Some days you just have to wonder if you’re on the wrong path, if what you’re doing is meant for you or if somewhere along the line you missed your calling. Most writers I know have these days, especially when a rejection hits their email.
Last week was one of those days for me stretched into an entire week. I’ve been job hunting to cover the bills and my writing was shoved to the back burner while I went to introduce myself to local businesses. Not much was panning out and all the while I kept looking at my writing with the thought “this is all I really want to do.”
Don’t get me wrong, I love interacting with people. I used to work in retail and it was one of my favorite things to do. But my passion’s writing. Has been for years. Unfortunately, writing’s not paying the bills at the moment and, while I was job hunting last week, I was seriously thinking about letting it go for awhile to rethink things.
But then I received a comment from J.C. Wolfe over at The Wolfe’s Den. Ms. Wolfe nominated me this last Monday for the Sisterhood of the World Bloggers Award. Just when I was starting to doubt, the bloggershere shows me again how incredibly supportive it can be! It was that little nudge that I needed to tell me I’m doing something right. Thank you so much J.C. (By the way, if you haven’t checked out her blog, you should. She’s got great short stories and words of the week that would help anyone expand his/her vocabulary.)
So I’d love to pass that nudge on to several other women to let them know they’re definitely doing something right.
1. Okay, I know J.C. nominated me but I’d like to share the love back. So she’s on this list. J.C. Wolfe at The Wolfe’s Den
2 & 3. Inion N. Mathair – These two ladies have been supportive almost from day one last year when I started this blog. They’re a mother/daughter writing team, which I find amazing in and of itself, and they just published their book The Perfect Seven. Check them out.
4. Karen Soutar– This woman’s been amazingly supportive, not just on the blog but on twitter too. Right now she’s training to walk 8 Miles for Macmillan. It’s in support of Macmillan Cancer Support. So stop on by and give her a word of encouragement=)
5. Confessions of a Maniacal Early Riser– So if you need a laugh and you love Zombies, this is the site for you. Plus, if you’re looking for a writing community, Anisa’s one of the founders of Writer’s Carnival. It’s fantastic for feedback on writing.
6. Tea with Flo– This lady has a wonderful, welcoming style to her writing. She even invites you for tea when you stop by her blog. Check out her writing=)
7. Comfort Ministries– This blog is written by Mollie Bond. She writes a lot of posts in support of Hope for Haiti, a none profit organization that supports schools in Haiti, as well as writing posts that help one slow down and think about life. She’s quite insightful =) Plus, she’s been a wonderful support to me this last year.
According to the rules, I’m supposed to nominate 10-12 other blogs, but these are the ones who have really shown support and encouragement to me, so I’m going to stop with them. If anyone thinks of another they’d like to point out, feel free to post it in the comments.
Thank you, J.C., for the nomination. And thank you to everyone for the support. The blogging community is amazingly encouraging =)
Blessings and have a great weekend,
Jennifer
Guidelines for those nominated:
- Post the logo on your blog.
- Thank the person who nominated you.
- Choose 10-12 other ladies who blog as your nominees.
- Post the links to the nominees’ blogs and notify each of them on their blog.
Congratulations and thanks for the nomination! I think I would nominate much the same blogs as I did for the sunshine award, so I think I’ll leave this until I have explored some more blogs. Thanks again!
No worries. Just wanted to recognize you as a fellow blogger who deserves recognition for your wonderful support and writing=)
Jen, how very thoughtful of you to honor me with the award. What a privilege it is to see your writing grow. Can’t wait to see your name in print! I want a signed copy.
Thanks, Mollie. Your support this last year has been a huge blessing. =)
Congratulations, Jennifer. Your nomination is greatly deserved. You are one of the most caring, supportive and generous people we’ve come across in this crazy literary world. And, thank you so much for nominating us! We are honored and moved by your kindness. It’s been a rough road for us, what with a newly published novel and three on the backburner that we’re readying to share with the world. Not to mention all of the online networking. At times, when days have meshed together, our eyes are strained and tired, and we’re snorting coffee grounds, it can seem like it’s not worth the stress. But, it’s gems like you, and the many other wonderful people we’ve encountered, that help us get through. 🙂 We’ll be posting our Thank you’s and nominations this Tuesday as we are still in the process of editing our second book and want to give your post that we pressed more time on our blog..
Thank you so much for pressing one of my posts. I completely understand how crazy life can get with social media and editing and trying to still be social with the outside world… snorting coffee beans is right=) And you ladies are gems too. You’re wonderfully encouraging in this crazy world =)
Congratulations Jennifer. Well deserved and the timing seems perfect. Don’t you love how the universe/bloggosphere knows what you need and gives you that little push at the right time? 🙂 Congrats again!!!
Thanks. Encouragement does seem to come just when it’s needed=)
Thanks for the Award, Jennifer! You have also given me lots of other good ideas for blogs to follow.
I sympathise with the ‘writing versus paid work’ dilemma. Some weeks, due to work commitments, I don’t write anything except a weekly blog post and that really frustrates me. I try to remember the advice of other writers, that even if I only manage a few words, that’s ok. Just keep writing! xx
You’re most welcome, Karen. You’ve been wonderfully supportive =) And what you say about writing something, even if it’s only a few words, is so true. I used to get up five minutes early before work and write in my journal for five minutes in the morning. It worked great except I’d get all sorts of ideas in the morning and then have to sit on them all day at work. Keep up the writing=)
That’s the problem I have when I write between driving lessons! I get on a ‘roll’, then have to stop, and I have story ideas running through my head when I’m supposed to be concentrating on road safety! Not good! 😉
Not good at all! Stay safe out there while formulating those writing ideas=)
Congratulations Jennifer!! I’m so excited for you. Your blog is so imaginative and you’re obviously infinitely talented – you deserve it and much more! And thank you for paying forward the support you’ve received; I’ve only “known” you about 2 weeks and you’ve already been supportive to me, whether you realize it or not. 🙂
Beth
Thank you, Beth. The saying about what you put in to something is what you get out of it is so true. Social Media can be incredibly time consuming but I love the relationships you can build without ever meeting people face to face. It’s one of the beauties of the internet and blogging=)
I couldn’t agree more! 🙂
You’re welcome, and thank you for sharing back! I’m glad to know I could inspire you! I’m finding the blogosphere to be very encouraging too; it’s wonderful when writers support each other! Thanks again! 🙂
I love how supportive all the other writers I’ve met are. Even when giving feedback, I’ve yet to meet one who doesn’t seem to want to truly help. I’m sure the nay sayers are out there. But the supportive writers/readers far out weight them. =) Thanks again J.C.