Insecure Writer's Support Group and Themes

It’s time for another group posting of the Insecure Writer’s Support Group! Time to release our fears to the world – or offer encouragement to those who are feeling neurotic. If you’d like to join us, click on the tab above and sign up. We post the first Wednesday of every month. I encourage everyone to visit at least a dozen new blogs and leave a comment. Your words might be the encouragement someone needs.

The awesome co-hosts for the November 4 posting of the IWSG are Kalpana, Kim Lajevardi, Rebecca Douglass, Jennifer Lane, and Cathrina Constantine!

November 4 question - As a writer, do you have favorite themes that you like to explore in your stories? If so, what are they?

Theme differs from topic, as the theme is the underlying message or idea.

Need to think about it? Need some ideas?

Pro Writing Aid has a list of 200 common themes in literature:
Themes in Literature

Michael Bjork has another list of 100 themes:
Story Themes for Your Novel

And Spines has a list of 250:
Themes in Literature

I bet you never knew there were that many!

How many have you used?

#WritingCommunity #WritersLife #IWSG @TheIWSG

It’s not easy being a writer. 

At least it isn’t for me. It involves a lot of lonely hours, days, weeks months, and…etc. That’s the beginning. A writer needs these qualities: inspiration, perseverance, the gift of telling a good story. 

The IWSG is an amazing blogging group, and much much more, and offers everyone support when needed. All a writer has to do is sign up, and the hard part is—putting yourself out there. 

My writing journey began many years ago, and I went through an inordinate amount of mistakes along the arduous path. For me, who never took a college course in creative writing, I learned the old fashion way by reading, reading, reading, and hitting the internet to learn the process of what’s next. 

The querying process is difficult and depressing. It's imperative that a querying writer develops a suit of armor. I had acquired a newbie agent, at that time. (now she’s doing well) She couldn’t sell two of my manuscripts. I eventually published with a wonderful small press. They still have two of my books, and I got the rights back for all the rest.

After many years, I am now happy being a self-published author. I like the control I have over my books, but still despise the marketing aspect. Even a traditional author has to market their books.

Needless to say, self-publishing costs $. I always recommend a professional editor, cover artist, and formatter. You can publish without these essentials, but I wouldn’t recommend it. 

With that said, what say you? What are your quandaries concerning the writing process and so on? 

Have you considered Self-Publishing?

Working with a Small Press?

Querying until the cow jumps over the moon… 😃

 

An IWSG Day Disclosure

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 - 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! Otherwise, when you leave a comment, people can't find you to comment back.

Let’s rock the neurotic writing world!

Our Twitter handle is @TheIWSG and hashtag is #IWSG.

The awesome co-hosts for the October 7th posting of the IWSG are Ronel Janse van Vuuren, Liza at Middle Passages, JH Moncrieff, and Jemima Pett!

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. 

Remember, the question is optional!

October 7th question - Many people are calling for writers who use AI to disclose it. Most who employ ghostwriters do not admit it - do you think authors who use ghostwriters should have to disclose that, too? (Thanks Melissa Maygrove for the question!)

So...what do you think? Should all be disclosed? At least ghostwriters actually write the material and don't just "poof" it out of thin air in four seconds. Actually, AI wouldn't really "poof" anything as it is just copying what humans have already done.

But then people are putting their name to something that they didn't actually write. Of course if they put a pen name to it then it isn't their true name, so the pen name could just be for everyone. 

Round and round the argument could go for disclosing ghostwriters.

What side do you land on? Should it have to be disclosed? Should it not?