It's the first Wednesday of the month, and that means it's time for another meeting of The Insecure Writer's Support Group. Our leader Alex J. Cavanaugh has gathered another wonderful cohort of co-hosts: Diane Burton, Kim Lajevardi, Sylvia Ney, Sarah Foster, Jennifer Hawes, and Madeline Mora-Summonte.
Be sure to check out the IWSG website for great writerly resources!
This has been a crazy few weeks for me. Since the last IWSG posting, I had a baby. That alone would be enough to make life feel chaotic. Unfortunately, we also had a few health-related problems in our family. First of all, my newborn daughter had to spend a week in the NICU due to her catching pneumonia. Then, after we'd all been home for a few days, my oldest son started to get sick with a mysterious illness. He broke out in a full body rash and couldn't keep any food down. It got so bad he had to be hospitalized for it. The good news is that he's home now, but all of that has left me feeling emotionally drained.
With all of that going on, I don't feel like a writer right now. Every time I try to sit down to write something, I feel tired. My brain doesn't want to cooperate. The thought of composing a story is overwhelming, and an irrational part of me fears that I will always feel this way. I keep trying to tell myself that this is temporary. A lot has happened in a short amount of time, and I need to give myself time to work through it all. I understand that, but I still can't banish that insecurity.
Hopefully I'll work through it all soon.
Hopefully I'll work through it all soon.
Now, let's move on to the optional question for this month: Of all the genres you read and write, which is your favorite to write in and why?
Science fiction is my favorite to write. I love looking into the future and wondering where humanity will end up. I like thinking about what it means to be human and how that concept might change over time. There are limitless possibilities in science fiction, and I love that. Your story can be set anywhere and at any time. You can write science fiction to think about the tough questions life throws at you. You can also write it as an escape from real life. That versatility makes it exciting and rewarding.
What's your favorite genre to write?
Maybe now is the time to focus on your family and just recharge. Those two health scares would drain anybody.
ReplyDeleteDefinitely science fiction!
ReplyDeleteSorry your son also went into the hospital. Glad he's better now.
Don't worry about not being able to write! You definitely need some time to rest. Glad everyone is home now and doing better.
ReplyDeleteSounds like your brain is telling you that you need to recharge before getting into writing. Lay down with the new baby and take a nap. Have hubby watch the older kids.
ReplyDeleteCongratulations on your little one, and best wishes for continued recovery after the NICU stay and your older son's illness! I think it's pretty normal to not feel like ourselves after we go through the transition of childbirth. Hang in there. Even if all you do is a few lines here and there, or even if you take a break until the baby's a little older, you are STILL a writer! Tough days happen to all of us, and sometimes there are seasons when we can't create our words for a while, but you'll always come back to writing --the page will always be there waiting for you when your energy and creativity are back.
ReplyDeleteI've written a few bits of SF but lean towards mystery. Congratulations on juggling the hardships of raising a family with the vagaries of being a writer - plus the sunshine from both. Blessings.
ReplyDeleteCongrats on the new baby. So glad your son is better.
ReplyDeleteMy goodness! No wonder you can't write. You have "baby brain." seriously. You've been through a tremendous time with your family. If you *must* write, try short pieces about family life. About your baby and time in the NICU. About your son's mysterious rash. Use what you're experiencing to help new moms. Then, when your real brain returns, you'll be ready to write more sci-fi (my fav). Good luck and hang in there.
Congrats on the bundle of joy!!
ReplyDeleteI hope everything settles soon and you get back into your normal routine. Just enjoy the time away from writing and focus on the kids for a while...