Hello and welcome to the IWSG blog hop.
What is IWSG? Founder of IWSG and author Alex J Cavanaugh explains the group's purpose is "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!" You're invited to become a member of this supportive group.
What is IWSG? Founder of IWSG and author Alex J Cavanaugh explains the group's purpose is "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!" You're invited to become a member of this supportive group.
The group blogs the first Wednesday of every month, The list of bloggers is always available so you can hop around to the author blogs filled with humor, advice, and thought-provoking topics on writing and publishing. You can find the list of participants at Alex's IWSG page.
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| The Wise Old Owl Photo by J.Q. Rose |
What Writer has ALL the Answers? by J.Q. Rose
If you look closely, you'll see a wise old owl in this photo I snapped while visiting the Homosassa Springs Wildlife State Park, Homosassa Springs, FL. Located on Florida's Nature Coast,we visited the amazing park last week with our daughter and her family.
I assume the owl is wise. Aren't they all?
I wish I could be wise in writing:
- I want to know all the perfect practices for writing a fantastic fiction or non-fiction book that will entertain and inform readers.
- I want to know the secrets for getting my books into readers' hands.
- I want to crack the code for figuring out amazon algorithms.
- I want the key to writing a fool-proof query letter and synopsis.
I hope you know I'm being facetious about writers knowing everything in this crazy publishing industry Even if we did know it all, the industry is a fluid enterprise. Methods become out-of-date sooner than my fresh milk.
- The FREE Kindle book was a real hit when amazon introduced the concept. Now with changes, FREE is not the end-all answer to book marketing it once was.
- Remember My Space?
- Werewolves were once the hot sellers, but not at this time. What's the next big thing?
No, I don't know it all, but I do have a great bunch of folks who are in this crazy business with me also trying to make sense of it. Your support is what keeps me writing.
Thank you.
If you have questions, I may not know all the answers, but I'll be glad to help you if I can, and if not, then we'll figure them out together.
Can you clue us in to changes in the industry we should know about? And since I will soon be publishing a new series on Vegetable Gardening, how DO I get these booklets into the hands of readers??? Please leave a comment. Thank you.
Part 1 in the Vegetable Gardening Series, Starting Your Garden, will be available February 15.
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Come back tomorrow Thursday, Feb 5-- Romance and Mystery Authors on Writing series features Heather Haven with writing tips on "Getting One's Novel Out There." You're invited to join the discussion and enter the drawing for a free ebook of Book Four of the Alvarez Family Murder Mysteries, Dead...If Only.
17 comments:
I don't know all the secrets either, but I'm right with you. I'm so grateful for this wonderful community that shares its hard-earned knowledge and keeps me moving forward.
Hi Crystal. I guess we'll never be "know-it-alls" huh? Thanks for stopping by.
Just focus on writing good books. Unless a writer does that, none of the rest of it matters. ;)
IWSG #143 until Alex culls the list again.
I think the secret is there is no secret. It's like chasing the holy grail. We can keep learning and working, though.
I think there's always going to be a new fad, the next big thing. I think it's more important to focus on what *you* want to write, rather than getting ahead of industry secrets. A story you're passionate about will feel less forced than one you're just trying to sell.
February IWSG Co-host
Because books are subject to a lot of different opinions and changing trends, there's no surefire way to go about writing. Like Sarah Foster said, just go with what you're inspired to do.
I do know readers will forget you if you wait too long in between books!
Yeah, that's me...
I wish I had all the answers. Right now I've just only touched the tip of the iceberg about metadata. Either way the best thing to do is to keep writing. And writing from your heart.
Great post. You're so right the publishing industry is fluid. One of its crazier qualities. I try to just go with it. :-)
Anna from Shout with Emaginette
Melissa--You are so right. If we don't write the best book we can, then the secrets don't matter.
M.Pax--It would be so easy though if there were secrets unlocked to help us wouldn't it? LOL Probably not.
Sarah--I agree writing with passion and pouring your heart into the story is a key to good storytelling.
M R R--Thanks. Inspiration is another requirement for writing great stories!
Alex--Yikes...too long between books--that's me too!!
Lidy--I had a quote in a previous post that the first draft from your heart. Right on!
Hi Anna, Change is good, but it seems in publishing change is constant, so you have the right idea. Thanks.
I wish I had all the answers. But, it is the journey that matters, right?
Right, Dolorah. I would rather learn about publishing, write my stories, and blog than sit around all day watching TV and eating M & M's.
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