IWSG: Impactful Books

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.

JUNE 4 QUESTION - 
What were some books that impacted you as a child or young adult?

MY ANSWER - There are so many! In high school: To Kill a Mockingbird - this book filled my senses and made me examine the type of person and parent I one day hoped to be. It's also one of the few movie adaptions that didn't disappoint after reading the original story. Flowers for Algernon is another one that stayed with me as I had previously no experience with the mentally handicapped. Just as the previous book, it reminded me to respect and treat others kindly no matter the differences. Tuesdays With Morrie is a wonderful reminder to cherish loved ones and prioritize appropriately because you never know how much time you have. There are also a number of series that took up much of my time. Anne of Green Gables was a wonderful reminder that it was acceptable to read and enjoy classic literature as much as contemporary. Alongside Little Women it made me believe writing was an acceptable pastime as well. I also spent a lot of time with the Sweet Dreams romance series (I think there were over 200), the Nancy Drew Files (I believe there were over 100), Fear Street (I think there were around 50 in the 1990s - there are more now), and the Christopher Pike series. While I certainly read many other enjoyable books, these series took up many hours of my teen life in the 1990s.

Sweet Dreams Book Series

Nancy Drew Files Series by Carolyn Keene | Goodreads

Fear Street - Book Series In Order

Christopher Pike - Book Series In Order

What about you? What were some books that impacted you as a child or young adult?

National Audiobook Month

June is National Audiobook Month, when hundreds of retailers encourage people to give listening to books a try. These businesses run various promotions and discounts to get more listeners interested in the format.

The Audiobook Publishers Association has spearheaded audiobook month for a number of years. Audible, Kobo audiobooks, Google Play Books, Storytel, Scribd, Audiobooks.com, and dozens of others offer audiobooks. 

Did you know you could access complete audiobooks for FREE on YouTube?

To learn more about the history of this celebration check out: National Audiobook Month 2024

Have you tried an audiobook? Which are your favorites? When do you listen to them?

Memorial Day 2025

This week, we will be celebrating graduations, Memorial Day, and the start to summer vacation. If you're looking for ways to celebrate: Graduation and Spring/Summer Opportunities

Thank you to all those who have served and continue to do so. I hope you all enjoy a safe and relaxing holiday. Happy Memorial Day 2025!

10 More Submission Opportunities

 1.) Chicken Soup for the Soul has a call out for six different anthologies right now. To learn more, check out: https://www.chickensoup.com/story-submissions/possible-book-topics

2.) BLACK ORCHID NOVELLA AWARD
https://www.nerowolfe.org/htm/literary_awards/black_orchid_award/Black_Orchid_award_proc.htm#qualifications - Deadline May 31, 2025. Each entry must be an original unpublished work of fiction that conforms to the literary tradition of the Nero Wolfe series. The mystery should be “traditional” in flavor. The crime must be solved using the deductive abilities of the sleuth. No coincidences. The killer must be known to the victim. No random psycho shootings. The characters (male or female) must have an engaging relationship. There needs to be some wit. The timing could be retro or current. There should be no explicit sex or violence. Entries must be 15,000 to 20,000 words in length, and submitted by the deadline. The prize is $1,000 and publication in Alfred Hitchcock’s Mystery Magazine.

 3.) INDIE AUTHOR PROJECT ANNUAL CONTEST - https://indieauthorproject.librariesshare.com/iap/ - Deadline May 31, 2025. For authors, this contest is a powerful way to elevate your careers and writing goals, powered by the library community. The winners of this contest will receive: $2,500 to the 1st place winner and $500 each to two runner-ups in each genre; honors at the 2026 Indie Author Day Reception at ALA Annual; opportunities to promote your book(s) at public libraries; inclusion in a full-page print spread in Library Journal; and opportunities to earn royalties through the IAP Select collection (ePUB format required for eligibility). Must be indie published in Mystery/Thrillers, Romance, SciFi, Fantasy, Historical Fiction, General/Contemporary, Fiction, Memoir, or Young Adult. Author must live in the U.S. or Canada.

4.) RINKS AND ROMANCE WRITING CONTEST - https://www.inkitt.com/contests/rinks-and-romance-2025 - NO ENTRY FEE. Deadline June 30, 2025. Win a Galatea Publishing Contract and $300, a free year of Galatea Unlimited, an Inkitt VIP Badge, and a feature on our Instagram! Second place $150, third place $50. Both come with other perks. Share your most heartwarming or thrilling hockey romance and keep readers hooked. We encourage writers to submit original stories that blend the intensity of hockey with the depth of romance. Whether it’s a tale of forbidden love, second chances, or rivals-to-lovers, your story should bring the rink to life and captivate readers. Entering the contest is free; all you need to do is publish your book on Inkitt and submit it on the contest page or from the contest tab in your work settings.

5.) STORYHOUSE GENERAL NONFICTION STORIES -https://www.storyhouse.org/contest2025.html - NO ENTRY FEE. Deadline June 30, 2025. Any appropriate nonfiction topic is eligible.  Stories must be true, not semi-fictional accounts.  So-called "creative nonfiction" will not be considered. Stories from any country are fine, although they must be written in English. Language in the stories should be free of words or scenes not suitable for children, since many children read the stories and some actually post their stories. One prize of $200 for the winner, $100 for the runner-up, and certificates of achievement for all finalists.

Spring 2025 Submission and Reading Opportunities for Veterans, Graduates, and More

It's May, that time of year to gear up for high school and college graduations, as well as honoring our Veterans.  It's also an opportunity to enjoy some extra time reading, or prepare a submission for a few anthology calls:

1) Southeast Missouri State University Press and the Warriors Arts Alliance have joined together once again to create the 14th volume in a series of anthologies about military experiences. They accept fiction, nonfiction, poetry, photography, essays, and interviews. I was fortunate enough to be included in the second volume with my interview of award-winning author Tim O'Brien (The Things They Carried). For more information on supporting these great Americans or to learn more about the Proud to Be series: https://mohumanities.org/veterans/

2) Interested in a graduation flash fiction? Read mine here, or try writing your own. You can also see my list of 5 Books for Graduates.

3) Chicken Soup for the Soul has a call out for six different anthologies right now. To learn more, check out: https://www.chickensoup.com/story-submissions/possible-book-topics

4) Challenge: Compose a letter of thanks to a soldier you do not know or donate books to the troops. For more ideas on how you can help: http://www.give2thetroops.org/

Have you ever written for veterans or graduates? Does this seem like something you might want to try?

UPDATED: IWSG: Fears

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.

MAY QUESTION - Some common fears writers share are rejection, failure, success, and lack of talent or ability. What are your greatest fears as a writer? How do you manage them?

MY ANSWER - This post has been updated on 5/11/25. I never received the newsletter with this month's question. When I emailed admin on May 5 asking about the newsletter and posting for this month, they simply replied "Due to health challenges, one has not been able to put one together." I'm not certain how everyone else got the question for this month. I still have not received any other reply even after reaching out to several people several times. I know things happen, but I'm frustrated. This was already an incredibly difficult week for me so it's ironic that my fear might best be described as "Not being seen or heard". Which is how I am now feeling. How did you find out about this month's post topic?

How about you? What are your fears? 

2025 Faust Sonnet Contest

 Annual submission opportunity:

The "Faust Sonnet Contest" is now accepting submissions. The sonnets may be written in Shakespearean, Petrarchan, Spenserian, or non-traditional form. Only previously unpublished sonnets are eligible. 

There is no entry fee for youth and $5 for up to three poems for adults. 

Each entrant may submit one to three sonnets, maximum, with sonnets to be received no later than June 1, 2025. Cash prizes total $3,000.  When you visit the site, you can review the winning entries from the last few years. For more information, visit http://www.sonnetcontest.org/

Not sure how to write a sonnet? Try reviewing these guidelines, tips, and examples: http://examples.yourdictionary.com/sonnet-examples.html

Have you ever written a sonnet? Does this seem like something you might want to try?