IWSG Wednesday Topic: Procrastination

It's the first Wednesday of the month so it must be time for a post from all the folks in the Insecure Writers Support Group. (IWSG) 

What is IWSG? Founder of IWSG and author Alex J Cavanaugh explains the group's purpose is

"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!"

After visiting here, please take time to hop over to other blogs and hear their voices. You can find the list of participants at Alex's IWSG page.  

Check out the new IWSG Website for great writing tips.  

Procrastination by J.Q. Rose

Greek village of Tarpon Springs, FL

Insecure? Who? Me? I never would describe myself as insecure, but, (there's always a but),  when I pull up the blank page on my laptop, I do become a bit anxious about putting words on that daunting, dazzling white screen. 

For some reason, my elation at beginning a new story evaporates. Those ideas I scribbled down in my spiral notebook seemed so creative, imaginative, amazing. But, as I begin to think about how to carry out those ideas, actually use words, sentences, paragraphs to develop the brilliant plans I see in my notebook pages, I doubt my ability to pen an entertaining, uplifting, memorable story with a message.

That's the moment the moment procrastination grabs me. I leave the laptop and get the chocolate out. You know, last year's Christmas candy I hid away in the pantry so I wouldn't eat it? I sit back down at my desk and allow the sweet chocolate flavor to coat my mouth. Might as well check my emails while I'm enjoying such a treat. Oh yes, and how about Facebook? You know my friends on Facebook need me to check in.

Finally, after preparing a cup of tea, I decide to get serious about writing the story.  At last, a few words develop into several sentences that group into paragraphs on the page. Instead of work and worry, the writing becomes a joyful challenge. Amazing how chocolate and tea erases that insecurity and the procrastination monster runs away.

How about you? Do you have trouble actually sitting down to start a new project?

The Super Sweet Blogging Award, This Week, IWSG, Seeds of Inspiration Kickoff, TRR Anniversary Party

THANK YOU to my super sweet friend, Susanne Drazic for nominating me for the Super Sweet Blogging Award! It's a tremendous honor to receive this award. If you aren't familiar with Susanne's blog, you should check it out. Click to discover all of her nominees for this delicious award at her blog, Putting Words Down on Paper 

The Super Sweet Blogging Award

Here are the rules for accepting the Super Sweet Blogging Award:

1. Thank the Super Sweet Blogger that nominated you.
2. Answer 5 Super Sweet questions.

3. Include the Super Sweet Blogging Award in your blog post.

4. Nominate a bakers’s dozen (13) other deserving bloggers.

6. Notify your Super Sweet nominees on their blog.

The Super Sweet Questions:

1. Cookies or Cake?     Cake

2. Chocolate or Vanilla?     Chocolate

3. Favorite Sweet Treat?    Only one? I'll just lump them all together into "anything chocolate." 

4. When Do You Crave Sweet Things The Most?     In the evening

5. Sweet Nick Name?     Honey

The Nominees I've Chosen: Click on their names to visit their websites and to congratulate them.

Joselyn Vaughn

W.S. Gager

Tess Grant 

Helena Fairfax

Marsha R. West

Heather Brainerd Fraser 

Leona Pence

Miss Mae 

Gail Roughton

Roseanne Dowell 

Heather Greenis 

Barbara Ehrentreu

Sue Perkins

# # # #

Another exciting week and month at the J.Q. Rose blog. Come back to win prizes and e-books all month (and all spring) at the Seeds of Inspiration Event featuring the stories of what inspired my guest authors. 

Talented author Heather Fraser Brainerd kicks off the Seeds of Inspiration Event on March 6. A guest author will share her story every Thursday this spring. Get to know your favorite author or learn about a new favorite author and discover some great reads. You could be a winner in the weekly drawing too!

The Romance Reviews Third Anniversary Party has begun! March 1-March 31. Over 450 author and 450 prizes are up for you to win! You can win Coda to Murder on Tuesday,  March 4 by stopping in and playing their Q & A game. Good luck!

Birthday Wishes, Humans vs Nature, This Week

Happy Monday to my readers and Happy Birthday to my daughter, Sara! She is beginning her professional career as a certified health coach. Just for giggles, if you have time, please wish her a happy birthday on her facebook page at https://www.facebook.com/IdealWellnessSolutions 

Thank you!

The colorful trees you see in this picture are not leaves changing in the fall because this is a scene in Florida. The rain trees add quite a splash of color in the fall. This was the view from my living room until heavy duty equipment showed up to rip out all the trees and bushes in the park-like area across the street from my house. 

In only a few days they pulled up towering pines, grand oaks, my beloved rain trees and shrubs. They have obliterated a habitat for tortoises, snakes, squirrels, birds, owls, and honey bees. Now it looks like a wasteland.

I understand the floods damaged homes in our park and made roads impassable this summer with the record amount of rainfall. To solve this problem, a 14 foot deep ditch will be dug through this previously green area. If I were a homeowner with a flooded home, I would want to fix the problem too. It's just hard to see the ravaging of nature this way. It seems there is always a war between what is good for people vs what is good for the wildlife and green areas. 

I hope the county will replace the trees to allow another habitat to take root and grow.

This Week:

Wednesday, November 6--Insecure Writers' Support Group

 

Hop around the blogosphere as the insecure writers vent. (Insecure writers? Yes, there are plenty of us!) Great folks and all very supportive! Open invitation to join the group. My topic is What DO publishers, agents, and editors want?

Thursday, November 7--Hobby Hoedown Returns 

Yee-haw! Hobby Hoedown returns featuring the many hobbies of author Heather Greenis. One of them is curling! 

Sunday, November 10--I will be posting on the MuseItUp Publishing blog which spotlights the mystery/thriller books available at MuseItUp Publishing. Check in all week Nov.10-16 to discover great authors and their stories.

Happy Halloween!