Wednesday, August 7, 2013

IWSG: Feeling Great: Tree of Life Collaboration!

I can't believe how time flies...but you know that already if you read Monday's poem...



It's IWSG again. Insecure Writer's Support Group. I'm probably going to get kicked out because I'm not feeling insecure, and that makes twice now! Why not? The Tree of Life Collaboration organized by the amazing and talented (not to mention witty and sweet) Samantha Redstreake Geary over at Writerly Sam's. I feel so amazed to be part of this group!



First, it was so cool to be chosen as one of the guest authors. We were hand-picked. I like being picked. You know how much I hated school PE and being the last picked...this was the total opposite! They wanted me!

In a nutshell, we're listening to audiomachine's new album “Tree of Life” and writing a continuing story, with each 150 (or so) word segment inspired by the track on the album assigned to us. I'm in there with people who have multiple books published and whose blogs are amazingly popular, and then there's little ole' me. Swimming in the big pool!

The other part that's been so fun is the banter we're enjoying with each other on facebook. We are encouraging each other, commenting on each others work, and having a virtual party in my tree house. Which is totally appropriate since we're writing about The Tree of Life.

Lastly, I love the story we've created. It's just so wonderful to watch what can happen when you get a bunch of excited people together working on a common goal. It's highly motivating, and encouraging, and leaves me feeling secure in my abilities, and my relationships with friends old, and many new ones, too.

I guess my advice to those of you struggling with insecurity is to go ahead and say yes when someone asks you to do something totally scary, out of your comfort zone, and seemingly impossible. Just do it! It could be that next step in your path towards your goals!

Here's Sam's post at the A-Z explaining the whole thing, and here's my part, should you care to read it.


~Tina

16 comments:

Suzanne Furness said...

How uplifting Tina. So glad you are enjoying the project. Trying something new and out of our 'comfort zone' can be a great experience. Stay happy :)

Hilary Melton-Butcher said...

Hi Tina .. it's great that you're all working together in this collaboration for the Tree of Life anthology ...

Brilliant being picked, I couldn't agree more .. though they'd have picked me for sport, usually - except running - your arena!

Cheers Hilary

Anonymous said...

What an encouraging post... really nice;) Thanks for sharing, and congrats on the book:)

Brian Miller said...

collaborating like that is really cool...and def creates a good amount of energy among the writers as well as you see it develop...cool project tina...

maybe the insecurity comes after in figuring out what is next? smiles.

Vidya Sury said...

I really loved your part, Tina! This is such a feel-good post. I am guilty of not being insecure...but I am right there with you in that not-a-published-author swimming pool. On the other hand, should we not consider ourselves published, since we blog? :D

So glad we connected..and your Tree House? Superb!

Alex J. Cavanaugh said...

The storyline has been so cool. All of you are talented and contributed something of quality. Yeah, I'm guilty of not saying yes, but I just had too much going on right now.

Lucy said...

Wow, sounds like it was definitely a good thing you said yes, and it sounds like they knew exactly why to pick you :)

Lucy from Lucy's Reality

Mina Burrows said...

Awesome stuff! Congrats. I love it. :)

Jeremy [Retro] said...

you are a strong link, branch... tree!

Elise Fallson said...

Though I was a bit late in the game, you've summed up how I feel about the Tree of Life experience too. It's been an honor and I'm sad to see it end on Friday. Can I get you an margarita? You deserve a margarita. Cheers!(;

Andrew Leon said...

You have a tree house? bah!

Annalisa Crawford said...

Your happiness is infectious, Tina :-)

L. Diane Wolfe said...

In order to truly feel alive, you have to take risks. I bet you'll start saying yes more often.

Unknown said...

I'm delighted with your enthusiasm for this project, Tina! You have a gift, and your contribution really made it shine! It's high time you start saying yes to yourself:)

klahanie said...

Hey Tina,

I've been working my way through a huge amount of these "I Was Seeking Gary" postings. Almost three thirty on Thursday morning before I finally got to yours. Bonus points?

Indeed an amazing collaboration and I have total admiration for you, those involved and major kudos to Samantha.

Personally, I wasn't nervous about participating. I'm insecure, yes. However, I was most comfortable being involved. Quite something when you know how I feel about blog hops and blogfests and that alphabet challenge.

When one realises that a comfort zone is actually an uncomfortable comfort zone, time to challenge the feeling.

Well done to you, Tina. You are a marvel.

Gary :)

Shannon Lawrence said...

I can't believe I almost said no because I was scared to do it! I've enjoyed not only my part, but seeing the story continue to take on form, each fun contribution.

Shannon at The Warrior Muse