#IWSG What Would You Do?

 It's Insecure Writer's support Group Day!

If you'd like to join, go HERE. 

Thanks to our our founder and host, Alex Cavanaugh, and this month's co-hosts,  Patrcia Josephine, Diedre Knight, Olga Godim, J. Lenni Dorner, and Cathrina Constantine!

This month's optional question is: 

If you ever stop writing, what would you replace it with?

I wouldn't have a problem keeping busy. As it is, I have lots of things I want to do that I put to the side so I can write. So in no order in particular:

• Travel more (yeah, I could do this now, but...)
• Plan and take more hikes and day trips
• Make hiking sticks (I made 2 years ago, and am working on another one now)
• Kayaking (I don't have one, but I want one...)
• Archery (Don't have bows or arrows)
• Knitting (learn how to. I have some needles and yarn and I'm sure YouTube could show me how!)
• Baking (learn how to, LOL. I recently took up making sourdough bread)
• Painting (Not a painter, but I love Impressionism--I think I could do it! YouTube has videos!)
• Paint Rocks (again, not a painter but...)
• Gardening (I wish my backyard wasn't so hilly!)
• Learn graphic design
• Become a better photographer (I actually have dark room equipment)
• Learn how to create mini films
• Pottery (I've had a potter's wheel forever, but don't use it. I took 2 semesters in college. I'm so glad I took these classes for credit only. LOL.). 
• Buy a telescope and stargaze
• Study the bible (I have a study bible but getting through the Old Testament is seriously testing me!)

Having listed all these things, I'm really not very creatively talented, but I think I could be okay with a little practice. I have so many interests, and so little time!

What would you do if you quit writing?

Do you make time for other creative endeavors? 

What are your hobbies? 

Oops! No IWSG Post

Just spent the past week in San Diego and completely spaced my Insecure Writer’s Support Group post. 

So I’ll catch you next month!

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#IWSG: First Book Blues and Other POVs

It's Insecure Writer's Support Group Day! 

If you'd like to join us, CLICK HERE. 

First, please help our writing buddy, Mary Pax, fight cancer by buying a book or making a donation. Every bit helps. Thank you!

Thanks to our host, Alex Cavanaugh, and this month's awesome co-hosts, Jemima Pett, Nancy Gideon, and Natalie Aguirre!

This month's optional question is: Do you remember writing your first book? What were your thoughts about a career path on writing? Where are you now and how is it working out for you? If you're at the start of the journey, what are your goals?
 

Many of you long time bloggers have already heard this story, but I'll tell it again!

Do You Remember Writing Your First Book?

I wrote my first book, Givin' Up the Ghost, in 2011. I wrote the first draft in third person POV. It was flat as stale soda, which is to be expected, really, because first drafts do tend to suck. But out of curiosity I decided to play with the point of view, so I rewrote it in first person POV. The first draft still sucked lemons, but it came alive in a way that the third person version had not. My MCs personality came into play and the interactions with the other characters clicked. 

I'm often told that people love the characters in this series, but the whole body of work had other issues; structure problems to include dead ends and disappearing characters, too many characters, etc. This is where my inexperience really showed itself. Long story, short, I unpublished the series. I hope to rewrite and republish these earlier books at some point in the future. 

Where am I Now?

Twelve years on, and I'm not much further in my writing journey, though I have a few things published: 

• a novella, A Scandal in Boohemia
• won first place in the 2018 Insecure Writer's Support Group anthology contest with my short story, A Stitch in Crime (Tick Tock: A Stitch in Crime)
• placed runner up with my Elephant in the Tomb flash short story (I got published and won an Amazon card!) 
• various other stories in anthologies with other writers.  

I count these all as wins in my own small way!

I participated in NaNoWriMo in November and finished two novellas to make up the 50K words. It's a great way of getting the words down. As they say, you can't edit a blank page. 

As of now, I'm working on several novella series' which I hope to complete this year and publish next year. 

Thoughts on a Career Path in Writing

Recently retired, I now have more time to write and focus on writing. Finally! While I have aspirations, first and foremost I write for myself. Because I'm compelled, it's my calling, even though/if/when I'm not making money. 

Where are you at in your writing career? 

What are your writing successes (or horror stories, gasp!)

What are your writing goals?