ILB Writing Club

I'm intimidated by some of the more garish displays of motivational cheerleading that surrounds it, but also don't want to not acknowledge that I am doing it

This is me down to a tee tbf. Have you found a path through this minefield? I'm thinking of signing up but doing it in a coveted way? I really do want to, if only for a sorely needed kickstart.

Anything to report so far?

i'm writing a lot, for money even

no fiction tho

Sorry for disappearing from this thread! I'm always doing that. I'm still going with this! Almost at 30k, which is by far the most sustained thing I've done. I'm thinking I will finish something, though readability is another issue entirely. Some set up a Discord for London-based writers and it's been really helpful with keeping motivation going so far in a low-key and mutually supportive kind of way.

LBI - did you sign up in the end?

Aimless - I will have a look at your book properly at month's end!

I will have a look at your book properly at month's end!

Don't feel committed. Fit it in somewhere, if and when you want to.

TT, that is amazing! 30k is a huge achievement, regardless of readability (well y'know, but y'know!). I think this initiative is meant to get those fingers firing and typing when the brain is racing and inspired. That is a huge deal. You should be proud.

And I am rather curious, truth be told, how the low key supportive thing works w/ people you don't know? It'd be a new one for me, but glad it's working out for you!

I did not sign up in the end, and am actively avoiding chat channels or groups intended on motivating people, because it's not for me right now... If anything I like to block out everyone, every chance I get at writing. I'm at 7k. Life got in the way, and I can't clear my head or focus properly because of... stuff. I have a publisher for the first time in my life, who laid down an advance, and I'm meeting him this Thurs to talk about the ~progress~ of my book and I am fretting about not being able to hand over something substantial. Ugh. Perhaps my gf said it best tonight: "Oh no! You'll be the first writer in history to not deliver what was agreed upon on time!" She's right, just tell him my reasons why it hasn't happened yet, and they *are* legitimate reasons, but... It just feels like ehhh another let down.

The struggle is real :)

I really didn't think it'd be for me either. Try as I might, my self-confidence is still crushingly low, so anything where I'm comparing myself to other people seemed like a nightmare, but I don't know...everyone is just so focussed on their own goal and achievements, that nothing else matters. It's been really regulating and laid-back. We do timed writing sprints together throughout the day of 15 minutes, and there's no prompts unless you want one - everyone just working on their own thing. If someone is feeling doubtful, everyone is quietly very encouraging. It seems odd that there are no huge egos or dramatic incidents, but it's just worked out that way.

I'm sorry you've had a hard time recently. Those are wise words from your gf though! So true. It's amazing that you have a publisher, and 7k is a substantial start for an actual book. I'm pretty sure if I had the anticipation of someone reading my work I would write a lot more carefully. Good luck with your meeting - I'm sure you'll be feeling better afterwards on Thursday!

...finishing an essay for a volume in the philosophy of language. It was supposed to be done eleven months ago. I have accomplished an enormous number of important things as a way of not working on it. A couple of months ago, bothered by guilt, I wrote a letter to the editor saying how sorry I was to be so late and expressing my good intentions to get to work. Writing the letter was, of course, a way of not working on the article. It turned out that I really wasn't much further behind schedule than anyone else.

From this article I read today: http://www.structuredprocrastination.com/

It took me a week to get around to this, but thank you tt! For your honest reply and for sharing that essay/article, I enjoyed reading that. "I have accomplished an enormous number of important things as a way of not working on it." The quote you pulled, and this one especially, rings awfully true (or rather: I should tell myself that more often). Crushing insecurity is, of course, the biggest factor at play here, and it's a multi-headed beast. It can make me put off writing, it can make me hate what I wrote, it can make me put things off, it can even make excuses for myself when not writing when I really should. (taking a step back and reading this makes me go #smdh, but it feels inescapable to feel these things while working on my book? Most other times it just feels like I'm whining, but that's on me)

It seems like you found a very supportive, encouraging network you can fall back on when needed. It sounds like something I'd sign up for to be frank! But then a million negatives kick in - well, not only negatives, also some dumb convictions like feeling alone and inept and struggling is part of the job? There's a masochist element to it, for sure.
How did you get on? Did you manage to write something nearly every day? Was writing a book your goal and did you more or less follow up on that, or was it worth your while if only for the writing exercise?

(the publisher, of course, was very understanding and supportive. there are some practical issues affected by my stalling, like him applying for grants/funds and having to delay that, changing schedules with the designer of the book etc. [I say these things coolly but they make me go 'holy fuck this is realllll' lol] it will be... ok. -ish ;) )

When writing both saves you and hurts you.

https://www.theguardian.com/books/commentisfree/2023/jan/30/my-mentor-john-hughes-taught-me-how-to-write-then-he-plagiarised-my-work?