IWSG November

This is my Insecure Writers Support Group post for November.

Alex's awesome co-hosts this month are: 

Jemi Fraser, 

Kim Lajevardi, 

L.G Keltner, 

Tyrean Martinson, 

and 

Rachna Chhabria!

Please stop by their blogs and say thank you. 

November 4 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?

I read for entertainment and relaxation--to escape this world for a little while.

I write for much the same reason, and because I enjoy being creative. And, okay, who doesn't love a good review. But seriously, I've often referred to writing as my therapy. It truly is.

I lean toward writing historicals and stories with historical elements because I'm drawn to times when life was simpler (though not easy), people didn't expect a handout, and chivalry and honor were things men took very seriously. 

I write romance because I enjoy a good, well, romance, and because I like the assurance of a happy ending. Life has enough downers of its own. With rare exception, I don't enjoy books that leave me feeling depressed.

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Thank you for visiting.

If you'll allow me a moment of shameless self-promotion, I'd like to mention that October 30th was the third anniversary of FULL DARK: A Benefit Anthology.  It's a collection of suspenseful, creepy tales by me and ten other authors. To celebrate, we've put the ebook on sale for $1.99!

FULL DARK is available for Kindle and Nook. 

Hurry and grab a copy. Sale ends soon!

100% of proceeds go to the 

Gary Sinise Foundation. 

IWSG is the brainchild of Alex J. Cavanaugh. It's a monthly bloghop that offers a safe haven for writers to express their feelings and concerns without fear of appearing foolish or weak. It's also a venue for offering support, both in the form of comments and positive posts. Writers of all kinds are welcome. 

We 'meet' the first Wednesday of every month. If you're interested in learning more, click on the link above. And don't be intimidated by the size of the group. We're not expected to visit everyone on the list. 

FULL DARK - 3rd Anniversary

Can you believe it's been three years since 

FULL DARK was published?  I can't. 

Since then, the book has earned several 5-star reviews, gotten a face lift (thank you, Carrie Butler!), and has generated over $200 in donations to the Gary Sinise Foundation. Thank you, readers!

To celebrate, we've put the ebook on sale for $1.99. If you've been wanting to add it to your TBR, now's the time. Encourage anyone who enjoys creepy, suspenseful stories to grab a copy soon!

What happens in the dark will come to light.

Full Dark is a collection of eleven short works with impressive depth and range. Twisted tales of ghosts, villains, and the paranormal await you—mystery, heinous fantasy, and pure suspense. Acclaimed and award-winning authors as well as a few talented newcomers have joined forces to be your guide. Venture into the dark if you dare.

Just A Matter Of Time by Loni Townsend

Forerunner by David Powers King

Taking Care Of You by Carrie Butler

The Apartment by Lisa Buie-Collard

The Caricature by Nick Wilford

Shifting Sands by Elizabeth Seckman

Shadows Falling On Rainbows by Celeste Holloway

Meringue, Murder or Marzipan by Tonja Drecker

Haunted Lake by Michelle Athy

Soul Coin by Laura Rich

Retribution by Melissa Maygrove

FULL DARK is a benefit anthology. 100% of the proceeds will be donated to the Gary Sinise Foundation, an organization that does many wonderful things for our country's active military, its veterans, and the countless first responders who sacrifice so much to keep us safe.

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FULL DARK: A Benefit Anthology is available from these retailers:

Amazon
Kindle: https://www.amazon.com/FULL-DARK-Anthology-Melissa-Maygrove-ebook/dp/B076P2BFGF

Barnes & Noble

Nook: https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/full-dark-melissa-maygrove/1127276312

Hope you have a safe, fun Halloween.
Thanks for visiting!

IWSG October - Am I really a writer?

This is my Insecure Writers Support Group post for October 2020.

Alex's awesome co-hosts this month are: 

 Jemima Pett, 

Beth Camp,

Beverly Stowe McClure, 

& Gwen Gardner!

Please stop by their blogs and say thank you. 

I decided to join IWSG again and let this take the place of my monthly blog post. The pressure is on to keep up and not get booted from the list! 😛

This month's question is: When you think of the term working writer, what does that look like to you? What do you think it is supposed to look like? Do you see yourself as a working writer or aspiring or hobbyist, and if the latter two, what does that look like?

When I picture a 'working writer,' I imagine someone who works at writing full time. They might be a fiction writer or a member of another profession that requires a lot of writing, such as a technical writer or journalist. Regardless, whether at home or in an office, they write most of every workday as one would work at any other job.

I wish I was a full-time writer, but for now, I must work full time as a nurse, so writing takes a back seat. I pull out my laptop whenever I can and type a few lines or paragraphs, until I have to put it away and wait for my next few hours of free time. 

I view my writing as more than a hobby, and I'm multi-published, so I'm no longer in the 'aspiring' category. I guess you could say I'm a frustrated writer who wishes I could do nursing as a hobby.  😄

Thanks for visiting! If this is your first time here, tell me a little about yourself in the comments.

IWSG is the brainchild of Alex J. Cavanaugh. It's a monthly bloghop that offers a safe haven for writers to express their feelings and concerns without fear of appearing foolish or weak. It's also a venue for offering support, both in the form of comments and positive posts. Writers of all kinds are welcome. 

We 'meet' the first Wednesday of every month. If you're interested in learning more, click on the link above. And don't be intimidated by the size of the group. We're not expected to visit everyone on the list. 

Blogger's Block

I made a commitment to blog at least once a month, but I've been staring at this page for 10 minutes, trying to decide what to post. And that's after thinking about it off an on for days.

I could tell you all that's been happening to me and my family, but that's not what this blog is for. I could complain about not making much progress on my current WIP, but then I'd sound like a broken record.

I WILL take a moment to say how much I hate Blogger's new interface. Why must people fix what isn't broken? And why can't they give us a choice to keep the old design?

Part of my blogging block is due to the fact I'm not visiting other blogs as much as I used to. I had to step back from the writing-blogging world to deal with life's responsibilities, and that has caused me to grow further and further out of touch with what's going on in the literary realm. It's proof, at least, that we bloggers feed off each other when it comes to inspiration.

What kind of content do you like most? Tell me in comments. I need some inspiration.

I also would like to find some blogs to visit. If you know of a blogging writer whose blog you haven't seen me comment on or a newbie who needs followers, please leave a link.

Random stuff...

I got a chromebook so I could write more easily. It has its limitations, but it will do until I can get my laptop fixed or get a Mac.

Things in Houston are getting a little better on the covid front. I hope you are staying safe and healthy out there. Sometimes it feels like this world has gone crazy.

I found where Bill O'Reilly went. He's on The First TV at 7:00 PM central. It's available on Roku and via app for phone or tablet. If you're looking for an alternative to the mainstream news, give it a try. It may not match your political leanings, but it never hurts to listen to another point of view.

(Yeah, I know. I just broke one of my blogging rules.)

Regardless of which side you're on, don't let journalists or politicians tell you what your neighbor thinks. Get to know your neighbors.

#LoveYourNeighbor #LoveYourCountry

Stories have a mind of their own

I'm a combination plotter and panster. I come up with a basic plot and list of characters for my stories, but the scenes often take a different path than I envisioned when I actually write them. Character's come to life and flesh themselves out as I type. It's kind of neat to watch.

Of course, I have to be flexible. When I start writing a particular interaction, I sometimes realize a line of dialogue or character reaction is implausible and have to change course. At other times, the research alters something about the scene or a character's backstory. It's fun and interesting at times, frustrating at others.

Some highlights from the past 8 years

It's less than five hours before this post goes live, and I'm undecided over what to write. No good topic comes to mind, so I'll link some of the popular blog posts from over the years. Feel free to pick and choose what you like.

Beginning writers might find Showing & Telling and The Snobbish Rules of Fiction helpful.

If you're new to critiques, try What's a Critique? It includes a list of abbreviations and critique lingo.

Do you struggle with info dumps?

Would you like to write faster?

Pub & Promo Help from L. Diane Wolfe

L. Diane Wolfe has formatted for me in the past. She's professional and talented, so when I heard how the pandemic had hindered her ability to earn a living with in-person classes, I offered to help her get the word out about her webinars. For a very reasonable price, you can learn about publishing and promoting your books in the safety and comfort of your own home.