#IWSG Insecure Writer’s Support Group August 3rd
#IWSG Insecure Writer’s Support Group August 3rd
Sign Up And Become a Member
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.
August 3rd Hosts
Tara Tyler, Lisa Buie Collard, Loni Townsend, and Lee Lowery!
#IWSG Insecure Writer’s Support Group August 3rd
August 3rd question – When you set out to write a story, do you try to be more original or do you try to give readers what they want?
I write for me while trying to give readers what they want by understanding how genre and commercial success work, so I can make myself happy, while attracting readers that love my stories. I read and study successful books I love similar to mine and different, to see what works, why it works, and identify the expectations of readers that are delivered over and over again. Those same expectations are why I (as a reader) keep buying and devouring that author. I have been a binge reader my entire life. I was a reader long before I was a writer. However, there a lots of things that readers never consider or have to know or how to implement. Writing a book is complicated, has many moving parts that have to work together and flow with the structure. You need to know how to infuse emotion and connection into your stories and characters while thrilling your readers, hook’em, and carrying all the way to an ending that makes them happy or at least satisfied or thrilled they read your book.
I want to create stories that readers love, give them escape for the daily grind, take them on adventure, make them laugh, and just have fun. I want that because that is what my favorite authors have always given me, and it made a world of difference in my life and my ability to cope when I needed it.
Stories using the midlife crisis trope that I love. Paranormal Women’s Fiction.
Shannon Mayer Forty Proof series
Darynda Jones Betwixt and Between series (I have been reading this one for years. Her Charlie Davidson series is also fantastic.)
Shout Out New Release by Elizabeth Seckman our IWSG Newsletter Admin
Elizabeth Seckman – she had a book release recently and kept it low key.
About Her : A Second Chance Romance
Find it on Amazon
Book Club Member Spotlight and Craft Book Join US!
#IWSG Insecure Writer’s Support Group August 3rd
August 5, 2022 @ 19:35
The closest I’ve ever come to studying what marketing trends are is when I’m writing erotica and I open an incognito window to see what the bestselling erotica genres currently are on Amazon. The incognito window is so Amazon doesn’t make suggestions based on my own purchases.
I have to admit that I often find myself saying “really? Yikes! Noooo, I’m not going to write that!” This is coming from a person who will happily write erotica featuring vampires, werewolves, and mermen, although not necessarily in the same story.
August 5, 2022 @ 06:55
Congrats to Elizabeth on her new book. I think of readers too when I’m writing. It’s great that you study other works you read to consider what they’re doing works and doesn’t work too.
August 5, 2022 @ 14:25
Study others successful works is something I have procrastinated and avoided until now, but they were right it has improved my knowledge and my writing. Its works, but worth it. I like to read and just enjoy/escape, so I have to read my favorites twice. Once for pure joy and then to study. It definitely makes you appreciate the writers a lot more, and feel a bit awed by them.
August 5, 2022 @ 00:03
Aww, Juneta…thank you! What a sweet surprise. How thoughtful of you.
If I can make a reader forget a problem- that’s worth more to me than any amount of money.
August 5, 2022 @ 01:11
You are so welcome. I bought my copy too.
I agree but the truth is the books that did it for me were successful books that earned and those that did not did as their readership grew.
August 4, 2022 @ 21:08
Congratulations to Elizabeth!
I just want my readers to escape the insanity of this world as well. Forget wrong is right and right is wrong and just fall into a great story where evil falls to good.
August 5, 2022 @ 01:12
I agree. I love to get lost in story.