay positive, so the posts I put out there have a tendency to be on the “yay, we did this” side instead of the “well, today we grumbled at each other, although yesterday we had great family fun.” It’s hard to know how to post the highs and the lows all at once.
Best wishes for happiness, peace, security, joy, and fun writing in 2018!
I hear what you’re saying. I’m in the same quandary. It may be time for FB and me to part. I’m thinking about it.
I’ve thought about it, too. Unfortunately, it’s a method that some of my family members use to keep in touch so I’ll be there for the long haul, just maybe not as often.
Huge congratulations to all of the anthology winners – and entrants.
And yes, self doubt is as integral to me as my skeleton, and possibly stronger. I will happily share a whine/wine with you.
I love what you just wrote. And I love that you’re willing to share both wines/whines with me. I love company.
I love your schedule! Reminds me of my attempts to make one. Hugs back to you!
Congratulations to the anthology authors, you included!! Yay!!
Hi Julie! We are destined to be friends if we schedule the same way? 🙂
Thanks for the congrats. I’m very pleased about being included.
“Write 10 words.” I think you did that just by writing the schedule. Heck, I think you wrote enough there for 3 days.
I’m mostly only insecure when I read another writer’s writing. Or maybe that’s just jealosy. Don’t know. Either way, I try not to think about it too much. Have a productive 2018.
Oh, I could do a whole gaggle of posts about reading other people’s work and giving up ever writing another word. And now that you’ve called it to my attention, I’m not writing anything more for three days. Thank you.
I don’t run into humble braggers too often, but I needed those quotes anyway, and the hug.
They’re both yours and I’ll send more as needed.
Love that quote – it’s so very true!
Yay on the anthology (I’m SO excited too!!!) and I’m looking forward to seeing your glimpse of evil 🙂
Congrats back to you, Jemi! How great to be in the same book together.
You know, I don’t know if I humble brag or not. Humility was never a strong point of mine. 🙂 I know I try to talk about the positives on social media, just because if I dwell too long on the negative, I start getting depressed and that’s a nasty spiral I’ve been down too often. I will, however, talk about my woes on my blog. Here’s to a happy and secure new year!
Genuine woes aren’t humble bragging…at least I hope not. I got some woes to share and might just pick the best time. A time when I’m so far behind I can’t possibly catch up and I need to tell everyone why!
Congratulations – and Happy New Year!
I loved this post, it resonates well with what I’ve seen lately on social media and how it makes me feel even when I’m not part of the conversation.
Cheers to confidence and creativity!
I believe there is a lot of truth to that quote. People on Facebook often try to paint their lives as wonderful. It’s an alter-life. Not real. Everyone has problems. When we realize that, we can be grateful for what we have, and do what’s right for us.
Have a great 2018!
I’m getting better at reading between those lines on Facebook!
Your ‘schedule’ made me laugh. Sounds about as descriptive as mine!
IWSG post: Taking Chances
A like mind! Let’s get together in 2018.
It’s definitely a bad strategy to measure ourselves against humble-braggers. I see so many of them during NaNo, the people claiming a bad day was only 35K, or that they only wrote 700K instead of their usual million-plus.
I agree, many people constantly proclaiming how awesome their lives are, or how much such and such a thing matters to them, are really insecure and trying to prove it to themselves.
You’ve just given me another reason not to do NaNo. I can’t take more humble chatter. Thanks. 🙂
I like your honesty, Lee. Beware of the writer who has to humbly apologised for being so successful. What they don’t realise is that it shows their insecurities. The one or two books I’ve read that have been penned by you are fantastic. I enjoyed them and I still recommend them to parents who are searching for a good book for their children who are eleven years old and older.
You have a lot to be proud of.
Wishing you all the best for 2018.
Shalom aleichem,
Pat G
My gram always said that honest was the best policy. For years I thought it was original with her. Thank you for your kind words, Pat. Appreciate the positive reaction to my work.
Have a wonderful and successful 2018, and I hope to share some of it with you.
Congratulations on the special mention in the contest – I look forward to reading more!
There’s a story behind how I sneaked into the anthology. I’ll share it in the future. Happy New Year, Sylvia.
I wish I had something to humble brag about right now. I can say for certain that when I do have something to brag about, I err on the side of screaming it to the world, probably because it’s so rare. 🙂 http:/www.raimeygallant.com
I love it when people have something to shout about. Writers work so hard for recognition that when they get it, it should be shared. I’ll listen for your screams in 2018.
By the way, I say wowzers all the time. Sometimes I scream it. 😉
My apologies if this is comment 2, but this is comment 2. I’m not sure the first one took. 🙂
Congratulations on placing in the IWSG Anthology. I can’t wait to read your bit of evil!!!!
Happy 2018!
This is your first comment, Yolanda. I’m going find out why WordPress is such a @$!! problem for some people to leave a comment. It shouldn’t be that hard. Thanks for the good wishes. I’m hoping both of us have a great 2018.
Congratulations on placing in the IWSG Anthology! I can’t wait to read that bit of evil! 🙂
Isn’t it a great way to start the New Year?
Love the hugging kittens!
Happy 2018!
Great insights about insecure people who want to drag you down with them.
Congrats on the anthology. Great start to the New Year!
Hi Ellen. Thank you so much. I’m now on “brag alert” all the time.
That’s true. Often those people are a basket case and just want everyone else to be the same so they feel better.
I’m now working on how to either avoid those people or diffuse their impact.
There’s nothing like querying a novel to make one insecure. And yet I keep going.
Congrats on the IWSG anthology. Sounds like it will be a great collection.
Oh, yes. Sending out those little pleas are the most insecure-producing moments.
Hi, Cheryl-Lee!
I needed to drag myself away from running my multi-billion dollar corporation to comment on your post. I’m such a trouper. 🙂
Over the years I have known and worked with dozens of people who engage in humble bragging to make others feel insignificant. That picture of the hugging cats is a keeper, an inspiration to us all as we plow through a new year.
Enjoy the rest of your week, dear friend C-Lee!
I’m out here laughing, Thomas. Now get back to that multi-billion dollar business!
I sent off your prize yesterday. It should arrive at your old house before you move nearer the alligators. 🙂
That writing schedule made me laugh! *clinks wine glass as we cheer in the new year*
My pet peeve is narcissism. I agree with that quote about braggarts masking insecurity. If we truly feel confident, we don’t need to bombard the world with all of our successes. As Vince Lombardi said about running into the end zone after scoring a touchdown, “Act like you’ve been there before.”
However, it’s not bragging to celebrate your inclusion in the anthology. Major congrats!
Hi Jennifer, and thanks so much stopping by and actually reading my post. I’m very grateful. I love that quote from Lombardi; it’s perfect.
Hope to see you here again. Happy first Wednesday of 2018.
I think personal ‘purgatory of self-doubt’ is contagious. I’ll join you for a glass of wine! Thank you for the kitty hug, I needed that.
Happy New Year, Lee!!
I’m sure you’re right. Come by any time. I always have wine and hugs available.
Here’s to all of us having a great 2018.