April IWSG: Onward and Upwards

Wednesday 2nd April means it's time for April's Insecure Writer's Support Group! 

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! 

Posting: 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. 

Let’s rock the neurotic writing world!

Our Twitter hashtag is #IWSG 

This month, I'm one of the IWSG co-hosts for the April 2 posting, along with Hart Johnson, Chemist Ken, Candilynn Fite, Terri Rochenski, Lilica Blake and of course Ninja Captain Alex! 

Make sure you head on over to each of the co-hosts' blogs and show them some love!

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I thought long and hard about my insecurity for April, and I'm happy to say, I just haven't got one ... I'm in a good place with my writing right now. 

I've managed to find a good balance between work and writing, which has allowed me to finish the first draft of my NA urban-fantasy, paranormal-romance The Order of the Ancile: Book One (I totes need an actual title!)

I'm now headed to revisions land, but I'm not as daunted by the prospect as I have been with previous projects.

The encouragement I got on my January IWSG post is still motivating me, along with the support of my hubby and beta readers. :)

So instead, I want to offer support and encouragement to those who are struggling this month, and I'll be trying to visit as many new blogs as possible.

If you've got something on your mind, please feel free to leave a comment or point me in the direction of your blog, and I'll come pay a visit, and bring some words of encouragement. 

I'll end this post with inspirational, motivational graphics.

Good luck to everyone in their writing endeavors this month! ^_^

ISWG: Never Forget How Far You've Come

Happy Wednesday, and happy February, everyone! And Happy 11th Birthday to my oldest.

I'm here today with February's edition of Alex J. Cavanaugh's IWSG! I greatly enjoyed my first ever ISWG post, and want to thank everyone for the support and encouragement that they gave me regarding what to do when I grow bored of a story. I think, for me, the best thing to do is remind myself why I loved the story in the first place, and then push through until the words are flowing again.

Since last month's post, I've been thinking long and hard about what I wanted to post for February, and although a few topics entered my mind, one really stuck out for me.

Remembering How Far You've Come

While I was trying to re-inspire myself last month, I took to reading my old novels - that are now shelved, to be looked at in the future - and I realized how far I've come. Sure, my writing still isn't perfect, but in the past two years, I've learned a lot about what I'm capable of; where my strengths and weaknesses lie.

I think everyone should do this from time to time. It's a great source of motivation, inspiration and encouragement. It's so easy to get caught up on the woes of the here and now - to focus on the current negatives - that you forget the past positives.

I've seen so many awesome writers in the blogosphere achieve things that awe me, and you guys should never forget how far you've come.

Each success, whether big or small, is inspiration for yourself and others, showing everyone out there that writers can succeed. For every rejection letter or abandoned project, there's a book release, a finished manuscript or something else worth celebrating.

So, if you're feeling down about your writing, or doubting yourself, just remember how far you've come, and all you've achieved up until this point. It's something to be very proud of!

Thanks for visiting this month. And thanks to the fantastic ISWG hosts, Alex Cavanaugh, Julie Musil, Jamie Ayres, Mike Swift, and Sheena-kay Graham.

And before I go, don't forget that there's still a week left to enter my two-year blogaversary giveaway, and there's still time to sign up for Kyra Lennon and Rachel Schieffelbein's WIP: The Movie Bloghop!

Insecure Writer's Support Group: What do you do when you grow bored of a story?

Happy New Year, folks!

I know I haven't been around much since I started working for CQ, but I'm aiming to rectify that this year.

2013 was an awesome year for me - love and thanks to all that helped make that happen <3 - and I hope 2014 is even better. One of the ways I want to improve on last year is by creating a better work/ writing/ blogging balance.

I don't want to make promises I won't keep, but I am going to try my hardest to keep up with blogging, and find time to work on my novel, while continuing my CQ work.

To that end, I'll be back next week with a proper update about work and writing, but today, I wanted to take part in my first ever IWSG!

I'm a long-time lover of Alex J. Cavanaugh's IWSG, I think it's an amazing concept, and the things Alex and the IWSG team have done with the group in the last year awe me. You guys rock. I hope your success continues and you know where I am if you ever need any help! <3

As for my own insecurity about writing, over the holiday break, I got to wondering, what do you do when you grow bored of a story? 

For the past year, I've been working on a new-adult paranormal-romance. I've written about 40k, and had most of that critiqued by a few trusted writer friends, while I continue writing the rest, and making revisions as they suggested.

For the most part, it's being going okay. When I have time between work, I've enjoyed writing the story. But ever now and again, I have moments when I just don't want to continue. I think it's too hard to get over these mountains, and I want to create something new.

I worry I'm addicted to the buzz of creating characters and worlds.

I have countless stories I've started and never completed. Most of them have been written during NaNoWriMo, and many are in different states; from complete and needing revising, to an unfinished mess.

I wonder if part of the problem is editing. I hate the process and find it really difficult. And when I find it difficult, I get bored. I start telling myself if I start a new project, I'll prepare and plan better and it will need less editing. But that's not true. No amount of preparing will create a perfect first draft. Editing is part of the growing process.

Then I start wondering should I just write for fun, for myself. Not caring if it's perfect or not, and never showing it to anyone. But I think no, a story that is never read isn't a real story. I want my story to have life outside my computer. It deserves that much.

I feel like I can't turn my back on these characters. I owe it to them to finish their story.

So for now, I'm back in that world, and enjoying it once again.

But I wonder, what do I do the next time this feeling inevitably creeps back? Go through the motions of wanting to give up and write something new until it passes and I fall in love with my original story again, and keep repeating that process until the novel actually gets finished?

Or is there something else I can do to keep me focused and on track?

I'd love to hear your tips and advice if you have them.

I hope everyone has an excellent week, and I will try to pop in on some of you to read your IWSG posts, and see what you've been up to recently.

Memorable Monday: September Writers4Writers Group and CassaStorm By Alex J Cavanaugh

Happy Monday, everyone! I hope you all had an excellent weekend. As you may have noticed, there was no Favourites Friday post last week - honestly, I've simply been too busy - but I'm back with a new week's Memorable Monday post, and hopefully I can keep to my schedule a little more this week! 

First of all this Monday we have the awesome Writers4Writers Group, who get together the

third Monday of each month, to spotlight new authors. 

Mission:

• Help writers bring awareness of their book(s) to tens of thousands of new people

• Help writers reach Amazon Top 100 in at least one category (i.e., suspense, free, whatever)

• Increase sales of their book(s) after the promo is over

• Drive new traffic to their blog and increase following

• Create verbal and viral buzz.

In A Nut Shell: the spotlighted author will choose a social media avenue such as Twitter or Facebook (or both). The third Monday of each month, we will spotlight one, two, or possibly three new authors.

Then, the good people of Blogdom will promote the author’s book to their Twitter followers or Facebook friends, and thus to incredibly large new audiences the author could not reach on their own. 

This month's W4WS features Helen Ginger and Cherie Reich.  

Since Halloween is coming up, Cherie Reich is promoting The Nightmare Collection. Through Halloween, the collection is only $0.99. Feel free to snag the promo picture she's created about the sale.

Facebook Posts

The Nightmare Collection by Cherie Reich includes three tales about one legendary monster, and the e-book is on sale for $0.99 through Halloween. Here is what Christine Rains, author of the 13th Floor series, said about The Nightmare Collection, "Intriguing mystery, masterful characterization, and heart pounding suspense." Available on Amazon, Kobo, Nook, iTunes, Smashwords, and Sony! http://bit.ly/saleNightmare #W4WS

Have you seen the book teaser (http://youtu.be/berJQDI5xRA) for The Nightmare Collection by Cherie Reich? Be ready for some chills. Right now the e-book is on sale for $0.99 through Halloween on Amazon, Nook, iTunes, Kobo, Sony, and Smashwords (http://bit.ly/saleNightmare). #W4WS

Tweets

The Nightmare Collection by @bookworm0753 #99cents #sale through Halloween. http://bit.ly/saleNightmare #Horror http://ow.ly/i/303TT #W4WS

Three tales. One monster. The Nightmare Collection by @bookworm0753 #W4WS Sale $0.99. See the book trailer. http://youtu.be/berJQDI5xRA  

"Must read for #horror and X-Files fans." The Nightmare Collection by @bookworm0753 #W4WS #99cents http://bit.ly/saleNightmare

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Helen Ginger is making it simple for us by providing tweets for you to tweet. They're all quotes from her book, Angel Sometimes.

Tweets:

"Oh, come on, Xavier, this indoor/outdoor grass is about to rip off my nipples. Just sit on my butt and yank." http://amzn.to/KWl2eV

"I'll tell you a secret. When you're a mermaid, no one can tell when you're crying." http://amzn.to/KWl2eV

"In the jungle, the strong eat the weak. It's the same with teenage girls." http://amzn.to/KWl2eV

"Before you point this gun at anyone, you ask yourself if you're ready to kill." http://amzn.to/KWl2eV

Here's a blurb about Angel Sometimes:

Just before her thirteenth birthday, Angel's aunt took her 800 miles from her home in Oklahoma, gave her $50 and left her on South Padre Island, Texas. Four years later, Angel hitchhiked to Austin and got a job swimming as a mermaid in a bar in the music district. At twenty-two, she has friends and a place to live, but she realizes she will never be whole until she confronts her parents. To do that, she needs three things: a car, her high school diploma, and a gun.

Angel Sometimes is available from bookstores. Or over at Amazon you can find it in print or e-book. 

Facebook:

If you're not a tweeter, stop by one of Helen Ginger's Facebook pages and leave a comment, or share her tweets and/or blurb and links on your own Facebook page.

https://www.facebook.com/HelenGinger1

https://www.facebook.com/authorhelenginger

Also today, I'm thrilled to be taking part in Ninja Captain Alex J Cavanaugh's celebrations for the third instalment of his Cassa series, Cassa Storm!

Over on his blog, Alex invited us to ask him and question and he'd answer them as part of his release day blitz. Here is my question and his answer.

Clare: Why haven't aliens visited Earth yet?

Alex: If you were a highly intelligence being, would you want to come here?

How do we know they haven’t visited us? We project our idea of what aliens should be and what they should look like when we really have no idea. Perhaps they are beyond our comprehension.

I think Alex has a great point! Aliens would take one look at Earth, laugh at how stupid we can be, and take off in the opposite direction!

CassaStorm

By Alex J Cavanaugh

From the Amazon Best Selling Series!

A storm gathers across the galaxy…

Commanding the Cassan base on Tgren, Byron thought he’d put the days of battle behind him. As a galaxy-wide war encroaches upon the desert planet, Byron’s ideal life is threatened and he’s caught between the Tgrens and the Cassans.

After enemy ships attack the desert planet, Byron discovers another battle within his own family. The declaration of war between all ten races triggers nightmares in his son, threatening to destroy the boy’s mind.

Meanwhile the ancient alien ship is transmitting a code that might signal the end of all life in the galaxy. And the mysterious probe that almost destroyed Tgren twenty years ago could return. As his world begins to crumble, Byron suspects a connection. The storm is about to break, and Byron is caught in the middle…

“Cavanaugh has created wonderfully moving moments of great poignancy… CassaStorm could have been a dark story full of hardship and angst, but instead it's a cleverly balanced story about hope and triumph.”  - Lynda R. Young, author of Make Believe

“I thought the revelation was going to be one thing and I was completely wrong … CassaStorm pushes the limits…” - Tyson Mauermann, Speculative Reviews

Find CassaStorm:

Barnes and Noble |Amazon | Amazon Kindle | Goodreads

 

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Alex J. Cavanaugh has a Bachelor of Fine Arts degree and works in web design and graphics. He is experienced in technical editing and worked with an adult literacy program for several years. A fan of all things science fiction, his interests range from books and movies to music and games. Online he is the Ninja Captain and founder of the Insecure Writer’s Support Group. The author of the Amazon bestsellers, CassaStar and CassaFire, he lives in the Carolinas with his wife.

Find Alex online: 

Website | Twitter | Goodreads