Looking Back at 2017 #IWSG #writerslife

The first Wednesday of every month is officially Insecure Writer’s Support Group day.

The 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!

IWSG Asks: As you look back on 2017, with all its successes and failures, if you could backtrack, what would you do differently? 

If I could turn back time and start 2017 over again, I'd like do a lot of things differently. Regarding my writing career, I'd write more. A lot more. In fact, each year that is my New Year's Resolution. 

Write more. 

In reality, my family life tends to get chaotic and my writing often gets pushed aside to deal with all the situations created by my husband and my four children. My kids are involved with Cub Scouts, Boy Scouts, Girl Scouts, bowling, baseball, chorus, band, and craft workshops just to name a few. My calendar is packed with committee meetings, lessons and activities nearly every day of the week. My husband's hobby is collecting hobbies which keeps him busy on his own when he's not working, so I'm left with taking care of everyone, making sure everyone has what they need and gets to where they need to go mostly on my own. Keeping the household running smoothly has become a full-time job, one with no income, benefits or appreciation.

If it sounds like I'm making excuses not to write, I'm definitely not. Somehow, I always manage to squeeze writing time in between all of this. A few minutes here or there, maybe an hour if I'm lucky. I've written 3 stories this year of varying lengths. I've submitted all 3 for publication. I've got one rejection, one acceptance, and one request for a full manuscript this year. Not too bad in my opinion, considering what little time I have. It just gets frustrating knowing that I could do so much more if I had a little help and support. I've tried negotiating with my family for more writing time. That hasn't worked out well. My four kids are still little (between the ages of 2 - 11), so they don't understand how important it is to me, yet. My husband has work and his band and other commitments which doesn't allow time to watch the children or take them to any of their activities so I can write in peace and quiet. I have no other family. Everyone else in my family and my husband's family has either died, moved out of state or has too many health issues to lend a helpful hand with my chaotic life.   

Although, I don't have the kind of family support that other writers might enjoy, I'm stubborn at not giving up and still manage to write...just not as quickly as I'd prefer. I have an immense file and notebooks filled with ideas for stories and book series that I'd just love to get working on. I know the time will come eventually. My children will grow and become more self-sufficient each year. In sixteen years, I might even be able to write for more than an hour a day. I just hope that my readers are patient.         

Keep a weather eye open for Pirates: A Boys Behaving Badly anthology.
Coming in January 2018!

Be sure to visit the other writers in the 

Insecure Writer's Support Group!

I write sensual paranormal and historical romances. Interested in learning more about my stories? Become a VIP Reader by signing-up for my newsletter where you'll learn about my new book releases, updates on my works-in-progress, writing tips, book reviews, contests, and other fun book-related info!

Happy Writing!

Tricia

You've Got to Start Writing to Finish #NaNoWriMo #IWSG

The first Wednesday of every month is officially Insecure Writer’s Support Group day.

The 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!

IWSG Asks: Win or not, do you usually finish your NaNo project? Have any of them gone on to be published?

Today is the start of NaNoWriMo! For anyone unfamiliar with NaNo, according to their website:

National Novel Writing Month (NaNoWriMo) is a fun, seat-of-your pants approach to creative writing 

On November 1, participants begin working towards the goal of writing a 50,000-word novel by 11:59 PM on November 30. 

Valuing enthusiasm, determination, and a deadline, NaNoWriMo is for anyone who has ever thought about writing a novel

I've had the great pleasure and hair-pulling torment of having participated in NaNo for several years now. Some years I win, other years I barely manage an oddly mangled outline. However, I usually go on to finish those novels...eventually. I love participating in NaNo every year, despite having to struggle to find time to get those extra words written within this month. I'm not a fast writer. I'm a mother of four children ages 2, 7, 10, & 11. My family loves to keep me busy and on my toes with very little free time to call my own. I don't have the writing time like I used to even when I worked management in retail full-time. However, I love writing and I enjoy supporting other writers with their goals which makes this a fun event for me even if I'm not keep up with my word count goal.

Some writers are blessed to have families and friends who support their writing endeavors. Some writers struggle to find 10 minutes of their day to scribble a few lines. Whether we write 50 words or 5000 words a day, we are all writers. The important thing is to start writing! Equally important, in my mind, is to finish what you start!

That's what I think is so important about NaNo. There are many people out there who have always wanted to write a novel. This is a great time to start! When you have so many others encouraging you to keep going! Don't give up! Write that story!

And among those many people out there who have started writing, how many actually finish their projects? Those are the true winners! Whether they do it in a month or a year, I don't think it matters. To finish a WIP is one of the greatest accomplishments and one of the best feelings in the world.

Having that novel published? Icing on the cake!

I've had two of my NaNo projects published. The Witch's Thief and The Witch's Kiss. Hopefully, I'll have more to add to that list soon.

Do you NaNo? If you do, you can check out my NaNoWriMo profile and we'll write every day this November! Have you finished or published any of your past writing projects? Let me know in the comments! I'd love to check them out!

Be sure to visit the other writers in the 

Insecure Writer's Support Group!

I write sensual paranormal and historical romances. Interested in learning more about my stories? Sign-up for my newsletter where you'll learn about my new book releases, updates on my works-in-progress, writing tips, book reviews, contests, and other fun book-related info!

Happy Writing!

Tricia

Summer Writing Blues #AuthorUpdate #amwriting

Summer is in full swing! Many of you are currently on vacation or have plans for a nice summer escape whether its traveling somewhere or staying at home to simply turn the pages of a good book. Or maybe both!

My favorite part of summer is lounging outside on a comfy porch swing and reading the day away. Honestly, though, I haven't had much opportunity for such luxuries. My kids are keeping me rather busy this summer. Busier than most other summers.

And, oh, how my writing has suffered as a result! I barely wrote a word for the entire month of June! It's been constant chaos and noise (varying from laughter to crying, depending on which of my  children are getting along and which are fighting). I have 4 children (ages 2, 6, 9, & 11). Then there's swimming lessons, kid's craft workshops, Scouting activities, trips to the library and local museums and summer camps. I'm also working with my oldest this summer to prepare him for the upcoming school year. Last year, he struggled with his grades and I don't want him to suffer the summer slide that the teachers tell me often happens to students during vacation.

Needless to say, my typical writing during the baby's nap time schedule has gone with the summer wind. I resorted to writing at night again, after the kids go to bed, but I continue to struggle with this time frame since I tend to fall asleep early. Really, I love them dearly, but my kids exhaust me! Since writing at night isn't working to my liking, my next option is negotiating with them.




Maybe this will work...

"If Mommy doesn't get any writing time, 

then kids don't get any PlayStation time."

I haven't dared implement this...yet. It's my secret weapon. I'm still trying to figure out which part of the day I'm going to squeeze in a writing hour or two before I make my demands.

Also, to encourage me to buckle down and make this work, I've joined Camp NaNo. With the summer Nano, I can choose my own word count goal to suit my needs and change it as I see fit. I can also choose my own type of writing project. I've started a new novel. Realistically, I know that I won't be able to churn out 50k so I've shaved that in half for a goal of 25k this month. I'm hoping that will give me a nice chunk to begin and I can continue on in August.

I did well enough last week. This week, I've faltered. The Summer Writing Blues hit.

No time. No quiet. No escape. 

However, I know I won't give up. I've tried to in the past, it just doesn't stick. So, I'll figure it out. It might take me all summer, but I'll find my precious writing time. Even if I have to resort taking 5 to 15 minute sprints I used to write when my two oldest boys were toddlers.

I'll make it work. 

That's what writers do. 

Happy Reading!

Tricia