IWSG: Scary Stories and Proud Moments

Welcome to the Insecure Writer's Support Group. IWSG is the brainchild of Ninja Captain Alex J. Cavanaugh.

Purpose: To share and encourage. Writers can express doubts and concerns without fear of appearing foolish or weak. Those who have been through the fire can offer assistance and guidance. It’s a safe haven for insecure writers of all kinds! Thanks, Alex, for starting this group and keeping it going. We are rockin' the neurotic writing world.

Our Twitter handle is @TheIWSG and hashtag is #IWSG

The awesome co-hosts for the  October 2 posting of the IWSG are Nancy Gideon, Jennifer Lane, Jacqui Murray, and Natalie Aguirre!

October 2 question - Ghost stories fit right in during this month. What's your favorite classic ghostly tale? Tell us about it and why it sends chills up your spine.

Since I don't read scary stories (or watch scary movies), I don't have a favorite. One movie sticks with me from my twenties. You know, back in the Stone Age. I was at a friend's house on Halloween and we watched a movie called "The Hand." Black and white and a corny story. One scene creeped me out--the disembodied hand crawled up the back of the driver's seat while the car was in motion and strangled the driver. Doesn't sound that scary, right? I had to drive home afterward. Now, that was creepy.

I want to share a recent surprise. Hubs has been in an assisted living facility for almost a year now. He's made quite a few friends that he eats meals with. Apparently, he talks about my writing. I guess I knew that he was proud of my work, even though he never said as much to me. He showed it by supporting me. To have others tell me that he talks about my writing was such a welcome surprise.

Now for an even better surprise. One of the residents asked him if she could read one of my books. When she finished the first in my cozy mystery series, he told her to pass it on. Since then, several residents have stopped me and said how much they enjoyed my book. Or they ask questions about the writing process. My book is really making the rounds. I've had such a difficult time getting back to writing, so their encouragement really means a lot. Letting an author know you enjoyed his/her book is such a wonderful gift. We don't often meet up with the author, so the next best thing is to leave a review on BookBub, Amazon, Goodreads, etc. You never know that's just what a writer needs to keep going.

Click here to find others on the Insecure Writers Support Group Blog Hop. Or go to IWSG on Facebook to see who’s blogging today. 

IWSG: September

 

Welcome to the Insecure Writer's Support Group. IWSG is the brainchild of Ninja Captain Alex J. Cavanaugh.

Purpose: To share and encourage. Writers can express doubts and concerns without fear of appearing foolish or weak. Those who have been through the fire can offer assistance and guidance. It’s a safe haven for insecure writers of all kinds! Thanks, Alex, for starting this group and keeping it going. We are rockin' the neurotic writing world.

Our Twitter handle is @TheIWSG and hashtag is #IWSG

The awesome co-hosts for the September 4 posting of the IWSG are Beth Camp, Jean Davis, Yvonne Ventresca, and PJ Colando!

Why is it when you're late, delays seem so much bigger (or worse)? My internet keeps going out. And, of course, I'm late getting my post up. Never mind I could've done it yesterday or last week. Just call me The Procrastinator. 

I've missed posting too often this summer. Depression got hold of me and wouldn't let up. I'm working on that, taking my meds, etc. So, I apologize to everyone who went to my blogsite and saw the same of post.

September 4 question - Since it's back to school time, let's talk English class. What's a writing rule you learned in school that messed you up as a writer?

One that gets me as a reader is missing commas. I know it's a style thing. (Not sure what else to call it) I'm frustrated as I'm reading and have to reread a sentence that doesn't make sense because a comma is missing. Petty irritation. But one thing I've been taught as a writer is don't make the reader stop and go back. They lose the train of thought, find it irritating, and sometimes give up. Sure don't want that.

I'm very interested in reading how the rest of you answer this month's question.

Click here to find others on the Insecure Writers Support Group Blog Hop. Or go to IWSG on Facebook to see who’s blogging today. 

IWSG: June

 

Welcome to the Insecure Writer's Support Group. IWSG is the brainchild of Ninja Captain Alex J. Cavanaugh.

Purpose: To share and encourage. Writers can express doubts and concerns without fear of appearing foolish or weak. Those who have been through the fire can offer assistance and guidance. It’s a safe haven for insecure writers of all kinds! Thanks, Alex, for starting this group and keeping it going. We are rockin' the neurotic writing world.

Our Twitter handle is @TheIWSG and hashtag is #IWSG

The awesome co-hosts for the June 5 posting of the IWSG are Liza at Middle Passages, Shannon Lawrence, Melissa Maygrove, and Olga Godim!

Every month, we announce a question that members can answer in their IWSG post. These questions may prompt you to share advice, insight, a personal experience or story. Include your answer to the question in your IWSG post or let it inspire your post if you are struggling with something to say. 

Remember, the question is optional

June 5 question - In this constantly evolving industry, what kind of offering/service do you think the IWSG should consider offering to members?

This is embarrassing. I started this post last week, thinking I'd get a headstart.  Since I couldn't think of an answer to the question I figured I'd come back to it. I've often said my mind is a sieve. This just proves it. I still can't think of an answer, so I'll read your posts to see what you think.

Click here to find others on the Insecure Writers Support Group Blog Hop. Or go to IWSG on Facebook to see who’s blogging today. 

IWSG: Blogging plus L. Diane Wolf's Newest Release In Darkness: The Alien

 

Welcome to the Insecure Writer's Support Group. IWSG is the brainchild of Ninja Captain Alex J. Cavanaugh.

Purpose: To share and encourage. Writers can express doubts and concerns without fear of appearing foolish or weak. Those who have been through the fire can offer assistance and guidance. It’s a safe haven for insecure writers of all kinds! Thanks, Alex, for starting this group and keeping it going. We are rockin' the neurotic writing world.

Our Twitter handle is @TheIWSG and hashtag is #IWSG

The awesome co-hosts for the April 3 posting of the IWSG are Janet Alcorn, T. Powell Coltrin, Natalie Aguirre, and Pat Garcia!

April 3 question - How long have you been blogging? (Or on Facebook/Twitter/Instagram?) What do you like about it and how has it changed?

I started blogging in 2011. I enjoyed expressing myself, throwing out opinions, experiences, telling visitors about my newest book. I had a good time. Then, covid hit. The pandemic really changed my life. At the same time, my husband started showing signs of dementia. Although neither of us came down with covid, I still haven't gotten over it. Not sure if one event or the other caused my problems or a combination. I lost my energy to write--the blog went by the wayside, except for IWSG. Thank goodness for this group. The support and encouragement has help a lot.

One of the best parts of blogging is welcoming guests, sharing their newest release. Today, I'd like to share our own L. Diane Wolf's newest.

 Souls shrouded in darkness…

Blurb: Abducted from her research station, Liz’s life is flung into chaos. Sold into servanthood for her knowledge of planetary mining to a race called the Stren, she discovers her problems go far deeper. She is to marry her alien master, Krist, after enduring a procedure designed to eradicate her emotions.

Desperate, Liz persuades the Stren to grant her the duration of a short voyage to change his perception of emotions. But how can she convince someone lacking feelings of their value? Is there a means of accessing the emotional side of Krist?

The Alien is the 4th book in the IN DARKNESS series. All books in the series are available on Amazon. 

About the author

L. Diane Wolfe

Senior Editor at Dancing Lemur Press LLC, Speaker, & Author

Known as “Spunk On A Stick,” Wolfe is a member of the National Speakers Association. She conducts seminars on book publishing, promoting, leadership, and goal-setting, and she offers book formatting and author consultation. Wolfe is the senior editor at Dancing Lemur Press, L.L.C. and the author of seven books. She travels for media interviews and speaking engagements and maintains numerous websites & blogs, including the Insecure Writer’s Support Group.

www.spunkonastick.net

www.dancinglemurpressllc.com

www.circleoffriendsbooks.blogspot.com

www.insecurewriterssupportgroup.com

Click here to find others on the Insecure Writers Support Group Blog Hop. Or go to IWSG on Facebook to see who’s blogging today. 

IWSG: AI and Writing and Winter Blues

Welcome to the Insecure Writer's Support Group. IWSG is the brainchild of Ninja Captain Alex J. Cavanaugh.

Purpose: To share and encourage. Writers can express doubts and concerns without fear of appearing foolish or weak. Those who have been through the fire can offer assistance and guidance. It’s a safe haven for insecure writers of all kinds! Thanks, Alex, for starting this group and keeping it going. We are rockin' the neurotic writing world.

Our Twitter handle is @TheIWSG and hashtag is #IWSG

The awesome co-hosts for the March 6 posting of the IWSG are Kristina Kelly, Miffie Seideman, Jean Davis, and Liza @ Middle Passages!

Every month, we announce a question that members can answer in their IWSG post. 

March 6th question: Have you "played" with AI to write those nasty synopses, or do you refuse to go that route? How do you feel about AI's impact on creative writing?

I've never heard of playing with an AI. That's what happens when you don't keep up with changes in the writing biz. As far as AI's impact on creative writing, I'm not sure. My first thought is nothing can create as well as a human mind. Then, I recall books and movies that take place in the future where AIs can think and come up with new ideas. Star Trek's Data, 2001's HAL. I'm still unsure about that impact. Would it have an emotion chip? What about the experience to know how emotion factors in a story. I'm curious what you all think about this.

If you missed me last month, I apologize. For some weird reason (winter blues, depression, meltdown), I stopped reading email in January. Information overload? Winter in the Great Lakes region means gray skies. Even though we've had a mild winter snow and temperature wise, I've still been affected by the weather. Or, I've let the weather influence my mood. Depression doesn't make sense. I hope you've had a better winter. 

The next #IWSGPit will be in March 27, 2024, 10:00 am - 8:00 pm Eastern Standard Time. Create a Twitter-length pitch for your completed and polished manuscript and leave room for genre, age, and the hashtag. On Wednesday, March 27, 2024, Tweet your pitch using #IWSGPit. If your pitch receives a favorite/heart from a publisher/agent check their submission guidelines and send your requested query. Many writers have seen their books published from a Twitter pitch - it’s a quick and easy way to put your manuscript in front of publishers and agents. CLICK HERE FOR THE RULES AND HOW TO PARTICIPATE

Click here to find others on the Insecure Writers Support Group Blog Hop. Or go to IWSG on Facebook to see who’s blogging today. 

IWSG: BookBub, Authors, and a New Year

 

Happy New Year and welcome to the Insecure Writer's Support Group. IWSG is the brainchild of Ninja Captain Alex J. Cavanaugh.

Purpose: To share and encourage. Writers can express doubts and concerns without fear of appearing foolish or weak. Those who have been through the fire can offer assistance and guidance. It’s a safe haven for insecure writers of all kinds! Thanks, Alex, for starting this group and keeping it going. We are rockin' the neurotic writing world.

Our Twitter handle is @TheIWSG and hashtag is #IWSG

The awesome co-hosts for the January 3 posting of the IWSG are Joylene Nowell Butler, Olga Godim, Diedre Knight, and Natalie Aguirre!

January 3 question: Do you follow back your readers on BookBub or do you only follow back other authors?

Usually, I only follow back authors. I want to show them support. It never occurred to me to follow back readers. I'm interested in what everyone else says about this.

We're off in a new year, a new adventure. I'm glad to see 2023 in my rearview mirror. It wasn't as bad as 2020, but it wasn't a great year. My husband's health issues continued. I fell and partially tore my rotator cuff. My car was in an accident. Though no one was hurt (thank goodness), my car has been in the repair shop for three months, with no real estimate on when I'll get it back. Last month, I wrote that I'd killed my computer. Again. Okay, not totally killed. It was fixable, after more than a month of doing without. Do you see why I'm not sorry 2023 is over?

With my woes behind me, I'm ready for a new start. I spent most of my "free" time last year reading. I've enjoyed many new books and discovered new authors. I'm ready to delve into the stories I've started. I hope next month I can report on my progress. 

Wishing you all a great start to a new year.

Click here to find others on the Insecure Writers Support Group Blog Hop. Or go to IWSG on Facebook to see who’s blogging today. 

ISWG: Reviews & C. Lee McKenzie’s New Release

 Welcome to the Insecure Writer's Support Group. IWSG is the brainchild of Ninja Captain Alex J. Cavanaugh.

Purpose: To share and encourage. Writers can express doubts and concerns without fear of appearing foolish or weak. Those who have been through the fire can offer assistance and guidance. It’s a safe haven for insecure writers of all kinds! Thanks, Alex, for starting this group and keeping it going. We are rockin' the neurotic writing world.

Our Twitter handle is @TheIWSG and hashtag is #IWSG

The awesome co-hosts for the December 6 posting of the IWSG are C. Lee McKenzie, JQ Rose, Jennifer Lane, and Jacqui Murray!

December question: Book reviews are for the readers. When you leave a book reviews do you review for the Reader or the Author? Is it about what you liked and enjoyed about your reading experience, or do you critique the author?

This is a tough question as I do both. I write reviews to share with readers books I really enjoy. I also write reviews to support the author. I would never critique an author in such a public forum. If something really bothered me, I would write to the author privately. When writing a review, I consider what I want readers to write about my books.

I hope you had a great November. Mine wasn’t that good. Family problems that I hope have been dealt with in a good way. My car was in an accident. I wasn’t the driver and no one was hurt. But I haven’t had my car for two months. Then I killed my computer. It’s “in the shop.” The same computer I’ve had problems with before. I hope it gets fixed faster than my car. Did I ever mention how much I dislike using my iPad to write posts?

 I sure hope December is better. I’m looking forward to the holidays. Hope December is a great month for you.

Our own C. Lee McKenzie has a new release. Yay! I’ve read her books and thoroughly enjoyed them. I’m looking forward to reading this one. 

Blurb: The desert town of Rattlesnake isn’t a destination. It’s a last resort. Seventeen-year-old Jonah Guthrie’s aunt sold their home in New England and fled to this place to escape the humiliation of his dad’s indictment for embezzlement and subsequent disappearance.  

While their late uncle left them a house and a silver mine, the house is a shambles and the mine is defunct. They’re almost out of money, so they have no choice but to stay in Rattlesnake. And then Jonah discovers they’ve inherited something else. Her name is Catherine, and she’s been dead for over a hundred year. Now, she needs his help.

Trailer: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jUuj07mKQMI

Excerpt:

For a moment, the sun balanced on the tip of the tallest peak, then slipped behind the mountains, turning them black against the sky. They were out of options all except for going back to Old Cemetery Road and dealing with the property. From somewhere far out in the desert came the loneliest sound Jonah had ever heard. That high-pitched yowl caught him at the center of his stomach. Suddenly, he felt eyes on him from every direction, and the shadows grew teeth.

Buy Links

Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/Rattlesnake-C-Lee-McKenzie-ebook/dp/B0CNJLNKHV/ref=sr_1_1

Smashwords: https://www.smashwords.com/books/view/1481237

Kobo: https://www.kobo.com/us/en/search?query=Rattlesnake%20(C.%20Lee%20McKenzie)&ac=1&acp=Rattlesnake&ac.title=Rattlesnake&ac.author=C.%20Lee%20McKenzie

B&N: https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/rattlesnake-c-lee-mckenzie/1144383328?ean=2940167647718 

Bio:

Until about a year ago, my writing was all about what was real and current in the world. I’ve written about cutting (Sliding on the Edge, 2009), death of a parent (The Princess of Las Pulgas, 2010), illiteracy (Double Negative, 2014–voted as one of the top ten novels for YA), homophobia (Sudden Secrets, 2014), injustice (Not Guilty, 2019, and paraplegia (Shattered, 2021–finalist in the Indie Book Awards). Then suddenly…Rattlesnake, my first other-worldly YA.

Connect with

 C. Lee McKenzie

Substack . Goodreads . Facebook . Instagram . YouTube . LinkedIn

Email

Click here to find others on the Insecure Writers Support Group Blog Hop. Or go to IWSG on Facebook to see who’s blogging today.