Jessica Ferguson

Author, Writing Coach, Speaker

IWSG Day: 31 Days

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Insecure Writers Support Group BadgeToday is IWSG Day because it’s the first Wednesday in June.  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 so I hope you get something out of this mini-post.

The time here in Lake Charles, Louisiana is 12:40. Yes, after midnight. Once again I’m burning the midnight oil trying to meet a deadline—the IWSG deadline. My days run together … I thought it was Monday, not Tuesday.

I’ve been wondering what everyone has done since the A to Z Challenge? I’ve been writing and traveling. Ready to stay home for awhile.

My coaching client is still a participant in the Kindle Scout Publishing competition. She has eight days left if you’d like to take a look at the first few chapters of The Wrong and nominate it for a contract. I’m thrilled that she finished her book and submitted to the Amazon Kindle Scout Publishing Program. Believe it or not, that takes a lot of courage. I don’t know that I The Wrongwould have the courage to do it with any one of my novels. She put herself out there. Here’s the link if you want to offer encouragement by voting. It’s simple as pie but after you nominate, you’ll have to sign in to Amazon with your password.

Thirty-one days have passed since our A to Z Challenge. That’s enough time to write a novella, several articles, plot and outline a book or take an online class. No, I haven’t accomplished all those things …

My novella is ready for revision but I’m dragging my feet for some reason. It’s been critiqued by one person—two more coming up. I’ve written two articles. Both will come out in July. I’ve done a lot of … thinking, wishing, hoping and planning. Does that count for anything?

How have you spent the last 31 days? Did you waste them or make a little headway toward that goal or dream?

No judgment or condemnation here if you’ve been resting on your laurels; I’ve been known to do that too. And if you’re walking around looking dazed and confused, well, I know you’re plotting a great idea in your head. Right?

So sound-off, gang: What have you been doing these 31 days? Share!

 

E is for Encouragement

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Since this is the 5th day of our A to Z Challenge and IWSG Day, I hope it’s okay that my blog post serves two purposes: It does have to do with Encouragement which is the premise behind IWSG. So here we go …

Back in 2008 I submitted a couple of devotionals to an anthology called Daily Devotions for Writers. I thought I’d reprint one here because there’s a lesson to be learned from the experience I wrote about. If any of you have the book, the devo is on page 177.

***

“My assignment was to interview women in Toastmasters, a nonprofit organization that helps develop public speaking and leadership skills. I’d pitched the idea to my editor with an ulterior motive. I wanted to learn for myself what Toastmasters was all about—with no commitment to stand up and speak.

While I talked with several ladies in the club, the president listened. Finally, he spoke. “Would you be interested in helping me start a commercial writer’s program through the continuing education department at my college?”

I immediately lapsed into I’m-not-smart-enough-I-know-nothing-you-can find-someone-better-than-me mode. The expression that crossed his face sickened me. Because I had such little confidence in myself, his opinion of me changed in a split second.

While writing the article, I read and reread how Toastmasters helped each woman gain confidence, and how that confidence had spilled over into her personal and professional life. I visited another meeting to take copies of the published article. When the club president asked me again to help create a commercial writing program at his college, I accepted with confidence.”

Dear Lord, thank you for being a God of second chances. Help me remember that you are my courage.

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Okay, how many of you have turned down a writing assignment (or anything) because you didn’t think you could do the job? daily devos for writers

Don’t!

You can do anything you set your mind to—though I don’t recommend surgery if you aren’t a doctor. Seriously, we have so many learning tools at our fingertips—just Google or go to YouTube. Ask friends in your writing groups. If you don’t know how to interview, then watch some podcasts or C-Span. Can’t write an article? Read and dissect some. There are also online writing classes–some of them FREE.  There’s always a way to learn…how to paint, how to knit, how to speak.

(A few weeks ago I watched a Youtube video on spray paint art. Fascinating, and who knows how I’ll use this new found knowledge!)

I encourage you to say yes to every opportunity that comes your way. That’s how you learn, and it pays off in the long run. I started the writing program with the college: it consisted of nothing more than determining what I thought new writers would like to learn, finding other writers with the expertise to teach it and scheduling. I met some fine writers, had a lot of fun and taught my first online classes. I learned a lot too, but, if I had stuck with my pitiful I-can’t- attitude— I might still be an insecure whiney Jessy today.

So, tell me, are you going to do it? Take a step of faith and say YES to all those opportunities that come your way? I want to hear about it! And if I can help… holler at me!