IWSG March 6, 2019 Hero, Villain, Anti-hero Craft & POV MC
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INSECURE WRITER’S SUPPORT GROUP
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Writer’s supporting, encouraging and learning from each other. Post on your own blog about your struggles, your triumphs, and your successes. Talk about your works in progress the good, the bad and the ugly or some other writing relating topic on your mind. Read others, interact, comment, and grow within this wonderful author community. Every month there is an optional question for those who may need help figuring out what to post about.
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OPTIONAL IWSG Day Question: Whose perspective do you like to write from best, the hero (
I tend to like to write from the perspective of the protagonist. However, I have a bad habit of turning the villain into an anti-hero type personality so have to watch for that.
Of course, all good heroes have those, shades of gray and flaws. I think maybe when I create a villain I feel the need to create a reason for him being the way he is and then the character refuses to cooperate and just be an outright bad guy. Drives me nuts.
I really enjoyed this writing craft book. Lots of great prompts to make you think.
She also has one about crafting heroes.
ANGST:
I feel like I am always behind. I am having trouble finishing my stories. I am freezing up. I get to a certain point and then I don’t know what comes next, and lately have found it hard to move past that.
Grumpy Old Gods Volume 1 Publication date – March 30th, 2019
I had planned to have a sign up form here but February got away from me. We are still working out some details.
NEWS
We have plans on the table for a Grumpy Old Gods Volume 3. This will be a Halloween edition. The call for submissions will officially go out sometime in June or early July. We have also talked about a Faeries anthology before the end of the year. If you would like to keep up with what we are doing anthology wise and submission calls, you can check our official website and sign up for our newsletter: stormdancebooks.junetakey.com
Grumpy Old Gods Volume 2
Submission Deadline March 30, 2019
BOOK CLUB INFO FROM IWSG NEWSLETTER
The IWSG Book Club on Goodreads is changing things up!
– 5 discussion questions instead of 10
– Discussion Day poll for quick and easy participation.
– Members can help us create Goodreads quizzes for the books we read.
– Giveaways exclusive to our members every Discussion Day.
– Freebies members can download when we announce our next reading selection.
– Writing and reading related polls for fun and insight.
We will still read a new book every other month, alternating between craft books and fictional books that demonstrate an aspect of writing, and our members will continue to vote on our fictional books.
Our February/March 2019 book is…
Rebecca by Daphne Du Maurier
This book was voted on by our members to be a good example of setting.
Discussion Day will be March 20th.
Rebecca by Daphne Du Maurier
This book was voted on by our IWSG members to be a good example of setting.
IWSG Discussion Day will be March 20th
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Masquerade: Oddly Suited
IWSG Anthology Release date April 30th
Find love at the ball…
Can a fake dating game show lead to love? Will a missing key free a clock-bound prince? Can a softball pitcher and a baseball catcher work together? Is there a vampire living in Paradise, Newfoundland? What’s more important—a virtual Traveler or a virtual date to the ball?
Ten authors explore young love in all its facets, from heartbreak to budding passion. An Insecure Writer’s Support Group Anthology Release date – April 30, 2019 Young Adult Fiction: Romance –General/Paranormal/Contemporary
Alone in a Room with Invisible People!
Alone in a Room with Invisible People is a podcast focusing on topics related to writing, revising and publishing fiction. Weekly episodes on iTunes | Stitcher | Podbean | YouTube | SpotifyThe podcast is 100% free and sponsored only by Holly’s WritingClasses.com. (not an affiliate link)
Writer’s Gambit February Author Spotlights
March 20, 2019 @ 07:19
Alone in a Room with Invisible People sounds like an interesting podcast. Thanks for the rec, Juneta!
March 15, 2019 @ 10:14
All characters need flaws, Juneta, just as all characters need good traits and bad traits. I love reading your blog. I always learn so much. All the best with this new volume Grumpy Old Gods and the Masquerade anthology. Thanks for all you do to assist writers. Enjoy your weekend!
March 15, 2019 @ 11:20
Agreed all characters need flaws but villains are a little more flawed than others and anti-heroes. Thank you. I hope IWSG has a lot of success with Masquerade too. I think the cover is awesome.
March 11, 2019 @ 18:42
13 Steps to Evil…I love that! I’m going to need to look at that book. Muahahaha!
I outline/plot out my stories (chapter by chapter) a lot. Although there are a few that I write by the seat of my pants.
March 11, 2019 @ 19:14
It’s a good book. I am somewhere in between making an outline and seat of the pants. I do the 5 plot points for novel ideas and 10 key scenes which include some of the 5 plot points in it. It helps gives me a little structure and ideas about necessary scenes yet leaves it all open as well.
Understanding story structure better has help me a lot and I thought I already understood it but I am still learning and adding. Or something strikes an epiphany that had not before and I wonder why had I not realized that.
March 10, 2019 @ 22:01
I have to take a look at that book. I’ve wanted to try out an anti-hero as a protagonist. The transition shouldn’t be too hard. I write noir mystery and plot heavily. Great post!
March 11, 2019 @ 15:35
Good luck. Anti-heroes can be fun. Thanks.
March 9, 2019 @ 20:49
Not knowing what comes next is the bane of my writing existence 😉 It’s why I tried outlining for a while. Brainstorming also helps. Just throw out all possible outcomes and go with the less obvious one. 😉
March 10, 2019 @ 13:40
lol, sounds like sound advice. Thank you.
March 8, 2019 @ 15:46
Villians do like to hog center stage. They also like to suppose themselves misunderstood and misjudged. (wait – that’s me!)
I am currently writing from both protagonist and antagonist POV, about 75/25. I have written from stritctly bad guy POV in some short stories in horror, which can work quite well with a ghastly ending.
March 9, 2019 @ 17:38
Very cool. I have not tried my hand at horror yet, but may in the future.
March 8, 2019 @ 04:36
I will have times when writing words is easy, then all the sudden I have nothing. That’s usually when I stare at walls and try to play the story out in my head so I can remember where I was going.
I’m only about a quarter of a way into Rebecca. So much detail. I’m amazed!
March 8, 2019 @ 14:20
I did to start reading Rebecca. I have read before but need a refresher just so busy lately. Yeah, that whole where am I going is part of it for me too, but sometimes where I thought I was going doesn’t work out or doesn’t work, but yeah, I need to rethink.
March 8, 2019 @ 02:09
Hi Juneta: This month’s question has given me a lot to chew on. In my two novels, it occurred to me that I avoided delving deeply into the minds of the antagonists. Hmmm, I wonder why. Perhaps, a symptom of avoiding some nasty people I know. Time to face the dragon, me thinks, LOL. Good luck in all your endeavors, Juneta. Blessings
March 8, 2019 @ 14:18
Thank you. Good luck to you too.
March 7, 2019 @ 07:13
Your villains turn evil on you, do they? What jerks! Make sure they pay when your protagonists find their way out of the all-is-lost moment in your stories. That’ll teach them!
March 7, 2019 @ 11:12
LOL, not evil, they turn anti-hero which ain’t all bad. They want to take over the story. Thank you. That is great advice too.
March 6, 2019 @ 18:20
I do like a complexly gray villain!
March 7, 2019 @ 11:13
Me too. Thanks for visiting with me.
March 6, 2019 @ 18:04
Wow, you have a lot going on here this month! Good luck with the Anthology launchings.
March 7, 2019 @ 11:56
Yeah, we have a lot planned for the year. Thank you.
March 6, 2019 @ 14:38
You are such a busy woman. I hope you’re taking care of yourself. 🙂
Anna from elements of emaginette
March 7, 2019 @ 12:01
lol, This year has definitely been busier. Thank you.
March 6, 2019 @ 13:02
A lot of great resources here. 🙂 My villains can take over the show too. I have to watch I don’t make them right and/or too powerful. I usually write only from the hero’s POV, but I love getting into the heads of the bad guys.
March 7, 2019 @ 12:05
LOL, those rascally villains. Thank you.
March 6, 2019 @ 12:47
A whole lot of really good resources on this post, Juneta. I’m looking forward to the Grumpy release!
March 7, 2019 @ 12:07
Thank you.
March 6, 2019 @ 11:33
You have a lot going on this spring! Great news about your anthology, and I wish you the very best.
March 7, 2019 @ 12:23
Thank you.
March 6, 2019 @ 11:15
Hi,
I have read some os Sascha Black’s craft articles on writing, and they were really good. Good luck with the Grumpy old gods anthology.
All the best.
Shalom aleichem,
Pat G @ EverythingMustChange
March 7, 2019 @ 12:24
Isn’t she great? I’m part of her FB group too. Thank you. HUGS Pat!
March 6, 2019 @ 11:14
You need to take control of those bad guys.
Thanks for mentioning the IWSG anthology.
March 7, 2019 @ 12:27
lol, yeah they are stubborn rascals. Your welcome.
March 6, 2019 @ 09:11
There is so much happening.
I remember an interview with an actress who said a good villain SHOULD steal every moment she or he is in.
March 7, 2019 @ 12:31
Good advice. I know that is one of the reasons I like Star Wars Thrawn. Thanks for visiting with me.
March 6, 2019 @ 08:31
Looking forward to Grumpy old gods, well done you! 🙂
March 7, 2019 @ 12:33
Thank you. 🙂
March 6, 2019 @ 06:43
I write from the protagonist’s POV too. I had no idea that someone wrote a book on creating villains. Good to know. Good luck on Grumpy Old Gods.
March 7, 2019 @ 12:36
Thank you. 🙂 Its a good book.