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.
September 6th Question: The IWSG celebrates 12 years today! When did you discover the IWSG? How do you connect, and how has it helped you?
ANSWER: I discovered IWSG January 2014. There were over 368 people on the sign-up sheet. I made it my mission to climb into the top ten in the lineup. Today, I am still not there, but I am at #30, wahoo!!! I made a lot of author friends that have lasted, and some I have worked with. Lots of tips and feedback along the way as well. I have been an admin since 2018. In all that time, since 2014, I have missed very few blog posts on the day. I admit I used to be better about going blog to blog and commenting, but I still try. My personal schedule is a lot busier, since I started my author business and publishing. The IWSG Blog Hop has kept me present on the web on a monthly basis, which is good for SEO traffic, especially since I have had my website since 2011.
My new Fiction Subscription is where you can journey with me and share my process by getting early access to the story as I revise it for novel length. Join my community, comment, take part in all the funs things going on.
PLZ, FOLLOW ME ON REAM!! Following on REAM is free. When you follow, you get to read all the Midlife Ghostwalker short form outline for book one-all in one place (free)-just for following me. These short forms were originally created on Medium. The only thing you need to do is sign up for a free account on Ream as a reader or author, your choice, and then go to my link and hit the follow me button at the bottom. Want to help me spread the word to get more followers? Share this link with anyone you think might be interested. You can also join my Facebook Reader’s Hang Out Group too, after the following. There is a surprise element in following, in that you never know what surprise bonus I might offer next.
Early Access to revised and expanded rough draft scenes/chapters as written, for Midlife Ghostwalker: Katje Storm, book one, in planned six-book series. Welcome to an inside look at my process.
FICTION SUBSCRIPTION ON REAM. EARLY ACCESS MIDLIFE GHOSTWALKER: KATJE STORM-DETAILS HERE.
I started a newsletter for writers. I included a couple of bonus when you subscribe. I have a few plans with sections on tips, resource, a form you can ask me questions, and I may answer in the bulletin. I thought writing prompts once in a while might be fun too. Any suggestions of what you’d like to see and read, I’d love to hear from you.
I’m also working on a secret project—stay tuned to stay updated or sign up for Writers Talk and get info and news in your inbox.
Subscribe to WRITERS TALK Get a story level checklist as a bonus, plus a few extras. A writing tips and resource bulletin for writers.
“Write. Just do it. Then again. Then some more. And more. Do not wait for inspiration; if you do enough of it often enough, inspiration will eventually come.” ~Nancy Kress
Take a guided deep dive into story creation.
Storyteller’s Gambit Book Coaching
Do you need help to build a framework for your story? Saggy middles giving you the blues? Are you stuck and just can’t get past it? Let me help you shape your story bones, develop your five plot points, develop your story stakes, hooks, scenes, figure out strong character motivation and drive, or workout a few key scenes to get you going. Whatever you story need big or small I can help.
Testimonials ” In working with Juneta I realized things about my story that I hadn’t recognized, issues with pacing and tension, plot points that didn’t make sense..”~Mark Ingram Vella Author of Steve Saves The World
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Create Stories That Linger In The Mind Long After The Story Is Over!
I have three Story Coaching spots open. Find out about my coaching services here. This is July Camp NaNo the perfect time to invest in your writing and turn the NaNo story dump into a solid story with good bones and high stakes. Invest in yourself and your writing today.
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.
July 5 Question – 99% of my story ideas come from dreams. Where do yours predominantly come from?
My ideas come from my dreams, people around me, the world, myth, music, art, books, and sometimes even the news. My ideas come from everywhere. My stories spur ideas. I’m not able to write a story, short or long, that does not spur a series idea. It’s not the ideas I struggle with, but sometimes the execution of them. My biggest problem is time to finish and produce more consistently. I am learning to be better at this as I learn to juggle my schedule and priorities. Be warned, you could end up in a story associating with me. You may just spur an idea.
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!
Posting: The first Wednesday of every month is officially Insecure Writer’s Support Group Day. Post your thoughts on your own blog. Talk about your doubts and the fears you have conquered. Discuss your struggles and triumphs. Offer a word of encouragement for others who are struggling. Visit others in the group and connect with your fellow writer – aim for a dozen new people each time. Be sure to link to this page and display the badge in your post. And please be sure your avatar links back to your blog! Otherwise, when you leave a comment, people can’t find you to comment back.
The May 5th question–if you’d like to answer it, is: Has any of your readers ever responded to your writing in a way that you didn’t expect? If so, did it surprise you?
MY ANSWER:
Yes. They read the short collection I published on Amazon, specifically the stories Pre-emergence: Remi & Smoak and The Emergence: Poseidon’s Island, and then went hunting for books about the world and that story, but of course, there are not any YET. May heart was so touch because about five people reached out to ask are the any places we missed looking to find more. I need to get to writing.
The origin story is serialized to email subscribers starting with episodes 3 & 4 with plans for a box set of all once completed but for now only available to newsletter subscribers. The next episode will be sent out in May newsletter.
I need to start plotting and outlining a novel around those earlier stories. I have plans for a paranormal romance series also in this world.
Working serialized episodes for subscribers. A second serialized short for a Christmas thing. The paranormal romance series. A space opera series plus some shorts from that world as well. I am also considering doing some type of paranormal urban fantasy around a new genre about Midlife Crisis-brainstorming on that one.
I have always said that “I want to be an author that writes speculative fiction stories that enable readers to escape into adventure through emotionally moving and evocative stories laced with humor that let my reader breathe, relax, and settle into the story world.“
When people say things like above to me and leave comments and reviews saying it is not enough, I realize like I am one step closer to being the author I dream of being, maybe—yeah still huge doubts here–but dreaming. My Amazon release that had those wonderful comments on below.
Magic Born or Magic Cursed?
Atlantis has risen! Cataclysmic events reshape the globe, and a new world order emerges. Magic once hidden is released back into the world. The magical Isle of Moon Hollow is no longer just an ordinary seafaring community.
Discover how the residents of Moon Hollow overcome their trials and tribulations.
Pre-Emergence: Remi and Smoak
A young girl comes into her magic when she comes of age. Is she magic born or magic cursed? So far, she’d say cursed.
The Emergence: Poseidon’s Island
A young thief triggers the rising of Atlantis setting off global catastrophic events.
Instinct
A young boy’s innate magic is ignited early, in the aftermath of the rising of Atlantis. Scared and alone, his instincts take him on a survival journey to find his destiny.
Deep Dive
What secrets and legends lay under the Isle of Moon Hollow? A tourist shop owner and deep-sea diver will soon find out.
Immortality
No one expects to outlive their children. Driven by grief, a man seeks the portal to Hades in Mermaid Cove.
What is an AI’s true role? Will bumbling siblings find their way home from deep space? Dark matter is judging us—are we worthy of existence? Would you step through a portal into another reality? Can the discoverer of dark matter uncover its secrets?
Ten authors explore dark matter, unraveling its secrets and revealing its mysterious nature. Featuring the talents of Stephanie Espinoza Villamor, C.D. Gallant-King, Tara Tyler, Mark Alpert, Olga Godim, Steph Wolmarans, Charles Kowalski, Kim Mannix, Elizabeth Mueller, and Deniz Bevan.
Hand-picked by a panel of agents, authors, and editors, these ten tales will take readers on a journey across time and space. Prepare for ignition!
Founded by author Alex J. Cavanaugh, the Insecure Writer’s Support Group offers support for writers and authors alike. It provides an online database; articles; monthly blog posting; Facebook, Twitter, & Instagram groups; #IWSGPit, and a newsletter.
Release date: May 4, 2021–Available Now! Print ISBN 9781939844828 $14.95 EBook ISBN 9781939844835 $4.99 Science Fiction: Collections & Anthologies/Space Exploration/Genetic Engineering http://dancinglemurpress.com
Word count: 5000-6000 Genre: Sweet Romance Theme: First Love Submissions accepted: May 7 – September 1, 2021 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. You must belong to at least one aspect of the IWSG to enter. Judging: The IWSG admins will create a shortlist of the best stories. The shortlist will then be sent to our official judges. Prizes: The winning stories will be edited and published by Dancing Lemur Press’ imprint, Freedom Fox Press,next year in the IWSG anthology. (Please see their site for general submission guidelines.) Authors will receive royalties on books sold, both print and eBook. The top story will have the honor of giving the anthology its title.
IWSG GOODREAD BOOK CLUB!
Our April/May reads are… The High Mountains of Portugal by Yann Martel is our fiction selection that offers a great use and example of description.
Deep Point of View (Busy Writer’s Guides Book 9) by Marcy Kennedy is our writing craft book with a focus on deep POV view.
Discussion Day for both books will be May 26, 2021!
JOIN US for our current discussions on Ghost Light and Preparing to Write Settings that Feel Like Characters.
Our books below.
Author of Life of PI Yann Martel
A Busy Writer’s Guide by March Kennedy
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