#IWSG and Giving Readers What They Want

 

It's Insecure Writer's Support Group day! If you'd like to join, GO HERE. 

The awesome co-hosts for the August 3 posting of the IWSG are Tara Tyler, Lisa Buie Collard, Loni Townsend, and Lee Lowery! Also, many thanks to our host, Alex Cavanaugh.  

The optional question for August 3: When you set out to write a story, do you try to be more original or do you try to give readers what they want? 

Hmmm, I don't do either. Generally I get an idea about a story and then I go with it because it's what I want to write. I don't think about if it's original or not, or whether it's what the readers want. 

Which brings up something interesting. I recently took a free seminar in which the instructor basically said not to write what you want, but what the readers expect. Deliver the book that you promised and the books will sell themselves. No ads or social media required. 

I know, I know, hard to believe. 

But I get what she was saying. Design the book to sell itself. Readers are looking for certain things within the genre and we need to give it to them. The genre/subgenre tropes, the title, the description, delivery of the promised hook, the plot points, the stakes. 

Deliver to the reader what they want, and via word of mouth, the books will sell themselves. Huh. 

Easier said than done, to be sure. But thinking on it, this could be why my books don't sell. They are not designed properly, because I don't hit all the expected marks. I mean, I read Save the Cat so this shouldn't be a revelation to me, but it kind of is. Because I'm still writing what I want, rather than treating writing books like a business out to make money. 

Don't get me wrong, we should all write what we want. But I think I can do both if I put my mind to it.

Do you pay particular attention to the tropes/plot points, etc., so that they fall where they should?

Or do you just write and let things fall where they may?

What are your thoughts on books selling themselves?

#IWSG Encouragement is Everything

It's Insecure Writer's Support Group Day! If you'd like to join us on the first Wednesday of every month, you can sign up HERE. 

As always, thanks to Alex Cavanaugh for hosting, as well as the awesome co-hosts this month, Joylene Nowell Butler, Jacqui Murray, Sandra Cox, and Lee Lowery!
 

This month's optional question: Is there someone who supported or influenced you that perhaps isn't around anymore? Anyone you miss?

Answer: All my supporters are present and accounted for! My mom, sister, daughter and husband are my biggest supporters. 

Even so, my husband is my biggest supporter! Because of his encouragement I went to school, earned my degree, and discovered my love of writing. 

My husband is also my biggest fan (other than that one fan who always checks in to see when my next book is coming out LOL). He is the first to read my books and stories and says he loves them even though I know my cutesy paranormal cozy mysteries are on the opposite spectrum of what he usually reads. 

Whatever I'm endeavoring to do, my hubs is always my biggest supporter and fan. 

I used to play women's soccer, and he came to every game to cheer me on, referring to himself as my "athletic supporter" 😆. 

Grateful doesn't begin to describe how much his encouragement means to me!

Who is/was your biggest supporter?

#IWSG: Success As A Writer

 

It's Insecure Writer's Support Group Day! If you'd like to join, go HERE.

Many thanks to our host Alex Cavanaugh, and our co-hosts this month:  Rebecca Douglass, T. Powell Coltrin @Journaling Woman, Natalie Aguirre, Karen Lynn, and C. Lee McKenzie!

This month's optional question is:

How do you define success as a writer? Is it holding your book in your hand? Having a short story published? Making a certain amount of income from your writing?

This is a tough one. Success means different things to different people, and certainly there is the financial aspect to consider. For me, I'd like to support myself as a writer. That would be real success! 

However, I'm also happy to write and publish and have my work appreciated, even with no great financial gain.

So, speaking of success...my short story Elephant in the Tomb was runner up over at Women On Writing, and I was beyond thrilled to win a $25 Amazon card, along with an interview, and my story published (you can read it here). 

Now I call that a success! 

I felt as if I'd won the Pulitzer Prize!

What about you?

What does success as a writer look like to you? 

#IWSG: Writing is a Calling

 

It's Insecure Writer's Support Group Day!

The first Wednesday of every month is when writers who participate visit other writer's blogs to lend support and receive it as well!

Sadly, I can't participate this month 

so I've disabled comments.

But here is the link to sign up, the optional question, 

and our host and cohost links below if you'd like to participate: 

If you'd like to join, go HERE. 

The optional question: What would make you quit writing? 

(I'll just sneak in here and say "nothing". It's a calling and I can't stop doing it). 

Thanks to our host Alex Cavanaugh,

and

The awesome co-hosts for the July 7 posting of the IWSG:

 Pat Garcia, Victoria Marie Lees, and Louise – Fundy Blue!

IWSG: Write. Travel. Garden. Repeat.

It's Insecure Writer's Support Group Day. If you are a writer in need of support and encouragement, or a writer who has wisdom to share, please join us HERE. 

Many thanks to our host Alex Cavanaugh and this month's awesome co-hosts : Tonja Drecker, Beverly Stowe McClure, Nicki Elson, Fundy Blue, and Tyrean Martinson!

Wow. Here we are at the last post of the year already! This year flew by. 

Here is this month's optional question:

Q: 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?

A: This is a timely question, because I'm two years away from retirement and I think about it all the time. I have hopes and dreams--and a lot of doubt and fears. I know what I want it to be like, but the universe has ways of throwing a plot twist at you when you're least expecting it.  

First, travel: six months in Shrewsbury, England. It's where my fictional town of Sabrina Shores is based in my Indigo Eady series. I've also decided to set my new Brother Bart series there. It's rich with history and a perfect setting for a ghost monk to reside. 

Next we'll be motor-homing it around the States for a year or two. I'm envisioning writing at the beach, or next to a mountain lake. Water is very soothing. 

And finally, putting down roots. Hopefully in a place that we fell in love with on our travels. Ideally, it will be near water. It must have beautiful fall weather, and a little plot of dirt for gardening. And of course a garden to write in!

Above all, whatever I'm doing, it involves writing. Every day. I want readers to love my books and stories. And of course financial success would mean that I could maintain this simple but lovely lifestyle. Write. Travel. Garden. Repeat.  

What does your writing dream look like?