Wednesday, July 6, 2016

IWSG and All Things Nice

Time to jump into the IWSG pool!


The Insecure Writer's Support Group is the brainchild of Alex J. Cavanaugh. He, his clones, minions, friends, and fellow authors make it an amazing event every month.

Purpose: 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!

And we’re revving up IWSG Day to make it more fun and interactive! Every month, we'll announce a question that members can answer in their IWSG Day post. These questions may prompt you to share advice, insight, a personal experience or story. Include your answer to the question in your IWSG post or let it inspire your post if you are struggling with something to say. 
JULY 6 QUESTION: What's the best thing someone has ever said about your writing?

Great question!

We (or is it just me???) tend to focus on our needs and weaknesses a lot of the time. It's important to remember that we have strengths too.

I recently gained a new critique buddy and have been exchanging chapters of our current WIPs. It's a lot of fun working with other writers and each crit buddy and beta reader brings something different to the table.

This new buddy gave me an awesome compliment in a recent email... I think you are a certainty to get this published. It's quite clear you've mastered your writing craft.

Wow! As you can no doubt understand, I've been smiling ever since! 

How about you? What positives have you heard recently about your writing?
Remember to check out this link to find other IWSG posts!

68 comments:

Alex J. Cavanaugh said...

Welcome to the IWSG, Jemi!
If she thinks you have mastered it, then it's only a matter of time before you are published.

JeffO said...

That's very nice! And yes, it is important to remember the positives (that way we can keep doing them!).

Heather R. Holden said...

Aw, what a fantastic compliment! No wonder it left you smiling...

T. Powell Coltrin said...

That comment would keep me going, too. Keep it going, girl! I need to find a critique group.

L. Diane Wolfe said...

And I bet it's one of those big, silly-happy grins. Congrats!

Gail M Baugniet - Author said...

Hearing someone say you have mastered your writing craft is indeed a high compliment. Congrats! Even more so for acquiring a new critique partner. Those aren't easy to come by and worth their weight in gold.

Crystal Collier said...

Yay! I love it. That's exactly the kind of thing we all want to hear. You rock, woman.

Michelle Wallace said...

Welcome to the IWSG, Jemi!
What a great comment!
That's reason enough to smile...like a Cheshire cat!
Happy IWSG Day!
Writer In Transit

Elizabeth Spann Craig said...

A wonderful compliment! Keep holding onto it to power you through your summer writing!

Rachna Chhabria said...

Hi Jemi, welcome to IWSG. That's such a lovely compliment. I said that to my crit partner for a novel I critiqued. I remember my words "You are sure to get an agent with this book." And he got the agent. I had not said that for his earlier two books.

Yes, we should focus on our strengths and not just weaknesses.

Rachna Chhabria
Co-host IWSG
Rachna's Scriptorium

Jemi Fraser said...

I hope so, Alex! Waiting on having a few books ready before I head out!

Jemi Fraser said...

So true, Jeff!

Jemi Fraser said...

Still am! :)

Jemi Fraser said...

I'll be smiling for a bit! :)

Jemi Fraser said...

You've got it!! :P

Jemi Fraser said...

Thanks Gail! Crit buddies are indeed incredible!!

Jemi Fraser said...

It did for sure!! :)

Jemi Fraser said...

Thanks Michelle!!
Cheshire Cat all the way :)

Jemi Fraser said...

I will! I've been diving in deeply! :)

Jemi Fraser said...

Rachna - that gave me a bit of a chill! :)
Focusing on those strengths is a challenge

Joylene Nowell Butler said...

Welcome, Jemi. Sounds like you've found yourself a wonderful and supportive crit partner. Hang on, they're a true gift. Happy IWSG Day.

C.D. Gallant-King said...

Sweet! I wish people said such nice things to me. ;-)

Welcome to IWSG!

www.cdgallantking.ca

Chrys Fey said...

A comment about mastering your craft is awesome. :)

VR Barkowski said...

What an awesome compliment, Jemi! Make sure you hold onto that email and revisit it when you're feeling insecure.

I just realized how long it's been since I've visited. I've missed you!

VR Barkowski

Michael Di Gesu said...

HI, Jemi,

What an AWESOME compliment! I'm sure it was well deserved. I bet you finish that first draft in record time. LOL

All the best with your new project and crit partner!

Jemi Fraser said...

I did! and I will! :)

Jemi Fraser said...

I'm sure they will! :)

Jemi Fraser said...

Agreed - it totally made my day! (week, month, year...)

Jemi Fraser said...

I will!
I know! I thought the same when I saw your name on the IWSG site this morning!!! It's been too long - we'll have to do better :)

Jemi Fraser said...

Thanks Michael - I hope so! It sure made me smile :)

Anonymous said...

Such wonderful words to hear. I'd be smiling from ear to ear too. Why is that we tend to only focus on the negative? It's harder to stay focused on our positives. Not sure why. Maybe we think if we do, we'll be thought of as ego freaks or something.

Happy IWSG Day!

Elsie

Anonymous said...

That is high praise. Of course it will happen. :)

Carol Kilgore said...

Cool! One of the things someone told me in a review was that my characters reminded her of the ones Nora Roberts creates.

Pat Garcia said...

Hi,
My writing coach/book editor gave me praise about my progress. I was floored because I know she doesn't say things just to make me feel good. She is a tough cookie and coming from her, what she said was a big compliment that I accepted.
Shalom aleichem,
Patricia

Jemi Fraser said...

Elsie - I wish I knew why we focus on the negative - maybe because it's easier to believe? It shouldn't be, but it is!

Jemi Fraser said...

You're a sweetie - thanks! :)

Jemi Fraser said...

Oh!!!! That's an awesome compliment!!!!

Jemi Fraser said...

That's wonderful, Pat! When you get that praise from a tough source, it is a great feeling! Enjoy it :)

Nas said...

A wonderful compliment, Jemi! And of course it will happen! All the best!

Yolanda Renée said...

It's great to concentrate on the positive! Congratulations, I've no doubt you'll achieve your goals! Each compliment pushes us closer to our goals and great critique and beta readers make all the difference!

Denise Covey said...

Jemi I was so pleased with the compliment. I know you've worked long and hard perfecting your craft. I wish you every success in publication! And great that you have good CPs and betas! :-)

Jemi Fraser said...

Thanks so much Nas!! :)

Jemi Fraser said...

They do indeed! Don't know where I'd be without my crit buddies!!

Jemi Fraser said...

Thanks Denise! You're so sweet! I love my crit buddies!! :)

Nicki Elson said...

THAT is a wonderful testament to your writing.

I love my crit partner, too. :)

Jemi Fraser said...

Aren't crit buddies the best??? :)

Margo Kelly said...

How did I miss that there was a question for this month's IWSG post? Where was that explained? Oops. Happy writing nonetheless!

Stephen Tremp said...

Hi Jemi, Crit Buddies are great! Better to find those mistakes before releasing a book with a bunch of typos, errors and discrepencies.

Fundy Blue said...

Hi, Jemi! Welcome to the IWSG! I really like the point you made about how important it is that we remember our strengths! Is so easy to angst over our weaknesses. I see from your bio that you are a teacher in Northern Ontario. That caught my eye, because I spent part of my childhood in Northern Ontario: Lansdowne House, Lac Seul, and Sioux Lookout! I should have guessed you were a teacher right away when you focused on strengths! I'm a retired third grade teacher! I hope that you find the IWSG as rewarding as I have!

Lynda R Young as Elle Cardy said...

oh my gosh, what a wonderful critique response!!! Congrats, Jemi!

Jemi Fraser said...

LOL - I don't think it matters Margo! The point is in the mutual support and sharing!! :)

Jemi Fraser said...

Absolutely! I also need them to tell me when I'm being overly cheesy!!

Jemi Fraser said...

Thanks Fundy Blue!
How nice to meet a former northerner (although I haven't been that far north!) :)
Teaching does show us how to find those strengths, doesn't it. So nice to meet you - and I'm totally jealous of your current location!

Jemi Fraser said...

I know! Still has me bouncing :)

Susan Gourley/Kelley said...

That is a very encouraging thing to hear. I bet it comes to mind whenever you get discouraged.

Jemi Fraser said...

It will! :)

Sharon K. Mayhew said...

What a great comment! I hope that means you are going to start querying???

It's funny about self doubt...it's so much easier than believing in yourself. :(

Jeffrey Scott said...

This is something I really need to do. Get a beta reading buddy. So far I've been relying on my own viewpoint, as to whether something is good or not.
It's a great compliment you received. :)

Jemi Fraser said...

Maybe! Still not sure if I'll query or self-pub. I really want to have 3 stories ready to go at once.

Jemi Fraser said...

Jeff - betas & crit buddies are the absolute best! I've grown so much more with them than I ever could have on my own!!!

cleemckenzie said...

That is an excellent comment. So glad you have critique partner you can work with and who will support your writing.

Jemi Fraser said...

Me too! I don't know where I'd be without my crit buddies :)

Beth said...

That's amazing! I truly hope that happens - and that you come to Toronto on a book signing tour!

Jemi Fraser said...

That would be so awesome! I'll let you pick the restaurant! :)

F. Stone said...

Wow, and truly wonderful feedback.

klahanie said...

Hey Jemi,

How's it goin', eh? :)

Your new critique buddy is just the positive tonic in your writing momentum. Awesome stuff, Jemi! I was thinking about exchanging whips, um WIP's...

I've been told by a number of published writers that I have a unique, intimate writing style that "talks" to the one reader and not an audience. That means a lot because I write for therapy in a sharing sense.

Well done to you, Jemi!

Gary :)

Jemi Fraser said...

Feather - I was thrilled! :)

Jemi Fraser said...

Gary - she's awesome! I love discovering a new writer I enjoy!
You and Penny each have such unique writing voices - you definitely speak to this reader!!! :)