It’s time for my October contribution to the Insecure Writer’s Support Group blog hop. The questions posed this month to IWSG writers are: How do major life events affect your writing? Has writing ever helped you through something?
Be sure to click on the #IWSG icon at the end of my post and check out the responses from dozens of interesting and experienced writers.
I consider “major life events” to be things like births, deaths, illnesses, marriages, divorces, starting a new job, losing a job and other events of similar magnitude. Given this definition, I have experienced only one major life event since I began writing novels nearly ten years ago. After being widowed years earlier, I met and married Claudia. This event had a profound effect on my writing and my life.
I’ve chronicled on this blog the role Claudia plays in my writing. Without her personal encouragement and professional editing support, I would not have produced the quantity and quality of writing that I’ve been able to deliver. We enjoy many things together: travel, friends, hiking, our dog Milo, and of course, our family, but writing is something we do on an ongoing basis and occupies a great amount of our time. I’m not sure what would replace this time together if I ever decided to stop writing. Therefore, I probably won’t.
With regard to the second question, I can’t come up with a good example of where writing has helped me through something. I have a good routine and rhythm to my life these days, so there’s not much that I have to “get through.” Writing is something I do because I enjoy it and find it challenging.
I do believe writing helps keep my mind sharp and continues to give me a feeling of accomplishment. Both are important at any age, but especially for someone of my generation.
Many thanks to Dolorah @ Book Lover,Christopher D. Votey, Tanya Miranda, and Chemist Ken for hosting this month’s blog hop. To follow nearly 200 writers participating in this week’s IWSG blog hop, click on the icon below. You can also follow on twitter @TheIWSG or #IWSG.
WHEN I LOST MY MOTHER I HIT A REAL LOW AND STARTED SUFFERING PANIC ATTACKS ONE SUNDAY NIGHT I THOUGHT I WAS GOING TO DIE AS MY HEART POUNDED AGAINST MY CHEST. INSTANTLY IDEAS AND THOUGHTS STARTED TO COME TO ME LIKE NEVER BEFORE EVEN GIVING ME THE PEOPLES NAMES AND MY POETRY IMPROVED DRAMATICALLY AS IF I WAS USING A DIFFERENT PART OF MY BRAIN, IT FELT SO STRANGE, CHINA
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We each react differently to loss of family members. Always painful, we somehow find a way to move forward. Thanks for sharing.
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I’m so happy you have Claudia. And happy IWSG day! http://www.raimeygallant.com
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That’s a great photo of you two by the way.
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Thank you. It’s a couple years old. Claudia gets younger each year as I age.
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Claudia sounds like a wonderful partner. Congratulations and Happy IWSG day 🙂
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Yes, I truly lucked out. Thanks for stopping by.
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You two are adorable and I’m glad the writing thing works for both of you. 🙂
Anna from elements of emaginette
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I’m so glad you found someone who supports you writing habit! It’s really difficult for my husband to understand why I compulsively engage in an enterprise that never makes a profit!
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So glad Claudia came into your life! 🙂 Continue to enjoy and celebrate each other and your lives!
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It’s great that you have such support in your writing 🙂
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As others have said, you are truly blessed to have someone who not only understands & supports your writing, but can actively participate in the process. Writing can be a lonely road – both for writer & their partner.
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Yes, truly blessed. I do write mostly late at night into early morning for two reasons. I can concentrate better at this time, and I don’t take too much time away from our daily activities. Thanks for stopping and your comments.
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