Tag Archives: #writing

Candor Is Divine #IWSG @theIWSG #AmWriting

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It’s the first Wednesday of the month. Time for Alex J. Cavanaugh’s Insecure Writer’s Support Group post. Join HERE!

Our Twitter handle is @TheIWSG and hashtag is #IWSG. 

The awesome co-hosts for the October 6 posting of the IWSG are Jemima Pett,J Lenni Dorner,Cathrina Constantine,Ronel Janse van Vuuren, and Mary Aalgaard!

October 6 question – In your writing, where do you draw the line, with either topics or language?

Fantastic question. I’m excited to read other’s posts!

I find myself cringing when euphemisms are used in place of unsavory hard truths. Candor is divine. This is how I write. I’m also not into shock value and gratuitous details unless it moves the plot forward. The most depraved things one can imagine have already been committed to the page. While working with friends as booksellers in indie stores with access to every book both in and out of print we would challenge each other to find the most depraved, the most cursed, the most outlandish books ever written. It’s a popular conversation when shelving and placing orders to warehouses all over the world.

What I thought would be cool to read was in reality a terrible idea. I’ve since learned to look around the sun instead of staring directly at it. If I’m interested in a read that isn’t in my bandwidth, and I’m not talking about Marquis de Sade’s 120 Days of Sodom or Henry Miller’s Under The Roofs of Paris, I go to their reviewers. While the books just mentioned aren’t digestible for me either, the ones I’m referencing here are much more depraved. I’ve discovered I can learn just as much reading other people’s writings on the uneasy pieces. There’s no back space delete button in our brains. The scholars have already suffered through it so I don’t have to.

That being said, I absolutely hate euphemisms. They scream shame and disgust at whatever act the writer is describing. Writing the sex scene is difficult. But when it’s necessary I find less is more, and direct and to the point is better than the flowery side-stepping of what is actually taking place. If his telescope erects from his submarine in search of her sandy shores, delete that shit.

Looking forward to reading everyone’s hard lines when it comes to writing. What’s yours? Happy IWSG Day!

4 Signs Of Success #IWSG #AmWriting @TheIWSG

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Our Twitter handle is @TheIWSG and hashtag is #IWSG.
The Insecure Writer’s Support Group was started by writer, Alex J. Cavanaugh aka The Blog Father. 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. 

Join us https://www.insecurewriterssupportgroup.com/p/iwsg-sign-up.html

September 1 question – How do you define success as a writer? Is it holding your book in your hand? Having a short story published? Making a certain amount of income from your writing?
The awesome co-hosts for the September 1 posting of the IWSG are Rebecca Douglass, T. Powell Coltrin @Journaling Woman, Natalie Aguirre, Karen Lynn, and C. Lee McKenzie!

We all have different ideas on what defines success. As a writer, these are my Top 4 –

1. Permission

Writing is about exposure. Giving ourselves permission to express ourselves and command an audience can be crazy-making. It’s different for everyone. I keep my eye out for what it means to each artist. For some it’s about getting traditionally published. Others, it’s receiving public feedback from readers. Like the dead beauty queen DMV-styled receptionist in Beetlejuice said, “It’s all very personal.”

Permission gives us the deep inner strength to persevere through the inevitable pitfalls. Sleeplessness. Time away from more lucrative endeavors. Guilt free demands for isolation to meet a deadline while others around you protest. The list goes on. And on. And on.

2. Finding Your Voice

It takes a lot of bad writing to get to the good stuff. We tend to imitate our favorite writers, until their voices slowly fade away as our own unique sound and expressions emerge. You know it when you got it. The eureka! moment exists.

3. Collaboration

Nothing sends a shiver up my spine like another artist reaching out to support my podcast, shorts and novel endeavors. I’ve collaborated with directors, writers, musicians and visual artists. I’ve been working on a graphic novel with an artist I respect and admire, spoken with a screenwriter and director overseas and gotten comments on articles I’ve written from authors who concur. This might seem small to others, but makes me want to pinch myself every time.

4. Vision

Getting labor out to an audience you’re confident represents your strengths and vision is no small feat. I have bad work I wish to bury forever. I’m set on throwing piles of better work on top of it. It’s a struggle. Having a path cleared and a steady pace to run it defines success for me.

How do you define success as a writer?

Compulsion to commit to paper. #IWSG @TheIWSG #amwriting

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It’s the 1st Wednesday of the month! Time to rock The Blog Father’s neurotic writing world.
Alex J. Cavanaugh’s Twitter handle is @TheIWSG and hashtag is #IWSG. To join us click https://www.insecurewriterssupportgroup.com/p/iwsg-sign-up.html
The awesome co-hosts for the July 7 posting of the IWSG are Pat Garcia, Victoria Marie Lees, Chemist Ken, and Louise – Fundy Blue!
 

July 7 question – What would make you quit writing?

Nothing. Reading and writing since I can remember, I’ve given up on projects. I’ve let collaboration opportunities with potential slide. Wrote and failed to create. Shine has come through cracks here and there. Despite all the ridicule and rejection I never quit writing.

After 8-year-old shoulder knots from carrying piles of books became unbearable I now buy a monthly, weekly and daily sectioned all-in-one planner. I need room to record dreams, detail deadlines and set goals while keeping my more mundane appointments. Working at indie bookstores made me a Moleskin addict.

Cheryl Strayed said, “Write like a motherfucker.”

Faulkner said, “Read everything.” Oh, Faulkner. You permission giving southern gothic mother-lover.

Ray Bradbury said, “You fail only if you stop writing.”

I want to obliterate my first two books out of the cybersphere. I wish I could squash published articles forever one click away, but I’ve been paid. The money spent. I look at my MFA degree and see a seriously expensive piece of paper declaring I survived bootcamp. Ugh.

Even with the growing plethora of reasons to put down the pen, projects and rejoin the corpo world, I never stop writing. I try to hide my insecurity under a mask of enthusiasm due to dumb stubborn pride. Funny how quickly pride and shame alternate.

What would make you quit writing? Happy IWSG Day. Hope everyone had a fun and safe holiday weekend!

#IWSG #AmWriting #CherylStrayed #WilliamFaulkner #RayBradbury #CIIS #MFA #novels #journalism #writing #AlexCavanaugh