Tag: encouragement

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IWSG

#IWSG July 2014: Good help is hard to find.

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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.

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I never seem to be at a loss for insecurities, but every so often I do manage to focus on the positive. Unfortunately, this is not one of those times. My current insecurity, well actually it’s more of a worry, is my inability to find interested and reliable persons to help or support me in my pursuits. You may be thinking that this is simply a small and personal problem I need to overcome, but I’m really not asking that much, at least I don’t think I am.

The problem at hand is finding good help. I have stories that are finished to a point that I can do nothing else with them, but they are not ready for publication. I know enough about my process and my skills to know when my work is ready and when it’s not. The problem that I’m currently faced with is finding beta readers. I have a few, but so far they have been M.I.A. I need feedback and have no idea what to do. I’ve paid for beta services before, but that was only in conjunction with final editing fees. When my work is ready, I’ll shell out the money for professional editing, but for now, I just want…no, I need feedback, and can’t get it.

I wish that was my only problem, but of course, there’s more. I need art work. I’m fortunate enough to have some skills with photography and graphic design. I can do a lot of small things on my own, but when it comes to illustrations, I need someone else for that. I, again, have an illustrator, but he works on a time-table that is beyond my understanding. I don’t want to leave him behind and move on, but I may have to…I just wonder how much it’s going to cost me?

Do you have trouble finding good help? How would you go about trying to find new beta readers and possibly an illustrator? I’d seriously love to know.

After listening to me whine, here’s something that you may or may not be interested in and that may put a smile on your face. I’m putting my indie published short story collection, Unexplained on sale as an Amazon countdown deal. See my side panel for details. I hope everyone is having a lovely and relatively stress free summer.

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After hanging out with Alex, be sure to stop by and visit this month’s co-hosts:  Krista McLaughlin, Kim Van Sickler, Heather Gardner, and Hart Johnson!

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Click here to visit other IWSG blogs and sites to receive and share inspiration and support. (This month, I’m #162).

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

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IWSG

#IWSG June 2014: Summer Magic

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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.

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As some of you may or may not know, I am a teacher by day. That means that summer vacation is quickly approaching. To say that I’m happy or looking forward to this vacation would be a ridiculous understatement. I’ve had a rough term in more ways than I care to try and list now, but with summer on the horizon, I have hope. Summer is a time of magic for me.

For me this summer vacation means:

More time to read leisurely. I haven’t skimmed through a book since college, but sometimes I feel as if I rush more than I’d like to with books because I’m trying to cram in a few precious moments of creative reading into my busy day as a means of relief. While that has worked, over the summer I won’t need to cram in my reading.

More time to write leisurely. For almost the same reason as above, I haven’t been able to write like I want to. I find, from past experiences, that my writing productively increases almost 3 times in the summer, when that’s all I have to focus on. That’s why the idea of being a full-time professional writer is enticing. To not have to work, but to be able to make a living writing would be ideal, but it’s currently not reality.

More time away from things that make me anxious. This means that in the summer, I don’t have to spend a lot of time around people. Some people love being around other people, but for someone who has anxiety just looking at Wal-Mart, going to work every day, surrounded by people, can be hard. I can say that the more time I spend around a set group of people the less the anxiety gets, but even if others think it’s weird, it’s sometimes nice to know that I don’t have to be around more than two people on any given day, in the summer.

More time to worry about myself. I spend of a lot of my time worrying about others and trying to do for others, even if I don’t always pull through. In the summer, there’s enough time for me to be a little selfish and spend some time thinking and doing for myself…I always lose weight in the summer and then gain it back when I return to work.

Needless to say, I’m ready for summer magic to take over my life. Below are some updates and shout outs for any who may be interested.

Are you looking forward to summer? What are your plans?

Happy Birthday to my sister, Tori J. Jones!, Eternal Cause is a Go!, possibly another publication on the way, and I need to get busy with Miss Boop.

After hanging out with Alex, be sure to stop by and visit this month’s co-hosts:  C. Lee McKenzie, Tracy Jo, Melanie Schulz, and LG Keltner!

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Click here to visit other IWSG blogs and sites to receive and share inspiration and support. (This month, I’m #179).

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

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IWSG

#IWSG May 2014: Can’t Have It All

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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.

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Most people assume that if you are an introvert that nothing is a big deal to you. In fact it’s quite the opposite. Just because someone doesn’t shout from the mountain tops or constantly tweet about their passions doesn’t mean they don’t have them.

I’ve been blogging and writing long enough for most people who’ve ever heard of me, let alone have met me, to know that writing is one of my passions, but there are still some who seemed to be completely blindsided by this. I guess it’s another case of me being overlooked by those around me; unfortunately I’m used to that now. However, that’s not what’s currently bothering me.

Right now I’m kind of sad, but mostly annoyed, that I can’t do all the things I have a great desire to do for a number of different reasons.

1. My life isn’t bad and though I’m getting back on track after a recent loss, I really can’t complain too much. There is one problem with that; I’m never happy unless I’m writing, but I can’t afford to write like I’d prefer (that’s another issue I’ll address in a moment). In essence, I suffer and constantly struggle with depression even though no one I know, including my family, seems to want to believe or accept that. The problem with depression is that you don’t typically need a good reason to feel it. It comes over you for no reason. When trying to find the courage and energy to get up and take a shower makes you cry, it’s not something that should be ignored. Alas, I have up to this point been able to pray and write my way down the straight and narrow, but it’s hard. I wish I could not have to battle depression.

2. Back to me not being able to write like I want to. I don’t have kids so that’s not an excuse I’m going to throw out, but I honestly don’t know how people with children get anything done. At this point in my “career” (cause apparently there’s debate as to where you have a hobby or career based on how much money you make) I am working a full-time day job and then coming home and writing and blogging full-time too (that means I’m putting in about 35-40 hours of each task a week). If I told that my home is sometimes in complete disarray, would you be surprised? I actually enjoy cooking and baking, but I can’t do those things and have time to write and go to work, the way I’d like. I wish I could not have to work a full-time day job (Don’t all writers wish this?).

3. This next matter is a result of the first too. I’m tired all the time. Healthy diet and exercise are a dream most of the time, but when I’m in the zone I do really well. Despite all my best efforts, no matter what I do, I am always tired. I’m not talking about being a little sluggish and grumpy (though don’t throw those out), I’m talking about being exhausted to the point where my body starts to breakdown, I pass out, and I get painful headaches. I wish I could not be so tired all the time.

4. On a completely different note, I’m currently feeling singled out in my efforts to do good. I think I’ll be putting together something soon to promote a charity that has really become near and dear to my heart, but for now I’m still trying to figure out how to go about it. I had an idea that was shot down by many of my writer friends, but none of them were cruel about it. I understood their reasoning and respect their decisions, but I guess I was a little disappointed that more weren’t interested. I guess in the end I have to accept that my passion isn’t everyone else’s. The truth is I think my desire to make a difference just wasn’t strong enough to outweigh my insecurities. I guess I thought I needed to have the support of others to be able to pursue this venture because I’m painfully aware of just how little influence I have…In any case, I will do something, whether it is a success or not, and I’ll be glad and proud that I did. I wish I could not be so afraid and insecure about putting myself out there to make a difference.

In conclusion, I realize that I just can’t have it all- no matter how badly I may want it.

After hanging out with Alex, be sure to stop by and visit this month’s co-hosts:  Mark Koopmans, Joylene Nowell Butler, Elsie, and Lisa Buie-Collard!

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Click here to visit other IWSG blogs and sites to receive and share inspiration and support. (This month, I’m #186).

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