This is my Insecure Writers Support Group post for December.
Alex's awesome co-hosts for December
are:
Alex's awesome co-hosts for December
are:
T. Drecker from Kidbits,
Eva E. Solar at Lilicasplace,
and Patsy Collins!
Please stop by their blogs and say thank you.
Trying to balance being an author with being a working wife and mom is tough. Throw in a major holiday and, in just one week, my word count total went from 2,380 to 650. December's not looking much better.
I'm trying to keep a good attitude. I was able to do half my shopping online Monday-- yippee. The other half (or most of it) will get done later this week, during mine and hubby's annual take-off-work-and-go-shopping trip. We even do lunch! :) Then, the whole family will go to the tree farm and chop down our Christmas tree this weekend. That's always fun.
Writing? Maybe next week... :P
The very best part Christmas this year is that my kids are all teens now. Thanks to one diehard hanger-oner, Santa left them a note last Christmas, saying their gifts would be under the tree with the adults' gifts from now on. Woohoo! Momma gets to sleep on Christmas Eve! hahaha
I have an announcement (two, actually).
But first, a little mood music...
I'm forming an official street team!
It'll be a mix of beta readers, ARC reviewers, and jack-of-all-trades promoters. If you're interested in joining, click here.
And (*drum roll*)...
The Insecure Writer’s
Support Group book is now available!
Tapping into the expertise of over a hundred talented authors from
around the globe, The IWSG Guide to Publishing and Beyond contains
something for every writer. Whether you are starting out and need tips on the
craft of writing, looking for encouragement as an already established author,
taking the plunge into self-publishing, or seeking innovative ways to market and
promote your work, this guide is a useful tool. Compiled into three key areas of
writing, publishing, and marketing, this valuable resource offers inspirational
articles, helpful anecdotes, and excellent advice on dos and don'ts that we all
wish we knew when we first started out on this writing
journey.
ISBN 9781939844088, 235 pages, FREE
(It's supposed to be. Last I checked,
Amazon was still holding it hostage for 99c.)
Where you can get it...
Amazon / Barnes and Noble / Smashwords /
Don't forget to add it to your Goodreads.
IWSG sites:
Facebook Group –
https://www.facebook.com/
Facebook Critique Circle
Group – https://www.facebook.com/
Thanks for visiting. :)
I hear you on the time issues Melissa! A similar problem here. I think everything will get done, but writing and blogging may have to be put on the back burner for a couple of weeks! Happy holidays to you and your family.
ReplyDeleteI've resigned myself to the fact that December is a very unproductive month writing-wise, but I do try to catch up on reading during all the rush. If I keep my goals more manageable I find that I'm a much happier person over the holidays!
ReplyDeleteThat's cool the the IWSG book is free. I will wait until Amazon fixes the pricing snafu and check it out. :)
I'm in the same boat - nothing is getting accomplished writing-wise as quickly as it should be. I'm starting to think I'm just a lazy loser who's been abandoned by her muse. I still have hope though, and so should you. This is the month of miracles, after all. ;)
ReplyDeleteI feel you on the motherly-wifely aspect of things. But you are amazing, Melissa, and I know you'll pull through and awe us all.
ReplyDeleteI signed up for your team!I feel you on the motherly-wifely aspect of things. But you are amazing, Melissa, and I know you'll pull through and awe us all.
I signed up for your team!
Yay! Thank you! :D
DeleteHave fun shopping - enjoy that lunch! :)
ReplyDeleteDoes this mean no more stockings for the kids? Enjoy your day of shopping.
ReplyDeleteCan the street team be online?
LOL
DeleteNo more Santa bags. ;)
Yes. The street team is handled online. I'll email the various members with tasks (beta reads, promo stuff), according to which job(s) they signed up for.
Half of your shopping already done?!?!? You're amazing. And is it fun having teens? I think I'll be so sad when they're all older!
ReplyDeleteI'm always out of balance when it comes to writing and family. One always gets shorted.
ReplyDeleteSuch a hard time of year to get writing done! I think keeping your eye on the long term is smart right now. Too easy to get discouraged if you hold yourself to strict word count goals, etc.
ReplyDeleteSo glad to see the book is finally out!
I'm the same way at this time of the year. Once the Thanksgiving holiday hits, not much writing gets done for the rest of the year. Your shopping date sounds like fun. I hope to finish mine up by next week. And thanks for the mood music. I always liked that song. Happy IWSG day!
ReplyDeleteWow a street team sounds interesting. I'm looking into it!!! I haven't put a dent in my shopping and my word count was barely 1000 for the past 2 weeks. I think you're doing fairly well!!!
ReplyDeleteI feel you, Melissa. My word count went down as well. I didn't expect to do as much cooking as I did for Thanksgiving, and the week before we had company. Maybe I'll get some writing done between now and Christmas. And good luck with your street team! Sounds like a neat idea.
ReplyDeleteAfter quitting NaNo at 22,000 words, my total wordcount for December is: (drum roll).......ZERO.
ReplyDeleteSo you're doing pretty darn good! Keep it up.
I totally understand your word count woes. I didn't write anything the whole my kids were home for Thanksgiving break. I have low expectations for December too.
ReplyDeleteGood luck pulling together your street team and beta reader list.
Elizabeth Hein - Scribbling in the Storage Room
Yup, life does tend to interfere with everything, doesn't it? I love the holiday season, but it's really hard to get anything done. I've been doing better at editing than actually producing. Sigh. Happy Holidays...? At least your shopping trip with your hubby sounds awesome! :)
ReplyDeleteSigned up for your Street Team. Want to see how that works. Didn't know of such a thing, but if it works, I'd like to try it as well!
ReplyDeleteI got a good portion of my shopping done online, too. I just hate going out in the world this time of year and dealing with all of the crowds.
ReplyDeleteSometimes it's necessary yet good to take time off writing.
ReplyDeleteA street team? How cool! Also, I can't believe your family chops down your own tree. That is so not like my family! Have fun :)
ReplyDeleteI don't think December is a month for writing, mostly if you've got family and children. But what can be compared with the fun of cutting a tree together and then make it glow with the magic of Christmas?
ReplyDeleteA street team? What's that? I'll have to look at it. Dwarves are good for street jobs. Dragon Hugs!
I hear you about the holidays throwing a wrench in things - travel and all that makes now a very bad time to try to write a book. >_< Hope your Christmas goes well and the kids don't sneak into their presents early. :P
ReplyDeletebalancing time is my huge conundrum too !! if you find the secret formula, let me know ;-)
ReplyDeleteDefinitely enjoy your family now while you can and make memories together. You can always write another day. Love the fact you have a fresh tree in your house. I miss that. Take pictures of the decorated beauty and I'll imagine that lovely fresh pine scent.
ReplyDeleteMy parents lucked out. I never bought the whole Santa thing. lol
ReplyDeleteIt's a time for family and just loving how the holiday season unfold before our eyes. So enjoy! Writing time will come.
ReplyDeleteJust catching up on the news...your day of shopping sounds like an annual day of fun with you and hubby.
ReplyDeleteI saw the good news about the IWSG book. Wow! I'm so happy for Alex and the rest of the gang.
I've only made three Christmas purchases...gotta get on the ball! Good to see you, Mel.
These two months are always hard to do anything but survive them. Good luck with getting your writing time back.
ReplyDeleteLast month was pretty crazy. My husband and I claimed Christmas back two years ago, though. No family visits. We just stay at home with our son, and it has taken so much stress off us. My little guy is still eager for Santa's visit! Good luck with your shopping and writing. :)
ReplyDeleteSometimes it's a huge accomplishment to merely survive the holidays. I hope you're cutting yourself slack, Melissa. You're carrying a big load and getting things done well along the way.
ReplyDeletePS I see that Brandon Ax basically wrote the same.
Hugs to you.
Melissa darling!! shopping online for Christmas sometimes is the easiest way to do it!!! keep the spirit alive :) via internet
ReplyDeleteYou are awesome and seem to know how to balance your time...care to share with the rest of us?
ReplyDeleteGood luck with the street team!
Sounds like fun day but stressful.
ReplyDeleteAll the best!
I'm all signed up! I checked all of the boxes and will happily do whatever you need help with. I'm flexible- unless you want me to do yoga, then all that flexibility goes out the window.
ReplyDeleteDid I say you could go on hiatus missy? :) (((HUGS)))
ReplyDelete