As someone who should have the word "insecure" tattooed somewhere on my body, I am extremely hesitant to say out loud that things are going well in my writing world. (And now the tortoises have ducked inside their shells, sure the lightning is about to strike. . . . ) After a long and ugly drought, I find myself in a deluge of "wins." (More about this in a future post!)
But before those wins was the work. A whole weeping-hot-mess lot of it. Creative, emotional, mental, you name it.
And it was worth it.
And it was worth it.
For the record, let me just say that I am not so cocky as to think the work is over. Pffft. Some version of that drought will come again. Writer's block/burnout. Rejections. Not so nice reviews. Breakdowns. Meltdowns. And sometimes it just doesn't matter how hard or how much you work, it still feels like you fail.
Do it anyway.
Keep working. The work makes the wins even sweeter.
I will keep working, keep winning.
And I will keep cheering for all of you and wishing you all the wins.
*****
What are some of your recent wins? Creative, health, life in general? Come on, I know you have at least one . . . .
*****
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Please stop by and visit my co-hosts:
Hi Madeline! Thank you for hosting this month. I can't wait to hear about your wins. You are such a talented writer and was only a matter of time before those victories began to mount up!
ReplyDeleteIt's always my pleasure to co-host IWSG!
DeleteThanks so much, Liza! One of those wins was making the finals of a recent Janet Reid contest - the link is over on the sidebar under Recently Published. I love entering those contests - they really stretch that creative muscle.
If it's going well, just enjoy the ride.
ReplyDeleteThanks for co-hosting this month!
I'm trying, Alex! But I'm usually the one on the roller coaster ride with my eyes squeezed shut, mouth open screaming in terror. :)
DeleteYou're welcome!
Looking forward to hearing about your wins. We all need some good news. My muse has gone on a long hiatus, hoping it returns soon. I'm glad yours has returned!!!
ReplyDeleteThank you for co-hosting!
Your muse will wander back your way, don't worry. They always do. :)
DeleteWoo HOO! You won a Janet Reid contest??? That's fan-freaking-tastic! Congratulations! I hope the wins keep piling up for you. (The harder you work, the "luckier" you get...)
ReplyDeleteOh, I didn't win the most recent one I entered - I made the finals. But I have won two of her contests over the years. :)
DeleteCheering for you as well and wishing for more and more wins. And keeping my fingers crossed that the turtles are safe and no lightning has struck. ;)
ReplyDeleteHave a good time co-hosting!
Regarding the lightning, don't worry about the tortoises - they're tough little critters. As for me, well, I'm paranoid so I'm keeping an eye on the skies. Just in case. :)
DeleteThanks for co-hosting. Glad you’re having wins to celebrate.
ReplyDeleteThanks, Natalie!
DeleteHi Madeline. Congrats on the wins! That's a good feeling. It keeps you motivated through the droughts. My recent win is being asked to speak at a lunch. Now, I'm nervous! Thanks for co-hosting this month!
ReplyDeleteMary at Play off the Page
Thanks, Mary!
DeleteGood for you on the speaking engagement! That is totally a win. And don't worry, you'll do great. :)
Hi,
ReplyDeleteMy greatest win is that I finally got my manuscript along with a synopsis out to one publisher and one agent. Now of course that doesn't seem like much but it is a lot for me. I finally let my baby go.
Thank you so much for co-hosting.
Wishing you all the best.
Shalom aleichem,
Pat G @ EverythingMustChange
Pat, that is huge! Keeping my fingers crossed for your "baby" out there in the world. :)
DeleteThanks for co-hosting Madeline. My greatest wins are that at this point several of my manuscripts are with different publishing houses. I hope to get some good news soon.
ReplyDeleteRooting for you that you too get on the winning track soon :)
Fingers crossed for those manuscripts, Rachna!
DeleteI've been in a long drought myself. There seems to be a trickle coming from the spring which I will tend to very carefully.
ReplyDeleteMay that trickle become a deluge soon . . . . :)
DeleteI'm so glad things are going well for you and wishing you many, many more wins going forward :)
ReplyDeleteThanks so much, Ellen!
DeleteCongratulations, though I am not at all surprised. You have so much talent and if it takes writing from inside a turtle shell, well so be it.
ReplyDeleteThanks so much, Elizabeth! Writing inside my shell is where - and how - I do my best work. :)
DeleteMay your wins hugely outnumber your losses ... though losses sometimes teach us more. Ouch!
ReplyDeleteThat is an excellent point about losses teaching us lessons!
DeleteSo glad you've found your groove! But how perfect - it's October and the beginning of the best time of the year!
ReplyDeleteHah! Some days I consider it a win if I go to bed without having killed anyone.
Yes on October - love it!
DeleteHa ha ha! That's a win for more than just you. :)
My biggest writing win is scratching out a few pages at least 3 to 5 days a week now that the kids are in school. It's not awesome, but it's better than nothing.
ReplyDeleteI liked The Institute, but part of me felt like he was going with familiar ground as the Dark Tower Series had the "kidnapping of psychic folks for destructive purposes" theme near the end as well. I think The Outsider was a better read for me, but I love everything Stephen King.
I would say that's pretty awesome. :)
DeleteI find some of King's newer works hit-or-miss for me, but I love so many of his older works.
Cheers to your wins, Madeline! Many more coming!
ReplyDeleteThank you for co-hosting this month.
Thanks so much!
DeleteYay for entering anything! Winning or placing is a bonus. I was in a rut and now I'm out. My getting out is my win.
ReplyDeleteYes on getting out of that rut! It feels amazing when that happens.
DeleteI'm with you. Any win is good enough for me. I keep my personal benchmark lower to help me feel better about myself. :-)
ReplyDeleteAnna from elements of emaginette
We do what works for us. :)
DeleteMy wins? Let's see: 2 books and one short story published, and more in the works. I'm building my author business one self-baked brick at a time. Thanks for co-hosting this month!
ReplyDeleteExcellent, Sadira! Those are great wins.
DeleteCongrats on your wins!!!
ReplyDeleteI finished a short story I really liked and sent it out into the world. I felt like that was a big win, regardless of the outcome.
You took charge of the part you can control - the writing and the subbing. The rest is in the hands of the Publishing Gods. :)
DeleteThanks for co-hosting today!
ReplyDeleteGlad to hear things are going well in your writing world. Been in a writing slump for most of 2019 but now and to sing aloud “I can see clearly now the rain is gone!” Finished my first draft of a short story idea I had months ago last night. A walk through the train station yesterday morning inspired another which I finished pre-plotting a few hours later. And as for wins Feminist Collective published my poem “Self-Portrait” two weeks ago.
That's a great group of wins there, Lidy! Hopefully that rain will stay gone for a long, long time. :)
DeleteGreat point - and reminder for me! - about enjoying the wins and not worrying about when they'll be over.
ReplyDeleteThose moments when I feel things are going well in the writing world freak me out to no end.
ReplyDeleteI'm very glad to hear you're experiencing a deluge of wins. You've earned it!!
Yep. Whenever things are going well, I get suspicious. Or more suspicious than usual.
DeleteThanks! :)
So very cool when the stars align and it's right over you! I'm excited for you!
ReplyDeleteLove the image of the stars aligning over my head! Makes me smile. :)
DeleteHow wonderful to hear that you're in a win phase! I hope it holds on forever with only a few, short lapses every now and then. Can't wait to hear about them!
ReplyDeleteThanks so much, Tonja!
DeleteMy current wins: almost finish editing two previous books I wrote awhile back. Thanks for co-hosting today!
ReplyDeleteNow that is super productive! Good for you!
DeleteMy current win: I'm a finalist in the Arizona Authors Association literary contest--in 2 categories! It's so validating for my insecure writer's soul. Maybe I'm not wasting my time, pecking away at a keyboard for hours.
ReplyDeleteCongratulations! Doesn't seem like a waste of time to me. :)
DeleteThank you for co-hosting this month. I think I'll just soak up your good wishes and bask in them for a little while.
ReplyDeleteSoak and bask away! :)
DeleteGlad things are going well! And thanks for co-hosting!
ReplyDeleteIf I can get to the end of my third draft, I'll definitely call that a win. Heck, if I can finish my current chapter, that'd be a win.
Those both sound like wins to me. :)
DeleteFirst, thanks for co-hosting! One of my big wins this month was with consistency, especially with a personal health goal I have. I was successful all month, and it gives me the confidence and momentum to continue.
ReplyDeleteThat's excellent! Consistency is so important for all good habits.
DeleteI'm with you.
ReplyDeleteI'll just keep forging ahead. Everything is seasonal. The drought can't last forever.
My win? Re-visiting a manuscript that's close to my heart. It's 7 years old. It's the one I'm most passionate about.
Happy IWSG Day!
Thank you for co-hosting this month.
How exciting for you! I'm sure all of that passion will show up in the work.
DeleteCongrats on your streak of winning. I hope it lasts for a long time. And thanks for co-hosting this month.
ReplyDeleteI hope so, too! :)
DeleteI got my laundry folded! That may sound mundane, but it's a huge chore. And now I can see the livingroom floor again! Also, I have been going to the gym and not hating it. Happy IWSG Wednesday!
ReplyDeleteThose sounds like wins to me! Especially the gym. :)
DeleteMy wins are when I manage to submit my chapter to my critique group on time. :)
ReplyDeleteThanks for cohosting this month!
I'm sure your critique group appreciates that. :)
DeleteI think the writers who struggle the most with doubts etc are usually the best writers. Because they don't settle for ok or so-so--as long as they don't give up.
ReplyDeleteIt's hard to not give up sometimes, though, especially when you're slogging through that creative desert, sweating, desperate for a sip of a story idea....
DeleteI'm coming down off a win to a bliss-sucking WIP that I've started to toss out.
ReplyDeleteHang in there, Susan! Another win is on the way soon. I know it!
DeleteI love that phrase - "bliss-sucking." Something about it feels very snake-like....
Hi, Madeline! I thought I posted a comment from the airport, but maybe it didn't work right. Your advice to "Do it anyway" is spot on. It would be a good mantra during tough times. I beat my brother at Spades last night, and that was a sweet win ~ LOL!
ReplyDeleteYou're right, it would be a good mantra. Better than my current one - "Go eat a cookie." :)
DeleteNow that's a fun - and literal! - win!
Congratulations on your wins! I look forward to hearing about them. My recent 'wins' is finishing my first novella and setting up an Amazon KDP account. Small steps. ;)
ReplyDeleteThanks for co-hosting this month!
Thank you, Debbie.
DeleteAnd those are not small steps at all! Good luck with everything!
Well done on your wins - I know exactly what you mean about not wanting to jinx it... so I'm not going to talk about mine! :)
ReplyDeleteHa ha! Good point. Although I do think there's a little wiggle room in the whole jinxing or not discussion. :)
DeleteCongratulations on the winning! I've been focusing more on my health and fitness, and although I don't keep track of weight, my clothes are telling me that I've lost some volume.
ReplyDeleteLove the idea of losing "volume"! And good for you, Karen - keep at it!
DeleteThanks for co-hosting this month. Congratulations on all the wins. I surrvived my first writers conference and really enjoyed it too. I also got inspired to actively persue a dream I've been putting on hold for a while.
ReplyDeleteExcellent on the writing conference! Good luck on the dream you're pursuing - go for it! :)
DeleteMy latest writing win is a short story accepted into an anthology of pioneer women stories. The Spoilt Quilt will be out in November from Five Star, and Sandra Dallas wrote the title story. My life win is getting my bumper crop of tomatoes made into tomato sauce and spaghetti sauce and stored in the freezer. Now what to do with the remaining green tomatoes and the bags of carrots...
ReplyDeleteCongrats on the story acceptance! It sounds like an intriguing collection of stories.
DeleteYum on the spaghetti sauce!
Yay for the wins! I've been struggling this year too, but now things are picking up creatively and it feels good. Autumn has always been my best month for writing!
ReplyDeleteHappy to hear things are picking up creatively for you, Christine. Now keep it going! :)
DeleteCongratulations, Madeline! I'm so happy to hear you have good news for us. You deserve all the wins.
ReplyDeleteAs for me, I'm happy that in this crazy, busy time, I managed to work on my novel again. Not on my teaching days yet--that will come--but at least on my days "off."
Thanks, JH!
DeleteYou are definitely a busy woman. :) Good luck with everything!
Thanks so much, Madeline. Good news: I survived!
DeleteWahoo to your Wins! Congratulations.
ReplyDeleteThanks, Juneta!
DeleteThanks for popping by my blog. And thanks for the encouragement here on your own!
ReplyDeleteYou are very welcome, Samantha. :)
DeleteI'm just coming out of a drought, so let's keep those wins coming for both of us!
ReplyDeleteDefinitely, Shannon!
DeleteHurray for the good news! You earned it, and from what you say about keeping on, I'm sure there will be a lot more of it in the future.
ReplyDeleteI hope so! When the droughts come, I have to try harder to look ahead and know the good rain WILL come...eventually. :)
DeleteCongratulations on all the good news! I've been too busy to be really productive recently, but am trying to get myself on track to actually finish something soon.
ReplyDeleteSometimes it's hard to get on track in the first place - so many things trying to push us off. You'll do it!
DeleteMy dad always said if you don't work hard for something you don't appreciate it. Congratulations that your hard work is paying off.
ReplyDeleteThanks for co-hosting this month.
Thanks, Diane! A win is fun no matter what, but when you can look back at all the hard that got you there, it's even better. :)
DeleteCongrats on the wins! I'm working on making some changes to get a few more wins. Wish me luck!
ReplyDeleteThanks for co-hosting!
Wishing you all the luck! :)
DeleteI'm glad you've made it out of the drought. I hope you continue to win!
ReplyDeleteThanks so much, Chrys. :)
DeleteSo good to hear that you’re having some wins! I’ve had a couple of small ones lately, and that does so much for the attitude. Got a story accepted a week or so back... small press, hardly any payment, but shoot, every bit of validation helps!
ReplyDeleteCongratulations on your wins! Validation is huge.
DeleteWow, you tease! Mention your wins but don't reveal! I'm happy to hear that the sun is shining on you--that's wonderful! I hope it gets brighter from here on out. I look forward to hearing more of our wins, Madeline. <3
ReplyDeletePart of the reason I didn't share the wins here was because I wanted this post to be more about the work and the wins in general. More news soon. :)
DeleteHi Madeline!
ReplyDeleteWhat an uplifting post you cranked out for the IWSG blog hop this month! Hurrah for your wins and congratulations. Your positivism has me realize that we can define our own wins and they don't always have to be big. The biggest win I'm aiming for is snatching an agent - lots of work, lots of time, lots of determination, but unfortunately, no success. So, instead of being bummed about it, I should focus on a smaller win. These days, that's having time again to focus on my writing. It all starts with that. Thank you for co-hosting and keep winning! :-)
I would say that your agent search is already a win. You can't control if an agent wants your ms, but you can control the work you put into the process - writing the query, researching agents, etc. Sounds to me like you've already done this, and that's something to be proud of. :)
DeleteThere are no shortcuts! And winning after hard work is so much sweeter than having it handed to you :-)
ReplyDeleteIt really is sweeter. :)
Delete