Wow, time flies when you're sitting around doing nothing. Well, not totally nothing, catching up on all those domestic duties that I never had time (or inclination) to start. For this months edition of Insecure Writers Support Group, hosted by the dreamy Alex J Cavanaugh, I'd like to re-introduce myself and then pimp out our illustrious host and the IWSG website.My insecurity this month is a fear of starting all over again. I deleted my original blog at A WRITERS LIFE IN PROGRESS early in September, in hopes of saving my day job. The intent was to quit blogging and writing as it was deemed 'inappropriate' for a social worker to be that public. Skip to later in the month after losing my day job anyways, and I'm hoping there is a way to remain in my daily profession (once I'm employed again) and still satisfy my desire to be a published (and public) author.
Maintaining balance in personal and public life will be a priority mission for me in developing this new blog. An extremest by nature, this should prove a challenge for me in any personae. I'm taking my time getting this new home up and running, so stay tuned to see if my usual sarcasm can keep itself in check through the process. Thanks to all of you who have already shown me your support and encouragement by re-following.
For all of you who have started over with anything in your lives - career, marriage/family, relocation, hobbies, or that creative outlet of writing, music, art - I commend your courage and resilience, and hope you succeeded to your own satisfaction.
Congratulations to the IWSG Website on its one year Anniversary. In honor of the site's success, the moderators are compiling an anthology and invite all bloggers to submit their best tips in their blog post today.
Once you have posted on October 1, go to this page at the IWSG site and enter your link. Deadline for submissions is October 2.
I don't have any tips to contribute, but I'm sure I will appreciate all of your submissions.
Have a good week/weekend everyone. Be sure to visit Alex's helpers: Kristin Smith, Elsie, Suzanne Furness, and Fundy Blue.
40 comments:
Hi Donna ... well I'm glad you're back blogging and joining in again ... life will get easier - it always does: just a great nuisance at the moment with all the knocks ... take care and it's good to see you around ... cheers Hilary
Fresh beginning, Donna! We're glad you're still with us.
Welcome back to bloggerville! That stinks about your job :/ but here's to a new start! :)
do they have legal basis to even tell you that blogging is inappropriate let alone ban it for you? I'd probably sue them and get some money from them :)
Good luck on starting over. I'm not tech savvy either and updates drive me batty. Guess they have to give their programmers something to do!
Ha! I wondered if that was you! I wish you the best with starting over--it sounds daunting to me, but I get your need to do it. If I blogged under my full name, I'd have similar issues. (I drop my first name for my writing endeavors)
Nice to meet you! Which I wouldn't have if you weren't blogging. So yay!
Finding a balance is tough, I hope you find find a balance soon. And I'm glad you're back to blogging. :)
Balance is a tough one indeed. Hiding behind a cat helps haha
Hmmm, maybe you could use a pen name? So sorry you went through all that, Donna. But welcome back to the blogging world!
So sorry that happened, but we're glad to have you back in the blogging world. I've started fresh a few times in my life. It's frightening and invigorating at the same time.
Welcome back! Thanks for visiting me on blitz day. You made my day!
Welcome back, am re-following you :)
Dreamy Alex, well you stole my words, Donna.
Starting fresh will be the begining of a new journey for you.
In my day job, I work for the news department of a small television station. My boss knows what I do, and he's never given me trouble about it, but even so, I write under a pen name... just in case.
-James
Yeah, I agree with Dezmond; I think that's probably unlawful termination if they're citing your blog as part of why they let you go. Unless you were spending all your time at work doing your blog, but that's something else entirely.
A fresh start is sometimes what we need, even if it can be scary. I'm wishing you the best, Donna!
I;m a social worker by degree also, but quit long ago when the baby sitter started making more than I was earning. I would think as long as you don't discuss clients, you should be fine. I mean you have a right to a personal life.
Hilary; I hope you are right.
Alex: good luck with the anthology.
Thanks Jackie
Dezzy: I was let go during probation, so they did not officially give a reason. My former Sup confirmed it was "mostly the blog and writing" and "if you want another job in this field you should delete it" as she walked me out. I checked with the union and they agreed that there was nothing I could due since I was still on probation.
Tamara: I'm pulling my hair out with frustration over all the changes I need to make. Ucky.
Hart; hopefully my author voice remains the same, lol.
Hi TD: good luck with your own indecision.
Thanks Elsie; I'm sure all will turn out ok.
Thanks Chrys
Patt; I may think about one - without the rhymes, of course :)
Gwen: life happens, right?
Christine: yeah, I am as excited about starting over as I am frustrated.
Hi Sherry; I enjoyed your post.
Rachna; it will be a good journey, I am sure.
Planet: my last employment of 8 years didn't care either. My name is already out there in publications. Oh well. But perhaps removing some personal info prior to becoming the next Stephen King or Jodi Piccoult might be beneficial :)
Andrew: never had time at work for anything but work, and that cut into my blogging time, lol.
Thanks Cherie
Elizabeth: I doubt any other employer will care, and no, I never post client info. But a new blog is probably the right choice.
Every end is also a new beginning, they say. I'm sorry you had to delete your old blog and lost your job anyway, but I'm sure there can be a blessing in disguise in all this. New beginnings, as frightening as they are, also reveals an horizon full of possibilities. Just make your best, Donna, and you'll be surprised.
Dragon Hugs!
It does seem like a pseudonym would be the best option, if you're unable to be honest online under your real name. Good luck to you in your new beginning. :)
I hear you on the starting over stuffs. I've done it more than once in every area you mentioned. sometimes by my own choice and sometimes not. It really stinks when your day job has that much control over your personal life, but such is life sometimes.
I have a sneaking suspicion that you'll come out on top of all of this. You sure seem like the resilient type and there are a lot of us pulling for ya.
I miss you at BOTB and hope you'll have the desire to join in again, once you're up to it.
Hi, Donna
Speaking from one who reinvents himself as often as possible, change is GOOD! It pumps us up to dust off the cobwebs and start a new and exciting time in our lives!
I want that SOOOO badly now, trying to get out of a city that will be frozen under in a matter of a few short months... Yet I am trapped, BUT, only temporarily until it's my time to change course.
Keep focused and smiling...You are a survivor, and you will come back stronger and better than ever and I WILL be SMILING the BIGGEST, CHEEZIEST, GRIN!
Maybe even flashing a tattooed bicep, just for you. LOL.
Can't have you because you write/blog?? Sounds like one flimsy reason to me. Glad you are back. Change is often good, though it doesn't feel that way at the time.
Best,
Nila.
Hi Dolorah! It seems to me like you are already on your way to overcoming that fear. Kudos to you for starting a new blog ~ and good luck with it! I've faced a lot of starting over in my life, and while it was usually painfully hard (divorce, new country, losing my new country, returning to my new country, layoffs, new career), it has always turned out for the best in the end. I just keep putting one foot in front of another. I'm sorry you are going through the hardship of losing your day job. It's so tough, but you do get through it. Take care!
Thanks for the encouragement Father Sir.
LG: I'm considering it, kinda.
FAE: I'll participate again when I get settled in here. Still lots of things to sort out in my day life and blogging is still a back burner activity.
Michael: I hope you don't get too depressed in all that snow. But I know how much you love Christmas and being forced indoors just leaves you time for cooking and sewing :) And when you show up with that bicep tatoo I it is a Betty Boop pin-up so I know you got it for me all special like, lol.
Nila; yep, flimsy, but I know there were other reasons more personal to my supervisor. Still, here I am!
It's great to have you back! I'm sorry you had to go through such a rough time. I hope that everything gets going in the right direction.
Glad you have a fresh start and sorry to hear of all that you've gone through. Hope all these changes will energize your writing! Welcome back!
Here's to new beginnings and fresh starts. I wish you well.
Great to visit as co-host of this month's IWSG.
I've had two previous blogs and I'm glad I started fresh a few years ago with my current one. Also, blogging takes time to establish a pattern. I work full-time and somehow squeeze this in, but I couldn't at first.
Hi Donna! So nice to find your new blog. That is terrible about your job.
I'm sorry about your job. They obviously don't know what they're missing! Sounds like you're moving in the right direction, and I'm sure things will be looking up for you soon! I'm your newest follower!
Julie
Fundy: nice to see people have succeeded in starting over.
Tyrean: I'm sure it will all work out.
Jenni: Oh yeah, I'm hoping to get back into creating stories again, now that I have lots of time :)
Suzanne; thanks for co-hosting
Media; it was hard finding blogging time while I worked, but I'm hoping to get back into a regular routine now.
Diane: I so enjoyed your post this month :)
Hi Julie; thanks for stopping by and following.
Sorry about your job, but maybe it is for the best. Still not sure why your blog was so incompatible with them. I'm sure you will bounce back; as others have said, you have a lot of support from us all here. Good luck!
Hugs. I'm glad you returned. Good for you. Sorry to hear about the day job. Sometimes a spring clean is a good thing. it helps refocus on what is important. I gave up FB for the same reason and then never returned to my profession anyway because of my parents' health.Blogging is a big commitment, but then so is writing. i hope you find your balance. I'm the kind of person who spreads them-self too thin always taking on too much and then burning out. I am trying not to dilute myself these days, hoping that things will work out. Good luck with the new direction wherever it leads.
Hi Donna
I wasn't sure who you were but now I know. I hope life sorts itself out for you soon. I did contact your critique group chair but am still waiting to hear from him.
Nancy
Starting over with a new blog is difficult. I tried it and didn't have the stamina to build up a new following. My advice is to be more persistent than I was. :)
I'm following this one. We all have start-overs. That's just life and they are indeed tough. Use your lessons learned and focus on moving forward.
On a side note, I don't share with those I work with about my writing. I just don't. They don't need to know, that's the way I look at it.
In the words of Dr. Seuss, "Be who you are and say what you feel, because those who mind don't matter and those who matter don't mind."
I love that you use "dreamy" to describe Alex. hehe
Nick; I'm sure this site will thrive also. I got the time now to put into it, lol.
Maddy; Hello pretty lady, long time no see. It is tough keeping up with everything, and easy to spread yourself thin. I'm finding my days pretty busy.
Nancy; I loved your excerpt and can't wait to read the book. I'm pretty sure you are a hit and we all anxiously wait your induction. I'm glad you contacted us.
Tonja: I'm going to make a try at it at least :)
Mina: my disclosures at whatever new job I get will be sparse after this experience.
Mike: luv you :)
Courage and resilience are important in this journey called life.
Thanks for listing my blogfest. I appreciate that!
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