IWSG: Titles, or Blurbs?

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.

NOVEMBER QUESTION - What's harder to do, coming up with your book title or writing the blurb?

MY ANSWER - This one is difficult to answer. I think it depends on the project. In one case, I had a title long before I had written the piece. It came from a phrase I heard in a song, and my mind wouldn't let it go. It took me weeks to develop the story that went with the phrase which remained the title. In other cases, I've had to come up with a blurb in order to encourage me to complete the story, and then I still struggled with what to call the tale. I've also participated in writing exercises, or assignments where I was given a blurb and had to create a story based on the guideline.

How about you? Which do you find more difficult to come up with - a title, or the blurb?

IWSG: Why Do You Write?

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.

NOVEMBER QUESTION - Albert Camus once said, “The purpose of a writer is to keep civilization from destroying itself.” Flannery O’Conner said, “I write to discover what I know.” Authors across time and distance have had many reasons to write. Why do you write what you write?

MY ANSWER - “I became a writer so that the voices inside my head would become an acceptable occurrence.” ― Janae Mitchell

I have to be honest, I haven't read a single work by Mitchell, but I love that quote. I don't even remember where I first heard this saying, but it sums up my feelings on the matter pretty well. The truth is, I become almost possessed by certain ideas and feelings and the only way for me to process or relieve those is by telling the story. Whether it's fiction, nonfiction, or poetry... some ideas just won't let go properly until they've been shared.

How about you? Why do you write, and what do you write the most frequently?

For Love of Books

It's Valentine's week, and while I love flowers and chocolate my family and friends know my favorite gift is a good book.

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

So many of us enjoy reading and writing. We have favorites that we return to again and again. How about you? What is your favorite genre? Favorite author? Favorite book from childhood?

Happy Valentine's!