Cathrina Constantine's Blog, page 2

@TheIWSG #IWSG #WritingCommunity #WriterSupportGroup #writers #Authors

 

Let’s rock the neurotic writing world! Our Twitter handle is @TheIWSG and hashtag is #IWSG.
Every month, we announce a question that members can answer in their IWSG post. These questions may prompt you to share advice, insight, a personal experience or story. Include your answer to the question in your IWSG post or let it inspire your post if you are struggling with something to say.
Alex's awesome co-hosts are Ronel, Deniz, Pat Garcia, Olga Godim, and Cathrina Constantine!
December 4 question - Do you write cliffhangers at the end of your stories? Are they a turn-off to you as a writer and/or a reader?
Personally, I don't mind a good/great cliffhanger. None of my books end with a cliffhanger per se. In a couple novels I did leave a few unanswered threads, with a premise of another book in the making, though nothing that would drive a reader bonkers over.  LOL.
In my writing process, I tend to end each chapter with a taste of suspense, hoping the reader will continue on to the next chapter.

@TheIWSG #IWSG #WriterSupportGroup #writingcomunity #writerslife

 

Let’s rock the neurotic writing world! Our Twitter handle is @TheIWSG and hashtag is #IWSG. Every month, we announce a question that members can answer in their IWSG post. These questions may prompt you to share advice, insight, a personal experience or story. Include your answer to the question in your IWSG post or let it inspire your post if you are struggling with something to say.
Alex's awesome co-hosts are Diedre Knight, Lisa Buie Collard , Kim Lajevardi, and JQ Rose
November 6 question - What creative activity do you engage in when you're not writing?
To tell the truth, I've put my writing by the wayside for quite a while, due to a number of family issues and a great deal of insecurities. 
My writing is ok, but it doesn't pay the bills. LOL. In fact I spend more $ advertising than making a profit. Needless to say, I sat on my newest manuscript for almost a year and recently sent it off to be professionally edited. In all sincerity, I could've stayed with my publisher. They'd edit, format, and make the cover for me. Instead I chose to eliminate the middleman and self-publish, which means paying out of pocket for these projects. However, I guess I'm a control freak because I like having control over my books. 
As far as sitting down and beginning to write anew, I'm waiting for inspiration to strike. Maybe it will, maybe it won't. Only time will tell. 
In the meantime, I'm crocheting scarves for the grandkids. Taking my old dog for daily walks and getting into the season of concocting hearty stews and soups.  

@TheIWSG #IWSG #writingcommunity #WriterSupportGroup #Writing

Let’s rock the neurotic writing world!Our Twitter handle is @TheIWSG and hashtag is #IWSG. Every month, we announce a question that members can answer in their IWSG post. These questions may prompt you to share advice, insight, a personal experience or story. Include your answer to the question in your IWSG post or let it inspire your post if you are struggling with something to say.
Alex's awesome co-hosts are Nancy Gideon, Jennifer Lane, Jacqui Murray, and Natalie Aguirre!
October 2 question - Ghost stories fit right in during this month. What's your favorite classic ghostly tale? Tell us about it and why it sends chills up your spine.
I Love this time of year. The changing, colorful leaves, the crisp air, and the crushed apples and fry cakes wafting from our local cider mill. 
I like thrillers, scary movies like The Others with Nicole Kidman or the Insidious franchise movies which is somewhat based on factual events. Movies that make the hair on my arms spike and make me jump in my seat when something jumps out. I can definitely do without tons of bloody, gory scenes. It's a yearly tradition to watch Hocus Pocus.

@TheIWSG #IWSG #Writingcommunity #writersupportgroup #writer #author #fall #autumn

Let’s rock the neurotic writing world!Our Twitter handle is @TheIWSG and hashtag is #IWSG. Every month, we announce a question that members can answer in their IWSG post. These questions may prompt you to share advice, insight, a personal experience or story. Include your answer to the question in your IWSG post or let it inspire your post if you are struggling with something to say. 
Alex's awesome co-hosts for the September 4 posting of the IWSG are Beth Camp, Jean Davis, Yvonne Ventresca, and PJ Colando!
I'm On Vacation: Enjoy a couple of Fall pictures:
🍂 AUTUMN 🍂








🍁HAVE A WONDERFUL SEPTEMBER🍁

@TheIWSG #IWSG #writerscommunity #WriterSupportGroup

Let’s rock the neurotic writing world!Our Twitter handle is @TheIWSG and hashtag is #IWSG. Every month, we announce a question that members can answer in their IWSG post. These questions may prompt you to share advice, insight, a personal experience or story. Include your answer to the question in your IWSG post or let it inspire your post if you are struggling with something to say.
Alex's awesome co-hosts are Feather Stone, Kim Lajevardi, Diedre Knight, C. Lee McKenzie, and Sarah - The Faux Fountain Pen!August 7 question - Do you use AI in your writing and if so how? Do you use it for your posts? Incorporate it into your stories? Use it for research? Audio?
I've never researched nor used AI. The thought of using AI feels like cheating or something. 
On a different note: It's taken a long, long time to reach the end of my WIP. I'm at that point of a love/hate relationship with my characters. LOL. I am in the process of searching for an Editorial Service. (It is a YA/Fantasy.) If anyone has any suggestions please message me or comment below. Thank You.   

@TheIWSG #IWSG #writingcommuntiy #writerSupportGroup

Let’s rock the neurotic writing world!Our Twitter handle is @TheIWSG and hashtag is #IWSG. Every month, we announce a question that members can answer in their IWSG post. These questions may prompt you to share advice, insight, a personal experience or story. Include your answer to the question in your IWSG post or let it inspire your post if you are struggling with something to say.

Alex's awesome co-hosts for the July 3 posting of the IWSG are JS Pailly, Rebecca Douglass, Pat Garcia, Louise-Fundy Blue, and Natalie Aguirre!

July 3 question - What are your favorite writing processing (e.g. Word, Scrivener, yWriter, Dabble), writing apps, software, and tools? Why do you recommend them? And which one is your all time favorite that you cannot live without and use daily or at least whenever you write?

I've been using Word forever. I'm comfortable with it. I never tried anything else. I guess I'm a creature of habit. 

I hope everyone is having a nice summer. During these summer months in West Seneca, NY, I'm looking at a sunny, beautiful day. The air is fresh, not humid, and I'm thinking of taking Murphy, (my dog) for a walk. Needless to say, I don't get much writing done because these summer days pass very quickly. Enjoy!!

@TheIWSG #IWSG #WritingCommunity #WritersSupportGroup #WritersLife

Let’s rock the neurotic writing world!Our Twitter handle is @TheIWSG and hashtag is #IWSG. Alex's awesome co-hosts are Liza at Middle Passages, Shannon Lawrence, Melissa Maygrove, and Olga Godim!
Every month, we announce a question that members can answer in their IWSG post. These questions may prompt you to share advice, insight, a personal experience or story. Include your answer to the question in your IWSG post or let it inspire your post if you are struggling with something to say.
June 5 question - In this constantly evolving industry, what kind of offering/service do you think the IWSG should consider offering to members?  
Beta readers and editorial services would be excellent. Of course, compensation for services rendered is a must. When I've completed drafting and self-editing, I'm always searching for an editor to polish up my tangled mess of a manuscript. 

#IWSG @TheIWSG #writingcommunity #WritersSupportGroup

Let’s rock the neurotic writing world!Our Twitter handle is @TheIWSG and hashtag is #IWSG. Alex's awesome co-hosts are Victoria Marie Lees, Kim Lajevardi, Nancy Gideon, and Cathrina Constantine!
Every month, we announce a question that members can answer in their IWSG post. These questions may prompt you to share advice, insight, a personal experience or story. Include your answer to the question in your IWSG post or let it inspire your post if you are struggling with something to say.
May 1 question - How do you deal with distractions when you are writing? Do they derail you?
I get distracted by everything. I can only write when nobody is home. I can't listen to music either. I need complete quiet with my dog laying next to me on the couch. LOL. 🐶 My backyard gives out to woody fields, and I get distracted by every animal that meanders by. Deer. Turkeys. Foxes. Squirrels. Even birds that land on the bird feeder. With that said, I don't deal well with distractions. 
If I get into a good writing zone, then I get lost in the story. When I come out of the zone, I feel like I was in another world. 
How about you? How do you deal with distractions?

@The IWSG #IWSG #WritingSupportGroup #WritingCommunity #Writers #Authors

Let’s rock the neurotic writing world!Our Twitter handle is @TheIWSG and hashtag is #IWSG. Alex's awesome co-hosts are Janet Alcorn, T. Powell Coltrin, Natalie Aguirre, and Pat Garcia!
Every month, we announce a question that members can answer in their IWSG post. These questions may prompt you to share advice, insight, a personal experience or story. Include your answer to the question in your IWSG post or let it inspire your post if you are struggling with something to say. 
April 3 question - How long have you been blogging? (Or on Facebook/Twitter/Instagram?) What do you like about it and how has it changed? 
When I signed my first contract with my publisher, it was highly recommended I acquire a social media presence. And @15 years later I realized I'm still a social media introvert. LOL! Years ago, blogging and blog hops were the thing. Maybe it's just me, but I'm lucky to blog and blog hop once a month with the IWSG. It's all about putting time into it, when there doesn't ever seem to be enough hours in a day...
BTW: I am happy and relieved to have finally, finally finished my first draft of book #13. A year in the making...

 

@TheIWSG #IWSG #WritersSupportGroup #writerscommunity

Let’s rock the neurotic writing world!Our Twitter handle is @TheIWSG and hashtag is #IWSG. Alex's awesome co-hosts are Kristina Kelly, Miffie Seideman, Jean Davis, and Liza @ Middle Passages!

Every month, we announce a question that members can answer in their IWSG post. These questions may prompt you to share advice, insight, a personal experience or story. Include your answer to the question in your IWSG post or let it inspire your post if you are struggling with something to say. 

Remember, the question is optional

March 6th question: Have you "played" with AI to write those nasty synopses, or do you refuse to go that route? How do you feel about AI's impact on creative writing?
I have never "played" with AI. In fact, I never delved into or researched AI. But now that you mention those nasty synopses, maybe I should read what it's all about. LOL 😊 
[image error]The next #IWSGPit will be in March 27, 2024,

10:00 am - 8:00 pm Eastern Standard Time.

Create a Twitter-length pitch for your completed and polished manuscript and leave room for genre, age, and the hashtag. On Wednesday, March 27, 2024, Tweet your pitch using #IWSGPit. If your pitch receives a favorite/heart from a publisher/agent check their submission guidelines and send your requested query.

Many writers have seen their books published from a Twitter pitch - it’s a quick and easy way to put your manuscript in front of publishers and agents.

CLICK HERE FOR THE RULES AND HOW TO PARTICIPATE