Wednesday, December 1, 2021

IWSG - Stress to Success


Insecure Writer's Support Group


Purpose of the IWSG: 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! Join us HERE!

The Question:

In your writing, what stresses you the most? What delights you?


My Answer

This last month, November, I did NANO. I thought when I began my outline was enough to get me to the end of a new novel called A Stylish Murder. But from the beginning, nothing was jiving. That was stressful, but when I allowed another story playing in the back of my mind, Murder by Proxy, to move the forefront, well, then the writing just flowed. 

That was delightful. Writing a full novel when I originally thought Murder by Proxy would only become a short story. Once I began putting it down on paper, well, it just worked, and it flowed like water.

From full stop to lightning speed, now that's an exciting writing moment especially when the challenge is 50,000 words!

***


 Remember to say hi to the co-hosts

Louise – Fundy Blue,

Natalie Aguirre, and Jacqui Murray!


&





Join Us!


KEEP WRITING!
KEEP READING!
and thanks for stopping by!

***







Wednesday, November 3, 2021

IWSG - What's More Difficult - Titles or Blurbs?


Insecure Writer's Support Group


Purpose of the IWSG: 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! Join us HERE!

The Question:

What's harder to do, coming up with your 

book title or writing the blurb?


My Answer

The Blurb of course, or even harder, the Tagline. After spending all that time coming up with all those words, chapters, and red herrings. Synthesizing it to a few words or one sentence seems impossible.

***


 Remember to say hi to the co-hosts

&





No Comments  - 
I'm taking a break from blogging to do NANO.





KEEP WRITING!
KEEP READING!
and thanks for stopping by!

***







Wednesday, October 6, 2021

IWSG - Do You Draw the Line


Insecure Writer's Support Group


Purpose of the IWSG: 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! Join us HERE!

The Question:

In your writing, where do you draw the line, with either topics or language?


My Answer

I let the characters decide. I've found that the truth is uncomfortable, and life isn't a fairy tale. I try to write as realistically as possible even though it's all fiction. 

Although, I rachet up the tension and fear wherever possible.

***


&


I hOPE yOU'LL JOIN US

FOR THE wep'S 

 OCTOBER CHALLENGE

tHE scream





*****

 Remember to say hi to the co-hosts Jemima Pitt, J Lenni Dorner, Cathrina Constantine, Ronel Janse van Vuuren, and Mary Aalgaard!




KEEP WRITING!
KEEP READING!
and thanks for stopping by!

***







Wednesday, September 1, 2021

IWSG - Success


Insecure Writer's Support Group


Purpose of the IWSG: 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! Join us HERE!

The Question:

How do you define success as a writer? Is it holding your book in your hand? Having a short story published? Making a certain amount of income from your writing?

My Answer


All the above. Success is typing 'The End' at the finish of that first draft and then highlighting it bold after the final edit. It's also hitting publish button on Amazon or signing that contract for publication. Signing your first copy to a reader. Getting a five-star review. Winning a place in a popular anthology or placing in a writing contest.

This year, for me, it's finishing a series, and starting a new one.

Each incident has its own feeling of satisfaction, and they should all be celebrated!

***


&


DON'T FORGET TO JOIN US

FOR THE wep'S NEXT

 CHALLENGE

October's scream





*****

 Remember to say hi to the co-hosts Rebecca Douglass, T. Powell Coltrin @Journaling Woman, Natalie Aguirre, Karen Lynn, and C. Lee McKenzie!




KEEP WRITING!
KEEP READING!
and thanks for stopping by!

***







Wednesday, August 4, 2021

IWSG - On Writing


Insecure Writer's Support Group


Purpose of the IWSG: 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! Join us!

The Question:

What is your favorite writing craft book? Think of a book that every time you read it you learn something or you are inspired to write or try the new technique. And why?

My Answer

On Writing: A Memoir of the Craft, by Stephen King. When doubts crept in, this book helped to inspire me to continue. And I love trying new things, always.

Here are some of my favorite quotes from his book On Writing: A Memoir of the Craft


 

"The scariest moment is always

just before you start.”

 

“you can, you should,

and if you’re brave enough to start,

you will.”

 

“Description begins in the writer’s imagination, but should finish in the reader’s.”

 

“Write with the door closed,

rewrite with the door open.”

 

“Writing is not life,

but I think that sometimes

it can be a way back to life.”

 

The next one though is the most important:

 “You cannot hope to sweep someone else away

by the force of your writing

until it has been done to you.”

 

Stephen KingOn Writing: A Memoir of the Craft

***


&


DON'T FORGET TO JOIN US

FOR THE wep'S NEXT

 CHALLENGE

fREEDOME OF SPEECH



*****

 And don't forget the outstanding co-hosts this month:

Be sure to say hello!



KEEP WRITING!
and thanks for stopping by!

***







Wednesday, July 7, 2021

IWSG - News & Announcements


Insecure Writer's Support Group


Purpose of the IWSG: 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! Join us!

The Question:

What would make you quit writing?

My Answer

I don't think anything other than significant health issues could make me quit. I might take a break now and then, but I always come back to it. When an idea forms, it won't go away until it's on paper.

***



I'm also thrilled to report that I'm guest posting at

https://dencovey.blogspot.com/

regarding my newest release 

 A Passion for Murder


&


announcing 

Denise Covey is determined to make 2021 her year.

Starting with the release of Fast & Furious Short Fiction,

an introduction to her soon-to-be-published books! 

Get your copy HERE!

Sign up for her Newsletter HERE!

'Denise is trying her hand at Bookfunnel promotions to build her newsletter list. She'd love it if you clicked on some of the Paranormal Romance books in the link she's shared with me. You'll see her first in a four-book series Paranormal Renaissance Romance, Betrayed, is amongst them. 

She's happy with the downloads of her free short story so far - her introduction to her hero, Duke Vipunin de Castellina. 

How about helping Denise out? 

Click on this link now, find Betrayed, and download your freebie.'

GREAT THINGS ARE HAPPENING FOR DENISE

DON'T MISS OUT ON YOUR OPPORTUNITY

TO BE PART OF IT!

*****

 And don't forget our outstanding co-hosts this month:

Be sure to say hello!



KEEP WRITING!
and thanks for stopping by!

***







Wednesday, June 2, 2021

WEP - When to let go...


Insecure Writer's Support Group


Purpose of the IWSG: 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! Join us!

The Question:

For how long do you shelve your first draft, before reading it and re-drafting? Is this dependent on your writing experience and the number of stories/books under your belt?

My Answer

It depends on many things, but I've never felt that I released a book too soon.

My latest WIP, A Passion for Murder, has been shelved many times this last year. It's the final book in my Alaskan Mystery Series, and I want it to be worthy of that title. I've sent it out to beta readers, and while I received positive responses. I still wasn't happy.

I've done another re-write, and now, finally, I think it's ready. I'll know for sure after a read-aloud edit, but I don't regret taking my time. It may frustrate the readers, but time, I've found, only makes the story better.

 The outstanding co-hosts this month are:

Be sure to say hello!


KEEP WRITING!

***
Announcing!

GREAT WAVE!


The Great Wave is an iconic work created in the 1820’s by Hokusai. Katsushika Hokusai (1760-1849) was a  Japanese artist from the Edo period. He was a master of Ukiyo-e, a genre of woodblock prints and paintings very popular at the time in his country. Ukiyo-e translates loosely as ‘images of the floating world.’ The Great Wave of Kanagawa, also condensed to The Great Wave, is part of a series called Thirty-six views of Mount Fuji, is Hokusai’s most well-known work. Have a peek at the series here. And read more about Hokusai here.

The immediate response to this prompt could be to relate it to the tsunami of 2004 or the Japanese nuclear disaster. And it is a small step from there to jump to the climate issues we are facing round the world, the unprecedented weather patterns and natural disasters small and large.

But a great wave need not be always of water – it can be a great wave of refugees. And of soldiers. Or protesters and last but not the least, voters.

Equally a great wave of an emotion – pain, love, bitterness, rage, nausea, which one will your characters feel?

It could even be a small wave, we'll leave the size up to you – the wave of a hand, the flutter of a flag. Or cravat/tie.

So many places to float away to, which one will you choose with this prompt?


Join the WEP for the third challenge