#IWSG: BE BRAVE, I SAY!! #WritersLife

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 - aim for a dozen new people each time. 

Let’s rock the neurotic writing world!

Our Twitter hashtag is #IWSG 

Click on the image above for the full linky list!

The awesome co-hosts for the January 7 posting of the IWSG will be Elizabeth Seckman,Lisa Buie-Collard, Chrys Fey, andMichelle Wallace!

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My insecurity this month: setting up a Facebook party for my January release and asking other authors to co-host. Sure, it's freebie exposure for them, but I felt sure no one would want to join my party. 

I don't have a huge following.

A small # of reviews.

Why wouldn't anyone waste their time (even if it IS only an hour) helping me out??

The true spirit of my cyber buds shone through!! I managed to wrangle ten lovely authors into helping me, and the one that couldn't offered up an ecopy of one of her titles for a giveaway.

Feeling blessed.

While I told myself, the worst they can say is no, I had to pull up my boot straps before groveling. What did I learn? 

It doesn't hurt to ask!!!

BE BRAVE, I SAY!!!

#IWSG - Insecurity, How I Love Thee #WritersLife BIG ANNOUNCEMENT! #Publishing

The Insecure Writer's Support Group - where we can express doubts and concerns without fear of appearing foolish or weak.

Join us the first Wednesday of every month! Click on the button to learn more.

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You'd think that after a certain amount of accomplishments that an author wouldn't feel insecure. You'd think that after numerous rejections and acceptances alike that a writer would be able to hit the 'submit' button on their newest baby and be able to relax while waiting.

Waiting.

The hardest part. Wondering what the acquisitions editor thinks of the story. Will it get beyond his / her inbox - make it through the slush pile?

We start questioning the plot. The characters. We come up with a scene that NEEDED to be included to better drive the story forward. We feel the arc isn't arc-ish enough. The climax sucks. 

Am I alone here?

My alter ego, Lynn Burke, author of (spicy) contemporary romance, sent out her first submission last week. I started biting my nails. Literally. Haven't done that in ages. 

This was my first head-long dive into a new genre, and I was / am scared sh*%-less. All those doubts above flitted around every hour of the day. Talk about annoying.

But then...

The acquisitions editor 'loved' my story. I was offered a contract. It's been signed.

I'm proud to announce that Susceptible to Him, a Risso Family Novella, will be published in February 2015 with Evernight Publishing!

The Risso Family Novellas follow four siblings from Boston's north end, and their desires to find - or avoid - love and all its complications.

I hope you'll follow along! Find Lynn (ME!) on her website, Facebook, Twitter, and Goodreads.

Perhaps next time I send something out, the fingernails will make it through the night.

Doubtful.

~~~oOo~~~

                                                                  

How do YOU pass the time waiting for that rejection / acceptance? Nervous? Confidant? Hope for the best or expect the worst?

#IWSG: A Bit of Edification #WritersLife

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 - aim for a dozen new people each time. Be sure to link to this page and display the badge in your post.

Our Twitter hashtag is #IWSG

The awesome co-hosts for the September 3 posting of the IWSG will be Laura at My Baffling Brain, mark Koopmans, Shah Wharton, and Sheena-Kay Graham. 

And it's our three year anniversary of posting!

~~~oOo~~~

Unfortunately, I'm needing to pre-blog this ahead of time. Heading out of town without the internet. While YEAH! it's also POO!

I won't be able to visit other blogs, but I didn't want to skip a posting.

Wanted to share a few quotes which will hopefully encourage a few who might be READY TO THROW IN THE TOWEL today.

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There's an English word for a beginning writer who never gives up. Published.  - J. Konrath

Keep your dreams alive. Understand to achieve anything requires faith and belief in yourself, vision, hard work, determination, and dedication. Remember all things are possible for those who believe. – Gail Devers

Give someone who's struggling a little encouragement today....

#IWSG Some Days I Feel Like Throwing in the Towel

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!

~~~oOo~~~

It's that time of month again, where we the members of IWSG get to share our woes & offer encouragement.

Today, I'm mostly woes. Sorry.

Summer has obliterated any and all thoughts of forward progress on my latest WiP, Love's Revenge. Having 3 kids at home with me all day every day will do that, I guess. I already talked my publisher into pushing back the release date from November to January, and I'm STILL nervous I won't make the new deadline!!

Sales are non-existent on my previous publishings.

Garnering attention and reviews is tougher than driving a nail into steel.

To top that off, I'm trying to organize a blog tour for my upcoming October release - Secret of the Souls (Pool of Souls #2), and to say it's SLOW going is an understatement.

Some days, I question this little passion of mine called writing. Today? Yup. Big time.

Some days, I feel like throwing in the towel...

~~~oOo~~~

How 'bout you? Ever get down in the dumps over your passion's lack of enthusiasm in giving back for all your hard work? Ever want to toss in the towel & call it a day?

#IWSG A Book Signing? ME?? *gulp* #ScaredYouKnowWhatLess

Our purpose is 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!

Click on the button above to learn more.

The awesome co-hosts for the June 4 posting of the IWSG will be C. Lee McKenzie, Tracy Jo, Melanie Schulz, and LG Keltner!

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Well, folks, It's official.

I booked my first book signing - and I'm nervous as all get-out. It's not for another month, and already I'm worrying my nails to nubs. Why? I'm not a super people person. I get tongue tied and always feel like I say the stupidest things. 

The thought of sitting there while twiddling my thumbs, hoping - PRAYING - someone will stop by makes me feel like this...

Yeah. NOT cool. 

The book signing is taking place at Evangelical Community Hospital's gift shop. I used to work in the pharmacy there, so I'm hoping to at least know a few peeps. Perhaps that'll make my nervousness a little less?

Doubtful.

If any of you live in the Central Pennsylvania area & want to stop by to say howdy, here's the Facebook Page event info.

I'm imagining you all waving your pom poms today, encouraging me, and I'll keep that image in mind for the 'BIG DAY'. 

~~~oOo~~~

Have any of YOU done a signing? Been to one? Suggestions? Thoughts? I'd love some input!!

#IWSG : Why I wanted to hide in a closet and suck my thumb

On the first Wednesday of every month, we post about our insecurities or share encouragement. To join or find out more about the group, click on the image above!

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Well folks, it's official.

I got my first negative review. So bad, that upon reading it I wanted to go hide in a dark closet and suck my thumb. Talk about a heart-sinking moment!

ARCs for Love's Sorrow went out two weeks before release, and the first person to respond - my very first feedback outside beta readers and editors - was slaying to say the least. She said she wouldn't recommend my book to any of her friends.

Why? There's no HEA or even an HFN. 

You see, Love's Sorrow isn't your typical romance novel. It's the first in a series that tells the tale of Anne Tearle and her unexpected finding of love.

Real life love.

Not a gushy, gooey, fairy tale where everyone is joyously happy for the rest of their lives. Anne's story is a journey through many emotions - heartbreaks - all to typical of the 19th century woman. 

Do I give her an HEA eventually? 

Of course I do! It IS a romance series, and everyone who reads romance will tell you the 'rule' of said genre is that everyone must live happily ever after. It's just too bad that reviewer isn't interested in waiting to read about it. Took me a few days (and a few raving reviews!!!) to say to myself...

HER LOSS.

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Stay true to the story your muse dictates. 

You cannot please every reader every time. 

#IWSG My name is Terri Rochenski and I feel inadequate

A special thanks to the ISWG for giving me the opportunity to share with you all today!

Alex and his team of co-hosts for today are Hart Johnson, Chemist Ken, Candilynn Fite, ME, Clare Dugmore, and Lilica Blake!

 

Remember to visit the IWSG page for the day’s post and visit the Facebook page for additional support.

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I image us all sitting in a circle on folding chairs, perhaps a nervous smile or two for those beside us, gearing up to share our insecurities. Glancing around waiting for our meeting to begin, I image some struggle with fear - fear of putting themselves 'out there'. Others' self-confidence keeps them from hitting the 'send' button on a submission. Both plagued me for years, but I took the leap and did both. 

It was worth it.

But now I struggle with another insecurity. Clearing my throat, I think of the words I need to share. 

"My name is Terri Rochenski and I feel inadequate."

Even though I've been through the publishing process six times, I feel inadequate to offer advice to aspiring authors. My critique skills, marketing, blogging, and editing talents are still a major work in progress. 

A few months ago Roane Publishing contacted me wanting to know if I would be interested in acting as their marketing director.

0_O  

(For those of you who don't know, these are my crazy googly 'what the...?' eyes.)

Talk about laughter! What the heck do I know? Sure, I love setting up blog tours - I THRIVE on the organizational aspect of them, but director of marketing?

*snort*

I let Roane know that I'm no expert. I'm just willing to learn. They allowed me to hop aboard with my baggage of insecurity and anointed me with a title, and now I have the opportunity to help others reach their goals of publication. Perhaps I'll get lucky enough to work with one of you sitting around me!

It's been four months, and while I still feel hugely inadequate, I am gleaning every bit of wisdom I can from this experience. 

Keep moving forward, says I. 

We'll never know it all, but it's worth shooting for!

~~oOo~~

Do you struggle with feelings of inadequacy? Do you offer to beta read or critique in fear and trembling? Or perhaps the thought of ripping an aspiring authors' WiP to shreds fills you with sick glee...?