Wednesday, August 7, 2019

The Insecure Writer's Support Group: August 2019



It's the first Wednesday of the month, and that means it's time to convene another meeting of The Insecure Writer's Support Group. Our leader Alex J. Cavanaugh has rounded up another excellent batch of co-hosts for this month: Renee Scattergood, Sadira Stone, Jacqui Murray, Tamara Narayan, and me!

Be sure to check out the IWSG website for lots of great writing resources!

It's been a crazy month for me, so not much has happened as far as writing is concerned. A few of you already know that my dad passed away last month. That's why I haven't been blogging the last couple of weeks. I'm glad to be back, though. It feels good to be doing something normal again.

And now for this month's optional question: Has your writing ever taken you by surprise? For example, a positive and belated response to a submission you'd forgotten about or an ending you never saw coming?

The life of a writer can be filled with surprises. Story ideas tend to take me by surprise. Sometimes those ideas go to the back burner for awhile because you're not sure what to do with them. Then all of the sudden, something happens and that old idea finds a new life and begs to be made into a reality. That's how my short story "Felix Was Here" came to be. When I saw the prompt for the first IWSG anthology, an old idea came back to me, and I couldn't let it go. It definitely surprised me, and I'm glad I followed through with that idea. However, I was even more surprised when I found out that I won the anthology contest and that I'd get to see my little story in print.

 Has your writing ever taken you by surprise?


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40 comments:

  1. lostinimaginaryworlds.blogspot.comAugust 7, 2019 at 2:54 AM

    How sad to hear of your Dad passing away recently.
    Like yourself, I am trying to return to ‘normal’.
    Well done, winning the anthology contest, may you have many more similar surprises 🌹

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  2. Nancy GideonAugust 7, 2019 at 4:58 AM

    Thanks for co-hosting this month! Don't you love turning those corners for the unexpected inspirational surprise! It's what keeps our creative juices flowing.

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  3. LizaAugust 7, 2019 at 5:56 AM

    I'm sorry to hear about your dad. I hope he got to see your work in print. I loved the "story" of how your story was a success. Thank you for hosting IWSG this month.

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  4. Alex J. CavanaughAugust 7, 2019 at 6:37 AM

    LG, I'm sorry to hear about your father. Prayers for you and your family.
    Your little story won all right. And then another of your little stories won again!
    Thanks for co-hosting today.

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  5. Angela WooldridgeAugust 7, 2019 at 7:28 AM

    Funny isn't it, how some stories write themselves immediately and others take years to brew.
    So sorry to hear about your dad recently passing

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  6. Sadira StoneAugust 7, 2019 at 8:18 AM

    I'm so sorry to hear about your dad's passing. Your post today is a good illustration of why we should never discard story ideas! Happy writing in August.

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  7. L. Diane WolfeAugust 7, 2019 at 8:45 AM

    Normal will take time.

    I loved both of your stories for the IWSG anthologies.

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  8. The Cynical SailorAugust 7, 2019 at 9:03 AM

    I'm so sorry to hear about your father.

    Very interesting to hear about how Felix came to be. I really enjoyed that story.

    Cheers - Ellen

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  9. Cathrina ConstantineAugust 7, 2019 at 9:09 AM

    I'm so sorry for your loss. I lost my father 10 years ago, and my mom last year. It takes so much time to heal, I think of her everyday. Surround yourself with family and love.

    Thank you for co-hosting this month.

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  10. Debra Renée ByrdAugust 7, 2019 at 9:37 AM

    That's exactly how a scene in one of my WIPs came to be there! I had this scene separately and expected it to fit into another story, and it didn't, so I left it out. When I started working out the kinks of a different story, I realized that's where the scene belongs!

    Thanks for co-hosting!

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  11. AnonymousAugust 7, 2019 at 10:01 AM

    So sorry on your father's passing. Prayers and hugs. Take care of yourself and cherish your memories.

    What a great surprise for your little story. Sometimes the idea just needs time to bloom. Thanks for co-hosting today.

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  12. Jacqui Murray--Writer-TeacherAugust 7, 2019 at 10:09 AM

    What a high! I won one writer contest and it made my year! Well, I don't enter many. The one I won someone else entered me into. Yay!

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  13. ElizabethAugust 7, 2019 at 10:27 AM

    This comment has been removed by the author.

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  14. Madeline Mora-SummonteAugust 7, 2019 at 10:29 AM

    I'm sorry for your loss. I know what you mean about it feeling good to be doing something normal again.

    Thank you for co-hosting!

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  15. Raven O'FiernanAugust 7, 2019 at 10:40 AM

    I cannot imagine losing my dad. But the few times I did lose someone important to me, I found getting back to "normal" really important. AND -- Congratulations on the contest! That's fantastic!

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  16. cleemckenzieAugust 7, 2019 at 10:44 AM

    This is a good reminder to never toss out old ideas. You never know when you'll need them Thanks for co-hosting today.

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  17. Loni TownsendAugust 7, 2019 at 10:54 AM

    Those surprise stories make the best anthology submissions!

    Thanks for co-hosting today!

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  18. AnonymousAugust 7, 2019 at 11:11 AM

    Sorry to hear about your dad. Big hugs. <3

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  19. Juneta keyAugust 7, 2019 at 11:44 AM

    Thanks for co-hosting. Sorry to hear about your loss.

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  20. S.E. White BooksAugust 7, 2019 at 12:21 PM

    Thank you for co-hosting this month. I'm glad you're getting back into your regular activities, it really does help.

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  21. HelenAugust 7, 2019 at 12:27 PM

    You bring up something I had forgotten about but makes perfect sense...'time delay' between starting something and finishing it. I remember this being so in college on papers and projects where I would gather data and notes early on (shortly after an assigned paper) but then drag my feet about organizing and writing the actual paper and then I would write like a demon all in one go with some time to edit. I needed the 'time delay' for my sub-conscience to put everything it order. Then the writing was easy. I think I must be doing the same with some stories. Thanks.

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  22. Diane BurtonAugust 7, 2019 at 12:42 PM

    The good and the bad. That's life as well as writing. I'm sorry to hear about your dad passing. Don't be afraid to take time to grieve. (That was advice from the Hospice grief counselor after I lost my 3 Moms withing 18 months.) You can't rush the process. Congrats on the anthology win. Great story!

    Thanks for co-hosting.

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  23. M.J. FifieldAugust 7, 2019 at 12:59 PM

    So sorry to hear about your dad. Love to you and your family.

    Thanks for co-hosting this month.

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  24. Samantha BryantAugust 7, 2019 at 1:06 PM

    I have so many things on the backburner I may have to buy a second stove to keep it all simmering on :-) Thanks for co-hosting! @samanthabwriter from
    Balancing Act

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  25. Pat GarciaAugust 7, 2019 at 1:41 PM

    Hi,
    It always a surprise when you step out and pick up a story again and it wins. It is a great affirmation of your writing ability.
    I am also sorry about your the lost of your father.
    Take care of yourself.

    Shalom aleichem,
    Pat G @ EverythingMustChange

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  26. Heather EricksonAugust 7, 2019 at 2:19 PM

    I'm sorry to hear about your Dad. Thank you for hosting this month. And congratulations on your story getting into the anthology!

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  27. Olga GodimAugust 7, 2019 at 3:16 PM

    Some old ideas just need a tiny boost to unfold into a story. It could be a writing prompt, or a book by someone else, or even a crossword puzzle.
    Sorry for your loss. I know I said it before, in our personal emails, but it bears repeating. I lost my father many years ago, but it still makes me sad.

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  28. Sarah FosterAugust 7, 2019 at 3:30 PM

    I'm so sorry about your dad.
    Most of my story ideas take me by surprise.
    Thanks for co-hosting!

    ReplyDelete
  29. Natalie AguirreAugust 7, 2019 at 4:37 PM

    So sorry for your loss of your dad. That's great to be able to pull out old ideas and give them a new life and direction.

    Thanks for co-hosting.

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  30. kimlajevardi.comAugust 7, 2019 at 6:42 PM

    My condolences on your father. Thank you for co-hosting!

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  31. Renee ScattergoodAugust 7, 2019 at 11:15 PM

    Sorry to hear about your father.

    I love it when old story ideas come back to me like that. :-D

    Thanks for co-hosting!

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  32. Ornery Owl of Naughty Netherworld Press and Readers Roost August 8, 2019 at 4:08 AM

    I'm very sorry for the loss of your dad. My father passed away at the end of 2010. It still doesn't seem real to me.

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  33. KalpanaAugust 8, 2019 at 5:41 AM

    Sorry to hear about your father. It does help to do something normal and routine and the IWSG is a good place. Thank you for co-hosting.
    Happy for you and your top spot in the Anthology.

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  34. Susan Gourley/KelleyAugust 8, 2019 at 9:46 AM

    So sorry about your father. I miss my dad still after 25 years. It does sometimes pay to hold onto all those ideas.

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  35. Roland ClarkeAugust 8, 2019 at 4:09 PM

    You are so pro-active taking on a co-hosting role, plus everything else.

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  36. Lynda R Young as Elle CardyAugust 9, 2019 at 12:52 AM

    Sorry to hear about your dad. My thoughts and prayers go out to you.

    Love it when those old ideas suddenly spark with new life.

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  37. Sabrina A. FishAugust 10, 2019 at 7:11 PM

    I'm so sorry for your loss!

    And story ideas inspired randomly are the very best of surprises! My latest, and most favorite, story idea was inspired by a rather philosophical conversation with my 12 year old about death. I can't wait to get the story written and present it to my readers!

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  38. diedre KnightAugust 11, 2019 at 4:03 PM

    What a wonderful backstory on "Felix was Here" So inspiring! Condolences on the passing of your dad, may you find solace in his presence in your heart.

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  39. F. StoneAugust 12, 2019 at 11:59 AM

    Losing someone you love can be life altering. If nothing else, those painful days can reveal how strong you are. In time you may even find comfort in feeling his presence. The love never dies. Blessings

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  40. Shannon LawrenceAugust 13, 2019 at 3:34 AM

    I'm sorry about your dad. Mine died at the end of May, and I'm still struggling to get creative energy back. I hope you're able to get back to your new normal soon.

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