Welcome to IWSG Day. The goal of this blog hop is to share
and encourage. 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 haven for insecure writers of all kinds. IWSG
is the brainchild of our fearless ninja leader Alex Cavanaugh. The Cohost for the March posting of
IWSG are: Kristina Kelly, Miffie Seideman, Jean Davis, and ME! To read other contributors,
click here.
This month’s question: Have you "played" with AI
to write those nasty synopses, or do you refuse to go that route? How do you
feel about AI's impact on creative writing?
Since I wrote recently about AI in October and
things haven’t changed much (though I did write a synopsis without AI), I’m going to pass on this month’s question. Instead
I’d like to talk about something else. Perhaps because I'm co-hosting this month's IWSG for the first time...ever, but
Having grown up in the dark ages of print media, I’m still flabbergasted when I’m on a site where I encounter negative online comments. Back in the day, you couldn’t post a letter to the editor without leaving a name and address, which as a general rule, promoted self-editing. Nowadays, it feels to me as if anonymity breeds negativity. That’s why I am so impressed with IWSG. Over the many years I’ve posted here, I’ve only encountered reassurance and support.
In my early writing days, I followed a [now dark] blog called The Kindness Project. While the name may be different, IWSG is a kindness project of sorts. I suppose blogging is pretty passe now. The bulk of the universe has moved on to newer, faster, quicker things. But I'm so proud of this core of us who remain, encouraging, caring, and supporting. I’m pleased and grateful to find myself in such good company when I show up here every month.
34 comments:
That's good to know IWSG members have only been encouraging. That's the whole point!
Thanks for co-hosting today and hope you have fun with it.
Darling Liza,
As is your inclination you have hit the nail squarely on its head! I too have experienced nothing but kindness with the members of the IWSG. Now that I think of it, I've only experienced pleasantness in the blogosphere. Sure there's been a few weirdos trying to get me to buy their brand of snake oil but even they have been more pleasant than creepy. This month I'm on a digital minimalism program. I'd already dropped instagram and facebook and am now filling up my hours with reading, writing and moving my body. (well...and doing my taxes and clearing out my filing cabinet!). How spacious are my days when not doom scrolling! Hope spring is coming your way!
Anonymity definitely breeds negativity. That's the worse thing about the internet. People post misinformation with no concern for the validity of their sources, if they even have any, and say things they would never say to a person's face. As for writing forums, I've always thought there's a place for constructive criticism (if one asks for it), the key word being constructive with an emphasis on what works. "accent the positive, eliminate the negative", as the old lyrics go.
As to AI, which I abhor, especially in creative fields, I have to say congratulations on the synopsis. It is the hardest thing to write but if an author can't write their own they are in the wrong line of work. Go back to your day jobs, you losers!! Sorry losing my cool...:)
It's refreshing to keep this corner of the web where we can share positivity for others. Sad that so many resort to bitterness and potshots at others. And trolls are well aware what they're doing is wrong, otherwise they would show their real name and face.
I so agree about the IWSG being a circle of kindness and support. And yes, anonymity breeds negativity, and I think that's as much or more about the anonymity of the person on the receiving end. It's easy to not see people online as people.
Encouragement and support are so important for writing - and for life in general! I count myself lucky - and grateful! - to have experienced so much of it in the blogosphere. I hope I've contributed to it as well! :)
We all wince at things from our past, writing and otherwise. Thanks for co-hosting. :)
Hi,
You just made my heart sing. I so agree with you. I don't blog weekly, but I wouldn't miss blogging in the IWSG. I have learned so much here, and I am so thankful for that.
Thank you for co-hosting, and have a lovely day.
Shalom shalom,
Pat G @ EverythingMustChange
That kind-hearted center is what brings me back every month, for sure. @samanthabwriter from
Balancing Act
I read your post on Al and must compliment you on your thorough insight. I learned a lot... which really worried me. You gave me a great perspective. Thank you, Lisa. And thanks for co-hosting.
I like the idea of IWSG as "the kindness project". I hadn't thought of it that way, but it is so supportive, I think you're right. I don't see blogging as passe, but it isn't quick that's for sure. Like any approach to building a network, it takes time and effort!
One of the gratifying things about sticking with writing over years is taking time to look back and see how much you've grown. That's what we're all striving for. Helping others on their journey is part of the gig. I'm glad you had helpful and positive experiences along the way!
Thanks for hosting, Liza! That's what IWSG is all about, writers stepping up, being supportive, and learning! I was published in an era before computers, so everything was original thought (mine and my editor's) without any other input. Then came critique groups and finally, online connections. Sometimes I feel like the ease of online has distanced us from reaching out to others. But IWSG has proven to be a wonderful exception.
I agree that positive feedback and coaching are most helpful. Negative comments may be correct, but they demotivate me. If I feel down on my writing, I want to crawl under a rock rather than face the screen. The IWSG has been wonderfully supportive (for the most part). I’m so grateful for this community!
Thank you for co-hosting this month. I've also done that in the past. The experience was wonderful. We are in agreement that participating in IWSG has been an eye opener for me - there are a lot of nice people in the world. And, with each post I read, the authors presented intelligent and thought provoking comments. We owe a lot of gratitude to Alex Cavanaugh for his vision and management of this group.
Thanks for cohosting, Liza. Yes, this is what IWSG is all about. Sharing knowledge. Sharing struggles. And supporting one another. I'd be lost without this group. Have a great day!
Thanks for co-hosting this month. Yes, I think of the IWSG as a kindness group too. I'm also proud to continue blogging. I think it's a much better way to make true writing friends.
Thanks for co-hosting today, Liza! One of my guiding principles is never to write an unkind comment. I loved hearing about how the IWSG has encouraged you. I feel the same way. Have fun visiting around today!
Yes,this is an awesome, incredible writer meet-up. And, while blogs may be passe (I don't care, I'm still onboard), kindness never is (insert heart emoji here)
Thanks for co-hosting this month! I've winced at my earlier writing too. It was to the point I had to question myself if I really did write this. But the title followed by author's name (mine) in the header was proof enough that yes I did.
I started blogging to build my platform and doubt I'd still be blogging and writing if I hadn't stumbled upon the IWSG.
Yes, IWSG has definitely been a Kindness Project or me too since the day I joined. I just checked my files - it's been exactly 10 years. I joined the site in March 2014. And every month since, I received a dose of support and encouragement from fellow writers.
I've loved the IWSG for it's positivity, for sure. Some groups say they only allow positive comments, then you see the vultures come out. I feel so bad for newby writers on those sites that don;t know better or get scared away from writing altogether. But I've never encountered anything but positive reinforcement here. Thanks for co-hosting and happy writing.
I think for the majority of people it's easier to be mean when you aren't right there. Most people wouldn't dare say such stuff standing next to someone in line a starbucks. I love all the positive folks I get to see on IWSG days!
The online world can be an ugly place. I try to be kind and pay it forward when I can. I'm a firm believer in 'do unto others' philosophy.
I might not have continued writing if I hadn't stumbled upon IWSG years ago. Support is so important. It's hard to believe in yourself if no one else does. Anyone who has ever submitted anything knows this, as does likely every single IWSG member. With that in mind, it's easy to be supportive and, above all else, kind. I can tell by the thoughtfulness with which you wrote this post that you're as caught up in us as we are of you, and I am glad ;-) Thank you for co-hosting IWSG today!
It's literally the IWSG that's kept me blogging for so long. The people here are magical and so very supportive.
Cheers my friend. Indeed, the positivity is key here. I blog more as my own record. I read a book - it zooms out of my brain. I truly cannot remember character names, etc. So I often reference my own blog to give folks book tips, etc. Reading my own reviews refreshes my memory. Sad but true.
And just the exercise of writing my blog keeps my brain flowing. I do give it a decent effort. Cheers!
Yay for all the positive encouragement! Thanks for cohosting the blog hop. :)
Anonymity does allow for the worst of us to shine.
I've been told to move on from blogging, but I like it. Of all of the platforms, it may be the slowest and the most work, but the connections made through blogging feel more real.
I do love posting to this on the first Wednesday of the month, each month due to the people involved are usually lovely. I have been missing in action for a wee while as I was recovering from a hip op, but now am back up and (not quite running) walking lol.
Nice to meet you.
It's so important to keep our own little corner of the interwebs free of all that negativity. There's enough of of that out there in the world already.
My first IWSG post was 06 January 2015, I was number #257.
I've been drawn back each month for the positive comments; same reason most of us participate.
You wrote, "...blogging is pretty passe now. The bulk of the universe has moved on to newer, faster, quicker things..."
I guess I'm a uninformed, but I'm curious to know what has replaced blogging?
Thanks for your insight and co-hosting our March IWSG blog hop.
I need to join back up. I have missed the camaraderie of blogging, especially among fellow writers. My first forays into commenting on a writer blog brought me such mean negativity that I almost gave up blogging. But I just kept searching for a nicer bunch of folks. So many are gone now, their sites abandoned. I don't know what ever happened to the site I posted on early in my blogging history. It's probably gone too, don't even remember the name of it.
Love the idea of IWSG as a kindness project! I'm so glad we've been going strong for so long <3
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