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#IWSG: 2020 starts now...in February

2/3/2020

27 Comments

 
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The first Wednesday of every month is the Insecure Writer's Support Group. Posts go up the 1st Wednesday of every month. Check it out here and join if you need support with your writing. Don't forget to stop by and say hi to the co-hosts: Lee Lowery, Ronel Janse van Vuuren, Jennifer Hawes, Cathrina Constantine, and Tyrean Martinson!

February 5 question - Has a single photo or work of art ever inspired a story? What was it and did you finish it?

I have a really short answer for that: no. But, I have had movies and other books inspire a story. My young adult paranormal, Being Human was inspired by the dark ending to the novel Thirsty.

Last month, I focused on looking back at 2019. It was a good year, and it left me with high hopes for 2020. I still have high hopes, but January was a rough month. Not as much as I would have liked got done. I dealt with a lot of fatigue and exhaustion. When I thought about it, I wasn't surprised. Last January I dealt with fatigue. I eventually declared my 2019 officially started on February. Then I rocked the year.

I think my issue with January is I'm recovering. We have three holidays that are extremely social in a short time. I'm an anti-social introvert, so those holidays wipe me out. January signifies the end and I can finally relax and my body is like, "HELL YES! NAP TIME!"

Realizing this has lifted a load off my shoulders. Instead of stressing about how tired I am (despite doing nothing) and what I want to get done, I let myself rest. I recharged and worked on things that didn't require brain power or were easy. Now, I'm ready for 2020 to begin.

Has your year started out with a bang or a fizzle? Do you need to recoup after the holidays? Want to start 2020 in February with me?

*Adding after I initially published this* My little nephew is in the hospital with the flu. He has a compromised immune system, so if it's going around, he gets it. Please send him some healing vibes that he's out quickly and back to be the adorable tornado he is.

Oh, before you leave...

Would you like to join me on the week of Valentine's Day for a blog hop? We imagining what it'd be like to be abducted by aliens to celebrate the birthday of my novel Abducted Life. All the details are here.

If you enjoyed this post and want exclusive content, consider becoming a member of my community on KO-FI or PATREON!



27 Comments
tara tyler link
2/3/2020 10:40:16 am

i think you’re doing a great job hanging in there! with all your crafts and writing, and socializing online, you’re definitely succeeding! keep at it!

and thanks for helping me as well! looking forward to your blog hop!

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Alex J. Cavanaugh link
2/3/2020 01:52:31 pm

Good - now you know to just chill and not stress. Take is as a month to do something fun and relaxing instead.

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Liz A link
2/3/2020 03:28:56 pm

Well, January is named after Janus who looks forward and back. Why not make it a take-it-easy month? It seems like everyone has been moaning about January. Glad you're starting the year now.

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Rebecca Douglass link
2/4/2020 02:21:27 am

I definitely am with you on the holidays burning me out. I love them, and the visits with family, but it is exhausting. I didn’t do as much as I wanted to in January as a result, and now I’m traveling... oh well.

I’ve written flash fiction using a single random photo as a prompt. It can be fun! I don’t see a single picture giving me an idea for a novel, but you never know!

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Kate link
2/4/2020 09:03:36 am

I hear you about the year not starting until February. I didn't even start work again until almost halfway through January and I'm already feeling ready for a holiday again! Luckily it's a long weekend for me this week, so maybe I'll feel differently by next week.

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Sarah Foster link
2/4/2020 05:17:52 pm

I like the idea of starting in February. My year has definitely been fizzling so far.

I still have no idea what to write about for the blog hop! Should probably get on that...

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J.H. Moncrieff link
2/4/2020 09:31:56 pm

Sending many healing vibes to your nephew. Hope he's okay.

January is a tough month for many. Up here it's traditionally the coldest month, and even if you love the holidays, you're left with that "What now?" feeling. A lot of people are broke, in debt, or feeling fat from overindulging.

Back when I ran a freelance writing business full time, my work orders would go into a slump every January, and I'd worry myself sick, sure the slow time was an indicator of impending doom. After a year or two, I learned to take an inexpensive sun holiday at that time so I wouldn't sit around stressing over it. And it worked! Problem solved.

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M.J. Fifield link
2/4/2020 11:49:11 pm

Holidays wipe me out, too.

I used to be extremely productive in January and would fizzle out later in the year, but that's definitely changed. I love the idea of starting the year in February. I should try that next year.

Sending healing vibes to your nephew. Hope he's feeling better and out of the hospital soon!

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Heather R. Holden link
2/5/2020 04:19:20 am

Sorry to hear January was such a rough month for you. (Perfectly understandable, though. The end of the year is always so exhausting! January's best spent recharging, for sure.) Hope you have a very productive February!

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Cathrina
2/5/2020 06:25:59 am

Holding your little nephew in my heart and in my prayers! February is a good month to begin 2020!

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Madeline Mora-Summonte link
2/5/2020 06:52:57 am

Such an excellent idea! I might need to try that next year.

Hoping the "adorable tornado" - love that! - is up and about soon!

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Chrys Fey link
2/5/2020 09:28:31 am

Letting ourselves rest when we're exhausted is the best thing we can do.

I wish I could join in on your blog hop, but I have so many stories and words in my head I don't think I can come up with a story about being abducted by aliens (which freaks me out lol), even if it's under 500 words. Sorry! :(

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joylene link
2/5/2020 10:45:18 am

Wow, I think you hit on something. January was a bit tough for me too. I felt as if I was sleeping it away. I don't have your excuse though. December was relaxing after a hectic fall. Hmm. Now I'm wondering why. ... Happy IWSG Day, Patricia!

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Tyrean Martinson link
2/5/2020 10:53:20 am

I kind of fizzled in January, but I'm ready to go again, now with revised goals. Revision is everywhere! :)
I hope your nephew gets better soon.

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Lee Lowery link
2/5/2020 11:55:36 am

I have always referred to the season between Thanksgiving and New Years as the hellidays because all the "festivities" completely drain my energy. And patience. So yeah, January is definitely needed for recovery.

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C. Lee McKenzie
2/5/2020 01:42:08 pm

It's hard to do much of anything if you're exhausted. Hope this next month finds you energized and not enervated.

If you'd like me to do some Tweets and FB posts for you, I'm really happy to help, but I only blog once a month these days, so I can't help out there. Good luck.

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Yvonne V link
2/5/2020 02:32:08 pm

Hope your nephew feels better! And I like that we can decide when the year starts. I like the school year calendar (beginning in Sept) better, personally. :)

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Susan M Gourley link
2/5/2020 05:22:39 pm

Kind of a fizzle for me writing wise in January also. Doing better this month so far.

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Elizabeth Seckman link
2/5/2020 05:54:18 pm

I swear, mental exhaustion tires the body. One of the reasons I decided to sub instead of going back to social work is because I knew how emotionally draining social work can be and I wasn't sure I'd ever have the energy to write.

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Lynda R Young as Elle Cardy link
2/5/2020 07:03:18 pm

Sometimes we just need that recovery time.
Sending those healing vibes to your little nephew.

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Loni Townsend link
2/6/2020 06:56:33 am

I hope your nephew gets better soon!

I've been keeping strong on my minor goals, though I'm a bit mentally frazzled with work and my son's behavior. But I don't think starting in February would help me much there.

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Tonja Drecker
2/6/2020 09:44:45 am

I'm with you on the February thing! With vacations and kids and all of that stuff, the holidays didn't even end until mid-January. I still have a couple of Christmas decorations to get stowed away. So, yeah, February sounds great to me.

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Samantha J Bryant link
2/6/2020 02:28:35 pm

What a fun blog hop! I'll have to check it out--as a reader this time; I'm on deadline as a writer. No time for extras right now.

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Patricia Josephine
2/7/2020 10:45:43 am

My nephew is doing much better now. He'll be back in school on Monday. Thank you everyone for all the well wishes. =D

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Christine Rains
2/10/2020 06:53:48 am

Nap time is the best! :D Glad to hear your nephew is doing better. I'm hoping that February will be my start to the year too, but how is it the tenth already?!

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Michelle Wallace link
2/11/2020 06:44:38 am

The year has just started and I'm already tired.
I need a holiday LOL
It's the heat that's killing me.

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H.R. Sinclair link
3/2/2020 09:46:11 am

My thoughts are will your nephew for a speedy recovery.
--
I think recharging in January is perfect. For me, it's also an assessment and planning month.

Reply



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