Wednesday, July 7, 2021

IWSG - School, Marketing, & Getting Pumped

 It's July! Time for the next Insecure Writer's Support Group.


Created by Alex J. Cavanaugh, the IWSG exists to give writers a forum to air their insecurities in order to seek and provide support. All are welcome to join. Simply click on Alex's name and sign up, then be sure to post the first Wednesday of each month.

This month's co-hosts are:

 Pat Garcia, Victoria Marie Lees, and Louise – Fundy Blue!

This month's optional question is: What would make you quit writing?

I'd say school, but I've slipped a few new stories in here and there, so that wouldn't be true. It has made me set it aside temporarily, for the most part, though.

The "political" climate in speculative fiction is off-putting in many ways right now, with people who don't share certain ideas being ganged up on by other writers, and some even being pushed out entirely. That won't stop me from writing, but it's certainly making me narrow my circles and be cautious.

If family needed me and I had to give it up, I'd do it then. Until I could return to it.

As far as insecurities this month, I'm actually feeling pretty hyped up. I'm just about finished with a digital marketing class, and my brain is burgeoning with ways to incorporate what I've learned. I also intend to share a lot of it once I've worked out how to apply it all to the business of writing. I've started jotting down ideas to update my various platforms, including my website, and I've planted some ideas in my husband's head so he can start thinking about how to make the technical parts happen so he can help me rebrand. That will be the first thing I do when I finish my degree, and I'm absolutely pumped to get started. Not only that, but I feel like once I have a firmer grasp on how to make it all work for writers, I can help other people, too.

Onto submission stats. In June, my stats were:

2 submissions

7 rejections

0 acceptances

12 stories currently on submission

I need to turn around those 7 that are just sitting there and get them submitted

One of the stories on submission has been out to that market since August. It's at 308 days out. The longest I've ever had a story out before this was 324 days before receiving a rejection. It's looking like this one will set a new record. 

What would make you stop writing? What are your insecurities? What's making you excited right now? Are you submitting?

May you find your Muse.


18 comments:

Yolanda Renée said...

You are one busy woman! I love that you'll share what you've learned. I need to get to learning. I think I've relied on osmosis for too long. LOL

Jemi Fraser said...

Yay on the schooling -you're totally rocking it!
It's hard to hear of writers acting like that - we need to support each other. That type of drama never helps anyone!

Emma L Gill said...

Wow, nearly a year on submission. My patience would have worn out long before now! I am writing new pieces to sub at the moment. It's hard to envision the wait when the piece is new and exciting. Good luck with them all, and good words :)

Alex J. Cavanaugh said...

Glad you are excited to start a new journey as an author!

Natalie Aguirre said...

Family and job or school could make me stop writing too. That's awesome that you took a marketing class that has inspiried you and your husband can help with the technical aspects of it.

Chrys Fey said...

Way to go for taking a digital marketing class! I’m definitely interest in hearing what you have to share.

Michelle Wallace said...

Sounds like you've been busy with various things, besides submissions.
Love the different forms of productivity; digital marketing class, updating of online platforms and re-branding ideas.
Keep at it!
Looking forward to you sharing what you've learned.

Elizabeth Mueller said...

Ooh, a digital markeing class. Fascinating!

After over a year, I'm finally writing again--hooray! And it's nothing I've really tried before (short stories don't count): Sci-Fi Romance! Ha! I usually stick to realistic fiction, historical, fantasy...

♥.•*¨Elizabeth Mueller¨*•.♥


♥.•*¨Elizabeth Mueller¨*•.♥

Beth Camp said...

What an amazing balancing act. Hope you will have some break this summer -- as well as responses to those pending submissions! You have lovely collections of your short stories. Kudos on your productivity. Sad to hear the philosophical split that separates so many just now is also affecting writers. I've always thought that sf/fantasy was about imagining different worlds/creatures/situations in ways that help us understand who we are and what is possible. Sigh. Please keep writing! Planning! Thinking! Learning!

Liza said...

"...until I get back to it." That says it all.

S.A. Larsenッ said...

You are doing amazingly! I'm sure at times it feels like the act of juggling it all is just too much, but those are the times where we grow the most. (Sounds good, I know right? LOL) But true. I hear you on the ever shrinking gate of the writing arena where the political aspect goes. It's part of the reason I've pulled back, too. I want to write truth, raw and from the heart. Lately, that honest approach feels threatened. Hugs to you and many applause!

L. Diane Wolfe said...

Hope you share some of those marketing tips.

Joylene Nowell Butler said...

I did stop writing once for family. I forgot about that. Shannon, I used D2D and KDP and Books2Read recently. I really like D2D. I'm continually learning so who knows where I'll be next week.

Olga Godim said...

That digital marketing class sounds like it could be very useful. I can't wait to see how you're going to implement it.

Nick Wilford said...

I must not get out enough, I didn't know about this issue of politics you mention. It doesn't sound good. My idea of spec fic is to be an escape from all that.

It sounds like you've got exciting plans with your marketing. Hope it all pans out well.

Diane Burton said...

Being careful about your associates makes a lot of sense. All that negativity isn't good for your creativity. Best wishes on your marketing plans.

mshatch said...

I will likely continue to write as long as I can. It's part of who I am now.

Hilary Melton-Butcher said...

Hi Shannon - it's as wise as possible to stay away from provocation ... but you're doing so much. Good luck with school, marketing and submitting - all the best - Hilary