Tag: writing

insecure writers support group, writing

#IWSG No NaNo

Jennifer Lane
Thanks to Alex Cavanaugh for starting this awesome Insecure Writer’s Support Group!

I appreciate the efforts of Alex and this month’s cohosts: PJ Colando, Jean Davis, Lisa Buie Collard, and Diedre Knight!

November 1 question: November is National Novel Writing Month. Have you ever participated? If not, why not?

I have never participated, though the idea of writing 50,000 words in one month intrigues me. I find that working a full-time job and carving out some time to exercise every day leaves little free time to write during the week, so I don’t think I could win NaNo as long as I keep my job. (And I don’t even have a spouse and kids to care for!)

Lately, I’ve also been consumed by moving, unpacking, assembling furniture, re-assembling furniture after I screw up, and spending time with my sister and her family in my new home in South Carolina. It was a treasure to trick-or-treat with my 5-year-old niece, who dressed as Barbie (of course). She had fun at a Halloween dance competition but couldn’t compete with a manic T-Rex:

Happy Halloween, happy writing, and good luck on NaNoWriMo for those who accept the challenge!
insecure writers support group

Movin’ on Down #IWSG

Jennifer Lane
Join the Insecure Writers Support Group, started by Alex Cavanaugh

Mochas gracias to the co-hosts for the October 4 posting of the IWSG are Natalie Aguirre, Kim Lajevardi, Debs Carey, Gwen Gardner, Patricia Josephine, and Rebecca Douglass!

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!

Hope you have a great October.

insecure writers support group, writing

Happy 12th Birthday #IWSG

Jennifer Lane
Join us for the Insecure Writers Support Group, started by Alex Cavanaugh.

Thank you to the kind co-hosts this month: Sonia Dogra, J Lenni Dorner, Pat Garcia, Sarah – The Faux Fountain Pen, and Meka James!

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!

Image by Artsybee from Pixabay
insecure writers support group, writing

The Call of Water and Family #IWSG

Jennifer Lane

I appreciate this month’s amazing co-hosts: Kate Larkinsdale, Diane Burton,Janet Alcorn, and Shannon Lawrence!

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?

insecure writers support group, writing

Story Ideas #IWSG

Jennifer Lane

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.

Many thanks to the collegial co-hosts this month: PJ Colando, Kim Lajevardi, Gwen Gardner, Pat Garcia, and Natalie Aguirre!

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.

insecure writers support group, writing

#IWSG Creative Endeavors

Jennifer Lane

Join our Insecure Writers Support Group, the brainchild of Alex Cavanaugh.

Loud applause for this month’s co-hosts: Patrcia Josephine, Diedre Knight, Olga Godim, J. Lenni Dorner, and Cathrina Constantine!

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!

insecure writers support group, writing

Writing My First Novel #IWSG

Jennifer Lane

Writers, join our fun and caring support group, created by Alex Cavanaugh, HERE.

I appreciate the co-hosts for the April 5 posting of the IWSG: Jemima Pett, Nancy Gideon, and Natalie Aguirre!

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!

Image by David Mark from Pixabay 
insecure writers support group, writing

#IWSG No NaNo

Jennifer Lane

Developed by Alex Cavanaugh, the Insecure Writer’s Support Group is a wonderful community that shares the struggle and excitement of writing. Join us!

Many thanks to the creative co-hosts for the November 2 posting of the IWSG: Diedre Knight, Douglas Thomas Greening, Nick Wilford, and Diane Burton!

November 2’s optional question – November is National Novel Writing Month. Have you ever participated? If not, why not?

While NaNoWriMo intrigues me, I have yet to participate. A big reason why is that it’s a busy time of year in my day job. It’s also true that writing every day hasn’t been my style.

I think that writing 50K words in one month is a cool concept, and I would like to try it one year.

For those who have participated in NaNo, what were the best and worst aspects for you?

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#IWSG New Anthology Release, First Love: The Art of Making Doughnuts

Jennifer Lane
Writers, join us for the Insecure Writers Support Group, founded by Alex Cavanaugh.

Thank you to this month’s co-hosts: Kim Lajevardi, Cathrina Constantine, Natalie Aguirre, Olga Godim, Michelle Wallace, and Louise – Fundy Blue!

Congratulations to  Linda Budzinski, Melissa Maygrove, Michael Di Gesu, Sylvia Ney, Katie Klein, Kim Elliott, Templeton Moss, S.E. White,Denise Covey,  and Sammi Spizziri for writing stories about first love in the new IWSG anthology!

I was honored to serve as a judge, and I swooned over the sweet and sexy meet cutes in each story.

First Love: The Art of Making Doughnuts

An Insecure Writer’s Support Group Anthology

The sweetness of first love…

Could a fiercely independent cop’s heart be stolen by the guy who makes her favorite doughnuts? Will a maid who used deceit to snare a mail-order husband get a dose of her own medicine? Can her handsome neighbor rescue a modern-day “princess” from a tenacious ex-boyfriend? Can two strangers in a rideshare be honest enough to fall in love for real? Can you remember your first love? How about your second? Third? Fourth?

Featuring the talents of Linda Budzinski, Melissa Maygrove, Michael Di Gesu, Sylvia Ney, Katie Klein, Kim Elliott, Templeton Moss, S.E. White, Denise Covey, and Sammi Spizziri. Hand-picked by a panel of agents and authors, these ten tales will touch your heart and rekindle lost feelings. Prepare to return to that first love…

Release date: September 6, 2022

Print ISBN – 9781939844880, $14.95

EBook ISBN – 9781939844897, $4.99

Romance – Clean & Wholesome (FIC027270) / Contemporary (FIC027020) / Historical (FIC027050)

186 pages, Freedom Fox Press, an imprint of Dancing Lemur Press, L.L.C.

insecure writers support group, writing

Insecure Writers Support Group: Battling Fatigue

Jennifer Lane
Created by Alex Cavanaugh, join us here.

Thanks to this month’s co-hosts Janet Alcorn, Pat Garcia, Natalie Aguirre, and Shannon Lawrence!

Is the COVID-19 crisis over yet? I’m feeling drained from pandemic fatigue and long work hours. I haven’t written in some time, but I still plan on resuming when the mood strikes.

I hope your writing mojo and energy levels are feeling strong these days!

If not, how do you energize when you’re feeling low?