Author, Writing Coach, Speaker
I’m out of pocket with no way to post except via my phone. That’s a challenge for me so let me have a raincheck, please. And until my next post, I hope you have a fun day visiting our great IWSG members.
If it’s Wednesday, then it’s IWSG Day! I’ve missed a month or two, but I’m back. IWSG stands for Insecure Writers Support Group and was founded by Alex J. Cavanaugh. You can follow other IWSG members here or on twitter using the hashtag #IWSG. We also have a Facebook page. The purpose of IWSG is to share and encourage, and answer any questions new writers might have. Remember, there’s no such thing as a dumb question.
Our awesome co-hosts for this posting of the IWSG are Sadira Stone,Patricia Josephine,Lisa Buie-Collard,Erika Beebe,and C. Lee McKenzie!
Our interesting optional question this month is: What’s the strangest thing you’ve ever googled in researching a story?
A few years back, I was offered an opportunity to write a novella for Tales of the Scrimshaw Doll series published by The Wild Rose Press. My characters popped into my mind immediately. One character was so incredibly evil he surprised me. I had to research his kind of evil. I needed to find some way he would mark his family and I did. He branded them. To my surprise, people really brand each other and themselves. I’m not talking about tattoos. I mean like cowboys brand their cattle. I tip-toed in to communities where they discussed it and told what they used: keys, cookie cutters, wire, anything decorative that they could heat, sear and mark the skin. When I say I “tip-toed” in to these sites, I mean I peeked with one eye closed because I’m pretty queasy when it comes to any kind of pain and torture.
My book was called The Last Daughter and it’s a story very close to my heart. It’s about love and evil, and sincere, heartbreaking forgiveness. It’s out of print now and “waiting” for revision so I can republish under my own imprint. I hope in early 2020.
Today, I’m excited to announce my latest release called Christmas In Love. No evil here. Just love sweet love. I’ve coupled two of my previously published short stories with a brand new story that I’m pretty proud of. Take a look at my cover. Isn’t that hero yummy? I thank the multi-talented Heather K. Duff for finding him, designing the cover and formatting the book.
If you give Christmas In Love a try, I hope you’ll leave a review—good or bad. But, hey … if you leave a bad review, at least tell me why or what you didn’t like about Christmas in Love. It might be something I can fix.
I hope you’re all doing well, writing up a storm on NaNoWrMo, and that you have a very blessed Thanksgiving. See you in December!
Who: The Insecure Writers Support Group
What: A group that isn’t afraid to voice their fears and insecurities, and share and encourage others.
When: The first Wednesday of each month
Where: Everywhere! Twitter, Facebook, on various blogs and HERE.
Why: Because Alex J. Cavanaugh saw writers expressing doubt and fear … and noticed writers offering encouragement. (Writers love to see other writers succeed.) Alex recognized a need for a support group and he decided to do something about it. The Insecure Writers Support Group was born. Yay, Alex!
The awesome co-hosts for the September 4 posting of the IWSG are Gwen Gardner, Doreen McGettigan, Tyrean Martinson, Chemist Ken, and Cathrina Constantiner!
Our Optional question this month is: If you could pick one place in the world to sit and write your next story, where would it be and why?
Give me anywhere as long as I’m in a large room with a wall of windows overlooking a sandy beach and blue water. The catch is—let me have at least eight hours each day for an entire month. I don’t like writing in snatches of time. Unfortunately, I do it, but I prefer long hours so I won’t lose the various strands of my story or the rhythm of my dialogue or the vague ideas that pop into my head as I create. I seldom plot more than a few lines per chapter so I often desperately hang on to my story. When I stop to cook, or participate in another activity, or leave my work area to run an errand, I struggle to get back to where I was while pounding keys.
I read that Danielle Steele used to lock herself in a room, not coming out until her book was finished. Her family delivered her meals to the door but other than that, no contact. In a way, that sounds like an ideal writing arrangement for me—as long as that room has windows.
What do you think?
Wednesday is IWSG Day because it’s the first Wednesday in July. IWSG stands for Insecure Writers Support Group and was founded by Alex J. Cavanaugh. You can read and follow other IWSG members here or on twitter using the hashtag #IWSG. We also have a Facebook page. The purpose of IWSG is to share and encourage, and members have the option of answering questions in our post.
The awesome co-hosts for the July 3 posting of the IWSG are Erika Beebe,Natalie Aguirre,Jennifer Lane,MJ Fifield,Lisa Buie-Collard,and Ellen @ The Cynical Sailor!
Our July 3 question is: What personal traits have you written into your character(s)?
I always incorporate many of my own traits and beliefs into my characters. In my short story that was published in Legacy Letters, my character was a procrastinator. So am I.
In The Last Daughter, I gave Trent Jones, the hero, more of my traits than the heroine, though I did make her a vegetarian. Trent (known as a picker) and his family owned antique stores, and frequented auctions, estate sales and garage sales—something I’ve always enjoyed doing. I’m a collector (or a packrat) of just about everything. It was fun showing Trent’s excitement over valuable (or interesting) items he came across, and what he could sell them for. By the way, The Last Daughter isn’t available any more. I have the rights back from The Wild Rose Press but I haven’t finished my revisions so I can get it back out there. Hopefully soon.
WHAT’s HAPPENING IN MY LIFE RIGHT NOW:
The days are zooming by. I’m getting older by the second. I’m a July girl—my birthday is the last day of the month. I never imagined getting old; I still can’t and here I am leaving 70 behind and turning 71. Of course, there was a time I couldn’t imagine being published either. Here are some wonderful things I’ve got going these days:
I speak at The Woodlands-ACFW on July 13th on article writing. I was supposed to have spoken in May but the weather was horrific from Louisiana to Houston so we postponed. I’m looking forward to visiting with this ACFW chapter.
Secondly, I sold an 800 word romance to Woman’s World magazine. It will be out around July 11th, maybe a little sooner. I titled it Summer Promise but according to the contract, the title has been changed to The Promise of New Love. I’m pretty excited about this sale. I’ve been trying to sell stories to them for years. Don’t ask me how I did it. I just hope I can do it again!
And that brings me to—I have a guest blogpost coming out some time in September telling everything I did to “crack the Woman’s World code.” Yeah, right! That’s a hoot! I’ll remind you so you can learn my secrets.
On another note, I just finished my second Christmas play for my church. (If you’d like to see my first Christmas play and my debut acting go to other media; Its posted there.) I haven’t submitted this new endeavor to our Music Minister so I have no idea if it’ll fly. It may not be joyful enough; or Christmas-y enough. Sometimes I tend to get too serious.
I guess that’s all the news I have except…maybe you’d like to sign up for my newsletter? It doesn’t really exist yet, but I took a great newsletter course called A What-to Course for Author newsletters and I’ve been wanting to create one ever since. So sign up if you will and I promise, I won’t bombard you with unnecessary news about me, Me, ME.
Hope everyone is doing well, writing, submitting and selling! Let me hear from you!
Today is IWSG Day because it’s the first Wednesday in March. IWSG stands for Insecure Writers Support Group and was founded by Alex J. Cavanaugh. You can follow other IWSG members here or on twitter using the hashtag #IWSG. We also have a Facebook page. The purpose of IWSG is to share and encourage, and members have the option of answering questions in our post.
Today’s question is: Whose perspective do you like to write from best, the hero (protagonist) or the villain (antagonist)? And why?
I think I’ll pass on this month’s question. I’ve never written from the villain’s perspective but it’s an interesting thought. In fact, I might not be able to get it out of my head. Something to ponder.
Since I’m short on time, I thought I’d pass along a hint about book signings and how to display our books. Recently, a friend purchased a 4-tiered book signing rack that keeps her book table neat and displays her books in a way that shoppers can see them from “across a crowded room” 
and fall in love.
This rack costs about $37 bucks from Amazon. Mine arrived yesterday. Take a look at how I’m displayed. Can’t wait for my next book signing!
So two questions for you:
Do you often write from the villain’s perspective? Give us a tip or two.
And do you sell your books at festivals and craft shows? Share some advice you think others might need if they hit the road with their books.
Today is so exciting because it’s Insecure Writers Support Group day. IWSG was founded by Alex J. Cavanaugh for the purpose of encouraging other writers—or anyone who’d like to learn the craft. Writers can ask questions and express doubts and concerns without fear of appearing foolish or weak. We’re a safe haven for insecure writers of all kinds. We invite you to follow other IWSG members here or by using the twitter hashtag #IWSG. You can also go to our Facebook page and Instagram. We’re awesome!
Co-hosts for the January 2 posting of the IWSG are Patricia Lynne, Lisa Buie-Collard, Kim Lajevardi, and Fundy Blue!
Our January 2nd question is What are your favorite and least favorite questions people ask you about your writing?
The question I dislike the most but hear often is are you still writing? That’s a sure sign they haven’t Googled me, looked me up on Amazon and they certainly aren’t reading me. Yeah, yeah, I know I’m putting all the work on them. The way I see it (and like it) is if they do what they’re supposed to do (track me down) then I won’t have to do what I should be doing (promote myself and my books!) I really have a rough time promoting myself.
Questions I’d like to hear are:
Hey, I was thinking about you the other day and Googled your name. You’re really out there, girl! How did I miss all the excitement in your life? Now that would make me laugh out loud! I might even strut a little.
Or this question:
I can’t get your first book out of my mind. It was such a fun novel, I really loved all the Elvis trivia. Have you thought about writing a sequel?
Yes, a prequel and a sequel, but no, my Elvis days are over.
Answering questions about our work is part of the job–regardless of whether they’re good questions or bad questions. Promotion, advertising, doing interviews and blog hops is expected. Every contract I’ve signed has included a paragraph about promoting the project.
Having interviewed authors for Southern Writers Magazine for almost seven years, I noticed how some authors have a knack (a personality) for answering questions and others come across dull as dirt. Maybe the dull ones are trying to come across as serious professionals. Then again, maybe they just have no personality or humor about them. Answering questions seems like an easy task but as an interviewer, I believe there’s an art to it. We all need to learn how to answer questions in a way that encourages the reader to find us interesting and want to know us better. We should put personality in our answers.
In 2019, I hope to write, sell and answer a lot of questions. How about you?
This post is part of the Insecure Writer’s Support Group blog hop. The first Wednesday of every month is Insecure Writer’s Support Group day. We Members talk about our fears, insecurities, dreams and failures and our inspirations. We encourage each other.
The post card reminds me how important it is to know our characters. SK is not only a great story teller but his characters are memorable.
It’s time for another group posting of the Insecure Writer’s Support Group! We post the first Wednesday of every month. Our purpose is to share and encourage. I hope my post does just that.
Every month, we announce a question that members can answer in their IWSG post. These questions often offer advice or insight through personal experience. This month the question is:
How has your creativity in life evolved since you began writing?
An interesting question. Sometimes I don’t think I’ve evolved at all and at other times, I’m amazed at what I’ve accomplished. Oh, certainly no best sellers—only one real novel (for Harlequin) with a scattering of poems, short stories, articles and novellas.
When I look back at my life I see the steps I took that got me to where I am today: Content and able to help/mentor others.
Here’s my path:
I began by reading the trade magazines. I checked them out at the library and read every word from cover to cover—even the classified ads. Today, we have wonderful writing blogs that educate and inform us.
I’m a firm believer in writing or trying to write a number of different things. How else do you learn what you’re good at or what you might truly love? Of course, you might be like me and love it all.
I’ve often said writing short is a lesson to learn well because it teaches us to make every word count. Even today I search magazines for opportunities to write fillers, jokes, and short, short personal stories. I love chasing the markets. It often pays off.
I never have passed up free magazines in restaurants and book stores. We come home from vacation with loads of paper. You never know when you might come across an opportunity.
I’m a big believer in networking. In junior college, my journalism teacher’s son was an editor for a cheerleading magazine. I sold him my very first article. Of course, he rewrote the whole thing but I got paid and that’s how I learned what editors do. At work, I learned that my boss had a brother who was editor of an inflight magazine. I was hired to do a few articles for him. And got paid. My title was “contributing editor’ and I thought I’d “arrived.”
I hadn’t arrived so I quit my job and went back to college to major in English and Journalism. I was cut down to size by a frustrated journalism teacher, but I was encouraged to try my hand at a novel by an English professor. That encouragement rings in my ears today!
Part of evolving is knowing where we want to go, but not being afraid to take detours. And not being afraid to fail.
Because I needed other writers, I started a writer’s group. We met monthly, reading and critiquing each other’s work, and often caravanning to conferences. A good support group is priceless.
Back then, I didn’t believe in self-publishing and I preached against it to everyone. Today, self-publishing, indie-publishing, small presses—are there for us all. I still say don’t put all your “words” into one basket. Don’t write off traditional publishing because you can make more money doing it yourself. Spread your talent. Spielberg might amble through B&N and catch a glimpse of your traditionally pubbed book, pick it up and …. Stranger things have happened.
And don’t think you’re wasting your time by writing flash fiction for a contest or an article for FREE. It all counts. It all matters in your writing journey.
Don’t be afraid! I can do anything I put my mind to and you can too. I’ve spoken at conferences, judged contests, mentored new writers, interviewed best-selling authors, been editor of a national newsletter and president of two writers’ groups. These are things I never imagined I would do.
There has never been a better time to write and publish. I look back at all the times I felt discouraged and wanted to quit—did quit—and I can honestly say, DON’T. You lose ground. Writing and publishing changes daily. Hang in there, struggle through, and change with it. At some point, it will change to your advantage. I can promise you that!
How has my creativity in life evolved since I began writing?
I’m glad you asked.
Last year I wrote a play and saw it performed on my church’s stage. I’ve never written a play.
I have arrived!
Today is IWSG Day. IWSG stand for Insecure Writers Support Group and was founded by Alex J. Cavanaugh. The purpose of IWSG 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! You can follow other IWSG members here or on twitter using the hashtag #IWSG. We also have a Facebook page.
Today our question is How do you find the time to write in your busy day?
We all know the answer to that: we just do it, because we all find time to do what we really want to do. Okay, I know you’re all expecting a better answer than that, aren’t you?
Being retired, I guess it’s pretty easy for me to find time to write, so let me tell you about a guy I met a few weeks ago at the Killer Nashville Conference.
Robert Randisi (standing beside KN founder Clay Stafford and dressed in the I’m a Big Deal tee) writes something like 25 books a year. He’s written close to 700 books with 15 pseudonyms. He was born with the ability to write fast and works on two books at a time. Specifically, twenty pages of a western during the morning and 20 pages of a mystery at night. Sounds insane, doesn’t it? I can’t imagine. Well, yes, I can imagine and it sounds mentally painful. Oh, how I wish I could do it!
Randisi says he has a “natural speed” and if he slows down he can’t get anything done. He doesn’t call it a talent. He says he has an ability. He can write 10 pages in one hour.
Quoting from my notes, he says character comes first and he never writes from an outline. Don’t ask him where he gets his ideas:
“If you can’t open your eyes each morning and see an idea, you shouldn’t be writing.”
Randisi believes in writing his stories all the way through. No revision as he writes but overall, very little rewriting. Someone asked what he did if he realized he made a mistake while writing the story—did he go back and change it?
No, he doesn’t. He explained that if he sends his cowboy out of the boarding house without his gun, instead of rewriting the scene, his character says, “Dang, I forgot my gun,” and goes back to get it. It works for him and adds to his word count.
He’s often invited to participate in anthologies. He told us that once he finishes the short story, he’ll write it as a novel. No, he doesn’t change names, plot or anything … he just makes it a bigger story.
Robert Randisi co-founded Mystery Scene Magazine around 1985. (I’ve been a subscriber off and on for years. Check it out.) He also co-founded American Crime Writers League, founded The Private Eye Writers of American and created the Shamus Award which is awarded by the PWA for the best detective fiction genre novels and short stories of the year.
As you’ve figured out by now, Randisi doesn’t waste his time. Most of us do. No, he doesn’t have little feet padding through the house, and yes, he’s been accused of being a hack. From his own lips:
“I view the word hack as a good thing.”
We should take a few pointers from Robert Randisi. Focus. Write. Don’t mess around with editing as we go. By his own admission he’s not a wordsmith—he’s a storyteller. What are you? Ever thought about it?
I can find nothing wrong with the Randisi writing method. I picked up one of his books in his Rat Pack series and it yanked me in and kept me reading. The guy knows what he’s doing.
And he’s a good guy. Granted, he was perplexing at the conference. An enigma. We stared at him as if he might, at any point, laugh and say “Gotcha! No one can write 40 pages a day!” He never did.
He answered our questions over and over again—the same questions put to him in several different ways. We didn’t understand him. We still don’t.
Doesn’t matter though, because while we write and revise and think awhile and run to the kitchen for a snack, blog and tweet and post on Facebook (he does none of those things) he’s pounding the keys. And he doesn’t understand us, either.
When asked how he wants to be remembered, Randisi said: “As someone who told a good story and usually did
the right thing for the right reason.”
Wow, Robert Randisi. He really is a big deal. I liked him a lot.
Take a look at his latest book, The Honkey Tonk Big Hoss Boogie. Set in Nashville, it’s gotta be a good read.
Today is IWSG Day. IWSG stand for Insecure Writers Support Group and was founded by Alex J. Cavanaugh. The purpose of IWSG 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! You can follow other IWSG members here or on twitter using the hashtag #IWSG. We also have a Facebook page.
Today’s IWSG question is: What was your very first piece of writing as an aspiring writer? Where is it now? Collecting dust or has it been published?
I loved writing in high school and like most teens, had a notebook full of poems, but I became serious during the days of Erica Jong’s Fear of Flying. I remember reading a review that labeled her book confessional. My writing became confessional too. Easier to exaggerate what I knew than to create characters and a plot I didn’t know.
I wrote a short story for Redbook’s annual fiction contest and received a wonderful, personal letter from the editor, but ultimately a rejection. Later, another letter came asking for another read, but once again it was rejected. At that point in my writing I didn’t understand that I should give each character motivation.
In a college independent studies class, I wrote a novel based loosely (very loosely) on my wild, impulsive life. I never tried to market it to a publisher. My character had motivation, but she didn’t have introspection, or maybe it’s called Deep POV these days.
Both the short story and the novel are packed away. This post makes me wonder if I should destroy them.
The first thing I published was a prayer in True Story magazine. It was called Prayer from a Divorced Woman and I was paid $25.00. No byline—just my initials. It didn’t matter. That was enough encouragement to last me a lifetime.
I’ve been writing for newspapers and magazines off and on for 40+ years. Fiction will always be my first love but it’s a challenge. There are rules I break that are totally unacceptable. Rules I know nothing about. Rules I plain don’t like. Crazy rules I don’t understand. There are So. Many. Rules.
I’ve answered the IWSG question, now answer one for me:
What makes good writing?
Some readers throw a book across the room if the author tells more than s/he shows. The word said is a thing of the past because attributions are interruptions and telling. Set the scene and POV at the beginning of each chapter because your reader might get lost. Learn how to write deep POV. If you don’t understand deep POV, here’s an excellent blog post explaining exactly what it is. Join me in my frustration.
Think about my question and the best of the best books you’ve read lately then tell me what makes writing good? Following the rules or following the heart rhythm of your story?