IWSG May 6th: 2020 Contest & Anthology Release
IWSG May 6th:
Insecure Writer’s Support Group First Wednesday of the Month Post
The IWSG Purpose: To share and encourage. Writers can express doubts and concerns without fear of appearing foolish or weak. Those who have been through the fire can offer assistance and guidance. It’s a safe haven for insecure writers of all kinds! SIGN UP AND JOIN & FIND OUT MORE HERE!
Let’s rock the neurotic writing world!
Our Twitter is @TheIWSG and hashtag #IWSG.
Every month, we announce a question that members can answer in their IWSG Day 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.
Remember, the question is optional!!!
May 6 question
Do you have any rituals that you use when you need help getting into the ZONE? Care to share?
My Answer:
I listen to rain-storm sounds, the sound of the ocean, or classical music or soundtracks without words, which can get me to the zone.
Rereading the last thing I wrote can sometimes do it. Making a list of what I have done scene wise and what I want to do for scenes as a list can help me get ready to write.
Doing a Write-In with other writers is very inspiring and productive for me. Sometimes talking the story out with a writer friend, I trust can get me writing.
IWSG May 6th: 2020 Contest & Anthology Release
May 6th Co-Hosts:
Feather Stone, Beverly Stowe McClure, Mary Aalgaard, Kim Lajevardi, and Chemist Ken!
ANNOUNCING
Voyagers
The Third Ghost
Anthology
Release
May 5th!
Available Now
Journey into the past.
Will the third ghost be found before fires take more lives? Can everyone be warned before Pompeii is buried again? What happens if a blizzard traps a family in East Germany?
Will the Firebird help Soviet sisters outwit evil during WWII?
And sneaking off to see the first aeroplane – what could go wrong?
Ten authors explore the past, sending their young protagonists on harrowing adventures. Featuring the talents of Yvonne Ventresca, Katharina Gerlach, Roland Clarke, Sherry Ellis, Rebecca M. Douglass,
Bish Denham, Charles Kowalski, Louise MacBeath Barbour, Beth Anderson Schuck, and L.T. Ward.
Hand-picked by a panel of agents, authors, and editors, these ten tales will take readers on a voyage of wonder into history. Get ready for an exciting ride!
IWSG May 6th: 2020 Contest & Anthology Release
IWSG 2020 Anthology Contest Announcement
May 6th-September 2nd.
Guidelines and rules:
Word count: 4500-6000
Genre: Science Fiction
Theme: Dark Matter
Submissions accepted: May 6 – September 2, 2020
How to enter: Send your polished, formatted (double-spaced, no footers or headers), previously unpublished story to admin @ insecurewriterssupportgroup.com before the deadline passes. Please include your full contact details, your social links, and if you are part of the Blogging, Facebook, Instagram, or Twitter IWSG group.
Judging: The IWSG admins will create a shortlist of the best stories. The shortlist will then be sent to our official judges.
Our official judges:
Dan Koboldt, author and #SFFpit founder
Dan Koboldt is the author of the Gateways to Alissia trilogy (Harper Voyager), the editor of Putting the Science in Fiction (Writers Digest, 2018), and the creator of the sci-fi adventure serial The Triangle (Serial Box, 2019). As a genetics researcher, he has co-authored more than 80 publications in Nature, Science, The New England Journal of Medicine, and other scientific journals. He is represented by Paul Stevens of Donald Maass Literary Agency.
Lynda R. Young, author
Lynda R. Young is an Aussie writing fantasy novels as Elle Cardy. Wielder’s Prize is her debut YA epic fantasy. She is also an editor, game developer, 3D artist, graphic designer, photographer, gamer, and more.
Colleen Oefelein, agent, The Jennifer De Chiara Literary Agency
Colleen Oefelein is an author of YA, picture books, and author promotion guides, a devourer of books, and the owner of the book review site North of Normal. Formerly an associate agent and PR manager with Inklings Literary Agency, Colleen has hosted numerous “Pitch Perfect” and “Rejection Correction” workshops on Facebook and at conferences nationwide, and she’s mentored several authors one-on-one through online pitch contests such as Pitch Wars.
Damien Larkin, author
Damien Larkin is an Irish science fiction author and co-founder of the British and Irish Writing Community. His debut novel Big Red was published by Dancing Lemur Press and went on to be longlisted for the BSFA Award for Best Novel. He currently lives in Dublin, Ireland, and is working on his next novel Blood Red Sand.
Ion Newcombe, editor, and publisher
is the editor and publisher of AntipodeanSF, Australia’s longest-running online speculative fiction magazine, regularly issued since January 1998. His qualifications and employment range from horticulture through electronics into literature and communications.
Julie Gwinn, agent, The Seymour Agency
Julie Gwinn most recently served as Marketing Manager for the Christian Living line at Abingdon Press and before that served as Trade Book Marketing Manager and then Fiction Publisher for the Pure Enjoyment line at B&H Publishing Group, a Division of LifeWay Christian Resources. Recently, she was awarded Editor of the Year from the American Christian Fiction Writers and won B&H’s first Christy award for Ginny Yttrup’s debut novel Words.
David Powers King, author
David’s works include Woven, The Undead Road, and Full Dark: An Anthology. He currently resides in the Mountain West with his wife and 4 children.
Prizes: The winning stories will be edited and published by Dancing Lemur Press’ imprint Freedom Fox Press next year in the IWSG anthology. Authors will receive royalties on books sold, both print and eBook. The top story will have the honor of giving the anthology its title. Please see their website for guidelines on the type of stories they accept.
We’re excited to see the creativity and enthusiasm that’s such a part of this group put into action. So, don your creative caps and start writing. And spread the word!
IWSG May 6th: 2020 Contest & Anthology Release
IWSG Goodread’s Book Club!
Writers and Readers,
The Insecure Writer’s Support Group Book Club is for writers to read/learn about the writing craft. We will swap back and forth between craft books and fiction books that demonstrate aspects of storytelling.
We will read one book every two months.
There will be polls, free gifts, and a lot of Discussion Day fun.
No promo. Just writers reading books and discussing those books with other writers.
See Book Club/Posting Details for more information about the book club.
Raimey Gallant
May 29, 2020 @ 00:57
That anthology theme has got my brain working, and wow, what a lineup of judges. Should be some really interesting entries.
Voyager The Third Ghost An IWSG Anthology - StormDance Publications
May 13, 2020 @ 12:12
[…] Find out about 2020 Contest Here. […]
Lynda R Young as Elle Cardy
May 7, 2020 @ 19:20
Music helps so much for getting in the zone 🙂
Anna
May 6, 2020 @ 21:19
Another anthology in the making. Looks like an exciting summer ahead. 😉
Anna from elements of emaginette
Lee Lowery
May 6, 2020 @ 20:33
Another rainstorm lover here! I have RainyMood.com up in my browser, and if a real rain storm is on the loose, I head for the porch with the laptop and a glass of wine! (ok, tea if it’s before noon!) I’m psyched about the new anthology – dark sci-fi. What could be more fun!
ChemistKen
May 6, 2020 @ 18:49
I listen to rainstorm tracks, and occasionally ambient background sounds, but that’s about it. Listening to actual music, even ones without words, just pulls me right out of the zone because I can’t help but think about the music.
Karen Lynn
May 6, 2020 @ 17:46
Hey! You and I have the same writing sound-track! I love rain sounds in particular, and I’ll zone out to the sound of frogs pretty easily. I also have a white-noise app on my phone for those moments when you need to ignore the noise around you on-the-go. Listening to static always makes me feel a little weird, though. 😉
Happy IWSG Day!
Olga Godim
May 6, 2020 @ 16:46
Sometimes, talking about my story, brainstorming ideas, could get my writing out of the rut. My best conversational partner in this is my son. He writes too, although nothing published yet.
JQ Rose
May 6, 2020 @ 12:59
I understand the background sounds and music when writing–for others–but not for me. When I am IN the zone, I don’t even like hearing the roar of the lawn mower going by my window! I have asked Alexa to play thunder storms and ocean sounds, but never while I am writing. I agree with going back to the previous pages to get in the zone, but I usually end up editing them! LOL Thanks for sharing. It just proves we are all different and that’s a good thing.
JQ Rose
Jacqui Murray
May 6, 2020 @ 12:20
That’s interesting the thunderstorm sounds et al get you into the zone. I might try that if I’m ever distracted. Good tips you gave in your article, over on Alex’s blog.
Cheryl Lee McKenzie
May 6, 2020 @ 11:47
I like the idea of reading what you wrote the day before. That is definitely a great way to kickstart the next bit of writing!
C. Lee McKenzie
May 6, 2020 @ 11:45
I like the idea of reading what you wrote the day before. That is definitely a great way to kickstart the next bit of writing!
Alex J. Cavanaugh
May 6, 2020 @ 11:24
Several people have mentioned listening to rain. Must be because it’s soothing.
joylene
May 6, 2020 @ 10:01
I found a few awesome channels on youtube so that now my home is filled with relaxing and healing music. One of my favourites is Moola Mantra, Karunesh World Music.
Pat Garcia
May 6, 2020 @ 09:59
Hi,
I love the idea of listening to music or listening to the rain. Rain opens up my emotions and helps me write emotional passages in my books.
All the best.
Shalom aleichem,
Pat G @ EverythingMustChange
Beverly Stowe McClure
May 6, 2020 @ 08:54
Those are some good ideas to help get started on writing. I like to look outside at the birds and butterflys.
Anonymous
May 6, 2020 @ 08:02
I like how you get inspiration and writing lists can help too. I like to read a little of what I wrote at my last writing session to get into the mood.
Erika Beebe
May 6, 2020 @ 08:01
I love music to set the mood. I also reread previous writing to refresh what I’ve addressed and how to continue to push the suspense. There’s so much to celebrate this month! Happy IWSG Day 🙂
L. Diane Wolfe
May 6, 2020 @ 07:31
Going back a couple pages and re-reading what I wrote usually helps me.