#IWSG Blog Hop April 5th, 2023
#IWSG Blog Hop April 5th, 2023
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Our Twitter handle is @TheIWSG and hashtag is #IWSG.
Every month, we announce a question that members can answer in their IWSG post. These questions may prompt you to share advice, insight, a personal experience, or story. Include your answer to the question in your IWSG post or let it inspire your post if you are struggling with something to say.
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#IWSG Blog Hop April 5th Hosts
Jemima Pett, Nancy Gideon, and Natalie Aguirre!
April 5th question – Do you remember writing your first book? What were your thoughts about a career path on writing? Where are you now and how is it working out for you? If you’re at the start of the journey, what are your goals?
Well, I have not finished the first book. Recently, I pulled it out and reread. It was not as bad as I thought it was when I gave up on it. I will probably pull it out one day and redo it and finish.
I rather speak of where I am now. I am in this for the long haul. I have been writing since I was a young adult. I have pursued writing as a career since 2011, half-heartedly occasionally, but I had a lot of learning and growing to do as a writer and a businessperson.
I published for the first time in 2018 and started Stormdance Publications, creating theme-anthologies with another writer. We are still publishing anthologies. In fact, we are getting ready to release Grumpy Old Gods Volume 6. My Amazon Page.
I have several series planned with my first series coming out end-of-year or early 2024. I outlined the first book in short form on Medium, and I am now revising and expanding. You can read the short form below on Medium. I also have a Paranormal Cozy Mystery series planned set in the same world. I’m excited about that too.
Something new I am doing is I try to re-evaluate my processes, personal, writing, and business quarterly, for what is working and not working. I have learned when I have a really productive day, the next day usually is not as productive, or a lot less productive. It allows me to see what I am doing and not doing, and learn. It helps me see what I need to change to improve my productive and achieve my goals.
I am a perpetual learner in the art of fiction craft, so that alone is a journey in my process as a writer. I am a course-a-holic and it gives me much joy.
We are all apprentices in a craft where no one ever becomes a master.”
—Ernest Hemingway
I believe this quote with all my heart. There is nothing we cannot learn or improve upon.
Arlee Bird
April 22, 2023 @ 12:54
We should always be perpetual learners in all sorts of things. When you stop seeking knowledge it can be easy to sink into a complacent state of standing still.
Lee
J Lenni Dorner
April 5, 2023 @ 22:45
I’m a fan of those Grumpy Old Gods books. I hope you’ll work on that “first” story someday, even just to please yourself.
Happy IWSG day! Here’s a giveaway- rafflecopter.com/rafl/display/4fa90ac761
It’s April, so I’m focused on the #AtoZChallenge.
Proof of Existence, book two in my dark urban fantasy series, is out this month.
I’m running another giveaway on my blog.
J Lenni Dorner (he/him 👨🏽 or 🧑🏽 they/them) ~ Reference& Speculative Fiction Author, OperationAwesome6 Debut Author Interviewer, and Co-host of the #AtoZchallenge
admin2
April 9, 2023 @ 19:14
Ah!, Yeah! Thank you for telling me that. Happy IWSG Day to you too! Best luck on giveaway and the A to Z Challenge, and congrats on book 2 coming out. You go.
Shannon Lawrence
April 5, 2023 @ 16:59
I really believe we should all be constantly learning. Looking at your process and business quarterly sounds like a good idea.
admin2
April 9, 2023 @ 19:09
I agree!!! ;P
Anna
April 5, 2023 @ 15:27
I feel if anyone is open to change, life can teach us what we need to learn. 🙂
Anna from elements of emaginette
admin2
April 9, 2023 @ 19:04
Definitely
Kristina Kelly
April 5, 2023 @ 14:12
Grumpy Gods is such a fun name. And starting a publishing company is huge!
admin2
April 9, 2023 @ 19:03
We thought it was a great name too for a mythology series.
L. Diane Wolfe
April 5, 2023 @ 11:18
I’m a midlife author, too. And know full well the challenges of running a publishing company.
admin2
April 9, 2023 @ 18:31
Oh wow did not know that about midlife about your writing. And yes lots of challenges lol.
Alex J. Cavanaugh
April 5, 2023 @ 08:54
Starting a publishing company is big and I’m sure you are continuing to learn something new every day. Sixth Grumpy Old Gods? Wow!
admin2
April 9, 2023 @ 17:57
Definitely learn something everyday. 🙂 thx.
Jemima Pett
April 5, 2023 @ 08:33
I sometimes wonder if I had started with Book 2 would the series have been better? Except Book 1 has a key element which would have been lost for the series…. Maybe it’s a good idea to put the first book in a cupboard and let it sit for a while. Someone else found theirs in a desk drawer, years later, someone else advocates writing thousands of words before you work on a book!
Lots of food for thought!
Jemima
admin2
April 9, 2023 @ 17:52
Agree all good advice. I just did not possess the confidence to achieve the book I wanted to write, but in looking at again realizsed it was close–and that’s what editing is for, to make it better.
Ronel Janse van Vuuren
April 5, 2023 @ 08:20
I like your new midlife author image! Good luck with the series.
Ronel visiting for IWSG day If The Author’s Life Were a Fairy Tale
admin2
April 9, 2023 @ 17:40
Thanks. It will probably get a revamp after I have my official covers for my series, but I was very pleased with it.
Natalie Aguirre
April 5, 2023 @ 07:51
That’s great that you might pick up your first project and finish it. I’m still learning as a writer too.
admin2
April 9, 2023 @ 17:39
I will definitely pick it up again but in the future. I have learned the value of focus and staying on target with consistency and follow through until you complete the first series–so that is the goal for now with my Midlife series.