Wednesday, May 7, 2014

IWSG Day! and More!

I'm late! I'm late! For a very important date!

Today is IWSG day--the first Wednesday of the month. IWSG stands for Insecure Writers Support Group and was founded by Alex J. Cavanaugh. You can follow other IWSG members here  and on twitter using the hashtag #IWSG.

Our 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.

We're wrapping up renovation at our house and then, after putting everything back in its place, I'll be in a position to tackle another kind of renovation. Novel renovation! Short story renovation! Mental renovation! I can't wait!

You probably remember that I said I planned to go to the library every day of renovation and write. Did. Not. Happen. Why on earth I thought I'd be able to do such a thing is beyond me. I've never renovated a house before. I'll give you a tip. Move out completely. Rent a pod or a storage house and get all your furniture out. Otherwise, you'll go stark raving mad!

When it comes to renovating novels, I suppose we might say the same thing. Some people segregate things. One day they might tackle characterization or setting. The next, they look at the plot line. I hear Scrivener is great at helping compartmentalize things like this. I'm slowly learning Scrivener so we'll see.

Even though I'm late posting IWSG today, I wanted to post to encourage you all. (And I didn't want Alex to get me!)

On another note, I'd like for you to read an interview with me and my partner, Jan Rider Newman at The Review Review. Leslie Schultz spoke with us about starting our literary magazine, Swamp Lily Review. The Review Review quoted me at the very top of the website! I'm thrilled!

9 comments:

Donna B. McNicol said...

Renovation is not for the faint-hearted! Yikes!!

I like you comparison to editing our writing...makes me re-think how I tackle it.

D.B. McNicol
Romance & Mystery...writing my life

Rachel Schieffelbein said...

We've been talking about making some renovations here and I am not looking forward to it!
Novel renovations are a bit more fun, though. :) Good luck with yours!

Lucinda W. said...

I'm doing revisions on a 38K word novella and my first novel is with the editor right now, so I totally relate to that. GL!

Diane Burton said...

Good luck with those reno's. Not fun. I agree with Rachel--novel renovations are more enjoyable. Best wishes.

Unknown said...

Renovations are exhausting. Nothing ever seems to go as smoothly as we think they will. Renovating a novel is similar. I hope it all goes well.
Elizabeth Hein - Scribbling in the Storage Room

Julie Musil said...

Oh, renovations are really tough! I've worked for a contractor and yes, moving out is the best way to handle it. But not everyone can do that! I'm glad that's over and you can get back to re-building manuscripts :)

Anonymous said...

Good luck with the home renovations. Doesn't sound like much fun. I'm still in the process of learning my Scrivener; it still very confusing for me. Congrats on your new literary journal. I read the interview. Good luck. Enjoy the rest of IWSG Day! Eva

Doreen McGettigan said...

Oh my. I am thrilled to start a renovation project at our house and absolutely horrified too.
I hope your dust settles quickly and you get right back on track.
Have a good month...
I am going to check out Review Review.

Unknown said...

I don't see how you can get anything done during a house renovation. It'd be like trying to write in the middle of a three ring circus. I hope it finishes very soon and you can get back to normal.