IWSG #56: Just Trudging Along

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This post was written for the Insecure Writer’s Support Group where we share our encouragement or insecurities on the first Wednesday of the month, to join the group or find out more click here.

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Co-Hosts:

Patricia Lynne | Lisa Buie-Collard | Kim Lajevardi | Fundy Blue

OPTIONAL Question: What are your favorite and least favorite questions people ask you about your writing?

My favorite question: Can I read your work?

It’s exciting and frightening (even now) and a leap of faith into the abyss. I get mixed reactions which can be hurtful, helpful and depend completely on the reader’s ability to share their thoughts constructively.

Wattpad has helped with this—a lot.

Worst question: Why do you keep going?

The answer is I don’t know.

I’m in the dumps when it comes to my writing. It’s hard to stay positive when the rejections keep coming. All my fault. I’m the one submitting. Anyway, so things have been tough. I keep writing though and that is good.

I’m struggling with my next project big time and don’t expect what I’m working on to go anywhere, but still keep going.

I’m like the mule that sees the carrot and knows it’s a trick. I don’t have the heart to stop. It would make it all too real. And the worst part is then I won’t move forward.

Sorry for being a downer this round. I just can’t help it.

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IWSG #55: I Want to be a Diverse Writer

This post was written for the Insecure Writer’s Support Group where we share our encouragement or insecurities on the first Wednesday of the month, to join the group or find out more click here.

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OPTIONAL IWSG DAY QUESTION: 

What are five objects we’d find in your writing space?

Coffee, bobble-head Groot, dog treats, pen, and notepad

Co-Hosts:

  J.H. Moncrieff | Tonja Drecker | Patsy Collins | Chrys Fey!

i’M NOT GOOD AT Diverse writing BUT i want to learn:

I read about diversity all over the place. And I support all people of any belief system, orientation, challenge and heritage. I won’t refer to the news (although I just have) for the reasons I want to write about all types of people.

I’m a person of love. I wish everyone was.

I don’t want to hurt or offend anyone. In my clumsy way of learning, I’m afraid of offending someone or being misquoted in some hateful way.  

I’m  not a weapon.

That said, it’s time to put on my big-girl pants.

I’m asking for VOLUNTEERS to correct me:

• I need training to use the right words
• I need to see where I go wrong and how to fix it
• I need to be able to fail so I can succeed
• I’m already sensitive but I need to see through another’s eyes

I’m white in non-diverse community and have no idea what I’m doing but doing it anyway. Let’s put some diversity on the page and widen our minds.

Thanks for the support.

Some Reading For All of Us:

• http://www.springhole.net/writing/offensivemistakes.htm
• http://www.springhole.net/writing/more-racial-diversity.htm
• https://blog.leeandlow.com/2014/03/26/is-my-character-black-enough-advice-on-writing-cross-culturally/
• http://writing.umn.edu/sws/quickhelp/grammar/nonbinary.html
• https://uwm.edu/lgbtrc/support/gender-pronouns/
• https://www.bbc.com/news/blogs-news-from-elsewhere-27904621
• http://www.publishingcrawl.com/2013/10/23/writing-diverse-fiction-a-practical-guide/
• http://disabilityintersections.com/2014/01/lack-of-representation-in-fiction-why-is-the-disabled-character-always-a-cisgender-heterosexual-white-man/
• https://selfpublishingadvice.org/five-steps-to-writing-diversity-right-yen-ooi/
• http://www.writersdigest.com/editor-blogs/questions-and-quandaries/problem-sensitivity-readers-isnt-think
• https://www.publishersweekly.com/pw/by-topic/columns-and-blogs/soapbox/article/77726-sensitivity-readers-what-are-they-good-for-a-lot.html

IWSG 54: Wattpad and the Publishing Industry

This post was written for the Insecure Writer’s Support Group where we share our encouragement or insecurities on the first Wednesday of the month, to join the group or find out more click here.

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Co-Hosts:

Ellen @ The Cynical Sailor | Ann V. Friend | JQ Rose | Elizabeth Seckman

OPTIONAL IWSG Day Question: 

How has your creativity in life evolved since you began writing?

Answer: Pretty much like most writers. I couldn’t keep it in. Self expression kept flowing. Funny thing was, I thought everyone did this. I didn’t feel special or unique. It wasn’t until my sister told me it was hard for her to put her thoughts down that I woke up.

Not everyone does (or wants to do) what we do and that makes us special. And it brought us together and that’s something good too.

Now I have a question?

Any of you get involved with Wattpad? Any tips or suggestions would be very welcome around now.

What brought me to Wattpad?

As you know my publisher closed their doors. And for a long time I didn’t do anything about it. It could have been shock, or afraid of what to do next. Self publishing isn’t really for me and the returned work were all shorts. So there was that.

Then it occurred to me I could post them as free reads on Wattpad.

I’ve been given my rights by three different publishers

Great publishers—J Taylor Publishing, Roane Publishing, and Three Worlds Press—are all closed. It’s broken my confidence and my heart. They taught me the basics and I’m so grateful. It never occurred to me they’d not be around forever.

The industry is tough. Not much to add there.

Although I’ve posted on Wattpad, I wonder if I’ve got what it takes. (Submitting to agents is hard and full of rejections passes. It’s taking its toll.)

Any suggestions on how to encourage readers/followers on Wattpad, please share. I could use an ego boost today.

IWSG 53: SCATTERED, SCARED, AND SO SLOW IT HURTS

This post was written for the Insecure Writer’s Support Group where we share our encouragement or insecurities on the first Wednesday of the month, to join the group or find out more click here.

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OPTIONAL IWSG Day Question: How do major life events affect your writing? Has writing ever helped you through something?

I wouldn’t have made it out of my teen years without being able to vent through writing. And after a while the venting led to figuring out or thinking through my troubles. Sometimes even solving an issue. 😉

Co-Hosts:  

Dolorah @ Book Lover  | Christopher D. Votey | Tanya Miranda | Chemist Ken!

I have a few things on my mind this month. One: no rejections since my last post. (On the other hand, no requests either.) Two: Roane Publishing closed its doors as of Sept 30th. (They were my publisher and their closing makes me sad.)

Three: I discovered Overdrive.

For all of you that knew…. Best kept secret ever.

For those who don’t know, OverDrive is a way to borrow ebooks, audio books, videos, and magazines etc from your local library. In Canada we need to use an app. For those of you in the states, OverDrive will work on your Kindle.

Using Overdrive led to four.

Four: Being Scattered, Scared, and So Slow  it Hurts.

OverDrive helped me get off my behind and start checking out all the middle grade stories I’ve been meaning to read. That’s when I discovered Howard Walllace PI. Great read for the young readers of the world.

It’s a middle grade detective story and  I am quite upset.

You see I had this grand plan with my own middle grade detective story. I’m pretty sure I’ll need to abandon it. My main character was a Sam Spade wannabe.

Hers is a Sam Spade, Nick Charles, Mike Hammer, etc wannabe. She covered them all.

The bottom line is she wrote him first and  I’m not sure how people would see mine if I pursued it. Would they think I’m a copy cat? Sure some books have common elements. Cozies have cats, cutzie names, foodies, crafties, or as of lately–marinas. Love stories have, well, have love.

It’s not like I’m trying to sell the idea or even the book. I’ve waited so long. It serves me right. To top it off my book isn’t finished….

And her book is great. I loved it. I really did. (Addition: I’m reading the second one now and it’s awesome too.)

I guess that’s my trouble

Jealously. And feeling so insecure.

Logic tells me to stop feeling bad and I’m sure over time I will. Until then though…

What about you? Anyone come up with something similar you were writing? How did you cope?

IWSG 52 QUERYING REJECTION: FORM LETTERS

This post was written for the Insecure Writer’s Support Group where we share our encouragement or insecurities on the first Wednesday of the month, to join the group or find out more click here.

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OUR HOSTS THIS MONTH:

Toi Thomas | T. Powell Coltrin | M.J. Fifield | Tara Tyler

OPTIONAL IWSG DAY QUESTION:

What publishing path are you considering/did you take, and why?

Short answer: I’m going traditional but I’ve mostly submitted to indie publishers. Why for the experience and creds. Now, I’m looking at landing an agent. Form rejections galore so far, but my journey has just begun. Below is what I’ve been considering since my hunt has begun.

FORM LETTERS

What does it mean when an agent (reader) doesn’t connect?

I didn’t know so I searched the web for insightful advice.

Turns out that not connecting was a common rejection in a form letter. I didn’t know I was getting form letters until I checked Agent Comments in QueryTracker. Every letter was there.

One point I’d like to make is the majority of them were kind and encouraging. They didn’t have to write them like that and I know it.

I also revamped my query package and am trying again.

Any of you find an agent using the slush pile? Care to share how it went.