Wednesday, September 6, 2017

#IWSG - Dynamite blog post in three...two...one....

I know I blogged yesterday, but I'm just bursting with exciting information for IWSG day, today, so...BUCKLE UP!!!!


It’s time for another group posting of the 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. We encourage everyone to visit at least a dozen new blogs and leave a comment. Your words might be the encouragement someone needs.

The awesome co-hosts today are Tyrean Martinson, Tara Tyler, Raimey Gallant, and Beverly Stowe McClure!


September’s optional question - Have you ever surprised yourself with your writing? For example, by trying a new genre you didn't think you'd be comfortable in?

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Honestly, sometimes I go back and read something and I just can't believe that I even wrote it!
Not that it's particularly awesome writing, just that the words are almost foreign to me or that the plot points actually worked or that the character said something funny. And I'm like...really? I wrote that? That rocks!
How about you?
***

September marks six years for the IWSG group and four years for the website. You know what that means…

The annual IWSG Anthology Contest!


Eligibility: Any member of the Insecure Writer’s Support Group is encouraged to enter – blogging or Facebook member. The story must be previously unpublished. Entry is free.

Word count: 3500-6000

Genre: Mystery/Crime/Thriller

Theme: Tick Tock. The story revolves around a clock, is time sensitive, or has something about a specific time. This theme has plenty of scope and we’re open to pretty much anything along these lines. No erotica, R-rated language, or graphic violence.

Story deadline: November 1st 2017

How to enter: Send your polished, formatted, previously unpublished story to admin @ insecurewriterssupportgroup.com before the deadline passes. Please include your contact details, your social links, and if you are part of the Blogging or Facebook IWSG group.

Judging: The IWSG admins will create a shortlist of the best stories. The shortlist will then be sent to our official judges:

Elizabeth S. Craig writes cozy mystery series for Penguin Random House, Midnight Ink, and independently. She curates links on Twitter as @elizabethscraig that are later shared in the free search engine Writers Knowledge Base.

Anne Hawkins is a partner in John Hawkins & Associates, Inc., New York. Founded in 1893 by Paul R. Reynolds, it is the oldest literary agency in the country. She works with mainstream literary and commercial fiction, including mystery, suspense, and thrillers and a wide variety of serious non-fiction, particularly history, politics, biography, science, and natural history. A number of her books have gained distinction through award nominations, book-to-film contracts, significant foreign rights sales, major book club selections, or placement on the New York Times bestseller list. Anne Hawkins is a member of the Association of Authors’ Representatives.

Candace Havens is the Editorial Director of Covet has written multiple novels for Berkley, Entangled and Harlequin. Her books have received nominations for the RITA’s, Holt Medallion and Write Touch Reader Awards. She is one of the nation’s leading entertainment journalists, runs a free online writing workshop, and teaches comprehensive writing class.

Author, Public Speaker, and Executive Producer, Lynn Tincher was born just outside of Louisville, Kentucky in the beautiful city of La Grange. She has written four books, with the fifth one currently in the making. Her first book, Afterthoughts was optioned for movie production by Kilted Pictures and Dancing Forward Productions in Los Angeles. It is currently in pre-production with plans to shoot in Louisville, Kentucky very soon.

Ion Newcombe is the editor and publisher of AntipodeanSF, Australia's longest running online speculative fiction magazine, regularly issued since January 1998. His qualifications and employment range from horticulture through electronics into literature and communications.

Patricia (Pat) Stoltey is the author of four crime fiction novels published by Five Star/Cengage including a historical mystery called Wishing Caswell Dead (https://www.amazon.com/Wishing-Caswell-Dead-Patricia-Stoltey/dp/1432834401/) (December 2017). She lives in Northern Colorado with her husband Bill, Sassy Dog, and Katie Cat. To learn more about Patricia and her books, visit her website/blog, Facebook, and Twitter.

Mason Canyon had a love of books since childhood encouraged by a mother who loved to read. A 30+year career in journalism fueled her desire to know what a story is all about. Blogging at Thoughts in Progress since 2009 and operating MC Book Tours for over a year. Loves to read and share great stories with others. MC Book Tours

Prizes: The winning stories will be edited and published by Freedom Fox Press next year in the IWSG anthology. Authors will receive royalties on books sold, both print and eBook. The top story will have the honor of giving the anthology its title.

We’re excited to see the creativity and enthusiasm that’s such a part of this group put into action. So don your creative caps and start writing. And spread the word! 




 






Don’t forget that October 4 is the Show Us Your Writer Insecurity Contest! 

On Wednesday, October 4 (IWSG Day), post a photo of yourself (or your alter ego) with any of the IWSG swag or with the IWSG logo. Then leave a comment that day at either the IWSG website’s post or the IWSG Facebook post directing us to your photo. (All blog, Facebook, Goodreads, and newsletter members welcome, but photo must be posted on a blog or Facebook to qualify.)
 

There are some cool prizes to be had!

Plus the IWSG Writing For Profit will be available by that time.

And finally, don’t forget to submit your news to the IWSG Newsletter – free advertising for your new releases, sales, and more. Contact Christine Rains or send directly to the IWSG email address.

16 comments:

  1. I feel the same way about my writing. Don't know who wrote those four books because it doesn't seem like me.
    Contest is going to rock!

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  2. It can be a great feeling when you read something you didn't think you were good enough to write, especially when your current efforts seem hopeless!

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  3. "I wrote that? That rocks!" <---Love that. That's a great feeling/reaction to have about your writing. We need that feeling.

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  4. I love that you look back with so much excitement for your writing! That's awesome! It's great when those moments happen.

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  5. Most of my books have been out so long I doubt I'd say anything about them rocks now.

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  6. I love that surprise thing. Last week I actually ran across my half finished book I started (long hand) after finishing my first.I vaguely remember it. It was half a book, after all. The bigger surprises are the story ideas I find tucked into notebooks regularly.

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  7. When I read what you wrote about your own words being foreign to you, I had to nod. I'm convinced that my brain does switch synaptic gears when I'm creating a story. It leaves my list-making, planning brain at idle and I have no idea what's going down on that page.

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  8. That must be a wonderful feeling. I'm more in the "well, it's better than I remember it" camp. But I'm totally struggling with my author self-confidence, so that makes sense.

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  9. I love going back and reading something I wrote to be amazed by it. Yay for the next IWSG contest! It's going to be fantastic. Thanks for the newsletter mention. I may have to go out and scout for some news, because I do love a section where we celebrate our members.

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  10. I'm glad that you answered the question that way because it was similar to what I said about my own writing. Now I feel a little more normal and not like someone who is overly taken in by myself.

    Arlee Bird
    Tossing It Out

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  11. In the posts I've read for this #IWSG, this seems to be the most common idea. And I agree--I feel the same way!

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  12. I haven't written enough to look back like you and feel so good about what I wrote. Hopefully some day I will.

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  13. Being surprised by your writing is one of the best things about writing. It's nice when it feels like the story (or the characters) takes on a life of its own, especially because then the writing almost seems a little easier at that point.

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  14. It's always a good feeling when you reread something you wrote and it blows you away. =)

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  15. I forgot about the optional question. It's been so long since I participated. But, yes ... I know the exact feeling. It's such an adrenaline rush. If writer's get a writer's high similar to a runner's 🏃 high, when they are in a certain zone, that's how I would describe it. This intoxicated feeling overcomes me while reading a captivating scene that's lured me into the story. But I don't recognize the voice, the scene, or the writing . It's usually something I've put away for a while, like the first part of a novel and I haven't read it in a long time ... not since finishing the manuscript then putting it all away for a month or so before yanking it back out for the dreaded first round of revisions. I'll be beating myself up for the crap I just wrote in the final chapters and then I'm both dazzled and shocked I wrote what I'm now reading. Was it really me? Did I have a little vino that night, lol? But, it's a wonderful feeling and it restores my mutilated self confidence. Glad you brought this up.

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  16. Hi Heather - I'm amazed at what I have written and then the comments pointing things out to me that they've enjoyed - always surprises me. It's wonderful that we can develop as writers, then have groups like the IWSG to help us through ... cheers Hilary

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