Insecure Writer's Support Group

7/2/2013

IWSG was created by Alex J. Cavanaugh to share and encourage other writers because we are an insecure bunch. Writers can express doubts and concerns without fear of appearing foolish or weak. Those who have been through the fire can offer assistance and guidance. It’s a safe haven for insecure writers of all kinds!

At the beginning of this week I created a new twitter account with the plan of deleting the other. Some may wonder why I would give up an account with almost 900 hundred followers. It's not easy building a following, after all. But I had my reasons. Saturday night I had a major melt down due to a medical scare. Poor hubby had no idea what to do and I was in no condition to talk. About three hours later I managed to calm down, talk a little and then went to bed. Sunday, when I woke up and looked at my Twitter and hated it.

So I created a new account.

I actually felt better looking at a blank twitter. I was calm, relaxed. Dare I say it, I even felt up to doing some editing. It's been a couple weeks since I've felt like that.

My life was feeling hectic and I think that was the reason I redid my twitter. It was something tangible that represented how I felt. My melt down purged me of the chaotic feelings, but that's not easy to see. I don't wear my emotions on my sleeve. Most people will never know when I'm upset. (For example: While freaking out, hubby kept asking me what was wrong and I told him nothing.) Twitter made it easy to show. Friends have asked why the change and I don't hesitate to explain, actually telling people what's wrong. That's a big deal for me.

24 Comments

WRITERachael link

7/2/2013 10:14:07 pm

Hi Patricia, thank you for sharing such a personal post. I think that when we write (be it a story or a tweet) it is far easier to express emotions that when asked in person we shy away from. Sometimes a bold statement can be just what we need to get over a writing hurdle and I'm glad that you able to do your editing again. Good luck with it and your new Twitter account.

Patricia Lynne link

7/3/2013 01:36:41 am

Thanks. =)

Huntress link

7/2/2013 10:18:05 pm

Sounds like you faced your meltdown and told it to move out of your way. Good Job!

7/3/2013 01:35:59 am

Thanks. It's still lurking around though, trying to bug me from time to time.

Cherie Reich link

7/3/2013 01:41:05 am

Sometimes we need to change something when everything is becoming really stressful. I'm glad creating the new Twitter account helped. :)

7/3/2013 03:06:52 pm

Very true. Thanks. =)

Jai link

7/3/2013 02:59:06 am

Congratulations for seeing a problem and fixing it. That's not an easy thing to do.

Hope everything continues to be upbeat for you.

7/3/2013 03:07:36 pm

It's still a little up and down, but things are definitely better.

Susan Gourley link

7/3/2013 06:15:07 am

Even without knowing the details of what happened, I understand how grabbing control of one part of our lives can make the rest a little better.

7/3/2013 03:09:34 pm

Thanks. It's interesting how taking control of something tiny can help. =)

Alex J. Cavanaugh link

7/3/2013 09:51:04 am

That was a leap of faith to start over, but sounds like it was the best for you. I don't often talk about my real life online very often either.
Patricia, really appreciate that you are part of the IWSG!

7/3/2013 03:10:32 pm

Awww, thanks, Alex. This group has been really helpful for my writing. Always good to have support.

Emily Genther link

7/3/2013 12:07:52 pm

Sorry to hear you weren't doing so well. I hope things are getting better.

7/3/2013 03:11:25 pm

I'm not spending all day freaking out, so yeah, things are getting better.

Carolyn Brown link

7/3/2013 06:39:54 pm

So very sorry to hear you had some medical issues Patricia. I hope everything turns out okay.

7/4/2013 10:52:13 am

Thanks. I'm sure everything will be okay. I'm just at that scary moment where until I see a doctor, I'm uncertain how okay I'll be.

John Wiswell link

7/5/2013 12:51:07 am

I have no issue following your new account instead. So long as you don't get discouraged by the blankness or low numbers in months ahead, the move seems totally reasonable. I'm mostly just glad you're taking care of yourself and starting to improve. Cheers, Patricia.

7/5/2013 08:48:58 am

The low numbers are kind of nice and it was cool to see some of the people that followed me. You like me! You really do! =D

Beverly Fox link

7/5/2013 01:15:35 am

Yeah, it sounds like you made a good call!
So sorry to hear about your health scare, glad you're feeling better now!

7/5/2013 08:50:03 am

Thanks. I am much better, although there are moments here and there when nothing is going on and I start thinking about the scare... Sometimes it's not good for me to think.

Jak link

7/9/2013 05:32:07 pm

Sorry to hear you had a rough patch there. It sounds like you've overcome the worse of it. I like how you explain that your Twitter account was something tangible to represent/reflect your emotions.

Oddly, last week seemed to be a Fight Club theme for me, maybe due to WRiTE CLUB, but I can't help but imagine you saying in response to why:

"I felt like destroying something beautiful."

Not sure you have criteria to re-following you on Twitter, but I'm interested if cool.

Jak at http://crytonchronicles.blogspot.com
http://dreamsintheshadeofink.blogspot.com

7/10/2013 12:37:37 am

The only criteria to refollowing me is if you want to. =D

Tui Snider @mentalmosaic link

7/16/2013 12:47:17 am

I wondered why you have a new Twitter account all of a sudden. I thought maybe your other one had been hacked.

I can understand the need to take control of something that is, well, a little more controllable than so many things in life. For me, it's list making. It can be very stabili

zing when I'm anxious. Plus, I love the feeling of crossing things off the list!

Thanks for reminding me of the IWSG. I've been meaning to check it out but keep forgetting. Hey - I'll add it to my to-do list!

~Tui, visiting from the #StoryDam blog linky