IWSG Blog Hop: I'll Never Forget This

 

It’s time for another group posting of the Insecure Writer’s Support Group! Time to release our fears to the world – or offer encouragement to those who are feeling neurotic. We post the first Wednesday of every month. Everyone is encouraged to visit at least a dozen new blogs and leave a comment. Your words might be the encouragement someone needs. 

You're invited to become a member of this supportive group. 

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

Celebrate Canada Day and Independence Day

I hope you have celebrated Canada Day and Independence Day USA this week. In fact, I am blaming the Fourth for my absence from our IWSG blog hop. It has been a wonky week, so I completely forgot about posting on the first Wednesday of the month. I don't know how I could forget it because I've been posting every month for over 10 years! 

Sorry I'm late for posting on the IWSG Blog Hop on Wednesday July 2.

Photo courtesy of kalhh at Pixabay

Thank you to this month's co-hosts: Yolanda Renee, Tyrean Martinson, Madeline Mora-Summonte , LK Hill, Rachna Chhabria, and JA Scott!  I will catch up with you guys next week.

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JULY'S  QUESTION: What's the best thing someone has ever said about your writing?

I will never forget what my first publisher said when she emailed me. She told me she would like to publish my novel, my first mystery novel. That was a catch-my-breath moment because my dream was to be a published author. But the next line is the one emblazoned on my heart. "We love your voice."

Please leave a comment below about the first time your teacher, editor, or publisher contacted you about your writing. How did you react? 

Thank you so much for stopping in today, even if I am a bit late with my July blog post. I will make a note in capital letters on my calendar to remind me to post in  August and beyond...

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Connect online with JQ Rose:

Email: jqrose02 @ gmail dot com

Facebook 

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   Substack

Writers are Business Owners Too #IWSGbloghop

 

Insecure Writers Support Group Blog Hop

#IWSGbloghop

Happy IWSG Blog Hop Day!

Happy April!

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 April 6 posting of the IWSG Blog Hop- Joylene Nowell Butler, Jemima Pett, Patricia Josephine, Louise - Fundy Blue, and Kim Lajevardi!

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I have not published an audiobook, but I am interested in reading the answers to this month's question about publishing and marketing them. I have considered narrating my memoir for an audiobook. But, I have no studio or equipment to do that. Nor any idea about marketing an audiobook. Any advice would be appreciated.

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Gardener Ted and I were Mom and Pop business owners
operating a floral shop, a commercial greenhouse operation and a garden center

Last week's blog post, Celebrate National Mom and Pop Business Owners Day recognized local businesses. I mentioned writers are also business people and could be thought of as operating a small business in the writing industry.

The story of the  first year
we were in the flower business

Did you ever consider your book as a product, a commodity? I imagine you didn't write your first book thinking about selling it. Instead, the story or topic swirled in your brain until you just had to write it down. But because you had a message or a desire to touch people's hearts, you shared it with the public. 

  At the moment the book is published--indie or traditional--it becomes not just "heart work," but also hard work. In order to actually sell a book, you need to convert your mindset from the creative side of your personality to the practical reality of being a producer, a business owner.   Your responsibilities include editor, publisher (indie), marketer, speaker, and bookkeeper. I bet you can add another one in the comments below.

I never realized there were so many "jobs" associated with being a published author until my first novella was published. The good news is there are many tools/resources to help you learn about running this small business- books and online websites, writing groups, and authors who are willing to share their experiences such as the bloggers here at IWSG!

I have listed a some of my favorites below for marketing your books. Please add your favorite sites in the comments section. Thank you.

Writers on the Move 

Training Authors  

Author Marketing Club 

Book Marketing Tools 

Joan Stewart, The Publicity Hound 
The Creative Penn, Joanne Penn

The Creative Penn Podcast
Build Book Buzz, Sandra Beckwith

The Business of Short Stories 
by Shannon Lawrence

Shannon Lawrence helps readers with the business of writing short stories. Click here to read my blog post and my review of her informative book, The Business of Writing Short Stories.

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UPDATE: Quarterly delivery of the Rose Courier--Spring, Summer, Winter and Fall

Click the link below to receive the quarterly Rose Courier edition delivered to your inbox.
Filled with photos, updates, freebies, new book releases and more! Thank you.

In order to find more time for writing and playing, I will not publish the Rose Courier every month. Instead, the edition will be delivered quarterly to your inbox. 

If you have not subscribed to the Courier, yet...

Click Here to receive your first letter the second week in April. 

Thank you!!

The first day of spring

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: The Most Productive Time for Writing

 

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.

#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 to join.

✰✰✰✰

Thank you to the co-hosts for the December 2 posting of the IWSG--Pat Garcia, Sylvia Ney, Liesbet @ Roaming About Cathrina Constantine, and Natalie Aguirre!

Question of the Month

Are there months or times of the year that you are more productive 

with your writing than other months, and why?

My usual writing time splintered when COVID hit. I could not focus on anything for a couple of months. Trying to wring out a sentence, let alone, a whole story or blog post was similar to me throwing a wad of words in the air. When they landed on the paper, they made a jumbled mess. 

Usually, I am more productive during the winter months when we are in Florida. The family is in Michigan so there is no babysitting or family dinners. I don't attend any writers' meetings or Bible studies. Those are all available in our area, however, getting away for the winter is similar to the way I felt when going to church camp as a kid. No responsibility. And I like to keep it that way, so I can concentrate on writing, reading and playing.

BIG NEWS!

Arranging a Dream: A Memoir Winter Book Tour kicks off this Friday, December 4.

I am so excited to hit the road and visit bloggers and readers during the Virtual Book Tour for my new release from BWL Publishing, Arranging a Dream: A Memoir. 

December 4--Multigenre author Sandra Cox will be my first host on the tour on Friday, December 4 at Sandra's Place. Click here to join us for a lesson on fresh flower arranging. A lucky commenter will receive a free copy of the memoir too. You could be the one!

I could not have taught anyone how to arrange flowers when we purchased the flower shop and greenhouse operation in 1976. I knew nothing about flowers and GT (who now can be known as Greenhouse Ted as well as Gardener Ted) grew flats of flowers and veggies in his own little hobby house attached to the back of the garage. Why would the owners of the floral shop even consider selling the place to us? I don't know, but I do know they probably regretted it. Talk about conflict in a story. There's plenty in this one.

December 16--I'll be popping in for a Question and Answer session with my friend and memoirist Nan Sanders Pokerwinski. In fact, her award-winning memoir, Mango Rash, inspired me to publish my memoir. When you stop by, be sure to take some time to browse through her blog for amazing photos and interviews. Click here to find us at her home in the northwoods of Michigan on December 16.

The December edition of The Rose Courier will be delivered next week. 
Click here to keep up-to-date with JQ Rose, 
read articles, meet new authors, get freebies and more.

Thank you for stopping in today.  Click here to visit bloggers participating in the IWSG Blog Hop.

Happy December!

Happy IWSG Day!

IWSG Blog Hop: Writing to Discover and Understand Me

 

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.

#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 to join.

✰✰✰✰

The awesome co-hosts for the November 4 posting of the IWSG are Jemi Fraser, Kim Lajevardi, L.G Keltner, Tyrean Martinson, and Rachna Chhabria!

Question of the month

November 4 question - Albert Camus once said, “The purpose of a writer is to keep civilization from destroying itself.” Flannery O’Conner said, “I write to discover what I know.” Authors across time and distance have had many reasons to write. Why do you write what you write?

I just finished my final manuscript for my memoir, Arranging a Dream: a Memoir, and sent it off to my publisher yesterday. Do you feel like I do when I "let it go" out into the world? Scared to hear comments about it, but glad that I have the opportunity to enrich a reader's life with my words.

Arranging a Dream: a Memoir by J.Q. Rose

Official book launch January 1, 2021

I have written mysteries to entertain readers, but along the way, a message comes through without my knowing it until the book is done. A memoir, also known as creative non-fiction, is so different from writing fiction where everything is made up. The writer can go hog-wild and write about alien worlds, space operas, contemporary romance and no one cares if it's true. I stay away from historicals because I know the readers are well-versed in the era and can pick up on details that are not true to the times.

A memoir tells the truth about real life. That is very difficult for a fiction writer! A memoir only covers a slice of life, not the entire life from beginning to present. 

I wrote my story thinking it would be for my kids. I wanted to encourage our kids to dream big for their lives. I chose to write about the first year we were in the flower business. That was our dream--to be entrepreneurs in the greenhouse business. Somehow, we fell in love with a greenhouse operation attached to a flower shop. What's your passion? Find your passion and go for it. 

As I wrote it, the story turned into something like fiction because I had the character, me, and conflicts, the previous owner and not knowing a thing about business or floral design, and such a great setting. I thought this story could inspire folks not to give up on their dreams. To go for it. That's when I decided to approach my publisher to see if she would consider publishing my memoir, and she said yes. So the book's official launch date from BWL Publishing is January 1, 2021. What a way to start the new year, eh?

"I write to discover what I know."--My discovery, as I looked back through the lens of time, is how much the previous owner and I were alike. In fact, I treated the young couple who bought our business just like Hattie treated me! She was condescending to me and took on the role of my sixth-grade teacher always finding fault.

Now I know why--because they, like us when we bought Hattie's business, wanted to change things. I understand why Hattie would get upset with us. Change is hard. The fear that the change will ruin the business for the new owners and for the seller is real. I never made that connection until I finished the book. 

Memoir writing does that for those who visit events through a new perspective--time. Writers discover more about themselves during the journey. And that's what it is--a journey for a new understanding.

I hope you will try it. So much fun sharing the good old days with friends and family and getting their perspectives on what occurred so many years ago. Believe me, each person will have a different recollection about past experiences even if you were there with them. 

November is National Life Writing Month

November is National Life Writing Month. Time to break out a journal or notebook and make some entries about your life. If you don't know how to begin, google "life story writing prompts" or "memoir prompts." 

Your Words, Your Life Story: A Journal for Sharing Memories
by J.Q. Rose

I can also offer a shameless plug for my book on telling your life story which helps spark memories. I cannot help it. I am a life storytelling evangelist!

Click here for the book, Your Words, Your Life Story packed with tips to get you started and keep you going on your journey.

 And an invite to my private FB group for life storytellers. Click here to join Telling Your Life Story and Memoirs Circle.

Thank you for stopping in.  Click here to visit more participating bloggers.

IWSG Blog Hop: To Read or Not to Read--That is the Question

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.

***

Question for December 4

December 4 Question 

December 4 question - Let's play a game. Imagine. Role-play. How would you describe your future writer self, your life and what it looks and feels like if you were living the dream? Or if you are already there, what does it look and feel like? Tell the rest of us. What would you change or improve?

A timely question for me this week. I just released my “heart work,” Your Words, Your Life Story: A Journal for Sharing Memories, a journal to record life stories. I call it my "heart work" because my passion is to encourage sharing the memories of a lifetime with family and friends.

When I was in a writer's group many years ago, a woman brought her great, great, great, great grandfather's diary to share with us. I believe it was written in the early 1800s. He was a minister living in London and a prolific writer. He described his everyday life in that era, peering into bookshop windows wishing he could afford to purchase those beautiful books. I can't remember exactly everything she read from the diary, but I do remember realizing how amazing it was to be able to step into the real world of a 19th-century gentleman. Not fiction, but his actual experience in those times. The diary was a treasure to me and to the minister's family.

This was a turning point in my life. I wanted to record my life stories for my kids. They wanted to know the story of how their dad and I met--a blind date, about our childhoods in small rural towns in Central Illinois and more.

I couldn't stop there because writing about the good old days and seeing my life through a lens at a different time allowed me a new perspective on experiences. I started presenting workshops.to encourage others to examine their lives and share their life experiences for family and future generations. 

The best part was not the teaching, but the times when participants read their stories to the group. Some so funny we laughed at the experience and others so poignant we had tears in our eyes. And these pieces were written by ordinary people living ordinary lives. 

Because the support of the participants to those who shared their writings was so helpful, I have established a Facebook group to those interested in telling their life stories and memoirs. You can ask questions, share your stories, offer suggestions and share tips. Plus we'll have fun with prizes and games. Click here to join the private group, Telling Life Stories and Memoirs Circle.

My dream soon became to teach more people how life-changing and satisfying sharing memories can be. I decided a book based on my workshops could reach around the world. After learning how popular low content books such as journals and planners are, I decided this was the path I had longed for.

Thus, my dream actually is a reality this week when I kick-off the book launch for Your Words, Your Life Story. When I was planning the book launch I was as giddy as a little kid. I never had this feeling when my mysteries were published. I was filled with pure joy knowing I would reach more folks all over the world and help them preserve their legacy for their children and family.

Take a peek at the book--8000 words with lined pages for journaling.

Your Words, Your Life Story is available in paperback at amazon

ISBN 978-1702360579

AMAZON LINK 

During the book launch I will be giving away this book at the stops along the way, so I am happy to offer a lucky commenter a free copy of Your Words, Your Life Story. right here on the Focused on Story blog. I can send you a PDF or if you are in the US and want to use the book as a journal, I can mail you a printed copy. Just leave a comment below that you are interested in having the book. I will select the winner of the drawing on Sunday, December 8 after 10 pm EST. Good luck!