Insecure Writers Support Group (IWSG) Blog Post: Now About That AI! #IWSGbloghop

 

Insecure Writers Support Group Blog Hop

#IWSGbloghop

What is the Insecure Writer's Support Group?

Founded by author Alex J. Cavanaugh, the Insecure Writer’s Support Group offers support for writers and authors alike. It provides an online database, articles and tips, a monthly blog posting, a Facebook and Instagram group, Twitter, and a monthly newsletter. 

To find out more, click this link:  Insecure Writer’s Support Group

The purpose of the group 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. 

Click here to sign-up and/or to visit the bloggers this week.

Happy IWSG Day!

Happy Women's History Month!

Celebrating Women's History Month
every year in March

Thank you to our awesome co-hosts for the March 6 posting of the IWSG are Kristina Kelly, Miffie Seideman, Jean Davis, and Liza @ Middle Passages!

QUESTION FOR MARCH 6

Have you "played" with AI to write those nasty synopses, or do you refuse to go that route? How do you feel about AI's impact on creative writing?

Yes, I have used Grammarly for years, and I like the editor that comes with MS Word, but I don't rely on them completely. Human eyes, especially eyes that belong to a new person, catch a lot of errors, even the errors by Grammarly!

I never thought these programs were AI until I submitted my book to Amazon KDP and discovered the content is considered AI-assisted. AI-generated means the content of the book was written by AI. Yesterday I noticed the question offers degrees of using AI in the book. Minimum to All of the book.

I just updated the content in my print book for writing life stories and designed a new book cover. Needless to say, I felt insecure figuring

Your Words, Your Life Story

out the formatting for the KDP book. Thank goodness for the KDP template and the cover calculator. I haven't looked at the book through the KDP preview viewer. Fingers crossed all is well.

I must confess I wrote the book description and used AI to improve it. But when Professor AI returned the results, I almost laughed. It didn't sound like I had written it, not my voice, but I did use one phrase from the AI description. 

I have tried creating images for book covers using Bing's co-pilot AI. It takes a lot of "playing" with it to even get close to what I want. I believe a lot of practice is needed to develop the skill to be happy with what Professor AI suggests.

Whether to use AI for creative writing is up to the individual. From all reports about AI, it is not going away. We can choose if we want to learn how to use it or not. We are entering a new era, just like how the Model A changed the lifestyle of the folks in the early 20th century or how the microwave changed my way of cooking meals! 

It will be interesting to revisit this question in 5 years and see how writers have handled AI. Ya'all come back then. What are your thoughts about using AI as a tool in your author's toolbox? Please leave a comment below. Thank you.

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Read an eBook Week at Smashwords!!

Do you know Smashwords is celebrating Read an eBook Week? March 3-9. My publisher 

BWL Publishing, is participating in the sale. All of the BWL authors' books are half off! My indie-published books are on sale too!! Yes, all of my books are 50% off this week! Grab some great beach reads for the summer.

Are you participating in the sale? You're welcome to drop your link in the comments section.

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Recipes 'n Reads Series
Guest author Rosemary Morris

You're invited to welcome classic historical romance author Rosemary Morris to our Recipes 'n Reads series which is scheduled every third Wednesday of the month. Rosemary writes "characters who are of their time, not men, women and children dressed in costume who behave like 21st-century people."  

On March 20, Rosemary, an English author, will share one of her favorite recipes, Spinach, Peas, and Paneer (Curd Cheese) Curry, and the reason why she chose this particular one. Plus I'll feature one of her books, Far Beyond Rubies. 

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Click here to receive the Rose Courier, 
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However, if I am bursting with news I can't wait to share,

 I will send out a Special Edition!

Filled with photos, updates, new book releases and more!

Click here to visit more Insecure Writers Support Group  

members participating in this month's IWSG Blog Hop! 

Scroll down the page to find all the bloggers sites.

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Thank you for stopping by today! And for clicking around this post!

I Could Not Finish the Story Until---by J. Q. Rose #IWSGbloghop

 

Insecure Writers Support Group Blog Hop

#IWSGbloghop

Happy IWSG Blog Hop Day!

Happy June!

What is the Insecure Writer's Support Group?

Founded by author Alex J. Cavanaugh, the Insecure Writer’s Support Group offers support for writers and authors alike. It provides an online database, articles and tips, a monthly blog posting, a Facebook and Instagram group, Twitter, and a monthly newsletter. To find out more, click this link:  Insecure Writer’s Support Group

The purpose of the group 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. 

Click here to sign-up and/or to visit the bloggers this week.

Thank you to our awesome co-hosts for the June 1 posting of the IWSG--SE White, Cathrina Constantine, Natalie Aguire, Joylene Nowell Butler, and Jacqui Murray!

??????????????????????????????????????????????????????

June 1 question - When the going gets tough writing the story, how do you keep yourself writing to the end? If you have not started the writing yet, why do you think that is and what do you think could help you find your groove and start?

via GIPHY

When I was penning my romantic suspense novel, Deadly Undertaking, I could not, absolutely could not, finish the story. I gave up but saved all I had written to a file and didn't look at it all summer. But, during that season, my thoughts questioned why I couldn't keep writing. 

That summer, I wrote many short stories completely alien to what I usually write. Yes, some of them had really mean characters and dark tones, reflecting how I was feeling about my writing, I guess. Creating those stories loosened up my brain and allowed my imagination to grow. That's the only explanation I have for the uptick in writing so many short stories.

After so many months away from the novel, I opened the saved file and read the story. There was the answer to my difficulty. The background of the story which takes place in a funeral home was based on my real life when I was a kid. My dad was an undertaker and both of my brothers were funeral directors.  I grew up in that business, so I thought I could use them as resources for the ins and outs (and underground) of the funeral business. Remember that old adage of "write what you know?"

I included tidbits from my life e.g. how I used to dust the caskets in the casket room, set up seating for the funerals, and hauled flowers to the cemetery in the story. The character was too much like the actual me. I could not put myself in the role the main character had to perform because I would never do what she had to experience. When I separated myself from the character, I continued writing and finished the story!!

So, this is a long-winded way of telling you to put away the project that is causing you angst and begin a new one. Work on that one or two or three, then return to the story to view it from your present perspective. I bet you'll figure out some workarounds to break through what stopped you from writing and finishing. If not, put those pages away, but save them. You have plenty of other stories swirling in your head. Then try later. You may discover part of the story can be used in an entirely new way in your next project.

 If you have a similar experience with your writing, please leave a comment below or just say hi. 

Thank you.

****

Deadly Undertaking by J.Q. Rose
A handsome detective, a shadow man, and a murder victim kill Lauren’s plan for a simple life.
Romantic suspense, paranormal

If my sharing the behind-the-scenes information spiked your curiosity about Dangerous Sanctuary, please click here to download the eBook from your favorite online bookseller.  

Click here to download the paperback 

Click  Insecure Writer’s Support Group to visit more bloggers in the IWSG Blog Hop! Have fun!

Click here to be notified when a new article is posted on this blog.

Thank you for visiting!!

Stress and Delight in Writing #IWSGbloghop #writing

 

Insecure Writer's Support Group BLOG HOP
#IWSGbloghop

Happy IWSG Blog Hop Day!

Happy December!

Happy Holidays!

What is the Insecure Writer's Support Group?

Founded by author Alex J. Cavanaugh, the Insecure Writer’s Support Group offers support for writers and authors alike. It provides an online database, articles and tips, a monthly blog posting, a Facebook and Instagram group, Twitter, and a monthly newsletter. To find out more, click this link:  Insecure Writer’s Support Group

The purpose of the group 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. Click here to sign-up.

🎄🎄🎄

Thank you to our awesome co-hosts for the December posting of the IWSG Blog Hop- PJ Colando, Diane Burton, Louise – Fundy Blue, Natalie Aguirre, and Jacqui Murray!

Question of the Month
Photo courtesy of geralt / 23304 images at Pixabay

December 1 question - 

In your writing, what stresses you the most? What delights you?

Wringing my hands at the moment trying to decide what stresses me the most in my writing. I believe it is when I write the scene that I see clearly in my head, but the words on the paper do not convey the emotion I want readers to feel. Writing and re-writing it to be more powerful, more exciting, more romantic, more imaginative and not feeling satisfied with the result is stressful.

I am delighted, after putting away the ms for several weeks, my story reads better than I thought!

🎄🎄🎄

Insecurity x 10

It's too late to ask now, but for future promotions, I wonder about paying for ads for my books during the fourth quarter of the year and especially during this crazy Black Friday-Cyber Monday weekend. Do you think people are buying books during that time or will my ads just get lost in the noise? When is the time to sell romance novels or mysteries? When is the time to sell children's chapter books? 

I have heard people buy books in January because many have received new reading devices like Kindle, Nook, cell phones. Is there any truth to this?

And, finally, I am a Scrooge when it comes to paying to advertise a 99 cent book. I know I may gain some buzz for the book, but I have not seen reviews added to my page. Ewww, I just had a sickening realization, maybe the readers hated it and didn't want to say anything to hurt my feelings. 

Please leave a comment below with your thoughts on when, or if, to pay for ads. Thank you!

🎄🎄🎄

Click here to visit more bloggers in the IWSG Blog Hop!

Click here to receive the monthly edition of the Rose Courier in your inbox. 

Don't miss out on the news from J.Q. Rose, articles, 

guest authors and giveaways!!

HAPPY HOLIDAYS!

IWSG Blog Hop: Something Dark Today, the Darknet and Incognito Window

IWSG Blog Hop---the first Wednesday of every month.

Happy November!!

Hello and welcome to the Insecure Writer's Support Group Blog Hop! 

What is the Insecure Writer's Support Group?

Founded by author Alex J. Cavanaugh, the Insecure Writer’s Support Group offers support for writers and authors alike. It provides an online database, articles and tips, a monthly blog posting, a Facebook and Instagram group, Twitter, and a monthly newsletter. To find out more, click this link:  Insecure Writer’s Support Group

The purpose of the group 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. Click here to sign-up to join.

Question for November 6

November 6 Question 

What's the strangest thing you've ever googled in researching a story?

The strangest thing I ever googled was the Darknet. In 2013, not many people were aware of the existence of the Darknet.

 Wikipedia describes the following uses of the Darknet

"Darknets, in general, may be used for various reasons, such as:

• Computer crime (cracking, file corruption, etc.)
• Protecting dissidents from political reprisal
• File sharing (warez, personal files, pornography, confidential files, illegal or counterfeit software, etc.)
• To better protect the privacy rights of citizens from targeted and mass surveillance
• Sale of restricted goods on darknet markets
• Whistleblowing and news leaks
• Purchase or sale of illicit or illegal goods or services^[20]
• Circumventing network censorship and content-filtering systems, or bypassing restrictive firewall policies"

Deadly Undertaking
Romantic Suspense
with a touch of the paranormal

I read an article about the secret web. I didn't believe it because it sounded like something in a spy novel, not in real life. But, sure enough, this amazing concept was a reality. I found it to be an excellent way to ......Oh, sorry I can't tell you since it would be a spoiler in my romantic suspense novel, Deadly Undertaking. (See how I wove this shameless plug into the IWSG blog post?)

In 2020 we have a window named "incognito," so browsing will remain secret and no one knows who is using it for searches. Doesn't that sound so James Bondish? 

And yet, the incognito window is something to use while browsing for keywords for your latest book or to update your older books. Keywords will pop up from everywhere not based on your browsing history. The search will reveal words beyond your personal interests. It isn't the Darknet, but I do feel like a secret agent when snooping in the incognito mode, and it feels great! 

Secret Agent
Image by OpenClipart-Vectors
from Pixabay 

<Looking around to see if someone is watching over my shoulder> Shhh...I'll tell you how to find the incognito window if you promise not to snitch on me. Click on the 3 stacked dots on the right of your Google search bar. You can choose the incognito window from the drop-down menu to go underground. Now, remember to keep it under your hat, kiddo. <wink>

Have you heard of the Darknet? (I won't ask if you are using it.) Have you used the incognito window? In the comment section below, please enlighten us with your experience using the incognito window--unless you want it to remain a secret! 

Click here to read another blog about the Darknet on the Focused on Story Blog.

Click here to visit the IWSG Blog Hop participants.
Thanks for stopping!

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IWSG Blog Hop: Make Mine Mystery

IWSG Blog Hop---the first Wednesday of every Month.

Hello and welcome to the Insecure Writer's Support Group Blog Hop! 

Always on the first Wednesday of the month.

What is the Insecure Writer's Support Group?

Founded by author Alex J. Cavanaugh, the Insecure Writer’s Support Group offers support for writers and authors alike. It provides an online database, articles and tips, a monthly blog posting, a Facebook and Instagram group, Twitter, and a monthly newsletter. To find out more, click this link:  Insecure Writer’s Support Group

The purpose of the group 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. Click here to sign-up to join.

***

June Question 

June question: Of all the genres you read and write, which is your favorite to write in and why?

Plain and simple answer: Mystery

Deadly Undertaking
Romantic Suspense

I got hooked on reading mysteries when I discovered Sue Grafton's alphabet mysteries. I delighted in sorting out the clues and making the guesses on the answer to the who-dun-it. Then along came Janet Evanovich with the hysterical Stephanie Plum series. Those stories spurred me on to writing quirky characters in odd settings --like the Staab and Blood Funeral Home in Deadly Undertaking. 

Mysteries can include so many sub-genres. For some reason, I find myself adding paranormal elements in the latest ones. I challenged myself to write romantic suspense too. And then I combined paranormal and romantic suspense. So much fun to mix it all up. 

I have a blast with our weekly writers group meeting at the local coffee shop, the Koffee Kuppe, just in case you're in Fremont, Michigan, on a Friday morning. We do get carried away brainstorming on how to murder characters or how to catch the bad guy or gal. Patrons have gotten used to us sitting in the back of the restaurant laughing and scheming. They have learned we aren't actually planning a real murder. Er, at least I hope so!

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SPECIAL ANNOUNCEMENT FROM MY, UM, ER, FRIEND(?), IB NOSEY

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Writing is easy.