Wednesday 1 August 2018

August 1 #IWSG, including the question - What pitfalls would you warn other writers to avoid on their publication journey?

Hello all!

Another month, another IWSG. Thanks to Alex J Cavanaugh for this group and for a great place to turn up each month and read awesome posts!

Top Site for Writers

Alex's awesome co-hosts for the August 1 posting of the IWSG are Erika Beebe, Sandra Hoover, Susan Gourley, and Lee Lowery! Please visit if you can.

  And be sure to visit the
Insecure Writer’s Support Group Website!!!

Most of you will have heard/will soon hear that from today, the IWSG has partnered with WEP (Write...Edit...Publish) for the bi-monthly writing challenges. I will be guest posting on the IWSG website on August 6 to tell you more about WEP and how you might like to join the writing challenge. We hope you do.

The WEP team is guest posting on the IWSG website on August 6 where we explain more about WEP. I invite you to swing by and say hello.

Here is the permalink which will go live on August 6:

 http://www.insecurewriterssupportgroup.com/2018/08/writing-together-with-wep-and-iswg.html

Sign ups begin today for the challenge, CHANGE OF HEART. I'm neither insecure nor secure about how this partnership will work out, but many in the IWSG are friends, so I see it's got the potential to make both WEP and the IWSG stronger. 

Follow this link to learn more about it, and/or to SIGN UP for the August challenge.

WEP CHALLENGE FOR AUGUST....CHANGE OF HEART~

THE IWSG QUESTION OF THE MONTH:

By writing together we can help each other avoid the pitfalls that are waiting to entrap the unwary emerging writer. Here's just a couple I've learned/am still learning...
  • Sending a work to a publisher without having it beta read/edited/edited/edited/re-written/re-written...etc


  • Self-publishing without sourcing the best cover you can afford, the best blurb you can create, flawless formatting, clever launching of bulk titles - there's Farcebook groups to help with all of these...
That's enough for now. I must race over to Write...Edit...Publish and see how many of you have signed up for the challenge!


Here's some chocolate for you while you rearrange the words in your manuscript!

50 comments:

Natalie Aguirre said...

That's great IWSG is partnering with Write Edit Publish. Sounds like a great resource for those who are writing more regularly than me.

Denise Covey said...

Hi Natalie. You are most welcome to share snippets from your WIP. That's a good way to get started! Love to have you write for us!

Pat Garcia said...

Good point about not sending a manuscript out to a publisher or an agent that hasn't been beta read. That is so important.
Also congratulations on the partnership with IWSG. It is a change that will develop into a new challenge and a new era for the WEP and for the IWSG.

Shalom aleichem,
Pat G @ EverythingMustChange

Toi Thomas said...

Congratulations on the WEP partnership with IWSG. It's sure to be a wonderful addition.
Also, I'm not seeing the link in the post, but that could just be me.

Alex J. Cavanaugh said...

And we are excited about the new partnership! Can't wait to read next week's post.

Jemi Fraser said...

That's exciting!!
Writing time is hard to come by these days but I'm definitely intrigued :)

Joey Lynn Resciniti said...

I basically live for chocolate so that made it all worthwhile for me!

The Cynical Sailor said...

Chocolate - yum! The WEP and IWSG collaboration sounds like a great idea :-)

L. Diane Wolfe said...

The partnership is a great idea.

And I'm one of those weird people who doesn't eat chocolate. LOL

cleemckenzie said...

WEP/IWSG has launched! How exciting is that?

Susan Flett Swiderski said...

Yep. Thou shalt rush no manuscript before its time.

Good luck with the WEP team-up. I hope it works out well for everyone.

emaginette said...

Took a chance and signed up. Just hope my piece doesn't disappoint. No nerves here... move a long. hehehe

Anna from elements of emaginette

dolorah said...

Sometimes I think I'm rearranging words just to later put them back the same way again. There is such a thing as over editing, lol.

Good luck with the partnership :)

Nick Wilford said...

This is a great venture for both groups. Excited about it!

Pat Hatt said...

Sure signed up away at our bay. Don't trip as you race over!

Denise Covey said...

Heh heh Pat. Thanks for the caution!

Denise Covey said...

So am I Nick. Thanks for taking on the judgeship!

Denise Covey said...

No piece ever disappoints Anna. Lovely to have you!

Denise Covey said...

He he Donna. That's where critique partners come in with guns blazing!

Denise Covey said...

Thanks Susan. I'm sure it'll be a blast!

Denise Covey said...

Yeah, Clem, I'll try to control myself and up my caffeine intake!

Denise Covey said...

How could you live like that L Diane. Coffee and chocolate fuels my soul! Loving the partnership!

Denise Covey said...

Glad you like it! I'm looking forward to the partnership!

Denise Covey said...

We'd be great soul mates then, Joey. Yum.

Denise Covey said...

I'm glad you're at least intrigued, Jemi. You're quite welcome to post an extract from a WIP and get some feedback!

Denise Covey said...

It's going to be great Alex. Already have a couple of new sign ups!

Denise Covey said...

The partnership is only as successful as the wonderful writers who write for us so regularly. Thanks for joining this month!
No one else has complained about the link, so hope it's okay.

Denise Covey said...

I'm afraid I'll never stop polishing my ms, but one day I'll be ready to launch, LOL.
Thanks for taking the WEP/IWSG journey with us, Pat. You're so welcome!

Diane Burton said...

I'm interested in this venture. Sounds intriguing.

Lynda R Young as Elle Cardy said...

Argh!! Chocolate!! I sooo want chocolate right now...

Hilary Melton-Butcher said...

Hi Denise - it is great that the two groups will be joining together for various publications and opportunities: excellent idea. I've signed up - to decide what to write is the next thing ... but I'll get there - and will try not to scrape in at the last minute. Good luck and thanks for all the help you give us - cheers Hilary

Denise Covey said...

We'd love you to join us, Diane.

Denise Covey said...

Yeah, me too. I can taste it...

Denise Covey said...

You're welcome Hilary. You always come up with something great. Thank you for your ongoing support.

Olga Godim said...

Yes, prematurely sending our stories to publishers and agents is probably a sin all writers have committed some time, especially in the beginning of our writing path.

Denise Covey said...

Most probably, but there may be some wise souls who've never committed this sin.

F. Stone said...

Great advice, Denise.

Denise Covey said...

Thanks Feather. Pretty basic stuff. How are you?

Nilanjana Bose said...

Love your sense of humour, Denise! :) Looking forward to the Challenge this months.

Denise Covey said...

(((shakes with hysteria)))

Yolanda Renée said...

I'm rearranging those words now. But that's the fun of writing. And all the mistakes of publishing, that's what makes most of us do it yourselfers. :)
So we'll have no one else to blame!

Nas said...

Yes, this is true. We have to learn to do it ourselves!

DMS said...

Great advice! That comic made me crack up. :
~Jess

Crystal Collier said...

All excellent points. I agree 100%.

Denise Covey said...

Great point. The indie publishers are starting to be noticed and not denigrated.

Denise Covey said...

We so do. Which is what I'm planning to do, but I'm learning first.

Denise Covey said...

Ha, but it's so true...that is, when editors bother...

Denise Covey said...

So glad Crystal.

Melissa said...

A good cover and polished prose is a must for any writer! Great points.

Denise Covey said...

That’s for sure.