Skip to main content

IWSG December - Takin' It To The Streets

This is my Insecure Writers Support Group post for December.


Alex's awesome co-hosts for December are:
T. Drecker from Kidbits, 
Eva E. Solar at Lilicasplace, 
Please stop by their blogs and say thank you. 


Trying to balance being an author with being a working wife and mom is tough. Throw in a major holiday and, in just one week, my word count total went from 2,380 to 650. December's not looking much better. 


I'm trying to keep a good attitude. I was able to do half my shopping online Monday-- yippee. The other half (or most of it) will get done later this week, during mine and hubby's annual take-off-work-and-go-shopping trip. We even do lunch! :) Then, the whole family will go to the tree farm and chop down our Christmas tree this weekend. That's always fun.

Writing? Maybe next week... :P

The very best part Christmas this year is that my kids are all teens now. Thanks to one diehard hanger-oner, Santa left them a note last Christmas, saying their gifts would be under the tree with the adults' gifts from now on. Woohoo! Momma gets to sleep on Christmas Eve! hahaha  

I have an announcement (two, actually).
But first, a little mood music...


I'm forming an official street team! 

It'll be a mix of beta readers, ARC reviewers, and jack-of-all-trades promoters. If you're interested in joining, click here.
And (*drum roll*)...
The Insecure Writer’s Support Group book is now available!


Tapping into the expertise of over a hundred talented authors from around the globe, The IWSG Guide to Publishing and Beyond contains something for every writer. Whether you are starting out and need tips on the craft of writing, looking for encouragement as an already established author, taking the plunge into self-publishing, or seeking innovative ways to market and promote your work, this guide is a useful tool. Compiled into three key areas of writing, publishing, and marketing, this valuable resource offers inspirational articles, helpful anecdotes, and excellent advice on dos and don'ts that we all wish we knew when we first started out on this writing journey.

ISBN 9781939844088, 235 pages, FREE 
(It's supposed to be. Last I checked, 
Amazon was still holding it hostage for 99c.)

Where you can get it...
Amazon  Barnes and Noble  Smashwords   

Don't forget to add it to your Goodreads.


IWSG sites:
Facebook Critique Circle Group – https://www.facebook.com/groups/IWSGCC/


Thanks for visiting. :)
 

Comments

  1. I hear you on the time issues Melissa! A similar problem here. I think everything will get done, but writing and blogging may have to be put on the back burner for a couple of weeks! Happy holidays to you and your family.

    ReplyDelete
  2. I've resigned myself to the fact that December is a very unproductive month writing-wise, but I do try to catch up on reading during all the rush. If I keep my goals more manageable I find that I'm a much happier person over the holidays!
    That's cool the the IWSG book is free. I will wait until Amazon fixes the pricing snafu and check it out. :)

    ReplyDelete
  3. I'm in the same boat - nothing is getting accomplished writing-wise as quickly as it should be. I'm starting to think I'm just a lazy loser who's been abandoned by her muse. I still have hope though, and so should you. This is the month of miracles, after all. ;)

    ReplyDelete
  4. I feel you on the motherly-wifely aspect of things. But you are amazing, Melissa, and I know you'll pull through and awe us all.

    I signed up for your team!I feel you on the motherly-wifely aspect of things. But you are amazing, Melissa, and I know you'll pull through and awe us all.

    I signed up for your team!

    ReplyDelete
  5. Does this mean no more stockings for the kids? Enjoy your day of shopping.
    Can the street team be online?

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. LOL
      No more Santa bags. ;)

      Yes. The street team is handled online. I'll email the various members with tasks (beta reads, promo stuff), according to which job(s) they signed up for.

      Delete
  6. Half of your shopping already done?!?!? You're amazing. And is it fun having teens? I think I'll be so sad when they're all older!

    ReplyDelete
  7. I'm always out of balance when it comes to writing and family. One always gets shorted.

    ReplyDelete
  8. Such a hard time of year to get writing done! I think keeping your eye on the long term is smart right now. Too easy to get discouraged if you hold yourself to strict word count goals, etc.

    So glad to see the book is finally out!

    ReplyDelete
  9. I'm the same way at this time of the year. Once the Thanksgiving holiday hits, not much writing gets done for the rest of the year. Your shopping date sounds like fun. I hope to finish mine up by next week. And thanks for the mood music. I always liked that song. Happy IWSG day!

    ReplyDelete
  10. Wow a street team sounds interesting. I'm looking into it!!! I haven't put a dent in my shopping and my word count was barely 1000 for the past 2 weeks. I think you're doing fairly well!!!

    ReplyDelete
  11. I feel you, Melissa. My word count went down as well. I didn't expect to do as much cooking as I did for Thanksgiving, and the week before we had company. Maybe I'll get some writing done between now and Christmas. And good luck with your street team! Sounds like a neat idea.

    ReplyDelete
  12. After quitting NaNo at 22,000 words, my total wordcount for December is: (drum roll).......ZERO.

    So you're doing pretty darn good! Keep it up.

    ReplyDelete
  13. I totally understand your word count woes. I didn't write anything the whole my kids were home for Thanksgiving break. I have low expectations for December too.
    Good luck pulling together your street team and beta reader list.
    Elizabeth Hein - Scribbling in the Storage Room

    ReplyDelete
  14. Yup, life does tend to interfere with everything, doesn't it? I love the holiday season, but it's really hard to get anything done. I've been doing better at editing than actually producing. Sigh. Happy Holidays...? At least your shopping trip with your hubby sounds awesome! :)

    ReplyDelete
  15. Signed up for your Street Team. Want to see how that works. Didn't know of such a thing, but if it works, I'd like to try it as well!

    ReplyDelete
  16. I got a good portion of my shopping done online, too. I just hate going out in the world this time of year and dealing with all of the crowds.

    ReplyDelete
  17. Sometimes it's necessary yet good to take time off writing.

    ReplyDelete
  18. A street team? How cool! Also, I can't believe your family chops down your own tree. That is so not like my family! Have fun :)

    ReplyDelete
  19. I don't think December is a month for writing, mostly if you've got family and children. But what can be compared with the fun of cutting a tree together and then make it glow with the magic of Christmas?
    A street team? What's that? I'll have to look at it. Dwarves are good for street jobs. Dragon Hugs!

    ReplyDelete
  20. I hear you about the holidays throwing a wrench in things - travel and all that makes now a very bad time to try to write a book. >_< Hope your Christmas goes well and the kids don't sneak into their presents early. :P

    ReplyDelete
  21. balancing time is my huge conundrum too !! if you find the secret formula, let me know ;-)

    ReplyDelete
  22. Definitely enjoy your family now while you can and make memories together. You can always write another day. Love the fact you have a fresh tree in your house. I miss that. Take pictures of the decorated beauty and I'll imagine that lovely fresh pine scent.

    ReplyDelete
  23. My parents lucked out. I never bought the whole Santa thing. lol

    ReplyDelete
  24. It's a time for family and just loving how the holiday season unfold before our eyes. So enjoy! Writing time will come.

    ReplyDelete
  25. Just catching up on the news...your day of shopping sounds like an annual day of fun with you and hubby.

    I saw the good news about the IWSG book. Wow! I'm so happy for Alex and the rest of the gang.

    I've only made three Christmas purchases...gotta get on the ball! Good to see you, Mel.

    ReplyDelete
  26. These two months are always hard to do anything but survive them. Good luck with getting your writing time back.

    ReplyDelete
  27. Last month was pretty crazy. My husband and I claimed Christmas back two years ago, though. No family visits. We just stay at home with our son, and it has taken so much stress off us. My little guy is still eager for Santa's visit! Good luck with your shopping and writing. :)

    ReplyDelete
  28. Sometimes it's a huge accomplishment to merely survive the holidays. I hope you're cutting yourself slack, Melissa. You're carrying a big load and getting things done well along the way.

    PS I see that Brandon Ax basically wrote the same.
    Hugs to you.

    ReplyDelete
  29. Melissa darling!! shopping online for Christmas sometimes is the easiest way to do it!!! keep the spirit alive :) via internet

    ReplyDelete
  30. You are awesome and seem to know how to balance your time...care to share with the rest of us?
    Good luck with the street team!

    ReplyDelete
  31. Sounds like fun day but stressful.

    All the best!

    ReplyDelete
  32. I'm all signed up! I checked all of the boxes and will happily do whatever you need help with. I'm flexible- unless you want me to do yoga, then all that flexibility goes out the window.

    ReplyDelete
  33. Did I say you could go on hiatus missy? :) (((HUGS)))

    ReplyDelete

Post a Comment

I love to hear what you have to say.
Thanks for taking the time to comment. = )