Before I start, here’s how my week began. I opened my blog and found this little surprise–blog suspended! My books may be rotten, but they’re not malicious. In any case, this little greeting means that having today’s post up is as close to a miracle as I’ve ever experienced. Go Daddy came through, found the malware, and managed to restore all of my data. WordPress has been one terrific headache ever since I migrated from Blogger. However, I’m trying to get UpDraftPlus to actually back up my site and not succeeding. Anyone have a suggestion?
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Now, onward and here’s today’s important stuff.
Our Twitter handle is @TheIWSG and hashtag is #IWSG.
Every month, we announce a question that members can answer in their IWSG post. These questions may prompt you to share advice, insight, a personal experience or story. Include your answer to the question in your IWSG post or let it inspire your post if you are struggling with something to say.
Remember, the question is optional!
August 5 question – Quote: “Although I have written a short story collection, the form found me and not the other way around. Don’t write short stories, novels or poems. Just write your truth and your stories will mold into the shapes they need to be.”
Have you ever written a piece that became a form, or even a genre, you hadn’t planned on writing in? Or do you choose a form/genre in advance?
I suppose I’m in “the form found me” camp. When I wrote my first book, I wanted to go into issues that were affecting teens, so it never occurred to me that I was writing YA, it just turned out that way. Then I found I enjoyed writing about this age group.
When I’m in the YA doldrums, I switch to other forms, like, Middle Grade with adventure and fantasy. They’re fun to write, but again I chose to write a crazy story about alligators before I chose to write MG.
Be sure to visit other posts and see how they answer this question. And here are the awesome co-hosts for the August 5
Susan Baury Rouchard, Nancy Gideon, Jennifer Lane, Jennifer Hawes, Chemist Ken, and Chrys Fey!
I promised TWO QUESTIONS today, so here’s the second one:
Keep Writing with Fey Blog Hop: Share your story about writer’s block, depression, and/or burnout and how you overcame it or what you are currently doing to heal.
My Answer: I only have one solution for these writing crises: I hike or take some very long walks. It may take a few days in a row for me to snap out of non-productive-writer mode, but I always do. When this fails me, then I’ll know it’s time to pack it in and do something else.
Here’s the LINKY LIST for today’s hop!
Catch the sparks you need to conquer writer’s block, depression, and burnout!
When Chrys Fey shared her story about depression and burnout, it struck a chord with other writers. That put into perspective for her how desperate writers are to hear they aren’t alone. Many creative types experience these challenges, battling to recover. Let Keep Writing with Fey: Sparks to Defeat Writer’s Block, Depression, and Burnout guide you through:
Writer’s block . Depression . Writer’s burnout . What a writer doesn’t need to succeed . Finding creativity boosts
With these sparks, you can begin your journey of rediscovering your creativity and get back to what you love – writing.
BOOK LINKS:
ABOUT THE AUTHOR:
Chrys Fey is the author of Write with Fey: 10 Sparks to Guide You from Idea to Publication. She is also the author of the Disaster Crimes series. Visit her blog, Write with Fey, for more tips on how to reverse writer’s burnout. https://www.chrysfey.com/
So sorry to hear about your blog issues. And now, you’ve made me stop and stutter, since I was just starting the process of switching over to WordPress. Maybe that’s a bad idea???
I love your writing and so glad you found your way into both YA and MG.
Technology can be a blessing and a bane… Glad you sorted out the issues.
I’m glad you got the website fixed! A walk or hike is always good for me to work through story issues or come up with new ideas.
Glad you got the website up! And congrats to Chrys on the new book.
Sorry about the malware. How frustrating. I’m glad you were able to get things straightened out. It sounds like you wrote what was near and dear to your heart and it found the right form.
I like to take long walks, too. There’s nothing like fresh air, exercise, and solitude to clear my head. Great for stress relief, as well.
Walking for Writers. Huge help! Thanks for stopping in, Lori.
Glad you got your blog issues fixed. I have just come in from a mini hike. I do love it, although went out early because it is so hot here the next couple of days.
Oh, yes. In the summer I either choose a shady trail or head out early. That sun can be brutal midday. Glad you had your walk.
I’m so sorry to hear about your blogging issues, but happy to see you were able to get this posted.
I’ve enjoyed some of your YA and your middle-grade, but it doesn’t come naturally to me and would definitely be a matter of me choosing the form. Not sure how it would go down.
Exercise used to be a great release for me, but now I have so much trouble with it due to pain in my feet. I miss being able to jog and go for long hikes. Glad to hear that it helps you get through your writing slumps.
It’s hard to walk if your feet are hurting. Hope there’s a way to help you with that.
I’ve solved the one issue, but my computer’s telling me I have more ahead. It’s getting very cranky and is probably ready to kick the bucket. Oh well, it’s only money. 🙂
Crummy malware can sure screw up a site. Had it once. One of the reasons I tossed wordpress aside.
Choosing the alligators first is the way to go haha
Congratulations to Chrys! I, too, have had issues all along with WordPress and also use hiking as a way to get through stumps in writing.
So there you have it. We have more things in common. Hope all is well and that you’re getting some sailing in.
Thanks C Lee for your post and highlighting Chrys’ blog hop.
Have a fun IWSG August.
ps we meet on WEP regularly …. (I’m on blogger and WordPress).
Hi Susan,
Thanks for stopping in and connecting here. I’m sure we’ll be seeing each other again as the WEP moves on.
Hi Lee – I know you love your hiking … and yes, just getting away from the desk and irritabilities at home … usually help. (spelt wrong apparently – ah well!). So glad you got the blog fixed … that’s one nightmare over – … just money … a blinking nuisance though. I imagine your books are good reads – people are complementary about them … and keep on writing – you seem to be able to come up with different ideas. take care .. .Hilary
Hi Hilary,
Yes, a nuisance, indeed. Just another excuse for a hike, I guess. 🙂
Thanks for the encouragement. It’s always needed and appreciated. Loved your blog post this week. Those maps were amazing.
Hi,
I am glad you got the problem settle with Go Daddy. They are good, competent people.
You are one of the best YA writers I know in that genre of writing. In fact, I recommended Not Guilty to a woman in the writing class I am taking at OIRWA because she’s new on the scene and wants to write YA books.
As to your second question: when I get down in the dumps and I do, I have a girlfriend whose shoulders I can cry on. Or when she’s not available, I sit in my easy chair with a good book and a scotch on the rocks and slip into the writer’s imaginary world. When I return, I feel so much better. I have other things that I do too but that would be too long of a list to write here.
Take care my dear.
Shalom aleichem,
Pat G @ EverythingMustChange
Oh Pat, you are such a dear. I so appreciate your support and love your persistent nature. When I read your blog, I see nothing but a very determined writer with a big heart.
So sorry about all your trouble with the blog. I’m glad you could restore it. Honestly I felt insecure thinking it might happen to anyone.
On the other hand, the form found me as well! I just keep going back to poetry. Though I would really like to write a novel or maybe a novella someday!
Thanks, Sonia. I hope it’s sorted. I’d like to get back to something more fun like writing. Hope you try your hand at a long piece and tell us the results.
Sorry about your tech snafu. I’m still on Blogger, so I have no idea how to help. Glad you got it sorted.
Stay where you are! It’s not as snazzy, but in general it’s a lot less trouble.
Oh no! Technology can be such a headache, especially if you’re old school like me. But it’s a blessing too 🙂
I love your MG books– they’re so fun! And an escape from the angsty YA stuff I’ll bet.
I hear you. We’ve had to leap ahead with this technology without any time to catch our breath. Now keeping up is a marathon. It pleases me that you like my MG’s. They are fun write and I hope they’re fun to read.
I’m sorry about the heartache from Blogger to WordPress! I kept Blogger and got rid of Weebly and changed my blogger URL to my website url. I’m so much happier. I hope you get yours figured soon!
I’ve been dabbling in YA for years and years. I think when I’m done with my current series, I’ll try something different. New Adult? Maybe an altogether different genre that I started off with: high fantasy.
The skies the limit!!
Wheeee!!!
I’ve never used Weebly, but I have several friends who created their website using it. Glad you’re satisfied. New Adult is a great slot for writers. Let us know if you go that route. Here’s to no limits!
I hope you get this, Elizabeth. Your link back in this comment doesn’t take me to your Weekly site. You might want to change that.
Sorry to hear about your technical difficulties. I love Go Daddy, though I’m sure I could expand my knowledge of using it.
I tend to categorize my stories once they’re written. Much like folding clothes once they’re clean 😉
I admire your patience!
Thanks. And, yes, Go Daddy has been great in helping. Of course, I pay them for that, but it would take me eons to learn enough to do even one bit of what they do.
I’d be devastated if I got that log-in message, after already losing my entire Angelfire site in 2009 or 2010 and being unable to rescue probably at least several hundred posts. I got a lot from cache and archive searches in the immediate aftermath of that nightmare, but not everything.
I think we have to understand that this digital world can be quite fragile, particularly if we don’t have the technical skills to deal with it. I don’t, for sure and most writers are at the mercy of the techies who “play” with everything we interface with. Sorry about your losing so much of your blog. Back ups are so important.
OMGosh. That is soooo stressful. Good on you for getting things squared away.
Congrats to Chrys.
The problem persisted today, too. For the whole morning no one could comment. I think that’s fixed. Now what’s next?
When I started writing fiction in a real way, I started with mystery short stories. Everything I wrote was dark. Some of it was good. When I decided to try a novel, I knew what I wanted to write and I expected it to be equally dark. Imagine my surprise when I was barely out of the first chapter and couldn’t keep humor from slipping in. Now I’m glad it did. I wouldn’t want to stay in some of those dark places long enough to complete a full novel.
I’m glad you went with the humor. That made your stories so much fun to read.
I’m glad you write YA! I keep on recommending your books to teens I know.
And, walking and hiking are definitely great ways to get out of any kind of slump.
Happy writing and hiking!
Thank you, Tyrean. I always appreciate how supportive you are.
Congrats to Chrys!
I think it’s always best to just start out writing the story. We can find the label for it after, or create a new one.
Ah, yes. I remember the big brouhaha over New Adult. That seems to have worked.
I use Andrew Rondeau over at WeBuildYourBlog.com. They do monthly backups for a monthly fee and help me with all sorts of GoDaddy and blog maintenance questions. Pretty happy with him for close to a decade.
I’ll check that out. I had to go to GoDaddy this morning to have them unblock my comments section. Thanks, Jacqui.
Hi, Cheryl-Lee!
It would indeed be disconcerting to log on to your blog and discover that it has been suspended. I am relieved to know that you were able to recover your site and your data.
I appreciated your answers to the two questions. It is also true in my case that the best means of expression found me. After years of scrapbooking as a method of recounting memories of my youth and preserving the Shady Dell legend and legacy, it dawned on me that a better way of doing it would be to go public and share the material on a blog. 12+ years later, I am still deriving lots of fun and satisfaction from the pursuit. Regarding Chrys Fey’s question, over the years I have noticed that I get my best ideas when it is least convenient, such as when I am in the shower, trying to sleep at night, having a meal or otherwise away from my keyboard. If I ever encountered writer’s block, all I would need to do is wait until one of those inconvenient moments when the muse unexpectedly visits and make sure I have a method of getting my ideas committed to paper or device before they vanish.
I wish you a safe, healthy and happy month of August, dear friend Cheryl-Lee!
I’m glad you decided to take your memories public because it’s fun to visit and see your stories about those days in your past. I really love your musical trips down memory lane, too. Always enjoyable and always a great way to start my Wednesday.
I didn’t know I was writing YA (now NA) either. It just happened.
They categories are just convenient marketing tools as far as I’m concerned. A good story is just that…a good story. I love reading picture books and actually have been collecting them. Some of those stories are as great as adult ones.
Looks like you’re up and working now! I tried commenting earlier – I could see the post, but got an error message when I clicked through (sent you a sceenshot in a Twitter DM).
Nature and walking always help me as well.
My burnout always comes at the hand of one of those curveballs life like to throw our way.
Ah yes. The old curve ball. I really love it when I get several in a row. Thanks for coming back to comment. There was a glitch when Go Daddy put my site back on. Fingers crossed that all is well at least in this sector of my life.
That is horrible to discover that some malicious malware mangled your blog. I would’ve been devastated. So glad you recovered your blog.
Another learning moment. I’d been putting off backing this thing up. Now it’s done. Thanks, Olga.
I am so very glad that your blog was restored. Having just been through some ‘puter issues myself I know just how worrying/infuriating that can be.
I am loving reading the answers to this question, and intrigued.
And a big yes to displacement activity outside for personal recalibration. It is usually gardening for me.
You have a beautiful place to for that kind of activity! Love the pictures you post of your landscapes and your indigenous roos.
Sorry your blog was hijacked! Glad you got it back.
Walking is always good.
It only took money. What else is new? 🙂
Long walks can be transformative in so many ways for anyone, especially creative-types. 🙂
Thank you so much for participating in my blog hop!
P.S. I’m sorry to hear about the domain ad blog issues you add. Those are always huge headaches.
At least I was able to recover for today’s post. Glad to be a part of your launch and wish you the best.
Long hikes are the best, aren’t they? Although, I do enjoy them more when it’s not so hot and I have to spend the entire walk waving something in my face to keep the bugs away!
I try to go early in the summer months because I agree that walking in the heat is taxing.