IWSG Blog Hop: What Author Will I Choose to be My Beta Reader?

 

Hello and Welcome to the Focused on Story Blog AND the Insecure Writers 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.

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Question of the Month

Question Mark Image by Peggy und Marco Lachmann-Anke from Pixabay 

September 2 question - If you could choose one author, living or dead, to be your beta partner, who would it be and why?

Ooh, what a delicious question. So many possibilities. I choose Jan Karon, author of the Mitford series. 

• Jan is witty, and I like humor in my writing. 
• She can put words down on the page that draw out so many different emotions while drawing in readers. 
• Her characters are loved by people all over the world. 
• The scenes move the action along. 

Another reason to choose Jan to read and give feedback on my story is she is a gentle person and would probably be kind!

I am anxious to read the blog posts this month to see what authors are favorites of the IWSG bloggers.

  Click here to visit the participants!

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Happy IWSG Day!!

Happy September!!

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J.Q. Rose looking forward to fun events this fall.
Looking forward to this fall! So many things happening. Keep up-to-date with the Rose Courier for news, articles, book and author spotlights, plus giveaways!! 

Click here to sign up. Thank you.

Insecure Writers Support Group Blog Hop: Choosing Genres or Not

Hello and Welcome to the Focused on Story Blog AND the Insecure Writers 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.

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August 5 question - Quote: "Although I have written a short story collection, the form found me and not the other way around.Don't write short stories, novels or poems. Just write your truth and your stories will mold into the shapes they need to be."

Have you ever written a piece that became a form, or even a genre, you hadn't planned on writing in? Or do you choose a form/genre in advance?

Answer: I usually outline my short stories and novels so I have an idea of what genre I will use. 

I enjoy freewriting when I don't plan out anything and just write. Most of the time the topic I start with is not the topic I end with! 

Try it. Start with setting a timer for 5 minutes or 10 minutes and don't let your pencil leave the page or fingers leave the keyboard. This is the perfect exercise if you struggle with writer's block.

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Note: Thanks for stopping in today. I am scheduled for cataract surgery this morning, so I won't be able to reply to your comments or visit your sites until later. 

Happy IWSG Day to all!

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The Rose Courier will be in your inbox next week! Sign up now to get all the latest once a month from J.Q. Rose--updates, freebies, articles and surprises!

Click here to join or click the box in the sidebar.

Thank you!!

IWSG: Be Practical When Publishing Your Book

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

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. 

Alex 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. 

Aug. 1 question 

What pitfalls would you warn other writers to avoid 

on their publication journey?

When your manuscript (ms) is ready to publish, be realistic about how much you can spend to get your book in the hands of a reader. Authors have to be practical. You will take longer to pay for expenses when selling a 99 cent eBook versus selling one for $4.99 because you have to sell a LOT of 99 cent books to earn the cash. The folks at CreateSpace, a POD company, told me to expect to pay at least $400 to get a print book ready. You may have to hire a content editor, a proofreader, a formatter, and/or a book cover designer. Depending on your own skills (or your talented friends), you may get by cheaper. 

I've heard writers say they spent $3000. to get their book published. That may be okay if the expense results in a best-selling book and you have an extra $3000 in your pocket, but foolish if you don't. 

A traditional publisher will never ask you for money to publish your work. They make money by selling books. A vanity publisher is in the business to make money by signing you up to sell you services. Be aware of the difference and don't get caught up in their promises. Be practical!!

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The 5 W's of Story Guest Authors Event

Thrilled to have more guest authors this month and beyond sharing the Five W's of their stories! Come back and discover authors and great reads to wind up the summer. And You may win a book too!!

AUGUST

15	Dr. Bob Rich
22	Diane Burton

SEPTEMBER

12           C. Lee Mackenzie

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 by Email

IWSG: My Writing Goals, Happy Fourth of July

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

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. 

Alex 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. 

July 3 question 

What are your ultimate writing goals, and how have they changed over time (if at all)?

What a coincidence that the topic of this month's question is something I have been churning over and over in my mind. What AM I going to do now in my writing career? 

I began by writing non-fiction articles for newspapers, magazines, and e-magazines in 1996. I loved writing about people and places. Researching, visiting new places and interviewing interesting people fueled my creative yearnings to write. After 15 years of non-fiction articles, I decided to try writing fiction. Afterall, when I was in second grade, I made up some pretty good stories and it was fun.

After my latest mystery was published by BWL Publishing in December, I felt insecure about my next step. Honestly, in this world of terrorism and school shootings, do people want to read a murder mystery? How about more romance? Frankly, I was sick of the same story of  the hero and heroine overcoming conflicts to finally be together.

I have always encouraged people to write their life stories and have taught many workshops on it. Perhaps it's time for me to actually do it. I have started a memoir covering the first year we were in business. The process is enjoyable and allows me to wallow in nostalgia. I enjoyed looking at my life colored now by the 40 years between actually buying the business and the present. New perspectives on people's actions so many years ago and examinations of my responses to them are eye-opening to me. 

So, my ultimate goal is to complete the memoir for my family. I haven't determined if I want to share it publicly, although I do believe the story has an inspiring message for readers.  And some of the people in my story are not pictured in a good light. Memoirs are based on honesty, but I don't want to ruin anyone's reputation. Even if I change the names, residents in the area will still know who I am writing about. Since the persons I am writing about are deceased, they can't object or deny my version of the story. But their families can.

Writing nowadays includes marketing. I plan to continue marketing my published novels, and  I will be chasing down people for reviews. As far as more novels or non-fiction articles? At this moment, I'm not interested. However, those short story ideas are always swirling in my head. !!

How about you? Are you changing your writing goals? 

Do you have plans to celebrate the Fourth of July?

Please leave a comment below. Thank you.

Happy Fourth of July, USA!

 

IWSG: Pet Peeves, Summer Readers Circle

Hello and welcome to the J.Q. Rose blog. 

Time for the monthly meeting of the Insecure Writers Support Group(IWSG) blog hop! 

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
Question: What are your pet peeves when reading/writing/editing?

Pet peeves are things that annoy or bother a person. Some are universal and some are peculiar to one person. I'm looking forward to discovering this group's pet peeves--universal and individual.

In reading I am annoyed when reading a series and and the ending doesn't tie up the loose ends of the story. Instead the author doesn't resolve the conflict, but instead touts the fact you'll have to buy her next book(s) to find out the ending.

In writing, my own writing, I hate the fact I use cliches. I depend on my writers group to discover them and help me re-word the idea in a creative way. Read my post on Lidy Wilks blog, Paving My Road to Writing, and you'll see what I mean....

In editing my work, I use passive voice. That's okay to just get the words down on paper, but it does take longer to find and reword the sentence so it is in active voice. I also overuse the word "just." 

Do you have words you overuse too? Leave a comment below and let us know. Thanks.

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August is a bittersweet month with days of sun and fun still ahead, but also school starts so the carefree time will turn into schedule and commitments. Enjoy what's left of the "good ole summertime" at least in the Northern hemisphere.

You're invited to join the Summer Readers Circle this Friday, August 4,
when audiobook author Miss Mae joins us to answer the questions
about her amazing audiobook, Catch Me If You Can.

Thank you for stopping in to visit the JQ Rose blog. Keep updated by following by email. Leave your email address in the Follow by Email box at the top of the sidebar. I promise NO SPAM!

IWSG Blog Hop: Never Say Quit, Canva--a Useful Graphics Program

Hello and welcome to the J.Q. Rose blog. 

Today is the monthly meeting of the Insecure Writers Support Group(IWSG) blog hop! 

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

 Did you ever say “I quit”? If so, what happened to make you come back to writing?
Yes, I said "QUIT." Probably more than once. The last time I decided to give up on writing, I was so sad, my heart hurt. I was frustrated and angry with my work. Then I discovered Natalie Goldberg's book, Writing Down the Bones. Her words inspired me to pick up a pen and start again. 

I have included some of her quotes from the book. I hope they'll help any writers who are struggling and wondering why they should keep going. Yes, you CAN do it!

Natalie Goldberg quote

Natalie Goldberg quote

Natalie Goldberg quote

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Blog Graphics by J.Q. Rose

If you would like to make graphics for your blog and social media, use canva.com. That's what I used to make these quote graphics. It's free and yes, you do have to play with the program to learn how to do it. It's fun and you can use your own photos for backgrounds.

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Come on back to the JQRose blog this Friday for the Summer Readers Circle Series. Meet or re-acquaint yourself with talented authors and their books.

Summer Readers Circle Series begins Friday, June 2.

Please join us for lively discussions and win prizes and giveaways 

every Friday this summer!

To find out more about Writing Down the Bones: Freeing the Writer Within by Natalie Goldberg, click the image below.

IWSG Blog Hop: Learning About the Darknet, Readers Circle Promo

Hello and welcome to the J.Q. Rose blog. 

Today is the monthly meeting of the Insecure Writers Support Group(IWSG) blog hop! 

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

What is the weirdest/coolest thing you ever had to research for your story?

My weirdest research dealt with learning everything I could about the darknet. This criminal online system was the perfect answer for my character in my romantic suspense, Deadly Undertaking, to sell illegal drugs. As the son of a funeral director, he couldn't allow shady characters stopping at the funeral home to buy drugs during a visitation.

Their presence might tip off his dad he was participating in activities that could put him in jail. And let's face it, that would be bad for business. So he set up his computer in his bedroom and

mail-ordered drugs to customers.

The darknet is a secret internet for illicit activities such as selling and distributing drugs, planning protests, hiring a hit man or a hacker, sex trafficking and about any other "dark" activity you can think of. I had to learn about bitcoins too, a currency used for trading online. I still don't understand that very well. But suffice it to say, it's a way of doing business on the darknet.

Deadly Undertaking 

by J.Q. Rose

Avalable at amazon

Researching this topic was an eye-opening experience for me. 

I had no idea such a huge web of crime existed online. Have you heard of the darknet?

Check out this cnbc article for more information.

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Interested in promoting your book? Be my guest at the Summer Readers Circle on Fridays this summer on the JQ Rose blog. You write a short article about your book or your writing, offer a giveaway, and bio and photos of you and the book cover. Contact me at jqrose02@gmail.com for more information.

The Readers Circle

IWSG Blog Hop: Life Disrupted, FREE Vegetable Gardening Guide

Hello and welcome to the J.Q. Rose blog. 

April showers and storms in your area? Thinking of all those folks enduring strong storms and tornadoes that are roaring through their neighborhoods. 

Today is the monthly meeting of the Insecure Writers Support Group(IWSG) blog hop! 

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.

IWSG Question for the Month

Have you taken advantage of the annual A to Z Challenge in terms of marketing, networking, publicity for your book? What were the results?

I have not accepted the A to Z Challenge. I admire those who do participate in this annual event in April. Best wishes to each one of you!

Life Disrupted by J.Q. Rose

Celebrating today! Gardener Ted received good news yesterday at his six weeks check-up after his hip replacement. The hip x-ray revealed it is in place and healing well. 

Gardener Ted and Me

The surgery and recovery has consumed our lives. Talk about life disrupted. This experience was a lesson in choosing priorities. His recovery was our #1 priority and everything else was secondary. Including writing. I couldn't focus on putting two words together when he first came home from the hospital. 

Caught off-guard by how debilitating such a surgery is to a person, I had no idea he would be rendered so helpless. I didn't know if my big, strong guy could handle being in such a weak condition. I worried about being a good caregiver because the responsibility is huge and constant. But, we have managed the six weeks and I didn't overdose him with medicine or trip him up or even nag--too much. 

He now has permission to drive, so we are making progress. His muscles are still sore, but the hip is good. He's in physical therapy where I hope the exercises will help him to get back to his old self or better!

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We're celebrating the successful surgery by giving away a Kindle format or PDF copy of our guide, Quick Tips on Vegetable Gardening. Ted is certainly looking forward to getting into that garden dirt. How about you?

Quick Tips on Vegetable Gardening

by J.Q. Rose with Gardener Ted

Request a copy of the guide by emailing me at jqrose02 at gmail dot com. I promise, NO SPAM.