Time for our monthly meeting of the Insecure Writer's Support Group! Hosted as ever by Alex J. Cavanaugh, the aim of the group is to offer a safe space where writers can share doubts and insecurities without fear of being judged. This month's co-hosts are Beth Camp, Crystal Collier and Cathrina Constantine.
I like this month's question because it invites positivity and reflecting on our strengths:
What is the most favorite thing you have written, published or not? And why?
I am going to go for something published because that goes some way towards making it feel like a complete entity, if that makes sense - not that I need the validation to achieve something I've proud of but it feels like it reached a defined end. My first traditionally published novel, The Becalmer (2023) also felt like the first time I nailed down my MO, of ordinary characters dealing with extraordinary circumstances and undergoing a transformation, in a succinct way. I'm extremely fond of the main character, Harica, who starts out shy and withdrawn and burdened by her gift of being able to solve others' problems subliminally, and ending with the confidence of having stretched to achieve far more than she thought she could. She feels like ground zero for the strong female characters I've written about since. I also clearly remember starting the book in a way I really don't with others - of course, it was in the memorable surroundings of the first lockdown, which lent it a claustrophobia and intensity that got vacuum sealed in. Of course it was a great moment to get it published. It felt like a lot of things I try to do got crystallised here. I'm hopefully improving with any subsequent work, of course, but this'll probably be my favourite for some time!
I'd love to hear other answers to this. Many will no doubt be found at the IWSG sign-up list, which as always can be reached here. See you next month!
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