Category: IWSG

One Wish

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. Post your thoughts on your own blog. Talk about your doubts and the fears you have conquered. Discuss your struggles and triumphs. Offer a word of encouragement for others who are struggling. The awesome co-hosts for the April 3 posting of the IWSG are J.H. Moncrieff, Natalie Aguirre, Patsy Collins, and Chemist Ken!

Happy April! I nearly forgot to post today, mostly because my work schedule changed and I was confused about what day it was. I can apparently write entire books but I can’t keep track of the day of the week. 😉 But here I am!

I wasn’t nearly as productive in March as I wanted to be, so I’m hoping April will be better. I’ve started working on a new book but I was hoping to be much farther along with it–and I would have been, except for a lot of procrastination. My goal for spring is to ‘spring’ into action more and write, write, write instead of spending so much time distracting myself. We’ll see if my enthusiasm blooms with the flowers this month.

April 3 question: If you could use a wish to help you write just ONE scene/chapter of your book, which one would it be? (examples: fight scene / first kiss scene / death scene / chase scene / first chapter / middle chapter / end chapter, etc.)

I think I would use my wish on any climactic scene that I write. I’m always afraid the peak of the story won’t live up to the reader’s expectation when they finally get to it. I know what I want to write while I’m aiming for it, and it seems really dramatic in my head, but when I write it, it’s usually nowhere near as sweeping and all-consuming  as I hoped it would be. Usually, I can kind of get what I expected, but I’m always worried about it not meeting the hype I’ve been working up to.

How about you? What scene would you like help writing?

Waiting For Spring

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. Post your thoughts on your own blog. Talk about your doubts and the fears you have conquered. Discuss your struggles and triumphs. Offer a word of encouragement for others who are struggling. The awesome co-hosts for the March 6 posting of the IWSG are Fundy Blue, Beverly Stowe McClure, Erika Beebe, and Lisa Buie-Collard!

Happy March! I’m eagerly awaiting the coming of spring–I’m thoroughly done with the cold and snow now, thank you very much. How’s the weather where you are?

Let’s see, what am I insecure about this month? I just sent off a new submission to my publisher (the sequel to Hidden) so I’m chewing my nails waiting for an answer. In the meantime I’m trying to work on another book, both to keep myself distracted and keep the ball rolling. I feel like I’m struggling to do anything creative-wise lately, though. Just a lot of mental blocks at the moment. I know the best way over them is through, but it just seems so hard. And I’ve been epically lazy, too. I’m sure the laziness is only making the blocks worse, so it’s a vicious cycle. I need to focus and put more effort in. It’s not a matter of not having the time, it’s using the time I have wisely instead of procrastinating.

Ah, I love this once-a-month chance to whine and moan and stomp my feet. 🙂

March 6 question – Whose perspective do you like to write from best, the hero (protagonist) or the villain (antagonist)? And why?

I don’t think I’ve ever written from the antagonist’s point of view, so I’d have to say the protagonist. However, I do like stories, and TV shows, and movies, where the antagonist is the main character, or where we at least get a big first-hand view of their side of the story. I’m a sucker for a good anti-hero. I just haven’t written one.

How about you? Which do you like to write–or which do you enjoy in other people’s art?

Moving On

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. Post your thoughts on your own blog. Talk about your doubts and the fears you have conquered. Discuss your struggles and triumphs. Offer a word of encouragement for others who are struggling. The awesome co-hosts for the February 6 posting of the IWSG are Raimey Gallant, Natalie Aguirre, CV Grehan, and Michelle Wallace!

February is upon us. Happy (early) Valentine’s Day! Apart from the usual flogging myself to write more, edit more, publish more, I’m not feeling particularly insecure this month. At least, not about any one specific thing. Insecurity is the background noise of my writer’s life, so I’m used to that part by now.

I want to make it a great 2019 and I’m trying to focus on that right now. January was an absolute shit show for me professionally (as in my day job) and personally, so I’m going to pretend January was just a trial month, now the real subscription for the year starts. I’m also choosing to believe all the bad stuff got itself over with right away in January, so the rest of the year will be smooth sailing. I’d rather do it that way anyway, get it over with at once instead of stretching it out over the whole year!

How was your January? Are you ready for the rest of 2019?

February 6 question – Besides writing what other creative outlets do you have?

I’ve definitely talked about the fact before that I’m simply not creatively inclined outside of writing. At least, not in ways most people think when they think of ‘creative’ things. I like to do interior decorating, but for my own tastes, I doubt I could design a space for anyone else. So, I love decorating my own house. Sometimes I enjoy cooking. I’ve been threatening to try out candle making for a few years now, so maybe this will be the year I finally give it a go. I’m not very handy or crafty, either.

What outlets do you have?

Will a Star Ever Be Born?

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. Post your thoughts on your own blog. Talk about your doubts and the fears you have conquered. Discuss your struggles and triumphs. Offer a word of encouragement for others who are struggling. The awesome co-hosts for the January 2 posting of the IWSG are Patricia Lynne, Lisa Buie-Collard, Kim Lajevardi, and Fundy Blue!

Happy New Year! I missed the IWSG last month for the first time ever, because life was keeping me away from blogging (and writing) but I’ve promised myself this year I’m going to be more diligent about both–call it a resolution, if you will. I tend to be a happier person when I’m getting words down, whether they be in stories or blog posts–and I’m determined 2019 will be happy!

I guess my insecurity this month is focusing on the new year–another writing year–and wondering if I’m EVER gonna at least make a living off it. I’ve got a lot of books published but I’m nowhere near making enough money off them to pay the bills, which is what I want eventually. I know sometimes it takes a lot of books, a lot of hard work, and a big old dash of luck, but it gets frustrating. It gets disheartening. Sometimes I ask why am I still doing this, when it feels like I’m getting nowhere? Of course, I know if I DON’T keep doing it, that’s a surefire way to get nowhere forever. So…I’ll keep on keeping on. I don’t want to be famous, I just want to make a career of it!

Well, okay, it would be nice to be famous too. But that’s not the actual goal.

Do you ever get frustrated and disheartened?

January 2 question – What are your favorite and least favorite questions people ask you about your writing?

Hmm, well, I don’t mind anyone wanting to talk to me about writing. It’s my favorite subject, after all. I guess my favorite questions focus on specific aspects of my books or my writing techniques–I love to talk shop. I love when non-writers are curious and want to know when I devote time to my writing, how I do it, and how I come up with ideas. I’m always very flattered and grateful when someone is genuinely curious about my writing.

Least favorite–I would have to say, the impossible questions. When someone asks me “can you tell me how to write a book?” (I’ve gotten that one a few times!) it’s not a question I can easily, or even non-easily, answer. It’s a huge, complicated process and it takes a lot of work and practice. Also, everyone writes a book their own way. And, not a question, but I greatly dislike the “I have an idea for your next book!” conversation. I can’t just write any old thing, and most of the time their ideas aren’t even in the generes I write. I appreciate it, but no thanks.

I hope everyone had a great holiday season! Happy New Year!

Return on Investment

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. Post your thoughts on your own blog. Talk about your doubts and the fears you have conquered. Discuss your struggles and triumphs. Offer a word of encouragement for others who are struggling. The awesome co-hosts for the November 7 posting of the IWSG are Ellen @ The Cynical Sailor, Ann V. Friend, JQ Rose, and Elizabeth Seckman!

November is here! I can’t believe this year is almost over and the holidays are just around the corner. My son’s birthday is also at the end of November so it’s always a jam-packed couple of months for me. The leaves are finally changing in full force here and it FEELS like fall at last. I love fall!

Hmm, what am I insecure about this month?

Not so much insecure as nervous, really–I just sank a lot of promotional and advertising money into my latest release. Mostly, because this is the first time in my official writing career (I realize it’s not even been 4 years since the release of my first book and that boggles my mind–it seems like longer!) that I’ve been in a financial position to do so. I’m not sure what will happen. Maybe it won’t matter a lick and it’ll be wasted money, and I’ll have learned a lesson. I don’t expect to be catapulted into bestseller status or anything, but I’d like to see some return. I guess we’ll see how it turns out!

Plus, I’m terrible at self-promotion and it suits me to pay someone else to do it. Not to mention the people I’m paying have access to promotional avenues that I don’t. At least, at the end of the day, I can feel like I spent my money on something useful instead of buying something frivolous with it. 😀 Right? Right?!

November 7 question – How has your creativity in life evolved since you began writing?

I’ve always been a writer, since I was a teenager, so I don’t think my creativity in other areas has changed much. It’s always been part of who I am. I think (or hope) I’m a much BETTER writer now and I understand the process a lot more, and that tends to affect how I look at writing. I’m not creatively talented otherwise. I can’t draw, or paint, or play an instrument, or sing, or act. I’m kind of a creative one trick pony. But I think I’ve gotten much better over the years at coming up with stories and figuring out how to implement them.
How are you doing this month? Anything new in the works?