October winds...IWSG First Wednesday

IWSG

Hello everyone,

Another month has come to pass and the weather is cooling, thankfully, and since the IWSG post is today, I wanted to write again about a writer’s conference that I am a part of, an organization whose motto is: Writers Helping Writers.

 And since that’s what we do here as well on the IWSG site, I thought it something to reiterate. We are writers helping writers. I’m a part of IWSG because I need to feel I’m not alone in my writing world, and this blog “Hop” helps me feel I'm a part of something bigger than myself. When I attend a writer’s conference I feel that way as well. At the FWA Annual Conference, and some of the other conferences I’ve gone to, no one looks at me like I’m crazy, or with condescension.  They actually “get” what I’m talking about, and tell me their crazy stories about the writing life as well. Don’t get me wrong, my family and friends are wonderful and supportive. And yet they don’t live in my “writer-world” and that’s why writer’s conferences are so important to me.  I dream of one day being a keynote speaker at one, or giving an all day workshop to aspiring writers, or both! 

In the meantime, the IWSG October 5 Question is: When do you know your story is ready?

Answer: When my eyes are blurred and my head can’t read through it one more time.

No, really, once my editor has gone over it, once I’ve done the changes and gone over it at least three more times, then I give it out to the world. This usually only happens after about 20-25 drafts. Not completely full drafts, but since the method I use after the story is “done” is a seven part process in itself, I repeat it again once I have it back from my editor.

However, if you mean: when do I stop “writing” the story, well, each story is different. I take them one at a time, and usually they will tell me when I’m done and it’s time for the slog work. And you…?

 

Feeling super that I’ve made it to number 55 (OMG!!) on the IWSG list! Woohoo! My first post on IWSG was in 2013 (I posted once I think, and then got serious in 2014). OMG again. As I said before, I do love it here. Thank you Ninja Captain for giving us this space…

The awesome IWSG co-hosts for this month are Beverly Stowe McClure, Megan Morgan, Viola Fury, Madeline Mora-Summonte, Angela Wooldridge, and Susan Gourley! Please go and visit and thank them for co-hosting!

September IWSG and Oscar Wilde

This month is a special month for me so I decided I don’t feel (too) insecure, in fact, I’m happy that I’m finally home after being gone all summer and am actually writing again. Woohoo! I am also very involved (Registration Chairperson)  in the Florida Writers Association's #FWA2016 annual conference coming up in October in Altamonte Springs (Orlando) Florida. I'm more than excited about that.  (Go ahead! Click on the link!)

So what I have to share this month with all my buddies/pals in the writing world and beyond, whether insecure or not, are some writing quotes from one of my favorite authors, Oscar Wilde…

“A writer is someone who has taught his mind to misbehave…”

“The good ended happily, and the bad unhappily. That is what fiction means.”

And this one is especially poignant for Indy authors:

“In old days books were written by men of letters and read by the public. Nowadays books are written by the public and read by nobody.”

Fancy him writing that before the turn of the last century!

SEPTEMBER 7TH QUESTION: How do you find the time to write in your busy day?

I try to set aside a certain time for it. For some reason afternoon works well with me. By then I’ve gotten all the other things done that need attending to and I’m clear and ready to indulge in my stories…

This September our special IWSG co-hosts are:  C. Lee McKenzie,  Rachel Pattison,  Elizabeth Seckman ,  Stephanie Faris,  Lori L MacLaughlin, and  Elsie Amata! Please pay them a visit and thank them for co-hosting this month!

To end… as our Wilde Man would say, “Live! Live the wonderful life that is in you! Let nothing be lost upon you. Be always searching for new sensations. Be afraid of nothing.”