IWSG October 2nd: Do Writer’s Have to Read to Write?
MY NEWS
Submission Call for Grumpy Old Gods 5:
WHAT WE ARE LOOKING FOR IN STORY:
We want stories of cantankerous gods, aging heroes, and the occasional mortal caught up in their shenanigans. Small gods, demigods, and gods that the author made up are all welcome. We love it when a writer takes the ‘normal’ form of a God or Goddess and remakes it for the modern world, or conversely, shows a pantheon that’s refusing to adapt. Sparkling dialogue, well-drawn characters, and most of all a real ending with a twist will make our little editing hearts skip a beat.
These are the stories we want to see in Grumpy Old Gods Volume 5. Be creative with the pantheon. Show us something we haven’t seen before.
We much prefer a hopeful, humorous take on the subject and theme. Make the reader chortle, chuckle, or choke on their tea if they drink it at the wrong time.
Submissions are due December 1st, 2019 with an eye to releasing the anthology late January 2020.
READ MORE DETAILED GUIDELINES HERE.
IWSG October 2nd:
INSECURE WRITER’S SUPPORT GROUP
FOUNDED BY
Ninja Captain Alex J. Cavanaugh
IWSG Description from their Newsletter: A database resource site and support group for writers and authors. Featuring weekly guests and tips, a monthly blogfest gathering, a Facebook group, a book club, and thousands of links – all to benefit writers! #IWSG
Website / Facebook Group / Twitter / Book Club
Twitter is @TheIWSG Hashtag: #IWSG = IWSG Instagram
Co-Hosts:
Ronel Janse van Vuuren,Mary Aalgaard,Madeline Mora-Summonte, and Ellen @ The Cynical Sailor!
OPTIONAL IWSG DAY QUESTION:
It’s been said that the benefits of becoming a writer who does not read is that all your ideas are new and original. Everything you do is an extension of yourself, instead of a mixture of you and another author. On the other hand, how can you expect other people to want your writing, if you don’t enjoy reading? What are your thoughts?
I disagree with the sentiment of the first statement, not that it has been said, but of its truth. Even if they do not read, they do watch movies and TV, and listen to radio. They hear people telling others about their lives and events, which is a type of story form when sharing.
They have had people read to them, generally as children, and you are required to take literature in school with English in US at least. Almost everyone has watched cartoons, so even as a non reader-writer they are influenced by other storytellers to some degree.
Truth is we are all the sum of our environment, genetics, schooling, and choices.
We are unique because that is just life, no two people are carbon copies, not even twins. We all develop unique ideas and ways of perceiving and interpreting the world. Are we similar? Yes. Are some of us more alike than others? Definitely.
I believe the human psyche and human spirit is a miracle in its existence at all. We are all capable of expressing originality no matter our influences or lack of.
The things that might stop us, our jaded outlooks or experience, pessimism, fear in its many forms, doubt, and all the things that writers deal with in the norm, including those we consider original writers, readers or not.
After all they say only YOU can tell YOUR story even if similar and familiar elements exist in it.
On the other hand, how can you expect other people to want your writing, if you don’t enjoy reading? What are your thoughts?
I think it is a rare thing, but possible, that someone who doesn’t enjoy reading to write stories others would want to read.
I believe craft can be learned and it is not all dependent on talent OR having to like that talent if they do have it.
I think if they have the craft expertise from studying story craft, a little story savvy, imagination, and possess some creative aptitude in any form it is possible.
You hear stories all the time about authors writing in genres they hate or distain, and diss their readers for liking it—them to other writers.
Although if they do not enjoy reading why write? You have to read your own work to edit and polish, so do they really not enjoy reading if they write stories?
Insecure ANGST:
Getting all the writing done that I need to do, the social stuff and so on. Sometimes I feel overwhelm, so one thing at time I guess.
The next #IWSGPit will be in
January 15, 2020
8:00 am – 8:00 pm Eastern Standard Time
Create a Twitter-length pitch for your completed and polished manuscript and leave room for genre, age, and the hashtag. On January 15, Tweet your pitch. If your pitch receives a favorite/heart from a publisher/agent check their submission guidelines and send your requested query.
Many writers have seen their books published from a Twitter pitch – it’s a quick and easy way to put your manuscript in front of publishers and agents.
The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society
by Mary Ann Shaffer, Annie Barrows
Why we’re reading… This is our October/November fiction book, voted on by our members.
Discussion Fun Day will be November 20th.
October
2019 WEP Challenge
As you sow so shall you reap. What will your character sow – dragon’s teeth, elven bones, gouged eyes from tormented souls? Or will it be a more mundane series of actions with some awful unforeseen consequences, but without a whiff of a ghost anywhere?
Write a ghost story, or write a mainstream one. Most of our members go with horror or speculative for October. But that’s not written in stone. Nothing rigid about us – we are a culturally diverse mix and we welcome all interpretations.
WANT TO BE A FEATURED GUEST IN MY AUTHOR SPOTLIGHT?
Author Spotlight Guidelines
LET ME KNOW HOW I CAN HELP
AUTHOR SPOTLIGHTS SEPTEMBER
October 15, 2019 @ 14:58
Thanks for stopping by my blog. Sorry it took so long for me to reply; life gets hectic sometimes.
I love the points you make about everyone being influenced by something in life. I also agree, that while rare, a non-reader could writing something good but as you say, why? Why write if you don’t like to read?
As always, thanks for all the reading recommendations.
October 7, 2019 @ 17:25
Thanks for including the Area 51 anthology!
I wish I could submit something to your anthology, but I’m going to be so busy editing for the rest of the year. 🙁
Area 51 (Vanessa’s book)…hmm…that sounds interesting.
October 7, 2019 @ 17:38
It is actually Area 52 and it is great little series. I have loved reading it. I wish you could too maybe one day in the future.
October 5, 2019 @ 15:37
I like your take on reading and life, Juneta – and agree as we don’t live in a vacuum, evading words.
October 7, 2019 @ 17:39
Thank you.
October 4, 2019 @ 17:56
Yeah, no matter what they are getting stories told to them in some way, so they can pretend they are having fresh ideas or whatever, but aren’t.
October 4, 2019 @ 19:58
Agree. Thanks for visiting with me.
October 4, 2019 @ 02:52
I don’t understand why someone who wants to write is against reading. I have met people who claim they don’t read, but write, but not many.
October 4, 2019 @ 10:37
When I hear that I always wonder if that is just excuse or determent to make sure another author does not ask them to beta read or leave a review. They want to ask but don’t want you to ask them so say that hoping you will understand.
October 3, 2019 @ 20:49
Your response to the question was perfect!
I hope you get tons of humorous submissions for your next collection, but I’m sure you will. This is a great opportunity for writers to showcase their work.
October 3, 2019 @ 21:04
Thank you and Thank you. HUGS
October 3, 2019 @ 14:08
I love your response to the question of the month! Only YOU can tell YOUR story – yes, which makes your story distinct.
The Grumpy Old Gods Collection is growing.
October 3, 2019 @ 21:05
Thank you. Yes it is by April next year we plan to have 7 volumes lol. I admit Vol 3 is going a little slower than we anticipated but life has hijacked us a couple of times.
October 3, 2019 @ 11:59
Your answer was spot on, Juneta! Well done!
You’re right about the overwhelm. One thing at a time.
October 3, 2019 @ 21:06
Thank you.
October 3, 2019 @ 10:15
That was well said. We’re exposed to storytelling in all forms. Even asking someone how their day was is expecting a story in return. I’m trying to learn to do one thing at a time and not feel overwhelmed too. It takes practice, but we’ll get there.
October 3, 2019 @ 21:08
Yup practice, practice, practice… I feel inadequate a lot.
October 3, 2019 @ 04:46
Great post!
October 3, 2019 @ 21:08
Thank you.
October 3, 2019 @ 04:31
Give 100 writers a word and they’ll all come up with a different story.
Little steps at a time – hope you get past your current overwhelm; you are fab and amazing 🙂
October 3, 2019 @ 21:09
Ah, Thank you.
October 2, 2019 @ 22:17
Very well said, Juneta.
Good luck with surviving your own period of overwhelm, and thanks for the kind words on my blog.
October 3, 2019 @ 21:09
Thank you. You are welcome.
October 2, 2019 @ 21:10
I can relate to that sense of being overwhelmed. And you are right: one step at a time. It’s all we can do. And yes, we do need to read!
October 3, 2019 @ 21:10
Read and read a lot.
October 2, 2019 @ 20:32
I think we humans are natural story tellers and it shows in a lot of our arts!
October 3, 2019 @ 21:10
Agreed. Thank for stopping in.
October 2, 2019 @ 20:17
Happy IWSG day! I think every last one of us is in agreement on this one. So, happy reading, too.
October 3, 2019 @ 21:11
Yup, I think we are.
October 2, 2019 @ 18:00
Great post, Juneta. Every word rings true.
October 3, 2019 @ 21:11
Thank you.
October 2, 2019 @ 16:52
To be honest, I would have said that one has to read a lot to understand story structure, but now that you mention it, movies are often used to explain story structure, so I guess having seen a lot of movies would work just as well. Good point.
October 3, 2019 @ 21:12
I learn a lot from movies as a writer.
October 2, 2019 @ 13:11
I quite agree. Every experience and interaction colors our experiences. Not reading will not make someone’s experiences “an extension of him/herself.” We’re all influenced by our community. And we choose how narrow or expansive that community is.
Interesting point about authors writing in genres they hate or distain, and dissing their readers. The term “hack” comes to mind.
October 3, 2019 @ 21:13
lol, right? Good term.
October 2, 2019 @ 12:44
Reading has taught me one valuable lesson while writing. Edit again and again, until something inside me says, “The reader has become my prisoner.”
October 3, 2019 @ 21:13
lol, good point.
October 2, 2019 @ 12:22
Really good point about redefining ‘reading’ as watching TV, videos, and more. These days, that’s spot on.
October 3, 2019 @ 21:15
Well, it was more about telling stories and their structure and translating that to the written word.
October 2, 2019 @ 11:40
Nicely put, Juneta. And well thought out.
When I decided to write fiction, I picked up a how-to write manual. Without reading On Writing, I would have failed before I began. 🙂
Anna from elements of emaginette
October 3, 2019 @ 21:15
Good point.
October 2, 2019 @ 11:04
Good point about being exposed to storytelling even if not reading books. So true!
I hear you about being overwhelmed, it seems that is my go-to feeling lately.
October 3, 2019 @ 21:16
Yeah I would like to move past it to a new go to feeling lol.
October 2, 2019 @ 10:12
I totally agree that there really isn’t a new story idea. But we put our own spin on it. And yes, we hear and see stories all the time, even when we’re not reading.
October 3, 2019 @ 21:17
Exactly.
October 2, 2019 @ 09:54
Why would anyone write in a genre they don’t like? Writing is torture enough.
October 3, 2019 @ 21:17
Agreed.
October 2, 2019 @ 09:34
Great answer! Story is all around us, not just in the written word, and we can’t help be be influenced by it in one way of another.
October 3, 2019 @ 21:18
Agreed.
October 2, 2019 @ 08:07
We are exposed to storytelling in so many places, no one can avoid it.
Thanks for mentioning my tour!
October 3, 2019 @ 21:18
You are very welcomed.
October 2, 2019 @ 05:27
Hi,
Writing is a craft. Yes, it can be learned, and yes, there are some people who are born with a creative spirit. But I believe reading belongs and is a part of whatever a writer puts on paper or in that computer of his or hers.
Thanks for going into a little bit more detail on the twitter pitch because I plan to participate next year in January. I wasn’t sure of the length. It may sound funny but I was thinking that I could send an attachment in twitter. 🙂 Now I know the pitch must be twitter length.
Wishing you all the best.
Shalom aleichem,
Pat G @ EverythingMustChange
October 3, 2019 @ 21:19
You are welcome.