Wednesday, January 8, 2020

@TheIWSG #IWSG #WritingCommunity #Writer #Writerslife



Join Alex J. Cavanaugh and a multitude of writer's in this monthly hop to help support one another!

Purpose: To share and encourage. Writers can express doubts and concerns without fear of appearing foolish or weak. Those who have been through the fire can offer assistance and guidance. It’s a safe haven for insecure writers of all 

Let’s rock the neurotic writing world!

Alex's awesome co-hosts are T. Powell Coltrin, Victoria Marie Lees, Stephen Tremp, Renee Scattergood, and J.H. Moncrieff!

Our Twitter handle is @TheIWSG and hashtag is #IWSG.
It's Coming!!
The next #IWSGPit  will be in January 15, 2020

8:00 am - 8:00 pm Eastern Standard Time

Create a Twitter-length pitch for your completed and polished manuscript and leave room for genre, age, and the hashtag. On January 15, Tweet your pitch. If your pitch receives a favorite/heart from a publisher/agent check their submission guidelines and send your requested query.

If your new year's resolution is to see your book published, the IWSG is here to help! Many writers have seen their books published from a Twitter pitch - it’s a quick and easy way to put your manuscript in front of publishers and agents.
Industry Pro Pitch Tips 
Preparation is key. Prepare your pitch and familiarize yourself with participating publishers and agents.
If you receive “hearts” on your pitch, check out the publisher’s/agent’s submission guidelines. You have the advantage that your query is requested, but still follow the guidelines.
Don’t waste time comparing your work to others.
Take advantage of the characters allowed and sell your story. Go for the WOW factor.
Don’t include images. Most pitch parties don’t allow it and it’s a red flag for publishers and agents.
Those who can summarize their manuscripts in 1-2 lines win!



January 8 question - What started you on your writing journey? Was it a particular book, movie, story, or series? Was it a teacher/coach/spouse/friend/parent? Did you just "know" suddenly you wanted to write?


My first love was acting and writing plays. I was very young, under the age of 10, and the neighborhood kids gathered in the summertime to put on a performance. Those were fun days. (Do kids even do those things anymore?) The older girls actually were the directors, and my little friend and I did whatever they told us to do. I think the charge to watch the play was 5 or 10 cents. LOL. I remember the first play was The Princess and the Pea. As I got older I liked to write my own plays and act them out with friends and family. 

For some reason, I always liked to write stories, perhaps to live in another world. In my late teens and early 20's I did send out a few short stories to various magazines, but all had been rejected. 

Then I got married and kids came along, and I didn't have the time or energy to write. My family was and is everything to me. 

I was in my 40's when the urge hit me to begin writing again. It was after reading the Twilight Series that sparked my interest.  Let's just say, it took many years to learn the correct writing skills, and needless to say, I'm still learning.  That's a whole other story.











30 comments:

  1. I don't think we ever stop learning.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies


    1. When I found PRIEST WISDOM I was in desperate need of bringing my ex lover back. He left me for another woman. It happened so fast and I had no say in the situation at all. He just dumped me after 3 years with no explanation. I contact PRIEST WISDOM  and He told me  what i need to do before he can help me and i did what he told me to, after i provided what he wanted, he cast a love spell to help us get back together. Shortly after he did his spell, my boyfriend started texting me again and felt horrible for what he just put me through. He said that I was the most important person in his life and he knows that now. We moved in together and he was more open to me than before and he started spending more time with me than before. Ever since PRIEST WISDOM helped me, my partner is very stable, faithful and closer to me than before. I highly recommends PRIEST WISDOM to anyone in need of help. Email: Supernaturalspell1@gmail.com . Call him or add him on whatsapp via: +2348124644470 PRIEST WISDOM BLOG PAGE: https://supernaturalspell21.blogspot.com/  















      When I found PRIEST WISDOM I was in desperate need of bringing my ex lover back. He left me for another woman. It happened so fast and I had no say in the situation at all. He just dumped me after 3 years with no explanation. I contact PRIEST WISDOM  and He told me  what i need to do before he can help me and i did what he told me to, after i provided what he wanted, he cast a love spell to help us get back together. Shortly after he did his spell, my boyfriend started texting me again and felt horrible for what he just put me through. He said that I was the most important person in his life and he knows that now. We moved in together and he was more open to me than before and he started spending more time with me than before. Ever since PRIEST WISDOM helped me, my partner is very stable, faithful and closer to me than before. I highly recommends PRIEST WISDOM to anyone in need of help. Email: Supernaturalspell1@gmail.com . Call him or add him on whatsapp via: +2348124644470 PRIEST WISDOM BLOG PAGE: https://supernaturalspell21.blogspot.com/  















      When I found PRIEST WISDOM I was in desperate need of bringing my ex lover back. He left me for another woman. It happened so fast and I had no say in the situation at all. He just dumped me after 3 years with no explanation. I contact PRIEST WISDOM  and He told me  what i need to do before he can help me and i did what he told me to, after i provided what he wanted, he cast a love spell to help us get back together. Shortly after he did his spell, my boyfriend started texting me again and felt horrible for what he just put me through. He said that I was the most important person in his life and he knows that now. We moved in together and he was more open to me than before and he started spending more time with me than before. Ever since PRIEST WISDOM helped me, my partner is very stable, faithful and closer to me than before. I highly recommends PRIEST WISDOM to anyone in need of help. Email: Supernaturalspell1@gmail.com . Call him or add him on whatsapp via: +2348124644470 PRIEST WISDOM BLOG PAGE: https://supernaturalspell21.blogspot.com/  
      .........

      Delete
  2. Sometimes we just find it, or the time for it, later in life.
    Hoping for a lot of good pitches next week!

    ReplyDelete
  3. I'm older so I really appreciate those quotes. That's great that you started out by writing plays as a kid. I didn't get any desire to write until I was in my 40's.

    ReplyDelete
  4. I love those quotes. The neighborhood plays sound so cute! How fun. Happy 2020 to you, Cathy!

    ReplyDelete
  5. Me tooooo! On the plays. I know my family would disagree with me, but I am no actor, have no drama in me. :) I wrote plays to allow others to act them out in the sixth grade. It was fun.

    Thanks for visiting me!
    Teresa

    ReplyDelete
  6. I think it's so cool you acted out plays in your neighborhood!
    And, that a book series brought you back to writing.
    Thanks for sharing!

    ReplyDelete
  7. Garage plays! Such happy memories. My neighborhood friends and I did a variety show every summer. One year we acted out Grease - I was Kenickie.

    And in another fun coincidence - I also started writing in my 40s, the exact summer after I turned 40, as a matter of fact. I initially fought the urge, but then I figured, if I didn't do it then, I never would. So glad I did - and that you did, too. :)

    ReplyDelete
  8. Love the inspirational pics. They hit it on the head. :-)

    Anna from elements of emaginette

    ReplyDelete
  9. Ha, I love your story. I would've been an actress if I could remember my lines. lol.

    ReplyDelete
  10. Very interesting story, Cathrina! Glad you took up the pen.

    ReplyDelete
  11. Glad you began writing again and I love your reminders - specially 'You are not too old and it is not too late.'
    Happy New Year.

    ReplyDelete
  12. Those are some highly inspiring quotes, Cathrina. Thanks for sharing them with us.

    Happy New Year!

    ReplyDelete
  13. Happy New Year! We did plays but nothing like that. What a lovely story! And isn't it fantastic that writing is something one can roll into no matter how old?

    ReplyDelete
  14. We are never too old to begin a new goal. Bravo to you, Cathrina. I love your first name, by the way. I did community theatre for a while. I love watching plays. But I had to decide where to spend my time. My husband and five children wondered when they would see me next; what with college courses and theatre rehearsals. I finally chose writing stories. All best to you in the new year!

    ReplyDelete
  15. Thank you for the Pitmad tips! You know, I'm 45 but I don't feel old. My spirit is sprightly. My fountain of youth is writing and reading books! <3

    ReplyDelete
  16. I learn something new with every story. My hope is that each one gets better than the last. Best of luck with your writing in 2020!

    ReplyDelete
  17. This comment has been removed by a blog administrator.

    ReplyDelete
  18. Good quotes! I've always written . . .since childhood, but I didn't take it seriously and try to make a professional go of it until I turned 42.

    ReplyDelete
  19. This comment has been removed by a blog administrator.

    ReplyDelete