tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3529128955266044151.post5917404247317283919..comments2023-10-31T10:59:03.023-04:00Comments on INKSPOT Crime Fiction Blog | A Place for Mystery, Mayhem, Writing and Life: Feeling UncomfortableLinda O. Johnstonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01512430135042480450noreply@blogger.comBlogger23125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3529128955266044151.post-90420874340976734592011-09-02T19:02:47.480-04:002011-09-02T19:02:47.480-04:00I edit the Internet Review of Books, and a friend ...I edit the Internet Review of Books, and a friend asked if I could have her novel reviewed. I said sure, but someone else would have to do it, and there was no guarantee of a positive review.<br /><br />When the review came back it was quite negative, and it pained me to run it, but I did. That's really something to avoid, though.Bob Sanchezhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08350825385315155962noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3529128955266044151.post-70149925490803035782011-09-02T16:04:30.109-04:002011-09-02T16:04:30.109-04:00Doing something uncomfortable? How about leaving p...Doing something uncomfortable? How about leaving public comments on the Net? I have this thing about privacy which doesn't really exist any more. For a government job answering calls at a call center, I had to have fingerprints taken, one of those iris scans, face recognition--all to answer a telephone? <br /><br />Right now, Beth, I'm trying to work up the courage to set up a blog/web site. Part of it is just putting myself out there. The other part is it's another computer thing! Spending hours on the phone over various computer problems over the years does not fill me with joy about taking on something like web sites/blogging when I have (very) little knowledge. This is confronting the uncomfortable for today. Whew!Caroleehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02350074663523703053noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3529128955266044151.post-55782733370435439662011-08-31T11:54:00.516-04:002011-08-31T11:54:00.516-04:00Inspiring! Love the idea of posting writing progre...Inspiring! Love the idea of posting writing progress publicly. I am about to let relatives read my first mystery before I look for an agent. I'm okay with them reading it...it's hearing what they think that scares me! Now I'm going to look at the discomfort more positively. Thanks!Susanhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06145633883384460905noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3529128955266044151.post-37346029900627964772011-08-31T11:36:46.199-04:002011-08-31T11:36:46.199-04:00Beth, I love that this came to you while you were ...Beth, I love that this came to you while you were exercising! I recently accepted a request to teach a six-week course on a rather dense subject, at the same time my first book is debuting, and in addition to my regular work. It has made me stretch my limits and now I have to get really good at organizing each day: always useful for a writer:)Eloise Hillhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03576109387111780514noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3529128955266044151.post-54990719956063627572011-08-31T11:07:45.485-04:002011-08-31T11:07:45.485-04:00Beth,
What a wonderful post! I feel uncomfortable ...Beth,<br />What a wonderful post! I feel uncomfortable about being my own publicist for my books. I published years ago when authors wrote, spoke to groups, etc. but didn't have the burden of selling one's books to the public.Marilyn Levinsonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10424778692932139865noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3529128955266044151.post-27926828944126475362011-08-31T10:02:33.185-04:002011-08-31T10:02:33.185-04:00Very thought -- and squirm -- provoking post. Dis...Very thought -- and squirm -- provoking post. Discomfort is a fact of life, we can only change how with respond to it. Thank you Beth.Sebastian Stuarthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07744916225005530030noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3529128955266044151.post-16546119929298683272011-08-30T22:08:58.522-04:002011-08-30T22:08:58.522-04:00LOL, Robin, well you're certainly following th...LOL, Robin, well you're certainly following the advice!<br /><br />Thanks, T.L, and thanks for sharing what you've been doing to push yourself into uncomfortable areas. All great ways to stretch yourself, and I think you'll see your creativity blossom even more as a result.<br /><br />Thanks, Angela, and I hope you do embrace the advice and gain something from it.<br /><br />Marne, a twosome of you and Mario is something I've just GOT to see--and hear! Congratulations on surviving your first public reading. Every one after that one will get a little easier until you wake up one day and realize you're an old pro.<br /><br />Yay, Jess! You're welcome. I can't wait to read the first book in that YA trilogy. Striking out in a whole new genre is a huge step into the "uncomfortable zone" for writers, but it often reaps huge rewards when a writer finds that s/he has discovered his/her true calling as a result.Beth Groundwaterhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13999372882748655834noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3529128955266044151.post-51093986717352632352011-08-30T17:13:27.612-04:002011-08-30T17:13:27.612-04:00Your post is serendipitous, Beth. I'm just fin...Your post is serendipitous, Beth. I'm just finishing up the first in what I hope will be a YA trilogy, and I have been uncomfortable writing it the whole way through. Putting kids in dangerous (fictional) situations is difficult for me, and your post has given me the boost needed to get through the last 30 pages of the first draft. Thank you!!!Jessica Loureyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11157662092822156124noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3529128955266044151.post-73905561071336821522011-08-30T16:41:11.697-04:002011-08-30T16:41:11.697-04:00Beth, you got my gears turning. Great post. Thanks...Beth, you got my gears turning. Great post. Thanks. There really isn't an "uncomfortable" for me. I go from comfortable to fight or flight in zero-point-two, with no in between... However, I still try to work past my foibles. In June, I read a short bit of one of my books out loud and in public for the first time. Ever. Scared to death. But I didn't cry (true story).<br />Next month I'll have to try singing in public with Mario. That'll make everyone cry... (not a true story).Marne Annhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05981717156518711702noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3529128955266044151.post-42426439785925650992011-08-30T15:52:06.481-04:002011-08-30T15:52:06.481-04:00Beth, that's awesome! While it's obviously...Beth, that's awesome! While it's obviously a scary thing, it's an amazing opportunity to make a huge impact on the lives of some young people. What a gift! <br /><br />I love this idea and I'm going to do my best to embrace it. Thanks for sharing!Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11674609189417855582noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3529128955266044151.post-28290218675397104392011-08-30T15:14:24.270-04:002011-08-30T15:14:24.270-04:00Awsome post, Beth!! I love it!!
Doing things tha...Awsome post, Beth!! I love it!! <br /><br />Doing things that make us uncomfortable definitely contributes to our growth as human beings. Whether it helps us feel and look younger, I don't know. I don't really care because the growth benefits are worth it!<br /><br />I've done several things that made me took me out of my comfort zone lately. Here are a few! <br /><br />I joined Writers on the Move and it always makes me uncomfortable to share my workout habits with others silly as the may sound. Then I blogged about it making me feel uncomfortable and how the experience was changing my attitude.<br /><br />I decided on a bookcover for one of my upcoming books of poetry that I normally wouldn't have for fear it would offend someone else even though I love it!! So far the majority of my small focus group agrees with me. Even the sole (so far) dissenter's opinion convinced me I'd made the right choice.<br /><br />I tried posting my writing progress on Facebook for a while even posting my lack of progress on days when I accomplished nothing. At first, it really helped me, but something happened. I don't pay close enough attention to daily word count to post word counts, so I was posting what I worked on and how I felt about my progress. Somewhere in there, I started feeling like posting was becoming detrimental instead of helpful. Reading your post today makes me think I quit doing it because I got uncomfortable... Time to start facing that accountability again... Thanks for helping me see that!!T. L. Cooperhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10280040102040626570noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3529128955266044151.post-1225096967904915092011-08-30T15:00:42.480-04:002011-08-30T15:00:42.480-04:00Things that make me feel uncomfortable? Let's ...Things that make me feel uncomfortable? Let's see: publishing a book with my name and picture on it, speaking in public, doing book signings, writing blog posts, commenting on blog posts, and reading less-than-glowing reviews of my book. <br /><br />And that's just been the last couple of months.Robin Allenhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16373722202559066388noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3529128955266044151.post-45772845207868525762011-08-30T14:13:41.831-04:002011-08-30T14:13:41.831-04:00Hi Ann,
Yes, I'd forgotten what it was like to...Hi Ann,<br />Yes, I'd forgotten what it was like to first allow others to read my fiction. That's definitely a scary move, but an essential one if you have any hope of improving your writing.<br /><br />LOL, Thea,<br />It is indeed hard to make life difficult for characters we've begun to love, but it MUST be done because that's what makes for good fiction.<br /><br />Terry,<br />The way I try to deal with my feelings about the homeless is to donate money to homeless shelters, food banks, and nonprofits that have much more experience than I do in dealing with the myriad situations of the homeless, many of which are due to mental illness or substance dependency.<br /><br />Hi Kathy,<br />I'm with you on Twitter! I haven't touched it yet, but I've become comfortable on Facebook. I hope you give it a try and that you send me a friend request.<br /><br />Hi Pat,<br />Yes, I remember those days when we "Colorado Five Stars" were learning together how to promote our books. We have indeed come a long way since then, as evidenced by your excellent blog.<br /><br />Thanks for the comments, folks! Keep them coming...Beth Groundwaterhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13999372882748655834noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3529128955266044151.post-24576995300020677012011-08-30T13:24:30.761-04:002011-08-30T13:24:30.761-04:00This is excellent advice, Beth. My most uncomforta...This is excellent advice, Beth. My most uncomfortable moments ever were back in 2007 when we had to start promoting those first mysteries. Signings and presentations made me so nervous I thought I'd have an anxiety attack. Thank goodness I got over that.Patricia Stolteyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17192369425956406122noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3529128955266044151.post-6482217662718014672011-08-30T13:02:57.062-04:002011-08-30T13:02:57.062-04:00Great post. I know the feeling well. I know I need...Great post. I know the feeling well. I know I need to start doing Facebook and Twitter, but for some reason, I really resist them. Maybe this idea will inspire me.KathyWhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12724213234832600369noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3529128955266044151.post-86267273723561139602011-08-30T11:57:13.239-04:002011-08-30T11:57:13.239-04:00Hi Beth. Interesting take on being uncomfortable. ...Hi Beth. Interesting take on being uncomfortable. Most of us strive to stay comfortable. Whenever I go downtown, I leave my comfort zone. It's not the bustle and noise that gets to me, it's the homeless people (PC for bums) who come up to me and ask for money. Their problems are real and sad, and seeing them up close is very disturbing. I can't solve their problems, no one can, and that is very uncomforting.Terry Wrighthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07530609146114469375noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3529128955266044151.post-29503336429873232892011-08-30T11:23:12.129-04:002011-08-30T11:23:12.129-04:00I hate throwing rocks at my characters. It must b...I hate throwing rocks at my characters. It must be done, so I created a character whose sole purpose in my life is suffer the slings and arrows that I perpetrate upon her. It helps, but I feel really sorry for her.TheaHhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14717148321662608212noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3529128955266044151.post-79105028651160554882011-08-30T10:54:03.223-04:002011-08-30T10:54:03.223-04:00A great and inspiring post Beth. Stepping out of ...A great and inspiring post Beth. Stepping out of the comfort zone....have done it many times. Just letting other people read my writing has been a biggy for me! Still very uncomfortable with it.Annhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07524878248746427258noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3529128955266044151.post-983660626180845242011-08-30T10:38:42.792-04:002011-08-30T10:38:42.792-04:00<> Thanks, Vicki! I poured out that post las...<> Thanks, Vicki! I poured out that post last night after becoming inspired. It's interesting how sometimes the things you write the fastest turn out the best. Yes, asking for donations--or asking people to volunteer their time--is very hard!<br /><br />Mario,<br />Karaoke night at the RMMWA meeting next weekend! You're up first!<br /><br />Lois,<br />Oooo, ending toxic relationships is VERY painful. I've had to do that a couple of times with fellow writers in critique groups, and it was agonizing.<br /><br />LOL, WB! Yes, don't we all wish we didn't have a few years worth of uncomfortableness to work through? :)Beth Groundwaterhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13999372882748655834noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3529128955266044151.post-89674310467030263332011-08-30T10:20:15.515-04:002011-08-30T10:20:15.515-04:00Great post. It really is something to practice. No...Great post. It really is something to practice. Not sure if I can do it *every day* but it's worth a try. And hopefully I'll run out of things after a year or two. Or three. :)WB Terrienhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04092672349791542937noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3529128955266044151.post-27763793941379219572011-08-30T10:16:49.426-04:002011-08-30T10:16:49.426-04:00I gave my first talk to a large group (about 200 p...I gave my first talk to a large group (about 200 people) way back in the last century. I was unbelievably nervous, but once I got through it, I've never had a problem speaking to groups since. This never ceases to amaze me because I was always the "behind the scenes" kid in school, never wanting to be on stage for anything.<br /><br />What makes me uncomfortable is when I realize I have to end a relationship with a friend or family member because it's grown toxic with no hope of improving. This has happened several times over my life, and although I know it's the right thing to do for my own health and sanity, it's never easy.Lois Winstonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01866423986250423199noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3529128955266044151.post-55043859034396902542011-08-30T10:12:52.595-04:002011-08-30T10:12:52.595-04:00Singing makes me feel WAY uncomfortable and you do...Singing makes me feel WAY uncomfortable and you don't want to hear me sing. You should thank me for staying ensconced in my comfort zone.Mario Acevedohttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02269656174447760157noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3529128955266044151.post-18195432743870021942011-08-30T07:46:48.434-04:002011-08-30T07:46:48.434-04:00Beth, I think this is one of the best posts you...Beth, I think this is one of the best posts you've ever written. Thank you! <br /><br />"Feeling uncomfortable" is really a nice way to say "afraid," don't you think so? I ask myself what I'm really afraid of (usually it is rejection in the writing biz, but your experience in the inner city school was safety.) Usually when I've id'd the fear I can proceed to do the actual thing.<br /><br />Because I am extroverted, I'm not usually troubled by public appearances, but it is difficult for me to say no to some things. I like to be involved (and liked) so it can be tough to admit that I really can't give the time. The hardest thing for me to do? Ask for money (talking donations, with my volunteer work for Midcoast Habitat.) This year though, I'm determined to mount a face-to-face campaign and get us some big donations. I still cringe at the thought a little, but I so believe in what we're doing that I know I can get in there and make the ask.Vicki Douderahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12683468231378487388noreply@blogger.com