The Insecure Writer’s Support Group ~ No#67

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.

The awesome co-hosts for the June posting of the IWSG are: Tamara Narayan, Pat Hatt, Patricia Lynne, Juneta Key, and Doreen McGettigan!

Don’t forget to visit them and thank them for co-hosting!

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! 

JULY 05th QUESTION: What is one valuable lesson you’ve learned since you started writing?
I’ve learned lots of valuable lessons, but the one I’d like to make mention of today is – join a writing community. The support you get is priceless! So that’s the reason why I’m participating in CampNaNoWriMo this month. But it’s not going as well as I’d hoped. It’s only day 5 so…we’ll see…

 

The Insecure Writer’s Support Group made the Writer’s Digest 19th Annual 101 Best Websites for Writers!
Special thanks to all the writers and authors who have supported the group and the site over the years. You are the reason for ongoing success of the site. We couldn’t have done it without you!

 

Submissions are open for the anthology The IWSG Guide to Writing for Profit–This will be a non-fiction book like our Guide to Publishing and Beyond.
Word limit: 500-1000 words.
Submission eligibility: All members of the IWSG Blog Hop, IWSG Facebook group and/or members of our IWSG Goodreads Book Club. It’s free to join any of these groups and a great benefit to be a part of these communities.
Deadline: July 31, 2017
MORE INFO HERE.

 

A reminder about the upcoming IWSG TWITTER PITCH PARTY IN 3 WEEKS TIME!

Hashtag #IWSGPit
 DATE:  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. MORE INFO HERE.

 

HAPPY IWSG DAY! I’ll be visiting blogs over the next few days…but first I have to do the Butt In Chair Hands On Keyboard! 

32 Comments

  1. L. Diane Wolfe on July 5, 2017 at 10:20 am

    Don’t quit on day #5. Keep going, Michelle!

  2. Alex J. Cavanaugh on July 5, 2017 at 1:03 pm

    NaNo was a great experience for me. I wrote my second book during NaNo. Keep after it, Michelle.

  3. Pat Garcia on July 5, 2017 at 2:08 pm

    I can say a hearty Amen to joining a writing group. It is so important to know that you’re not out there by yourself.
    Wishing you all the best with Camp NaNo. Take a deep breath and just keep writing. I sincerely hope you meet your goal.
    Shalom aleichem,
    Pat G at Everything Must Change

  4. Tamara Narayan on July 5, 2017 at 2:51 pm

    Enjoy your writing time! (I’m jealous.)

  5. Crystal Collier on July 5, 2017 at 3:01 pm

    YES! The writing community is amazing.

    I’m not such a huge fan of NaNo. I’m a slower, more organic writer, and I find the pressure turns up tripe that I end up having the cull, chop, or ultimately discard. Different strokes for different folks, eh? Wishing you epic success with it!

  6. Anna on July 5, 2017 at 3:02 pm

    I admit joining IWSG was one of my best decisions yet. 🙂

    Anna from elements of emaginette

  7. Carol Kilgore on July 5, 2017 at 3:25 pm

    The entire writing community is amazing. When I started meeting writers, I was surprised by how much we all had in common. Most are fantastic and willing to do what they can for other writers. We may all be at different points on our journeys, but we all have the same basic goal.

  8. Meka James on July 5, 2017 at 4:00 pm

    I agree. It’s taking me a little while to find groups I feel at home in, but I found two. This one and another called 10 Minute Novelist. Both have been open and supportive which is something that helps a lot. This group has been what got me back on track with my writing when I’d all but abandoned my current project. The support, advice, and overall sense of community is invaluable.

  9. Susan Gourley on July 5, 2017 at 4:11 pm

    My answer was kind of like yours. Writing doesn’t have to be lonely.

  10. Loni Townsend on July 5, 2017 at 4:15 pm

    Communities are the best!

  11. Shah Wharton on July 5, 2017 at 5:01 pm

    Where would I be with IWSG? Keep going!

    Shah X
    http://shahwharton.com

  12. I.B. Nosey on July 5, 2017 at 5:24 pm

    You’re right, writing communities are an excellent support group. They understand what we’re experiencing, our frustrations, etc. My problem seems to be that I join too many and don’t have time to visit them all. LOL

    Thanks for the post!

  13. Liesbet on July 5, 2017 at 7:41 pm

    I encourage you to keep it up with NaNo, Michelle!! Persistence, perseverance, and rewards at the end – you can do it!! Joining a writing group is something that I would so much enjoy doing in person one day. Unfortunately, with our lifestyle, we are never in one place long enough. The IWSG is a very decent alternative, though!! 🙂

  14. Michelle Athy on July 5, 2017 at 7:48 pm

    Writing groups, forums, and communities are amazing things and we all need them.

  15. Nick Wilford on July 5, 2017 at 9:16 pm

    It’s so great to have that encouragement and camaraderie. It definitely does make a difference.

  16. C. Lee McKenzie on July 5, 2017 at 11:07 pm

    This writing community is the best, so you’ve learned such a valuable lesson. 🙂

  17. Patricia Lynne aka Patricia Josephine on July 5, 2017 at 11:57 pm

    The writing community is awesome. IWSG is been super helpful to me and helping me to keep my chin up.

  18. Erika Beebe on July 6, 2017 at 1:01 am

    I agree whole heartedly! Thank goodness for a like-minded community with hearts in the right places. Good luck with your contest!

  19. Damyanti on July 6, 2017 at 1:06 am

    join a writing community– that’s fab advice, and it has taught me most of what I know of writing. I’m doing Camp too!

  20. Michael Di Gesu on July 6, 2017 at 5:18 am

    Hi, Michelle….

    KEEP GOING…. I know you can do it. You are one of THE MOST Determined writers I know!

    Looking forward to the TWITTER PITCH… Hopefully I will be chosen by an agent or publisher. We shall see!

    Finally WROTE again. Posted a new short at my blog. Hope you get a chance to read INVISIBLE BRIDGES…. after the IWSG post. Just scroll down… Looking forward to see what you think… Lots of atmosphere.

  21. Hilary Melton-Butcher on July 6, 2017 at 8:35 am

    Hi Michelle – yes keep writing and good luck with NaNo this month … settling down and getting on with it helps! Good luck … all will be well and the writing community really does help – cheers Hilary

  22. Ellen @ The Cynical Sailor on July 6, 2017 at 11:42 am

    Good luck with Camp NaNoWriMo. Seems like a great way to get focused during the summer. Wish I had signed up for it. I’m sure you’ll get back on track with it in no time.

  23. HR Sinclair on July 6, 2017 at 2:15 pm

    Writing groups (online and off) are great. You are so right! You go!

  24. Lynda Dietz on July 6, 2017 at 2:43 pm

    Even though I’m not a writer in the same sense you are, I’ve found that the writing community is invaluable for encouragement, advice, and just plain fun. Questions I didn’t even know I had have been answered when browsing through various conversations.

  25. CD Gallant-King on July 6, 2017 at 8:01 pm

    Writing communities, when used properly and positively, are very helpful. And this one is pretty great (refer to Top 101 Writing Sites). 😉

    July IWSG

  26. Donna McNicol on July 7, 2017 at 1:37 am

    I haven’t done a Camp NaNo or regular NaNo in several years, but it taught me one thing. I can crank out the words if I set a schedule – 21 days a month, 2,500 min words a day. Anytime I get in a deadline crunch, I invoke that routine and it works!

    Good luck! As you said, it’s early.

  27. Olga Godim on July 7, 2017 at 8:36 pm

    A good writing community is a wonderful thing. IWSG definitely qualifies.
    Good luck with your Nano.

  28. Pat Hatt on July 10, 2017 at 11:34 am

    The writing community is grand indeed, Good luck writing away at your feed.

  29. Ryan Carty on July 10, 2017 at 9:23 pm

    Writing groups are the best of the best of the best. I’ve missed out on the personal element as I’ve lost contact with many of the people I used to share writing with. The critique groups were so valuable to me. I need to get another one together.

  30. Christine Rains on July 11, 2017 at 1:13 pm

    Oh yes, joining a writing community is invaluable. Get writing and good luck!

  31. Cherie Reich on July 11, 2017 at 8:08 pm

    It’s definitely great to join the writing community. I hope Camp NaNo is going better!

  32. Misha on July 18, 2017 at 9:16 pm

    This community is awesome for support.

    I hope Camp NaNo is going well for you now.

Leave a Comment


Notice: Undefined variable: user_ID in /home/writerintrans/public_html/wp-content/themes/bb-theme/comments.php on line 69