#IWSG Just Sayin'

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 officiallyInsecure 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. Be sure to link to this page and display the badge in your post.
Let’s rock the neurotic writing world!
Our Twitter hashtag is #IWSG
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And we’re revving up IWSG Day to make it more fun and interactive! Every month, we'll announce a question that members can answer in their IWSG Day post. These questions may prompt you to share advice, insight, a personal experience or story. Include your answer to the question in your IWSG post or let it inspire your post if you are struggling with something to say. 

JULY 6 QUESTION: What's the best thing someone has ever said about your writing?
The awesome co-hosts for the July 6 posting of the IWSG will be Yolanda Renee, Tyrean Martinson, Madeline Mora-Summonte , LK Hill, Rachna Chhabria, and JA Scott! 

Wow, today's question really hit me. As an editor I spend a lot of time saying things about a lot of people's writing, and I often wonder if writers know just how difficult and often lonely it can be on the other side of the red pen.

As an author, and fellow critique partner who tries to openly discuss observations, I know how it feels to have your favorite scene, phrase or description cut or ignored.

​What is the best thing anyone has ever said to me? I wish I had written that! of course. That's why I try to note it in a manuscript margin, no matter how busy I am, from time to time.  A simple, "Well said,  great scene, love that!, nice!" goes so far toward building back up the writing confidence of an author whose manuscript has been redlined or marked up with a dozen notations of revisions to be made.  

How do I know? I'm an author, and as an editor I'm probably even more insecure as an author wondering if  people critique me with unfair (however secret) overinflated expectations.  As an author I sometimes need to have a sloppy, rough draft with brainstormed freewriting and choppy ideas.

I wear a lot of hats. Sometimes they get baggy and slip a bit, from being changed too often. But the more I wear them, the more comfortable they are, and the more they become an integral part of my eclectic personality...