Created and hosted by the Ninja himself, Alex J. Cavanaugh, the Insecure Writers Support Group posts the 1st Wednesday of every month. Click the image to learn more or sign up.
Optional Monthly Question: How do major life events affect your writing? Has writing ever helped you through something?
I write stories, whether fiction or non-fiction because I enjoy it. I’ve never not enjoyed the writing process, but sometimes the business of publishing can suck the life out of writing. That’s one reason why I stopped trying to publish so much. When I have something that’s ready, I publish it; otherwise, I just enjoy the process.
For me, the process of writing is therapeutic. Writing can also be an escape. When reading a good story isn’t enough to help me cope with the world around me, writing and creating does. When I wrote my first book, Eternal Curse: Giovanni’s Angel, I didn’t know that’s what I was doing. I was going through a very tough time and was a bit depressed. I’ve had worse bouts of depression over the years, but at the time, I was on the verge of something really bad. Writing that story helped me avoid a major wave of depression and helped me express a sense of hope I didn’t know was in me. It also helped me reconnect with my faith in God.
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September’s IWSG Newsletter member spotlight was K.J. Scrim, a newer member to the hop. If you can, be sure to give her a visit this month. I’m sure she’d love it. This month she’s #136.
So, I posted my WEP-IWSG entry way early again this month. If you want to check out, I’d love to know what you think?
Over at A Small Gang of Authors, I’ve started a new series: Would you read this, where I pitch blurbs and cover art for short stories I’ve written. Today is the first post. If you have the time, please click the image to check it out.
The IWSG Book Club book for October/November is: The Murders in the Rue Morgue by Edgar Allan Poe
This one is a short story, so hopefully, everyone will be able to read it in time for the discussion. I didn’t read the last book. 🙁 I tried, but life got in the way. I’m excited about this one though. I really enjoy the works of Poe.
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Now, on to the personal updates.
So, my new job is going well, but the last week of the month was a bit stressful. Still, it was a good kind of stressful. I wish I had discovered this path five years ago. I don’t know if I would have been ready to leave the classroom then, but if I had known this was a possibility, I definitely would have left the classroom two years ago.
I finally made it back to YouTube and have been posting up a storm. You should stop by and see some of the stuff I’ve posted, such as the video below and the ones featured on my side panel.
Also, I’ve made a breakthrough with my illustration struggles and will have lots to share with you next month.
Lastly, I’ve decided to release the “controversial” book I mentioned last month. I really didn’t mean to give the wrong impression, but the book is only controversial because it’s an opinion piece, written by a self-published author, about book review culture. This is not a book about how to get reviews or how to write reviews. It’s really about the culture and thought-process of those who choose to and not to write book reviews. I’ve already had some authors tell me they want nothing to do with it while others have been very encouraging. In any case, it means a lot to me so I’m going to putting it out there. I’m putting together a slideshow presentation and a video series to go along with the book.
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Do you find your writing to be therapeutic?
Gonna try out the IWSG Book Club book this time around?
Are you on YouTube? Did you check out any of my videos?
I submitted my story to the anthology. Wish me luck.
My encouragement for this month: write what makes you happy.
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After hanging out with Alex, be sure to stop by and visit this month’s co-hosts:
Dolorah @ Book Lover,
Christopher D. Votey,
Tanya Miranda, and
Chemist Ken!
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Click here to visit other IWSG blogs and sites to receive and share more inspiration and support. (This month, I’m #54).
Thank you for taking the time to read this post. If you like it let me know and share it with others. See you next time, Toi Thomas. #thetoiboxofwords
34 replies on “#IWSG October 2018: Do life events affect your writing or vice versa?”
Good luck with your anthology submission! Writing is cheaper than therapy 😉 Happy IWSG day!
Ronel visiting on Insecure Writer’s Support Group day: Course Correction
Thanks for the encouragement and thanks for stopping by.
Writing is therapeutic. It helps us to find out what we really want. It is a discovery that leads to the reason for living.
All the best.
Shalom aleichem,
Pat G @ EverythingMustChange
I agree. Thanks for stopping by and thanks for your kind words.
I don’t really channel what I’m feeling into my stories. I just write to escape.
Glad the job is going well. At least you have that position now, right?
Yes, my new job has been a blessing. I think it’s one of the reasons I’ve been able to write more lately. Alot less stress in the way.
Good luck with your anthology submission, Toi! Fingers crossed for you.
Happy to hear the new job is going well for you. I’ve started to do more and more teaching on the side–it began as workshops at writers’ conferences, but now I teach for ten hours on Monday, which is BRUTAL on the body. I don’t know how full-time teachers do it. It’s exhausting!
Thanks for the encouragement.
It didn’t take long for me to realize that teaching was going to be one of the hardest things I’d ever do after the first week of doing it. I think I was always sore, tired, and stressed for ten years doing that full-time, but I did it because I loved the kids and knew I was making a difference in their lives.
I wish you so much luck Toi! Writing helps me tremendously. It’s the only thing I am in control of some days 🙂
Thanks for stopping by and thanks for the well wishes.
Wow! So much good news, Toi. New job and lots of great projects. Congratulations.
Thank you. I’ve been very blessed lately.
I can’t say that writing is therapeutic for me, but you did make me realize it does help me find hope. Thank you. Happy IWSG.
I’m glad that writing helps you find hope. As much as writing is helpful to me, I recognize it’s not so for everyone else. I have a friend who becomes frustrated when trying to express her emotions with words, but she draws and paints vivid and emotionally charged images. Everyone is different. Thanks for stopping by.
Writing through instinct is truly inspiring. I wonder if that was true for me as well.
Anna from elements of emaginette
I find sometimes when I try to write about what I’m feeling I can’t do it, but if I write a story as I’m feeling an intense emotion, it will show up and shine through the story. Can’t explain it. Thanks for stopping by.
What an enthusiastic post! Wow are you a busy woman. Thanks for sharing the video and all with us this month.
Thanks for your kind words and for checking out the video. I’ve found that I need just the right balance of activity to keep me motivated. If I take on too much I get overwhelm but if I’m doing nothing I get frustrated. For the moment, I think I’ve found a good balance. Oh, and thanks sooooo much for beta reading my story. It really meant a lot. If by some miracle my story is accepted, I’ll be giving you a proper shout out in a future IWSG post.
I like that–only publishing when you’re ready, and enjoying the process. Perhaps it doesn’t churn out results as quickly, but what is life about if not the journey?
Exactly. I want to enjoy my writing and let it help me in all the ways it does, but publishing is a different matter. Yes, it’s great to know I have the potential to earn money with my writing, but that’s not what it’s about right now. Right now, it’s about the journey. Thanks buches for stopping by.
I love that your writing has helped you reconnect with God and it’s been therapeutic as well as enjoyable.
Congrats on your youtube uploads! That’s awesome!
I often comment that I have a lot of dark themes in my writing, but in truth, for every story I write with a dark theme I have two with a message of hope. Sometimes, even the dark stories have a message of hope. Thanks so much for stopping by.
I love the way your positive attitude shines through, Toi – and it’s so good to see all that creativity. All the best f
Thank you. Being positive doesn’t come natural to me. I used to be a big worrier, but I’m working on being a better me and part of that is being positive and managing stress.
Toi, was lovely reading your interesting post. Good luck with all your projects. Glad you’re so excited about WEP you’ve posted early. Can’t wait to read it.
Thank you for stopping by and thanks for the well wishes.
I’m really glad you found writing as a way of getting you through your depression. And anything that gets us closer to God is a good thing too!
Yes, I’m glad writing has been so helpful. I try hard not to take it for granted, and I’m most pleased that it contiues to connect me to my faith.
Congrats on success with the new job. Writing is also a way for me to push past “stuffs”. Although sometimes it pushes right back. Ha. Great post!
Thank you for stopping by. Glad to hear that writing helps you deal.
Without a doubt, writing helped me get through high school, but not for the usual therapeutic things people usually mention. I discovered I was reasonably good at it and got lots of appreciation from my peers for it – a powerful thing at that age. No one was quite as impressed by my math skills…
That’s pretty cool. I wish I had discovered this earlier in my life. I glad you were able to have that experience.
Lots of wonderful blessings, and kudos to you for having the courage to get on YouTube! Hugs…RO
Thank you. I’ve been on YouTube for a while, I just have to remember to post content regularly.