The Insecure Writer’s Support Group ~ No#96
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 December posting of the IWSG are: Tonja Drecker, Beverly Stowe McClure, Nicki Elson, Fundy Blue, and Tyrean Martinson!
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!
DECEMBER 04th QUESTION: Let’s play a game. Imagine. Role-play. How would you describe your future writer self, your life and what it looks and feels like if you were living the dream? Or if you are already there, what does it look and feel like? Tell the rest of us. What would you change or improve?
I have no idea! The thing is, I didn’t consciously decide that I was going to become a writer, so “living the dream” will not apply in my situation.
I’m an avid reader and the writing came much later. But I’m enjoying experimenting all the time to discover what works for me and what doesn’t. Three things I’ve learned about myself?
~I’m drawn to both fiction and non-fiction.
~I love flash fiction!
~One word and picture prompts get my creativity pumped and I get words on the page… everytime!
An experienced writer actually said that my style feels a lot like script writing for a screenplay. Huh? I’ve never considered writing a script for a play… but who knows?
It’s an ongoing process, filled with all kinds of challenges.
Announcing the winners of the IWSG Anthology Contest!
Coming May 5, 2020 –
Voyagers: The Third Ghost
Middle grade historical/adventure
Featuring these stories and authors:
The Third Ghost – Yvonne Ventresca
Winter Days – Katharina Kolata
Feathered Fire – Roland Clarke
The Ghosts of Pompeii – Sherry Ellis
Dare Double Dare – Louise MacBeath Barbour
The Blind Ship – Bish Denham
A World of Trouble – Rebecca M. Douglass
The Orchard – Beth Anderson Schuck
Return to Cahokia – L.T. Ward
Simon Grey and the Yamamba – Charles Kowalski
Congratulations to all the authors!
NOTE: My apology if you tried to visit my November post and found that it doesn’t exist.
It was wiped out.
According to the blog host, there was a WordPress plug-in on the back end that was discontinued and it was causing a problem so he had to disable it. When he went into the back end of the blog, there was no post. He says that because of the plug-in being discontinued, it was blocking me from creating drafts/posts. The thing is, I did not leave the post in draft mode. He says the rules have changed for auto-posting. You have to do it physically.
I’m confused because my post wasn’t in draft mode – I had already created a post and published it manually. Gah!!!
On a lighter note, it’s been a hectic year for me! I can’t wait for the end of school term and our annual Christmas break. I have a 4 week holiday ahead. I’m going to relax, do lots of reading and some writing too!
The next #IWSGPit will be in January 15, 2020, 8:00 am – 8:00 pm Eastern Standard Time.
Don’t miss it!
Did you know the IWSG has a Goodreads Book Club?
If you’re on Goodreads, join this group to learn and grow as a writer.
Happy IWSG Day! Remember that the first Wednesday in January falls on New Year’s Day, so the monthly IWSG post will be on the following Wednesday, which is January 08, 2020.
I’m kind of like you, Michelle. I didn’t dream of being a writer; it crept up on me after years of loving to read.
As to WordPress, I have decided to hunt down the developers and wipe out all of their C: drives. It is one of the crankiest platforms I’ve ever worked with. Sorry about the loss of your post or posts.
Have a great holiday!
LOL You go get ’em Lee.
I never considered a writing career either. Hey, maybe you should try writing a screenplay and see what happens!
Sounds like you definitely need the four week break! I hope you have a wonderful holiday season.
Congrats to all the anthology winners!
That’s terrible the blog ate your post.
Michelle, for you sky’s the limit with writing.
Self discovery is a writing bonus I’d never give up either. 🙂
Anna from elements of emaginette
Four weeks to get some reading and writing done sounds awesome. Hope you enjoy it!
Enjoy that break – you’ve earned it!!!
I’m with you – came to writing very late in the game, and it’s just an overflow of all that reading I’ve been doing for years and years!
It’s a nice idea to take things as they come. Wish you luck!
I love flash fiction and short story too. Yikes, I use WP I hate when crap like that happens are they decide to update and the update is not an improvement. Happy IWSG!
A four week holiday. Sweeeet.
You are absolutely a great writer. You have a rare skill. Writing stories with so few words, and still telling a complete story. It is magic. I’ve tried to write shorter pieces, even flash fiction, but it is terribly daunting, and not for me?. I’ll stick to reading them?
I hope you enjoy your upcoming holiday. You deserve it.
Oh how I hate when things don’t work right. My website is built on WordPress. I better go check it out. Merry Christmas!
Enjoy your holiday break! And if you are interested in screenwriting, Save the Cat is a great resource (and it helps with other kinds of writing, too.)
I hope that you enjoy every moment of that four week break, Michelle! Anyone involved in education works very hard and under stressful conditions. Thank goodness for all the wonderful kids educators get to know and love. It is really aggravating when technology works you over, especially when you’ve put time and energy into completing a post. Here’s hoping things go smoother in the future. Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!
Ugh on the technical challenges! I’m always saying that technology is not nearly as cool as it thinks it is. But it sure is great when it does work.
Enjoy that break. Wishing you many great reads!
I had my entire website down for a few days last month. The problem was entirely my own handiwork. What a PITA. Writing has always been my dream and I’ve always been doing it in one form or another, just not in ways I envisioned. But it’s all been good. Enjoy your break!
Readers are the lifeblood of writers, Michelle. Your WEP pieces prove your own talent as a writer so screenplays are always a dream ready to become reality.
It’s interesting that your style feels a lot like script writing for a screenplay. Maybe you should give it a go one day 🙂
You are still the Queen of Flash Fiction, Michelle! Sorry your November IWSG post disappeared. Congrats to the anthology winners. Enjoy your break from school and Happy Holidays!
Hi Michelle, I suddenly found myself attracted to non-fiction, after years and years of being stuck on fantasy. Lets see how it goes.
Do try script writing, you never know where it may lead you 🙂
Happy Holidays and Merry Christmas in advance.
Reading should always come before writing!
I’ve been considering playing around with some script writing, but for now it’s all I can do just to get my regular writing done! It would be cool if you got to play around with it.
I’d love to try writing a screenplay. If you’ve been told that’s something that might work for you, why not give it a go? Hope 2020 is a productive year for you!
Actually I did not dream about being a writer growing up although I wrote and told stories. That did really manifest into a dream for me until 2011 when I moved to Florida. However, I loved to play write writing Star Wars fan fiction with an RPG group and later with another friend. The shared play is what made it a passion for me and I realized I like to write I might want to tell my own stories and get paid if possible. I am making the rounds late. Happy IWSG!