IWSG - Break Out of the Mold

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:

Are you a risk-taker when writing? Do you try something radically different in style/POV/etc. or add controversial topics to your work?

 The Answer

I'd like to think so. I know that formula writing goes against my grain. Mostly, though, I just write what I like to read. And as an avid reader, I read everything. I find it hard to understand limits, but many have refused to read my work because of the subject. 

Still, to each his own...I write for the love of writing and because I have something to say.

 The outstanding co-hosts this month are:

PK Hrezo,

Pat Garcia,

SE White,

Lisa Buie Collard,

&

Diane Burton!

Be sure to say hello!

KEEP WRITING!

***

Announcing!

FREEDOM MORNING

Freedom Morning is a watercolor by Claude Clark, the African American artist, and art educator painted in 1941.

“As a child in the churches, the schools, and the community, I dreamed of a destiny. My search became a single purpose for the dignity of Black Americans.”

Claude Clark was born in Georgia in 1915. His art characterizes the African American diaspora experience. He faced prejudice, poverty, and racism but did not allow these to deter him. He mixed his own paints from the trashed tubes in art schools. When he could not afford the expensive brushes and cleaning agents, he developed his unique technique with the palette knife. Read more about his remarkable life here.

The interpretation of art (and prompts!) is in the eye of the beholder, and this artwork is rich with possibilities.

Will you let Freedom Morning spark a flash of hope for a systematically suppressed character?

Will someone break free - of chains, of the past, of a closed mindset - after years of living with them?

Or maybe someone will watch a brand-new sunrise and decide to start life afresh? Rise to a challenge? :) Overcome a hardship?

Take the artwork as a whole or in part and seed that into imagination. Your canvas is unlimited.

Thank you, Nila!

Join the WEP for this second challenge

of a very

artistic year!

IWSG - Friendship

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:

Blogging is often more than just sharing stories. It’s often the start of special friendships and relationships. Have you made any friends through the blogosphere?

 The Answer

I have so many lovely friends through my interactions in the blogosphere, and I cherish each and every one. I've improved my writing with each interaction, but I've developed as a person with each close relationship.

 The outstanding co-hosts this month are:

Louise - Fundy Blue, 

Jennifer Lane, 

Mary Aalgaard, 

Patsy Collins at Womagwriter, 

&

Nancy Gideon!

Be sure to say hello!

KEEP WRITING!

***

Announcing the first challenge of the

New Year!

FIRST KISS!

Join us for this first challenge

of a very

artistic year!

IWSG - Inspirations

Insecure Writer's Support Group

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!

QUESTION:        If you could choose one author, living or dead, to be your beta partner, who would it be and why?

ANSWER:            So easy to answer, Margaret Mitchell, on the one hand, and Stephen King on the other. I would love to talk with Margaret about her approach, and of course, Stephen King about his. Two people, two different genres. But what a conversation!

The co-hosts are PJ Colando, J Lenni Dorner, Deniz Bevan, Kim Lajevardi,Natalie Aguirre, and Louise - Fundy Blue!Be sure to say hello!
********************

Are you gearing up for Halloween?
I hope so!
The WEP invites you to post your own
Halloween Tale!

A Grave Mistake, you ask?

Well, what in the hell is that?

Well, dear friend

It’s the next WEP task.

And believe me

there’s many away

Where errors take sway

Where ghosts and ghoulies will play

and many unorthodox ideas

 rue the day.

So, get out your pens and pads.

We’ve given you

A dare for your best scare

Because Halloween is for all

And who knows?

You may take 

first prize for your Grave Mistake!

IWSG-Form

Insecure Writer's Support Group

Question - Quote: "Although I have written a short story collection, the form found me and not the other way around. Don't write short stories, novels or poems. Just write your truth and your stories will mold into the shapes they need to be."

Have you ever written a piece that became a form, or even a genre, you hadn't planned on writing in? Or do you choose a form/genre in advance?

I let my muse choose the form. Since I use writing as a form of therapy, I really have no choice in the matter. At least that's what I tell myself, but I'm a talented liar storyteller. Just ask me.

The co-hosts are Susan Baury Rouchard, Nancy Gideon, Jennifer Lane, Jennifer Hawes, Chemist Ken, and Chrys Fey! Be sure to say hello!

INSECURE WRITER'S SUPPORT GROUP

Question - Writers have secrets! What are one or two of yours, something readers would never know from your work?

Gosh, I'm sure I've shared everything about myself. I've thought and thought and thought, and I came up with nothing unless you want to get into all my health issues. Which I prefer not to as I'm saving those for the old folks home. I mean, I'll need something to share.

*******

The super amazing co-hosts are

Pat Garcia, J.Q. Rose, & Natalie Aguirre!

Please be sure to visit and say THANK YOU!

Be sure to stop by my other blog today.
Mason Canyon of Mason Book Tours 
is having a 
GIVEAWAY!

A Free Tour!


*****


And don't forget this is the month for the 
WEP-IWSG Challenge

URBEN NIGHTMARE!

 And in closing...

“Be the change that you wish to see in the world.”

―Mahatma Gandhi

IWSG - Meditation

INSECURE WRITER'S SUPPORT GROUP

May 6 Question - Do you have any rituals that you use when you need help getting into the ZONE? Care to share?

My favorite is to take my notebook out onto the patio and just mellow. A cup of tea and quiet time is my meditation. Yesterday I wrote over 5000 words of a new novel because I allowed myself to ignore everything in the outside world. I’ll be honest sometimes it works better than others, but on the whole, it’s served me well.

*******

The co-hosts are Feather Stone, Beverly Stowe McClure, Mary Aalgaard, Kim Lajevardi, & Chemist Ken! Please be sure to visit and say THANK YOU!

“Be yourself; everyone else is already taken.”―Oscar Wilde

ISWG - Book Tour

INSECURE WRITER'S SUPPORT GROUP

https://www.alexjcavanaugh.com/p/the-insecure-writers-support-group.html

April 1 question -The IWSG’s focus is on our writers. Each month, from all over the globe, we are a united group sharing our insecurities, our troubles, and our pain. So, in this time when our world is in crisis with the Covid-19 pandemic, our optional question this month is: how are things in your world?

Does crazy make sense? We live in a popular tourist site, and the local government has asked all non-residents to leave as of last Sunday. I must admit, that makes me feel safer, mainly because my husband’s job is listed as essential, and I want him protected as much as myself.

I’ll also admit to having regular episodes of anxiety, and I’ve tried to fight that with my preparations for the book tour that started today.

Please see my schedule of appearances below Thank you, everyone who decided to host me and my new book Murder, Just Because.

Plus, this month there’s a new WEP Challenge - Antique Vase. Distract yourself from the virus by participating!

Stay safe, stay well!

The awesome co-hosts are Diane Burton, JH Moncrieff, Anna @ Emaginette, Karen @ Reprobate Typewriter, Erika Beebe, and Lisa Buie-Collard!

*******

WEP - April Challenge

Antique Vase!

https://writeeditpublishnow.blogspot.com/

Murder, Just Because

Tour Schedule

April 1            Denise Covey – Guest Post - Writing Your Real-Life Experience                     
                        Mythical Books – Q & A with the Author & Excerpt
                        Rockin’ Book Reviews – Feature

April 2            Constantine – Feature

                     

April 6            Mystery Writing is Murder – Guest Post How I Wrote My Mystery

                        Spunk on A Stick – Feature

April 7            Lisa Haselton’s Reviews and Interviews – Q & A

April 8            The Warrior Muse – Top Ten List of Literary Detectives

                        Random Thoughts – Excerpt & Feature

April 10         I Think Therefore I Yam - Interview With A Monster
                       Ellen Jacobson Author – Q & A

April 13          Christine Rains – Writer – Review & Excerpt

                        Alex J. Cavanaugh – Guest Post -Top Ten Murder Movie List

April 15          Elizabeth Seckman, Author Guest Post - Heaven on Earth

April 17          Writer’s Gambit – Q & A & Excerpt

April 20          Tara Tyler Talks – Interview

                        H.R. Sinclair – Guest Post - How to Write a Thriller 

                   

April 24          Write with Fey – Guest Post - Evil Exists

April 27          Just Jemi – Q & A

April 29          Thoughts in Progress – Review

May 1             Celticlady’s Reviews – Feature

Amazon

Smashwords

IWSG – Anniversary Steal

The Insecure Writer’s Support Group

 

The co-hosts are Jacqui Murray, Lisa Buie-Collard, Sarah Foster, Natalie Aguirre, and Shannon Lawrence!

Question - Other than the obvious holiday traditions, have you ever included any personal or family traditions/customs in your stories?

      I wouldn’t call it a family tradition, but my first book, Murder, Madness & Love, was initially called Murder on the 14^th. I used my anniversary date of February 14^th in the story and the ceremony itself.

      I also interviewed my husband about certain things and put most of his answers in the book too. Like the type of car, he'd love to own. 
       And, yes, I used the same car to kill my character's husband. 
      My husband still tells everyone I killed him off in the first chapter, and that I continue to do so in every book! 

      For a corpse, he looks terrific! But the best part is he lets me read him all my stories and books. Although he read the first book himself. That one, he refused to read or hear until it was published.

Do you use personal life episodes

 in your writing?

Christine Rains is appearing at
Defending the Pen.