Jessica Ferguson

Author, Writing Coach, Speaker

IWSG: Writing Fears

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Today is IWSG Day! Author Alex J. Cavanaugh is the founder. Alex realized that the writing community offered an abundance of support and needed it too. This IWSG group acts as a form of therapy, letting writers post about situations where they need encouragement, or to offer words of encouragement to others.

The awesome co-hosts for the May 7 posting of the IWSG are Feather Stone, Janet Alcorn, Rebecca Douglass, Jemima Pett, and Pat Garcia!

May 7 question – Some common fears writers share are rejection, failure, success, and lack of talent or ability. What are your greatest fears as a writer? How do you manage them?

After reading Feather Stone‘s response to the question, I deleted my post. She said it all. If you don’t love your writing, surrender … and then I read Pat Garcia, and I added my post back. Why not be honest and vulnerable. After all, that’s who I am.

My truest, easiest answer to this month’s thought-provoking question is …

My greatest fear is me and I’ve been writing and publishing for fifty years.  

Still, my fear is:

Making wrong decisions.

Publishing a horrible story with a big gaping hole in the plot.

Looking stupid to the entire writing and publishing community.

Proving to everyone I have no talent.

Being so successful that I have to promote.

Being so Unsuccessful that I have to promote.

Having to promote when I feel like an imposter.

Having to defend my work when sharks appear.

Being challenged by anyone and everything about anything and everything.

So I do nothing and there in lies the problem.

I do nothing.

Now and then I have a burst of boldness and submit a piece, query or do something out of the ordinary. I force myself…to be brave. Professional. As if I know what I’m doing.

That’s how I became a contributor to Southern Writers Magazine. A whisk of boldness overtook me and I responded to the publisher’s call. I was certain she’d reject me but she didn’t. In spite of my insecurities, I lasted for almost seven years.

And that’s how I became Director of a professional writing department at a regional college—overseeing courses for writers. I had to be asked three times before I accepted. I was certain I couldn’t do it—but I did.

I can cite other opportunities that came my way because of a “few and far between spurts” of boldness. I know I’m my worst enemy when it comes to writing and publishing. Oh, how I admire all of you brave writers out there. I wish I could throw caution to the wind and just do what I want to do, when I want to do it, and how I want to do it.

Manage?

I don’t manage. I wait for that spurt of boldness to penetrate my brain and move me forward.

I act on it before it disappears.

And then…

And then…

I wait to be shot down.

But let me encourage each of you to write, to act, to chase after those dreams. Don’t live in hesitation, questioning yourself as if sitting in a courtroom before a jury. Be bold–always.

And never give up.

 

 

IWSG: Harry Potter’s Invisible Cloak

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 The first Wednesday of every month is officially Insecure Writer’s Support Group day. We post our thoughts on our own blog. We talk about our doubts and the fears we have conquered. We discuss our struggles and triumphs and offer a word of encouragement for others who are struggling.  This group is all about connecting!   

Our Twitter handle is @TheIWSG and hashtag is #IWSG.

The awesome co-hosts for the March 5 posting of the IWSG are Ronel Janse Van Vuuren,Pat Garcia, and Liza @ Middle Passages!

Every month, we announce a question our members can answer.

March 5 question – If for one day you could be anyone or *thing* in the world, what would it be? Describe, tell why, and any themes, goals, or values they/it inspire in you.

My response:
Some of you know I share a birthday with Harry Potter, July 31st. Well, I’ve always kind of envied him his invisible cloak. Oh, please, please let me wear his cloak for at least a weekend. Not JUST one day. What I could do with that cloak!
I’d sit in my favorite author’s office, maybe browse around while she clicked away on her next best seller. I’m sure she probably talks to herself. Most of us do. I might even look over her shoulder, take a peek at her rough draft. I have to wonder if her first draft is rougher than mine.
I’d “crash” writing retreats and listen to famous authors brainstorm and encourage each other. I need encouragement too! They’d never know I was there.
And oh! the wonderful conferences I could attend FREE OF CHARGE!
I’d definitely look over the shoulder of any editor or publisher who read my latest proposal. I’d like to learn what they really think. Surely they talk to themselves too. Did my first sentence grab her? How about my first chapter? Too slow? Too much backstory? How far did she get before she quit reading?
Just think, if I had Samantha’s twitchy nose and Harry’s invisible cloak, I’ll bet I could actually write and sell some books! Okay, I might need more than a weekend!

IWSG DAY: TRIGGERS IN BOOKS?

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It’s IWSG Day! Our members are blogging away, posting their thoughts on their own blogs, expressing struggles and triumphs, doubts and fears. You can go HERE  to read what they have to say.  Our Twitter handle is @TheIWSG and hashtag is #IWSG.

IWSG was founded by Alex J. Cavanaugh. He saw a need for encouragement and he filled that need. On September 7, 2011, Alex launched the monthly blog posting of the IWSG and it has been going strong ever since.

 

The awesome co-hosts for the January 8 posting of the IWSG are Rebecca Douglass, Beth Camp, Liza @ Middle Passages, and Natalie @ Literary Rambles!

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

The question is optional! 

January 8 question – Describe someone you admired when you were a child. Did your opinion of that person change when you grew up?

I really can’t remember anyone I admired – well, on second thought, I can. A 6th grade Texas history teacher that disappointed me. But I was a dumb kid. I took everything at ‘face value’ back then. Believed everything I saw and heard. I don’t often make that mistake today. In fact, I’m probably a little too suspicious of everyone. So moving on …

You know I’ve had an agent for the past three or four years. We haven’t accomplished much. She’s been trying to sell my romantic suspense. I don’t like calling my book a romantic suspense. I much prefer labeling it a romantic mystery. Anyway my agent sent the proposal to four publishers: two didn’t like the subject matter since it has to do with bomb threats in a school. They said readers would find that a sensitive subject. The third publisher said I have no platform but she’d be willing to reconsider if I grow my mailing list and social media by 500+. That’s all well and good, but growing it isn’t my real problem – maintaining it is. Maintaining is tedious. And does that mean she expects those on my social media/mailing list to actually buy the book or just pass along info regarding my book?

The 4th publisher my agent sent the book to never responded. Evidently when one doesn’t respond that’s a NO. I think that’s ridiculous in the age of quick emails. All she needed to do is say “No thanks” to my agent and we’d mark them off the list. Instead, they’re just “hanging out there.”

So what do you think? Should this book be self-published even though it might trigger anxiety in parenting readers? I don’t have any triggers that I know of, at least nothing that’s reared its ugly head to date, so I can’t answer this question. I’ve tried to put myself in a parent’s place but I easily separate fiction from reality. This makes me wonder about other triggers: like unwanted pregnancies and hidden babies, and divorce, and abuse, and car wrecks and anxiety in general, cold blooded murder that’s in most mysteries, alcoholism and death. Are those things triggers for readers?

Any thoughts on what to do with my book with bomb threats in the school and two explosions outside the school? I know of two authors who have books out using this backdrop but their books came out before school terrorism got so bad. My characters aren’t harassing the school; rather someone IN the school.

I normally read the blurb on the back of a book. If there’s something that doesn’t appeal to me, I don’t buy/read the book. Come to think of it, I might have a trigger. Airplanes. I hate flying. I mean I truly. HATE. flying. I will not buy or read a book or watch a movie that has to do with flying. Is that my trigger? Oh, and I don’t buy medical romances or watch those kinds of movies either. I don’t even like walking into a hospital. Yeah, that might be another trigger.

My agent is encouraging me to “self-pub” but my heart isn’t in it. She says the story is good and deserves readers. My thought is if a traditional publisher isn’t willing to take a chance, am I? My self-promo skills are sorely lacking.

My agent has a second book I’ve written in a different genre. A romance. After her critique, I’m fleshing it out a little more and rewriting the first few chapters. I did a lot of telling in this book.

And after I do that  …

If this new book doesn’t sell to my targeted publisher, I’m thinking of putting novel writing behind me. I like writing short. Short articles, short stories. More instant gratification. There are so many other time-consuming things I want to do.

So here’s the big question: if you were 76 years old, had an agent, knew that if she sold a novel to a traditional publisher it would be a year or two before it hit the stands, what would be your career plan?  Do you realize how close 76 is to 80? (Yeah, slapping the side of my head.)

Thanks for your help. I’m looking forward to your comments.

JRF

 

IWSG: Don’t Leave Me Hanging!

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It’s Insecure Writer’s Support Group day!
Our 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! We post the first Wednesday of every month. Our Twitter handle is @TheIWSG and hashtag is #IWSG.

 

The awesome co-hosts for the December 4 posting of the IWSG are Ronel, Deniz, Pat Garcia,Olga Godim, and Cathrina Constantine!

 

December 4 question – Do you write cliffhangers at the end of your stories? Are they a turn-off to you as a writer and/or a reader?

Stories? As in books? Well, I guess it doesn’t matter because I won’t read something that isn’t finished. Cliffhangers at the end of a story implies (to me) that the story isn’t finished and I’ll have to purchase the next issue. If I’m not forewarned that the story is continuing through several more books (or issues), yeah, I’ll probably be ticked.

That being said, I do read series books. For example stories about siblings—and the reader meets all of them in the first book. A vague hint of each sibling’s problem are in each book. A good example would be Tina Radcliffe’s series books. Her Hearts of Oklahoma series is my favorite, but she also has the Lazy M Ranch series that I’m savoring now. I’ll read her romances without even glancing at the back cover blurb. Her characterization and story telling skills are excellent. 

I did read a Brenda Novak series where the thread of a crime wasn’t solved until the last book but there were clues throughout each book. It was well-done. 

And thinking back on my younger days, I bought a lot of magazines and read stories that continued through several issues. I wouldn’t do that today. I don’t have the patience for waiting and probably couldn’t remember to purchase the next issue. Or am I plagued with instant gratification?

But it doesn’t really matter what I like or dislike or what I think, if the writer can make it work s/he should go for it. But have thick skin just in case the criticism hits. After 50+ years, I have to say my skin still isn’t nearly thick enough. And way too often I pay attention to what isn’t said. I guess you might call that paranoia! 

That’s it until next month. Good writing and Merry Christmas to all of you.

IWSG Wednesday: Creative Activities

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Welcome! It’s IWSG day!

Our 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: We post the first Wednesday of every month. Talk about our doubts and the fears we have conquered. Discuss our struggles and triumphs. Offer a word of encouragement for others. Please join us!

Let’s rock the neurotic writing world!

Our Twitter handle is @TheIWSG and hashtag is #IWSG.

The awesome co-hosts for the November 06th posting of the IWSG are Diedre Knight, Lisa Buie Collard, Kim Lajevardi, and JQ Rose!

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!

November 6th Question: What creative activity do you engage in when you’re not writing?

Soooo, what creative activity do I engage in when I’m not writing? I THINK about writing. I know each of you can identify with that. We’re always writing in our head, aren’t we? I guess that doesn’t really count as an answer to this question so I’ll add to my answer: I read, but I love listening to podcasts–about writing, about social media, about quilting, junk journaling, painting or just about anything else. I enjoy watching YouTube videos on how to do something. I’ve watched one on how to grow potatoes and how to repair a toilet handle. YouTube has answers, and you never know when something will end up in a book.

Speaking of books, I finally finished the Love Inspired Romance I’ve been working on. Sent it to my agent a couple of weeks ago. I meet with her via Zoom next Wednesday, the 13th. She’ll tell me if she likes it, what I need to do to “fix” it, if it’s worth her time. I know the ending isn’t super satisfying for a romance and I need an epilogue but I couldn’t think of one. They usually feel like tack-ons to me. I really don’t like ALL epilogues but looks like the LIs always have one.

I could have sworn back in the old days–or maybe my college days when I wrote my first novel–I was taught that you have to have a prologue if you want to have an epilogue. I know rules change over the years. I know this is the south and maybe other areas of the country didn’t teach that. Did anyone else learn that rule about prologues and epilogues?

Oh, another creative activity I indulge in is genealogy. I like meeting new family members because of my DNA. If you’re a Roach, a Smith, a Ragan, a Chaney, a Yarbrough … you might be mine!

So that’s my life in a nutshell! Hope you’re all writing or indulging in something else creative.

Best to you!

jrf

Insecure Writers Support Day: Favorite Quotes

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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

 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!

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

The question is always optional and today I choose not to answer it, not because I don’t like it. I just can’t think of anything to say about teachers. I’m not sure any teacher messed me up as a writer. There was one in college, a hateful journalism teacher that didn’t like my writing at all. He told me I was on an ego trip. Go figure. I was in his class to learn, even though I’d already worked as a contributing editor for an in-flight magazine. We should never quit learning, right? I do think of him periodically and wonder why he didn’t like me. Lookie here, I answered the question after all. 

My intention was to post a few of my favorite quotes. Who doesn’t like quotes? Don’t they make you think? Do you have a favorite quote that speaks to you? Share it!

“Your legacy is every life you’ve ever touched .”   Maya Angelou  

The most certain way to succeed is always to try just one more time.”—Thomas Edison

There is something delicious about writing the first words of a story. You never know quite where they’ll take you.” -Beatrix Potter

 If there’s a book that you want to read, but it hasn’t been written yet, then you must write it.” – Toni Morrison

Half my life is an act of revision.” – John Irving

And by the way, everything in life is writable about if you have the outgoing guts to do it, and the imagination to improvise. The worst enemy to creativity is self-doubt.”  – Sylvia Plath

 

Isn’t IWSG the greatest?!

I wish you all good writing!

JRF

IWSG Day: Faux Books?

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It’s Insecure Writers Support Group day–the first Wednesday of every month. We’re here for you if you’re doubting or struggling.

IWSG was formed by Ninja Captain Alex Cavanaugh. Members post about their doubts and fears, discuss struggles and triumphs, and offer words of encouragement to others who are struggling.

Twitter handle: @TheIWSG

Hashtag: #IWSG

The awesome co-hosts for the August 7 posting of the IWSG are Feather Stone, Kim Lajevardi,Diedre Knight, C. Lee McKenzie, and Sarah – The Faux Fountain Pen!

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.

The question is always optional.

August 7 question – Do you use AI in your writing and if so how? Do you use it for  your posts? Incorporate it into your stories? Use it for research? Audio?

My response will address using AI for writing long fiction only. I can’t speak to the research, creating social media content or audio.

I investigated AI after taking a free course from Joseph Michael. He made plotting with AI seem interesting. I plugged in a simple one sentence blurb and asked chatGPT to outline a romance. According to JM the first draft probably won’t be acceptable. You need to ask ChatGPT for several more drafts and keep at it until you find something you like. Actually, I found ChatGPT fun to play with. It does stimulate one’s imagination. And some of those drafts didn’t sound too bad to me—after all, we’re going to put our own spin on the characters, the conflict and the entire story… aren’t we?

So here’s the thing: as writers, we want the respect of our peers as much as we want readers to love our work. (Lord knows I deal with “imposter syndrome” enough. I sure don’t need AI to reinforce that.) Why would we risk being called a fake, a cheater, a liar? Where’s the joy in writing, creating the book of our heart—over and over and over again—if we don’t do the actual creating?

I’ll pass on using AI. There are enough fakes in our world.

Thanks for visiting me, and good writing!

jrf

IWSG: My Writing Tools

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The first Wednesday of every month is officially Insecure Writer’s Support Group day. We’re encouragers! 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!
Let’s rock the neurotic writing world!
Our Twitter handle is @TheIWSG and hashtag is #IWSG.

 

The awesome co-hosts for the July 3 posting of the IWSG are JS Pailly, Rebecca Douglass, Pat Garcia, Louise-Fundy Blue, and Natalie Aguirre!

 

Our Optional Question:

What are your favorite writing processing (e.g. Word, Scrivener, yWriter, Dabble), writing apps, software, and tools? Why do you recommend them? And which one is your all time favorite that you cannot live without and use daily or at least whenever you write?

 

No matter what tools, apps or writing programs I purchase, I always end up returning to Microsoft Word. I work faster there.

I’ve owned Scrivener for years and never been able to completely figure it out. Just in the past few months, I’ve taken the time to watch a few instructional videos and mastered another step or two. I know many authors swear by Scrivener but I also know I’ll never be one of them. If you’re interested in Scrivener, you can try it for FREE. I suggests you do what I do, use just the basics and learn at your own pace.

I also purchased Plottr a couple of years ago. I loved it. I watched a lot of YouTube sessions/interviews with various authors on how they used it and I have to admit, I created a beautiful outline for my latest WIP. I was able to create character sketches and scenes for each chapter but guess what – I’m a combination pantser/plotter and I have not been able to finish my book—even with a detailed outline and scenes. For the first time, I think I understand what authors mean when they say outlining ruins the story for them. I always thought that was a crazy thing to say but it’s the only excuse I can come up with because my novel is basically planned out and waiting for me to finish it.

With Microsoft Word, I can sit down and soar. My old arthritic fingers still type pretty fast and I enjoy letting my characters lead me. Usually the first three chapters move fast. In the middle I falter. So once I slow down and stumble through that middle, I’ll turn to my NOTES app on my iPhone. That’s where I drop pieces of dialogue, ideas for scenes and description as they comes to me at odd times. I can’t do without NOTES on my phone.

What I really love is YouTube. Anytime I need to know how to do something, YouTube is my go-to for help. I’m very thankful for those authors who take the time to create how-to videos and seminars on Zoom.  And blogs like this one: Jill Kemerer

My question for you: what would we do without each other?

 

 

A Writer’s Need – IWSG

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 First:  Welcome to IWSG day!

 Our Purpose 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!

HOW IT BEGAN: 

Alex J. Cavanaugh is the founder of IWSG. He saw a need and he filled it. Yay, Alex! Thank you!

We post on the first Wednesday of each month. Check out our membership. We have some great bloggers.

 

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 have an optional question so here it is:

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

 IWSG seems different from my other writing groups. Maybe because membership is free and IWSG members write anything and everything. My other groups are more specialized—mystery writers, Christian writers, Nonfiction and Memoir writers. In IWSG we’re all lumped together. There’s something “freeing” in that even though we have structure.

I know IWSG seeks to encourage its members through special projects. I’ve been a part of that in a couple of books. I’d like to see a few programs through Zoom. Not book reviews but rather How To instruction and discussion. In my Faith, Hope & Love group every month or two we have an author (through Zoom) share how they market their books, or how they start and grow their newsletter, or how to create a series bible or use Scrivener. We sign up to attend but it’s free to members and if we can’t make it, the program is saved so that we can watch it later. I think IWSG could pull this off and benefit from such a program.

We also have a weekly Resource Wednesday—just an email to our membership—where a volunteer or two has combined important information such as article links on industry news, the business of writing and the writing craft; Article links on encouragement for writers, as well as a list (with links) to upcoming contests and conferences. There’s a lot of great info out there that some of us never see.

I think many a downfall of writer’s groups is having too many things going that require way too many volunteers. We’re all busy with our writing, our jobs and our lives. Days are going by faster and faster. Time seems shorter. Most of us don’t want weekly or even monthly obligations. I understand that so I’ll add that IWSG is a great group. There’s no need to change anything or even add more programs, because IWSG serves it’s purpose: Encouragement! Once again, thanks!

 

IWSG: Distractions?

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Insecure Writer’s Support Group!  Time to release our fears to the world – or offer encouragement to those who are feeling neurotic. If you’d like to join us, click on the tab above and sign up. We post the first Wednesday of every month.

The co-hosts for the May 1 posting of the IWSG are Victoria Marie Lees,Kim Lajevardi,Nancy Gideon, and Cathrina Constantine!

May 1 question – How do you deal with distractions when you are writing? Do they derail you?

 

My Response: 

Unfortunately, I don’t deal well with distractions. Yes, they derail me. I have no answers or suggestions for you. No tips on how to remedy the problem or cure the disease.

If you have a solution for “oh-look-a-squirrel” syndrome share it with me.

Yesterday I watched a Joseph Michael video on how to get the writing done. He invited writers to join his Unchained Writers accountability group. He says all creatives struggle with something—negativity, imposter syndrome, or just getting words on paper. He’s right. You’ll probably all agree.

But all of us know what it takes to get a book finished. Determination and self-discipline. Doesn’t matter if we write 50 words, 500 words or 2500 words on any given day. Just write. Day after day after day. Distractions are part of the process. All writers have them.

Danielle Steel has written 190 plus books. You may not read her or even like her books but she struggles through the process just like all creatives. With all the children she has, I’m sure there have been distractions. I’m sure she starts where we start: an idea in her head and a blank page.

So maybe I do have a tip: be true to yourself and your own writing process. The struggle is definitely real. Our maladies will always plague us but if we love writing and believe in ourselves and our stories, we’ll plow through the distractions and achieve our goals. We won’t run away or make excuses, at least not for long. Writers always come back to their writing. We’ll do whatever it takes short of whipping out an outline and hiring a ghostwriter like some bestselling authors do. Where’s the glory, the honor, the fun in that?

Give me the struggles we face any day of the week so I can call myself a real writer!

Distractions? Just a bump in the road.

Good writing to you all!