Bring the cheese, 'cause I just brought the whine.

[megwrites]

I'm toying with the idea of signing up for scifibigbang with original fic just to push myself into writing regularly again, but at the same time I'm also toying with trying to gather up an online SF/F writer's group that has an eye towards inclusivity in the genre. Not sure how or if I could bring such a thing into existence because the fail brain has been made of failing brain lately.

The thing about depression/anxiety is that just when you think you might have a handle on it, it comes back and lets you know that you've only just begun to fight. It's like when you think it's 4:30 and almost time to go home on Friday and then you look and it's only 1:15.

Thus, lately, writing has all but ground to a halt and I'm not sure how to restart. My brain is filled with notions that it isn't worth it, all my writing is crap, no idea will ever be remotely original or even worth the time it takes to type out the words, I can't do it, it's too hard, etc, etc, etc.

Also, anxiety and depression are like kryptonite to my ability to focus and pay attention which were never that great to begin with.

Anyway, anyone interested in an inclusivity-centric SF/F writer's group online or just trading things to critique? My creative brain may be for shit, but my editing brain is still functioning fine.

Comments

[rhivolution]

I've felt so very similarly about writing lately. I wish I wrote enough to offer to group.

[ithiliana]

I would be v. interested -- in small, and locked down sort of forum!

I have this lesbian werewolf novel I'm trying to work on...

[inkstone]

I'd be interested. Not ready to have any critiqued and it'd be a few months before I do but I'd definitely be interested.

[smw]

Would there be a place in this writer's group for someone who has difficulty sharing prose but absolutely adores talking about craft and inspiration and worldbuilding?

Also: this.

[green_knight]

I would hope so. I'd love to have a place where I can talk about craft and process (warning: I like to do that. I like it a lot.)

[green_knight]

I'm sorry the brain weevils got the upper hand for the moment.

I'd be interested in a place to hang out and talk about writing, but what I'd really love is a place where I can post five hundred words and say 'does this work' or 'I'm having a problem with that' - I don't have anything finished in need of critique right now, and when I do, the critique group approach does not work for me - either too much comittment (and hence people, including myself, dropping out) or too long a period until you've put the whole thing through, by which time you've probably written something else.

[holyschist]

Interested, but not really doing well right now at producing original fiction. I'd say I'm mostly interested in a place to talk worldbuilding and get to know people and maybe meet potential beta-readers, rather than in a group critique thing (which I think is really hard to make work online).

[flo]

Interested. Count me in for really really REALLY small-time critique. And honestly, even if we don't get anything productive done, just encouraging each other past the shoals of depression, anxiety and other brain weevils will do.