On Tenterhooks

First—it is the first Wednesday of July and Alex has dared to include me as one of this months Insecure Writer’s Support Group Hosts, so WELCOME to this fabulous supportive monthly event. Nothing makes us insecure like writing, sharing our writing with others or trying to sell our books, but it helps a lot to have this supportive group to remind us we aren’t alone.





My co-hosts this month are:



Our Fearless Ninja Warrior Leader Alex Cavanaugh

Krista McLaughlin

Kim Van Sickler

Heather Gardner 



(Go see them)



But FIRST!!!



We are also trying to get the IWSG on the Writers Digest Best 101 Websites list!



Please email them at writersdigest@fwmedia.com, subject line 101 Websites, and suggest the IWSG - http://www.insecurewriterssupportgroup.com/





And then, at the BOTTOM is the list of other IWSG participants, so be sure to go help a couple people feel less insecure!!!







You're saving me from this...

So for MY Insecure Topic Today: WAITING...



Becoming a writer involves a LOT of waiting. We share with beta readers. And we wait. We query agents. And we wait. Our agents query publishers. And we wait. We enter contests... And we wait.



And in that quiet space between submitting it to whomever is looking our imaginations become giant DEMONS that devour our confidence. We are SURE they must HATE IT or they would have gotten back to us sooner. Maybe we read a good book and think Holy PANTS, what was I thinking? (pants is a swearword if you are wondering—about the worst thing there is, so avoid pants) Or maybe you read a BAD book and think, “I'm going to humiliate myself like this, aren't I?”



And I'm here to say... Probably. Not because YOU in particular are so horrible but because we ALL send out something too soon at some point. It can take a while to be able to distance ourselves enough from our own work to be objective. But isn't the fact that WE ALL do this at some point a little reassuring? It is part of the growth curve.



It took me about five practice books before I sort of GOT IT. Now I may be slower than most, probably am. But the persistence has paid off pretty well.



But here I find myself WAITING again...



You see... next Monday they announce the finalists to the Amazon Breakthrough Novel Award Contest. And what's MORE... in the wee fine print there is a line that says they will be calling the FINALISTS toDAY... So my phone is leering at me doing NOTHING and there is NO WAY I will be concentrating any time soon, so thank HEAVENS I have YOU PEOPLE to keep me distracted!



Because otherwise (in fact maybe ANYWAY) I am sitting here, a puddle of insecurity. In any case, I am Schrodinger's cat... alive or dead, and by the end of today, I will know, and you won't. Sorry.





PS: If I hear, I'm not allowed to say. If I DON'T hear, I'm not allowed to say. It is my way of sharing the anxiety... You're welcome.



Now be sure to go visit my fellow hosts and several more insecure friends!





In side news for regulars:  I succeeded in BuNoWriMo, though for the trilogy, it is only 2 acts of 9. In July and August I intend to write act 3, edit What Ales Me, Polish (again) Kahlous, and Polish Mediums Wrong, so I can jump out STRONG in September with READY stuff.