Insecure Writers Want to Know
Have I ever participated in NaNoWriMo? Um…no. I have so many daily demands and pressures, I don’t need another one.
So that’s the easy answer. I write every day. Okay…almost every day. I’m a short story and essay writer who only has one book-length manuscript in the works, my college memoir. I’m on final edits as we speak.
Oh, I have lots of ideas, but I’m trying to put together a short story collection for middle grade. In fact, I’m trying to put together several collections of MG stories. Different topics. Different themes. Then I need to figure out how to sell them or publish them and then how to market them. I facilitate writing events in libraries. I need to create those programs. Then there’s social media.
In other words, it feels like I’m always working. How do you, fellow IWSG writers, find time to create, publicize, and market your own novels? How do you keep up with social media? You all truly amaze me. I would love some tips. I learn so much from you.
My last in-person Workshop Event this year will be at the Maple Shade Library in New Jersey. If you are in the area, please stop by. I’d love to meet you. This is a free writing event for participants.
Here are the details:
Thursday, November 10, 2022, at 2 p.m.
“Backstory in Fiction and Non-Fiction”
Maple Shade Library
200 Stiles Ave.
Maple Shade, New Jersey 08052
(856) 779-9767, ext. 311
Please register for the event at the Burlington County Library System.
Now I’m off to see how you’ve tackled this month’s question. It’s wonderful having a topic to share our thoughts on each month. I am extremely thankful for all of you for being my sounding board and advisors on this writing and publishing journey.
Thanks for stopping by my little spot on the web. Please come again!
This post was written for the Insecure Writer’s Support Group. I’d like to thank our co-hosts for November: Diedre Knight, Douglas Thomas Greening, Nick Wilford and Diane Burton. Please visit them if you can.
Our group posts on the first Wednesday of every month. To join us, or learn more about the group, click HERE.
I enjoy your workshops very much.
Thank you so much, Bill. I truly appreciate your kind words here at Adventures in Writing. Have a beautiful week!
I don’t do a lot of in-person events, so it’s just writing and online events. I guess that helps.
I’m sure online helps tremendously, Alex, with publicizing your work. I always appreciate your comments here at Adventures in Writing. Have a beautiful IWSG day!
Hi Victoria, from just below Scotland,
Your workshops sound great – At last, our local library’s coming to life again. Locked libraries, for the best part of two years hurt almost as much as missing friends. ( including some family)
Market own books ? Hopeless. Not even pebbles, grains of sand on a global beach. . Spot the zero confidence,, yet I want to write, and won’t stop., After my first and only agent died, I couldn’t find another, then met the mentor I call The Spy . WWII codebreaker, so near the end of her life, and came to my rescue over documents in German Gothic. Other writing ? She read some of my work, steered me towards indie,
‘ Publishing has changed. Do ,it now. You’ve no time to lose.
Still trying, Esther
Publishing has changed.
Hello and welcome to Adventures in Writing, Esther! I’m so glad you stopped by.
Publishing certainly has changed. Thank you so much for sharing your experience. I learn from others. Have a beautiful day!
Good luck with your collections and figuring out those events. NaNo does seem like a big demand if you’re adding it to an already full slate.
Yes it is, Nick. And my calendar is truly full of writing and family. It’s always a pleasure seeing you here at Adventures in Writing. Have a great day!
I love that you do workshops. I am just now trying to get my head wrapped around what book marketing takes.But I blog and post my little heart out, hoping that helps the overarching scheme. We’ll see! It’s all a LOT of time and effort, but hopefully worth it. I just try no to lose sight of what I wanted to do in the first place: write. Good luck with your projects!
Thank you so much, Miffie, for sharing your experience here at Adventures in Writing. It’s truly appreciated. Book Marketing. I terrified of it.
I’m sure blogging and posting helps get your name out there. More power to you! Thanks again for your comment. Have a beautiful weekend!
While I applaud those who participate in Nano, I know it would be too much pressure for me. Credit to those who do it though and even more to those who get to 50K.
You’re right, Liza. Bravo to all who participate in NaNo. I can’t do it for the same reason as you: too much pressure. All best to you!
In-person events would have stressed me out with everything else going on. It’s commendable how you juggle everything despite it all.
Thank you, Damyanti, for your kind words. I truly appreciate them. Juggling is the perfect verb choice here.
Thanks for your note. Have a beautiful weekend!
Good luck with your current projects! I don’t think people realize how much work goes into putting on events. I did it for five years for a local writer’s group, with four monthly events and larger quarterly events. It definitely took away from my writing time. But it’s a great “job” that creates connections, too, which is nice.
That’s what I’m hoping for, Shannon. Connections. But–sheesh–what a lot of work. I have a problem with overthinking things, which doesn’t help me. I learned so much from your Short Story Writing book.
Do you give tips and writing prompts and allow time for participants to write stuff? How do you manage 4 monthly events and even quarterly events? Do you use the same presentation, or change it slightly, or do you have many focused events on different topics? Thanks for any help with this.
Have a beautiful weekend!
I hear you about other things in life pulling on you, so I understand not having time to participate in NaNo. Many bloggers have participated and have published novels to show for it.
Yes, Sherry. And good for the other bloggers who participate and complete novels from NaNo. Thank you so much for your note here at Adventures in Writing. Have a beautiful week!