Insecure Writer’s Support Group

New Monthly Blog Post

I’d like to introduce you to a wonderful community of writers. I first came across the Insecure Writer’s Support Group on Twitter @TheIWSG. The group posts frequently on writing topics, in posts which are both accessible and supportive. They have an annual anthology competition–which I have just entered!–and a website full of valuable info, links, expert advice and, of course, a supportive community.

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!

IWSG

The first Wednesday of every month is officially ISWG day, where writers are encouraged to post about writing on their own blog and to visit others’.

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 – and return comments. This group is all about connecting!

IWSG

Each month, the IWSG also announces a question to encourage participation and thoughts around a particular topic. Whilst optional, this question helps to inspire if you are struggling for something to say.

I decided I would join the IWSG and start September off with a renewed sense of purpose: to write about writing as well as sharing my writing. Hope you enjoy the post.

The awesome co-hosts for the September 2 posting of the IWSG are PJ Colando, J Lenni Dorner, Deniz Bevan, Kim Lajevardi, Natalie Aguirre, and Louise – Fundy Blue!

The September question:

If you could choose one author, living or dead, to be your beta partner, who would it be and why?

Lindsay Buroker is a self-published fantasy and science fiction author of more than sixty novels and novellas, numerous short stories, anthology pieces and standalones. She’s been writing full-time since 2011. Buroker’s sci-fi series, ‘Fallen Empire’, inspired me to write my own space opera adventure, ‘The Archivist‘. It’s my first completed novel (in editing process at the moment). I’m pretty sure I owe this feat to her, along with a few other ‘indie’ authors, whose books I consumed in the year before I got back into writing.

Good beta partners are both essential and difficult to come across. I believe you need a balance of beta readers to feedback on your story – the ‘I like this genre’ reader; the ‘writer’ reader; the ‘I love your stuff’ reader; and the ‘I hate your stuff’ reader. But a true beta partner is someone who can give constructive feedback to help make your manuscript shine. This doesn’t have to be line-edits (in fact, it shouldn’t be necessary at that point and if it is, it’s not the beta’s job to do it). A good beta takes the place of a developmental editor, showing you what works with your story–and what really doesn’t.

I would choose Lindsay Buroker as a beta partner because she seems like a down-to-earth type who knows how hard it is to be a successful writer, who has herself worked incredibly hard to get where she is, and who would hopefully have a ton of advice from that experience.

Secondly, we write the same genres. Seems like a good reason. I probably wouldn’t want to work with a strictly-horror fan to write a space opera, for example.

Not only do we write the same genres, we write from a similar approach within these genres. The ‘Fallen Empire’ series features a sassy female protagonist, multiple worlds, adventure, and a smidgen of a romantic arc. My Archivist series has many of the same aspects. Which of course is fine, because we all tell our own stories, in our own universes. Nevertheless, I would expect Buroker to have insight from her own experience as to what works and doesn’t in my novel.

I’d also be interested to learn how to approach multi-book arcs. ‘Fallen Empire’ was nine books long. ‘Star Kingdom’, Buroker’s latest series, is currently at Book 8. At least two other of her series contain eight full-length novels. I don’t plan on eight books in the Archivist series… but I’d love to get inside her head and find out how she did it!

How about you? Who would your ideal beta reader author be? Leave your answer in the comments!

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For more posts from the September 2 Insecure Writer’s Support Group, follow the links on this Blog Hop powered by Linky Tools:

Click here to open the ISWG blog hop list and read others’ contributions to IWSG Day.

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