Not what I planned but better than I dreamed

 This is my Insecure Writers Support Group post for November 2025.

Alex's awesome co-hosts this month are: 

Jennifer Lane, Jenni Enzor,

Renee Scattergood, Rebecca Douglass,

Lynn Bradshaw, & Me!

Please stop by their blogs and say thank you. 

💻💻💻💻💻

Before I dive into my IWSG post, I want to link a post I made a few days ago, in case you missed it. It's an update on reformatting book 1 and the effect it had on series read-through. #datajunkienirvana

November 5 question - When you began writing, what did you imagine your life as a writer would be like? Were you right, or has this experience presented you with some surprises along the way?

I love this question! I look forward to blog-hopping around and reading other people's answers.

As a kid, I jotted a few short stories for fun. Then I set writing aside for decades.

Flash forward to my 40's. A popular series got me hooked, and I became a voracious reader. That made me decide I would try my hand at writing a full-length novel - just to see if I could do it. I'm not kidding. I had no aspirations for publication at that time. I only wanted to challenge myself, to see if I could handle a plot and a document that big.

My mom is friends with a published author and asked her if she'd critique my work and give me some advice. She agreed and asked me to send her the first 2,000 words. (Um... Okay, but the story doesn't really get going good until around page 27. 😄) She warned me she was brutal when she put her critique hat on, and she was. "Your opening isn't compelling enough...you don't understand POV...you need to show, not tell..." and the list went on.

By that time, I was mature enough to graciously accept the criticism and invested enough in the story to polish it and see where it might take me; so I studied fiction writing, hooked up with some critique partners, and began considering publication, though I didn't know if I'd go traditional or indie.

I ended up writing a sequel to that first WIP then a third novel of a different genre titled Come Back, which became my debut. By then, I'd heard horror stories from traditionally published authors and knew I was too much of a control freak to do anything but self-publish.

(Cover by Carrie Butler)

Amazon's algorithms were different back then, and Come Back apparently got enough sales in the early weeks that the Zon boosted its visibility. It sold nearly 8,000 copies in the first six months.

As you can imagine, I was incredibly glad I decided to go indie.

My debut branded me as a western historical romance author, something I truly didn't anticipate and still laugh about to this day. Come Back was written as a standalone, but due to fans contacting me and asking me if favorite supporting characters were going to get their own books, it became a series.

I work hard, but I'm also very blessed. Though none of the other books achieved the same level of sales, Come Back still sells well, and the series earnings keep my writing business afloat. 

❤❤❤❤❤

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.