Wednesday, August 5, 2020

The Insecure Writer's Support Group - August Edition


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.

The awesome co-hosts for the August 5 posting of the IWSG are Susan Baury Rouchard, Nancy Gideon, Jennifer Lane, Jennifer Hawes, Chemist Ken, and Chrys Fey!

Let’s rock the neurotic writing world!

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!

August 5 question - Quote: "Although I have written a short story collection, the form found me and not the other way around. Don't write short stories, novels or poems. Just write your truth and your stories will mold into the shapes they need to be."
Have you ever written a piece that became a form, or even a genre, you hadn't planned on writing in? Or do you choose a form/genre in advance?


You set aside some precious time to write. 
You prepare a cup of delicious coffee, open your laptop and get ready to write... but you're not sure what.
 Sometimes, the first drafting should be a wild and wonderful ride, full of discovery, dreams and promises. 
Write with abandon. Go with your gut. They say that your gut never lies. Let your truth pour onto the page. 
But how do you write your truth? 
Think about this: what do you believe? What universal struggle have you witnessed or experienced? Dig deep and find your gut response concerning your experiences.
Remember that your writing matters if it's written from a place of wanting to connect. 
Once you get that right, then who knows what gems are just waiting to be shaped into an interesting blog post, a poem, a memoir, novella or a novel series!



There's still time to enter the anthology contest.

Guidelines and rules:

Word count4500-6000

Genre: Science Fiction

Theme: Dark Matter

Submissions accepted: May 6 - September 2, 2020

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.



In trying to get books to move and sell and gain some momentum, Voyagers is discounted on Amazon from $4.99 to 2.99 for the eBook from tomorrow through this Friday.


12 comments:

Alex J. Cavanaugh said...

What do I believe? That's a great place to begin.

Susan B.Rouchard said...

Thank you Michelle for hosting the IWSG this month.
Beautifull post.

cleemckenzie said...

Yes. Those universals are essential to give your stories backbone. Great post, Michelle. Thanks.

Natalie Aguirre said...

Agree with all you said, Michelle. I hope I have a ride of discovery when I sit down to write today.

nashvillecats2 said...

Thanks for your post, most thought provoking.

Yvonne.

Beverly Stowe McClure said...

Yes, the time, the dreams, the promises, your heart, so much goes into your writing. Isn't it great?

Computer Tutor said...

Really good post, Lee. I will say, the last time I didn't know what to write was when I took a creative writing class and they made me write short stories. Yikes!

L. Diane Wolfe said...

Hopefully a lot of people pick up Voyagers while it's dirt cheap.

Leigh Caron said...

Oh I whole heartedly agree with you, "the first drafting should be a wild and wonderful ride, full of discovery, dreams and promises." It's the most thrilling time in the journey of a manuscript. After that comes the work.

Jemi Fraser said...

Love this line... Remember that your writing matters if it's written from a place of wanting to connect
It is all about connecting, isn't it?

Michael Di Gesu said...

You are so right, Michelle.... A writer must dig deep and FEEL... If you don't FEEL your writing, then no one else will....

Toi Thomas said...

Digging deep is when you really begin to connect with readers. Great tips.