Wednesday, September 4, 2013

Insecure Writer's Support Group September 2013

Purpose: To share and encourage. Writers can express doubts and concerns without fear of appearing foolish or weak. Those who have been through the fire can offer assistance and guidance. It’s a safe haven for insecure writers of all kinds!

Posting: The first Wednesday of every month is officially Insecure Writer’s Support Group day. Post your thoughts on your own blog. Talk about your doubts and the fears you have conquered. Discuss your struggles and triumphs. Offer a word of encouragement for others who are struggling. Visit others in the group and connect with your fellow writer - aim for a dozen new people each time.

Report on the last month--
I've actually been writing!! Fade Into Me is still going slow, but I am moving forward. Last week I reached the climatic moment. Now I just have to work my way through it to the other side. The hard part is that I've been reworking this story up to this point. Meaning the first 2/3 of the book is pretty good having been through several revisions. The current writing is first draft sludge that is so hard to stomach. The perfectionist in me can't stand to see such bad writing and I have to constantly remind myself to just get something down. I can't revise what isn't written.

Stellar Cloud is almost done. There is one story left to expand and then I'll have to get serious about cover art and editors. I think there is a great chance of sticking to my plan to have it out by October.

My Insecurities--
My brain just doesn't seem to be functioning at as high a capacity as it used to. I can't concentrate for long and worry about stupid things mucks up the whole system. Everyday I have to remind myself to focus on one task at a time. It's helping but I'm so used to doing 100 things at once that it's taking some time to adjust. Hopefully, this retraining of my mind will result in better writing and more productivity.

September Goals--
Pull off another great year of QueryCon at Unicorn Bell. That's right! It starts next week and will go through the rest of the month. Come over, check it out. Play along and maybe even catch a publishing contract!

Last year we had two people get contracts from this event--Tara Tyler and N.W. Harris.

Here's how it works:

Week 1--
Posts about what/why/how to write queries, interviews with our guest judges and what they are looking for, posts on how to research agents and publishers, write the synopsis, etc. There will also be two days where we host a Q&A hangout on Google+

Week 2--
Come one, come all! Submit your query to be critiqued. You can make changes and resubmit as many times as you like until the week ends.

Week 3--
The first 20 people with FINISHED and POLISHED manuscripts can enter to be judged by our three guests (Angela Kelly, editor Musa Publishing, Victoria Lowes, The Bent Agency, and Andrew Buckley, editor Curiosity Quills). If they like what they see, they'll ask for pages and who knows where that will lead you?

Oh! I almost forgot. In order to better focus on what I need to be doing for QueryCon, I won't be posting much on here this month. There is at least one guest post scheduled, and I hope to get my three book reviews posted, but most of my blogging time will be over at UB.

24 comments:

  1. Your hyper-active brain can visit my projects anytime and brainstorm and throw at me 100 things at once. I won't mind. :)

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    1. Brainstorming is the fun part. It's the execution that bogs me down. :) Collaboration time!

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  2. Hope Query Con rocks this year!
    It might be better you can only focus on one thing at a time. I know that's how I operate.
    Keep writing - you are making progress!

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    1. Thanks Alex! And I can't wait to see your guest post next week over at UB.

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  3. Yay! Query Con sounds like fun. =)

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    1. It is once all the behind the scenes work is finished.

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  4. I have to remind myself to take one things at a time too, and occasionally I even manage to do it. Happy writing!

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  5. Your hyperactivity is just a sign/validation of your genius.

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    1. You keep telling me that and one day I'll believe it. ;)

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  6. I like Michael's take on hyperactivity. I've had a hard time focusing this summer. There is just so many things going on that my thoughts are always drifting to something I should be working on. I haven't really found a way to stop that from happening.

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    1. Maybe our minds just naturally gravitate to the most important thing for that moment in time? Yeah, let's say that, even if it's not true. :)

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  7. I can't remember where I read it now...it was a comment on another IWSG posting. You mentioned that you were worried that people would EXPECT a book two and that they might not want to read another story if it wasn't about Talia.

    You have NOTHING to fear. I just finished The Magic Wakes you are a wonderful story teller and world builder. I will happily read any story you choose to write.

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    1. Awe, thanks Jai! That means a lot and I really appreciate you telling me that. :) Okay, now I feel a bit giddy and am ready to keep writing. Thanks for the little push that I needed today!

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  8. This sounds like a wonderful idea. Makes me wish I had a manuscript to submit. :-)

    Glad to hear you're making progress on your writing.

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    1. Maybe next year? You can still come and participate in the "classes". There will also be two scheduled Q&A sessions on Google+ Hangouts.

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  9. Query con sounds awesome! Hmm, must get control of September schedule and see about joining. I don't have a finished & polish manuscript, but I'm far enough along that I'd like to start thinking about the query...

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    1. Yes, come play with us! There will be lots of good information through out the week.

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  10. I've been having worry troubles, too. I just have to remember to take my calming drops. They seem to help.

    It'll get better. The kids are back in school, right?

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    1. Yes thank goodness! Maybe I should see about some calming drops? Nope, I just need to schedule a nap once a week and a very long bubble bath with a good book once a week.

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  11. Congrats on getting writing done and how far you've come. QueryCon sounds great.

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  12. I know what you mean on having a hard time focusing lately. It might just be the time of the year. Good luck on your goals!

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  13. I'm having problems focusing too. I think there's just a lot going on with my family. I'm giving myself a break for a couple more weeks.

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