Insecure Writer's Support Group News and Connections

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 and 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 today are Ronel Janse van Vuuren, Mary Aalgaard, Madeline Mora-Summonte, and Ellen @ The Cynical Sailor!

Today’s question:

It's been said that the benefits of becoming a writer who does not read is that all your ideas are new and original. Everything you do is an extension of yourself, instead of a mixture of you and another author. On the other hand, how can you expect other people to want your writing, if you don't enjoy reading? What are your thoughts?

This month’s WEP challenge:

#IWSGPit happens once a year – next date, January 15, 2020.

Do people really find a publisher or agent from a Twitter pitch event? Dancing Lemur Press, L.L.C. has signed FOUR authors now from Twitter pitches.

If you have signed with a publisher or agent after #IWSGPit, please let us know.



The first IWSG posting of 2020 will be on Jan. 8th – NOT on Jan. 1st since it is New Year’s Day. So, mark your calendars now.


Did you know the IWSG is elsewhere?

Find us on Facebook where we offer several prompts a week, opportunities to share news, discuss writing with others, and find the support and help you need. Almost 4,400 member strong now.

Find us on Twitter where we share writing, publishing, and marketing tips and news, plus we host #IWSGPit. Over 10K followers and growing.

Find us on Instagram where we share visual writing prompts and inspiration. Almost 800 followers.

Find us on Goodreads where we host a book club that reads books that will improve your craft and show you how certain elements are done well. With close to 400 members, it’s still an intimate group.

Finally, did you know we have a newsletter? Get monthly writing tips, guest articles, news, links, and more!

Please connect with us!

What are your thoughts on writers who don’t read?

GDPR, the IWSG, and YOU!

There's been a lot of confusing information out there about the new GDPR (General Data Protection Regulation). The new regulations are intended to improve data privacy for EU citizens. While it's a pain for those of us with newsletters and such, it's actually a good thing in the long run, and chances are it will impact data protection outside the EU at some point.

In order to be fully compliant with the new regulations, we've modified our sign-up process for the newsletter and updated all verbiage. Anyone who didn't sign up directly via the MailChimp sign-up form will have received an email from us today via MailChimp to confirm their subscription preferences. We're also updating our privacy policy, which you'll be able to find on the sidebar.

Anyone who receives the opt-in email from us and does not update their settings to confirm they still want to receive the newsletter will be removed from the list before the May newsletter goes out. Not only do we want to be GDPR compliant, but we don't want to be sending you a newsletter if you don't want it! So keep an eye on your inboxes today. If you are removed, but didn't want to be, the sign-up form can be found under the newsletter tab.

Speaking of wanting to receive the newsletter, as it's via MailChimp, it's easy to opt-out if you don't wish to continue receiving the newsletter. There is always the option to click on unsubscribe from this list at the bottom of your newsletter, or you can email us directly at theIWSG at gmail dot com.

Now that we've got that out of the way, here are some articles I found helpful in navigating this GDPR puzzle as it concerns newsletters:

Yes, the GDPR Will Affect Your US-Based Business (Forbes)
How to Make Your Website GDPR Complaint (Hallam)
New MailChimp Tools to Help With the GDPR (MailChimp)
And more specifically from MailChimp (this one is only for those with a MailChimp newsletter): Collect Consent With GDPR Forms

GDPR goes into effect May 25, so you'll have to have your newsletters and websites GDPR-ready before that date, if you haven't already done it.

Are you ready for the GDPR to go into effect? Have you updated your newsletter and contacted EU members to re-opt-in?

*Confused Panda Clip Art, OCAL, clker.com
*Checklist Panda Clip Art, OCAL, clker.com

Opportunities for Our Members + Anthology Update / IWSG

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

Optional Question for Today: How has being a writer changed your experience as a reader?

THANK YOU, CO-HOSTS!

The awesome co-hosts for today are Misha Gericke,  Christy LK Hill, Juneta Key, and Joylene Buter!

NEW IWSG ADMINS!

Heather M Gardner joined our team earlier this month to take over the Conferences Page. Welcome, Heather! 

C. Lee McKenzie has just joined our team on Monday as our Media Relations Specialist. Welcome, C. Lee!

 NEW MEMBER SHOUT OUT:

Please help us to give our newest blog hop sign-ups a warm welcome, IWSG style. Let’s visit their blogs and show them some love today.

Blue Fox Cafe

Kathy S Collier/Author

My Brain Injourney

The Write Project

Write Accountable

Going Solo with spelling errors

600 Second Saga

Putting the Clothes On, Taking the Gloves Off.

Northern Lights Gothic - KT Wagner

Danger, Love, and Mystery

Writers Read – That’s What They Do

Ray Pace at Large

IWSG MERCHANDISE:

Do you want to show the world that you're insecure and proud? Well, now you can! The IWSG has started a merchandise store. Right now we have pens, magnets, and T-shirts available. Check out our store! 

IWSG ANTHOLOGY UPDATE:

Hero Lost

Mysteries of Death and Life

An Insecure Writer’s Support Group Anthology

Can a lost hero find redemption?

What if Death himself wanted to die? Can deliverance be found on a bloody battlefield? Could the gift of silvering become a prison for those who possessed it? Will an ancient warrior be forever the caretaker of a house of mystery?

Delving into the depths of the tortured hero, twelve authors explore the realms of fantasy in this enthralling and thought-provoking collection. Featuring the talents of Jen Chandler, L. Nahay, Renee Cheung, Roland Yeomans, Elizabeth Seckman, Olga Godim, Yvonne Ventresca, Ellen Jacobson, Sean McLachlan, Erika Beebe, Tyrean Martinson, and Sarah Foster.

Hand-picked by a panel of agents and authors, these twelve tales will take you into the heart of heroes who have fallen from grace. Join the journey and discover a hero’s redemption!

Release Date: May 2, 2017

OPPORTUNITIES FOR ALL!

Here at the IWSG, we love to give our members opportunities. We have done this with the IWSG Guidebook and our Annual Anthology Contest. But we have even more opportunities for you to take advantage of, such as our Facebook Group (to build connections and get advice) and our monthly newsletter which features a member article in each issue.

JOIN OUR FACEBOOK GROUP! 

On IWSG Day, we pin a badge to the group where members can share links to their IWSG posts and get more visits. Who wouldn't want to benefit from that?

We also have fun Wednesday posts you can take part in: Wacky Words, Wordsmith Tales, and Silly Mistakes.

Need advice? Have a question? Seeking a critique partner? Feel free to use our Facebook group!

We only ask that you DO NOT post PROMO to the main wall. We have a Friday News & Promo badge for members to share a promo from the week. :)

SUBMIT AN ARTICLE!

 
Would you like to be featured in our newsletter? We have 600+ subscribers, so this is a great opportunity and something for you to add to your publishing resume. Follow the instructions below to submit an article.

Topic Ideas: your number one writing, publishing or marketing tip; a motivational pep talk or inspirational story; a snippet about something you used to be insecure about but overcame, or an Aha moment you had about writing/publishing.
 
Length: 200 words or less
 
How to Submit: Send a DOC attachment to Chrys Fey at ChrysFey(at)yahoo(dot)com
Subject Line: IWSG Member Article

*Include a link for your by-line. A title for the piece is also helpful.

We look forward to getting your articles!

SIGN UP!

Sign up for our free, monthly newsletter to get a dozen or more help links about writing/marketing/publishing as well as a FREE GIFT for signing up!

TWEET WITH US!

Are you on Twitter? Follow @TheIWSG to receive writing tweets in your feed. You can also use our hashtag #IWSG. Every Wednesday, tweet your IWSG post with our hashtag and check out the other bloggers who are using the hashtag to share their post.

STAY TUNED for more opportunities throughout the year!

Optional March 1 Question: Have you ever pulled out a really old story and reworked it? Did it work out?

*Add this question and your answer to your IWSG Day post, if you struggle with what to post.