Time for our monthly meeting of the Insecure Writer's Support Group! Hosted as ever by Alex J. Cavanaugh, the aim of the group is to offer a safe space where writers can share doubts and insecurities without fear of being judged. This month's co-hosts are Feather Stone, Janet Alcorn, Rebecca Douglass, Jemima Pett and Pat Garcia.
This month's optional IWSG question is: Some common fears writers share are rejection, failure, success, and lack of talent or ability. What are your greatest fears as a writer? How do you manage them?
This is a great question and you might have to forgive me if my answer gets a bit heavy. I don't worry too much about rejection, failure or success. Those things are very fickle and largely out of your control. But after what I've been through it's really been hammered home how important the basic ability is. For me, losing the ability to write is terrifying. It would basically mean reconstructing how I process things and how I relate to the world. I was incredibly lucky after suffering two strokes as part of the infection that landed me in hospital. Since I came out, I've more or less been able to carry on doing what I was doing before and have written 5000 words of a new book, which I didn't necessarily foresee being possible. (We'll leave aside whether they might be any good or not.) And I did get some confirmation that I had a lucky escape when I saw a brain consultant recently and scored 100% on their cognitive test. Apparently I was the only patient they'd seen who'd suffered a similar affliction to have done so. I was weirdly embarrassed because I'd rather keep going with my usual activities without being singled out as special, especially because the term "high functioning" was mentioned. But it was definitely the best news I could have received and I feel like I've received a new lease of life. I do think the brain is a muscle and like the rest of the body it's got to be kept in top form with constant exercise.
Whew, sorry to get somewhat intense there. Moving on, as for today, I'm taking part in the next edition of the #QuestPit event, which garnered me my first agent like back in February, followed by my first agent request, then my first rejection on such a request just yesterday - but that's the way it goes and the rejection was certainly kind and positive. I'll see how I fare on today's occasion.
Really interested to see how today's question will get answered. As ever all participants can be found at one handy place here. See you next time!
19 comments:
Great to hear you're recovering well seemingly no lasting effects. Losing the ability to communicate - and writing is an important form of communication - is terrifying for anyone. So sorry you had to go through that.
You came out of it at a hundred percent - take that as a blessing and keep going!
Hi Nick - that's brilliant that the strokes don't appear to have cognitively affected ... thank goodness for that. How interesting ... I'd celebrate the docs' thoughts ... while as you say making the most of what's happening - and just enjoy the brain exercises. I don't know if writing short stories or tales fits in with your thoughts ... while puzzles etc ... cheers and so glad to hear you're improving - Hilary
I can't imagine what I'd do if I could no longer write. If the fates were kind, I would not know what I had lost. If not...
Strokes are frightening, and I am very happy for you that you came through yours (relatively) unscathed.
Happy IWSG Day!
I'm so glad for your positive news about your health. I can understand your fear given the traumatic experience you just went through. I'm so happy you're recovering so well.
Maybe the fact that you're a writer and use your brain so much actually worked to your advantage.
My health issue is different, but I can relate. When I found out I was going to have to go through open-heart surgery two years ago (again, it was my second), I was more afraid of coming out of it impaired than dying on the table. If I lost the ability to even use my hands, I'd lose both my careers.
Hi,
I would say that you were blessed to experience a turn in such a critical unexpected turn of your health. Maybe you knew it then, but now you're sure that writing is your purpose and you have received a reason to live. I'm smiling from within, because there was someone much bigger than your doctors or you that wowed all involved with the care of your body and what HE could do.
Take care and keep writing.
Shalom shalom
Pat Garcia
That is great news! A scary moment but you are through it and can continue your author dreams.
Nick! I've been thinking about you on occasion, wondering how you were doing heal-wise. =) I hear you on that fear -- I had a scare in my early 20's where my voice was going and it terrified me. Without the ability to sing, I might have died. I mean, not literally, but ouch. Keep up that awesome attitude and here's cheering from the sidelines.
You are lucky. My mom--the accountant of the family--landed getting a kind of number dyslexia. Changed her life forever.
Get the words down and you can always make them better... :-)
Anna from elements of emaginette
So glad that you're recovering successfully and still able to write. Losing that ability is definitely a scary prospect. Right up there with no longer being able to read. I wish you luck with QuestPit.
Great to hear you are recovering so well!
Your experience had to be so terrifying, Nick, but you've recovered and from your test results, that recovery has exceeded the norm. Huge congratulations. And now back to that manuscript.
I have the "It should be perfect problem" when I'm writing, but then I remember what an artist once told me. "If a piece is perfect, then it's likely static. Static is boring. Leave a bit of imperfection to create interest and excitement."
https://substack.com/@cleemckenzie/p-16283568
I am so glad you are recovering well and still able to write. It would be totally devastating to lose that ability. Even a little ding on the ability to find words and make them do what I want would be a tough one to take.
You brought up such an interesting point about being afraid of losing writing. I wouldn't know what I'd do either. It's such an integral part of my life. I hope that you continue to bounce back as you exercise your brain. :)
That's so great that you regained all of your function from before. I'm sure your 5000 words are great. Maybe different than they would have been before, but everything changes us, so of course this event would have an impact on how you write.
Glad your strokes didn't affect you. Your writing is part of you. You won't ever lose it. And yeah...I hate getting rejections too.
I'm so glad you recovered okay. I was in the hospital once for a serious condition and it was scary but I kept telling myself that I'll come out of the illness and so did. You sound like your very persistent. Great job!
Nick, you KEEP that new "lease on life" going strong, sir. You can do this. You are right. Publication, ratings, sales, they are extremely fickle. We need to push on regardless. You have the talent. Never forget that. All best to you, sir!
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