Category: IWSG

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Childhood Heroes #IWSG

  By IWSG
January 8 question

Describe someone you admired when you were a child. Did your opinion of that person change when you grew up?

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! Let’s rock the neurotic writing world!
Our Twitter handle is @TheIWSG and hashtag is #IWSG.
The awesome co-hosts for the January 8 posting of the IWSG are Rebecca Douglass, Beth Camp, Liza @ Middle Passages, and Natalie @ Literary Rambles!
January 8 question – Describe someone you admired when you were a child. Did your opinion of that person change when you grew up?
That was a long time ago! I would say that most of the people I admired were my teachers. I had some great ones. They gave me the direction and guidance I needed to be successful in my studies.
But I lost track of all of them once I went away to college. Far away. Like 1500 miles away with only infrequent trips back home. So I didn’t keep in touch with any of them. (That was in the Dark Ages, before email or the internet.)
So, for this post, I’m going to talk about a celebrity I followed as a young adult. I was introduced to the music of John Denver after high school. In a way, his songs are what led me to move to Wyoming, where I met my husband.
It wasn’t until I was older that I delved into his life story. I was saddened at finding out how human he was. His cheating, possible abusive behavior, potential but unproven prescription drug misuse.
But his faults were softened by the good he accomplished. His work for the environment and ending hunger. Adopting two children.
So now, I am able again to appreciate his music. The quality of his voice, the depth of feeling he shares, the pure artistry of his singing. It was a journey through a spectrum of feelings to come full circle to admiration. Indeed, I often use his recordings as inspiration to write by.
To check out other authors on this hop, please visit of a few of them in the links below.
As always, until next time, please stay safe.

And the Ending Is . . . #IWSG

  By IWSG

December 4 question – Do you write cliffhangers at the end of your stories? Are they a turn-off to you as a writer and/or a reader?

Every month, we announce a question that members can answer in their IWSG post. These questions may prompt you to share advice, insight, a personal experience or story. Include your answer to the question in your IWSG post or let it inspire your post if you are struggling with something to say.
Let’s rock the neurotic writing world!
Our Twitter handle is @TheIWSG and hashtag is #IWSG.
The awesome co-hosts for the December 4 posting of the IWSG are Ronel, Deniz, Pat Garcia, Olga Godim, and Cathrina Constantine!

Don’t you want to know what happens next?

Yeah, me too. And I don’t want to wait until the new book releases in a year or so. That’s a long time to wait.

So no, I don’t like cliffhangers at the end of a book. (In the middle, it’s a given.) There was an author that I followed for a long time, and then he wrote a book that ended in a cliffhanger. Reluctantly, I waited for the next book. (Which was a disappointment. I’m afraid he’s lost his mojo. I haven’t bought any more.) I won’t share his name.

And no, I don’t write cliffhangers. I don’t want to cheat my readers. Each of my books is a complete story. Even in my mysteries, which are chronological, the progression of the stories is built on the growth of the characters, rather than a continuing plot line. I work hard to make each book a stand-alone. (Although I may reference earlier books.)

There may be wiggle room for authors who make it clear that a story is part of a continuing series before the first book is ever bought. But I’ve been known to not buy an otherwise enticing book if I’m aware that it ends in a cliffhanger.

I won’t leave you hanging. That’s all I’ve got for this post.  But, as always, please stay safe until the next time.

Tales of the Dark #IWSG

  By IWSG
 

It’s the first Wednesday of October, and time for another Insecure Writer’s Support Group post.

 
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 – and return comments. This group is all about connecting!
 
Let’s rock the neurotic writing world!
Our Twitter handle is @TheIWSG and hashtag is #IWSG.
 
The awesome co-hosts for the  October 2 posting of the IWSG are Nancy Gideon, Jennifer Lane, Jacqui Murray, and Natalie Aguirre!
 

October 2 question – Ghost stories fit right in during this month. What’s your favorite classic ghostly tale? Tell us about it and why it sends chills up your spine.

 
I’m not a big fan of ghost stories. I’ve come close to the edge of the other side a few too many times to be comfortable with them. But the one that has always fascinated me is what I call the wanderer. Others may call him the walking man. The story has variations in many places across the United States, from Pennsylvania to Wyoming to Oregon.
 
But the basis is always the same. The man (well, almost all the stories I’ve heard make it a man, not a woman) seen on the side of the road. Sometimes he’s hitchhiking, many times just walking. He may be a figure of goodness, but most often he’s to be feared, a cautionary tale about not picking up hitchhikers. He’s always ragged, skinny, with wild eyes.
 
He’s been the basis for stories and statues. A solitary man, alone in the night, in the shadows, almost always older. One tale speculates he’s looking for his wife who was killed in a car accident. If you turn to get a second look, he’s gone. Seemingly, only a figment of your imagination.
 
What happens if you stop and talk to him? Offer a ride? The tales differ from place to place. Most often, he simply vanishes.  Or you do, and no one knows what happened.
 
He’s a modern-day ghost story and I’ve never heard what older tale he spawned from. If you know, tell me in the comments. Of course, some tales warn that even talking about him can be a bad omen. Does that extend to writing about him on the internet?
 
To hear more ghostly tales, follow the links below. And, as always, until next time, please stay safe.
 
 
 
 

Writing Rules That Are Wrong #IWSG

  By IWSG
 
 
Let’s rock the neurotic writing world!
Our Twitter handle is @TheIWSG and hashtag is #IWSG.
 
The awesome co-hosts for the September 4 posting of the IWSG are Beth Camp, Jean Davis, Yvonne Ventresca, and PJ Colando!

Every month, we announce a question that members can answer in their IWSG post. These questions may prompt you to share advice, insight, a personal experience or story. Include your answer to the question in your IWSG post or let it inspire your post if you are struggling with something to say.

 

September 4 question – Since it’s back to school time, let’s talk English class. What’s a writing rule you learned in school that messed you up as a writer?

I’m really lucky. Through grade school and high school, I had excellent teachers who taught a broad curriculum. We were exposed to a wide variety of literature, not only from English and American culture, but from other backgrounds as well. They started from the basics—spelling, grammar, and sentence structure,— and moved into full essays with footnotes and bibliographies. (We used the MLA format.)

The difference was apparent when I got to college. 

The essays I needed to write for the first-year courses were a breeze, compared to the requirements of my high school senior assignments. Not all my classmates felt that way, and I was thankful for my previous classes.

 

Granted, the classes were aimed mostly towards non-fiction and literature. Still, the basics apply to fiction as well. I haven’t had to unlearn anything, but there was still plenty to learn when I started writing my stories.

So, there’s nothing I learned that messed me up. I got a great foundation for future writing. I may be a rarity, but we can find out by checking out some of the other posts on this hop.

As always, until next time, please stay safe.

 

Favorite Word Processing Software #IWSG

  By IWSG
 
 
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!
 
The awesome co-hosts for the  July 3 posting of the IWSG are JS Pailly, Rebecca Douglass, Pat Garcia, Louise-Fundy Blue, and Natalie Aguirre!

July 3 question – What are your favorite writing processing (e.g. Word, Scrivener, yWriter, Dabble), writing apps, software, and tools? Why do you recommend them? And which one is your all time favorite that you cannot live without and use daily or at least whenever you write?

 
The first word processing software I used was Novell’s WordPerfect. (Does anyone use it anymore?) That was back in the late 80s/early 90s, when Microsoft programs didn’t rule the world. It was an easy move to Microsoft Word and the rest of the Office Suite when I switched jobs. With all the changes since then, Microsoft has turned Word into more than a simple letter-writing tool.
 
But they also changed the payment model. Unless you purchase a stripped down-version, you pay to use it either monthly or yearly. 
 
No, thank you. That’s why I use LibreOffice, free software that emulates all the basic functionality of Word. Yes, enough of the commands are different to beat copyright claims, but it’s easy to learn.
 

I have another choice for editing.

 
While LibreOffice is great for a first draft, it doesn’t have all the editing functionality as Word. I have another favorite for that. I’ve tried Hemingway, Grammarly, and several others. The one I settled on was ProWritingAid. The free version was useful, but the full version made a big difference. And I received a lifetime subscription as a Christmas present.
 
One caveat: I’ve noticed more errors getting through ProWritingAid in my current editing. I don’t know if I’ve messed up a setting somewhere or what, but I need to check into it.
 
So, that’s what I use. I’ve used both in the writing of this post. I’m making bets on what the most popular answers will be. Check out a few of the other answers by following the links below.
 
As always, until next time, please stay safe.
 
 
 
 
 
 

What Comes Next? #IWSG

  By IWSG

 
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
 
Let’s rock the neurotic writing world!
Our Twitter handle is @TheIWSG and hashtag is #IWSG.
 
The awesome co-hosts for the June 5 posting of the IWSG are Liza at Middle Passages, Shannon Lawrence, Melissa Maygrove, and Olga Godim!

Remember, the question is optional

June 5 question – In this constantly evolving industry, what kind of offering/service do you think the IWSG should consider offering to members?
 
Good question. If I could figure out the answer, I wouldn’t be part of this group with other struggling writers. But I can’t see into the future. Heck, it’s hard enough to stay current with what is happening in the writing world on a week by week basis. I feel like I’m always getting in on the tail end of the “next big trend” in publicity.
 
One thing I’ve always wanted to develop is a site where authors can share potential events and opportunities for selling books in person. I’m talking community festivals, local book signing days, and the like. It could be a site where authors share with others about their successes and which ones didn’t pan out. It would take a lot of work, and I don’t think any one person could maintain it. Who would have imagined that the Chugwater Chili Festival was a hot market for books?
 
 
Anyway, that’s my suggestion. I’m looking forward to see what ideas everyone else has.
 
As always, until next time, please stay safe.
 
 
 

Squirrel! #IWSG

  By IWSG
 
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!
Let’s rock the neurotic writing world!
 
The awesome co-hosts for the May 1 posting of the IWSG are Victoria Marie Lees, Kim Lajevardi, Nancy Gideon, and Cathrina Constantine!

Every month, we announce a question that members can answer in their IWSG post. These questions may prompt you to share advice, insight, a personal experience or story. Include your answer to the question in your IWSG post or let it inspire your post if you are struggling with something to say.

May 1 question – How do you deal with distractions when you are writing? Do they derail you?

 
Or as they used to say in the office before I retired—Squirrel! That was the standard response to any of our IT experts getting distracted by a new project, which happened frequently. But it applies equally to my endeavors in writing as well.
 

Image by moonflower5 from Pixabay

 
It could be anything-going down a rabbit hole in research, spotting an interesting post on social media (I should block myself from Reddit) to one of the other people in the house tapping me on the shoulder to ask me a question. (Recently, I moved my desk to a more ‘public’ area in my house and I like to listen to music as I write, so with my headphones on, I’m easy to sneak up on.) Depending on the type of distraction, I might not return to my writing immediately, or I might need to get out of my chair and go do something else.
 
How derailed do I get? That depends on what I’m working on at how long the distraction lasted. If I had to make a run to the kitchen while I was working on a blog host, I likely will get right back to work. But in the case of something like stopping to do yardwork or run a load of clothes, it might be hard for me get back into writing mode.

That’s not always a bad thing.

A break gives me time to refocus my thoughts. If I’m working on a tough spot in a chapter, the answer may come to me while mulling it over as I do something else. When I get derailed while doing research, I may stumble across a fact that fits in with my topic. If I’m composing a blog post, a temporary absence may give my mind time to come up with other points I should cover.
 
Don’t let my post fool you. It’s not all sunshine. I might not get back into my writing groove for a week or more. It frustrates me, and I don’t have a consistent cure.
 
What do other authors have to say? Check out a few of their answers by following the links below.
 
As always, until next time, please stay safe.
 
 

Taking A Chance On AI #IWSG

  By IWSG
 
 
Let’s rock the neurotic writing world!
 
The awesome co-hosts for the March 6 posting of the IWSG are Kristina Kelly, Miffie Seideman, Jean Davis, and Liza @ Middle Passages!

March 6th question: Have you “played” with AI to write those nasty synopses, or do you refuse to go that route? How do you feel about AI’s impact on creative writing?

Sorry this is up late, but life happens.

Before I answer, don’t forget there different levels of AI. Technically, Grammarly, ProWritingAid, and other such editing programs can be considered to be AI. In fact, Grammarly is advertising itself as an AI tool. But now those programs are getting into the realm of rewriting sentences and suggesting different ways of stating the information presented to it.

I’ve used the grammar and spellcheck options of those programs for years. Recently, I’ve paid attention to the rewriting part of the programs. (I use ProWritingAid.) Frankly, I don’t think I’ve ever used a suggested sentence revision. They don’t have the same meaning as what I’m trying to say. So, I can’t imagine using it to write a synopsis.

Once, and only once, I played with a built-in Word Press plug-in to write a key phrase for a blog post. The results were so far off the mark that I didn’t give it a second thought and discarded it. I haven’t tried it again.

I’ve seen several blog posts from others that appear to be AI written. Lordy, they were bad. Real bad. Stiff and artificial with click-bait titles that had little to do with the content. I’d compare them to the pictures floating around the internet with free-floating hands with six fingers. But I could see them getting reads, presumably based mostly on the header.

I can’t see the future, but AI has me worried. If the market gets flooded by poor-quality writing, readers will be discouraged, and aspiring authors may get shut out of the market. And that’s not good.

Okay, I’ll get off my soapbox now. Don’t forget to check out some of the others on this hop by clicking on the links below.

As always, until next time, please stay safe.

Please Don’ts For A Writer’s Website #IWSG

  By IWSG
 
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!
Let’s rock the neurotic writing world!
Our Twitter handle is @TheIWSG and hashtag is #IWSG.
 
The awesome co-hosts for the February 7 posting of the IWSG are Janet Alcorn, SE White, Victoria Marie Lees, and Cathrina Constantine!

February 7 question: What turns you off when visiting an author’s website/blog? Lack of information? A drone of negativity? Little mention of author’s books? Constant mention of books?

Remember MySpace?

When every page was bright, flashy, twinkling fluorescent colors that sparkled and hurt your eyes? Please, don’t do that to my poor old aged eyes. Or post anything that is seizure-inducing. (Confession time – I never had a MySpace page.)
 
Other than that, I’m pretty easy. Well, I have one complaint. Don’t throw a huge ‘sign up for my newsletter’ block up before I’ve had a chance to even view your information. I’m not saying don’t have one. Maybe have it in a sidebar or somewhere else. Because if you place it on the front page, I’m going to close it without even reading the message. I may even skip checking out your site. (But probably not. I’m too stubborn for that.)
 
Yes, I know this goes against all the marketing advice out there. Oh, well! Chances are, I’ve come to your website looking for something in particular, and the demand for a newsletter signup annoys me. But I’ve often said, I’m not your standard consumer and all ads turn me off. That’s one reason I stopped watching TV.
 
One more thing. Please make your menu easy to navigate. I may be stubborn, but sometimes I’m lazy.
 

Having said all that. I’ve got to go back and check my website.

It’s been a while since I’ve done a major update. But I promise you, no flashing font!
 
If you haven’t done it yet, please check out some of the other authors on this hop. (See the many links below.) And, as always, please stay safe until the next time.
 
 

Following And Being Followed on BookBub #IWSG

  By IWSG
 
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 – and return comments. This group is all about connecting!
The awesome co-hosts for the January 3 posting of the IWSG are Joylene Nowell Butler, Olga Godim, Diedre Knight, and Natalie Aguirre!

January 3 question: Do you follow back your readers on BookBub or do you only follow back other authors?

 
I’m glad it’s a quick and easy question for the new year.
 
I put effort into building a BookBub following a few years ago, but never got too far with it. (I’m sitting at 359 followers.) And yes, I will follow back anyone that follows me. But since I only get notification that I’ve added followers, and not who they were, it can be hard to figure out who to follow back.
 
So, I’m pretty close to following the same number of folks on the site as are following me. I get lots of notifications of authors adding books, putting books on sale, etc., but never get any feedback if folks get similar notices for me. Adding reviews seems like a good way to get more attention, but haven’t developed the habit.
 
Here’s my BookBub link if you would like to follow me. I’ll be sure to return the favor. https://www.bookbub.com/profile/p-j-maclayne
 
I wish you the best for the New Year. As always, until next time, please stay safe.