IWSG OCTOBER 3, 2018 Writing When Life Happens
IWSG OCTOBER 3, 2018
INSECURE WRITER’S SUPPORT GROUP
FOUNDED BY
Ninja Captain Alex J. Cavanaugh
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.
Dolorah @ Book Lover,Christopher D. Votey, Tanya Miranda, and Chemist Ken!
The 2018 Annual IWSG Anthology Contest
Word count: 3500-6000
Genre: Young Adult Romance
Theme:
Masquerade
A Masquerade can be a false show or pretense, someone pretending to be someone they aren’t. It can be a ball, a fancy dress party, it can be a mask. Open to interpretation.
Submissions accepted: September 5 – November 4, 2018
How to enter: Send your polished, formatted (Double spaced, no page numbers), previously unpublished story to admin @ insecurewriterssupportgroup.com before the deadline passes. Please include your 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 who will be announced September 5.
Prizes: The winning stories will be edited and published by 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.
OUR BOOK SELECTION FOR OCTOBER/NOVEMBER IS:
The Murders in the Rue Morgue Edgar Allan Poe
This one is for VOICE. The discussion will start on October 17th and will go to the end of the month, but it will be up indefinitely, so you can hop in whenever you’re able. Join Us.
DISCUSSION
October 17th, Join Us Here.
The IWSG/WEP COLLABORATION
The Insecure Writer’s Support Group has entered into a new partnership with the Write…Edit…Publish Challenge (aka WEP) which is the brainchild of Denise Covey, a long-standing IWSG member, who runs this challenge with her wonderful team.
WEP is a free online writing/creative community.
Choose from the following formats: FLASH FICTION, POETRY, NON-FICTION, ARTWORK, PHOTO ESSAYS
1. SUBMIT your name to the list below NOW
2. CREATE your entry for the October challenge – Déjà vu or Voodoo. Go HERE for further ideas
3. EDIT your entry, making sure ‘WEP’ is in the TITLE
4. PUBLISH your entry onto your BLOG or FACEBOOK page on the date shown – state feedback preferences
5. Leave a COMMENT on the WEP website. We add your DirectLink
6. READ other entries, giving feedback as requested
7 SHARE THE CHALLENGE on social media.
ALL GENRES WELCOME except erotica – 1,000 words maximum
FURTHER ENQUIRIES VISIT www.writeeditpublishnow.blogspot.com and leave a comment or: email: yolandarenee@hotmail.com
Writing–I don’t do so well when life falls apart, but I don’t stop cold turkey either. It’s a struggle. I do better some months than others. I keep trying and at times extend myself further than my mindset can actually deal with taking on too much BUT I do get something done. Every step forward, no matter how small, matters because I am moving forward even if I am an inchworm.
The second part of the question: My MUSE absolutely refuses to let me write my emotions at least in a journal. Muse doesn’t like feeling my emotions when writing and trying to express them to the left brain to transcribe.
However, having empathy with the emotions I have experienced (past tense) is not the same thing as experiencing them while writing them. Muse can do that, pretty well, normally.
Expressing through a character can be difficult but sometimes I surprise myself. Does it help me? I don’t know, but sometimes it does make the story better. The kicker is I can’t do it very often until after whatever the cause is over or I have some distance from it.
I think I have these struggles because my writing has always come from a happy place and then my enthusiasm writing Star Wars fan fiction RPG. Many of my characters had their birth in role play. I have created so many. It is easy to tap them and recreate them. I really got to know these characters while playing. That is not to say I don’t create new ones. I do. But I learned how to create strong characters playing SW RPG, and honestly, they feel like old friends and I miss them sometimes.
I did something surprising this last two weeks. I created a middle-grade outline fantasy adventure off the top of my head while trying to create a flash fiction story with the theme of snow. I have never written nor read a lot of middle-grade. It just sort of emerged. So this may be a future novel. And yeah, I still have to write the flash fiction piece starting over, lol. Pulling Teeth.
How To Write A Novel by Holly Lisle New Writing Class
The early-bird price for HTWAN is available only until October 5th. That is Friday. It will never be this low again, nor the huge 80% discount on the content edit by Holly Lisle’s editor and husband Matt. In fact, the discounted content edit will not be offered again to any class. One time only for this early bird special as Holly creates 37 weeks of lessons. The discounted content edit alone is worth the price of the course.
I am excited. And YES, I’m in. Already working on the first lesson and learned a wonderful new technique. This is not a class Holly has already done. You can read a quote from Holly about that-click the link above. The orange button on that page will take you to the early-bird price.
If you want the lowest price ever and the discounted content edit last chance for both. Grab it by Oct. 5th. It will never be this low again and the price will go up significantly once all 37 lessons are built compared to what it is now. This is a self-paced course so there is no getting behind and you have lifetime access. The community is worth the price of admission to me, but you can join that free. Just create an account.
This class is for all levels of writers: for the beginner, the intermediate, and the advance novelist.
Note: This post contains affiliate links from which I may receive compensation if you purchase, but does not affect your price.
Blood Instinct by Marie Lavender Blood At First Sight Series
October 11, 2018 @ 11:35
Ooo, I love when developing an idea that a plot for a book pops out. Good luck with writing that middle grade novel!
October 10, 2018 @ 12:40
Thanks for mentioning the IWSG book. I feel like I slacker because I forgot to add that to my IWSG post.
I do find it a lot easier to write about emotions I experienced in the past. (That reminds me of some of the things we discussed for the IWSG book club for The Art of Memoir.) I can’t write about how I’m feeling in the moment…it’s just too much.
October 11, 2018 @ 11:21
LOL, mine is a preset that I can change out so modeled after last post so just had to put new info in place.
Agreed. Thanks for chatting with me.
October 9, 2018 @ 09:57
Yay for moving forward, even if the steps to do so are small. I hope the MG story turns out, and best of luck with the flash!
October 11, 2018 @ 11:19
Thank you.
October 8, 2018 @ 16:04
I too like the idea of always moving forward. Sometimes though, that movement might be imperceptible to the naked eyes. A millimeter forward is better than a dead standstill or slipping backward.
Arlee Bird
Tossing It Out
October 8, 2018 @ 17:22
Hi Arlee,
Agreed. Thanks for stopping by and forward we goe. lol
October 8, 2018 @ 15:22
Good luck with your MG, Juneta. That genre is just as tough as any other. Maybe even tougher. The Rue Morgue by Poe terrifies me. I needed to read it in college–and still have nightmares. More power to anyone who can read that stuff. You are braver than I. All best to you, Juneta!
October 8, 2018 @ 17:21
Thank you. I have never read it but thanks for the warning. I like Poe’s poetry but have not read any stories since middle school and don’t really remember what we did read. Same to you.
October 7, 2018 @ 01:18
I’m not big on writing about anything that feels raw in my life. I prefer some nice escapism writing. But I do believe that everything we experience, good or bad, is somewhere in our writing.
Good luck with the MG! I wouldn’t even know where to start!
October 8, 2018 @ 17:19
I agree. Thank you.
October 5, 2018 @ 23:30
Congrats to writing the middle grade story! It’s neat when we find out we can write a particular type of fiction when we try it for the first time. I’m kind of a newbie to middle grade fiction myself but wrote a Halloween ghost story one several Halloweens ago and have been revising it for publication for this season. I guess time will determine how that one goes. Great post!
October 8, 2018 @ 17:18
Thank you. Congrats on your story and revising. Wishing you much success with publication.
October 5, 2018 @ 16:33
I was fascinated to read your struggles to write when life is stormy and how you coped. Your muse is definitely in charge. Writing from a happy place…it shows. I loved reading your blog. Thank you for visiting my blog.
Cheers,
Lynn La Vita Writers Supporting Writers
October 8, 2018 @ 17:15
Ah, that so sweet, thank you. I am really glad you like it. Thank you for visiting mine.
October 5, 2018 @ 15:53
I don’t know too much about fan fiction, but I’ve always had the impression that it’s a great way for youngsters to begin a writing journey. Like a “starter package”. I also get the impression that it’s really popular amongst them.
I love your website. It has a fantastic “feel”… neatly formatted and organized. Everything in perfect place and pleasing on the eye.
Good luck with the MG story!
October 8, 2018 @ 17:09
I don’t know about youngsters. Everyone in my RPG group has always been grownups in mid-twenties or older, usually older, lol. But I can see how it could be. The groups I am talking were writing groups that wrote in their favorite worlds or eras in a form of role play letting our characters interact and playing the story off of them.
Thank you so much for telling me. It means a lot to me to know people like it.
October 11, 2018 @ 10:55
??
October 5, 2018 @ 12:26
So much going on this month! I like your moving forward attitude, and yes, I’ve had a new story idea take over while writing something else. I’m having troubles with the YA voice, no way I could handle a MG. Good luck with both stories.
October 8, 2018 @ 17:05
Thank you. I don’t know if I can handle the voice as I have never done it before, but guess I will see, lol
October 5, 2018 @ 11:42
I tend to write from a happy place as well. If I’m stressed, I can’t focus on writing because all my energy is going into whatever is upsetting my life at that moment.
October 8, 2018 @ 17:04
Amen to that.
October 5, 2018 @ 09:33
The IWSG does so many cool things – as seen in the first part of your post. I love seeing it all laid out like that. I started out writing Nancy Drew fan fiction. It was a lot of fun. I can see why you enjoy it as well.
October 8, 2018 @ 17:03
I do. It has been a while since I have done any. It most fun when participating with others in a RPG situation.
October 5, 2018 @ 01:10
Sometimes a story just demands to be written. It sounds like your surprise MG is one of those stories.
October 8, 2018 @ 17:01
I think it is. Thanks for stopping by.
October 4, 2018 @ 20:55
Oh, fan fiction is something I want to try. It’s so cool you started there.
October 8, 2018 @ 17:00
Thank you. Yeah, started for fun and play.
October 4, 2018 @ 17:35
I have channeled the smart aleck part of me into some writing. Never know what shall show when you let it flow.
October 8, 2018 @ 16:59
lol, too true.
October 4, 2018 @ 16:13
That’s so cool how your characters stem from fan fiction. I’ve always wanted to write fan fiction for a particular author (ahem… Jane Austen…ahem) but feel it’s way too crazy an attempt. I have perfect ideas for new characters of that era, along with the wit and charm oozing from sassy women of those times. Oh the drama!
But, a new book in that vernacular — just the idea turns me off. It’s going to have to live in my head, along with all the other crazy ideas…
October 4, 2018 @ 16:31
You should look for a roleplay forum in that era. I used to fanfic on Yahoo before they changed the forums but the groups are still there and some people still use it for that.
I was part of a Regency-era on Yahoo groups, as well as, Star Wars, A dragon one similar to Pern, and a Lord of the Rings group. I played all of those for about 5 years but when Yahoo changed the groups set and merged some stuff, a lot of people just stopped playing, and then the rest of us just drifted away.
I can still access all my groups from the day but they are a tomb of silence now, but the posts are still there, along with advertisement spammers, which is one thing that change that allowed that to happen more.
October 4, 2018 @ 10:56
Good luck with that flash fiction piece! Snow, huh? It would take a whole lot of my imagination to think about snow when it’s 90 degrees here. 🙂
October 4, 2018 @ 16:24
Thank you. Yeah, snow. It is 90 degrees here too. Florida. Actually, I think of Texas icy weather from my past and off I go in my imagination.
October 4, 2018 @ 10:25
Yes, strong emotion can be too raw to channel into writing whilst still in the throes of it. Later – yes, that works, because distance allows you to tap in without (hopefully too much) of the pain. I’ve found the bare nuts & bolts of the experience can be captured though. I guess now is a good time to re-visit those WIPs I left on the shelf back then … Thanks 🙂
October 4, 2018 @ 16:22
lol, your welcome. I should revisit some of my old ones too. Happy writing.
October 4, 2018 @ 10:09
My muse prefers writing emotions from the past into fiction as well. When I used to journal, it was more an account of what I did with very little emotion to the entries. Fiction has helped me way more than journaling.
October 4, 2018 @ 16:22
Yeah me too or track my daily doings. I love fiction. Thanks for chatting with me.
October 4, 2018 @ 09:47
I’m the same way when it comes to writing emotionally. Past – yes. Here and now – no.
I’m in Holly’s HTWAN class, too! I’m so excited. I’ve already accomplished more in two lessons than I’ve done in a year.
October 4, 2018 @ 16:20
I am excited about Holly new class too. Loving it. I am especially excited about the discounted content edit. That is huge. I am still on lesson one. I keep getting interrupted when doing it. Grrrr, I think lesson 2 will be available to me this Friday and she has the first 3 up already I think. So yeah, excited and learning lots. See ya in class on the forums. I love Holly forums they are home to me.
October 4, 2018 @ 09:43
Thanks so much for stopping by my blog.
I’m proud of myself; I just got a copy of the book club book and will read it this weekend.
I can’t wait to read the stories in this month’s WEP-IWSG challenge.
I too have had no luck with writing my emotions in a journal, but I put it into my characters and worldbuilding.
Wow, middle grade sounds fun. Maybe I’ll try that someday, but not any time soon. Would love to read a middle-grade story from you, though.
October 4, 2018 @ 16:18
Yeah, proud of you too. I got my copy as well, actually, I have 3 copies because I was not sure they were the same, but they were cheap, so biggie, lol. I know. I want to do that voodoo thing myself but not sure I have time with all I want to get done this month, but I am looking forward to reading.
Ah, hugs, you will be one of the first I may ask to read it when I get it written @@, I hope sooner than later.
October 4, 2018 @ 05:44
That’s exciting you wrote something completely new! I love it when that happens. I write upper middle grade mostly and it’s my favourite genre. Good luck with the writing!
October 4, 2018 @ 16:15
Me too and it such fun. Upper middle grade may be what mine is I will need to look up the differences. Thank you. Good luck in your writing too.
October 4, 2018 @ 05:42
It is not always easy to channel your emotions into your writing. But that’s okay. The most important thing is not to stop and do nothing. There are times for example when I get what I feel is an unjust critique. It hurts, and I’m angry. I then put the critique aside until I am able to read it again. Reading it the second time around doesn’t change the feeling that some critiquer has been unjustly hard with me, but it does help me to see how I can put the critique to good use, and I go back to my revising my manuscript with a fresh spirit and new energy.
Wishing you all the best on your Middle-Grade story.
I’ve often complimented you on your website. Just want to say, that visiting your website is a highlight for me still. I’m amazed at how well you’ve put it together. It is not too much and I don’t get lost. Great job.
Shalom aleichem,
Pat G
October 4, 2018 @ 16:13
Ah, Pat, you are such a sweet beautiful person. Thank you. Great advice. Thank you I am bit excited by the new story. It is a bit different for me.
Thank you for saying that about the website. It means the world to me that you do tell me what you think. I am so glad you find it easy to navigate. That is what I was trying to do. I worry that I put too much since they say most people never make it past your first page.
Shalom aleichem to you too. (Peace Be Upon You) I love that.
October 4, 2018 @ 05:39
High stakes and high emotions often compete with my writing muse too. It’s more difficult to focus on one or the other as my worries like to creep in. I do still try to write though too. The Poe story may work for me! I’ve read that one quite a few times 🙂
October 4, 2018 @ 16:09
Agreed and you said it so well. I like Poe too but have not read this one before.
October 3, 2018 @ 20:32
I sometimes channel my emotions into writing. I found it easier to let the emotions out, even bad ones, than let them boil inside me without an outlet.
October 4, 2018 @ 16:08
When it is new I can’t do that. I shut down if I try, but letting myself get a little time in between I do better. That is a really good thing to be able to do too. I think it is much better as well.
October 3, 2018 @ 18:16
I understand the writing needing to come from a happy place. Even when I’m writing darker stuff I need to be in a positive mindset. The anthology sounds interesting, unfortunately I don’t write YA.
Happy October!
October 4, 2018 @ 16:07
Exactly, if you ain’t totally feeling it, IF you can get your mindset right you can soldier on…
Yeah, I want to write a story for the anthology but not sure about the YA part. Still thinking on idea though. Better hurry I guess since Nov. 5th is last submission day. lol.
October 3, 2018 @ 14:31
That’s great that you can at least write some during those challenging times. I often am too busy or have lost the drive to write.
October 4, 2018 @ 16:05
LOL, it writes or quit. MUSE screams at me when I think about quitting and then cries. I hate when she cries, so I keep trying to write. Yeah learning to try to write even without the drive–not really there yet but I have my moment.
October 3, 2018 @ 14:00
It sounds like the bumps in your life have helped you become a better writer. At the same time, I wish none of my friends had bumps. Watch your footing and get those words down. 🙂
Anna from elements of emaginette
October 4, 2018 @ 16:02
I don’t know that I am better because I don’t write consistently as much as I did before I landed where I am at—short-term stuff yeah, maybe–But I have learned I have to write anyway and not wait around for things to get better because I may be waiting a long time. Maybe pushing through it will be behind me and I will have miss the getting through because I was focusing on the good stuff. That is my story and I am sticking to it. @@, lol, watching my feet, watching my feet. HUGS
October 3, 2018 @ 12:55
Your post sparked a realization for me. I think sometimes when I’m going through something in life, it makes me want to take a break from what I’m writing to write something new, something influenced by what I’m going through. Happy IWSG day!
October 4, 2018 @ 15:59
I’m tickled to be a spark, lol. The fresh stuff I can’t write through much. I need some distance and after the fact time, before I pick up and go on. I just trying to make those moments in the middle on ongoing trials that draw out over time. You can’t wait for them stop so you have to wade your way through kind of thing. Happy IWSG Day to you too.
October 3, 2018 @ 11:46
I wish writing ideas would ‘just happen’ for me. You are a true creative, Juneta. I don’t think your muse will ever allow you to stop. Me, I write when I have time, which I have lots of right now. Everytime life gets busy, I stop. I’m not sure what that says about me and writing. Hmm…
October 4, 2018 @ 15:57
When I worked full time that was what I did too. Wrote when I find the time, but I found it made me more productive. I think you are a true creative too and wonderful teacher. Well, your books and blog say you are a writer. I admire you a lot.
October 3, 2018 @ 11:27
I admire your ability to keep writing through major life events. That’s something I’m not great at, but I hope to get better. Life happens, and I can’t keep letting it derail me.
October 4, 2018 @ 15:55
Well, I don’t exactly, BUT it is when the event does let up and goes on for years I either write or hang it up and MUSE won’t’ let me hang it up. I am learning to write in between the drama and stress or escape for moments at a time.
October 3, 2018 @ 11:26
That’s exciting about the middle grade. DLP has been publishing a lot of them lately.
October 4, 2018 @ 15:53
I have grown a new appreciation for it as I have read writer friends. The stories have been quite impressive and fun.
October 3, 2018 @ 11:14
Isn’t it interesting how our minds work. We set out to write one thing and it turns into something else!
October 4, 2018 @ 15:52
I know. It is like MUSE starts helping in then just takes over. Love it when it happens.
October 3, 2018 @ 10:36
I wrote my first (and only) piece of fan fiction at the happy age of 11. It was an epic exercise, and I’ve always benefited from it. Without that experience, I’d never have had the courage or belief that I could write an entire novel.
October 4, 2018 @ 15:51
I admit I learned a lot writing fan fiction and interacting with others doing the same. It also allowed me to practice techniques without worrying about anything but having fun.
October 3, 2018 @ 10:27
Writing fan fiction is such a great way to relax and write at the same time. It’s how I learned to write. Good luck with the MG story!
October 4, 2018 @ 15:49
Agreed. I do love my Star Wars fan fiction. I miss writing it with my friends, but everyone has moved on who used to play with me.
October 3, 2018 @ 09:40
I don’t channel much of myself or feelings into my writing either.
Thanks for promoting all of the current IWSG happenings!
October 4, 2018 @ 15:48
You now reading your comment, I bet that is why I loved writing SW RPG is I didn’t need to channel the emotions it has always been easy and fun to write. Interesting. You’re Welcome. I try to put anything I catch in time on the post but sometimes miss stuff. Same with promoting books I don’t always know until after IWSG who is doing what.
October 3, 2018 @ 06:56
I know which books you’re going to read now 😉 Good luck with this MG story — sometimes the best ones just jump out at us. Happy IWSG day!
October 4, 2018 @ 15:44
I like it when they jump out. I wish that would happen more often. Thank you. Happy IWSG to you too.