Time for another group posting of the IWSG - quite hard to believe it's August already! Our heatwave in Scotland has turned decidedly autumnal. Wherever you are, hope you're safe and not too hot or cold. This is the time every month where we can unload our writing worries and woes among supportive friends - with Captain Alex J. Cavanaugh taking the helm as always, our co-hosts this month are Erika Beebe, Sandra Hoover, Susan Gourley and Lee Lowery.
Just the usual insecurities this month about prepping for an upcoming release - I believe I'm very nearly done with edits for book 2 of my trilogy, now it's just finishing touches and making sure its teeth are brushed and hair combed before sending it out to seek its fortune. I'm also reading through the draft of book 3, having been quite shocked to see that it was last saved six months ago. I was stuck on the ending then, but a readthrough is sparking different ideas off and I'm heartened that the writing is not quite as terrible as I had feared. Let's turn to this month's IWSG question.
"What pitfalls would you warn other writers to avoid on their publication journey?"
This is quite an interesting question because I firmly believe that mistakes and stumbles are a vital part of the process - they're how we learn, after all. You just have to do what feels right at the time, but if I was going to give advice, it would be not to put all your eggs in one basket - be open to different routes to publication and if sending out queries to agents or publishers, keep writing in the meantime rather than obsessively checking your inbox. Yes, I was guilty of this one, but I soon learned my lesson. It took me a while to write another book, but I did write the first short stories I was really proud of at this time, which brings me on nicely to a couple of big announcements for the IWSG!
First we have:
The 2018
Annual IWSG Anthology Contest
Word count: 3500-6000
Genre: Young Adult Romance
Theme:
Masquerade
A Masquerade
can be a false show or pretense, someone pretending to be someone they aren't.
It can be a ball, a fancy dress party, it can be a mask. Open to
interpretation.
Submissions accepted: September 5 -
November 4, 2018
How to enter: Send your polished,
formatted (Double spaced, no page numbers), previously unpublished story to
admin @ insecurewriterssupportgroup.
Judging: The IWSG admins will create a
shortlist of the best stories. The shortlist will then be sent to our official
judges who will be announced September 5.
Prizes: The winning stories will be
edited and published by Freedom Fox Press next year in the IWSG anthology.
Authors will receive royalties on books sold, both print and eBook. The top
story will have the honor of giving the anthology its
title.
The good news is this gives you a headstart of over a month before the contest opens! Time to get thinking caps on.
We also have details of another exciting new venture to share. The IWSG has teamed up with the good folks at WEP (Write-Edit-Publish) for a challenge that all our members can take part in, including on Facebook. Sign up today to post August 15. Details as follows:
The August WEP Challenge – A Change of Heart
Who hasn’t had one? This one’s easy, right? 
A commitment made when a prospect looked attractive, a decision on a course of action, and then regrets and reluctance to follow through. It could be an engagement, a date, a diet plan, a chore someone said they’d do and didn’t follow through. A strip poker-game. Or maybe a gamble with super-high, panic inducing stakes. A break for independence that once made, gives pause for second thoughts. A bolt for the grass-always-greener pasture and then wanting to vault-n-turn right back. Something offered, then withdrawn. Myriad ways to go.
There's plenty going on! Any thoughts on either of these challenges? Any pitfalls to share for others to avoid? Check out the other great IWSG posters here.
Congrats on almost being done with your edits for book two! And glad to hear you're feeling inspired again, when it comes to the third. Hope progress for that book goes well!
ReplyDeleteGood point about mistakes – they are part of the process.
ReplyDeleteGood advice on staying flexible on your publishing options. I locked in early on self-publishing and wish I'd spent more time chasing agents. Congratulations on book two. Wish you well on future books.
ReplyDeleteGreat tips :-) Good luck with getting book 2 ready for release.
ReplyDeleteRonel visiting on Insecure Writer's Support Group day: Time to Say Goodbye
Good luck with finishing your edits!
ReplyDeleteI like the idea of writing while waiting for responses. I have a lot of stories on the back burner so it would be nice to do some actual writing while trying to get my main WIP published (which has been all about editing for a LONG time).
I saw your IWSG post in my feed and thought, "Wait, it's not time for that yet!" then realized, yes, it's August. Sigh. Looks like things are chugging along pretty well on the writing front, good for you!
ReplyDeleteDefinitely keep writing because it will catch up to you if you don't.
ReplyDeleteBeing open to different paths of publication is great advice! Especially now that there are so many ways to go. :)
ReplyDeleteI love your description of getting a book ready to publish - brushing its teeth and combing its hair :-)
ReplyDeletePutting everything in one basket is risky. Like putting your books on KDP Select only.
ReplyDeleteYes, don't put your eggs in one basket is great advice. And you're right, it is a learning process.
ReplyDeleteNick, I sure wish I had time for more challenges. They were fun back in the day. Great way to meet new people too.
ReplyDeleteIt's nice when the ending of a story comes into view. Good luck with your writing and editing.
ReplyDeleteHi Nick, I agree with what you have said. We must "be open to different routes to publication." That's what I'm doing.
ReplyDeleteCongrats on getting book two one step closer to being out in the world. Exciting!
ReplyDeleteLots of great things going on with IWSG as usual.
I hear you. Every journey is different and mistakes will be made. Sticking to it is the only way to success. :-)
ReplyDeleteAnna from elements of emaginette
I agree. We should be proud of where we are and remember we love writing, no matter our paths or options along the way :) Happy IWSG day! There is so much to celebrate :)
ReplyDeleteGood advice on remaining open-minded about paths to publication. I'm relaxing my grip on that issue and exploring my options. It's good to know there are so many. Wishing you happy writing in August.
ReplyDeleteCongrats on your progress with your book. Let me know if you need help spreading the word for release day.
ReplyDeleteLots of good stuff going on. Sticking to it and being open minded good advice.
ReplyDeleteSo much great stuff going on!!!
ReplyDeleteTossing all those eggs in one direction is tempting, but much easier to take it one step at a time
Woot for getting progress on book 2! I agree, what we learn and experience definitely shape us into who we are as writers.
ReplyDeleteI remember my mistakes very clearly and I'm determined not to make them again. I'm sorry I did what I did, but I'm not sure there was any other way at the time.
ReplyDeleteThat's a good bit of advice. I've been doing that lately after one of my publishers closed.
ReplyDeleteCongrats on your progress. Gotta love it when we discover our writing isn't as terrible as we first feared ;)
ReplyDeleteI hope your weather is still good. We're expecting another heat wave this weekend. I hope your progress continues. Good luck and congrats.
ReplyDeleteI'm glad you are feeling your latest book has a future. Isn't it fun when new ideas present themselves?
ReplyDeleteGreat advice! You never want to close yourself off to opportunities, even if they weren't the ones you originally envisioned for yourself. There are many potential paths to writing success.
ReplyDeleteIt's always a joy to find something you've written reads better than expected. Thank you for sharing your experiences, and these opportunities. Happy Writing!
ReplyDeleteI like that idea--diversifying. Hugh Howley found his success by trying several different avenues and then pursuing the one that paid the best. Smart man.
ReplyDeleteGood luck as you work on the finishing touches of book 2 in your trilogy, and the prep for book 3. That's so exciting.
ReplyDeleteHope the hot weather is easing up a bit, Nick...
Great point that mistakes are part of the process, and that's okay, I think I needed to hear that:)
ReplyDeleteكثيرون يحصلون على بعض المعلومات عن تكاليف التنظيف داخل الكويت وتكاليف تنظيف التصاميم وتكاليف عالية وعالية؟ حقيقة الأمر هي أن تقييم أعمال التنظيف ليس عرضة للتقييم. في أي حال ، فإن نموذج الغرفة هو التشغيل والتدبير المستخدم لمعرفة التكلفة.
ReplyDeleteرقم شركة تنظيف بالكويت
ابي رقم شركة تنظيف بالكويت
دليل شركات النظافة بالكويت
شركة تنظيف المنازل بالكويت
افضل شركات تنظيف المنازل بالكويت
I did the WEP challenge.
ReplyDeleteI'm contemplating the YA story for IWSG. I have an idea, sort of, but I'm not sure if it'll work. I'm toying with it for now.