Hosting IWSG: My Fears, and Encouragement

We're an insecure bunch, aren't we?  I mean, look how many of us there are in this group Alex started.  Published authors.  Multi-published authors.  Best selling authors.  

We also represent a variety of genres, of avenues to get our work out to the masses - both traditionally published, small press published, indie published - yet we all share this one trait.  Insecurity.

Do writer's just need more pats on the back than others?  Are we an egotistical bunch seeking validation and then kinda whining about it when we don't get it?

I don't know.  I've been pondering it lately, because one of the facets of my writing I've been insecure about lately is kinda silly, if I really think about it.  I guess I want just that little pat on the back from non-blogger friends and family.  However, I do know that they don't fully understand what I'm doing and how much it means to me.

They don't understand that getting a gig with a small newsletter for a column every other month is a big deal.  That selling even one story is a huge deal.  Maybe they don't understand the changing nature of today's publishing industry: it's going on-line, it's going increasingly more indie and I think there's no stopping it.  Do they think that because those (to me huge) successes have happened in on-line publications, they aren't as "real".  Guess what?  They are.

That is my personal opinion, though, and I do not in any way mean to say that 

a) everyone in this group feels that way or 

b) that this week's co-host feel that way.  I feel that way.

Therefore, I've decided to focus on other aspects of my role in the current events in my writing path as it unfolds, and to think about the positives of what's happening.

I'm doing here, at Life is Good, what has helped me in the past to get through tough times: helping others.  When we change our focus from what we're lacking  to one of gratitude and reaching out to others, then our insecurities don't matter as much.

I have one of the best gigs in town.  I got picked, chosen, invited three years ago to help organize and run the grand-daddy of all the blog-hops: The A-Z Challenge.  Yes, lots of work.  Yes, non-stop emails that I can't seem to keep up with.

Along with that though, the satisfaction of seeing a new blogger build his or her readership.  The feel-good of I'm so tired I literally fell asleep on my keyboard (last night, writing this at 11 pm) because my day, though a completely stressful day on the personal level, still involved many hours spent on this project.

I get to help promote friend's new blogs: go check out Julie 2 Jules.  Brand new blog, friend of 15 years, met at church, she's just starting out, and yes of course she signed up for the A-Z Challenge.  As should you.  Look up.  Tabs.  Click the Challenge one and join the collective.  Your blog will never be the same.

Sometimes you also get to help out at the last minute to fill in for another friend, to help out a mutual friend.  See how many friends we have as writers?  What a wonderful network we're building and part of? 

When MJ Joachim had a sudden death in the family and had to go out of town, Alex asked me to step in and help co-host THIS gig.  Of course I said yes.  Not because my name will be mentioned in the blogging newspaper (that's kinda how I think of Alex's blog: all the info you need about our community, and little pages of fun stuff like trivia and links to happenings) but because two friends needed me.

Being needed feels good when you're feeling insecure.  Reach out and help someone.  You'll feel better.  I do.

~Tina

Today's co-hosts are also Elsie, Elizabeth Seckman,  and Julie Flanders! 

Alex “Ninja Captain” Cavanaugh  is our leader for this wonderful, supportive group. Don't forget we even have our own website now.  Be sure to check it out if you haven't already, and "like" our facebook page, too. I'm so impressed with what these talented folks are doing to promote this group! Encouragement month long is now just a click away!