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. 

IWSG: NaNo

 

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 November 1 posting of the IWSG are PJ Colando, Jean Davis, Lisa Buie Collard, and Diedre Knight!

November 1 question: November is National Novel Writing Month. Have you ever participated? If not, why not?

I've never participated in NaNo. I admire those who do. One of my friends uses what she wrote for NaNo as the springboard for her next novel. Many find it very useful in making them focus. It seems like more work than I want to do. It's not just the writing but visiting others, touching base (as I understand it).

The timing makes it extra difficult. Thanksgiving--big dinner, lots of family and/or friends, visitors from out of state. Christmas shopping. I can find lots of reasons why NaNo is too much work for me. And also the reason why I admire those who participate.

Good luck and best wishes to all of you who are participating in NaNoWriMo.

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: April 2023

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.

The awesome co-hosts for the April 5 posting of the IWSG are Jemima Pett, Nancy Gideon, and Natalie Aguirre!

A thank you to whoever came up with an optional question each month. That really helps when I have difficulty thinking about what I should write. 

April 5 question - Do you remember writing your first book? What were your thoughts about a career path on writing? Where are you now and how is it working out for you? If you're at the start of the journey, what are your goals?

I sure do remember, even though it was almost 30 years ago. Holy cow! I didn't realize it was that long ago. 

My thoughts as I wrote my first story was that I was going to treat this (writing) as a business. When I "went to work" (had a definite writing time), my writing increased. I even took a class for starting a small business. That's when I learned I should have a separate checking account and credit card, both dedicated for my business, keeping them separate from the family finances. I also learned about making long-term goals for the business. Although I learned about getting a tax ID for the business and how to report sales tax, I figured my books would be in bookstores, and they could take care of that. A few years ago, when I started selling my books at craft and vendor shows, I figured I'd better get that tax ID and report the sales tax I collected. 

After that class, I got my new checking account and credit card. I tried making long-term goals but never kept it up. I learned about writing query letters (thanks to Writer's Market) and a list of publishers and agents. Mind you, this was all before the internet really got big. Everything I learned then was from paper books, the library, and wonderful fellow writers who shared info. How much easier it is today with Google and the many online writers groups.

That first story had several rejections, some even with "send something else." I entered the first 3 chapters in contests. Boy, did I ever get some interesting comments from the judges. Learned a lot from that. Those early stories were practice and will never see the light of day again. 😀

Eventually, I sold my first book to a niche publisher. Since then, I've published fourteen more (one to another small publisher, the rest self-published). Even though I'm not making a lot of money, I'd say my plans have worked out.

Hope you have a great writing month.

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: Author Envy

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!

The awesome co-hosts for the March 1 posting of the IWSG are Diedre Knight, Tonya Drecker, Bish Denham, Olga Godim, and JQ Rose!

Am I the only one who thinks 2023 is flying? February didn't start out well, not with a dead computer and the prospect of buying a new one. My wonderful tech guy neighbor was able to retrieve my files that weren't backed up to the cloud, including a whole bunch of family pictures. The transition to the new computer has not been easy. Same company, but they put some of the keys in different places. What the heck was that for??? Anyway, I don't have an excuse for not writing much this month, although I have read a lot. Refilling the well. I hope March will be better.

One thing I did in February was awesome. My former RWA chapter disaffiliated from RWA and started up a new writers' group. I'm so glad. I had to quit the chapter last February when my RWA dues were due. How I missed our monthly meetings--the programs but especially the members. Fortunately, our group offers virtual meetings along with in-person ones. We cover most of Michigan, except the Detroit area, and distances to meetings can be great. I attended (virtually) our first meeting. Yay! Great to see so many familiar faces. Groups that support writers are so essential, well, to my sanity at least. That's why the Insecure Writers Support Group is wonderful. Thanks, Alex and all who work hard behind the scenes to keep this group going.

Now, on to the optional question.

March 1 question - Have you ever read a line in novel or a clever plot twist that caused you to have author envy?

I sure have. I'm always amazed at the way some writers produce atmosphere--especially spooky, creepy, chilling. A shoutout to one of our members who does that: Nancy Gideon. The atmosphere in her books draws me in and doesn't let go until the final page. 

I love a plot twist that totally surprises me. You would think with all the mystery stories I read that I could foresee what will happen. Some authors are so good at leading the reader down the primrose path. LOL Then, wham. To borrow a line from a Bruce Willis movies: I didn't see that one coming.

Hope you all have a great writing month.

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.

My Favorites: Quote

 

credit: Goodreads

If you want to be a writer, you must do two things above all others: read a lot and write a lot. There's no way around these two things that I'm aware of, no shortcut.” ~ Stephen King, On Writing: A Memoir of the Craft

On Monday, I wrote that I was resurrecting my blog. If you’re a follower, you’ve already seen that. I’m going to dedicate Fridays to my favorites—books, movies, quotes, food, whatever.

Today, I’m sharing a favorite quote. My son and son-in-law are huge fans of Stephen King. I don’t do horror or anything scary, but I admire Mr. King’s career. His book On Writing is excellent. Of all the advice he shares, the above quote is right on target.

I’ve heard people say “I don’t have time to read.” When those people are writers, I wonder how can you not read? Reading is filling the creative well. When we read in the genre we write, we learn the expectations readers have. We learn the language.

Just as writers say they can’t not write, I say I can’t not read. Every year, Goodreads offers a reading challenge. You indicate how many books you’ll read for the year and GR keeps track. I first signed up for the challenge because I wondered how many books I read each year. In the past two years, I’ve read over 100 books each year. To Goodreads it doesn’t matter if the book is 400 pages or 28. Either way it counts as 1 book.

I can’t say I’m surprised that I read so many. The past two years have been difficult, and reading helped me escape. I immerse myself in a story and forget (for a little while) the challenge Life throws my way. I read mostly fiction. My local book group makes sure I stretch my reading interest, so I’ve read poetry, historical true stories, biographies, as well as literature. Lately, I’ve been reading thrillers. You know, those edge-of-your-seat, stay-up-all-night-reading stories. I love a good cozy mystery and give me a science fiction romance to carry me out to the stars.

One of the reasons I read so many books over the past two years is that I haven’t been writing. My creative energies pretty much disappeared. I’m back now, trying to write each day. You could say I follow half of Stephen King’s advice. Now, I need to follow the rest.

#IWSG: Marching in like a Lamb

 Happy Insecure Writer's Support Group Day. 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!

The awesome co-hosts for the March 3 posting of the IWSG are:  Sarah - The Faux Fountain Pen Jacqui Murray, Chemist Ken, Victoria Marie Lees, Natalie Aguirre, and JQ Rose!

In Michigan, March came in like a lamb. I dread what's going to happen when it leaves. GRRROAR!

Last month, I was pretty jacked up over my January writing. My plan was to write a paragraph a day and I ended up writing over 6k words. I was thrilled with my progress. On February 1st, Hubs fell and broke the top bone in his neck (the C-1) in 2 places. Neck brace time and a huge setback. He'd been doing so well after the stroke at the end of December. Today, the physical therapist said he's finally back to where he was at the end of January. A whole month of going backwards. Initially, I had all I could do to take care of him. With the help of our kids and the home health care workers, he's more independent and improving bit by bit. Even though I lost a whole month of writing, my attitude was that I would do what I could do and not stress over what I couldn't.

While Hubs improves with baby steps, I'm writing in baby steps--a paragraph a day. My biggest goal is to improve my patience. To accept what is and be patient not just with Hubs but with myself.

March 3 question - Everyone has a favorite genre or genres to write. But what about your reading preferences? Do you read widely or only within the genre(s) you create stories for? What motivates your reading choice?

Reading has kept me sane through Hubs' continual health issues. I read to escape. I read just about anything fiction. Not horror or graphic violence, though. I'm not fond of nonfiction. I tend to read what I write--cozy mysteries, romantic suspense, and science fiction romance. I love adventure stories, which sort of encompasses everything I read . . . and write.

I belong to a local readers' group. Because of covid, we've been meeting via Zoom. This group has made me read out of my comfort zone. We've read biographies, historical fiction, literary fiction. Sometimes, I don't finish the book. But that's my choice. Life is too short to read something I'm not interested in, but I give the book a try. Our discussions can be very lively. Twelve to fifteen women with strong opinions love to share. LOL

Leaving this post on a good note, I got my 1st covid vaccine shot last week. I'm looking forward to mid-April when I can get real hugs from my grandkids.

I hope everyone has a great month. Stay safe.

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: When Are You Most Productive?

 

Happy Insecure Writer's Support Group Day. 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!

The awesome co-hosts for the December 2 posting of the IWSG are Pat Garcia, Sylvia Ney, Liesbet @ Roaming About Cathrina Constantine, and Natalie Aguirre!

December 2 question - Are there months or times of the year that you are more productive with your writing than other months, and why?

I'm more productive when the sun is shining. In Michigan, that eliminates November and February, the two dreariest months of the year. The Great Lakes affect the weather. Not just lake-effect snow, which is tremendous, but the lakes bring clouds. 

Like many people, I'm affected by the lack of sunshine. That's when my productivity plummets. A sunny day makes me feel like I have a ton of energy. Usually, my writing increases. I say "usually." This year, my mind has been scattered. I know I'm not alone in this. I can't seem to focus.

However . . .

Tara Tyler started a blog hop called "30 Days of Gratitude." I joined. I figured I needed to focus on positivity and think about the good things in my life. Every day I posted I thought about what I have to be grateful for. Such a great reminder. The blog hop ended on the day before Thanksgiving. That made me more grateful than ever because, despite covid and not seeing my family as much as I wanted to, I had a lot to be thankful for.

I'm very grateful to Tara for another reason. I wrote every day for 30 days. For someone who hasn't written much all year, this was big. It was also encouraging. It lifted me out of the doldrums, reminding me I needed something to spur me on. A goal for each day. I need to keep it going. I'd like finish 2020 on a high point instead of the quasi-depression I'd fallen into.

I hope all of you are staying safe. That you stay safe through the holidays. See you next 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.

IWSG: The Working Writer

 Happy Insecure Writer's Support Group Day. 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!

The awesome co-hosts for the October 7 posting of the IWSG are Jemima Pett, Beth Camp, Beverly Stowe McClure, and Gwen Gardner!

Thanks to everyone who left lovely, supportive comments last month. August was a rough month and September wasn't much better. Hubs' health issues took over my life. Stress went up, creativity disappeared into a black hole. He's improved, we had home health care who were marvelous with their suggestions. Right now, we're dealing with the unknown--diagnosis and prognosis. Next month, after a major evaluation, we hope to know more. Again, despite the fact that I didn't leave a post last month, many of you offered support. Thank you so much.

October 7 question - When you think of the term working writer, what does that look like to you? What do you think it is supposed to look like? Do you see yourself as a working writer or aspiring or hobbyist, and if latter two, what does that look like?

Not to be facetious, a working writer is a writer who works. One who writes on a consistent schedule, who doesn't sit around and wait for the Muse to hit them on the head. Until a few months ago, I used to see myself as a working writer. When I started writing back in the 1990s, I treated my writing as a business. I took classes in starting a home-based business and followed the criteria. I worked every day, probably more than my family thought I should. 😃

Right now, I'm neither working nor writing. As I wrote above, my creativity is at an all-time low. I think about writing. I think about the characters in a story I'm (sort of) writing. I want to write. I want to finish the sci-fi romance I started probably three years ago. But I don't have the discipline or inclination to open the file. I'd rather read or binge watch British mysteries. So, I can't call myself a working writer.

From past experience, I know I will come back. Hubs and I will deal with this latest crisis in our nearly forty-eight years of marriage. Our children live close and are supportive. We will get through this. As we know better what we're dealing with, I'll figure out how to be a working writer again.

Meantime, I hope October is a great writing month for you.

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: Fall

Happy Insecure Writers Support Group Day. 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. 

Thanks to this month's awesome hosts:  Ronel Janse van Vuuren, Mary Aalgaard, Madeline Mora-Summonte, and Ellen @ The Cynical Sailor!

October shouts Fall loud and clear. It’s my favorite time of year. Crisp days and cool nights, and sometimes fog “creeping in on cat’s feet” – as Carl Sandberg reminds us. And it’s my birthday.

This summer was beastly hot, a rarity to last so long in Michigan. It felt more like winter since I mostly stayed inside our air-conditioner house and ran from the air-conditioner car into air-conditioned stores. I didn’t “feel” like writing. Why did we ever subscribe to Netflix? Binge watch! Consequently, my WIP is still in progress. I wrote so little from May through August I’m ashamed to admit the number of words. In September, I wrote over 3500 words, and the story is finally rolling.

October 2 question - It's been said that the benefits of becoming a writer who does not read is that all your ideas are new and original. Everything you do is an extension of yourself, instead of a mixture of you and another author. On the other hand, how can you expect other people to want your writing, if you don't enjoy reading? What are your thoughts?

I can't imagine not reading. As I wrote last month, I not only binge-watch television, I binge read. It's an escape and a way to keep myself informed in the genres in which I write. For those of us who write science fiction (with or without romance), we need to know the tropes common to our genre plus commonly used terminology. I'm not saying copy other authors, but who wants to come up with a new phrase to describe how a spaceship gets from one part of the galaxy to another? Warp drive, FTL (faster than light) engines, a wormhole. Who needs another term?

Not everyone can make time to read. With only 24 hours in each day, a writer can only squeeze in a day job (aka one that makes money), family, hobbies, volunteering, and writing. What little time is left over is earmarked relaxation. I'm fortunate that I'm retired from the day job. Plus I read before bed. Some nights I read a page or two and have to catch the iPad before it hits the floor. Other nights, I'm so engaged in the story that I'm still reading at 2 am. 

Besides reading in my own genres, I belong to a local readers' group. The host for the month's meeting chooses a book from a list the library has on loan for book groups. Not often, the host chooses a book not on the list. (I've been fortunate that they've read a few of my own books.) The books are usually best-sellers, biographies, nonfiction. Rarely are they books I would've chosen to read. That's the great thing about the book group--reading outside my comfort zone.

Reading is essential to good writing. We learn by example.

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 August ~ Surprises! #amwriting

Happy Insecure Writers Support Group Day. 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. 

Thanks to this month's awesome hosts:  Renee Scattergood, Sadira Stone, Jacqui Murray, Tamara Narayan, and LG Keltner!

This month's question: Has your writing ever taken you by surprise?

Although I’ve been surprised by things that pop in my head while writing, nothing hit me as hard as when I was writing the last book in my science fiction romance Switched series, Switched Resolution. The premise of the series is twins separated before birth by an unethical, alien scientist. One is raised on Earth, the other on an alien planet. As adults, they find each other and switch places.

In this book, I knew Marcus, would meet his biological mother for the first time. She knows immediately he’s not his twin (whom she raised). When I wrote she touched his face, I started crying. I was so overwhelmed by what she must be feeling. As a mother, I must have put myself in her place, reunited with a long-long child. She’d known instinctively that part of her was missing when she was pregnant. The doctors and her husband had dismissed her anxiety as hormonal emotions. At last, she has the answers. 

A few years later, I reread that passage, and it still got to me. I choked up again. I never expected to feel that strongly about something I’d written. It hasn’t happened again. Yet.

Actions have consequences as Space Fleet Captain Marcus Viator and NASA reject Scott Cherella discover when they switch places. Switched Resolution, which wraps up the Switched series, takes the reader from Earth—where Marcus adjusts to a pregnant Jessie—to the starship Freedom hijacked by rebels, to the chase ship with Scott and Veronese aboard.

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Check out our latest anthology contest.

Guidelines and rules: 
Word count: 3500-5000
Genre: Middle Grade Historical – Adventure/Fantasy
Theme: Voyagers
Submissions accepted: May 1 - September 4, 2019
How to enter: Send your polished, formatted (double-spaced, no footers or headers), previously unpublished story to admin @insecurewriterssupportgroup.com before the deadline passes. Please include your contact details, your social links, and if you are part of the Blogging, Facebook, Instagram, or Twitter IWSG group. 

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.