IWSG Hi all today I’m co-host of Alex Cavanaugh’s Insecure Writer’s Support Group. The other co-hosts are Tamara Narayan, Tonja Drecker, Ellen @ The Cynical Sailor, Lauren @ Pensuasion, and Julie Flanders. Be sure to stop by, say hello, and give these fine folks some love.
My issue this month is more of an encouragement. Just Keep Swimming. Yes, it’s Dory’s theme song. Stuck in a rut? Spinning your wheels in the mud? Swimming in that black icky place with green stuff floating on the top?
Sometimes you have to just keep swimming. We all have those trials of life we have to go through and no one or no thing will get us out.
Perhaps it’s a test. Regardless, we’re going through it whether we like it or not. Best to find someone to walk with us, hold our hand, and give us words of encouragement as we go through that time.
But we have to just keep swimming. We don’t always see the end from the beginning but we have to just keep swimming.
We’ll get through it. And if you’re in one of those places let someone from the IWSG know you need support and someone to go through it with. I’m sure you’ll find a veteran of a similar trial that can help navigate through that dark icky place.
Cling to God A Daily Devotional. by Lynda R Young
Release Date October 18th, 2016 Published by Freedom Fox Press Cling to God in the chaos of life…
Cling to God is a book of devotionals for every day of the year. The aim is to encourage Christians in their faith, to help them think about their beliefs and learn more about God. The devotions are short and inspirational so that people with busy lifestyles will still be able to spend time with the Lord each day. It will appeal to a wide Christian audience, to those new in their faith as well as those matured beyond milk and honey.
Author Bio Lynda R. Young, a Christian first, writes devotionals, articles, and speculative short stories. In her spare time she is also an editor, game developer, artist, and dabbles in photography and all things creative. She lives in Australia with her sweetheart of a husband.
You can find her here:
Blog 
Cling to God A Daily Devotional. by Lynda R Young
Release Date October 18th, 2016 Published by Freedom Fox Press Cling to God in the chaos of life…
Cling to God is a book of devotionals for every day of the year. The aim is to encourage Christians in their faith, to help them think about their beliefs and learn more about God. The devotions are short and inspirational so that people with busy lifestyles will still be able to spend time with the Lord each day. It will appeal to a wide Christian audience, to those new in their faith as well as those matured beyond milk and honey.
Author Bio Lynda R. Young, a Christian first, writes devotionals, articles, and speculative short stories. In her spare time she is also an editor, game developer, artist, and dabbles in photography and all things creative. She lives in Australia with her sweetheart of a husband.
You can find her here:
Goodreads
Always helps to have a guide. (And God is always with us if we don't.)
ReplyDeleteThanks for co-hosting today!
Great advice! So easy to forget that most others have been through something similar.
ReplyDeleteGreat encouragement, Stephen. Thanks for co-hosting IWSG this month!
ReplyDeleteMary at Play off the Page
Great practical advice. Most of go through periods of when the creative flow is interrupted and we may feel lost or alone. Your suggestions are simple and effective. Thank you for co-hosting IWSG this month.
ReplyDeleteI live near Lake Ontario and the green gunk has invaded and boy, does it smell. Great metaphor for being stuck in a writing rut. All I've done this summer is write blog posts, but since many are guest posts for a book promotional tour, I will try not to complain. But I wish I had more time and energy to get back to fiction.
ReplyDeleteGreat advice! I recently had to do this and now I think I'm getting back into the current, finally!
ReplyDeleteA mentor or a cheerleader can make all the difference in our journey.
ReplyDeleteAnd you know what, even if you get exhausted swimming, you can tread water or float and take rest.
ReplyDeleteDefinitely a good reminder, and one I needed to hear. Thank you! :)
ReplyDeleteJust keep moving along, i.e. swimming. Don't give up even if it is just a few steps (or words) daily.
ReplyDeleteGreat advice!
betty
Thanks for co-hosting, Stephen. Your timing is perfect. I'm feeling ... not sure. But just keep moving is the right thing to do. Feels like the answer, that's for sure. Thanks, eh.
ReplyDeleteThanks for co-hosting today. Sounds simple enough, but it is hard sometimes to just keep swimming. Thanks for reminding us that we are here support one another when we need someone to swim with us.
ReplyDeleteDory is a great inspiration. And so happy for Lynda!
ReplyDeleteYay for Lynda! :)
ReplyDeleteLove Dory and I sing along a lot!
Completely atopical, but I'm interested to see that Lynda is announcing her book without having a Buy button. I'm debating that so she may be my model.
ReplyDeleteYes, indeed. Keep swimming! I like that. Thanks also for promoting Lynda's book. I just know it going to be a great devotional.
ReplyDeleteShalom aleichem,
Patricia
This comment has been removed by the author.
ReplyDeleteThanks for the encouragement, I can use a little today. The devotional book sounds like a good one. And she writes speculative short stories as well.... Sounds like an author I should keep in mind.
ReplyDeleteNissa Annakindt
http://myantimatterlife.wordpress.com
I love Dory's song. It's a great motto. :)
ReplyDeleteGreat advice Stephen.Dory is a genius. Even when you’re stuck in icky, dark place if you can just keep swimming, you’ll get yourself out of that place. Thanks for co-hosting today!
ReplyDeleteThat's great advice! Thank you for the reminder that we have to keep pushing forward no matter how bad things get. Congrats to Lynda on her upcoming release! I'm looking forward to reading it.
ReplyDeleteThank you for co-hosting!
Such a welcome burst of inspiration! One of the many pleasures offered in a group like IWSG. Thanks, Stephen.
ReplyDeleteVery best wishes, Lynda!
Hi, Stephen, this is my first time at your blog. It is beautiful! I’ve joined your blog. Thanks for co-hosting this month's #IWSG session. Wow! How wonderful to debut Lynda's devotional book here. It sounds like a necessary book--especially for writers. Thanks for sharing this with your followers. All the luck to both you and Lynda!
ReplyDeleteThanks for the encouraging post, Stephen!
ReplyDeleteKeep on moving. Perfect advice. Even if it's only a few sentences/a paragraph at a time. Every bit counts.
I'm looking forward to the daily spiritual nourishment on offer in Lynda's book.
Thank you for co-hosting the IWSG this month.
Too true! We just have to keep at it, and having a support system is key.
ReplyDeleteGreat reminder, Steve! You've just to just keep doing it, eventually you'll get somewhere. Persistence is such a powerful vehicle! Thanks for co-hosting! Have a great IWSG Day!
ReplyDeleteHi Stephen - good to see you ... and to know that you're writing right on ... and blogging really does help as we can air our challenges and get great help and support.
ReplyDeleteIsn't Lyn's book amazing - I love the cover and the the concept ... cheers Hilary
Great advice, Stephen. I'm also an artist - water color. After a couple of years, I almost gave up. Fortunately, my artist friends had advised me to take a photograph of each painting when I'm done with it. When I thought I should give up, they told me to look at my album. Wow. I could see significant improvement with each successive painting. I could see the progress. The same thing is true of writing. We improve each time we sit down to write, and with each new novel. It's just harder to see the progress. Yes, just keep swimming. If your intent is to become better skilled, it is inevitable. Thank you for sharing your advice. Blessings
ReplyDeleteNever give up. That's the mantra all writers need to follow. That's what the rest of us writers are for--encouragement. Thanks for the great post. And thanks for co-hosting this month's IWSG!
ReplyDeleteGreat post. One kind word can change someone's life and you may never know it. We all need encouragement that is for sure. Congrats on the new release Lynda, I have seen you all over the place. Wishing you much success.
ReplyDeleteJuneta @ Writer's Gambit
Great advice! I'm not a water girl, but there are plenty of stinking piles on land to be navigated, too. In so many ways, it is impossible to see through a situation, and we must travel by faith. Thanks for co-hosting!
ReplyDeleteThanks for co-hosting, and the encouragement to just keep going despite our situations!
ReplyDeleteGreat post and thank you for the encouragement.
ReplyDeleteI'm with you all the way. Keep swimming - the best advice you could give anyone.
ReplyDeleteThank you for co-hosting today's #IWSG, Stephen. I just finished responding to Lauren's post with the suggestion of "Keep on Writing" after referring to Finding Nemo. Then stopped here and saw your blog title! You are so right about getting support to make it through the questionable times. There is always light at the end of the tunnel, just that the tunnel sometimes has an elbow so you can't see it until you edge forward.
ReplyDeleteLynda's book looks super inspiring. Without God, I would be lost. Happy IWSG day!
ReplyDeleteWords to live by! Thanks for sharing and I'm borrowing your adorable and uplifting pic to share with the writers on my fb! Thanks for cohosting!
ReplyDeleteThat's what I love (and missed) about the IWSG. Everyone is so supportive. Great, inspiring post. Thank you for co-hosting and best of luck to Lynda, her cover is beautiful!
ReplyDeleteThank you so much for sharing the announcement and cover of my book.
ReplyDeleteI cling to God everyday and the days when I don't, I feel myself slipping...
ReplyDeleteCongrats to Lynda!!!
Thanks for co-hosting, Stephen!!!
I may not have the stamina for continuous swimming, even though I try, but when I'm not moving those arms and kicking those feet, I'm still afloat :) Many congratulations to Lynda.
ReplyDeleteFor us.... it Swim or give up and Die...
Deletea pleasant evening to you and yours...
(did not mean to sound "harsh", dear Lady)
Yes ... But, it is "Never-Ending"... always enduring ...at times not quite as "Thick"... That is the closest that we can come...
ReplyDeleteDying and breathing is even more of an "issue"...
... My blog turns 5 years Friday... many posts... now just spend my days at my Spore game-worlds....
A form of "Escapism"... those are my little "islands" in this Sea of Goop, that is my Life....
... and seems that most of the few "Friends" that we have,.... have "deserted" us... oh well, .. less "Drama" to deal with...
Good advice Stephen.
ReplyDeleteGreat advice! It's perseverance more than anything else that helps in this business. Lynda's book sounds good too! Thanks for co-hosting ISWG!
ReplyDeleteSage advice. Congrats, Lynda!
ReplyDeleteThanks for co-hosting!
There is always someone who has been there before, no matter where "there" is.
ReplyDeleteThanks for co-hosting, and for your encouragement! And for that book promo! I will have to look for it in October.
ReplyDeleteThat icky place with the scum on top? That's the pond behind our house. LOL I also think that's where my muse went and got stuck in the nasty weeds. Thanks for co-hosting and sharing Lynda's good news.
ReplyDeleteIndeed we need to keep going forward or keep swimming if you prefer. So many sharing Lynda's cover reveal and upcoming novel. Happy for her.
ReplyDeleteThe movie had so many great encouraging lines and themes. Yes, the best way to get out of a rut is to keep trying. At least in my eyes. Congrats to Lynda too!
ReplyDeleteWonderful encouragement! I've never seen these Dory and Nemo movies. I'm starting to feel like I'm missing out on something :-)
ReplyDeleteJust keep swimming is always good advice. Though especially when you're actually in water. ;)
ReplyDeleteGreat advice and something I needed to read today. Thanks! And congratulations to Lynda!!
ReplyDelete