Publishers fold, Agents withdraw: how to keep writing and keep submitting when 'it' hits you

Photo by Pixabay on Pexels.com Writers spend a lot of time working in isolation. We’re also prone to self-doubt. We can quickly move from, “I just wrote something great! to “This is possibly the worst thing ever written, by anyone.” Photo by Download a pic Donate a buck! ^ on Pexels.com When we finally find an agent who offers to represent us or an independent publisher who offers us a…

View On WordPress

DO YOU HEAR WHAT I HEAR? A CHRISTMAS HORROR STORY

A writer’s group I once belonged to would celebrate Christmas at an Italian restaurant. The place had a unique room called the Pope’s room. It was a large circular room with a domed ceiling and had a large circular table and the walls were covered with pictures of past popes. In the center of the table was a bust of Pope John II. We needed a large room for there were often ten or more of us in…

View On WordPress

The Insecure Writer's Group: Recap of March 2021 & March 2022

View On WordPress

What habits might develop in thirty days without supervision?

I read or heard from some authoritative source that I do not recall that if you do something consistently for 30 days you can either make or break a habit.  Thirty days seems suspiciously convenient, but I have tried this with a few personal habits recently, and it seems to be holding. My wife is six days into what will be about 30 days out at sea. What kind of feral nerd habits might I develop…

View On WordPress

New Year, New Goals #IWSG

Welcome to 2024, Everyone! Guess what?! I finished my zero draft of Isto before my end-of-year, self-imposed deadline! Here’s a little animation I made of me and Derek dancing in celebration. (It’s my first animation, so please excuse the poor quality.) Having completed the rough draft of version 6, I now move on to editing. This means rewriting Cameron’s POV. His timeline doesn’t flow well with…

View On WordPress

Ya still gotta write it.

Click to visit.http://www.facebook.com/groups/letswritealready Do you feel this way?Wouldn’t it be great if you could just snap your fingers and BAM, your book is done?Well, with Let’s Write Already, you will totally do just that! I’m totally kidding! You still have to write the book. BUT, if you’d like to be in a group of like-minded people who dream of being writers and who actively encourage…

View On WordPress

LATE #IWSG

SO LATE! APOLOGIES! We’re getting ready to leave the country for a much-needed vacation, consumed by tiny details—I’m pre-packing (or pre-fretting) and then start over again, creating lists, trying to make everything fit… Happy 12th anniversary to IWSG! I first heard of IWSG quite a bit ago—no more than 10 years ago, anyway. I knew some writers who participated with their blogs. I never joined…

View On WordPress

Group Dynamics

            Call to mind a time when you participated in a group. It could be playing a sport, something that involves more than one player. Or it could be a meeting, either professional or for pleasure.             Shortly after the group was formed, the dynamics began to play out. The leader might now really be the leader. Instead, it’s the know-it-all at the opposite end of the table who…

View On WordPress

Getting the Word Out on Your Books

Getting the Word Out on Your Books is hard for all authors. As a self-published author, you know that marketing your book is essential to its success. But with so many places to share your book online, it can be hard to know where to start. Here are some of the most popular places to share your self-published book and increase your sales: Continue reading Untitled

View On WordPress

Carmen, Gypsy Queen

View On WordPress

Free Storytelling Class

If you are a storyteller—and if, like me, you’re interested in screenwriting—there is a free class you may find valuable. John Paul the Great Catholic University focuses on degrees related to the creative arts. They are currently offering a five session “crash course” discussing the key elements of storytelling. And the teachers apparently possess genuine credentials, being “veterans of Pixar’s…

View On WordPress

this week's podcast: novelist grady hendrix on writing

this week’s podcast: novelist grady hendrix on writing

This week’s episode of Thousand Movie Project Podcast arrives a day late cuz it’s extra special, and a bit of a leap from my comfort zone, featuring, in its latter three quarters, my hourlong conversation with horror novelist Grady Hendrix. His most recent novel is Final Girl Support Group, which I reviewed here (loved it), and next month he’s releasing a book of non-fiction, called These Fists…

View On WordPress

The Insecure Writer's Group: May 2024

My current project involves writing material relating to my own challenge ‘Change the Narrative’. As with previous poetry I have written in the past and present, changing your narrative basically involves changing your perspective or material from what you usually write or have written in the past. For example, if you normally write negative content, or bad stuff in general, this challenges you…

View On WordPress

First Draft High

Check out how I finally finished my first draft! #finishit

The way Samwise looks was the way I felt! Finally finished! For now… On November 17, 2021, my birthday, I finally finished the first draft to my fantasy novel. This is the first time this has happened for me. Never before have I finished something longer than 35,000 words. The sense of accomplishment was satisfying, gratifying and brought on much needed relief. What a great birthday present to…

View On WordPress

Guest Post: Starting Your Children's Book

Guest Post: Starting Your Children’s Book

By Author Ellwyn Autumn Photo by Lina Kivaka on Pexels.com Getting Started So, you want to write and self-publish a children’s book? Good for you! You’re just itching to transcribe your idea to the page. But there’s one obstacle, you don’t know where to start. Don’t worry, I’ve got you covered. First things first, write your idea whichever way is most comfortable for you: a list, a word web,…

View On WordPress

Have I told you what I've been up to lately?

Have I told you what I’ve been up to lately?Besides writing and being a mom, wife and pup servant (IYKYK), I love to encourage people.Specifically to achieve their dreams.Is your dream writing?Come join us over at my Facebook group for some support, answers, plus some tips and techniques to get and KEEP you writing. It’s super easy to join. At the top of my website, you’ll see the bright red…

View On WordPress