Wednesday, April 4, 2018

IWSG Blog Hop: Enduring a Storm in Your Writing Life, Blogging A to Z Challenge: A Phony



Hello and welcome to the Focused on Story blog by J.Q. Rose
It's the monthly meeting of the Insecure Writers Support Group(IWSG) blog hop and the continuation of the Blogging A-Z Challenge.


Internet Writers Support Group Blog Hop
First Wednesday of every month.
What is IWSG? Founder of the  Insecure Writer’s Support Group and author Alex J Cavanaugh explains the group's 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!" You're invited to become a member of this supportive group.

The group blogs the first Wednesday of every month The list of bloggers is always available so you can hop around to the author blogs filled with humor, advice, and thought-provoking topics on writing and publishing. You can find the list of participants at Alex's IWSG page. I hope you'll take some time to visit the diverse list of bloggers.

IWSG Question for the Month
April 4 question - When your writing life is a bit cloudy or filled with rain, what do you do to dig down and keep on writing? When I was writing my romantic suspense novel, Deadly Undertaking, I had a cloudy, rainy, thunderstorm in my writing life. I just could not write that story. But rather than ditching it, I decided to write short stories that summer and let my main character rest. Of course, she didn't rest or let me rest. I'd wake up in the middle of the night or run thoughts of the story through my brain while taking a shower, a walk, washing dishes, trying to determine why I couldn't write the story. 

I really had a good summer though playing with short story characters and settings.Then I had an epiphany about the character in Deadly Undertaking. She was based on me, my life as an undertaker's daughter. I had put her into a situation that I couldn't bear in my real life and that was my problem. When I finally learned to think of her as a completely different person from myself, I was able to finish the story!

My advice to writers who are dealing with tough times writing a story is to divorce yourself from it and plan or work on a completely different project. Just realize your brain won't completely disengage from the problem because sub-consciously you'll be working on a solution. 
# # #
Blogging from A to Z Challenge
~dissembler~
a person who professes beliefs and opinions that he or she does not hold 
in order to conceal his or her real feelings or motives

I loved how author Helena Fairfax described her character, Fliss, in her “feel-good” novel, Felicity at the Cross Hotel.  Fliss was acting dumb about what was going on in the Cross Hotel. She had to conceal the truth from the son’s owner.

Can you hide your feelings or bite your tongue when you need to not express your true feelings on a topic? Names for someone who conceal their real feelings. 

Please leave a comment below and let us know your REAL feelings about this word or about your writing life. Thanks.

Click here for the MASTER LIST
of all participants who signed up
for the #AtoZchallenge 2018!








20 comments:

The Cynical Sailor said...

Were you really an undertaker's daughter? Very interesting :-) Good "D" word. I try to hide my feelings when they're not appropriate - not sure how successful I always am.

Cheers - Ellen | http://thecynicalsailor.blogspot.com/

J.Q. Rose said...

Hi Ellen, Yes, I'm an undertaker's daughter and a sister to two undertakers! I told my folks I'd never be an undertaker. But I ended up owning a floral shop and designing floral arranagements, casket sprays etc for funerals. Guess there's no escaping it. Glad you like the D word!! I am guilty of hiding feelings until I finally explode with the truth. Not healthy.

Helena Fairfax said...

Thanks for your mention of Felicity, JQ! It was tricky having a heroine who "dissembles". She was doing it for all the right reasons, though :)
Like you I eventually explode with the truth. Perhaps we should go back to A for Assertiveness :D
I'm enjoying your posts!

emaginette said...

I agree that the farther away you are from your characters the better they stand on their own two feet. :-)

Anna from elements of emaginette

Vikki J. Carter said...

Wonderful advice about moving away from the character for a while and work on a different project. I will be visiting more often since I am an aspiring author who is working on my first work. I am doing the A-Z Challenge for the first time and I am loving it. I also started a podcast. Excellent post today. I am thinking about "dissembler." All the best~ Vikki J. Carter

Heather Erickson said...

My daughters joke that I should never play poker. I seem to wear my feelings on my sleeve. I do keep my mouth shut, though.

J.Q. Rose said...

Hi Helena, Loved Felicity. She did have good reasons.I enjoyed your feel-good novel so much! Look for another one of your words on Saturday.

J.Q. Rose said...

Well said, Anna. Thank you.

J.Q. Rose said...

Oh Vikki, Good to meet you!! This is my first time doing A to Z too. So excited to hear you are an aspiring author. I can send you the PDF of our eBook Romance and Mystery Authors on Writing Free if you'd like it. Send me an email to jqrose02 at gmail dot com. IWSG also has a free ebook with writing tips in it. Check it out on amazon or IWSG http://www.insecurewriterssupportgroup.com Best wishes on your writing journey!

J.Q. Rose said...

Hi Heather, you made me laugh with that comment. I have 2 daughters, so I understand how helpful they can be...LOL

Vikki J. Carter said...

I will email you and thanks for the free ebook tips link! I love to network. That's part of the fun of the A-Z Challenge. Here is my blog if you wish to visit: https://www.squishpen.com/vikkijcarterblog/

All the best, Vikki J. Carter

Unknown said...

That's a great word. Sometimes it is difficult to do.
https://moondustwriter.com/2018/04/04/dance-children-atozchallenge/

jesmck319 said...

Excellent writing advice! Best of luck with the challenge.

Juneta key said...

Great advice. Happy IWSG.

L. Diane Wolfe said...

Your subconscious went to work while you focused on something else. I love it when that happens.

Marsha said...

Hey, JQ. I did not know you were an undertaker's daughter. I'll have to go back and look at that book again, which I really enjoyed the first time around.
Now about the D word. I have more negative connotations around "dissembler." To me it's like what a con man does. Not at all like Fliss in Helena's darling book.
As to keeping my mouth shut--sometimes yes and sometimes np. Much less success keeping my reactions off my face. :( Great post. I shared. :)

J.Q. Rose said...

Leslie--Yes, so difficult to do...

Thank you, jesmec!

J.Q. Rose said...

Juneta--hope you had and are still having an IWSG day too!

Diane--it's good to know other people go through this same thought process while trying not to think about it!

J.Q. Rose said...

Marsha--Yes, I am an undertaker's daughter. I pictured my dad's funeral home while writing this novel. It was tough to keep the true perspective from interrupting the fictional story. I know what you mean about keeping your feelings inside and not revealing everything on your face. I could never be a good poker player!!

J.Q. Rose said...

Vikki- you're welcome for the tips. Love the name of your blog.

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