Peace and Joy

Welcome to the last post for IWSG for 2016. We'll be back on the first Wednesday of 2017 for our monthly blog hop. Remember in your post that the proposed question is a personal option if you're not sure what else to say in your blog. We all certainly want to hear about your victories and worries as we navigate this complicated business together. If you are interested in the question, here goes:
What writing rule do you wish you'd never heard?

Congratulations to the winners of Michael Burnett's audio book, The Independent Author's Guide to Audiobook Production: A Professional Narrator's Secrets for Success on ACX. 

Ellen Jacboson 

Geradine Bach 

Toi Thomas 

Karen Lange 

Lidy Wilks

As writers, we know other writers and probably a few are on your gift list.. There are no shortages of suggested gifts for your fellow writers. Here's one such list though it might be too late to order something and receive it in time. Still, ideas!

The past year has witnessed some wonderful things for IWSG with the publication of our first anthology, Parallels: Felix Was Here, and the gathering of more terrific stories for inclusion in the second, not yet named, anthology. The talent of this group is impressive.

It's the time when we look back on the year that was and start thinking about our plans, dreams and hope for 2017. This past year saw so much turmoil around the world and here at home, that many of us are still reeling with a gloomy outlook. As writers, we have the opportunity to bring cheer and laughter as well as a sense of hope into the lives of our readers. And we should gift ourselves with the same things.

I hope the holidays bring you the peace of being safe and warm. I wish you the joy of family and friends. I gift to you my belief in a better future for humanity. I share with you my love of our writing community and the goodwill we grace each other which every day.

Hopefully, you'll find time to write over the holidays and if not, indulge in some reading. And most of all, find peace and joy in the season. And believe. Believe 2017 will be great.

The Insecure Writer's Support Group and What We Offer Writers

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.

Today’s co-hosts are Murees Dupe, Alexia Chamberlynn, Chemist Ken, and Heather Gardner!


If you’re new to the group or site, here are some of the things we offer:

We are now on Twitter - catch us at @TheIWSG

We have a monthly newsletter that features articles, writing links, and the month’s featured IWSG member. You can sign up HERE and received a free gift.
One of those articles is by an IWSG member - this is where you get to contribute. Here are the details:

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 Put “Member Article” in the Subject Line.

We have a very supportive group on Facebook with 3200 members. We have special feature days M-W-F, and this month, we are introducing some fun new things on Wednesdays.

Also on Facebook is the IWSG Critique Group for those seeking critique partners.

We offer all writers a free ebook, The Insecure Writer’s Support Group’s Guide to Publishing and Beyond. It offers tips from our members on everything from writing to publishing to promoting.

We have an anthology contest each fall where members can submit stories for a royalty-paying anthology. Released last month, Parallels: Felix Was Here was the first one. Keep watching the site for details concerning this year’s contest and a chance to cast your vote for the genre.

Plus, we even have our own t-shirt.

If you’re a writer looking for resources and support, you’ve come to the right place.

Insecure and Proud! / IWSG Day

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 Stephen Tremp, Fundy Blue, MJ Fifield, Loni Townsend, Bish Denham, Susan Gourley, and Stephanie Faris.

Hey, everyone! Chrys Fey here. This is my first time posting on our site for IWSG Day and I am thrilled. I have a motivational post for you today. :)

Many of you may know the motto “Mutant and Proud” from X-Men: First Class.

Well, I think our motto should be “Insecure and Proud!”

“Insecurity has always been defined as a negative emotion, yet it can be a motor, a driving force. ‘I’m insecure, but I’m going to work harder to be better’ . . . an insecure person is always striving for perfection.” – Sylvia Browne

Insecurity feels as though it is negative because it comes from us thinking we’re inadequate.

We aren’t good enough.

We don’t know enough. 

We don’t write enough.

We aren’t published yet.

But these insecurities come out of a good place...passion. If you weren’t passionate then you wouldn’t be insecure. You wouldn’t worry that you’re not good enough. You wouldn’t strive to be better. You wouldn’t have dreams of where you hope to go with your writing.

The fact we’re insecure means we care. We care about this beautiful and often cruel publishing business. We care about our characters. We care with every fiber of our insecure bodies.

And that is good.

No, that is great!

Embrace whatever insecurity you are feeling, because it means you’re dedicated. Because it means everything in the world to you to one day publish or write the story of your dreams. Because writing is who you are, and without it you would be lost.

As you work through your insecurity, you’ll grow. You’ll get better. That is what an insecurity is supposed to do if you handle it correctly and don’t let it defeat you.

So say it with me and say it like you mean it...

INSECURE AND PROUD!

***

NOW OUT!

Parallels: Felix Was Here

An Insecure Writer’s Support Group Anthology

Enter the realm of parallel universes!

What if the government tried to create the perfect utopia? Could a society linked to a supercomputer survive on its own? Do our reflections control secret lives on the other side of the mirror? Can one moment split a person’s world forever?

Exploring the fantastic, ten authors offer incredible visions and captivating tales of diverse reality. Featuring the talents of L. G. Keltner, Crystal Collier, Hart Johnson, Cherie Reich, Sandra Cox, Yolanda Renee, Melanie Schulz, Sylvia Ney, Michael Abayomi, and Tamara Narayan.

Hand-picked by a panel of agents and authors, these ten tales will expand your imagination and twist the tropes of science fiction. Step through the portal and enter another dimension!

PRINT LINKS:

Amazon / Barnes & Noble 

DIGITAL LINKS:

ITunes / Amazon / Barnes & Noble / Kobo

Sign up for our monthly newsletter and receive a FREE gift!

IWSG Post Day and Cover Reveal for our Contest Anthology

It’s time for another group posting of the Insecure Writer’s Support Group! Time to share our fears with the world--or offer encouragement to those who are feeling insecure. 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 for the February 3 posting of the IWSG will be Allison Gammons, Tamara Narayan, Eva E. Solar, Rachel Pattison, and Ann V. Friend!

Plus check out our new IWSG badge!
--
Today we are announcing Parallels: Felix Was Here. This is the culmination of our IWSG short story contest.

Science Fiction/Alternate History Anthology

Due for release in Spring 2016

Enter the realm of parallel universes!

What if the government tried to create the perfect utopia? Could a society linked to a supercomputer survive on its own? Do our reflections control secret lives on the other side of the mirror? Can one moment split a person’s world forever?

Exploring the fantastic, ten authors offer incredible visions and captivating tales of diverse reality. Featuring the talents of L. G. Keltner, Crystal Collier, Hart Johnson, Cherie Reich, Sandra Cox, Yolanda Renee, Melanie Schulz, Sylvia Ney, Michael Abayomi, and Tamara Narayan.

Hand-picked by a panel of agents and authors, these ten tales will expand your imagination and twist the tropes of science fiction. Step through the portal and enter another dimension!

Print ISBN 9781939844200
eBook ISBN 9781939844118

--
A quick reminder about our exciting new newsletter. To sign up for it, click here. It will be released on the last Wednesday of every month and it's going to be awesome! If you are an IWSG member and would like to submit a short piece for consideration (no longer than 200 words) on anything to do with writing, publishing or marketing, then please send a DOC to Chrys Fey at chrysfey(at)yahoo(dot)com with "Member Article" in the subject line, no later than March 2nd. If you'd like to be considered for the first newsletter, then please send your article no later than February 17th.