WE HAVE NEWS!
But first...
It's September's Insecure Writer's Support Group event! Occurring on the first Wednesday of every month, writers post about their insecurities, or share news, and of course support our fellow writers. You can join HERE.
Many thanks to our host, Alex Cavanaugh, and to the many co-hosts that help make this event happen every month. This month's co-hosts are: Toi Thomas, T. Powell Coltrin, M.J. Fifield, and Tara Tyler!
This month's optional question is: What publishing path are you considering/did you take, and why?
I chose self-publishing to begin with. It allows your work to get out into the world quicker and of course you have more artistic control over your work. It's also more work because you're in charge of everything from writing and editing, to formatting, book covers and then the dreaded marketing!
HOWEVER, after winning the 2017 IWSG Short Story Anthology Contest (Tick Tock: A Stitch in Crime), and being published by Dancing Lemur Press, I became a hybrid author. I find dabbling in both self-publishing and traditional publishing very appealing--sort of the best of both worlds!
AND speaking of the IWSG Short Story Anthology Contest, guess who's been invited to judge this year's contest?!
It's ME!
I am so thrilled and honored to be asked. And the company I'll be keeping? Let's just say that I am totally fangirling right now, but I'll try to keep it together lest I make a fool of myself like Lucy Ricardo.
Check it out!
The 2018 Annual IWSG Anthology Contest
Word count: 3500-6000
Genre: Young Adult Romance
Theme:
Masquerade
A Masquerade can be a false show or pretense, someone
pretending to be someone they aren't. It can be a ball, a fancy dress party, it
can be a mask. Open to interpretation.
Submissions accepted: September 5 - November 4,
2018
How to enter: Send your polished, formatted
(Double spaced, no page numbers), previously unpublished story to admin @ insecurewriterssupportgroup.com
before the deadline passes. Please include your contact details, your social
links, and if you are part of the Blogging, Facebook, Instagram, or Twitter
IWSG group.
Judging: The IWSG admins will create a
shortlist of the best stories. The shortlist will then be sent to our official
judges. This year, we are honored to have seven incredible judges:
Author Elizabeth S. Craig
Author Elana Johnson
Agent Kelly Van Sant, Red Sofa Literary Agency
Author S. A. Larsen
Write Club founder, D. L. Hammons
Author Kristin Smith
Author and previous anthology winner, Gwen Gardner
Prizes: The winning stories will be edited and
published by Freedom Fox Press next year in the IWSG anthology. Authors will
receive royalties on books sold, both print and eBook. The top story will have
the honor of giving the anthology its title.
Which publishing path have you chosen?
Will you be entering the #IWSG Anthology Contest?
Congrats on being a judge! That's exciting.
ReplyDeleteSo far I've only been published in an IWSG anthology. Not sure what will happen with my other work, but I do need to finish writing it first before I figure that out.
Yep, write it first! Then who knows, the sky's the limit!
DeleteThat's so wonderful you'll be a judge this year.
ReplyDeleteYes, I'm looking forward to it so much.
DeleteI think that was what I was most afraid of...having all that control and what if I did something wrong!! Ugh. I'm glad to let someone else do all the work when it comes to publishing;-) I'll just write and edit. Glad to see you as a judge!
ReplyDeleteThese days, though, even with a publisher, there is a certain amount of marketing expected. Thanks for the well wishes!
DeleteWe're honored to have you as one of the judges!
ReplyDeleteThank you, Alex :)
DeleteCongratulations on becoming a judge for the anthology! I can't wait to see what everyone comes up with.
ReplyDeleteI know, I can't wait to read the stories. I love YA too!
DeleteI think being allowed to experience both traditional and self publishing is awesome. I don't like to fit in a box, so being able to do both is freeing.
ReplyDeleteTeresa
Oh yeah, no boxes for me, either :)
DeleteEntering is SUPER appealing, but I can't get the mental realty to consider the idea fully. I only have about twenty stories ideas that fit with the theme... Anyhow, super coolness! You'll be an AWESOME judge.
ReplyDeleteI know you have your hands full, Crystal, but I hope you enter!
DeleteThat's awesome! Have fun judging. It's a tough thing. Being a hybrid is cool. Makes us sound like cyborgs! *LOL*
ReplyDeleteYeah, a different breed of cyborg, for sure LOL!
DeleteCongrats on becoming an anthology judge! Way to go being a hybrid, too.
ReplyDeleteThanks, Tyrean, I'm thrilled about it :)
DeleteHow fantastic that they asked you to be a judge! Really looking forward to this anthology when it's published. I love this year's theme.
ReplyDeleteI know! I'm thrilled and I can't wait--I love the theme too :)
DeleteHow good! You are in stellarcompany and I'm sure you'll have a ball!
ReplyDeleteI'm completely fangirling :)
DeleteNice. Nothing like an invite to make a person feel welcome. ;-)
ReplyDeleteAnna from elements of emaginette
I know! I feel all special now :D
DeleteYou'll be an awesome judge! Have fun reading the selected entries!
ReplyDeleteI can't wait, Cherie!
DeleteCongratulations on being chosen as a judge for the anthology! And I love your progression from self-pub to small house. It's nice to know that your own hard work has been recognized.
ReplyDeleteIt feels like the best thing in the world!
DeleteCongrats on being asked to be a judge!
ReplyDeleteBeing a hybrid author really is the best of both worlds.
Yep, and I'm very lucky!
DeleteHybrid does seem to be the way of future publishing.
ReplyDeleteIt's a nice medium, for sure :_
DeleteI think being a hybrid writer takes advantage of the benefits of both paths. Congrats on being a judge.
ReplyDeleteI agree. Thank you, Natalie!
DeleteHahaaa... I guess I'm also a hybrid author! But, either way, there is still the dreaded marketing that needs to get done...
ReplyDeleteUgh! You are so right.
DeleteCongratulations! You'll be great!
ReplyDeleteI'm indie and luvin' it. :)
I love indie too. Welcome back from your hiatus, Melissa!
DeleteCongratulations on being a judge. What a tough job, but you wouldn't have been chosen if you couldn't handle it. Good luck!
ReplyDeleteI’m going to do my best! Thank you :)
DeleteCongratulations on being a judge! You'll do great!
ReplyDeleteThanks, Shannon!
DeleteYou'll make a great judge, Gwen. And you're living my dream--I hope to be a hybrid author some day.
ReplyDeleteDamyanti at Daily (w)rite
Just keep plugging away, you'll get there!
DeleteCongrats on being a judge. Should I start bribing you now or later? LOL
ReplyDeleteI like chocolate, LOL! 0_o
DeleteHuge congratulations on that!
ReplyDeleteThanks, Rebecca :D
DeleteWhat an honor to be chosen as a judge. I don't know that I'd be good at that. Especially if it required a lot of reading as I am a rather slow reader.
ReplyDeleteArlee Bird
Tossing It Out
I'm thrilled about it. I will definitely read through every single one even if I have to stay up all night to get it done. I'm completely dedicated.
DeleteWahoo congrats on being a Judge. Happy Belated IWSG Day.
ReplyDeleteThanks, Juneta!
DeleteCongrats on being chosen as a judge! And for all the writing creds too. ;-)
ReplyDeleteAnne from annehiga.com
How exciting that you get to be one of the judges for this anthology! Such an honor, for sure. Congrats!
ReplyDelete