insecure writers support group, writing

Gifts for Writers #IWSG

Jennifer Lane

Happy December, writers! Join our monthly Insecure Writers Support Group blog hop, where we vent and lift up. It’s a wonderful community started by author Alex Cavanaugh.

(this is a blog post, not a newsletter, but that reindeer is so dang cute that I had to feature her)

Today’s co-hosts are some of my favorites: Tara Tyler, Ronel Janse van Vuuren, Pat Garcia, Liza, and Natalie Aguirre!

December 3 question – As a writer, what was one of the coolest/best gifts you ever received?

Gifts of support have made the greatest impact on me:

🎄The Insecure Writers Support Group! IWSG is a big factor in keeping me in the writing game, and it’s been a blessing getting to know cool writers like you. A special shout out to Ronel Janse van Vuuren (today’s co-host who invited me to discuss domestic violence on her blog), Natalie Aguirre (also a co-host today, thanks, Natalie!) Louise Barbour (wonderful post), and Alex Cavanaugh for spreading the word about my new release.

🎄My self-publishing team. I’m grateful for pub sisters like Nicki Elson (Bev), my critique partner extraordinaire. I also met editor Jessica Royer Ocken and book designer Coreen Montagna through the small publisher who released my first four novels. Working with a professional editor has definitely sharpened my writing skills.

🎄The gift of readers. That old adage, “You don’t know what you got till it’s gone”? Sadly, I’m living it! Sales for my new release, Low Water, have been deplorable. I’ve heard book sales are down for many authors, but JEEZ. I guess it doesn’t help that it’s been four years since I last published. Or maybe a book about recovering from trauma isn’t commercially appealing. But I have felt fortunate whenever readers have devoted their precious time to try one of my novels through the years.

What are the coolest gifts you’ve received?

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Published by Jennifer Lane

I write sports romance and suspense with a psychological twist.

32 thoughts on “Gifts for Writers #IWSG”

  1. Ooh, you’re right, the IWSG has been a great gift over so many years!
    I hear you on the sales. I got a royalty statement the other day. One book sold, 13 cents in royalties. SIGH. But hey, there’s still the joy of writing! ❤

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  5. Audiences definitely want consistency to keep their attention. In this world of flash-in-the-pan excitement, it’s harder and harder to keep attention.

    Regardless, wishing you a lovely Christmas season!

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  6. ISWG is such a gift! I love how you chose intangibles for your gift. I can’t really speak to the market, but I do know it is hard to stand out right now. But I think you will find the right readers for your book, it might just take time.

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  7. Hi,

    Sometimes a book starts off slowly. It makes us appreciate the book even more when it takes off. You have written a pretty deep book and it is needed.

    Be patient. Low Water’s time will come, because the book is needed.

    Shalom shalom

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      1. It was stupid but here it goes.

        When my son was coming up on three, I gave him a sweater and matching slacks. When he opened the package, he held them up and screamed. It was joyful. He ran at me and hugged me so hard, saying, “Clothes, thank you, Mommy.”

        Who knew?

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  10. Thank you for your kind shoutout, Jen! I’m sorry that your sales have been dismal. May they improve in the new year. Support is the best gift. I really appreciate all the support I’ve received in the IWSG too! Have a Merry Christmas!

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  11. Sorry to hear your sales for Low Water are not reaching high tide. Yes, readers are a great gift.

    Fellow writers are so busy writing their own stuff they don’t read as much as those “pure readers” out there who don’t have writing chewing up their reading time.

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  14. Hi Jennifer: Same book sales experience here in my corner; I think it’s time I shift my focus bacl to the joy of writing. Maybe no one will read the book; but that’s becoming okay. After publishing Wildlife’s Second Chance, I put in so much effort to market the book, and failing, the effects of that stress actually made me feel ill. I’m writing the conclusion of the first two books (combined) – the bad guys still need to pay! In the first book, it was enough to just survive. If you’re chatting with Nicki, please say hello from me. A big Merry Christmas to both of you. 🙂

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    1. Hey Judy, it’s disheartening to put forth effort with marketing and not to reap rewards, especially when marketing seems less fun than writing. I am not eager to start a new novel given the lack of response to this one that took 15 months to write.Good luck on getting even with the villains in your next project! I’ll pass along the hello to Nicki.

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  15. Happy Christmas, and thanks for your encouragement this year, much appreciated. Last week , dark at 3.30 in Scotland, was supposed to be a brilliant mix of hill walking, archaeology, wildlife and – er – writing.

    Laptop left behind, never even made it out of the kitchen, realised as we unpacked….

    Ultimate dark skies detox, with a seal birthing beach too.. Fifty or more, Atlantic greys with their snowy black-eyed pups., all the bull seals just off shore, patrolling

    Will and must catch up, read your books too. .

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  16. Or maybe everyone is so busy with Christmas prep they’ve forgotten to click buy. That’s my excuse!

    I also haven’t published in four years and am realizing this will be like starting all over. Fresh starts are supposed to be fun, right? Ugh.

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