The Insecure Writer’s Support Group ~ No#97
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 January posting of the IWSG are: T. Powell Coltrin, Victoria Marie Lees, Stephen Tremp, Renee Scattergood, and J.H. Moncrieff!
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!
JANUARY 08th QUESTION: What started you on your writing journey? Was it a particular book, movie, story, or series? Was it a teacher/coach/spouse/friend/parent? Did you just “know” suddenly you wanted to write?
For me, a love of words combined with a passion for reading has landed me where I am today. The thing is, I never planned on being a writer!
Some exciting news!
The IWSG made the Write Life list again this year in the category of Best Writing Communities.
This is the description lifted from their website.
“Some say artists are sensitive, and writers aren’t exempt. To curb the doubts and insecurities that always manage to creep up, join this encouraging community that aims to uplift writers at every stage of the game. The Insecure Writer’s Support Group came highly recommended, with one reader saying it’s “undoubtedly the best writer website. Everybody is so supportive, yet incisive in their feedback. It is a wonderful community.”
The IWSGPit Twitter Pitch is next week Wednesday 15th January!
A reminder of the rules:
Writers may send out 1 Twitter pitch every hour per manuscript.
Publishers/Agents will favorite/heart pitches they are interested in. Publishers can either Tweet basic submission guidelines or direct writers to their submission guidelines. (Writers, please do not favorite/heart pitches.)
No images allowed in pitches.
Pitches must include GENRE/AGE and the hashtag #IWSGPit.
Ages:
#C – children’s
#MG – middle grade
#YA – young adult
#NA – new adult
#A – adult
Genres:
#AD – adventure
#CF – Christian fiction
#CO – contemporary
#F – fantasy
#H – horror
#HI – historical
#LF – literary fiction
#MCT – mystery/crime/thriller
#ME – memoir
#NF – non-fiction
#PB – picture book
#PN – paranormal
#R – romance
#SF – sci-fi
#WF – women’s fiction
#UF – urban fantasy
#S – suspense
The cover for the new IWSG Anthology!
Coming May 5, 2020 –
Voyagers: The Third Ghost
An Insecure Writer’s Support Group Anthology
Print 9781939844729 $13.95
EBook 9781939844736 $4.99
Juvenile fiction – historical/action & adventure/fantasy & magic
The IWSG Book Club
The book club will be reading On Writing: A Memoir of the Craft by Stephen King for December 2019/January 2020.
Discussion Fun Day will be January 22, 2020.
Join Us: https://www.goodreads.com/group/show/214387-the-insecure-writer-s-support-group-book-club
I must be the only writer who hasn’t read this craft book. Hopefully, I can get to read it some time this year.
Are you participating in the IWSGPit next week? Are you part of the IWSG Book Club on Goodreads? Why should I read the book On Writing?
I will be off line for a few days and will only be visiting blogs from Sunday onwards!
Happy New Year to everybody!
Happy IWSG Day! Lots going on. I too hadn’t read the book club until now. I’m excited.
That was quite the compliment that one writer paid us at The Write Life!
We have some big events coming up.
Oooo, congrats IWSG! That’s pretty cool.
The IWSG is doing great things! The new anthology sounds really fun. Happy 2020!
Hi Michelle, stopping by to say hello and have a healthy and prosperous New Year!
Happy New Year Michelle! You’ll learn a lot from On Writing. The best takeaway is how he breaks his writers block – he walks and walks and walks until he knows how to pick up the story again.
I never planned on being a writer either. It’s interesting how many of us ended up here without planning to. I guess it shows it was meant to be.
I never planned on being a writer either. Funny where life takes us.
So much is happening for the IWSG! So great to see.
It’s surprising how many of never thought of being a writer early on – took me a long while!
So much good news with IWSG! Awesome stuff 🙂
I am so looking forward to the anthology!
Hi Michelle – I keep an eye on all things IWSGish … so keep on writing and enjoying the process – though your admin skills here are pretty good. Good luck with the IWSGPit tomorrow … have a great year and cheers Hilary
I miss IWSG. 🙁 I’m still dealing with the same thing I was dealing with when I took a hiatus, but I’m really hopeful things are turning around. We’ll have to see. 🙂