IWSG: July 2018

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Insecure Writers Support Group

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! Co-Hosts: Nicki Elson, Juneta Key, Tamara Narayan, and Patricia Lynne!


Questions: What are your ultimate writing goals, and how have they changed over time (if at all)?

Answer:
Ah! The question everyone asks and really doesn't understand if they don't write. ;-)

I do hope to finish my Women's Fiction MOTHER'S DAY and possibly its sequel--FRIENDLY FIRE--but at the moment I'm dealing with many family and personal issues. If they are finished, I'll self-publish. I know in the past I hunted an agent and a contract, but personal issues make that dream a bit daunting. I know my needs have changed. I have no deadlines, no conferences, no queries, and no pitches lined up and don't expect to. 

My needs have changed based on my health. It's a good feeling to take the stress off and just enjoy writing again. 

Here's to us all! Writers through thick and thin.

Next post: Why the July Book Pusher post, of course!

January is the Perfect Time for a Bit of Goal Setting

"The greatest thing about writing is that it’s just you and the page. The most horrifying thing about writing is that it’s just you and the page. Contemplation of that dichotomy is enough to stop most people dead in their tracks."
MIND GAMES [Excerpt from THE CANNIBAL’S ART (not published; in progress). Copyright 2014 Diana Gabaldon]

Source

It's the time of year to make resolutions...What? Have you already broken yours? ;-) 

As writers, we all have to set goals if we're going to ever finish our stories. So, here's a few idea for you to try out for your writing resolutions for 2015. 

• List all of your dreams for 2015 and then prioritize them.
• Divide your dreams into monthly goals.
• Select small manageable bits for weekly goals that add up to the monthly and yearly ones.
• If you achieve the week's goal, there's no reason you can't dive into another the next week's goal. ;-)
• Recognize the times that Real Life throws you a curve and don't beat yourself up. Remember the goals will be there when you are ready to dive back in.
• Think about trying some writing prompts on the hard days when words are illusive. Charlotte Rains Dixon has a great new book of prompts with suggestions for how to use them.

And if your goal is the dreaded Query, look at these ideas:
Yes, that dreaded "Q" word that strikes terror in the heart of many a good writer. And I'm reaching the point that I need to get serious about it.

Julia Sondra Decker has some great tips.

Another suggestion is to try to write a query for the first twenty to fifty pages of your WIP. Check out agent Kristin Nelson's post on this technique for pitches. And her videos about finding the plot catalyst.

Also, try these questions:

• Who is the MC?
• What does the MC want?
• What's in the MC's way?
• What happens if the MC fails?

 What's your main goal for 2015 or for January 2015? I'd love to hear about it and cheer you on. If queries are in your near future, good luck and happy hunting!

Next week: What it takes to be in the five percent of writers who get published.  

Write-A-Thin Check In

 

 

One month. One goal. That's the plan at least. The Women's Fiction Writers Association sets aside January to focus on one goal--rewriting, revising, editing, writing. Whatever the member needs to do, we all fall in to help and congratulate each other on achieving that goal.

 

My goal is to add rough, new words to the nine known holes in Part 2 of FRIENDLY FIRE.

Here's my initial list and where I've gotten on it.

1. A Few Days Later
2. Meeting with Manuel Nunez to talk about Samantha's abuse--First pass has been done. There's notes on what to do with it later
3. Rosemary on Samantha and Eric
4. Cassie Attacks--first pass has been done
5. Need general life with Samantha, maybe folded into Violent Violet and Comfort foods, etc.--First pass has been done.
6. Birds and Bees after X-rated and New Year's Eve--first pass has been done with notes on what to do with it later
7. Laura Grace's birthday? This is a possible cut
8. Getting out of the hospital
9. Paying to Parent/Possible cut or image folded into another place--folded into Violent Violet and first pass done.

 

I'm also one of the Program Coordinators for this year's Write-A-Thin. Along with my partner Cathy Vignolini, we have been keeping everyone on track. We have eleven days to go. ;-)

 

 

If my plans work, I hope to announce that I have a complete draft of FRIENDLY FIRE sometime in March to mark the sixth anniversary of the idea that have become, not only my current focus work-in-progress, but the start of a series of stories about a family and town who live in my mind. Cross your fingers. ;-)

Goals

Goals are one of those little things that most writers have. They range from specific--write 3000 words a week--to the vague--work on something connected to a work in progress most days.

I'm more on the vague side. In fact my goals for June are:

• Word continuously on FF
• Do the June exercises and house party at the Forum

I've done a great job on the second one, but the first, not so much. In fact, I've written hardly anything for FRIENDLY FIRE this month. Does that cause me to get down some days? You bet. But it is also the nature of writing to ebb and flow.

At the Forum, we have a running Goals Thread for each month. Since April, I've been the maven for this thread. You'd think that would help me with my goals, but so far, I haven't seen much of a connection. Of course I can blame my house renovation and various aches and pains, but, truthfully, I'm been a bit lazy.

So what about you? Are you a writer who works by the word count and have a widget to count the words in each of your WIP's progress (Check HERE for examples and how to get a widget), or are you more like me, a little vague letting the ebb and flow take you where it will.

Let's just say, my dilly dallying hasn't helped me move much on my 2013 goal of completing a rough draft for FF... ; )