Time for us to throw our insecurity hats into the ring for the month of June, or to tell us how to overcome our insecurities.
Many thanks to Alex J Cavanaugh and his awesome co-hosts for the June 1 posting of the IWSG will be Murees Dupe, Alexia Chamberlynn, Chemist Ken, and Heather Gardner!
Over to my special guest, Chrys Fey...
Tips to Defeat the Insecurity Monster
a Rafflecopter giveaway
Thanks for talking to us about insecurities, Chrys. Here's my best wishes to you for an avalanche of sales for Seismic Crimes!
Over to my special guest, Chrys Fey...
Tips to Defeat the Insecurity Monster
Writers are no strangers to insecurity. That’s why Alex
created this nifty group, right? That’s also why there’s so many of us.
During the course of writing and publishing a book, we can
encounter many insecurities. We question our writing skills, agonize over our
lack of writing time and even our writing speed. Then we stress over revisions,
critiques, and edits. Querying and submitting brings an all new insecurity to
the table with the threat of rejections and the torturous waiting game. Once we
move on to the publishing gig, new insecurities dawn: release day, marketing,
finding readers, getting reviews, and stressing over sales and bad reviews. It
is a lot to deal with, especially back-after-back, but the good news is that
none of these are insurmountable.
Every write experiences these same insecurities and
struggles. While knowing that doesn’t help us in the moment or show us how to
deal with them, it should relieve us in knowing that we’re not alone. And
because we’re not the first (and won’t be the last) to face these insecurities,
there are countless writers/authors out there who can offer us guidance, advice,
and help when we need it. One good place to look for that is within our group.
When I was insecure about the release of Seismic Crimes,
many IWSGers signed up for my release day promo, blog tour and supported my
Thunderclap campaign. In the past, IWSGers rooted me on when I was going
through personal problems, offered to beta read for me when I had no one and
gave me courage.
I wish there was a sure-fire way to beat insecurities as
they come, but there isn’t. There are, however, some techniques you can do to
help you move past them.
1. Take a deep breath.
You’re stronger than any insecurity you will ever
encounter.
2. Give yourself a break.
We’re not perfect. We make mistakes, and we have to learn.
3. Take a step back.
Put your book away for a few days so you can return to it with
fresh eyes. Also try to look at it as an outsider (a reader, not the writer).
4. Make a plan.
When you’re facing an obstacle that seems bigger than you,
break it down into smaller (manageable) steps. Then tackle each one at a time.
5. Ask for help.
After you’ve done all you could with editing, promoting and
marketing, it’s time to seek help. There’s no shame in doing this. It’ll take a
lot of stress off you, and you’ll be surprised at how many people want to
support you.
While writing and preparing for the release of Seismic
Crimes, I did each of these techniques for every insecurity I encountered. And
guess what? I’m secure now! There are some things in the future that may bring
new insecurities (book signings/events, etc.), but I’ll do these steps and
I’ll defeat it!
Title: Seismic Crimes
Author: Chrys Fey
Series: Disaster Crimes Series (Book Two)
Publisher: The Wild Rose Press
Format: Digital and Print
Page Count: 282
DIGITAL LINKS:
PRINT LINKS:
BLURB:
An Internal Affairs Investigator was murdered and his
brother, Donovan Goldwyn, was framed. Now Donovan is desperate to prove his
innocence. And the one person who can do that is the woman who saved him from a
deadly hurricane—Beth Kennedy. From the moment their fates intertwined, passion
consumed him. He wants her in his arms. More, he wants her by his side in his
darkest moments.
Beth Kennedy may not know everything about Donovan, but she
can’t deny what she feels for him. It’s her love for him that pushes her to do
whatever she has to do to help him get justice, including putting herself in a
criminal’s crosshairs.
When a tip reveals the killer's location, they travel to
California, but then an earthquake of catastrophic proportions separates them.
As aftershocks roll the land, Beth and Donovan have to endure dangerous
conditions while trying to find their way back to one another. Will they
reunite and find the killer, or will they lose everything?
BIO:
Chrys Fey is the author of Hurricane Crimes, Book One in the Disaster Crimes series, as well as these releases from The Wild Rose Press: 30 Seconds, Ghost of Death, and Witch of Death. She is an administrator for the Insecure Writer's Support Group and has participated in the Blogging from April A to Z Challenge.
BIO:
Chrys Fey is the author of Hurricane Crimes, Book One in the Disaster Crimes series, as well as these releases from The Wild Rose Press: 30 Seconds, Ghost of Death, and Witch of Death. She is an administrator for the Insecure Writer's Support Group and has participated in the Blogging from April A to Z Challenge.
When Fey was six years old, she realized she wanted to be a writer by watching her mother pursue publication. At the age of twelve, she started writing her first novel, which flourished into a series she later rewrote at seventeen.
Fey lives in Florida and is always on the lookout for hurricanes. She has four adopted cats who keep her entertained with their antics, and three nephews who keep her entertained with their antics. You can connect with her on Facebook, Twitter, and through her blog, Write with Fey. She loves to get to know her readers!
AUTHOR LINKS:
HURRICANE CRIMES 99¢ SALE!
DIGITAL LINKS:
Thanks for talking to us about insecurities, Chrys. Here's my best wishes to you for an avalanche of sales for Seismic Crimes!
- Please leave a comment and wish Chrys well!
75 comments:
Making a plan is smart. Anything would seem impossible if you didn't know what to do about it.
Exactly. You can conquer anything if you have a plan. :)
Thank you so much for having me on your blog, Denise! I'm even happier to be here on IWSG Day. :)
Happy to have you Chrys. Great post.
Hi Denise and Chrys - it's being methodical isn't it ... we need to know where we are and what we need to do - to get to our goal.
Essential with major things going on in life ... good luck with all your plans - cheers Hilary
Beautiful post from Chrys, Denise. I enjoyed reading it and was saying amen to every step she suggested. Even though I have already purchased Seismic Crimes, I haven't read it yet and look forward to it.
Shalom aleichem,
Pat Garcia
http://www.patgarciaandeverythingmustchange.com/2016/06/iwsg-june-2016-recovery-is-not-matter.html
Great tips, Chrys. Whenever I feel insecure I remind myself that it's not personal. Not becoming too attached to our vision of ourselves and our writing helps keep a healthy perspective.
Urszula Humienik from urszulahumienik.com
I have also found the IWSG community endlessly supportive and helpful. In fact, some of my biggest supporters have been people I've never met and probably never will.
angelinetrevena.co.uk/insecure-writers-support-group-that-difficult-second-book
Great advice, Chrys. I'm always amazed how helpful the majority of writers are to other writers (especially when someone is just starting out). The writing community is awesome to say the least.
Your suggestions Chrys, are similar to the ways that I cope with my disability and stress = Pacing myself - breaks are a crucial part of that.
Great tips Chrys! Number 4 is one that I particularly like. I find when I get overwhelmed, breaking something into smaller tasks is really helpful.
Cheers - Ellen | http://thecynicalsailor.blogspot.com/
Great advice, as always, Chrys! Tomorrow is another day, as always, my go to sentiment when dealing with insecurities. As Denise says I hope Seismic Crimes goes gangbusters!
Nothing wrong with asking for help. We can't do it all by ourselves.
Without a plan, it's really hard to gt to where we want to go.
I'm glad you approved of my steps, Pat. :) I hope you enjoy Seismic Crimes when you're able to read it. :)
No, it's not personal. Sometimes it can feel that way, but that's why we have to remind ourselves. Thanks for commenting, Urszula!
My biggest supporters are from this group as well. :)
I think it's because we all understand. We know what it's like to be the writer just starting out, wanting help, and not knowing where to turn. That's why I offer help whenever I can.
I know what you mean, because I use them also to deal with my disability. <3
Smaller tasks can make anything, no matter how big, manageable.
Thank you, Yolanda! "Tomorrow is another day" is a great motto, especially to help us put behind a particularly bad day.
Nothing wrong with it at all. We all need help from time to time. :)
Good advice. Things aren't usually as bad as we make them up to be in our heads. It's almost as if we are willing to makes ourselves suffer in order to bypass actual bad things later. At least that's my theory.
Excellent suggestions. The worst thing we can do is keep pressing forward when we're past our breaking point. That's how we destroy things, eh?
And it's a good theory. I imagine that is exactly what we do.
That is a sure way to destroy ourselves.
Love your list, Chrys. Unlike many lists, these are fairly easy to do. I esp. like #1. :) Best wishes. And thank, Denise, for hosting Chrys.
A plan gives a skeleton to the body of your book and its marketing. I think my skeleton has seen better days! :-)
Fine post from you as always.
Love the advice, Chrys. If only I could follow it! Well, I do, sometimes, when the stars are aligned.
Make a plan and ask for help have been so key for me! Also, taking a step back. I'm go, go, go and slowing down is needed sometimes.
Goal, Set, Check! Setting SMART goals
Give yourself a break... Hell yes! I spent way too many bad days trying to push a perfect draft when perfection is never possible. Every failure was crippling until I was able to realize the obvious. Great post.
https://ryanscarty.wordpress.com
Easy steps are a must. Otherwise, what's the point. ;)
"gives a skeleton" You always have such a way with words, Roland. :)
But you can follow these steps, Jacqui! You can. :D
I'm go, go, go all the time, too. I always have to force myself to slow down.
Hell yes! ;D I'm glad you learned that lesson. I had to learn it, too. It's quite liberating.
Breaks are when I often get the best ideas. While I'm thinking about things totally not related to the story I'm working on, my subterranean synapses are cooking up the best ending ever.
That's when the muse is sneaky. ;)
So many people forget that last step and it's an important one.
Love the advice, Chrys. I'm a planner and asking for help around the group is one perfect solution. :-)
Anna from elements of emaginette
Fantastic post with great advice! :) Asking for help is sometimes hard, but we all need it at one point or another, and there's no shame in it. Congratulations!
I totally agree with Chrys's points, especially the "Ask for Help" one. That one's saved my butt many a time. Congrats on the release of Seismic Crimes!
Great and Wise Advice. Congrats on the new release.
Juneta @ Writer's Gambit
Great, simple list of what to do when you feel insecure and can't move forward. Thanks so much. Congrats on your new book.
Great Advice as always, thank you!!!
It sure is.
I'm a planner, too. :)
It can be hard, but it's sometimes essential. We can't do everything ourselves. Thanks! :)
It has saved my butt, too. ;) Thank you, Lexa!
Thank you, Juneta!
You're welcome, Natalie. And thank you! :)
You're welcome, Cathrina! :)
Good tips. Having a plan is always helpful. Taking a deep breath when things are a little crazy, helps too!
Great post! Every thing you stated is what goes through my mind and really hinders my writing process. I use it a crutch to put off doing what needs to be done and so the project sits. Trying to push through and remember I'm not alone is easier said than done sometimes, but in the words of Dory I try to "just keep swimming".
Nice post! Things never seem as bad when we remember pretty much every other writer has faced similar things. Congrats on your new release.
Breathe in, breathe out. ;)
Remembering you're not alone is, indeed, easier said then done, but when you remind yourself of that the pressure lifts a little and you feel a bit better about whatever problem you're facing.
Just keep swimming! :D
Exactly. Thank you, Nick!
Hey Denise and Chrys,
Your tips are superb and food for thought, Of course, your thoughtful tips can be applied to life in general. When it comes to writing and insecurity, I don't experience that. It's because I'm just a smug amateur who writes for therapy and hopes my writing therapy can be of value, of help, to whoever happens to read my ramblings.
And hey, well done on your release, as in your book. I certainly, um cannot fault you with the title of your book.
Nice one and thanks to Denise for having Chrys visit your excellent blog.
Gary
You're right. They can be applied to life and whatever insecurity or problem we may face.
Thanks for your comment, Gary! That always make me smile. :)
Hi, Chris and Denise,
Writing and publishing do send us through cycles of insecurity.
Great tips! I hope the book sales are steady.
And thanks Gary, for blessing us with your esteemed presence!
Hi Denise and Chrys, great tips. Thanks for sharing!
Hello Denise and Chrys,
We have to keep on learning and yes, we do make mistakes but we have to get up and keep going.
Awesome tips Chrys. Wishing you much success with the novel. Seems there is always more to learn, and as for supportive communities, IWSG really is great, even for writers on semi-long-term writing hiatus, lol.
Hey Dx; hope you're having some fun and relaxation now that your back home. Stay cool :)
Thanks Donna. I haven't stopped since I got back. Soon I head off again!
Hi Nas! You got that right!
Great having Chrys here!
Chrys has some great tips to help us deal, which is good!
Great to have Chrys guesting Diane.
Insecurities can be haunting. I know I'm plagued by the little creeps constantly. Thanks for these tips. And remember. The reason for mistakes is to learn from them. [I try to convince myself of this, for I make tons of mistakes.]
I got here...finally!
Congrats to Chrys! Those are some great tips!
Writing speed is the one I agonize over. Well, all in good time, hey? I'll just trudge along...
Hope you're well, Denise.
Thanks Michelle my friend. I am trying to write faster too!
Yep!
Yup, I've been in my share of disasters. Most of them of the wind or snow variety (hurricane/ deadly blizzard).
Great looking book!
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