Silliness

A Very Valentine’s Post

Valentine’s Day is approaching quickly and it seems that, as a writer of romance, I should…celebrate this holiday? I might have some sort of special *insight* into a day promoting love, relationships, promiscuity (or at least some fun new sex acts) and attractively-packaged, violently-pink sugar products? I can at least pretend to be enthusiastic about this marketing opportunity? Is that right? *Checks notes* Ah-ha. Yes. Indeed this is all so. Well, okay then. I can’t claim any insight into the…

2
Read More

When I Said I Wanted Critique: Feel That Author Pain

The stages of accepting constructive criticism, as told through gifs. We all can agree that beta reading is crucial to the success of a story. Having other eyeballs touch your story, pre-publication, is one of the necessary steps a book goes through. Whether it’s a kind friend who volunteers, a writing group, or a professional editor — the link goes to a good post by author D.E. Haggerty on why she uses editors vs. beta readers — you will be…

2
Read More

The Insecure Writer’s Support Group Wants to Know: When Do You Drop The DNF Hammer?

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. You can find the group on social media with #IWSG. Every month a group of wonderful co-hosts steers us all towards meaningful discussion. We owe our January thanks to Ronel Janse van Vuuren (Hi Ronel!) J Lenni Dorner, Gwen Gardner Sandra Cox, and Louise – Fundy Blue! January 6 question – Being…

0
Read More

Bookish Events Which Should Totally be a Thing

Our society is a very media centered one, I’m pretty sure we can all agree on this. Sometimes I do wish it were a tad more focused on print media. Specifically, books. What a world we could have if being a bookworm was seen as perfectly standard instead of, say, turned into amusingly dorky personality traits for movies and niche memes. (For the record, I do LOVE the memes.) Can you picture it? Can you see a time/place where you…

4
Read More

The Insecure Writer’s Support Group Works Hard

The purpose of the IWSG is to share and encourage. To gently prop you up when you’re falling down, and allow you to offer that prop to other authors as we go. The first Wednesday of every month we meet (online) to share stories, air insecurities, and lend a helping hand. Come join by clicking here. The awesome co-hosts for the October 7 posting of the IWSG are Jemima Pitt, Beth Camp, Beverly Stowe McClure, and Gwen Gardner! And the October 7th question is: When…

10
Read More

The Social Media Beast Requires Regular Feeding from Your Author Toolbox

This is an author toolbox blog post. The toolbox is a group of authors who come together to learn, share resources, and grow. Non-author friends who are in publishing are also welcome to join in. We’re going on three years strong now! Come check our group out and see what you think. In this day and age authors have to put ourselves out there, hanging weightless in cyberspace with multiple tentacles dangling into the ether. We need a platform. We’ve…

12
Read More

The Insecure Writer’s Support Group Beta Reads

This is an Insecure Writer’s Support group post. The purpose of the group is to share, encourage, and express doubts or insecurities without feeling foolish, because believe me, we’ve all been there too. If you’d like to sign up for the hop yourself, click over here. The group is also on Twitter (@The IWSG) and on Instagram #IWSG The September 2 question is: If you could choose one author, living or dead, to be your beta partner, who would it…

20
Read More

Six First Aid Steps for Bad Feedback: an IWSG Post

As part of the celebration for author Chrys Fey’s latest book release, we’re talking about writer’s block, depression, and the varied obstacles life will throw in your way as you try to publish. My contribution for the blog hop is about dealing with bad feedback. This could be editorial comments, a scathing one-star review, rejection letters, dismissive friends or family; anything which makes you feel like a big anvil made of “NO” just landed on your head. I know about…

24
Read More

10 Reasons Writers Are Definitely Creatures of the Night; Author Toolbox Post

We function best with comfy, secluded, darkened spaces. In a house, there was a writing cave. Inside that writing cave, there was a desk. At that desk, there was an author and an empty notebook. Under that desk, there was a blanket fort, and in that blanket fort there was . . . a writer’s block. See? It just works. 2. Random screams into the void have high probability. Also we’ll hiss at our Word program, to assert dominance, after…

17
Read More