January #IWSG

 

 

Come join Alex J. Cavanaugh and the Insecure Writer's Support Group. We discuss our fears, insecurities, ups and downs of the writing process and post the first Wednesday of every month! http://alexjcavanaugh.blogspot.com/p/the-insecure-writers-support-group.html

Remember, the question is optional!!!

January 6 question - Being a writer, when you're reading someone else's work, what stops you from finishing a book/throws you out of the story/frustrates you the most about other people's books?

 

The awesome co-hosts for the January 6 posting of the IWSG are Ronel Janse van Vuuren , J Lenni Dorner, Gwen Gardner Sandra Cox, and Louise - Fundy Blue!

As a librarian I put down a lot of books. Yes, you read that right! I'd like to answer today's question in reverse. Here are some reasons a book ends up in my "unputdownable" category.

It hooks you immediately. The plot thickens. Best sellers don't mess around with 365 pages before the first plot point. The characters can stand alone. Each word, sentence, and paragraph moves the story forward. On the nose dialect doesn't exist. Each chapter contains three main bombshells: goal, conflict, disaster. 

Over Christmas break I discovered a bestseller that did not disappoint! Meet THE INHERITANCE GAMES by Jennifer Lynn Barnes... 

 What are you reading this month? I will try to visit blogs this evening or by this weekend. What are your goals? Happy New Year!

December IWSG: Don't Quit Your Day Job

 

 

 

Come join Alex J. Cavanaugh and the Insecure Writer's Support Group. We discuss our fears, insecurities, ups and downs of the writing process and post the first Wednesday of every month! http://alexjcavanaugh.blogspot.com/p/the-insecure-writers-support-group.html

Remember, the question is optional!!!

December 2 question - Are there months or times of the year that you are more productive with your writing than other months, and why?

 

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

When the weather turns chilly with a hint of fog and mystery, my inner writer comes to life. October through December are the best months for me to get cracking on new book ideas. However, with a full time job, my writing is on hold to some degree. Squeezing in writing time on the weekends or at night keeps me going forward. 

My job allows me tons of reading time. I'm okay with that for now. Everyday I am surrounded by thousands of treasures new and old. It's a dream job but not ideal for cranking out novels.

I don't plan to quit my day job anytime soon. With my entire summer free and all holidays off, I can write without interruption. (Okay, kids and cats and life...never mind) 

I'm planning on outlining a new novel this weekend. Hopefully, I can crank out a J.K. Rowling inspired kids novel during my two week Christmas break. Lofty goals. 

My plan is to visit blogs tonight. Merry December!

#IWSG NOVEMBER: Write the Book You Want to Read

                                                    

 

Come join Alex J. Cavanaugh and the Insecure Writer's Support Group. We discuss our fears, insecurities, ups and downs of the writing process and post the first Wednesday of every month! http://alexjcavanaugh.blogspot.com/p/the-insecure-writers-support-group.html

Remember, the question is optional!!!

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?

 

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

"Write the book that you want to read."

This quote sums up the reason I write. When I run out of good books to read, I never panic, because I always fall back on my writing. Crafting a novel is the beginning of an exciting journey! 

I don't write to change the world. I write to escape, to enjoy life, to lose myself in a good book. 

Hope you had a wonderful Halloween! Can't believe it's already November. Anyone doing NaNo? I discovered another middle grade mystery series. I'll let you know next month my thoughts. So far, it's promising! 

October #IWSG: Better than Christmas Morning

                                                     

Come join Alex J. Cavanaugh and the Insecure Writer's Support Group. We discuss our fears, insecurities, ups and downs of the writing process and post the first Wednesday of every month! http://alexjcavanaugh.blogspot.com/p/the-insecure-writers-support-group.html

Remember, the question is optional!!!

October 7 question - When you think of the term working writer, what does that look like to you? What do you think it is supposed to look like? Do you see yourself as a working writer or aspiring or hobbyist, and if latter two, what does that look like?

 

The awesome co-hosts for the October 7 posting of the IWSG are Jemima Pett, Beth Camp, Beverly Stowe McClure, and Gwen Gardner!

October is better than Christmas morning. Watching Hocus Pocus for the hundredth time never gets old. Don't judge me. I live for this time of year! 

Lately, my life consists of reading to myself (I guess that's better than talking to myself) and to my students. I love being surrounded every day by thousands of my favorite things...BOOKS and FALL LEAVES. My perception of the term working writer is writing full time with no other job. That's not gonna happen anytime soon. 

With so many responsibilities this year, it's getting harder to dedicate my time to being a full-time writer. I may jump on the NaNo bandwagon this November to finish a novel I started a few months ago. 

As a librarian of two schools this year, it's been challenging, but so worth it. When boxes of books come in, it's like Christmas morning. (We got hundreds of new books this year!) The looks on the kids' faces when I put them on the shelves is priceless.

Are you enjoying the best month of the year? Reading any suspenseful mysteries this October? 

Found these classics this fall.

#IWSG September: I WISH!

 

Come join Alex J. Cavanaugh and the Insecure Writer's Support Group. We discuss our fears, insecurities, ups and downs of the writing process and post the first Wednesday of every month! http://alexjcavanaugh.blogspot.com/p/the-insecure-writers-support-group.html

Remember, the question is optional!!! 

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

 

My awesome co-hosts for the September 2 posting of the IWSG are PJ Colando, J Lenni Dorner, Deniz Bevan, Kim Lajevardi, Natalie Aguirre, and Louise - Fundy Blue!

If I could choose one author to be my beta partner, I'd pick one of the best young adult novelists of our time, Jonathan Stroud. (I wish!)

Lockwood & Co. has seven books in this series. So, if you're looking for binge-worthy books, I've got you've covered. He writes these supernatural thrillers set in an alternate London where ghosts appear from dusk until dawn. Kids are employed as ghost hunters, because only the children can see the problem. Sounds cliche, but they're one of kind, I promise you that. 

His use of vivid and realistic descriptions in characters and settings take you away from this world and transports you to another. (You won't want to leave!) These page-turners will have you up at night, reading until the very end. 

Please don't ask me how many times I've read this series. I hope all is well in your world. School is starting next week. This librarian can't wait to read to all of her kiddos! 

August #IWSG: Where Have You Been All My Life?

Come join Alex J. Cavanaugh and the Insecure Writer's Support Group. We discuss our fears, insecurities, ups and downs of the writing process and post the first Wednesday of every month! http://alexjcavanaugh.blogspot.com/p/the-insecure-writers-support-group.html

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?

The awesome co-hosts for the August 5 posting of the IWSG are Susan Baury Rouchard, Nancy Gideon, Jennifer Lane, Jennifer Hawes, Chemist Ken, and Chrys Fey!



I am opting out of this month's question. Remember last month's post when I asked the question, "Where have all the good books gone?" Well, let me tell you what happened. While perusing my local thrift stores for lightly used books to add to my library, I discovered a whole new series. (You wouldn't believe the books I have found over the years!) I screamed like a girl! Two books out of the six-book series sat there on the shelf, begging to be bought. Teenage spy school for girls? Yes, please! 

Currently on book four and I'm forever hooked. Ally Carter's New York Times best-selling Gallagher Girls series has everything I love about a good Young Adult novel: mystery, intrigue, secrets, plot twists, surprise endings. I have one question for these books published in 2006. "Where have you been all my life?" 

Life is picking up speed as our schools reopen this month. Stay safe out there! 

Read any good books lately? (I have!)

July #IWSG: WHERE HAVE ALL THE GOOD BOOKS GONE?

Come join Alex J. Cavanaugh and the Insecure Writer's Support Group. We discuss our fears, insecurities, ups and downs of the writing process and post the first Wednesday of every month! http://alexjcavanaugh.blogspot.com/p/the-insecure-writers-support-group.html

July 1 question - There have been many industry changes in the last decade, so what are some changes you would like to see happen in the next decade?

The awesome co-hosts for the July 1 posting of the IWSG are Jenni Enzor, Beth Camp, Liesbet, Tyrean Martinson, and Sandra Cox!

To answer the above question, I would love for the world of publishing to return to basic story telling. So many authors want a platform to spew their rhetoric or doctrine. I get sick of people trying to sell a message to the masses. In the last few decades I remember reading for fun. The top selling books were Harry Potter, the Alex Rider series, Lockwood & Co. For instance, Diary of a Wimpy Kid debuted thirteen years ago. Hands down, it's still the most checked out book in my library. Kids want to laugh, and they want to relate to the characters. 

The simplicity of reading for the pleasure of the page has fallen out of fashion. I'm not saying we can't have depth to our writing or a message to give to children. But when it becomes the obvious driving point behind the story, I roll my eyes. Why do I feel this is an uphill battle? Where have all the good books gone? This remains my whole reasoning for reading my favorite books over and over. Call me old school if you want. Not every book is a dud. I relentlessly hunt for good reads. It's my job! This is my opinion on the changes I'd like to see in the book industry. 

On a more positive note...I've been offered the head librarian position of another elementary school in addition to my current school librarian job. I'm honored that they trust me with twice the number of books and twice the kids. I will divide my time between the two schools and I couldn't be happier!! 

How's your summer going? Read any good books lately? Ready for school to start? Need a vacation?