Wednesday, January 2, 2019

IWSG: QUESTIONS

Happy New Year peoples. I hope you accomplished all your NaNo and end of year goals, and had fabulous holiday parties.

My goal was to do nothing, lol. And what a surprise, I accomplished it. This year I decided not to make any resolutions around writing. I seem to break all my goals, resolutions, promises. I suppose I'll continue to write occasionally as I have been. I have a couple books to rewrite - I lost two books in the original trilogy, so have been slowly recreating them as time and memory allow. Talk about a work in progress.

I've also been working on a few old short stories, some of which may turn into long short stories. Gotta write sometimes to still call myself a writer!!



I've been away from the blogs and the Insecure Writers Support Group for a couple months, so I might be slow in getting back into the routine. Rumor has it the 2018 Anthology winners will be announced today, so be sure to visit the IWSG site, and our host Ninja Captain Alex J Cavanaugh, and the co hosts Patricia Lynne, Lisa Buie-Collard, Kim Lajevardi, Fundy Blue for the winners list. Congrats to all!

This months optional IWSG question: What are your favorite and least favorite questions people ask you about your writing?

One of my favorites is: how do you come up with your stories? I love this question. It gets me to talking about and thinking about my writing. So often writing is a solitary, almost secret endeavor. I love talking about my passion.

Least favorite: why do you waste your time if you're not making money at it? My answer to that can be discourteous sometimes. Why do you play golf? Why do you knit? Why do you sing Karaoke? Why are you on a pool or bowling team? Why do you do anything you're not making your fortune off? I write because it makes me happy, I enjoy it. I would sure like to be the next best selling novelist and have instant fame and fortune, you betcha! But hey, if all that comes from my writing is some published short stories in free ezines and a sense of satisfaction at someone else acknowledging I'm almost as good at my hobby as I think I am, then that's good enough for me.

Yep, I still work a day job and buy a Lotto ticket. Life is pretty sweet that way too.

See y'all around the blogs

29 comments:

Alex J. Cavanaugh said...

Why do you waste your time? Wow, that's a mean question. I like your snarky answers though!

L. Diane Wolfe said...

If we only did things that made us money we'd never eat or sleep, either.

Rachna Chhabria said...

Hi Donna, hope you had a wonderful Christmas and new year?

What a mean question to ask that 'why do you waste your time if you're not making money at it?' Some people should understand that everything is not about money. There is something called passion. We writers are a passionate lot where our stories are concerned.

Stacy McKitrick said...

Waste your time? I suppose a person wastes their time going to school, too. Sheesh! Here's hoping you never run across another one of those clueless people again. Happy New Year!

Botanist said...

Well, I reckon doing something constructive like writing, something that you can share with others and give them a few hours' escape, is infinitely more worthwhile than, say, binge-watching the latest series on Netflix. And yet people never seem to question the latter.

Ne'er mind, keep writing! Happy New Year.

Michael Offutt, Phantom Reader said...

I agree with what you've said on the most annoying question. I've been reading some Oscar Wilde lately and through his characters, he also has a similar bent on what we would find annoying (especially where artists are concerned). I guess nothing changes much with regard to human nature, even when it's separated by such a long time.

Michael Di Gesu said...

Hi Donna,

HAPPY NEW YEAR! Glad you met your goals. LOL. Hope you enjoyed the holidays! I love the answer you give to people about why you write an not make money. Touche!

All the best in the new year!

I should have MK finished in about a week or so and I'll send it off to you. What a chore. Ugh. SOOOO many things happening at once in the memoir. Even Kim can't keep the dates straight....

Sending a BIG NEW YEAR HUG to you!

Natalie Aguirre said...

I work like you and don't have many goals for my own writing anymore. Awesome you are writing short stories.

Pat Hatt said...

Yeah, stupid question indeed. I give the same type of snarky response.

Olga Godim said...

Love your answers, Donna. I could sign beneath them too.

Stephen T. McCarthy said...

WILD THING! ~
A rockin' an' rollin' New Year to ya! May it be healthy and happy and lacking no wine!

>>... "My goal was to do nothing, lol. And ... I accomplished it."

You're my kinda people, Donna!

I'm sorry to learn you never found those two missing manuscripts. I really thought you would.

Your answers to the question "Why do you waste your time if you're not making money at it?" are spot-on! Yeah, why are you bothering to golf? You ain't gonna play against Tiger Woods for money!

Why is it people can't see that their hobbies are no different than the hobby of writing (with the hope it might one day become a paying gig). People are strange (as Jim Morrison wrote and urged Tiny Tim to sing).

Write on! And... Rock on, Wild Thing!

~ D-FensDogG @ STMcC Presents 'BATTLE OF THE BANDS'

Juneta key said...

Wow, that was a hateful question and bad attitude. Let me slap'em for ya. You say things like that to people only if you trying to make them feel bad and less. I love your attitude about it. You go. You can tell the person asking that question lack something in their life to let that attitude come out of their mouths.

Happy IWSG.

Caitlin Coppola said...

I'm right there with ya - you write because you enjoy it! That's all that matters!

Elizabeth Seckman said...

I forgot all about that question as a horrid question...how much do you make? That's very similar to why do I keep doing it. I suppose it's because I can't sing and would never karaoke.

Lisa said...

Love your answers! And your attitude. Great way to begin the new year, reading your post! Happy new year!

dolorah said...

Thanks Alex :)

L Diane: well, I could use a little less eating and more sleeping, lol.

Rachna: yes, we are. Hope you're having a great year so far.

Stacy: Happy New Year!

Ian: ha, Netflix is the true waste of time.

Mike: hmm, I should read Oscar Wilde. Sounds like my kind of writing.

Michael: looking forward to the read :)

Hi Natalie :)

Pat: bet you have better snark that I do, lol.

Hi Olga: thanks for stopping by. Can't wait to catch up with you!

St Mac: DUDE!! Good we both accomplished our New Years Goals. We have that to sustain us all year, lol.

Junetta: you are the MOST awesome person to have in my corner. Thanks!!

CG: Write On! Do what you enjoy and others will enjoy it too.

Elizabeth: well, I can't sing either, but I sure love belting it out over the mic after a few glasses of white wine, lol.

Li: Happy New Year! Keep being awesome all year long.

Yolanda Renée said...

Great answer to that question! If a person isn't a reader, they simply don't get it!

Hope your New Year is fabulous!

Diane Burton said...

Some people are idiots. They put their foot in their mouth every time they open it. Ignore them. Best wishes for a great 2019.

Stephen Tremp said...

Ha! I have discourteous rebuttals as well. I like your attitude!

Gwen Gardner said...

Ha! Your response just reminded me of how annoyed I get when people say that my writing is a hobby. It’s So much more than that. I love your response, Donna! Happy new year!

Christine Rains said...

Wow, I can't believe someone would ask that question. Though I've seen it in the eyes of people who ask why I write. I do it, too, because it makes me happy. I'd write even if no one ever read anything I've written. Have a great week! :)

J.H. Moncrieff said...

Wow, I can't believe someone asked you that nasty of a question. That's horrible. People should be able to spend their time however they choose, without judgement, as long as it's not hurting anyone.

Happy New Year!

Carol Kilgore said...

I hear you about writing. I get really cranky if I don't write for a few days. I cannot imagine not doing it... even if I only do it in my head.

Hilary Melton-Butcher said...

Hi Donna - well you certainly do lots ... working a job and then drafting and writing your stories and the blog - it all takes time and energy.

Funny - once the stories or posts become 'a necessity' ... I find I can't stop writing in my head - it amazes me how so many subjects seem to want to trigger a post ... and I'm sure if I was writing a story it'd be the same.

People can't seem to understand ... as you so rightly say - we all do things we enjoy ... many of which do not offer any remuneration at all.

Good luck with your projects and great to see you around again - have a happy year ahead - cheers Hilary

Gina Gao said...

A waste of time? I've heard that before, I hate that question. Thanks for sharing!

www.ficklemillennial.blogspot.com

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