Sign Up And Become a Member 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.
DECEMBER 1ST IWSG OPTIONAL QUESTION – In your writing, what stresses you the most? What delights you?
My Answer: What stresses me? The darn middle and coming up with enough interesting stuff, plus finishing. What delights me? The character creation, world building, and expanding the ideas. Spending time with the character once I delved deep enough that they feel real. When the character takes a life of their own and writes their story instead of me trying to beat the next scene out of my head.
SUPPORT YOUR FELLOW INSECURE WRITERS. OUR DECEMBER IWSG GOODREADS BOOK CLUB MEMBER READS ARE BELOW—DISCUSSION DAY DECEMBER 23RD!
Written by Savannah Cordova About the author: Savannah Cordova is a writer with Reedsy, a marketplace that connects self-publishing authors with the world’s best editors, designers, and marketers. In her spare time, she enjoys reading contemporary fiction and writing short stories.
How to Power Through the Last Third of Writing Your Novel
Starting to write a book is often seen as the most daunting challenge, so many authors are surprised when they reach another stumbling block: the home stretch. Especially if you’ve been tackling NaNoWriMo, the final third of a novel can involve burnout, writer’s block, or just a total lack of motivation. To combat all this, here are six tried-and-true strategies you can use to power through and finish your book!
1. Revisit your outline and refresh your inspiration
Authors often struggle with their final chapters simply because they’ve forgotten where they’re going. So if you’ve lost the way, revisit your outline. It might seem like you’re going backwards, but returning to the start — reviewing your worldbuilding,character profiles, and plot — will not only refresh your memory, but remind you why you were excited about writing to begin with.
The added benefit of going back to your outline is that you may realize some of the things you originally planned out no longer make sense. If you realize that a plot point didn’t unfold the way you thought it would, or that a late-stage move no longer aligns with your characters’ goals, you can take some time to change your plan. It might have been this discord between your novel’s initial outline and its final shape that was throwing you off in the first place!
One word of warning: if you’re doing NaNoWriMo, I don’t recommend rereading what you’ve written, no matter how blocked you are. Not only will this be time-consuming, but it might tempt you to procrastinate even further by rewriting your early sections instead of working on your ending. There’ll be plenty of time to read your draft later — for now, stick to jogging your memory with your skeleton plan.
2. Form an accountability group
I envy all the amazing self-starters out there, but I am not among them. Sometimes the only thing that motivates me to write is when somebody will hold me accountable if I don’t. If you also need a little extra nudge to get going (or keep going), try forming an accountability group.
These groups take many forms, and can be made up of fellow writers, family, or friends — basically, anybody who’s willing to check in with you and encourage your progress. If you don’t have any good candidates in your immediate circles, check writerly Facebook groups to see who might be interested! You can write together in person, do daily or weekly check-ins to discuss how you’re getting along with your respective projects, or just send one another motivational tips — whatever works for you. It’s basically peer pressure, but the good kind.
And if you’re more of an introvert, you could always find yourself a virtual accountability partner. I use the Reedsy Book Editor’s goal tracking emails to keep myself motivated — they let you know how much you’ve written, and if you need to be writing more each day to reach a predetermined word count goal. Statistics aren’t everything, and you won’t always be hitting your marks, but knowing exactly where you’re at can be a great motivator to get things done.
3. Set yourself up with a reward
If an accountability partner is the stick, then this is the carrot. Although finishing your draft is probably reward enough, it’s still good to have something to look forward to at the end of it all! This might just be a break from writing (you’ll probably want one before you dive into editing, redrafting, and formatting your manuscript), but it can also be something a little more fun.
Some ideas might be going out for your favorite dinner, having a spa day, or buying that fancy kitchen appliance you’ve had your eye on — whatever makes you feel excited and motivated when you think about it. Promise yourself you can have it only when you finish your draft, and you’ll be amazed how fast the words will fly.
4. Just get an ending out
This tip is what it says on the tin: just write anything. It doesn’t need to be something you want to keep, and it certainly doesn’t need to be any good. Feel free to tell don’t show, repeat yourself, and break as many of the “golden rules” of writing as you need to get words out. Like the first pancake in a batch, you can assume you’ll throw this ending away, so don’t sweat the small stuff.
The benefit of this approach is twofold: removing the pressure of perfection makes writing a hundred times easier, and once you’ve got that bad (or really, really bad) first draft down, you’ll still feel far closer to being done than if you waited for a perfect ending to arrive fully formed. Remember, there’ll be plenty of time to self-editor find an editorlater: for now, just power through and get that ending down on the page.
5. Skip straight to the end
If even a zero-pressure draft isn’t enough to help you push through those final chapters, there’s another last-ditch approach you can take. While I’m normally a sequential writer, I find that skipping to the very last scene or even paragraph can be a fun exercise to reignite my creativity. Then I’ll go back to fill in the gap — at which time it’s often easier to stay motivated, because my endpoint feels far more tangible.
As with the previous tip, this ending doesn’t have to be your final one, so don’t feel like you have to make it work regardless of where your writing takes you. It’s not for everyone, but I do highly recommend this little hack for when you’re super stuck.
6. Find balance
This last writing tip is, somewhat counterintuitively, to try not writing. While keeping up your routine is important and you don’t want to lose momentum, be sure to check in with yourself and make sure you’re not pushing yourself too hard.
After all, you’ve put in hours of work and written a huge amount already! If you’re struggling with your last few chapters, it’s very possible that you’re battling fatigue or burnout. And as tempting as it is to power through and write until you drop to make it to that finish line, it’s not worth sacrificing your health or happiness — not to mention that your craft is likely to suffer too.
So incorporate some time for self-care into your routine, whatever that looks like for you: take a walk, listen to an audiobook, sprawl out on the couch for a while. Whatever you choose to do, it’ll restore your energy levels and give you a boost to get that last bit of writing done. Yes, even if you’re determined to finish your book by the end of November, you can always spare an hour for your mental health!
I wish you the best of luck with finishing up your novel — just remember that you’re already well on your way, and the reward waiting for you will be completely worth it. Happy writing!
IWSG Book Club Upgrade! The IWSG is getting an overhaul. We’re so excited about the changes, so let me just stop here and turn the explaining over to the fabulous Toi! (Toi’s msg taken from club newsletter.)
How to join IWSG and participate in the book club and the blog hop, and the many things for author’s sponsored and hosted through Insecure Writer’s Support Group. Find out here!
A MESSAGE FROM TOI
Hi there, I’m Toi.
Perhaps you’ve seen me around the IWSG community. I’m number 36 on the blogging list, and I’m kind of a ghost in the Facebook group, but I do pop in and out from time to time. I’ve been very active in the IWSG Book Club on Goodreads and have recently been asked to take it over. Fortunately, my wonderful co-mods (Juneta Key and Ronel Janse van Vurren) will be there for support the whole way.
We are so excited to announce the new direction the book club will be taking and hope that you will join us. Before we kick off our new traditions, we’ll have our final discussions about the craft of writing, featuring the titles: Writing Magic: Creating Stories that Fly by Gail Carson Levine and They Called Us Enemy by George Takei and Justin Eisinger. These final discussions, on August 25, 2021, are simply fun poll questions you can answer and then, if you so choose, share your thoughts and or review of the last books we read. Click here and here to join in.
Starting in September, the book club will now serve as a spotlight of member talent. That’s right. We will be reading, sharing, and supporting the works of IWSG members and hope you will join in the fun. While spotlighting writers, we hope to take the book club in a direction that appeals to readers as well. Even if you don’t have time to read the books we choose to spotlight, you can still participate and spread the love. And just remember, your turn will eventually come around.
We have decided to honor the IWSG and its members in the month of September by featuring two of the group’s anthologies: Tick Tock: A Stitch in Crime and Parallels: Felix Was Here. These anthologies are themselves a showcase of the talent present within the IWSG community. Since many members of the community are only published in the anthologies, this gives those members a chance to be featured.
Each month, we will feature two books from IWSG members, and whether a long-time veteran or a newcomer, your time to shine will come. The co-mods and I will be picking titles from members based on the blogging list. We’ve divided the list into three parts: 1-50, 51-100, and 100+. We will alternate each month which part we choose from, that way we’re not just showing attention to members in one portion of the list.
As the new admin of the book club, each month I will share tips on ways for members to help their books become more searchable, increasing their odds of being featured. The co-mods and I have also come up with some fun ways for the IWSG community to get involved, even if they are not ready to join the Goodreads book club. After the spotlighted books are announced in the IWSG newsletter, we encourage interested members to share which of the books they are excited to try out, the first Wednesday of the month, in their IWSG day post.
The second Thursday of the month will be when we post our group polls. We are even taking suggestions from members about poll topics to feature. The third Thursday of the month will be our #iwsgbookclub check-in, where we head to social media to share which book(s) we are reading and our thoughts at the moment. Finally, the fourth Thursday of the month will be our discussion day. We’ve decided to help connect readers with the IWSG authors by hosting micro discussions- 3 questions dedicated to each book featured; plus, I’ll be sharing additional questions on social media to indulge the avid readers. Even if you don’t have a chance to read the books, we encourage you to join the discussions. We all know how much writers thrive on feedback.
Wow. There are so many new and exciting things coming your way from the book club and I hope you’ll join the current book club members on this new journey. Personally, I am excited to be part of a community that provides so much support and so many opportunities. I can’t wait to see the IWSG Book Club on Goodreads thrive even more as we continue in the spirit of the Insecure Writer’s Support Group.
IWSG September: What Is Your Idea Of A Successful Writer?
Insecure Writer’s Support Group—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 Reedsy Discount / Past Issues
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 help 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—and return comments. This group is all about connecting! 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! Our Twitter handle is @TheIWSG and hashtag is #IWSG.
You ready? Let’s rock the neurotic writing world!
IWSG September: What Is Your Idea Of A Successful Writer? IWSG Co-hosts
From the newsletter–Show off your writer insecurities! Buy some IWSG swag and wear/use it with pride! Buy Here!
IWSG September: What Is Your Idea Of A Successful Writer?
Optional Question
SEPTEMBER 1ST OPTIONAL QUESTION How do you define success as a writer? Is it holding your book in your hand? Having a short story published? Making a certain amount of income from your writing?
MY ANSWER:
It is surviving (making a living) with income streams from writing or in the industry. I am so grateful because as of May 2020, when I started building my income streams; I am doing just that. Now my goal is to have a full series published and working on my next series.
I am co-owner of Stormdance Publications which is still a work in progress since 2018, but we have 4 themed-anthologies published, one to be published TBA (one more in wait), and one call for submission, Grumpy Old Fairy Tales, and getting ready to put out a second call for submission, Grumpy Old Pandemic Gods.
As of May 2021, I work full time for Ninja Writers LLC.Today is last day Sept 1st, but you can get Ninja Writers Guild for a month for $10 today Sept 1st, and after that $50 a month. The Guild is a place you can find classes to help you figure out how to build income streams, and that fits you personally. It is for the more serious writer looking for a way to earn income, publish their first novel, memoir, or start writing articles. (Note: The Guild includes all that is in the Club too.)
Or if you are a less focus writer or just not ready to jump in, The Aspiring Writer, there is the Ninja Writers Club, which you can get for two weeks free and then $25 a month, which includes access to Shaunta Grimes course, A Novel Idea, on how to write a novel and structure a novel with a lot of other insights.I highly recommend this course, as that is what inspired me to join the Ninja Writers Club back in 2015. I have never looked back.
Or if not ready to commit to yet you can try Ninja Writers Club free courses on How To Test & Develop a Story Idea and The Plotting Workshop at ninjawriters.org. Ninja Writers have a lot of live calls for club and the guild both, and a few frees from time to time. Shaunta is currently doing the $10 Workshop calls every Monday, which means if you don’t want to join but want to own that call and come to live, you can.
Another income stream for me is that I started my service page in May 2020 with one-on-one service via zoom. My page contains testimonials from my clients and list of services.
I write on Medium. I joined the Medium Partnership Program in 2018, which means I make a few pennies there too.
I also have seven books, 6 anthologies and one short collection on my Amazon Page.
What I am currently working on: I am currently writing an Origin Story novella or novel connected to the short collection, plus my first novel in my Space Opera Trilogy, Ghost Pirate.
Looking forward—I plan to develop a couple of email courses. This is still in the idea stage, but I am always adding to my income stream list as my schedule allows and what I can handle and manage. I am in this writing thing for the long haul. It is a curvy road. I build and change as I go. There is always something else to learn or to adapt to with every step. Getting closer to the dream, don’t believe me, read my bio. Or maybe I am already living shades of it. “Stuffs just getting better every day.” ~Movie The Postman starring Kevin Costner.
IWSG Book Club Upgrade! The IWSG is getting an overhaul. We’re so excited about the changes, so let me just stop here and turn the explaining over to the fabulous Toi! (Toi’s msg taken from club newsletter.)
A MESSAGE FROM TOI
Hi there, I’m Toi.
Perhaps you’ve seen me around the IWSG community. I’m number 36 on the blogging list, and I’m kind of a ghost in the Facebook group, but I do pop in and out from time to time. I’ve been very active in the IWSG Book Club on Goodreads and have recently been asked to take it over. Fortunately, my wonderful co-mods (Juneta Key and Ronel Janse van Vurren) will be there for support the whole way.
We are so excited to announce the new direction the book club will be taking and hope that you will join us. Before we kick off our new traditions, we’ll have our final discussions about the craft of writing, featuring the titles: Writing Magic: Creating Stories that Fly by Gail Carson Levine and They Called Us Enemy by George Takei and Justin Eisinger. These final discussions, on August 25, 2021, are simply fun poll questions you can answer and then, if you so choose, share your thoughts and or review of the last books we read. Click here and here to join in.
Starting in September, the book club will now serve as a spotlight of member talent. That’s right. We will be reading, sharing, and supporting the works of IWSG members and hope you will join in the fun. While spotlighting writers, we hope to take the book club in a direction that appeals to readers as well. Even if you don’t have time to read the books we choose to spotlight, you can still participate and spread the love. And just remember, your turn will eventually come around.
We have decided to honor the IWSG and its members in the month of September by featuring two of the group’s anthologies: Tick Tock: A Stitch in Crime and Parallels: Felix Was Here. These anthologies are themselves a showcase of the talent present within the IWSG community. Since many members of the community are only published in the anthologies, this gives those members a chance to be featured.
Each month, we will feature two books from IWSG members, and whether a long-time veteran or a newcomer, your time to shine will come. The co-mods and I will be picking titles from members based on the blogging list. We’ve divided the list into three parts: 1-50, 51-100, and 100+. We will alternate each month which part we choose from, that way we’re not just showing attention to members in one portion of the list.
As the new admin of the book club, each month I will share tips on ways for members to help their books become more searchable, increasing their odds of being featured. The co-mods and I have also come up with some fun ways for the IWSG community to get involved, even if they are not ready to join the Goodreads book club. After the spotlighted books are announced in the IWSG newsletter, we encourage interested members to share which of the books they are excited to try out, the first Wednesday of the month, in their IWSG day post.
The second Thursday of the month will be when we post our group polls. We are even taking suggestions from members about poll topics to feature. The third Thursday of the month will be our #iwsgbookclub check-in, where we head to social media to share which book(s) we are reading and our thoughts at the moment. Finally, the fourth Thursday of the month will be our discussion day. We’ve decided to help connect readers with the IWSG authors by hosting micro discussions- 3 questions dedicated to each book featured; plus, I’ll be sharing additional questions on social media to indulge the avid readers. Even if you don’t have a chance to read the books, we encourage you to join the discussions. We all know how much writers thrive on feedback.
Wow. There are so many new and exciting things coming your way from the book club and I hope you’ll join the current book club members on this new journey. Personally, I am excited to be part of a community that provides so much support and so many opportunities. I can’t wait to see the IWSG Book Club on Goodreads thrive even more as we continue in the spirit of the Insecure Writer’s Support Group.
See you on post day.
Thanks, Toi Thomas Author at #thetoiboxofwords etoithomas.com Founder of Lit Carnivale. For more info, click here.
IWSG September: What Is Your Idea Of A Successful Writer?
Do You Believe In Magic? — Smoak is Magic.
I am a Fae spirit entity. My element is fire. My name is Smoak. I’ve been mistaken for an angel. As a spirit entity, I have many forms — I shape-shift, but my core form is Dragon.
I am a master at using shadow magic for illusion, but I can’t live alone. To survive, spirit entities must bond with another whose element is the same as theirs.
Elemental fire magic connected me to Remi at her birth. But, our magic was never used.
To keep her safe, her mother suppressed Remi’s magic at age three to hide them from the monster that chased them. On Remi’s sixteenth birthday, the spell will break and reunite us.
Let’s hope everything doesn’t burn down around us.
You can view this brief story on Medium too. I wrote it as short form fiction–150 words or fewer for a friend’s Short Form Publication on Medium The Daily Cuppa.
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
Thanks for visiting Storyteller’s Gambit! If you like get news and updates from this site. Sign up here.
This website uses cookies with the sole intent to improve your experience as is common with most websites. If you continue to use this website we will take that as your consent. OKRejectRead More
Privacy & Cookies Policy
Privacy Overview
This website uses cookies to improve your experience while you navigate through the website. Out of these, the cookies that are categorized as necessary are stored on your browser as they are essential for the working of basic functionalities of the website. We also use third-party cookies that help us analyze and understand how you use this website. These cookies will be stored in your browser only with your consent. You also have the option to opt-out of these cookies. But opting out of some of these cookies may affect your browsing experience.
Necessary cookies are absolutely essential for the website to function properly. This category only includes cookies that ensures basic functionalities and security features of the website. These cookies do not store any personal information.
Any cookies that may not be particularly necessary for the website to function and is used specifically to collect user personal data via analytics, ads, other embedded contents are termed as non-necessary cookies. It is mandatory to procure user consent prior to running these cookies on your website.
