IWSG - Time Marches On

Hey, gang! Today marks the 3rd(!) anniversary of the Insecure Writer's Support Group. To say that this group has become a light of encouragement in our community is a gross understatement of its importance.

Like so many artists, writers are often ruled by our insecurities. Our desire to share our creativity with the world is often the very thing that terrifies us the most. Having this group of likeminded individuals--many of whom I look up to a great deal--sharing their trials and successes each month has sometimes been the only thing putting my butt back in the chair to keep writing.

So often I've felt that I was doing this writing thing wrong. That there was some piece to this cosmic puzzle that wasn't included with my set. Then, IWSG rolled around and I'd invariably find that ONE other writer who expressed exactly what I was feeling at any given time. And in our business, a small bit of affirmation can go a long way.

IWSG doesn't just give you spoonfuls of confidence and encouragement, it dishes it out in heaps. (There are over 300 members as of this post.) So if you've ever needed a boost, please click the pic below and give the group a look.

Time Marches On

My insecurity this month really isn't an insecurity, just more of a bitter fact of life. I can't control time for others, only what I do with my own. And I REALLY wish I could stop it altogether sometimes.

I live far enough from my 'growing up' home that I'm only able to visit most of my family once every 6 months (sometimes not even that). I'm the youngest of 4 children, my parents are elderly and not in great health. Every time I visit I wonder how much more time I'll have with them. My nieces and nephews grow an inch (or three) between every visit now. My siblings get a few more gray hairs and wrinkles. When you memorize everything about someone because you think about them all the time, it's jarring when your mental images no longer match up to the real thing.

I have a 15 year old chihuahua named Eddy. He has been by my side for many moves and adventures. I'm losing him, and I'd give just about anything to be able to hit a pause button and keep him with me for another 15 years. A dog that is able to grow old and die in a loving home is a lucky dog, because so many have hard, hard lives. But I'm still greedy enough to always want one more day with him.

We've lost some people in our writing-blogging community of late. People you see flash by in your feeds every day. People you've had conversations with. People who've lifted us up. We grow so accustomed to feeling their presence it's absolutely glaring when it's suddenly gone. My heart aches for their families, because I know they are feeling (x 1,000) what I am about time right now. We just need more of it with those we love. Always.

But that's not how life works. It keeps moving even if we stop.

Sometimes I listen to the wonderful Passenger song "Life's For The Living" when I get overwhelmed with these kinds of thoughts. The chorus really brings me back to the proper perspective.

Don't you cry for the lost

Smile for the living

Get what you need and give what you'r given

Life's for the living so live it

Or you're better of dead

Tears for what we've lost or missed are okay and good. But they won't give us any more time. It marches on and we have to try to keep up as best we can. We only have the moments we are given, and it's up to us to cherish them.

~EJW~

IWSG - Fiction's Dirty Little Secret: Size Matters

Hey, gang! Welcome to your monthly dose of hot mess we affectionately call the Insecure Writer's Support Group around these parts. Not familiar with IWSG? Click the IWSG button below for all the details!

On the E.J. news front, my New Adult contemporary novel, Perfectly Ernest, is releasing Labor Day weekend. (Less than a month away! *dry heaves from nerves*) 

I'd love to have your help spreading the word! Here's a sign up for a book blast/cover reveal. It is scheduled for the last week of August/first week of September. 



Even if you don't have openings on your blog during that two week period, I'll also send some canned tweets and Facebook messages. Any little thing you can do to help me get the word out is greatly appreciated. 

Here's what this story is all about:

From a distance, Ernie’s life seems perfect—he’s a star college baseball player adored by the student body and coveted by professional teams. Up close, he is a disaster. Since the death of his mother, he’s been trapped by a promise he made and forced to live her dream instead of his own. He reaches his breaking point in the biggest game of his young career and sets off a chain of events that will either define or destroy the rest of his life.

Ernie grudgingly joins a quirky campus counseling group that empowers him to heal himself and right his wrongs. By testing old friendships, forging unlikely new ones, and exploring an exciting romance, he begins to unravel the jumbled knot his tangled inner-psyche has become. But old rivals, mental illness, and the risk of a forbidden relationship soon threaten his progress. Will Ernie's new direction and friends be his salvation, or confirmation that he is forever doomed by his imperfections?

Perfectly Ernest is a New Adult contemporary novel with romantic elements by author E.J. Wesley. Ernest offers a smart, funny, sweet, sexy, uplifting, and oftentimes poignant perspective of one person's difficult transition into adulthood. It is a story about overcoming the demons of mental illness and struggling with the profound burden of expectations—both real and imagined. But it’s mostly a tale of friendship, hope, and love.

Add Perfectly Ernest to your TBR!

Fiction's Dirty Little Secret: Size Matters

Click for more info on IWSG!

I have a confession: I have a little bit of a size inferiority complex. No, I'm not talking about naughty things. (Hey, eyes up here!) Nor am I talking about the fact that I'm only 5'6" tall. (Someone has to stay small enough to sit in the middle on road trips. I proudly wear that badge of shame.) 

I'm talking about the fiction I write. You see, I have a series of novelettes out. Each individual story ranges from 12-17 thousand words. They're short by design, meant to be enjoyed like your favorite TV shows or a fun-sized candy bar. A couple of delicious bites that simultaneously curb your craving and leave you wanting more.

I get the occasional complaint that the stories are too short, but those have mostly come from folks who didn't read the product description. (Or don't realize it's an ongoing series for whatever reasons.) By and large, the feedback I've gotten is that they are enjoyable stories by themselves. So no big worries there.

But then I wrote (and completed) my first novel, Perfectly Ernest. I outlined a story and wrote that story to the best of my ability. While I'd originally planned for it to be around 75k, it ended up being 60. Why? Because that was the story. Anything else I would've added would've been filler or fluff in my mind.

So what's the big deal, E.J.? Sounds like you're happy with the results. 

I'm truly thrilled with how the book turned out. It packs the emotional punch I dreamed it would when I first came up with the idea, and also has this weird ability to leave readers feeling warm and fuzzy. (I say weird, because I never planned on this being a feel good story--but I think it somehow is now.) Also, early reviewers are telling me it's a page turner, which is something I always put high on my to-do list.

The big deal is that some readers balk at anything less than 80k being worthy of the title of novel. I've known about the reader size bias for a while. Because of my experience with the Moonsongs series, I know there are readers who won't touch shorter fiction. It's just their preference.

But when an author friend did an informal poll on Facebook the other day, I had my eyes opened to a new kind of size bias: The price Vs size bias.

This friend asked her followers what the single most important factor in making a book purchase was. Many people listed positive reviews, recommendations from friends, and other common factors. But there were many who said they first look at price and word count on the product description.

Most were reluctant to pay more than .99 cents for anything under 80k--no mater what the reviews said. I guess it took me by surprise, because my first concern as a reader is if I'm going to enjoy the story. I've also loved a number of short stories and I realize size isn't going to necessarily indicative of how much I'm going to enjoy a read.

Here's a list of the word lengths for several great novels. I find myself wondering just how many great reads these people are missing out on. Is Vonnegut's Slaughterhouse-Five worth less than a buck because it doesn't hit 50k? A chunk of Ray Bradbury's stuff doesn't hit 70k, neither does John Green's A Fault in Our Stars. The Great Gatsby is around 47k. 

Now, I realize these are certified classics, and that Unknown Indie Author X (ME) is in a different class. But lots of someones have to read these stories before they become classics. Seems like a shame to miss out on something possibly great because of arbitrary things like word count and/or price point. 

Ultimately, this all leaves me feeling a touch vulnerable when it comes to Perfectly Ernest. How many people are going to walk right by it because it's not going to take them a month to read, or because the author had the nerve to charge $3 for it? 

If they saw how much time, grief, and money we spend writing these things, it would probably make more sense. I'm thinking about putting that info in the product description from now on. 

"This book took me 8 months, 3 lost friendships, 17 marital fights, 1 disgruntled dog, 2 neglected children, and $2,500 to produce, advertise, and distribute. Thanks for parting with $2.99 and being entertained for hours. Sorry if my blood, sweat, and tear stains slow you down!" LOL (Actually, not a bad idea...)

What do you think? Does size matter when you're browsing for new reads? What about price? 

~EJW~

IWSG - The Yin-Yang of Writing

Hey, gang! Time for the July Insecure Writer's Support Group. What is the IWSG? Basically, it's a monthly blogging circle of writer folk who sit around the virtual campfire and share our fears, encouragement, and all of the other 'feels' that come with the writing life.

If you'd like to take part, or just learn more, click the button below.

And speaking of encouragement, there are a couple of folks in our community who could really use some this week. If you get a second, please hop over and share some with Shelly and Misha. 

The Yin-Yang of Writing  

Writing is a struggle. But the word struggle doesn't have to be a negative. It's just an active process requiring a lot of effort to attain something we desire.

We struggle with lots of worthwhile things in this world. Being a parent is a struggle at times. A career (both getting there and maintaining it) is a struggle. Falling in love and finding the right partner is often a struggle.

If something is important to you, you'll endure a lot of grief to get it. Writing is no different for those of us who dive into its murky waters. We know it's hard. We know it will be painful. Yet, we still do it anyway.

I love this Goerge Orwell quote, and think it summarizes the desire nicely:

“Writing a book is a horrible, exhausting struggle, like a long bout of some painful illness. One would never undertake such a thing if one were not driven on by some demon whom one can neither resist nor understand.”

I believe there is a certain harmony to it all. Some of the things in writing that are THE most difficult to me are also at the root of my greatest joy and accomplishment. (Sounds a lot like life, doesn't it?)

When things get tough, sometimes it's helpful to look at the flip side of the coin for a little perspective. Here are a few things in writing that are real negatives when I'm struggling with them, but eventually become some of my favorite aspects.

Opening Line/Paragraph

Yin/Negative - Making a good first impression on a reader is HUGE. We know it. They know it. Which is why there is so much pressure to nail the opening of a story. Doesn't seem fair at all when you've written 90k damn good words after it.

Yang/Positive - When you finally get it exactly right, the rest of the story takes on a showroom shine. For me, it's THE moment when I fall in love with my own work--which is something I resist doing throughout the process of drafting. I'm just naturally a self-loather, and it's hard for me to see the positive in my own stuff. So it's a huge deal for my overall confidence.

Feedback

Yin - It really sucks to have your flaws pointed out. Sucks. Hard. And we actually ask people to do it! It doesn't make it any less painful, even when you know it's the only way you're story is going to be as good as you want it to be. 

Yang - After the initial sting has worn off, I really enjoy wading through feedback from critters and editors. Mostly because there's invariably something I did right that I had no idea I'd done right. Plus, it's the beginning of the final plan to make the story great. Once I've identified what's wrong with a story and my writing from several different perspectives, I can get very concrete about how to fix it. Before I get feedback, I have no real idea of a story's potential.

Revisions

Yin - The process of actually fixing it can be torturous. Some projects feel as though you've got more bad than good going on. (Those usually turn into rewrites for me...) Plus, when you're faced with repairing all of the little things you've screwed up for days and weeks at a time, it can take a serious toll on your confidence. Revisions just have a way of turning into a black hole you think you'll never get out of.

Yang - When I finally see the light, and I know I've improved my story exponentially, there's a certain bulletproof feeling that sweeps over me. I know it's maybe not perfect, but I start to believe it'll hold up to just about anything or anyone. What was once a source of major insecurity turns into something close to pride. When I've properly executed a revision plan I'm as high on the mountain as I'll get in the pre-publication phase.

Those are just three yin-yang areas for me, but I have many more. (Reviews! Naming characters! ...) What about you? Do you have any areas in your writing that you struggle with but ultimately lead you to the greatest accomplishment?

~EJW~

IWSG - What Is "Good" Writing?

Hey, gang! It's time for another Insecure Writer's Support Group post. 

What is IWSG? It's writerly peeps gathering together to share tales of inspiration and woe related to this gnarly craft on the first Wednesday of each month. You'll find tips for writing success. You'll find cautionary stories of authors gone insane. You'll find writers beating their heads against their desks, pulling at their hair, and screaming, "Why won't my fingers quit typing these damned adverbs?!!"

All in the spirit of togetherness, of course. :)

Sound like something you'd enjoy being a part of? You can check out who is at the party, and sign up, by clicking the IWSG button below.

What is "good" writing?

If you're a writer, you'd probably agree that good writing is hard work. In fact, we could probably just end this post there and get back to destroying our souls one word at a time. But that's not the entire story, is it?

Maybe we should start by defining what "good writing" actually is.

Did your eye twitch with a compulsive nervous reaction when you read that sentence? Did you dry heave a little? Is there a single tear streaking a jagged path down your cheek? If so, congratulations! You already know the answer: 

NO-FREAKING-ONE has a real clue. 

Oh, lots of smart folks have good guesses. And we certainly know a lot of the components to good writing. (Remember those adverbs I mentioned before? KILL THEM ALL!!!!) However, good writing often comes down to the house Vs home debate. 

A good house has a strong foundation, sturdy walls, a sound roof, basic amenities and comforts, a non-running toilet, and no neighbors. It's easily defined and measured, and there aren't too many identifiable flaws.

A good home, on the other hand, is a much more subjective experience. It's a matter of how well it suits you. Do you like the nap of the carpet? Are your neighbors crazy but also your best friends? Did your kids take their first steps there? The faucet drips, but happens to sound out the exact rhythm of your favorite song, so it's actually a bonus.

The worth of a house is based upon function, form, location, etc. The worth of a home is based upon memories and feelings. Your house might be worth $150,000, but your home might very well be priceless.  

Good writing is much the same, which is why it's such a struggle to create it. Good writing is oftentimes flawed, but you--and more importantly--your readers will love those flaws. 

A story can be mechanically sound, yet have no heart, which translates to what some might call "bad writing". Conversely, a story can have tons of heart, yet be a bit of a mess mechanically, then be praised as "excellent writing." 

So what's to be done? How in the world are we going to create good writing without a blueprint? 

By churning out the words until our fingers ache. By mining the depths of our emotions and exploring the outer limits of our imaginations until we're irrevocably lost. By believing down to our bones that we'll never get it JUST right, but trying over and over again anyway. By learning how to build a good house first, and then figuring out what it's going to take to make it a good home.

One thing I'm sure of: to create good writing is to engage in a beautiful struggle, to wage a glorious battle between determination and self-doubt. Learning comes from getting knocked down, and success is usually built on a foundation of failure. 

So perhaps good writing is actually measured by our scars, bumps, and bruises. "E.J. looks like he just went nine rounds with a pissed off jungle cat, he must be one heck of a writer!" :)

What about you? How would you define "good" writing? Do any of your favorite authors break the rules of fundamentally sound writing?  

~EJW~

IWSG - Failure To Launch

Hey, gang! Time for another Insecure Writer's Support Group post. (Yes, holy poop it's October already...) It's our monthly tribute to wallowing in self-pity and doubt, or what most of us refer to as: writing. 

Actually, it's usually a bit more positive than all that as we try to lift each other out of the pitfalls that plague a life devoted to creating. If you think you'd like to join or learn more about our band of merry misfits, click the pic below.

IWSG - Failure To Launch

Why do we fail? Sometimes a very difficult and complex question to answer. 

A wise woman (my mother) once told me that we only truly fail at the things we never attempt. That logic yields an equally powerful and simple answer to the previous difficult and complex question: Success is in the trying, not the accomplishing. 

TOTALLY didn't jibe with Yoda's "Do or do not. There is no try." by the way. But I like to think of my mother as a Real World Jedi, so I'll side with her on this one. :-)

I've found the advice has played out as almost universally true in my life. I really only view missed opportunities due to inaction or indecision on my  part as failures. When I've decided to get in the game and play--outcome be damned--I almost always feel as if I've won something.

That's not to say I'm a raging success at everything I do. 

Sometimes I win by falling on my face and learning the limits of what I can and can't do...

Sometimes I win by screwing up so much I eventually learn the right way of doing things by default (see also - writing)...

Sometimes I win by feeling just inadequate enough to keep trying until I'm proficient...

Sometimes I win--like a kid touching a hot stove--by simply knowing and understanding more about the world than when I started...

While those aren't the stuff of workplace motivational posters, they're markers of growth in my book. And not standing still, trying, is all I'm usually after.

I bring all of this up for IWSG today, because I think in writing in particular, we're sometimes so terrified by lofty ideas of success and failure that we neglect to even start. 

Maybe we don't want to go up to the starting line because we aren't sure exactly where the finish line is. Maybe the other runners are more accomplished and we feel we won't stand a chance. Maybe we're worried that everyone will have gone home and not notice when we do finally finish the race.

There are so many reasons to not start, and I can't tell you how much success you'll have if you do go for it. But I can promise you, you will fail if you never try.

If you knew you could only measure success by the effort you gave in the attempt, what would you try?

And speaking of trying and being bold, a good writer-blogger friend, Nick Wilford, started up his own editing business this week. Nick is extremely dedicated to the writing craft, and I can say from previous interactions on a project, he's a joy to work with. So I'm sure he'll do great things with his business. If you're interested in learning more about his services, jump HERE.

~EJW~   

IWSG - Marketing FAIL

Hey, gang! My Insecure Writer's Support Group (IWSG) is once again off the mark of the posting day due to to Rachel's interview on Wednesday. But Rachel rocks, so we're just going to roll with it. :)

Not familiar with the IWSG? It's basically a gaggle of writer types who blog once a month about the less-than-awesome aspects of what we do. Sometimes it's encouragement we offer each other, and other times (like in my case today), we just lament the things we suck at.

IWSG is open to all, and it's a fabulous way to connect with some kindred spirits. Click the button below for more info:

Marketing FAIL

Okay, in this day and age of Internet buzz and general overstimulation of the masses, there's not much more useful of a tool for an author to have than good marketing skills. It seems like you're only as relevant as your last tweet, and more known for your Pinterest board shenanigans than your writing. 

Consequently, you need to be able to network. You need to let people know you exist, and more importantly, that your books exist. Standing out in the crowd isn't necessarily a good thing, it's a must thing. 

Problem: What do you do when you really just aren't that good at, or enthused about, celebrating ME?

Don't get me wrong, I fully understand the premise of marketing. I TOTALLY get why it's a good thing. But 99% of the time I live in this fairytale land where readers find you because other readers like you, and unicorns dance with dragons below a crimson harvest moon.

Maybe it's just my farming roots showing, but I kind of just want to plant a seed, make sure it gets plenty of sunlight and the water nature gives it, and then watch it grow into a big ol' fruit tree. Then, in a few years, I'll stretch out on the porch, eat those damned fine peaches, and say, "I remember when I planted that seed!"

I told you it was a fairytale land... it's like one of those Werther's Originals commercials. Except I'd probably have an adult drink in my hand and be laughing maniacally as my Amazon rank skyrocketed. :) 

Anyway, today I felt like giving an ode to those of us who market to the best of our abilities--and still hate and suck at it. Below, you'll find some buttons I've made for the marketing failures--like moi--out there to wear like the champions of ineptitude we are. Share them and rejoice!

More importantly, have a fantastic weekend. :)

~EJW~

IWSG - You Scare Me To Death

Hey gang! VERY excited to be taking part in my first Insecure Writer's Support Group blog hop. If you aren't in the know about IWSG, here's the reals (sorry, been working on my hip cat, jargon-slang and wanted to try it out ... no, it won't happen again):

Click this-here photo & it'll take you to that-there page ... 

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!

Posting: The first Wednesday of every month is officially Insecure Writer’s Support Group day. Post your thoughts on your own blog. Talk about your doubts and the fears you have conquered. Discuss your struggles and triumphs. Offer a word of encouragement for others who are struggling. Visit others in the group and connect with your fellow writer.

So basically, it's a group of writers who feed one another's neurosis by saying, "No, I'm FAR crazier than you are", it's an ode to being a hot mess, it's the mentally disturbed running the asylum, it's----well, now you understand why I had to get involved.

You Scare Me To Death

I'm not a people pleaser. Okay, that's a lie. I truly enjoy making people happy  (makes me feel good to my bones as my grandmother would've said). Maybe more accurately I should say that I'm not someone who needs to be liked. 

The non-Web me is a bit of a smartass. I say what's on mind and have my own opinion about most things. Though I don't usually offer those opinions unless I'm asked, if you do ask you'd better be ready to hear an unfiltered 'E.J.' answer--'cause that's only kind I know how to give.

The result is that I'm a genuine person, but not very PC, and that can ruffle feathers. I'm cool with that. I'll note that I'm not someone who requires others to agree with me for us to be friends. In fact, most of my friends are as different from me as stars are to moons. I guess we just like good conversation that way. :-)

Anyway, that's why my wanting to fit in with my writing peers is so perplexing to me. 

It's probably because I admire you all so much. I know the kind of passion you're bringing to the table every day (I can read it on your blogs), and I see the talent oozing out of everything you do. I see you doing the same things I'm trying to do, and doing them better, with more confidence. 

If I'm being honest, and that's what this IWSG thing is all about, you intimidate me.

Here's a secret: When a random reader tells me what they think about my writing, I'm interested, but ultimately not affected. I've learned to distance myself from that kind of torment. But when one of my writing-blogging friends gives me feedback (or a review) I have a panic attack.

I've been blogging and interacting in the online writing community for a few years now, and 99% of the time I feel I've somewhat earned my spot a the big kids table. But there's always this latent fear that one of you, someone I truly admire, is going to pull me aside and say, "I'm sorry, there was a mistake and I'm going to need your 'I'm A Writer' t-shirt back. The coffee mug, too."

I want to be a part of this group of word warriors--I've worked hard to be one of them. But I don't always feel like I am. 

So naturally I join ANOTHER writing group to subject myself to more of your awesomeness. (Yes, the irony has leapt into the boat and smacked me in the face with its smelly tail.)

~EJW~