2021 A to Z Challenge Announcement

It's almost time for the annual "A to Z" blogging challenge. Most repeat participants have already begun planning their posts for this April, and will soon be posting theme reveals. Are there any themes you would particularly care to see, or learn about in April?

This year is the TWELFTH ANNIVERSARY! Sign ups begin in March. 

Upcoming Schedule:

Theme reveal sign up: March 8
Theme reveal closes: March 20
Master list opens: March 29
Master list closes: April 7
After-survey: May 1-8
Reflections: May 3-8
Road-trip: May 10

To learn more about this challenge, or what you can expect to see this April, be sure to follow their website http://www.a-to-zchallenge.com/ 

Have you ever participated in this challenge? Will you be taking part this year? What do you think of the changes?

A Time for Love

It's Valentine's, and while I love flowers and jewelry, my family and friends know my favorite gifts are a good book and chocolate.

Not sure what to get the writer in your life? Check out this list of suggested Valentines day gifts for writers or check out these Six Ways to Participate in Romance Week at Goodreads.

Interested in a few FREE romantic flash fiction pieces? Try:

Thankful Every Day
Madame Tooshkas Spell
Masters in Love
Love's New Beginning

Want to share the theme of love with children? Check out these 10 Best Children's Books About Love.

So many of us love reading and writing. We have favorites that we return to again and again. How about you? 

I am especially grateful for a home full of books this week as we prepare to bunker down through the greatest freeze our area has seen in decades. I understand much of the United States will be doing the same. I hope you all stay safe, warm, and loved. Happy Valentine's!

What is your favorite genre? Favorite author? Favorite book from childhood? Are you doing something special this week?

Virtual and F2F Workshops, Comic Cons, and more...

A month ago I shared a list of 2021 Conferences, Workshops and Literary Festivals. Today, I wanted to share a few more opportunities with you. First, a big thank you to Dancing Lemur Press for sharing  some of these with us.

February 27 - virtual Book ‘Em Lumberton, NC event with a focus on Crime. Find out more at http://www.bookemnc.org/

March 6 - Hickory Con is a one day, in person comic con event. To learn more, check out: Home (hickorycon.com)

April 8-12 - QuaronCon 2021 (virtual event). This is a FANTASY specific convention and sign-up forms can be found here: www.quarancon2020.com 

April 10-11 - CyPhaCon - this will be a virtual event and you can learn more: https://www.cyphacon.org/

July 9-11 - ConGregate is a speculative fiction convention held in the Piedmont Triad region of North Carolina. To learn more: ConGregate 7 / DeepSouthCon 59 (con-gregate.com)

July 29 - August 1 - Galaxycon is a 4-Day FESTIVAL OF FANDOM with celebrities, creators, voice actors, cosplayers, entertainers, fan groups, gamers, panelists, streamers, and wrestlers. To learn more: GalaxyCon Raleigh

August - Wake Forest mini Comic Con - WakeForest, NC - https://www.facebook.com/WFComiCon/

If you'd like to se an even longer list of opportunities, check out the IWSG page here: https://www.insecurewriterssupportgroup.com/p/publications.html

How about you? Are you attending any this year? Do you have a favorite that we haven't listed here?

IWSG: Blogging

It’s time for another group posting of the Insecure Writer’s Support Group! founded by Alex J. Cavanaugh. Time to release our fears to the world – or offer encouragement to those who are feeling neurotic. If you’d like to join us, click on the tab above and sign up. We post the first Wednesday of every month. Your words might be the encouragement someone needs. You can also join us on twitter using the hashtag #IWSG, or on the Facebook page.

Now, IWSG hosts have changed up the format in an effort to make it more fun and interactive. Every month, they will announce a question that members can answer in their IWSG Day post. These questions may prompt you to share advice, insight, a personal experience or story. Include your answer to the question in your IWSG post or let it inspire your post if you are struggling with something to say. 

Don’t forget to visit others that day to see their answers. Want to join, or learn more? Visit our - Sign-up List.

FEBRUARY QUESTION -  Blogging is often more than just sharing stories. It’s often the start of special friendships and relationships. Have you made any friends through the blogosphere?

MY ANSWER - I have made a lot of friends through blogging. I wouldn't consider any of them my best friends, or inner circle, but I have greatly enjoyed several connections. There are support systems, and inspiring individuals that I have met through this craft, and I am so very thankful for each of them. 

How about you? Have you made any special friends, or connections, through blogging?