#IWSG for October 2016

The Insecure Writer's Support Group (IWSG) is the brilliant idea of Alex J. Cavanaugh. The purpose of the group is to share doubts and insecurities and to encourage one another. Please visit the other participants and share your support. A kind word goes a long way.

The awesome co-hosts for this month are: Beverly Stowe McClure, Megan Morgan, Viola Fury, Madeline Mora-Summonte, Angela Wooldridge, and Susan Gourley!

October's IWSG question: When do you know your story is ready?

This differs from story to story for me. Sometimes I am so madly in love with a story, I think it's perfect when I finish the first draft. Thankfully, I've learned to put it aside and come back to it later when I feel this way. That cures me of my endorphin goggles, and I can come back to chop it into bits.

Other times, I never feel the story is ready. I keep picking away at it, pouting and growling and eating way too many cookies. When I feel this way, I rely on my awesome critique partners.

Good critique partners will let you know when a story is ready for the world. It's their job to rein you in when you're going too fast or give you encouragement when you feel like your story isn't good enough. I'd be lost without my CPs. I might write good stories, but they help make them great.

I can't wait to read your answers to this month's question!