September #IWSG: Change Is in the Air

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

Question: Have you ever surprised yourself with your writing? (For example, by trying a new genre you didn't think you'd be comfortable in?)

Change is in the air, or it's just pumpkin spice. My favorite season descends upon us like a teenage boy consuming a Taco Bell Quesarito: fast and furious.

In my current work in progress, I decided to switch things up. Because of the idea of branding, I plan to continue with MG mysteries, but will launch this new story in a different direction. Where's the fun in writing if you can't take detours and end up in an alternate dimension? 

Writing contests might be considered "surprising yourself" with your writing when you actually win. 

Over the weekend, I received good news! My current MG mystery (out with many different agents!!) Link Lakowski & the Dead House won third place in the "Awesome Openers" 2017 Rate Your Story Contest. WEEKEND MADE.

I even took a screen shot to savor the moment.

Hope you are trying new things in your writing world!

August #IWSG: Pet Peeves and World Domination

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

This month's question: What are your pet peeves when reading/writing/editing?

My pet peeves consist mainly of slow drivers and teenage boys who make messes and don't clean them up. Oh, sorry, I forgot we were talking about writing and not everyday life. When does school start? Soon. Very soon. 

Okay, then. I'll stick with my editing pet peeve. It's personal. My editing brain needs an off button when I'm drafting. Seriously, someone shoot a tranq dart at me so I can write the first draft without freaking out. I'm 10k into my new WIP and now the editing bigwigs want world domination. "But we have such a long way to go," I keep telling my brain. 

Today, I shut down the inner nerd and let loose the creative geek to steer this story in the right direction.

Only a few weeks left of summer. I continue to spy, er, play tourist around town all in the name of research. Did I mention the Mark Twain Cave is 52 degrees all year round? Since Hannibal has been hotter than Texas lately, I plan to hang out with Jesse James as much as I can. Happy summer!