Insecure Writer’s Support Group: Trust the Process

~ eclecticalli

After a long (and I mean long) break I’ve finally ACTUALLY started writing fiction again – more specifically – I have finally started to rework on the novel I put on the shelf about 8 months ago. In those 8 months I tried, and tried, and tried, to work on other projects. But those projects never really panned out. A brief look at the IWSG posts over this time is enough to see the starts and stops.  Determination followed by silence.

I think I really just needed to give myself space and time. Not just from that particular story, but in general from writing (or editing) fiction.  I needed to step away from thinking about it, from trying to figure out how to fix the problems I’d spotted, in order to allow room for the answers to come. Because they did come, when I stopped searching for them. With enough space they’ve found their way to me, and I can really start again. I can finally get rid of those pieces that need to go – make the touch decisions that are needed in order to help the story move how it needs to – how it wants to. I just had to step back and trust myself, and trust the process.

This is my monthly post as part of the Insecure Writer’s Support Group, a great group of supportive writers, helping one another through our writing ups-and-downs.
There is also a great Facebook Community for more daily connection!  More posts from the group are tagged on Twitter at #IWSG.

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Published by eclecticalli

I am finding my way on the meandering, twisting path of life, constantly surprised by what’s around the next bend. Working to embrace and face the challenges inherent with following your dreams, and writing the journey. A writer and dreamer, historian and theologian, academic and fantasy-world-creator, genealogist and gluten-free baker, crafter and reader, poet and life-long learner, MLIS student constantly questioning and occasionally irreverent. Eclectic Alli is my personal blog, with reflections on writing, life, theology, history, or whatever may catch my thoughts. Twitter, Tumblr, Facebook and Instagram round out my online presence, and I try to do little bits different with each of them.

6 thoughts on “Insecure Writer’s Support Group: Trust the Process”

  4. Alli,
    I think it can take great courage to be patient and wait. Sounds like it was the right choice in this case. You probably already know this, but brain research says it is actually true that our brain is working on ideas when we aren’t thinking about them. It sort of has to sometimes because there are some parts of our brain that actually work better that way, especially in terms of creativity. It’s hard though.
    Anne

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