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| IWSG Blog Hop---the first Wednesday of every Month. |
Hello and welcome to the Insecure Writer's Support Group Blog Hop!
What is the Insecure Writer's Support Group?
Founded by author Alex J. Cavanaugh, the Insecure Writer’s Support Group offers support for writers and authors alike. It provides an online database, articles and tips, a monthly blog posting, a Facebook and Instagram group, Twitter, and a monthly newsletter.
Alex 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.
July 3 question
What are your ultimate writing goals, and how have they changed over time (if at all)?
What a coincidence that the topic of this month's question is something I have been churning over and over in my mind. What AM I going to do now in my writing career?
I began by writing non-fiction articles for newspapers, magazines, and e-magazines in 1996. I loved writing about people and places. Researching, visiting new places and interviewing interesting people fueled my creative yearnings to write. After 15 years of non-fiction articles, I decided to try writing fiction. Afterall, when I was in second grade, I made up some pretty good stories and it was fun.
After my latest mystery was published by BWL Publishing in December, I felt insecure about my next step. Honestly, in this world of terrorism and school shootings, do people want to read a murder mystery? How about more romance? Frankly, I was sick of the same story of the hero and heroine overcoming conflicts to finally be together.
I have always encouraged people to write their life stories and have taught many workshops on it. Perhaps it's time for me to actually do it. I have started a memoir covering the first year we were in business. The process is enjoyable and allows me to wallow in nostalgia. I enjoyed looking at my life colored now by the 40 years between actually buying the business and the present. New perspectives on people's actions so many years ago and examinations of my responses to them are eye-opening to me.
So, my ultimate goal is to complete the memoir for my family. I haven't determined if I want to share it publicly, although I do believe the story has an inspiring message for readers. And some of the people in my story are not pictured in a good light. Memoirs are based on honesty, but I don't want to ruin anyone's reputation. Even if I change the names, residents in the area will still know who I am writing about. Since the persons I am writing about are deceased, they can't object or deny my version of the story. But their families can.
Writing nowadays includes marketing. I plan to continue marketing my published novels, and I will be chasing down people for reviews. As far as more novels or non-fiction articles? At this moment, I'm not interested. However, those short story ideas are always swirling in my head. !!
How about you? Are you changing your writing goals?
Do you have plans to celebrate the Fourth of July?
Please leave a comment below. Thank you.
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| Happy Fourth of July, USA! |
17 comments:
Writing memoirs is a tricky business. Lucky for you there are a few of you in the IWSG. I'd start there when deciding if publishing the work is the way to go.
I agree with getting it down though. Your family might be interested on your take of events. ;-)
Anna from elements of emaginette
Happy 4th of July!
Happy writing for July!
If we want to share with the world our writing, it has to entail a little marketing too. It's good that that's part of your goals now.
Thanks, Anna. Good idea to talk with other memoirists.
Right back at ya', Tyrean!
Hi Lynda. Marketing is rather off-putting for readers. I never know if I've gone too far or not enough when shouting about my books. Another insecurity, eh?
Excellent post, Lynda, and I think you just helped me figure out why I switched from my thriller series to historical fiction. There is so much violence, I didn't want to add more, even fictional.
Oops. Sorry, JQ! I had the wrong name. I just finished reading Lynda's blog. Oh sigh...
Oh, JQ. As bad as things are is when you really need a romance with a guaranteed HEA. We don't have that in real life, now more than ever. And yes, I want a murder or two and suspense to spice up that plain old romance.
I'm sorry, you're not planning on writing more novels. I've enjoyed your books. Maybe you just work on helping others with marketing. You're very good at that, too.
I need to finish the 4th book in the series, but it's had to take a backseat to some special church work. Still hoping for a release early next year. Celebrating the 5th BD of my first published book the 19th of this month. How can that be? And then I can't wait to start a totally new book. Lots of ideas floating around. It won't be the start of a series. Those are just too hard to write. :) Have a great 4th. :) I shared.
I enjoyed your stories. Glad you plan on still doing short stories. My goals are always evolving. Happy IWSG!
Happy 4th July, JQ, and wishing you all the best with writing your memoir. When I was researching my book on women's lives in Yorkshire, I was so glad of the women who had taken the time to write a memoir of their lives, and for the families who had donated these memoirs to their library. Women's lives so often go unrecorded.
I totally get the memoir issue. I've been penning a memoir about my special needs brother, but I don't dare finish it or put it out there until most of my family dead because they'll all tell me it's wrong or that I twisted details. LOL. Truth is in the eye of the beholder, eh?
That must be so interesting to revisit your past with your current perspective. It's hard enough putting fiction out there and wondering if real people will think I'm talking about them - I can only imagine how tricky it is when you actually ARE talking about them.
I've been reading more and more memoirs lately and really enjoying them. I think it's a lovely idea to write one for your family (and maybe for the public). I can see how it might be tricky though because it involves real people and real events.
@Jacqui--Good for you. Trying something new in my writing fired me up. Wishing you success with your new project.
@Marsha--I still plan to write, but nothing like murder stories. I still like a good mystery--maybe what cat stole the fish out of the gold fish bowl? LOL Congrats on your book birthday. Right. Where did 5 years go??? Thanks for sharing.
@Juneta--glad you enjoyed my stories. Looking forward to this month's Storytime blog!
@Helena--thank you for sharing how important the women's memoirs were in your research. So many people believe their lives are just ho-hum because they haven't flown a rocket ship or discovered a cure for a disease. It's the way of living in an era that is so interesting to me. How did they wash clothes, take a bath, prepare food? We can learn a lot from them and realize how much they had to cope with. If they could do it way back then, we certainly can do it in the 21st century. Hopefully easier!
@Crystal--good for you! Yes, the story is strictly from your perspective. And as you grow older, you may have a different view of happenings. Best wishes with the memoir.
@Nicki--so true. I don't want any confrontations by angry people who think I portrayed them inaccurately. Fiction is easier.
@Ellen the Cynical Sailor--Tricky is a good way to describe it. We'll see how it goes.
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