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 kinds!
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. Offer a word of encouragement for others who are struggling. Visit others in the group and connect with your fellow writer - aim for a dozen new people each time - and return comments. This group is all about connecting!
Let’s rock the neurotic writing world!
Our Twitter handle is @TheIWSG and hashtag is #IWSG
Alex's awesome co-hosts are Erika Beebe, PJ Colando, Tonja Drecker, Sadira Stone, and Cathrina Constantine!
The May 5th question, if you'd like to answer it, is: Has any of your readers ever responded to your writing in a way that you didn't expect? If so, did it surprise you?
Over the years, I'd been pleasantly surprised whenever I received an unexpected email from a reader with glowing praise about my book. That means they sought me out to make my day much, much brighter. And weirdly, that praise has happened during my darkest moments.
A reader/reviewer thought she'd proofread my book, which was odd. She sent me a couple of typos and, where and where not comma's and apostrophizes should be placed. Then she was kind enough to ask if I wanted her to review the book also, which I thought that was the plan all along...LOL.
Don't Forget to Breathe, I think is a good read. It has received numerous awards. I'm not going into the dire specifics, but I know it will be better and polished when it's done and well worth those awards.
I'm doing this revamping for my own peace of mind.
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Looking forward to the anthology and to reading your book, if it's available on Kindle.
ReplyDeleteThanks for co-hosting this month and stay safe during this pandemic.
Thank you!
DeleteFunny story about the person who wanted to tell you about typos. So glad you've found a way to be productive while you don't feel motivated to start a new project. Thanks for co-hosting.
ReplyDeleteThanks Natalie!
DeleteI've gotten an email about typos before.
ReplyDeleteThanks for mentioning the anthology and for co-hosting today!
Your welcome Alex!
DeleteThanks for co-hosting this month. It's nice when a reader makes your day. I get the revamping for your own piece of mind. I can relate.
ReplyDeleteI revamped my earliest books and probably need to do it again. We just keep growing as writers.
ReplyDeleteExactly!!!
DeleteThanks for co-hosing this month, Cathrina! Like you, I'm planning to reissue my backlist which I haven't eyeballed for a long time. Reading them as a reader had me taking some revision notes. When self-pubbing, it seems like there's always something that escapes even multiple eyes but the first reader always catches it and let's you know! Makes us remember we're only human.
ReplyDeleteThanks for co-hosting, Cathrina. As for your writer's block, check out all the videos on Youtube. There are tons! I found help from a video by Lee Child and another one from Stephen King.
ReplyDeleteTY. Good idea!
DeleteI also find revising is good for a block. I hope yours ends soon! Thanks for co-hosting.
ReplyDeleteTY Steph!
DeleteReader love is the best kind, isn't it, especially during our dark and low moments.
ReplyDeleteAbsolutely!
DeleteGlowing praise is alway appreciated. Glad you're getting that for your books! Here's to a successful revision. And thanks for co-hosting today.
ReplyDeleteTY Lee!
DeleteIt's lovely when a reader takes the time to give you glowing praise. Funny how it can often happen when you need to hear it most. It's nice to 'meet' you Cathrina, I'm Sarah https://irevive.online/
ReplyDeleteHi, Sarah!
DeleteHi,
ReplyDeleteI hope you conquer your writing block soon.
Thank you so much for co-hosting.
Shalom aleichem,
Pat G @ EverythingMustChange
TY Pat!
DeleteReaders who give glowing praise are awesome!
ReplyDeleteI hope you can break your writer's block soon.
Hug your family, daydream, and enjoy the moment. The words will come. :)
Thank you Tyrean!
DeleteI did appreciate it. I had more than one reviewer help me out...LOL
ReplyDeleteNice that your readers reached out. Happy surprise.
ReplyDeleteAnna from elements of emaginette
Very nice
DeleteI wish folks would be more forthcoming when they have a secondary objective.
ReplyDeleteI'm hoping when you complete "Remember to Breath" re-edit your writer's block melted. Thank you for co-hosting this month.
Lynn La Vita @ http://la-vita.us/write/
True
DeleteMay your writers block melt, my exuberant co-host. I've been alternately thrilled/shocked/blindsided by readers comments... which reinforces the need for this group, I guess.
ReplyDeleteYay for getting good notes! I hope you get past your writer's block. That's always rough.
ReplyDeleteThanks Loni
DeleteI think readers think they're helping, telling us about typos. I guess I'd be afraid to ask for the review at that point, thinking she might include her 'helpful' comment about typos.
ReplyDeleteThis woman actually gave me a 5 star fantastic review! I was very surprised!
DeleteDefinitely looking forward to the anthology!
ReplyDeleteI always think of writer's block as kind of a season, where the mind lays fallow for a bit, waiting for the seeds of creativity to be sown. I hope yours is a short season.
Sounds like a pretty good solution to writer's block, if you ask me! I'll wish you good luck as you edit the older work. Thanks so much for co-hosting this month.
ReplyDeleteI had a reader proofread a short for misplaced modifiers once. I found it odd, but helpful. Ha. Happy IWSG Day. Thank you for co-hosting!
ReplyDeleteSo happy the anthology is finally out! Yay for all involved. Don't you just love it when you received something positive about your writing on days when you need it the most? Very, very cool... Thank you for co-hosting!
ReplyDeleteThat sounds like a really weird comment! A lot of books, even the most carefully edited and proofread, have the odd typo or such slip through the cracks. These things do happen. I'm reminded of the Full House Reviewed blog, where someone working with the blogger always included a full list of corrections in a comment. Like, if that matters to you so much, why wouldn't you send a draft to your apparent partner before the post goes live?
ReplyDeleteGood reviews are wonderful. Keep going, and soon enough, your writing block should give way.
ReplyDeleteAh, the edit and review trade off. The thing Amazon basically outlawed. And yet, who knows your book better than a fellow writer, especially one who writes in the same genre? That's how books got word-of-mouth mentions probably since the printing press was used for fiction.
ReplyDeleteJ Lenni Dorner (he/him 👨🏽 or 🧑🏽 they/them) ~ Co-host of the #AtoZchallenge, OperationAwesome6 Debut Author Interviewer, Reference& Speculative Fiction Author
When I struggle to write, I sit down at the computer and just type anything. "The sky is blue today. My head aches. The quick brown fox forgot to jump over the lazy dog. The car that just drove up the street was really loud." Just stream of consciousness with no editing or correcting. Another thing is I do is take a picture and then come home and write about the image.It sort of primes the pumps. Good luck and thank you for hosting IWSG.
ReplyDeleteI bet the fog will clear once you've finished revisions ;-)
ReplyDeleteHappy writing - and thanks for co-hosting!
When the writing muse is absent, diving into an editing project is a good alternative! It all contributes to the greater good of publishing our books.
ReplyDeleteBelieve it or not, but I can’t help myself to spot and note typos in every book I read. And I find many. Even in bestsellers. Sometimes, especially if the author is someone I know, I send them my list to help improve the copy. :-)
Thank you for co-hosting this month!
I had to laugh at the review/proofread confusion. I think I've had that same conversation. @samanthabwriter from
ReplyDeleteBalancing Act
Oh, helpful readers lol. But I love that you've gotten e-mail praise. That's great! Thanks for co-hosting!
ReplyDelete