Wednesday, July 6, 2016

Insecure Writer's Support Group Day & Vote For The IWSG Anthology Genre



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. Everyone is encouraged to visit at least a dozen new blogs and leave a comment. Your words might be the encouragement someone needs. 
                                                                             
Today's co-hosts are  Yolanda Renee, Tyrean Martinson, Madeline Mora-Summonte , LK Hill, Rachna Chhabria, and JA Scott! 
Don't forget to visit them and thank them for co-hosting.

We’re revving up IWSG Day to make it more fun and interactive! Every month, we'll announce a question that members can answer in their IWSG Day 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.


TODAY'S QUESTION: What's the best thing someone has ever said about your writing?
My first piece of flash fiction (104 words) accepted by an online magazine in 2013, came with this (shortened version) editorial response:

Ha! Love your story Blast From The Past!
I was reading it thinking, WHERE is this going...and you got there in perfect time.

I burst out laughing and will publish it on August 14th.

The comment opened my eyes to the importance and power of pacing. Pacing is the rhythm of your story, the speed at which the events unfold and the rate at which the reader reads. It was quite a challenge getting this to work within 104 words!
I keep a printed copy of the e-mail. This was a major boost to my confidence and cemented my love for flash fiction.
What's the best thing someone has ever said about your writing? Share in the comment section below! 


This year will see the second annual The Insecure Writer’s Support Group Anthology being published and the contest kicks off  in the fall. You get to vote for the anthology genre!
There are 10 genres to choose from. Please vote only once. Voting ends on July 8th. The theme will be revealed after the genre is chosen. Then you'll be able to write a story for the contest.





Facebook Features
Our Facebook group is currently at 3260 members. The special feature days are M-W-F. Join us on the 2nd, 3rd and 4th Wednesdays of the month, for fun and interactive posts.

1st Wednesday - IWSG Day (remember to link your blog post url to the badge pinned at the top of the Facebook page)
2nd Wednesday - Wacky Words where you get to "invent" a wacky definition!
  
 
3rd Wednesday - Ongoing Story where you add your sentence and watch the story grow!
 
 4th Wednesday - Silly Mistakes where you get an opportunity to share a silly mistake you've made during your writing career, and have a good laugh!


 
5th Wednesday - Wow It's Wednesday which provides an opportunity for a mid-week boost and announcements.  
 A reminder that we are also on Twitter - catch us at @TheIWSG.

The next IWSG day is on August 03rd.
AUGUST 03rd QUESTION: What was your very first piece of writing as an aspiring writer? Where is it now? Collecting dust or has it been published?

33 comments:

Nicola said...

What a fantastic confidence booster! So glad you printed it out and use it to remind yourself how great you are! Lovely post. Thank you.

M.J. Fifield said...

I love that response! That's so great. I would have kept a printed copy of that, too. :)

Gail M Baugniet - Author said...

Mastering perfect timing in a piece of writing is one of those accomplishments that mostly goes unnoticed unless it isn't there. Congrats on having an editor who recognized your ability.

Susan Gourley/Kelley said...

I think pacing is what keeps a reader interested. The Facebook group is awesome.

L. Diane Wolfe said...

That's a great idea to print it out where you can see it every day.

We have so much going on now with this group. Boo-yah!

Eliza March said...

Flash fiction is always good practice in order to determine the absolute minimum number of words to tell the story, interest the reader and move the story forward. Word choice is crucial.

Christine Rains said...

How awesome! I love it when stories can make me burst out laughing. :)

Yolanda Renée said...

Pacing is very important, and you achieved it masterfully! You are the flash queen!

Joylene Nowell Butler said...

I received a written response once from an editor, I remember how great I felt. Totally breathless. Congratulations, Michelle. Well-deserved! Happy IWSG Day!

Juneta key said...

Indeed a very encouraging and confidence boosting comment Congrats and thanks for sharing it with us.
Happy IWSG
http://www.junetakey.com/posts/iwsg-july-2016/

Dr. Theda said...

They said (more than a few folks) that I am "very creative"... My teachers often liked to keep my writings... and was often complimented for stories by them...

Jen said...

Pacing is so important. I love when a story starts out a little slow and then, suddenly, I'm whisked away breathless to the very end. What a wonderful compliment!

So far, the best compliments I've received are, "You have a real gift for dialogue" and "Man, I had to stop reading at night. That story freaked me out!"

Happy Summer :)
~Jen

Michael Di Gesu said...

Hi, Michelle,

NICE.... How cool to get such a great response from an editor....I'd keep that one, too!

And you are right, pacing is very important. It is a delicate line to travel, but a writer must stay on it to have a piece work well.

As for my best comment... well, you know what I posted on my blog. BUT ... I have to admit, I LOVE my "Mr. Blurb King" title.... Thanks, Michelle! I hope I keep living up to it...

Alex J. Cavanaugh said...

I would definitely print out that email!
Thanks for listing everything that's happening.

Liesbet said...

That is such a great compliment! And, based on that one, I expect you have received many more. :-) This is my first time participating in IWSG Wednesdays! http://www.roamingabout.com/recap-of-my-book-writing/

J.L. Campbell said...

Thanks for the update on the new features. Yup, pacing is super important for a good story.

Pat Hatt said...

That is an email to hold onto indeed

Olga Godim said...

What a wonderful boost for your writing! And only 104 words. Wow!

Chrys Fey said...

To make someone laugh while reading your story is a huge compliment.

I like that you shared the FB Group features. Hopefully that'll get some more from our group to sign up. :)

Hope Clark said...

An opinion I respect in my critique group said I wrote some of the best dialogue ever because he could take out the tags and still know which character was speaking. I floated on that compliment for months.

Unknown said...

The questions are a great idea-- I missed it this time but will do it on the August 3rd!

Damyanti

Michelle Wallace said...

Nicola ~ it's a great boost during those moments when I feel a bit deflated.

M.J. Fifield ~ at that time, it was a total shock!

Gail Baugniet ~ that's true, pacing is a constant challenge.

Susan ~ yes, it's the manipulation of the readers' attention, in a good way, of course!

L.Diane ~ the group is growing from strength to strength.

Eliza ~ I totally agree. Flash fiction helps with lean, tight writing.

Christine ~ thanks, Christine.

Yolanda Renee ~ thanks for the vote of confidence...not sure about the 'queen' part...

Joylene ~ thanks, Joylene.

Juneta ~ thanks, Juneta.

Dr. Theda ~ that early validation must have done wonders for your confidence!

Jen Chandler ~ those are wonderful compliments, Jen! Congrats!

Michael ~ you ARE Mr. Blurb King. No question about it.

Alex ~ lots of exciting stuff happening!

Liesbet ~ that compliment was the most unexpected one of all!

Joy ~ pacing requires constant editing/revising...

Pat Hatt ~ that I shall do, here at my zoo.

Olga Godin ~ a great boost indeed!

Chrys ~ I've never thought of myself as a person who can write humor...but there it is.

Hope Clark ~ that's a HUGE compliment! Well done!

Damyanti ~ the monthly question is a great way to kickstart the post, especially those months when some writers struggle with what to write about.

Lan said...

I write young adult so pacing is really important. I don't think I'm very good at it though because all I want is to have action all the time!

I tend not to read any review of my novel because good or bad I don't want it to stop me from writing.

diedre Knight said...

This was so uplifting! And what a wonderful compliment :-) Excellent tip about pacing, too. I had no idea how busy this group is on Facebook, I'll have to check it out!

L.G. Keltner said...

That's a great compliment! I can't wait to see what the genre is going to be for the next IWSG anthology!

Debra Renée Byrd said...

Voted!

An agent from a small publisher was really enthused by one of my early drafts, and he gave me a lot of great criticism. I felt very inspired.

dolorah said...

Awesome review. And possibly a new follower; sweet.

The IWSG is really rocking!!

cleemckenzie said...

Editors can chew you up and spit you out, but it seems this one took quite a fancy to your writing. Now that's a compliment!

My first writing will never see the light of day. It will at some point provide the kindling for a lovely evening fire. Piece by piece.

H.R. Bennett said...

I'm not sure what the best compliment I've ever gotten is. I more often study the criticisms so I can consider where I need to go. Hmmmm

Lux G. said...

Love receiving such encouraging and uplifting words myself.
Thanks for sharing. Keep it up! :)

Michelle Wallace said...

Lan ~ isn't action a good way to up the pace?

diedre Knight ~ the Wednesday fun post is just one of the things our facebook page has to offer.

L.G. Keltner ~ fantasy won!

Deb R.H. ~ receiving constructive crit from an agent is a major boost, for sure!

dolorah ~ there are amazing members in the group...you should join us on facebook.

cleemckenzie ~ kindling for a fire? Huh? I'm sure it's not that bad, Lee?

Robert Bennett ~ I think lots of writers study the crit and forget/ignore the compliment.

Lux G. ~ I agree. 100%. Thank you.

Deniz Bevan said...

Oh my, I feel so badly -- I hadn't noticed before that you guys have other events for the other Wednesdays of the month. Such great ideas!

Deniz Bevan said...

I'll have to share them on my blog to help me remember :-)