IWSG: Best Characteristics of My Favorite Genre

October is here! I love the change of seasons, and I especially love going into autumn with the vibrant colors, knowing that nature is prepping for a period of rest and restoration.

It's also the first Wednesday of the month, which means it's time for another installment of Insecure Writer's Support Group. If you haven't yet, be sure to check out their website: www.insecurewriterssupportgroup.com

This Month's Question: What do you consider the best characteristics of your favorite genre?

My Answer: The thriller genre is my favorite to read and write. I love the embedded tension and the need to read faster in order to find out what is going to happen next. I love feeling like I can't set the book down, being compelled to keep turning the pages. Plus, the thriller genre has so many sub-genres and companion genres, which add variety and a change of pace while still being fast-paced page-turners.

How about you? What are the best characteristics of your favorite genre?

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!

Posting: The first Wednesday of every month is officially Insecure Writer’s Support Group day. Post your thoughts on your own blog. Talk about your doubts and the fears you have conquered. Discuss your struggles and triumphs. Offer a word of encouragement for others who are struggling.

Honesty . . . well the truth is: I've been struggling with the whole publishing industry lately. It is hard. On so many varied levels, it is hard. No, I don't want to quit, but the traditional publishing industry and its many gate keepers have contributed to my need to see a therapist. And yet, I'm not ready to delve into the self-publishing world. It's scary to me. "Honesty is the first chapter in the book of wisdom" . . . according to Thomas Jefferson. 

"When is your next book coming out?" people often ask me. 

Right now. I'm doing the best I can with so many different aspects of the industry. The next book will come out when the universe decides it is time. Until then, I'm working on my mental health, physical health, spiritual health, and . . . I am really enjoying doing freelance editing. If you ever have a need for another set of eyes on your project, I'd love to take a look. Editing brings me great joy. Click here for more information about my editorial services.

How are you doing on your journey? Feel free to share and connect in the comments.

Insecure Writer's Support Group: When the Going Gets Tough

The first Wednesday of the month is Insecure Writer's Support Group! YAY us!

 

June Question: When the going get gets tough writing a story, how do you keep yourself writing to the end?

My Answer: Ah. What a great question!! I've been in that spot many, many times. The best trick I have is to open one of my favorite books on the craft of writing, randomly flip to a page, and then whatever concept is explored on that page, I apply it to the passage/chapter/scene that I'm struggling with at the moment. So for example, if the challenging scene is about two characters walking through a park and the random concept from the writing book is about second-person point of view . . . I'll rewrite the challenging scene in second-person POV. The exercise gives my brain a different way to process the writing, the story, the characters, and stepping out of my typical method gives me more insight and hopefully some new excitement for the story. I don't need to keep the changes I make during the exercise; I just need to remotivate myself to move forward in the story. Detours exist for a reason. They help us navigate around the hazards and construction sites. Give it a try. Take a detour. It may just open up a whole new landscape you hadn't considered before or even known existed.

What are your thoughts? How do you move past the bumps in the road in your writing?

Insecure Writer's Support Group: Challenges Associated with Audiobooks

Happy April everyone! I love seeing the spring flowers blooming and the never-ending blue skies of Idaho. It's the first Wednesday of the month, which means it's time for another installment of the Insecure Writer's Support Group.

This month's question: Have any of your books been made into audio books? If so, what is the main challenge in producing an audiobook?

My answer: My first book, Who R U Really?, was made into an audiobook, but I did not produce it. My agent sold the audio rights to Audible. They produced it. They chose the narrator. They oversaw all the production responsibilities. The only part I played in the process was to speak with narrator prior to the recording to review pronounciation of certain words, like Skadi and Thea. Other than that, I had no input. And that was the biggest challenge for me. Letting go of the control and hoping for the best. I was super nervous to listen to it the first time, because it was already post production and no changes could be made. Thankfully, the narrator did a terrific job, and I was thrilled with the final product.

For more information about the Insecure Writer's Support Group visit their website. 

Insecure Writer's Support Group: Writing Hard Scenes

Oh, it's the first Wednesday of the month, and that means it's time for another installment of Insecure Writer's Support Group. I always find the questions SO thought provoking.

This Month's Question: Have you ever been conflicted about writing a story or adding a scene to a story? How did you decide to write it or not?

My Answer: There are quite a few scenes in WHO R U REALLY? that actually happened in real life. The hardest part about writing the story was making those real-life scenes translate into a believable fictional tale … because sometimes real-life events are too hard to believe. For those of you who've read the story, the scene where the mother and daughter played Scrabble was the hardest scene for me to write, because not only did that game happen in real life but the devastating events that immediately followed the game also happened. As I wrote the scene, I got very emotional. It was hard, but if the story was going to be shared, the scene had to be written. To make it tougher, I had to write it from my daughter’s perspective rather than my own since it's a book for young adults.

IWSG: Writing Career Regrets?

"The first Wednesday of every month is officially Insecure Writer’s Support Group day. Post your thoughts on your own blog. Talk about your doubts and the fears you have conquered. Discuss your struggles and triumphs. Offer a word of encouragement for others who are struggling."

 

This Month's Question: What's the one thing about your writing career you regret the most? Were you able to overcome it?

My Answer: Oh. Boy. This question made me stop and scroll back through my memories. As a general rule, I resist dwelling on regrets, because I cannot go back and change the past. However, I can move forward and make different decisions if I choose. But. To answer the question, my one writing career regret is that I waited until later in life to start. I wish I'd began pursuing this goal back in college. I knew as a young child that I wanted to be a writer, but various life pressures pushed my feet down a different path, and I pursued a business degree instead of an English degree. The second part of the question, "Were you able to overcome it?" Hmm. To a point, relatively speaking I was. I am a published author. But sometimes I wonder where my "career" would be if I had started all those years back in college. As I mentioned, instead of dwelling on the past and what could have been, I prefer to keep my eyes forward and make decisions to enhance my life now.

What about you? What are your thoughts on the topic?

IWSG: Blurb or Title - Which is Harder to Create?

What is the Insecure Writer's Support Group? 

"On September 7, 2011, Alex J. Cavanaugh launched the monthly blog posting of the IWSG and it has been going strong ever since. On the first Wednesday of every month we share of thoughts about writing on our blogs. We also have an optional monthly question to assist with member's posts, which can be found on the Sign-Up page."

November's Question: What's harder, coming up with your book title or writing the blurb?

My Answer: At first glance, I thought the answer was definitely the blurb! However, after a minute of consideration, I realized it depends upon the book. With Who R U Really?, the blurb was simple to write, but the title took years and countless variations before the final one was decided. I had changed it myself multiple times during the writing process. Then while querying it, prospective agents suggested changes. Once I secured an agent, she, too, thought it needed a change yet again. Finally, the editor at the publishing house said the title would not work. She and I brainstormed via emails for quite a while before landing on the final title. On the flip side, with Unlocked, the title came to me instantly when I was developing the story idea. The blurb, however, was nearly impossible to write because the story is so complicated. I have since learned to write the blurb before I begin working on the first draft of the story. It can always be revised later, but by writing the blurb first, it gives me a sense of direction throughout drafting, and it makes the process of blurb-writing so much easier.

How about you? Do you think one is harder to come up with than the other?

IWSG: Defining Success

 The first Wednesday of the month is Insecure Writer’s Support Group day!

This Month's 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: I have different definitions of success for different things in my life. For the publication of WHO R U REALLY?, I had defined success as helping at least one teenager stay safer online. I’m thrilled to say I’ve received multiple emails from teenagers telling me that after reading the book they cleaned out their “friends” lists online. That’s a huge success. For other aspects of my writing life, I set different goals or "success" identifiers such as meeting a deadline, hitting a word count, and/or reading a certain number of books. Since there are so many aspects of publishing that are beyond my control, I have found that utilizing the tools from THE ARTIST'S WAY, I am able to strive for a satisfying sense of success within my control. If you haven't read THE ARTIST'S WAY, I highly recommend it.

What about you? How do you define success as a writer?

IWSG: Quit Writing?!

The purpose of the Insecure Writer's Support Group is 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!"

For more information visit: https://www.insecurewriterssupportgroup.com/

This Month's Question: What would make you quit writing?

My Answer: I've thought about this topic often during my time as a published author. Interestingly, the question never occurred to me before I was published. Before then, I was determined and confident and tenacious. Once published, my perspective changed. I saw behind the curtain of the publishing world and was surprised by how it all works . . . and doesn't work. Now, I'm more of a realist, and I know the publishing world won't always work in my favor, won't always greet me with open arms, won't always pave the road before me. And yet, I still want to create stories, imagine worlds, and develop characters. I've decided I will never quit writing, because I am a writer. 

How about you? Is there anything that would make you quit writing?

IWSG: Surprising Reactions from Readers

"The first Wednesday of every month is officially Insecure Writer’s Support Group day. Post your thoughts on your own blog. Talk about your doubts and the fears you have conquered. Discuss your struggles and triumphs. Offer a word of encouragement for others who are struggling." For complete details, visit the website: https://www.insecurewriterssupportgroup.com

This Month's Question: "Has a reader ever responded to your writing in a way that you didn't expect? If so, did it surprise you?"

My Answer: Yes! One of my all-time favorite responses was from a teacher who'd been reading Who R U Really? aloud to her class. She had previously read the book herself, and she knew the big reveal of the bad guy was coming up for her class. So, she recorded the class as she read the scene aloud, and then she sent the video to me. It was so awesome to watch the students' varied reactions as the bad guy made himself known to the main character. (I love teachers so much!)

How about you? If you're a writer, has a reader ever surprised you with a response? If you're a reader, have you ever contacted an author about their writing?

IWSG: Reading Choices

If you're a writer, you'll want to check out the Insecure Writers' Support Group. On the first Wednesday of the month, we post on a related topic.

This Month's 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?"

My Answer: I read broadly. I often find techniques and styles outside my typical writing genre that I can utilize to improve and enhance my own writing skills. I love to read nonfiction, memoirs (sometimes), thrillers, horrors, mysteries, historical romance (sometimes), and contemporary novels. The biggest motivators in my reading choices are: author, publisher, recommendation from friend, description (in that order).

What about you? What motivates your reading choices?

IWSG: Making Friends in the Blogosphere

The purpose of The Insecure Writer's Group is: 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!

February's 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?

My Answer: Oh, yes! The online writing community is excellent. I met my long-term critique partners online, and I've made many wonderful friends and acquaintances because of blogging. Additionally, groups like this one, The Insecure Writer's Support Group, give writers -- new, veteran, young, old -- a great place to start connecting and interacting with other authors. Alongside blogging is Twitter. Once you become familiar with some of the common writers' hashtags -- such as #WritingCommunity #AmWriting #MSWL #WriteTip #IWSG -- you can connect with the vast writing community there, too.

How about you? Have you made friends through the blogosphere?

IWSG: Most Productive Times for Writing

The first Wednesday of the month is time for the Insecure Writers' Support Group post!

This Month's Question: "Are there months or times of the year that you are more productive with your writing than other months, and why?"

My Answer: Pre-pandemic, yes. Pre-2020, sure. But boy, oh, boy, 2020 has been way too stressful for me to be highly productive with my writing. So, I suppose I am most productive when I can find a sense of peace and calm within my mind and spirit. Going to the mountains helps me with this. Avoiding social media helps me. Listening to music helps. And reading inspiring nonfiction books definitely helps me find the right head space to be more productive with my writing. I'm currently working through THE ARTIST'S WAY by Julia Cameron. I say "working through" because it's more than a book to read. It is a 12-week program to help artists attain a higher level of creativity, but it is hard work. I've found it quite challenging (this is my third attempt to complete the program), but this particular time through, I'm recovering a sense of myself and that has been enlightening and calming. I'm excited to write and revise, again. I'm ready to be productive, again. We all need a little help sometimes finding our way back to the path, leading to our own true north.

How about you? When is your most productive time for writing?

IWSG: Why Do You Write?

Over the years, I've found THE INSECURE WRITER'S SUPPORT GROUP to be such a great community. I look forward to the monthly posts to connect us. I encourage you to visit the website and join the group!

This Month's Question: Albert Camus once said, “The purpose of a writer is to keep civilization from destroying itself.” Flannery O’Conner said, “I write to discover what I know.” Authors across time and distance have had many reasons to write. Why do you write what you write?

My Answer: I write because I love telling stories. I love creating worlds, characters, plots, and twists. I love creating. I love exploring all of the possibilities. I've always been a curious person, and as a writer, I can ask as many questions as I want. Then I can explore, hunt, and find the answers to those questions.

How about you? Why do you write?

IWSG: Best Beta Partner

 It's that time again . . . 

This Month's Question: If you could choose one author, living or dead, to be your beta partner, who would it be and why?

My Answer: First, I'm assuming "beta partner" is equivalent to "beta reader"?? Because a critique partner is someone who helps tear apart early drafts of your manuscript to help improve it, and a beta reader is someone who reads the first "finished" (polished and amazing) draft to give feedback on the overall plots and character arcs. (I would never replace my current critique partners - they're the best ever. So, I feel like this is a trick question.) But if I can keep my critique partners and just have a new beta reader . . . hmm . . .  I would choose Dean Koontz. Yup.

How about you? Who would you want to read your manuscript prior to publication?

IWSG: Choosing a Form

I always find the IWSG's Question of the Month intriguing and thought provoking. This month's question holds true to that!

This Month's 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?

My Answer: When I first started writing, I just wrote my truth. But then I had the rude awakening that "my truth" didn't fit into the genre norms and was quickly rejected along traditional publishing avenues. At first, that was very disheartening. Then I studied the qualities and expectations of different genres and worked to master the craft of writing. That led to having two books published within the traditional marketplace. Now, I find myself being drawn with my whole being back to writing what I WANT to write, regardless of genre expectations. It's hard finding a balance between writing for myself and writing to satisfy the dynamics of a certain genre.

What about you? Do you choose a form/genre in advance?

IWSG: Changes in the Publishing Industry

The first Wednesday of every month is officially Insecure Writer’s Support Group day. Post your thoughts on your own blog. Talk about your doubts and the fears you have conquered. Discuss your struggles and triumphs. Offer a word of encouragement for others who are struggling. Visit others in the group and connect with your fellow writer - aim for a dozen new people each time - and return comments. This group is all about connecting!

This month's question: There have been many industry changes in the last decade, so what are some changes you would like to see happen in the next decade?

My answer: I would really like to see an increase in the acceptance of all authors and all publishing paths. As writers, we love the process of writing, but sometimes the process of publishing causes finger pointing, raised eyebrows, and unkind comments. We all want the same thing: to share our written stories. Let's be kind about the different paths we may choose to climb that mountain and celebrate each other's successes and encourage each other through our setbacks along the way.

What are your thoughts? What changes would you like to see?

IWSG: Secrets

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!

Posting: The first Wednesday of every month is officially Insecure Writer’s Support Group day. Post your thoughts on your own blog. Talk about your doubts and the fears you have conquered. Discuss your struggles and triumphs. Offer a word of encouragement for others who are struggling. Visit others in the group and connect with your fellow writer - aim for a dozen new people each time - and return comments. This group is all about connecting!

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

My Answer: Huh. This one really stumps me. I am not a keeper of secrets. I pretty much wear everything right on my sleeve for the whole world to see. Well. Except maybe my pandemic hair. I'm considering letting it go gray. (YIKES) But I haven't decided for sure. It makes me feel older every time I look in the mirror. Maybe I should keep coloring it? I'll make a decision before my next official author appearance. Ha. 

How about you? Do you keep secrets?

Insecure Writer's Support Group: Writing Rituals

Have you visited the Insecure Writer's Support Group website recently? Rated one of the top websites for writers, you will find tons of invaluable information there. Check it out: www.insecurewriterssupportgroup.com . . . and while there, be sure to sign up and join the group.

www.insecurewriterssupportgroup.com/p/iwsg-sign-up.html

May's Question: Do you have any rituals that you use when you need help getting into the ZONE?

My Answer: Yes! Music. With each manuscript, I choose at least one song that represents the mood and energy of the story. Sometimes, I create a playlist of multiple songs. I listen to it to set the right tone and focus my mind. Other times, I will listen to high energy music and dance around the room with my dog to vitalize my mind. And other times, I'll listen to instrumental music while typing to help my mind zero in on the words and flow of sentences. Music is a huge resource for me.


What about you? Do you have writing rituals?

Insecure Writer's Support Group: How Are Things in Your World?

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!

Posting: The first Wednesday of every month is officially Insecure Writer’s Support Group day. Post your thoughts on your own blog. Talk about your doubts and the fears you have conquered. Discuss your struggles and triumphs. Offer a word of encouragement for others who are struggling. Visit others in the group and connect with your fellow writer - aim for a dozen new people each time - and return comments. This group is all about connecting!

April's 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 question this month is: how are things in your world?

My Answer: Whew. Boy. What a month March 2020 was! Events canceled/postponed (including a wedding shower, a wedding, and a baby shower within my immediate family), significant loss of income, state-wide stay-at-home order, and then yesterday: a 6.5 earthquake - in Idaho! The last significant earthquake here was in the 1980s! And yet, on the immediate horizon: the birth of our first grand-baby could be any day now. I'm packing the car and getting ready for the call to hit the road. A road trip during a pandemic is not my idea of fun, but I will be there for my daughter and son-in-law, unless of course, they close the border between Idaho and Utah. Then we'll re-evaluate.

How about you? How are things in your world?