Wednesday, May 7, 2014

IWSG and A to Z Challenge Reflections

It's the first Wednesday of the month and time for another Insecure Writer's Support Group post. If you're an insecure writer or just looking to give other writers some much needed support, check us out here. And a big thank you to our Ninja Captain Alex J. Cavanaugh for running this group and being the biggest support of all!

As I mentioned in the title of this post, I will also be reflecting on the just completed Blogging from A to Z Challenge, so heads up. 

Like most writers, I've been plagued with insecurities recently (and by recently I mean pretty much always) about my writing and the seemingly impossible dream of getting published. It seems like it just might never happen, and sometimes makes it hard to keep soldiering on. And though this post is about to hit a happy note, I have to say that that fear... it's pretty much only gotten bigger and scarier with time. 

However, last month did some wonderful things for my insecure writer self-esteem. Over the month of April I participated in the Blogging from A to Z Challenge for the third year in a row, and for the first time ever I finished all my posts before the challenge began. And for twenty-six days while I was stressed over wedding plans, family health issues and the general stresses of life, I got to unplug for several hours a day and read peoples blogs. Blogs about travel and movies, the life of a writer and science fiction. It was wonderful, and since I'd already completed my own posts, I got to simply immerse myself in everyone else's. I made new blogger friends and reconnected with old ones. I gained some new followers and found new blogs that interest and entertain me. And had a great time acting as one of the A to Z minions! 

But most importantly, it felt fantastic to write for a a while without all the fear an expectation of publication. To just enjoy the process and share some of my favorite topics without getting caught up in the ultimate writer's endgame. And for that I'm so thankful for blogging and blogfests that bring some many people with so many different perspectives together. I can't wait for next April and the next A to Z Challenge!