Tag: insecure writers support group

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IWSG

#IWSG August 2018: Writing Pitfalls to Avoid & a #Giveaway

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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: What pitfalls would you warn other writers to avoid on their publication journey?

The main pitfall I think many authors succumb to, myself included, is asking the wrong people for help or not asking for help at all. I learned the hard way that just because someone looks shiny and new doesn’t mean they are.

Some authors are great at building up an audience and having that look of success, but that doesn’t mean they have the skills to guide or mentor you. It sounds odd to write it out this way, but the best authors to help you are the ones who have either a giving spirit or a teaching spirit. The only way to find out if they can teach you is to spend time getting to know them. I took advice from authors who were further along in their career than I was, but their advice wasn’t meant for someone at my level. A new author and a long-established author aren’t working at the same level and may need to use different strategies.

Plus, there have been so many times where I’ve not asked for help simply because of all the bad experiences I’ve had working with others. Like it or not, though, sometimes you must take that risk and reach out; especially if it’s something that’s going to make you better at your craft.

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Congratulations to Jemima Pett on her newsletter spotlight.

Today is also WEP Challenge posting day. You can check out my entry my clicking the image below.

Over at A Small Gang of Authors, we’ve reached 156,166 views and heading toward 200,000 soon. If you guess when we’ll reach that goal, you could win $50. Pet Loki to make your guess.

The IWSG Book Club discussion on description featuring the title, The Lion, the Witch, and The Wardrobe is still going strong if you want to check it out.

Our book selection for August/September is: The Art of Memoir by Mary Karr

This one is for our memoir writers and anyone who has ever thought of writing a memoir. The discussion will start September 19th and will go to the end of the month, but it will be up indefinitely, so you can hop in whenever you’re able to join.

Oh, and there’s a GIVEAWAY!

Book club members have the chance to win a paperback copy of Plot and Structure by James Scott Bell. This is a used copy, but it’s in great condition. To enter, go to this Rafflecopter Form. It’s free to enter, but you have to be a book club member. We will verify this, so join us on Goodreads!

One winner will be randomly selected on August 8th, and Chrys Fey will email the winner to get mailing details. All info will be kept private.

 

Now, on to the personal updates.

Well now, that was quite a bit, so I’ll keep this short.

I’m enjoying my new job.

I’m writing more often, which has been a major struggle for me.

I’m illustrating more often too.

I’m working to get back on to YouTube; I really miss it.

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Any pitfalls you’d warn writers against?

Interested in the IWSG Book Club discussion or giveaway?

Have you done any writing lately?

Any tips on how to promote my scavenger hunt?

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After hanging out with Alex, be sure to stop by and visit this month’s co-hosts:

Erika Beebe,
Sandra Hoover,
Susan Gourley, and
Lee Lowery!

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Click here to visit other IWSG blogs and sites to receive and share more inspiration and support. (This month, I’m #55).

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

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IWSG

#IWSG July 2018: Writing Goals and Growth

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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.

Look who forgot to schedule this post a day earlier than usual. Oh well.

Happy Independence Day USA!

Optional Monthly Question: What are your ultimate writing goals, and how have they changed over time (if at all)?

I used to want to find a way to write fulltime. That has now changed. While I still want to find more time to write, I don’t think I want to live off my writing (published books). Being a starving artist may work for some people, but I find that my creativity is restricted when it becomes a necessity. Still, I want to find a way to make a living doing something I love; something related to books, writing, and reading, but I’m not sure what that is yet. Whether I ever achieve that goal or not, I plan to keep writing whether I publish or not.

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In case you missed it, I finished my series on The Book to Screen Debate with the controversial stance that some movies can be better than the book. Click the image to read the article.

Also, over at A Small Gang Of Authors, we’re hosting a guessing game to see when we’ll reach 200,000 views. The prize is $50. Click the image to learn more.

Oh, and the IWSG Book Club is reading The Lion, The Witch, and the Wardrobe for the months of June/July. Our discussion on July 25 will focus on description.

Now, on to the personal updates.

I have been practicing my skills as an illustrator and finding that I am greatly lacking. I will continue working on my hand drawings, but for now, I’ll stick with my computer drawings as I’m trying to release more children’s books.

I started a new job that I’m very excited about. It’s only part-time right now, but it can easily become fulltime. I’m hoping this new job will be much better for my overall mental health. Speaking of…

No one likes to hear depressing news, yet people deal with it every day. Some more than others. I’ve been dealing with a lot of changes and drama lately, and yes, I’ve been dealing with depression. I can’t imagine that everyone, at some point, doesn’t experience some form of depression, but that’s a little different from those who are chronic sufferers of it. Please be mindful that the highs and lows of life that you roll with, may be much harder for someone else to deal with. Be attentive to the words people say and don’t say. Be aware of friends who may be in need. And, please, always be supportive and not judgmental.

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So, have your writing goals changed over time?
Ever tried your hand at illustrating?
Do you think it’s possible for a movie to be better than a book?
Any words of encouragement to offer or requests for prayers or thoughts?

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After hanging out with Alex, be sure to stop by and visit this month’s co-hosts:
Nicki Elson,
Juneta Key,
Tamara Narayan, and
Patricia Lynne!

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Click here to visit other IWSG blogs and sites to receive and share more inspiration and support. (This month, I’m #56).

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

Categories
IWSG Virtual Book Tours

#IWSG June 2018 & Write with Fey #newrelease #giveaway

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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: What’s harder for you to come up with, book titles or character names?

For me, it’s definitely book titles. I have this whole obsession with names and their meanings and keep a list of possible names I could use at any time. Book titles, on the other hand, elude me. Even after I’ve settled on one, I never really feel it fits. At some point, I have to call the book something so people will know what they are getting. It’s not easy making that final decision.

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So, first off, this is going to be a long one, but for good reason. I’ll be back to my shorter posts next time, I promise.

Now, I’d like to congratulate Juneta Key on her member spotlight in the May newsletter. Not only is she a great blogger and writer, she’s constantly giving back to the community. A very well-deserved recognition.

Now, on to the personal updates. Please stick around for a special new release message at the end.

So, in case you missed it, I unpublished the first two books in the Eternal Curse Series (they are still available to anyone who asks for them). You can learn more about that at the link above. Needless to say, I have a lot of writing to do with that rewrite as well as finishing the first draft of my Sayings sequel, which I still don’t have a title for. I seriously thought I’d be on my 3rd or 4th draft by now, but as usual, my day job, which is convenient for writing, is also so stressful as of late, that it’s blocked all my creativity… Oh well, that’s life.

On a slightly fun note, I’m in position 56 on the IWSG blog hop list. When I started out, I was 181. All that means is that many people have come and gone, and likely come back again in the time I’ve participated in this blog and I’ve been sticking with it and moving up the ladder. Being part of this group is one of my greatest accomplishments. I’m sadly thinking of reducing my blog to once a month post, still being open to interviews and spotlights whenever someone needs to fill a spot or wants some free promo… We’ll see what happens.

Over at A Small Gang of Authors, we are hosting our first ever book cover contest. We’d love for you to head over, check it out, and vote in the comments. Thanks bunches!

NEW RELEASE & GIVEAWAY!
Catch the sparks you need to write, edit, publish, and market your book!
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Write with Fey: 10 Sparks to Guide You from Idea to Publication offers an
abundance of data in one handy book. From writing your novel to prepping for publication and beyond, you’ll find sparks on every page, including 100 bonus marketing tips. You’ll also discover how to write specific scenes and characters, adding depth to your work.
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•        Spark One: Being a Writer
•        Spark Two: Story Essentials
•        Spark Three: A Book’s Stepping Stones
•        Spark Four: How To
•        Spark Five: Character ER
•        Spark Six: Editing
•        Spark Seven: Publishing
•        Spark Eight: Marketing
•        Spark Nine: Writing About
•        Spark Ten: Final Inspiration
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With so much information, you’ll take notes, highlight, and flag pages to come back to again and again on your writing journey.
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AUTHOR BIO:
Chrys Fey is the author of the Disaster Crimes Series, a unique concept blending romance, crimes, and disasters. She’s partnered with the Insecure Writer’s Support Group and runs their Goodreads book club. She’s also an editor for Dancing Lemur Press.
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Fey realized she wanted to write by watching her mother pursue publication. At the age of twelve, she started her first novel, which flourished into a series she later rewrote at seventeen. Fey lives in Florida and is always on the lookout for hurricanes.
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Chrys Fey’s Links:
Website / Blog / Amazon / Goodreads
Facebook / Twitter
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GIVEAWAY!
Open to all from June 4th 2018 – July 6th 2018
Click here to enter or use the form below.

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So, are you a whiz at book titles but struggle with character names or vice versa?
Would you ever unpublish a book? Does the idea of it terrify you?
What did you think of Carnie?
You gonna enter Chrys Fey’s giveaway?

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After hanging out with Alex, be sure to stop by and visit this month’s co-hosts:
Beverly Stowe McClure,
Tyrean Martinson,
Tonja Drecker, and
Ellen @ The Cynical Sailor!

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Click here to visit other IWSG blogs and sites to receive and share more inspiration and support. (This month, I’m #56).

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