It can also mean to endure or suffer, to decide in favour of something, substantiate, corroborate or maintain.
One who sustains is a sustainer. Do you qualify for that description?
Sustainability is a topical issue, meaning as it does 'avoidance of the depletion of natural resources in order to maintain an ecological balance'. That's very important of course, but I suspect we're doing even more damage by what we're adding to the planet than what we're removing – plastic, greenhouse gasses and other pollution, nuclear and chemical weapons ... but this is a writing blog, so I won't continue in this theme sustainedly.
Sustaining interest in our writing can be something which makes many writers feel insecure. For some it can seem like they're enduring the writing process rather than being supported and encouraged by it.For others, the worry is how to sustain a reader's interest, either as they're reading one piece, or in their writing as a whole.
If any of those, or anything else is making you feel like an insecure writer, then you might like to consider joining the Insecure Writer's Support Group.
For me, the issue making me feel most insecure at the moment is how to achieve a sustainment of sales for my lovely books. I probably need to do some form of marketing, perhaps even make a sustained effort in that direction?
This free to enter short story competition has the theme of sustainability. The first prize is £200 – if you don't want it, feel free to send it over and I'll recycle it for you!
25 comments:
Sustaining that interest is tough sometimes.
Woah, the word 'sustain' is really weird when you read it over and over. I'm still trying to figure out marketing strategies, let alone sustain them :-)
I want the pie, Patsy! No, seriously, sustaining yourself while writing, especially a longer piece like a novel, is hard going. It's a matter of keeping going and not drifting off to write something else, which is a terrific temptation...
Trust you to get some cooking in - sustenance is important of course.
Rosemary isn't the only one want that pie. hehehe. Great post.
Anna from elements of emaginette
Darn good word. May you feel sustained this day:)
How do I sustain my resolve not to leap right into that pie?
Sustain kinda gives a feeling of complete. Nice word.
Sustaining a marketing campaign - that is a trick to book sales and the hardest activity for many writers.
How do we plan a marketing and book publicity campaign which will be sustainable?
I like the idea of having sustainability in our writing. One needs to take care of one's writing ability just as we take care of our natural resources (or should take care of them). Great way to look at it!
It is!
Me too, Annalisa.
Or drifting off to do something else entirely?
I do have to keep my strength up!
Good thing it's a big one!
Thanks, Mark. You too.
Would it help to know I've eaten it all? (I had help.)
One I've yet to master.
Wish I knew, Nas.
Thanks, Andrea.
I don't have to work to sustain my interest in my story. I just wish I had more time to write. Maybe if I had all day to write I'd start getting a little bored with it, but until then, every minute of writing time is precious to me.
I hope you always feel that way about your writing, Ken.
The writing process does get grueling, especially when you're in the query stage.
I've been struggling lately with sustaining the interest in my writing...
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