Wednesday, April 3, 2019

IWSG April 2019 - Next Anthology News!

So it looks like it's April then - how did we get to the second quarter of 2019 already? Hope it's been a good one for you so far. Of course, being the first Wednesday of the month, it's time for our monthly meeting, so let's get to business.


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. 

Remember, the question is optional!

This month's wonderful co-hosts are J.H. MoncrieffNatalie AguirrePatsy Collins and Chemist Ken!

And this month's question: If you could use a wish to help you write just ONE scene/chapter of your book, which one would it be? (examples: fight scene / first kiss scene / death scene / chase scene / first chapter / middle chapter / end chapter, etc.)

Hmm, this is definitely an interesting question. A wish to help me write the whole book wouldn't go astray, but that might be pushing cheating a little far! Actually, I usually find it particularly tricky to write the end - and this is the case right now as I grapple with pulling together my trilogy to write its final chapters. It definitely seems to be a tall order to tie everything up neatly, and of course there's the dreaded twist - you don't want readers to see it coming, but you also don't want them to feel like it's totally hit them out of left field. With the best twists, I think, "Ah, of course!" So yes, a bit of divine intervention in that department would definitely be appreciated.

                                                                                                                                                                 

Now let's turn to this month's exciting news - we're announcing the genre and opening date for the next IWSG anthology!

Our genre is Middle grade historical: adventure/fantasy and the opening date is May 1. The best brains are on the theme, and that will be announced on the opening date. So this is just to whet your appetite - you could use that time to brush up your knowledge of the genre if it's not your usual bag, for example. We're looking forward to more great entries!



Don't forget the Masquerade anthology is hitting the shelves on April 30!


Masquerade: Oddly Suited

An Insecure Writer’s Support Group Anthology


Find love at the ball…


Can a fake dating game show lead to love? Will a missing key free a clock-bound prince? Can a softball pitcher and a baseball catcher work together? Is there a vampire living in Paradise, Newfoundland? What’s more important—a virtual Traveler or a virtual date to the ball?


Ten authors explore young love in all its facets, from heartbreak to budding passion. Featuring the talents of L.G. Keltner, Jennifer Lane, C.D. Gallant-King, Elizabeth Mueller, Angela Brown, Myles Christensen, Deborah Solice, Carrie-Anne Brownian, Anstice Brown, and Chelsea Marie Ballard.


Hand-picked by a panel of agents and authors, these ten tales will mystify and surprise even as they touch your heart. Don your mask and join the party…


Website - IWSG Anthologies

Young Adult Fiction: Romance - General/Paranormal/Contemporary

Print ISBN 9781939844644

eBook ISBN 9781939844651



Print and eBook:



Special note:
We are partnering with DIY MFA this spring to bring you a great program for writers.


Before we announce details, we’ll be sharing several of their learning videos.

Here's the very funny Episode 236 with Jeff Somers on Writing Without Rules (or Pants).

Check it out and come back later this month for details about the program.

OK, now it's time to check out more IWSGers at the sign-up page. What part of your WIP would you wish for help with? Excited about the theme for the next anthology? Or for grabbing a copy of Masquerade? Interested to learn more about DIY MFA?

21 comments:

Natalie Aguirre said...

Yes, the endings of a story are hard to get right. You want to leave the reader satisfied after they read your whole story.

Sounds like a great new anthology. Awesome that people have more time to enter.

Alex J. Cavanaugh said...

We have a lot of cool stuff happening!

Patsy said...

I suppose it's cheating to ask for help with the whole book?

Christine Rains said...

Endings can be very tricky, especially getting that twist right.

L. Diane Wolfe said...

I hope we get a lot of entries for the next IWSG contest.

Lisa said...

I can't wait till April 30th! I only now with this current WIP have a hard time with the ending. All my other books I knew the ending before I started. This time trying to not have it be predictable is what I'm striving for and I'm almost there, but not quite. :(
Thanks for dropping by my blog and commenting!

L.G. Keltner said...

Endings are the most difficult for me. There's so much pressure to get it right!

I can't wait until April 30th, and I'm also looking forward to the theme reveal for the next anthology! It's definitely a fun genre.

J.Q. Rose said...

Exactly. We strive to wrap up the story with a satisfying ending so the reader doesn't feel cheated or that they wasted their time reading the whole book. But the twist can be tricky--not predictable and also it fits into the story. I think I should have used my wish for help with the ending. Can we have 3 wishes, please? hee hee
JQ Rose

Jemi Fraser said...

Tying up all the threads is always a challenge!
I enjoyed the podcast - thanks for the link - lots of good info in there!!

cleemckenzie said...

I always need help with the whole book. I'm never sure where that help will turn up, but it seems to. Thank you, whoever or whatever you are.

Susan Gourley/Kelley said...

I working on the tricky ending of the first book in a trilogy. Has to wrap up and leave the reader wanting that next book.
Looking forward to diyMFA.

Tyrean Martinson said...

Go, IWSG!

Gwen Gardner said...

Ha, my wish was help with the ending too. It's hard!

Thanks for all the news :)

Juneta key said...

My muse does not like to wrap up always wanting to turn stuff into to a series, even my shorts. Happy IWSG!

Diane Burton said...

Lots of exciting stuff happening for IWSG. Good luck with your endings. I usually rewrite mine several times.

Anonymous said...

Endings are definitely important. Some notable best-selling authors are not always great at endings.

Looking forward to more info on the next anthology. Might be something new for me to try.

Fundy Blue said...

The IWSG has exciting things happening right now. Thanks for your informative post, Nick!

Roland Clarke said...

For my post, I said 'opening' but now as I reach 'the end' of my A to Z short novella - 20k plus words - I might need another wish. Too many threads, I fear.

Love the idea of Middle grade historical: adventure/fantasy - and the longer timeline. Might be outside my comfort zone though. But I have an alternative historical world researched so........................

Jessica Ferguson said...

IWSG: the best writer’s group I belong to.

Debra Renée Byrd said...

Edit: I need to buy the anthologies!

Debra Renée Byrd said...

The end hasn't been an issue for me, but getting there is the problem!