IWSG Anthology Contest

I can hardly believe it’s time again for the Insecure Writer’s Support Group post. On the first Wednesday of the month, the members share their fears and encourage others. It’s easy to join, click here to sign up. Try to visit a few new blogs and leave a comment. Alex’s co-hosts for today’s posting are Dolorah, Tanya Miranda, Chemist Ken, and Christopher D. Votey.

Optional Question this Month: How do major life events affect your writing? Has writing ever helped you through something?

When unexpected things happen my writing is the first to suffer. Weeks will pass before I realize I’ve hit a slump and something needs to change. Writing is cathartic for me, so yes, when I sit the world and its problems fall away and I’m immersed until I come up for air. What about you?

And in other news:

The 2018 Annual IWSG Anthology Contest needs your stories!

Guidelines and rules:

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How to enter: Send your polished, formatted (Double spaced, no page numbers), previously unpublished story to admin @ insecurewriterssupportgroup.com before the deadline passes.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. 

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.

#IWSG Post

It’s the first Wednesday of the month and time for another posting of the Insecure Writer’s Support Group! Time to release our fears to the world – or offer encouragement to those who are feeling neurotic. If you’d like to join us, click on the above link and sign up. Visit as many blogs as you can today and leave a comment to encouragement someone else.

The co-hosts for the September 5 posting of the IWSG are Toi Thomas, T. Powell Coltrin, M.J. Fifield, and Tara Tyler!

SEPTEMBER 5^th QUESTION: What publishing path are you considering/did you take, and why?

My first experience with publishing was through a publishing house, but around 2011 when self-publishing was not as big as it is today, I decided to self-publish a collection of short stories. Since then, I've also published the three books that reverted to me from my publishers. I've also been in several anthologies with other writers.

Most have been good experiences and I've taken on new challenges which have taught me so much over the years.

Don't forget to follow the IWSG on Instagram!

What have you tried since you started publishing? Are you following the IWSG on Instagram? Are you planning to enter the anthology contest? If you are, get the details here.

IWSG Twitter Pitch & Anthology Contest

Hey IWSGers! There is so much going on in our world right now. Can you believe it's a new month? Another opportunity to share what's going on in our world and to offer encouragement to those writers whose spirit may be flagging. This month's co-hosts are Nicki Elson, Juneta Key, Tamara Narayan, and Patricia Lynne.

On July 19, we have the Twitter Pitch Party and you can find the details here. Be sure to hone those pitches for the many agents and publishers who will be watching. You never know if this will be your lucky break.

In a few months, the IWSG Anthology Contest will be open. This time, the genre is young adult romance. Watch out for September 5, which is when the theme will be announced.

Today's optional question is: What are your ultimate writing goals, and how have they changed over time (if at all)?

I find that the more books I've published, the less time I have to write. One of the things I believe in is setting aside time to write. It may not be every day, but it is a fixed part of my schedule. I have to admit, I've been slacking off, but ultimately, I want to become disciplined about writing at least 1,000 words each day.

If I sprint for a half hour or just over that, I'll reach that goal. My long-term aim is to finish all the stories I've started writing, plus completing the series I've started. If I keep my discipline and focus, and set-time lines, I'll achieve a major chunk of my goals. They haven't changed much over time, but I do need to stay on course.

What are your goals? How are they different now, than say five years ago?