#IWSG: Devil On My Shoulder

It's hard to believe that it's already October and we're posting the 10th Insecure Writer's Support Group blog hop event of the year! Still, it's an ongoing event and you can join any time by going HERE to sign up. 

Thanks to our host Alex Cavanaugh and his co-hosts this month:  Jemima Pett, J Lenni Dorner, Cathrina Constantine, Ronel Janse van Vuuren, and Mary Aalgaard!  Please stop by and say hey!

You can post what you like about your writing fears and concerns, and/or answer this month's optional question:

In your writing, where do you draw the line, with either topics or language?

I'm known for writing cozies, which by definition are lighthearted, so there's not much room for controversy. No overt violence, sex or foul language allowed. But I will throw in a "bloody hell" and "blimey" here and there just to spice things up a bit 😉

But, ahem,  in real life, needs must and

sometimes the devil sits on my shoulder 😈

How about you? 

How far do you go in your writing? 

#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: Best in Craft

 

Welcome back to episode # 8 of the 2021 Insecure Writer's Support Group monthly event. If you'd like to join GO HERE. 

Many thanks to our founder, Alex Cavanaugh, as well as this month's awesome co-hosts: PK Hrezo, Cathrina Constantine, PJ Colando, Kim Lajevardi, and Sandra Cox!

This month's optional question is: 

What is your favorite writing craft book? Think of a book that every time you read it you learn something or you are inspired to write or try the new technique. And why?

As far as inspiration goes, Stephen King's 'On Writing' is my go-to. It's part autobiographical and part 'how to'. It's easy to follow with basic but helpful advice that you don't have to study to get down. Did you know that he threw his first draft of 'Carrie' in the trash? His wife fished it out. Thank goodness someone believed in him!

But just to throw my other 'must-have" favorites out there:

• Marcy Kennedy's "A Busy Writer's Guide" series and in particular, Deep Point of View ,and Showing and Telling. These are short and easy to follow. 
• Mary Buckham's "A Writer's Guide to Active Setting". If your setting is lacking, definitely pick this one up, it's pure magic. 
• Renni Browne and Dave King's "Self-Editing for Fiction Writers". A must have for writers of all levels and especially helpful for self-publishers!

Also, I buy my favorites in paperback because I mark them up with notes in the margins and highlight the important bits and mark the pages with colored tags, like they're study guides. 

What are your go-to writing books 

for inspiration and how-to?