Hey, writers! I didn’t want to miss this month’s post, but I’ll be brief, because I’m moving to South Carolina in 5 days *EEP*
I’ve lived in Columbus, Ohio for 24 years–that’s a whole lotta STUFF that I’ve accumulated. And my stuff had babies when I wasn’t looking. But soon I’ll be in the sunny south, yahoo!
HAPPY TWELFTH BIRTHDAY, INSECURE WRITER’S SUPPORT GROUP!!! 🎈✨🎉🎊🎁🎂🍰
September 6 question: The IWSG celebrates 12 years today! When did you discover the IWSG, how do you connect, and how has it helped you?
Wow, 12 years! I’ve been part of this amazing support group for about 10. I believe a fellow author with my publisher, Nicki Elson, turned me on to the group. Nicki became my critique partner, and the IWSG became an inspiring source of support!
While the self-depracating group name drew me in, the welcoming writers led me to return month after month. I so appreciate author Alex Cavanaugh’s investment in creating and maintaining this group. I’m also grateful to writers who often stop by to comment and encourage, including Natalie Aguirre, Pat Garcia, emaginette, Janet Alcorn, Diane Burton, Joylene Butler, Cherie Colyer, Nick Wilford, Olga Godim, Louise Fundy Blue, Esther O’Neill, and so many more.
Image by gerald at Pixabay
As a therapist, I have facilitated support groups, but it’s even more fun to vent my angst as a member of this writing support group. The IWSG gave me the courage and skills to start self-publishing in 2014, and I’m so glad I made the leap. This group has also inspired imagination, helping me to consider new ideas and opportunities from book covers to genres to editing.
So thank you, Alex, and all you impressive and interesting writers. Your support and collegiality mean a lot to me!
Water is special to me. As a competitive swimmer, I’ve spent countless hours submerged in clean chlorine. My favorite vacations include lounging on the beach, absorbing the warmth of the sun while the rumbling rush of waves lulls me to contemplation.
Ohio has been my home for over 40 years, but the water and my family lure me closer. I’m moving to South Carolina!
Not only will I live 30 minutes from the shore, but I will revel in quality time with my sister and her family. I’ve missed many moments of my three nephews growing up in Chicago, and I want to witness my niece develop into the vibrant person she’s becoming.
And I’ll take my nephew doggie, Auggie, on meandering walks.
Though I’ll start a psychology private practice eventually, I’m thrilled my employer offered a full-time position working remotely (video visits).
Saying goodbye to friends is tough, and I’m crossing my fingers that my feline companions, Tess and Tux, don’t meow for the entire 11-hour drive. But I’m up for a new adventure! The setting for my next novel will definitely be the South Carolina Lowcountry.
If you’ve moved across states, any words of wisdom?
Writers, we all know insecurity and self-doubt. If you’d like to join our supportive community to feel less alone on this writing journey, check out the Insecure Writers Support Group, hosted by Alex Cavanaugh.
July 5 question – 99% of my story ideas come from dreams. Where do yours predominantly come from?
One of my novels (psychological thriller Twin Sacrifice) came from a dream, but I’m more likely to be inspired by various media sources (TV, movies, books, music) and my psychologist career. I enjoy throwing my characters into therapy, the poor things.
The spark of inspiration for the next novel I’ve outlined is a bucket-list swim vacation I took to Baja, Mexico last year, as well as a wildly effective trauma treatment I’m using called cognitive processing therapy.
I hope all Americans had a great July 4th celebrating our escape from tyrannical Brits hehe. I made this Patriotic Fruit Pizza for a friend’s cookout.
This month’s question: If you ever stop writing, what will you replace it with?
I’m test-driving this question currently, given that I haven’t written since 2021. However, I consider it a break–not a stop. Instead of writing on the weekends, I’ve increased my time listening to audiobooks, traveling, swimming, and meal-prepping with my Instapot. I’d like to socialize more on the weekends, but the pandemic has seemed to decrease friends’ availability. 😦
If I stop writing for realz, I’ll likely replace it with another creative endeavor like pottery painting. And with or without writing, I hope to spend more quality time with my 5-year-old niece!
May 3 question – When you are working on a story, what inspires you?
One reason I became a psychologist is that people fascinate me. How do our childhoods affect us? Why do we engage in behaviors that end up hurting us? How can we rise above past wounds to become the best versions of ourselves?
I feel the same way about the characters I write. The challenge of developing rich characters with flaws, fears, and triumphs truly inspires me.
I also feel inspired by…
song lyrics (mostly I pay more attention to the melody, but sometimes I hear lyrics that summarize my plot or character conflicts perfectly)
books, TV shows, or movies that engage me or make me laugh and cry (The Chain, The Golden Couple, Ted Lasso, Friday Night Lights, Prison Break, Top Gun Maverick)
funny / weird things people say (I recently heard the term “big dick energy” and just have to use that in my next book)
taking walks while listening to music lets my writer mind wander in all directions plot and character (but lately I’ve listened to audiobooks on my walks…and I haven’t written anything…hmm)
April 5 question – Do you remember writing your first book? What were your thoughts about a career path on writing? Where are you now and how is it working out for you? If you’re at the start of the journey, what are your goals?
Though I enjoyed creative writing as a child, I never intended to become a writer or author. But the world of fan fiction swept me up in its encouraging community, much like the support of this wonderful writer’s group. I posted one chapter at a time about characters in a favorite TV show, and fellow fans cheered me on (even though my writing was quite amateur at first).
As a psychologist, I listen all day. As a writer, I guess I had a lot to say, because the words poured out of me. After two long, rambling fan fiction stories, I started writing my first novel featuring an ex-psychologist who fell in love with a felon she met at her parole officer’s doorstep (With Good Behavior). And I was lucky to find a small publisher, Omnific Publishing, to release my baby into the world in 2010.
I have since published nine novels and two short stories. Writing is a side gig for me, not a career. Since the pandemic began, I have taken a hiatus from writing. But I recently started outlining novel #10, once again featuring a female psychologist character and a male swim coach character whose trauma she helps heal. I can’t wait to dive in!
I had let my Microsoft Office license lapse on my home laptop, but I finally bought it again–the first step to getting back to writing. Writers, do you use Microsoft Word or another application?
March 1 question – Have you ever read a line in novel or a clever plot twist that caused you to have author envy?
All the time! I like to highlight quotes that speak to me–maybe clever similes, hilarious dialogue, or psychological truths–and post them in my reviews on Goodreads.
Here are a couple of favorites:
“Have you ever held a three-year-old by the hand on the way home from preschool?”
“No.”
“You’re never more important that you are then.” ― Fredrik Backman, Anxious People
~*~
The conductor stepped up, tapped twice on the rostrum, and great hush descended. I felt the stillness, the auditorium alive, expectant. Then he brought down his baton and suddenly everything was pure sound. I felt the music like a physical thing; it didn’t just sit in my ears, it flowed through me, around me, made my senses vibrate. It made my skin prickle and my palms dampen.
Today’s question: If you are an Indie author, do you make your own covers or purchase them? If you publish traditionally, how much input do you have about what goes on your cover?
I was fortunate to start my author journey with a small publisher known for their eye-catching book covers. Omnific Publishing created this cover for my debut novel, With Good Behavior, which portrayed the romance element between two convicts well, I thought. (Some thought the handcuffs represented BDSM, ha ha!)
I was mostly pleased with Omnific’s receptivity to my input, though I did want a larger image of a couple kissing underwater on my new adult swimming romance, Streamline:
When I turned indie in 2014, I knew the importance of a professional cover, meaning I would never try to create one on my own. I hired my publisher’s book designer, Coreen Montagna. We didn’t intend to focus on hot shirtless men, but that was the best image we could find for the first book, and sequels just *had* to follow the same format.
For my latest novel, Rivals, I had a lot of input with my graphic designer friend, Dan Irons, including the design for my first audiobook cover:
Of all the publishing tasks, creating book covers can be challenging, but also a blast! (At least more fun than writing blurbs.)
I’m getting my post up late today because I just returned from visiting family in South Carolina. I’m feeling discombobulated as I juggle unpacking, grocery shopping, and laundry in the midst of returning to work after a restful holiday.
January 4 question – Do you have a word of the year? Is there one word that sums up what you need to work on or change in the coming year?
My word of the year is MOVE. I plan to make a big move in my life, and that brings excitement and anxiety. I’m still hoping to get back to writing, but I don’t know how that will figure in with my plans.
Jennifer Lane Books 