I have a special project I’m working on this month. It doesn’t involve writing, but it does involve creativity. It’s one of many in April.
I work on a lot of projects that involve the efforts of other writers. It’s both rewarding and scary. I get to try new things and help other authors achieve their dream, but there’s also a lot of pressure on me because I’m partially responsible for their success or failure.
I worry more when it’s someone else’s material than my own. How do you guys feel?
Don’t forget the A to Z Challenge posts at the IWSG website designed to encourage and inform.
We also invite you to share your own A to Z posts over at the Facebook IWSG.
Example: on April 01st a thread for the letter A will be posted; on April 02nd a thread for the letter B will be posted and so on (Sundays are excluded)
Please do not post any A to Z challenge blog links outside of the provided thread. Remember: these everyday links (26 in total) ONLY apply to the annual A to Z challenge, which takes place during the month of April.
We also set the official IWSG Facebook Guidelines:
2. You are encouraged to support your fellow IWSG'ers who share their writerly-related experiences, which include accomplishments/disappointments/challenges, with the rest of the group. Keep in mind that writers are at different points of their respective writerly journeys. Some lurk for a long time, before finding the courage to share with the rest of the group. Since the IWSG is all about community, a word of encouragement or advice may be just what somebody needs. Or even just a smiley face/thumbs up...
3. News & Promotional Saturday is your opportunity to add a link. The IWSG administrators reserve the right to remove promotional links, especially if they are posted haphazardly.
41 comments:
Good luck with your creative project!
Yes, I definitely am more careful with someone else's material than my own! If I'm blurbing, etc., I want everything to sound just right. For my own stuff...not so much. :)
Wishing you success with all your April projects, Diane.
Thanks for the reminders too.
Hi human, Diane,
All the beast, um best with your special project. Creativity is good.
Great, now even Farcebook is being bombarded with that ridiculous A to Z. Yikes and HELP!!!!
Of course, my human likes the fact that "IWSG" aka "I Was Seeking Gary", has its own Farcebook page.
Penny, the pawsitive host of the Alphabark Challenge, 2014!
I know you helped me, and... I know it must be scary.
Oh man, this sounds so cool. You might be the one to push me over the edge to finally join Facebook, Diane! And I've been resisting for so long.
I know I would feel pressured.
Good luck with your project Diane. I too worry when someone else's work is at stake.
Good luck with your project! :) I don't think I could work in marketing because of that added pressure, but I definitely worry more about making my editing clients' work as error-free as possible than my own!
I volunteered as a CP for a fellow blogger. Yeah, it is a bit nerve wracking...more so than my own WiP. I imagine that you feel that stress compounded many times over.
I take my editing and critiquing very seriously. Like you, I feel I'm at least partly responsible for someone else's success or failure with whatever I'm working on for them.
Best wishes on all your projects.
Hi, L. Diane.
I KNOW exactly how you feel. I, too, do work for other others... I worry at times, but we are professionals. We will give it our all~ That's just who we are, that is why people hire us for our insight and talent!
So cool about posting our A-Z on Facebook... Will definitely head over. It will great exposure for the blogger's books I'm featuring!
Can't wait to hear what you're up to. The fact you're keeping a tight lip has caught me wondering.
Elizabeth, you understand.
Penny, Gary is just special that way.
Bish, I wanted your book to be perfect.
Tamara, it's a great group - you should join.
Karen, come next month, that's what I'll have to do.
Michael, be sure to add your post!
Whenever I have to help someone with their work, I stress way more than if it were my own, and work almost twice as hard on it because I don't want them to get blamed for something I did wrong, etc. Best of luck to you with your project!
You are one busy girl. Amazing how you cope. Hope the projects go well and that the people you are helping will achieve success.
I know how you feel. It's one thing to be responsible for yourself, another for being responsible for someone else.
Great post! I'm stopping in from both the A to Z Challenge and the IWSG. I hope you have a wonderful April! :)
It is harder when It's someone else's--the bar is higher.
That's a good kind of pressure. I am constantly faced with the fact that if my writing isn't engaging enough, my clients' business could tank. It keeps a fire under me, that's for sure.
It's enough pressure being responsible for my projects. I'd go bonkers with someone else's. Good luck! Break a pen!
Here's to April being a fun and wonderfully productive month for you! Cheers, Diane!!
Working for others can be a bit unnerving.
oooh... do you make book covers? I'm curious, now! And I can see how working on somebody else's success puts a lot of pressure on you!
Thanks for all you do, Spunk, to keep us informed and equipped for this writing/blogging gig. I appreciate it.
Be well.
xoRobyn
Wishing you the best on the special project you're involved in and great success all around with it as well.
I would love to echo what Michael said~ Tis true you are so talented and give it all you have! I know you can do it~ I look forward to hearing more about your project!
Good luck on your creative project! Sounds interesting, even if it doesn't directly relate to writing :)
~ Kim
I understand the pressure. Someone's career is in your hands, plus you want to be professional and do a great job. Enjoy and prosper in this project.
Ooh, sorry, I see, you don't make book covers, you format books! That's awesome and you know what? It's great because you and the writer are part of a team and so you share the excitement, too. I've made book covers for some of my friends, that's why it was the first thing that came to mind. Cheers!
When someone asks me to read & critique I get queasy...
I definitely worry more about others than about me when I try to help someone whether it's a review or crit or whatever.
Best of luck with your projects.
I'm the same way. I'm sure whatever your project is, it will be awesome! :)
Good luck with your project and giving advice is better than just watching things happen and wishing it was different..
Great tips, Diane. I do feel pressure when I am working on edits for another writer. I want to draw out their best.
Thanks for the support on my IWSG post the other day. It means alot.
I think I would be severely stressed if I did what you do. The thought of someone else's success or failure resting on your shoulders? No thank you. But this is why there are people like you who do these things. There is a job for everyone in this world. :D
Hope your project goes well. I know what you mean -- I feel that way about my students' work.
Hi Diane! I'm sorry--I thought I'd already stopped by, but I checked in on you to see if you had an update and noticed I missed the last one! I honestly have a lot of respect for you, L: you balance so, so much and still have such a great attitude and always take the time to teach us something new. Thanks for always sharing your wisdom!! :)
It only proves what a dedicated and honest person you are.
Oooo… your secret creative project sounds intriguing, Diane. You're honestly one of the most creative people I've ever "met." I have no doubt that whatever you're working on will be top notch and beyond. :)
Hi L! Making some rounds here as I have some thanks to give and I've been terrible about responding to my comments lately. I just wanted to say thank you for all of the support you've given me via comments. I know you're a busy lady and the fact that you take the time out of your schedule to say such kind things to me means the best. Thanks so much for being such a wonderful person!
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