#IWSG Surprise!

It's Insecure Writer's Support Group day! Come join us!

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Today I decided to natter on about the question presented by the blog hop-- Has anything in your writing surprised you?

Started laughing like a mad woman the moment I read that.

I'm a pantser, also known as a make-things-up-as-you-write writer. EVERYTHING surprises me. Okay, to be fair not everything. I have an idea who my characters are and how their lives are going to go sideways--but not much more than that.

Most of the wild and surprising things have been a result of me asking my brain, "then what happened?!" And my brain pulling something wild out--that somehow works.

I have had characters be revealed to be far different than thought--like a goddess suddenly appearing. A portal that led to the past. A very unique way for someone to comeback from the dead. And dozens more. They were all surprises--BUT--they actually weren't. When I'm running along, writing like mad, my mind is also working on what's already been written and finds connections that make sense, but I might not have come up with had I pondered. Most of my surprises are created when I'm in the moment and writing fast.

My characters, the trouble they get into, and surprising myself are what keep me telling stories.

Happy IWSG day!

#IWSG Knowing when to cut and run

Welcome to another month of the Insecure Writer's Support Group--a monthly blog hop for the chronically insecure writer! (which is most of us ;).  Join the club!

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The problem with being chronically insecure, and more than a wee bit neurotic, is that picking a topic each month can be difficult. There are too many!

But today I thought I'd wax neurotic about knowing when to change direction, or cut & run. Some back story about me, way back in the old days, when I was just starting to write, writing was far more solitary than it is now. 

There was no internet. 

Yes, you information addicts, let yourself imagine--no constant feed with opinions, decrees, ideas, and comparisons to drive you crazy as you constantly find yourself, and your writing, wanting.

It was actually wonderful. I wrote because I had stories I wanted to tell--ones I wanted to read. I went to writing conferences, read writing books, magazines, etc. But those didn't have the same pressure facing people now through social media. 

Fast forward to now, ten books and a novella out in 4 years. I have way too many stories in my head still. But what sucks the soul out of my little world is social media. All the tips, tricks, ideas that at first sounded so amazing, are now overwhelming me. (Yes, I understand the irony of me stating a problem with social media--ON social media. ;))

So, I had a talk with myself, and we realized pulling back is the answer--focus on the writing. Not the promo. Stay in the place that is frustrating sometimes, but ultimately rewarding. I'm not going to vanish, I'll still do these blogs and stuff on my author FB page from time to time. But I've already snoozed most all of my FB writing groups.

Writing is an insanely creative endeavor, we need to make sure we do whatever needs to be done to KEEP doing it and KEEP loving it. That means knowing when to cut and run from whatever isn't working ;).

Have a great IWSG Day!!

Solstice Scavenger Hunt 2019!

Yes, Solstice isn't until the 21st, but we're so excited--we're jumping in early!

Now how does this work, you ask? Well, the listed authors have hidden a quote within our blogs. Each blog has a word or two that need to be fit together for a fantasy quote. (My word is at the bottom of this post ;)). You have until the 29th of June to figure out the quote and enter to win! Prizes! Mayhem! It's all here!

The grand prize is $75 and all 19 ebooks. BUT 38 runners up will each win a randomly selected ebook!

Now, there are two rules: 1) you have to sign up on the Fantasy and Sci-Fi Readers Lounge on Facebook to be notified of winning.  https://www.facebook.com/groups/FantasySciFiReadersLounge/

2) You'll need to enter your winning quote guess in a Raffle Copter https://www.rafflecopter.com/rafl/display/3d87297f10/?

Here are the other authors! Go gather the words and maybe find some new books to check out (and of course--WINNING is always good!)

Azimuth by Rennie St. James https://writerrsj.com/blog/

This Cursed Flame by Selina J. Eckert https://sjeckert.wordpress.com/…/solstice-scavenger-hunt-20…

The Fox and The Hunter by Linn Tesli https://linntesli.com/blog/

Witch's Moonstone Locket by Marsha A Moore https://marshaamoore.blogspot.com/…/solstice-scavenger-hunt…

Elven Jewel by Kasper Beaumont http://huntersofreloria.weebly.com/kaspers-ramblings

Wolves' Gambit by PJ MacLayne http://www.pjmaclayne.com/mountain-musings/

Ian's Realm Saga by D.L. Gardner https://diendrial.wordpress.com

Dragon Blood by Katie Cherry https://www.facebook.com/KatieCherryFantasy/

The Shikari by Dora Blume (DM Staley) www.dorablume.com

Sleepless Flame by Odin Oxthorn (Ox Woden) https://www.odinsmusings.com/

The Hand of Atua by Charity Bradford charitywrites.blogspot.com

Schrodinger's Cat by Eileen Schuh http://eileenschuh.blogspot.com/

Shadow's Hand by Noelle Nichols www.noellenichols.com

Forever People by Alison Lyke http://www.alisonlyke.com/blog

A Bit of Magic by Mae Baum https://maebaum.com

Curse Breaker: Enchanted by Melinda Kucsera https://melindakucsera.com/blog/

Bonded by Cheryllynn Dyess www.cheryllynndyess.com

Tattoos by Stacy Overby www.thisisnothitchhikersguide.com

And MY word is:

KNOW

#IWSG -Dang bicycle!

Welcome to the monthly blog hop from the Insecure Writer's Support Group. Crazed writers from across the land join voices to shout into the abyss!

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JOIN US!!

Today I thought I'd just pop open my brain and show all the madness inside. See, I just published my tenth book, and the final one in my six book fantasy series.  As many of you know, there is a lot of wild stuff involved with getting a book out--plus I've had three signing events this year, which also zaps those of us not of  outgoing and extroverted nature.

And now things are settling down, my breath has been caught, and.....what? It's not that I don't have projects. The second book in my steampunk series just started, a first book in a new series (that was begun a long time ago) needs finishing, and another book one in another series needs editing.

I find myself having problems getting back into gear. I did some soul searching and realized that doing events is hard for me, so probably less of those. I love to write, so more of that. YAY! And still not getting more than a few hundred words in a day.

SIGH. 

Part of me is freaking out that I'm not back on track, that I feel like I'm peddling a one-pedal bike. Another part is pretty sure this has happened with each book--but I've just purged it. 

So, here I sit, trying to push/pull/tug my brain back into doing what it loves. How are you all doing?

 

The Diamond Sphinx is UP!

Just a quick shout out-- the Kindle version (KU too) is available NOW!

                                            https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07QCRPZZ6/

#IWSG Stay in your lane?

Welcome to another episode of as the word turns...aka the monthly blog fest known world-wide as the Insecure Writer's Support Group.  JOIN US!

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Today I'm talking about staying in your lane--aka writing in the same genre, sub-genre, whatever. Common knowledge is that you need to build your brand by sticking with one. Being known for one thing.

Yeah, or not.

I'm not arguing that might generate more of a tight following. If everything you write is of the same sub category, and similar, it can be easier for folks who love you to grab one of your books--aka an auto-buy.

But writing is more than just marketing. It is damn hard work and whether you are still pre-published or working on your 50th book, you need to love what you're doing or it will eat you alive.

I write Science Fiction/Fantasy. But within that I have a humorous fantasy series, a space opera trilogy, a steampunk  series. I'm working on an alternative history elf crime novel, an epic fantasy, and others. I write what I love.

The trick is to realize that not all of your readers will follow. Just like not everyone likes the same books, not everyone loves all MY books. I do have folks who have read and loved them all. I have folks who loved the space opera and hated the fantasy. It can be scary when you know people aren't jumping to the next series.

But many do. And as a reader, I do too. If I want to write Gothic romances all of a sudden--I'm going to do it. Writing is hard, go where your heart is.

An aside, I get obsessed with different bands from time to time, and right now it's been Twenty-One Pilots. They have a song that made me think of staying in your lane. He's talking about music, but it's the same for writing ;).

They say, "stay in your lane, boy, lane, boy"

But we go where we want to

They think this thing is a highway, highway

But will they be alive tomorrow?

They think this thing is a highway

If it was our way, we'd have a tempo change every other time change

'Cause our mind's changed on what we think is good.

 Do what feels right to YOU--switch lanes when the call comes. And Happy IWSG Day!

#IWSG--why it's harder now

Welcome to the monthly blog hop known as the Insecure Writer's Support Group! Yes, writers are insecure, and yes, we're seeking help. So come join us!

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Today's bit of bloggery is me rambling about why I think it's harder for new writers today, than say way back in the olden days of fifteen-twenty years ago.

The good is that there are so many freaking sources and forms of information out there that didn't exist pre-internet days. We had to count on books like Writer's Market and magazines like Writer's Digest. You would only connect with other writers really at writers conferences or workshops.

The bad is that there are so many freaking sources and forms of information out there that didn't exist pre-internet days. Yup. Same situation, but it's good and bad. Newer writers have SO much information thrown at them now. Writing and being a writer isn't a formulaic thing, but more and more people are looking for ways to "make it", looking for the way to find the magic formula. They are focusing on marketing and business before even learning the craft. Many of them do this because they've been told they have to.

In the old days ya sat in your corner and wrote. Read lots of craft books and rewrote some more. Now the market has changed--back in the old days there were no options beyond trad publishing. So now us indies have a huge open field, and we do have to do more for our books than the trads of olden times.

But the deluge of "what you must do" is killing some newer writers. I just want to tell them to set the ideas of making a million bucks aside, get your ass in the chair, and write. Shut out the mass of information--too much will make your brain go into panic mode, and it is damn hard to be creative day after day if you're busy freaking out.

Write what you love--or what's the point?

SFWA 2019 Fantasy Story Bundle!

Here is a deal for you! The 2019 SFWA Fantasy Story Bundle!

A collection of some awesome authors (okay, there are some familiar drunken faeries there too ;)) for whatever you feel you can pay!

The SFWA Fantasy bundle only runs for three weeks, after that it's gone. It's a great deal with a ton of terrific fiction just waiting for you click the button. 

For StoryBundle, you decide what price you want to pay. For $5 (or more, if you're feeling generous), you'll get the basic bundle of five books in any ebook format—WORLDWIDE.

•         The Twenty-Sided Sorceress - Books 1-3 by Annie Bellet

•         Ashwin by Kit Rocha

•         Blade & Rose by Miranda Honfleur

•         Amaskan's Blood by Raven Oak

•         Genrenauts - The Complete Season One by Michael R. Underwood

If you pay at least the bonus price of just $15, you get all five of the regular books, plus SEVEN more!

•         Radiance by Grace Draven

•         The Arrows of the Heart by Jeffe Kennedy

•         The Raven and the Reindeer by T. Kingfisher

•         Blood Dragon - Books 1-3 by Lindsay Buroker

•         Al-Kabar by Lee French

•         The Glass Gargoyle by Marie Andreas

•         Catching Echoes - Reconstructionist Series Book 1 by Meghan Ciana Doidge

This bundle is available from January 23 to February 13th, 2019 http://www.storybundle.com. It allows easy reading on computers, smartphones, and tablets as well as Kindle and other ereaders via file transfer, email, and other methods. You get multiple DRM-free formats (.epub and .mobi) for all books!

Story Bundles are a great way to support indie authors, help out organizations, and get some new awesome reads at a great price.

SFWA is over 50 years old and its membership consists of professional writers and publishing professionals from around the globe. It administers the Nebula Awards each year, and so very much more. Check out the SFWA website at sfwa.org for information on genre writing, the field, and other services.

If you want to know more about other SFWA offerings, sign up for the quarterly newsletter, which features new and backlist releases from our members in the area of fiction, games, and other offerings.

FREE DRUNKEN FAERIES!

The drunken faeries have gotten loose! Free on Nook, Kobo, and Amazon for a short time! Join them! You know you want to. 

KOBO: https://tinyurl.com/y7xjjuly, 

NOOK: https://tinyurl.com/y93v6wd3, 

AMAZON: https://tinyurl.com/y7jf9lm4

#IWSG- A new start!

Welcome to another adventure in the Insecure Writer's Support Group-- Join us!

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Being as it's only the second day of a new year, I am going to ramble on just a bit about goals. The start of anything is a good time to organize what you want and need for the coming period of time. I don't use the word resolutions because it doesn't work for me.

One thing I've found is goals need to be focused on what YOU control. As a writer, I can control (within reason) if I say I will write everyday--even just a single word. I can't control becoming a New York Times bestseller. When I see others listing their plans, so many are outside their control: I will be making X $ each month; I will win an award; I will get an agent. The person themselves has no control over those events. They can see what it takes to have a shot at those things, and break down those steps as a goal--but not the controlled by other's aspect.

This year I'm keeping it simple: Use my planner everyday, and complete six books. The six books is less scary in that I've got two finished but in need of serious edits, two at about the 1/4 to 1/3 mark, and two that will be brand new.

I plan on two at least being released this year, the others either will, or will wait for a bigger punch in 2020. The bit with the planner is to keep me focused ;).

So that's my plan, what's yours?

Happy IWSG Day!