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:
Welcome to the IWSG, Jemi!
If she thinks you have mastered it, then it's only a matter of time before you are published.
That's very nice! And yes, it is important to remember the positives (that way we can keep doing them!).
Aw, what a fantastic compliment! No wonder it left you smiling...
That comment would keep me going, too. Keep it going, girl! I need to find a critique group.
And I bet it's one of those big, silly-happy grins. Congrats!
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.
Yay! I love it. That's exactly the kind of thing we all want to hear. You rock, woman.
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
A wonderful compliment! Keep holding onto it to power you through your summer writing!
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
I hope so, Alex! Waiting on having a few books ready before I head out!
So true, Jeff!
Still am! :)
I'll be smiling for a bit! :)
You've got it!! :P
Thanks Gail! Crit buddies are indeed incredible!!
It did for sure!! :)
Thanks Michelle!!
Cheshire Cat all the way :)
I will! I've been diving in deeply! :)
Rachna - that gave me a bit of a chill! :)
Focusing on those strengths is a challenge
Welcome, Jemi. Sounds like you've found yourself a wonderful and supportive crit partner. Hang on, they're a true gift. Happy IWSG Day.
Sweet! I wish people said such nice things to me. ;-)
Welcome to IWSG!
www.cdgallantking.ca
A comment about mastering your craft is awesome. :)
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
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!
I did! and I will! :)
I'm sure they will! :)
Agreed - it totally made my day! (week, month, year...)
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 :)
Thanks Michael - I hope so! It sure made me smile :)
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
That is high praise. Of course it will happen. :)
Cool! One of the things someone told me in a review was that my characters reminded her of the ones Nora Roberts creates.
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
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!
You're a sweetie - thanks! :)
Oh!!!! That's an awesome compliment!!!!
That's wonderful, Pat! When you get that praise from a tough source, it is a great feeling! Enjoy it :)
A wonderful compliment, Jemi! And of course it will happen! All the best!
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!
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! :-)
Thanks so much Nas!! :)
They do indeed! Don't know where I'd be without my crit buddies!!
Thanks Denise! You're so sweet! I love my crit buddies!! :)
THAT is a wonderful testament to your writing.
I love my crit partner, too. :)
Aren't crit buddies the best??? :)
How did I miss that there was a question for this month's IWSG post? Where was that explained? Oops. Happy writing nonetheless!
Hi Jemi, Crit Buddies are great! Better to find those mistakes before releasing a book with a bunch of typos, errors and discrepencies.
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!
oh my gosh, what a wonderful critique response!!! Congrats, Jemi!
LOL - I don't think it matters Margo! The point is in the mutual support and sharing!! :)
Absolutely! I also need them to tell me when I'm being overly cheesy!!
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!
I know! Still has me bouncing :)
That is a very encouraging thing to hear. I bet it comes to mind whenever you get discouraged.
It will! :)
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. :(
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. :)
Maybe! Still not sure if I'll query or self-pub. I really want to have 3 stories ready to go at once.
Jeff - betas & crit buddies are the absolute best! I've grown so much more with them than I ever could have on my own!!!
That is an excellent comment. So glad you have critique partner you can work with and who will support your writing.
Me too! I don't know where I'd be without my crit buddies :)
That's amazing! I truly hope that happens - and that you come to Toronto on a book signing tour!
That would be so awesome! I'll let you pick the restaurant! :)
Wow, and truly wonderful feedback.
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 :)
Feather - I was thrilled! :)
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!!! :)
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