Tag: community

Categories
IWSG

#IWSG June 2021: How long can you wait?

For me, it’s birthday month, so this is going to be brief.  *Updated*  based responses in the comments,  I realize that  I need to clarify this. October is my birthday month. June is for my sister,  brother,  husband,  father,  nephew,  a few in-laws,  and a few cousins.  With graduations,  weddings,  anniversaries,  and baby showers,  June is always a busy month. 72b25-iwsg2bbadge

Created and hosted by the Ninja himself, Alex J. Cavanaugh, the Insecure Writers Support Group posts the 1st Wednesday of every month. Click the image to learn more or sign up.

Optional Monthly Question: For how long do you shelve your first draft, before reading it and re-drafting? Is this dependent on your writing experience and the number of stories/books under your belt?

It can take me anywhere from 30 days to 36 months to complete a first draft, depending on how many times I chuck it all and completely start over. Once I’ve finished a first draft; however, I stick to a pretty solid regimen. I wait one month before reading it again. If I don’t feel the slightest bit impressed with the fact that I completed something that isn’t horrible, I don’t move forward to making developmental edits. Usually, after a 3rd draft is when I start trying to have other people look at what I’ve read. After feedback from at least two people, I do my own superficial edits (‘cause I can’t do a decent self-edit to save my life) before seeking the services of one to two editors.

I recently had the opportunity to try out the services of a writing coach and received some immensely helpful feedback. Whenever I do finally have something worth pursuing for publication, I will definitely invest in her services when working on a 2nd or 3rd draft.

****

I’ll have more to share next month. For now, I hope everyone is staying safe.

****


So, how long do you wait to read your manuscript after the first draft?
It may take some time, but I promise, I will eventually stop by your blog.

****

After hanging out with Alex, be sure to stop by and visit this month’s co-hosts:
J Lenni Dorner,
Sarah Foster,
Natalie Aguirre,
Lee Lowery, and
Rachna Chhabria!

****

Click here to visit other IWSG blogs and sites to receive and share more inspiration and support. (This month, I’m #36).

Thank you for taking the time to read this post. If you like it let me know and share it with others. See you next time, Toi Thomas. #thetoiboxofwords #blacklivesmatter

Categories
IWSG

#IWSG May 2021: Are your followers friendly or scary?

Feliz de Cinco de Mayo! If you like Facebook Live, you should check out the video I posted yesterday talking about the underappreciated day.
72b25-iwsg2bbadge

Created and hosted by the Ninja himself, Alex J. Cavanaugh, the Insecure Writers Support Group posts the 1st Wednesday of every month. Click the image to learn more or sign up.

Optional Monthly Question: Has any of your readers ever responded to your writing in a way that you didn’t expect? If so, did it surprise you?

Yes. First of all, having anyone respond to my writing at all is always a shocking experience. Whether it’s a 1-star or 5-star review, it blows my mind that someone would take moments of their life to publicly comment on something I’ve written.

Secondly, I’ve received some interesting emails from people who’ve liked and disliked my work. Again, I’m astounded by the effort it took for them to either fill out the contact form on my Contact page or find my email address just to send me a message. One of my favorites was, a bit scary and, from a person demanding I hurry up and write the sequel to one of my stories.

Lastly, up until recently, I have cherished every comment I’ve ever gotten on my blog, even when they weren’t always positive, because again I appreciated the time taken to connect and communicate. Recently, however, I receive a comment on my blog that felt very much like an attack and a passing of judgment against me and my entire race. I do not cherish that comment, and yet, I will not remove it. I will leave it there as a reminder. A reminder that when you ask for comments, you must face the fact that not all of them will be cherished.

****

IWSG BOOK CLUB ON GOODREADS

Well, I finished both books for the may discussion and am dreading having to come up with something to say about The High Mountains of Portugal (I just didn’t like it.). Deep Point of view was great. Probably gonna read more of her books.

Our March/April/May reads are…
The High Mountains of Portugal by Yann Martel is our fiction selection that offers a great use and example of description.

Deep Point of View (Busy Writer’s Guides Book 9) by Marcy Kennedy is our writing craft book with a focus on deep POV.

Discussion Day for both books will be May 26, 2021!

Please consider JOINing US for our next discussions.

 

So, I relaunched my newsletter, making is an homage to my love of reading. I think the first one went well. We’ll see how this months goes.

Now, on to the personal updates.

There were some really great entries in the WEP challenge in April and wish everyone the best with the continued challenges for 2021. I will be stepping away from the challenge for a while, maybe forever, not sure at the moment. It has been a wonderful supportive environment to develop and hone skills and I encourage struggling writers to seek it out. I will miss the community and enriching variety. I’ve learned so much but must now move on to learn elsewhere.

I’m sure there’s more I have to share, but my mind is a buzz with many things. I’d like to leave you all on a silly note by sharing a video from my YouTube channel, should anyone be interested in checking it out.

****

Has a reader response ever shocked you?
Any thoughts on the IWSG Book Club books?
Any other interesting bookish or geekish news to share?
It may take some time, but I promise, I will eventually stop by your blog.

****

After hanging out with Alex, be sure to stop by and visit this month’s co-hosts:
Erika Beebe,
PJ Colando,
Tonja Drecker,
Sadira Stone, and
Cathrina Constantine!

****

Click here to visit other IWSG blogs and sites to receive and share more inspiration and support. (This month, I’m #36).

Thank you for taking the time to read this post. If you like it let me know and share it with others. See you next time, Toi Thomas. #thetoiboxofwords #blacklivesmatter

Categories
IWSG

#IWSG April 2021: Do you play it cool or take risks?

Let me start off by saying that I’m done with blogging and writing….
That’s just silly. I can’t even keep a straight face while trying to write this. I have no idea how people pull off decent April Fool’s pranks. So glad that’s over and done with. 😉

72b25-iwsg2bbadge

Created and hosted by the Ninja himself, Alex J. Cavanaugh, the Insecure Writers Support Group posts the 1st Wednesday of every month. Click the image to learn more or sign up.

Optional Monthly Question: Are you a risk-taker when writing? Do you try something radically different in style/POV/etc. or add controversial topics to your work?

I feel like, for the most part, I’m a write what I know kind of writer, even when I’m writing fantasy, but there are times when I challenge myself. Sometimes those challenges can be risky. I once attempted a gender-neutral story- didn’t turn out too bad. I like playing around with POV but I’m not very good at it. I do think I have a knack for adding in darkness where it’s unexpected and mashing up genres in unique ways. But that’s just my perspective. I’d need more feedback from readers to really know.

****

IWSG BOOK CLUB ON GOODREADS

March was a very slow reading month for me. I will be posting my book reviews on this blog later this month, but for now, I’m only halfway through The High Mountains of Portugal. I haven’t even started Deep Point of View, but I have a plan to catch up.

Discussion Day for both books will be May 26, 2021!

Please consider JOINing US for our next discussions.

Remember this post. Well, guess I’m a glutton for punishment. I’ve relaunched my newsletter but it’s very different from anything I’ve done in the past. Here’s the sign-up if you’re interested. It will focus on my love of reading. Here’s the message I sent to all my old subscribers.

Now, on to the personal updates.

I’ve been struggling to write a piece for the WEP April challenge. I’ve started it but can’t seem to finish it… And there it is, my insecurity. Not being able to finish a story I’ve started.

I actually have a lot more to share, but I think I’ll wait ‘til next month. I’m writing this post pretty late in the evening and feel I need to get my ideas more organized before sharing them with the world.

For anyone who was curious, I enjoyed my time with LitCon last month. You can watch the fantasy panel I participated in here: https://youtu.be/eBySbxc-AtE 

My February book reviews can be found in the video below. March reviews will soon follow (shh, there’s only 3).

****

Are you a writing risk-taker?
Read any good books lately?
Any other interesting bookish or geekish news to share?
It may take some time, but I promise, I will eventually stop by your blog.

****

After hanging out with Alex, be sure to stop by and visit this month’s co-hosts:
PK Hrezo,
Pat Garcia,
SE White,
Victoria Marie Lees,
Lisa Buie Collard, and
Diane Burton!

****

Click here to visit other IWSG blogs and sites to receive and share more inspiration and support. (This month, I’m #37).

Thank you for taking the time to read this post. If you like it let me know and share it with others. See you next time, Toi Thomas. #thetoiboxofwords #blacklivesmatter