22 CommentsAngells4Authors, Heidi Angell Update, IWSG

Hello Lovelies,

Happy February. So glad to say that. January was a disaster! I got Covid the first of the month and was down in bed for almost 2 whole weeks. I am still struggling with a nasty cough and getting winded during random activities. It has also put me behind on my goals. But I keep trucking. I finally got my 2022 resolutions sorted after a lot of soul-searching. I created an aggressive schedule to get me back on track and while I have yet to maintain the schedule, I am definitely seeing a lot more progress towards goals. I began seriously tackling my PMP certification requirements, am on schedule to re-release Elements of a Broken Mind this month and hopefully will have Angel’s Dance ready end of Feb, early March for a big promotional push for the series in March. *fingers crossed*.

 

#IWSG February Question of the Month

Purpose: To share and encourage. Writers can express doubts and concerns without fear of appearing foolish or weak. Those who have been through the fire can offer assistance and guidance. It’s a safe haven for insecure writers of all kinds!
Posting: The first Wednesday of every month is officially Insecure Writer’s Support Group day. Post your thoughts on your own blog. Talk about your doubts and the fears you have conquered. Discuss your struggles and triumphs. Offer a word of encouragement for others who are struggling. Visit others in the group and connect with your fellow writer – aim for a dozen new people each time – and return comments. This group is all about connecting!
Be sure to link to this page and display the badge in your post. And please be sure your avatar links back to your blog! Our Twitter handle is @TheIWSG and hashtag is #IWSG.   
You ready?
Let’s rock the neurotic writing world!

February 2 question – Is there someone who supported or influenced you that perhaps isn’t around anymore? Anyone you miss?

After walking away in 2019, I lost touch with a lot of my network. I was hardly online, and did nothing with the book world for over a year. When I came back in 2020, I was focused on doing the work, not rebuilding relationships. And even with that, I struggled a lot. It wasn’t until late 2020 early 2021 that I started reaching out to rebuild relationships. I was shocked to find so many reviewers and authors who also hit burnout and walked away in a similar time frame.

And as I work to republish my books, I find more and more to miss. One of my earliest connections was a book reviewer named Justin. He seems to have walked away from his book blog and his GoodReads librarian work. I’m sad.

Amanda Baily, who founded OWS, seems not to be doing much with her writing and that is a shame. She still is passionately sharing memes about reading and creating, but is too focused on a day job to pursue re-publishing her works. Which is a shame as she was a very gifted writer.

Joshua Robertson and his wife Diane both walked away from writing as well, again a huge shame as both are extremely talented fantasy writers. Though, I see teasings of both maybe exploring coming back or at least promoting their current publications and this makes me so happy!

While Rebekah Jonesy and Isa McLaren, who were on the board with my at OWS, have started their own publishing house and are releasing books like crazy, I haven’t been able to really reconnect with them and I miss the good times working together via video chat.

Angela Chrysler and Timothy Bateson, who were amazing connections I made through B2B CyCon also seem to have left the book world.

There are so many more who’ve gone on to other things and it makes me sad. But at the same time, I am grateful for the good times we had. Grateful for the ways that they inspired me to keep going on my journey, and hopefully I was able to inspire them too.

The reality is that whether you are reviewing or publishing, the book world is very transitory. We are all seeking a connection and often looking for monetary goals as well (as anyone in business should do, nothing wrong with that.) but when we don’t hit those goals, many move on to other things.

This is why it is so important to support creatives- whether it be book reviewers, authors, or other creatives. Buy from those you can, but even just a comment on a video, or a blog post, lets us know you care. The internet gives us a great opportunity to reach so many but it also is a massive sea that we can easily feel adrift upon. For many, we are working full-time jobs and pursuing our passion, that life imbalance is a recipe for burnout!

So please, let us know you care with a like, a comment, a purchase. Help us keep providing for you by letting us know you appreciate us.

And don’t forget to check out the awesome co-hosts for the February 2 posting of the IWSG are Joylene Nowell Butler,Jacqui Murray,Sandra Cox, and Lee Lowery!

You can see the rest of the hop at IWSG Bloghop

Until next time,

Keep Writing!

Comments (22)

  1. CD Gallant-King

    Such is the way of writing these days – unless it’s your primary income, there’s a lot of ebbs and flows in everyone’s writing life. I myself often disappear for seemingly long stretches at a time. I’m usually still writing, but just not checked into the community at large.

  2. The Wicked Writer

    It is sad when those you once worked with have moved away from what they were doing when you first met them. I’m glad that some are coming back and getting in touch again. As you say at the end of your post. Keep Writing.

  3. Helen Mathey-Horn

    A well needed post. The creative spirit will wither if unnoticed. I appreciate what you have written and feel it ties so well into the idea of what The Insecure Writer’s Support Group hopes for its members. Glad you made it through January and here is to hoping February will be a much better month for you. 🙂

    • Hangell531

      ME too! You guys have been a fantastic support group and have kept me motivated! Thank you all so much!

  5. Kalpana

    It really is important to support creatives. That was quite a long list of people who walked away from writing recently. I’m happy for you that you are getting your book republished.

  6. Lee Lowery

    You certainly have a lot of energy mentally, even if Covid kicked you down a bit physically.

    I’ve watched writer friends drop out of the writing rat race. It can be draining to balance what is a solitary endeavor with the need for community in this hi-tech age. I’m glad you found IWSG. It’s awesome!

    • Hangell531

      Aw, thank you! Yeah, mental energy is definitely there but miss having the physical energy too. Between this and degenerative health problems…. eh, it is what it is. We just keep swimming! Glad to be swimming with IWSG! you have all been so awesomely supportive!

  7. joylene

    I walked away too. I quit as an admin for IWSG. I went from #22 down to the bottom. LOL. Why that bothers me, who knows. I think it was wise that we listened to our inner being I think walking away is a sane thing to do sometimes. Glad you’re back, Heidi. And supporting other writers is a good thing.

    • Hangell531

      Sometimes we need the break to replenish ourselves. I think most have no idea how much creatives give of ourselves to our work. For many of us we are working multiple jobs to support our creative work and then wonder why we get burned out. It’s a shame.

  8. Arlee Bird

    Sometimes walking away just seems like the thing to do. I’ve drifted away from my early on enthusiasm for blogging and writing and it’s been tough trying to reconnect so I know some of what you’re talking about.

    Stay healthy! And keep moving forward.

    Arlee Bird
    Tossing It Out

    • Hangell531

      Thank you! It is a tough business but I love how supportive The IWSG community has been. We definitely need more of this for one another.

    • Hangell531

      I’m also glad we’re both back! And I honor and respect whatever path each person chooses, so long as they are on that path for the right reason. For me, quitting was because of burnout. It wasn’t a choice so much as a consequence for not keeping a good healthy balance in my life. For many who are slowly coming back it seems like it was the same thing.

      But others just have 1 or 3 stories to tell and once its told they are content to walk away. That’s OK too. We all come in with different goals, hopes, and visions for ourselves.

  10. Jennifer Lane

    I used to follow a great community of book bloggers, and many have hung up their blogging hat. I haven’t written in over a year, though I’m still staying connected to IWSG for now. I like what CJ said about those of us writing as an aside to our jobs or families. My job has really intensified during the pandemic, and I haven’t been feeling the writing mojo. But maybe it will return! Good luck with your re-emergence.

    • Hangell531

      Absolutely true. We are all on different journeys and have vying priorities. It is important that we strive for balance and not let our art burn us out and that may mean taking breaks and that’s OK. It might also mean walking away and as sad as it is for those missing them, that’s OK too.

  11. Toi Thomas

    Sorry you got COVID, but glad you are in recovery.
    Glad to hear you are getting a lot done with publications.
    Burnout has taken many, but some are coming back on new terms.
    I love your words, “This is why it is so important to support creatives.”
    This is something I will be focusing on moving forward.

    • Hangell531

      Supporting creatives is huge. Sometimes I think we forget to support one another or get overwhelmed by it. (I know I do. So many books to review, not enough reading time!) But even just looking their content or sharing a post is support! We don’t have to do it all and burnout. But a little each day goes a long way!

  13. Michelle Wallace

    I appreciate the hard work involved in writing/publishing and agree that it’s important to support all writers/creatives!
    Yes, it’s v-e-r-y difficult to work a full time job and pursue writing – I’m one of those individuals who is in this position.
    Thank you for stopping by my blog last week. I’m glad that you are a part of the IWSG group.

    • Hangell531

      It really is. I have loved being part of IWSG the last few months and getting to know ow everyone. We have a really awesome group of creatives here.

  14. Denise Covey

    Thanks for visiting my blog. Glad to meet another Anne Rice fan. Sorry you got covid. Hope all is well now. Glad that you’re meeting a new group of blogger friends.

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