Its #IWSG Day, December 7th

 

#IWSG Insecure Writer’s Support Group
December 7th

Sign Up And Become a Member
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. 

The next IWSG Twitter Pitch
will be January 25, 2023!
Check out details on our #IWSGPit page.
There have been so many success stories over the years –
your manuscript might be next. Start polishing those stories and pitches now.

The awesome co-hosts for the December 7 posting of the IWSG are 
Joylene Nowell Butler, Chemist Ken, Natalie Aguirre, Nancy Gideon, and Cathrina Constantine!

OPTIONAL IWSG QUESTION

December 7 question - It's holiday time! Are the holidays a time to catch up or fall behind on writer goals?

For me, it depends on the year.  This year is a matter of keeping up. I am neither ahead or behind. The goal is to stay on target with 2023 goals and plans.. I finished a rough draft during NaNoWriMo, which I won 52K. I have a discovery draft of my first novel, one of six planned in my Midlife Ghostwalker series. 

In December I am  doing edits and writing a short story for my newsletter optin related to the series.  I hope to publish the first three in series along with short by July-Aug 2023.  The challenge is to do enough to stay on target.  

This month spotlights are:

IWSG Member Book: Little Ragdoll: A Bildungsroman- 
https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/41556326-little-ragdoll
Craft Book: Self-Editing for Fiction Writers- https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/180467.Self_Editing_for_Fiction_Writers

Insecure Writer's Support Group Contest, #IWSGPit, and More!

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 today are PJ Colando, J Lenni Dorner, Deniz Bevan, Kim Lajevardi, Natalie Aguirre, and Louise - Fundy Blue!

September 2 question - If you could choose one author, living or dead, to be your beta partner, who would it be and why?

The IWSG Anthology Contest deadline is today, September 2!

Guidelines and rules:
Word count: 4500-6000
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. (Must be a member to participate.)
Judging: The IWSG admins will create a shortlist of the best stories. The shortlist will then be sent to our official judges.
Our judges: Dan Koboldt, Lynda R. Young, Colleen Oefelein, Damien Larkin, Ion Newcombe, Julie Gwinn, and David Powers King

Did you know the IWSG is more than a website?

Find us here:
Facebook, Twitter - hashtag #IWSG, Instagram, and on Goodreads

And you can sign up for our monthly newsletter loaded with tips and more here - IWSG Newsletter

The newsletter also lists new books by members, so contact us if you have a new book out.

Writers and authors, join us for #IWSGPit on January 20, 2021. 

It will be here sooner than you think! 

Polish those pitches and check the #IWSGPit rules.

 
Multiple authors have signed with publishers and agents as a result – it could be you!

What author would be your beta reader? Have you entered the contest? Going to participate in #IWSGPit?

#IWSG Updates & Exciting News

It’s another IWSG posting day when we share our insecurities and encourage each other. For today’s hop, Captain Alex’s trusty helpers are Tamara Narayan, Pat Hatt, Patricia Lynne, Juneta Key, and Doreen McGettigan.

We have a lot going on this month and for those who want to answer the optional question, for July, we’ve asked What is one valuable lesson you've learned since you started writing?

The value of relationships is something that cannot be denied. The IWSG has been the vehicle through which many of us have made connections that have helped us raise the bar in our writing life and achieve things we didn’t think were possible. 

With the IWSG making the strides it has, we too are encouraged to keep moving forward on this journey and encouraging writers, new and old, to strive for the best and claim new territories.

With several anthologies under our belts, the sky is the limit in terms of what’s next. If there is something you want to do with your writing, but don’t see or know how, keep putting in the work, learning the craft and maintain a positive attitude. 

As you might have heard, we've had some exciting news recently, The IWSG has been included as one of Writer’s Digest’s 101 Best Website for Writers. This is quite an achievement and speaks to exactly what this group is about.  

On July 27^th, we’ll be hosting a Twitter Pitch Party that will run from 8:00 am – 8:00 pm Eastern time. The hash tag is #IWSGPIT Get those pitches ready! For more information, check here. Our Twitter handle is @TheIWSG and hashtag #IWSG

Submissions are open for The IWSG Guide to Writing for Profit Anthology and will close on July 31. The word limit is 1000 words and if you are a member of any of our groups (IWSG Hop, Facebook, Goodreads) feel free to submit your article. Additional submission details are here.

The Secret Garden is this month’s book of choice for the book club. You have until July 31 to read.

What valuable lessons have you learned since you started writing? Do you plan to participate in the Pitch Party or submit an article for the Anthology? Are you reading The Secret Garden? Feel free to share. 

Do try and visit 5-10 persons you haven't visited in a while as you make your way around today. 

Thanks for being a part of this wonderful group of writers!

Insecure Writer's Support Group and Twitter Pitch Event!

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.


Our awesome co-hosts today are Tamara Narayan, Patsy Collins, M.J. Fifield, and Nicohle Christopherson!


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

We have a lot of cool things in the works for our members, including another anthology opportunity and an upcoming Goodreads book club group.

Our latest venture – the Insecure Writer’s Support Group Twitter Pitch Party!

Hashtag #IWSGPit

July 27, 2017, 8:00 am to 8:00 pm Eastern Time

All writers and authors are invited to participate in our very first Twitter Pitch. Create a Twitter-length pitch for your completed and polished manuscript and leave room for genre, age, and the hashtag. On July 27, Tweet your pitch. If your pitch receives a favorite/heart from a publisher/agent check their submission guidelines and send your requested query. Many writers have seen their books published from a Twitter pitch - it’s a quick and easy way to put your manuscript in front of publishers and agents.

We invite all of you to join us that day! Authors with a publisher or agent, please ask if they would like to participate or pass along their contact information to the IWSG. We intend for this to be a twice yearly event, July and January, giving our members a great opportunity for publication. Help us spread the word!

See the IWSG Twitter Pitch page for details and a sample email to send to your publisher or agent.

New Swag!

Check out the IWSG Swag page for some cool new stuff, including mugs and erasers.

The tiny profit we make from sales of IWSG swag goes to fund opportunities to make the IWSG better for everyone and extend our reach. We recently created our own business cards and have other exciting options in the works.

Please support the next IWSG anthology, Hero Lost: Mysteries of Death and Life, by signing up for the Thunderclap campaign.

The anthology authors are working hard to market the book. They’ve also set up a Hero Lost website, covering everything from the theme and genre to the stories and authors.

Last but not least, we need co-hosts for April, May, and June. Co-hosting means a lot more visitors to your site that day and it’s a lot of fun. Please leave a comment if you can help.