Freedom to Choose the Write!

Writing is a source of happiness for me. I am very grateful that as a country we are free to choose. That as Gods children we have a freedom that is born in us.

 I am not required to do what my husband wants me to. 

What the cashier at the grocery store wants me to,

 or even what my Mother believes and has taught me to do. 

It's up to me to choose happiness. 

I've never really been un-happy. Growing up I've been blessed with everything I need. I didn't grow up in a wealthy home but I had intelligent parents and lots of siblings who love each other and care about each others happiness. Today I'm living in my own home with my own family, who have what seems like a thousand needs I can't ever seem to fill. I worry day in and day out about their happiness and it's been draining my own reserves.

This is where writing comes in. When I found writing and started regularly practicing and making it a part of my own happiness it was a wonderful thing. Till it started to cause problems with the happiness of those I love. Problem is giving it up would be like giving up a part of my heart.

I did a lot of crying when I thought that was the direction I was headed and I'm still not certain I'm out of that zone. but today my husband is learning about this other love and today I am trying to share and control the effects it has on my life and because of the great freedom I've been blessed with I am free to choose the things that make me happy.

It's been a bit of a revelation learning that I can choose writing and my family won't fall apart. That caring for my creativity does not mean that my family is moved out of that number one spot. I still have to learn how to give time to all those I love but I'm choosing to keep writing in that circle. 

We've all had days when the world falls apart and sometimes weeks and years. I'm deciding that I hate that and I choose happiness. 

So, happy 4th!

And happy freedom to choose!

Choose whatever is right for you. 

I take great joy today in choosing to write!

This has been a message from your friendly chapter of the Insecure Writer's Support Group!

Write on friends!

Scales of Goodness

My friend just posted a review scale that I love.
It's like the breath of heaven for my crazy stressed out brain!

Charity Bradford has a review up that I thouroughly love and at the bottom she rates it then gives a rating scale definition. 

Aaaaah!

The clouds part, angels sing, and golden light is shines down to bless us all!

Yes there's been a scale in my head but there's one in your's and your's and in that guys head over there too. So how do you know what my scale looks like. Well now it's written down and you can see it. Thank you everyone and thank you Charity. 

It's one of those why didn't I think of that moments. 

This is an insecure Writers post because that moment of posting a number to a review has always freaked me out. I want good numbers, they want good numbers. Please dear Father! Bless my fingers as they click the right ones! Now, at least, I get to explain myself :)

Here's the lovely scale I speak of -

1-5 scale and what it means:
1: I couldn’t even finish it / just plain bad
2: I hope I didn’t pay for this / disappointing
3:  I didn’t hate it, but it was still missing something / forgettable but inoffensive
3.5: On the line between good and ok / like, not love
4: Solid mind candy / worth reading
4.5: So very close to perfection! / must read
5: I could not put it down and I’m still thinking about it! / a true treasure

Hello My Insecure Buddies!

OK I had no idea that this even existed! I'm new to writing and have just started learning about this great and marvelous and terrifying process. I'm a little afraid to get into all my insecurities because that just opens a major can of worms... but whatever I'll try to keep it small for now.

I love writing, and I love my writing friends. Today I want to talk about how terrifying it is to read my writing in front of my lovely sweet and kind friends. 

.

.

.

Well, that's it really.

It's freaking terrifying to open myself up like that. I've only done it a couple of times and my heart falls down in my chest and I notice every minuscule mistake. I usually stop and offer some form of apology when they are noticed. Then I crawl in to a hole hoping nobody laughs or that somebody will. Please, please, please, let there be something positive that can be said about this strange in process piece of literature that I've just laid out before you. 

Aah, that actually is quite nice to say out loud. Much easier than reading my most recent piece of first draft fiction. I've been told we all feel that way but when somebody turns to you and says it looks like it's your turn. Forcing myself to swallow and say "Sure!" Is about the hardest thing I've ever done!

But we do, and we survive, and I've not known anyone to die during this rare form of self inflicted torture. And what do we get of this situation? better. We get better. At reading, at writing, at listening. Submitting to the open minds of our friends who've been there and want nothing more than to help you is one of the best things we can do for those gravel rough pieces of crumbling fiction, that want nothing more than to be cleaned up and discovered. 

I think we can help them with that.