I Am Not God

First off, I apologize for being late again. I really do like contributing to the group here. The truth is, I tend to run out of time. Where has all my time gone lately? I'm continuing on my studies of a foreign language. A not so well known language from Myanmar (Burma). Additionally, I have finally decided it is time to lose weight. This means I've been walking a lot of 5K's after work. No, not every day, but currently 2 to 3 times a week. Then there is the house work and my regular job. So what am I trying to say? My writing, at times, gets pushed to the back burner. So then why do I continue to write?

Well, that brings me to the question of the month. Which is:
November Question – What is your favourite aspect of being a writer?

Even before I began writing, I was enamoured with writers. I was impressed with what they were able to produce. Contriving a story from something in their head only. In middle school, I had an English class where we were required to keep a weekly journal. Everyone complained, because we were given a situation, and expected to write about it. But to my surprise, it came easy to me. I was suddenly filling my weekly journal with stories. Eventually, I began to work on 'extra credit' writing because I enjoyed it so much.

But it wasn't so much that it came easy to me, I was having fun creating worlds that other people were reading about. The teacher (certainly corrected me a lot), but told me she loved the stories. When we had to pass around our journals for others to read, everyone else seemed to enjoy what I wrote also. I was doing something I was good at. I was doing something others enjoyed. But most important, I was doing something I had complete control over. I am essentially god of the worlds I created. No I don't have a power trip, but it is nice to know I can create whatever I want.

I have done a lot of fan-fiction. Mostly for Doctor Who, and mostly for other Sci.Fi.'s, but the point is. If there is a story I wish the show had produced, I simply decide to write it myself. Whether it's well received or not, is not my biggest thrill. It's that I am able to do it at all. I may not be god, but I do have complete control of the worlds I create.


Goals and such:
New Goal:
Work on being more punctual with my writing. I may not have actual deadlines, but I should work on keeping myself in line.


Old Goals:
Full year of posting:
I went AWOL for a couple of months back, and get deleted from the list for doing so. I aim to not let that happen again.
Writing Schedule:
Winter is the time of the year I seem to have more time for writing. I shall continue to work on a new writing schedule.



My Encouragement:
"Would I rather be feared or loved? Both. I want people to be afraid of how much they love me".
- Michael Scott


Questions to Ponder:
How much do you love the creating process of writing?

Have any of your characters disobeyed your wishes when you tried to direct them one way? But the character simply goes in another direction?


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The Insecure Writer's Support Group posts the first Wednesday of every month. Please follow along as my fellow writers and I relate why we feel insecure, or read as we help encourage others suffering from insecurity.

Are you an insecure writer? Why not join the group? Find out more information via the group HERE.

The site is founded by Alex J. Cavanaugh - Thanks for all the support!

I'm done!

Please don't let the blog title fool you. I know it might do so because for the past few months, my blog has been fairly vacant. I've taken a self-imposed hiatus for various reasons. But I'm back. And I apologize for missing the past two IWSG posts. I was suffering depression and I simply could not bring myself to get online. Yes, that might seem odd, I was so depressed I couldn't even get online to drop a quick note. Well, I eventually did. So what do I mean by my blog heading?

Well, that brings me to the question of the month. Which is:

When do you know when you're story is ready?

This really is a challenging question for me because I continually rewrite and look for improvements in all my stories. Even when I'm done, I usually will go back and rewrite. I've been writing a series for so long, I have finally decided I have it where I want it. How did I decide this? I came to the conclusion that I will NEVER be happy 100% with my writing. I wonder if this is just me, or a typical writer experience. So I had to finally 'call it'. Finish a final edit and let it be. If I don't/didn't tell myself to finally stop, I'd still be working on it and I can't do that. I have to stop looking back, I have to move forward. And that's what I'm going to do. As I mentioned above, a lot of my depression stemmed from things in the past. But I have to stop looking to the past. No more. I need to move forward. In my writing and everything else. Continuing to rewrite and be depressed? I'm done!


Goals and such:


New Goal:
Make it a full year, posting to IWSG, without going AWOL again.

Old Goals:
Test readers:
In the next few months, I'm going to be looking for someone to exchange a YA manuscript with, to test read. I have a few sites others have suggested for me to check out. I shall be doing so.
Find Writing Schedule:
Still looking to time my non-negotial time. Summer is a bad time for me. So much going on. Can I still find the time?



My Encouragement:
"In the middle of every difficulty lies opportunity".
- Albert Einstein


Questions to Ponder:
Outside of school, what was the first thing you wrote that others enjoyed?
 
Have you ever written something, put it away for a long period of time, then returned to rewrite it years later?


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The Insecure Writer's Support Group posts the first Wednesday of every month. Please follow along as my fellow writers and I relate why we feel insecure, or read as we help encourage others suffering from insecurity.

Are you an insecure writer? Why not join the group? Find out more information via the group HERE.

The site is founded by Alex J. Cavanaugh - Thanks for all the support!
Save

I.W.S.G. (11) - This Is Amazing

I'm pleased to announce I'll be co-hosting the IWSG this month along with: Yolanda Renee, Tyrean Martinson, Madeline Mora-Summonte , LK Hill & Rachna Chhabria. 

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For a writer, every kind word about our writing, even a simple one, can be a big deal. When I write, am I looking for the phrase, "This is the best thing I have ever written!"? No, not really. Because that would be very unrealistic, and for a writer, we have to be realistic. Would I love it if someone said that to me? Of course, but I don't expect it.

Well, that brings me to the question of the month. Something new we are doing here in the IWSG. Asking a question and seeing how we all answer it. So on to this months question.

What's the best thing someone has ever said about your writing?

Outside of my blogging, I really have not received a comment about my writing in a long time. As some of you are aware, I've been trying to rewrite a series I started almost thirty years ago. In fact, I finished another chapter for episode three this weekend. I know I must have received a well word abut it, because I had several people who loved reading it. I guess the best thing someone has said about my writing is, "When is the next one finished"? Yes, thirty years ago I had a loyal readership. There were several people who read it, but two people were really into it and read each of my then finished episodes, seven in total. Several times before I was finished they would ask when the next one was finished. That made me feel more like a writer than I have ever felt. Just knowing someone wanted to continue reading something I had written was a big motivation. It gave me the courage and confidence to keep writing. Without people like Virginia and Joel, I'm not sure I would still be writing today.


Goals and such:

Old Goals:
Test readers:
Last month a few expressed an interest in being a test reader for me. I'm kind of new to this so I'm going to suggest those interested to let me know via email so I can send a copy of what I've writte.
My email is a gmail account, jeffreysg. If anyone has other suggestions, please let me know.

Find Writing Schedule:
Still looking to time my non-negotial time. Summer is a bad time for me. So much going on. Can I still find the time?


New Goal:
Make it through my IWSG duties to the best of my ability.


My Encouragement:
Only YOU can give your story that special touch. Oh sure, if you give a room full of monkeys a typewriter and enough time, they could re-produce the works of Dickens' - A Tale of Two Cities. But most likely it would read like, "It was the bast of times, it was the blurst of times."


Questions to Ponder:
Outside of school, what was the first thing you wrote that others enjoyed?
 
Have you ever written something, put it away for a long period of time, then returned to rewrite it years later?


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The Insecure Writer's Support Group posts the first Wednesday of every month. Please follow along as my fellow writers and I relate why we feel insecure, or read as we help encourage others suffering from insecurity.

Are you an insecure writer? Why not join the group? Find out more information via the group HERE.

The site is founded by Alex J. Cavanaugh - Thanks for all the support!
Save

I.W.S.G. (10) - Making Time

I took the rest of May off from blogging with one goal in mind. Get more writing done! Can anyone guess how much writing I actually got done? Class, anyone? Anyone? Hardly any at all.

Why is it, I take a month off, and I still can't get any writing done? It's not like I don't want to write, I do. I'm just starting to think blogging is not the problem I have in writing. Neither is having a writer's block. I have the story I'm working on already mapped out. So why is it so hard to find time? Well, I'm not so sure that's the right question. I'm starting to think it's not making the time and sticking to the time I've mapped out. I have a hard time when a friend invites me over, or suggests we do something to tell them I've already got plan. If I tell my friends the reason is because I'm writing, I worry they will not understand I'm ditching them to do something personal. And not just something personal, but something (they think) I can just schedule any time. For the most part, I can't schedule any time. Most week nights are so full of things I need to do, I don't have much time to write. Weekends are better, but that's generally when I'm called upon to go out and do something. I need to get a better handle on this.


Goals and such:

Old Goals:
Find test readers for my story.
So far I have one person expressing interest in my YA story. The next step is now to actually follow through. If anyone else is willing to be a test writer for a YA story, let me know how I can get a hold of you to do so. I will do all I can to return the favour.
Go Blogger-lite:
I failed in this. Well, I didn't fail, but the reason for wanting to go blogger lite (get more writing done) was a failure.


New Goal:
Find a new writing schedule:
I need to find a non-negotiable time, earmarked for writing only.


My Encouragement:
The question isn't "what are we going to do," the question is "what aren't we going to do?"  - Ferris Bueller


Questions to ponder:
Am I doing myself a disservice by not sticking to personal plans?

Have you ever scheduled time to write only to do something else because someone 'requested' you to do something 'fun'?

How do you handle those situations?

I have some family/friends who don't realize how important writing is to me and act as if I'm wasting my time. How can I show them I'm serious?  
Signed, Willing Writer 
(For fun, give your best Dear Abby response)


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The Insecure Writer's Support Group posts the first Wednesday of every month. Please follow along as my fellow writers and I relate why we feel insecure, or read as we help encourage others suffering from insecurity.

Are you an insecure writer? Why not join the group? Find out more information via the group HERE.

The site is founded by Alex J. Cavanaugh - Thanks for all the support!

I.W.S.G. (9) - Back to the Writing

I'm frazzled. It was a hectic April. There was so much going on because of the A to Z challenge, there was absolutely no way I was going to get any writing done. But I planned on that. In fact, I declared this month I was going to go blogger lite. Which means, I should probably post less this month, and write more. But I'm starting to feel burnt out. So much so, I even forgot today was IWSG day. So I apologize for my late posting.

So this month, I aim to blog less, and work more on my writing. This week was still pencilled in for catching up, but starting next week, I want to make a goal of writing something every day. I've heard different different suggestions. Write one paragraph a day, write for thirty minutes a day, write for an hour, finish one chapter. I'm considering all of these. Considering what I want to work on is rewriting an older manuscript I wrote in the late 80's and updating it, most of the work has been done. In fact, so have the next four or five stories. So that's where I am. I have a 'somewhat' plan and I need to figure out what my exact strategy will be. By the end of the month, I would LOVE to finally have this third episode complete and ready for editing.

PS - To all of you who participated in the AtoZ challenge, I hope it went well for you. (I will be doing a reflection post next week)



Goals and such:

Old Goals:
Find test readers for my story.
Something I have put off till third episode is complete.


New Goal:
Go blogger lite
This is going to be a challenge for me because I love blogging so much. And I love to visit my blogger buddies. But I may end up feeling bad I'm neglecting others, even though my ambition is something I really need to work on.


My Encouragement:
Be positive about what you can do.  
"If you want to play the Minuet in G, think the Minuet in G." - Harold Hill


Questions to ponder:
Were you engaged in the A to Z challenge?
If not, did you get some writing done? What did you work on?
If you did do AtoZ, how did you do?
What was your theme? My theme was classic TV theme songs and vintage commercials. You can find the 'A' posting HERE to give you a sample of what I offered all month.
How would you advise for someone to go blogger-lite?


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The Insecure Writer's Support Group posts the first Wednesday of every month. Please follow along as my fellow writers and I relate why we feel insecure, or read as we help encourage others suffering from insecurity.

Are you an insecure writer? Why not join the group? Find out more information via the group HERE.

The site is founded by Alex J. Cavanaugh - Thanks for all the support!

I.W.S.G. (7) - Sick of Failed Goals

Last entry, I decided it would be a good idea to stop dragging my feet and move forward with my writing goals. Per a few suggestions, one of the things I did accomplish was to take down sample chapters I earlier posted online. I think I need to have something complete before I start asking people to peruse it. Additionally, keeping the entire story posted online may work against me in the long run. Once I've complete the first four stories in the series, I think I shall then start looking for test readers. A few suggestions would be nice.

I also ran into another wall. I was sick, which didn't help. As such, I was unmotivated to work on the goals I set out. As a few of my regular blog readers are already familiar with, I'm still feeling under the weather. This means I'm still dragging my feet to get the goals from last month accomplished. Am I biting off more than I can chew? Are my goals too large? Am I doing far too much blogging and not enough story writing? I guess I shall be exploring that this month.


My Goals:

Old Goals:
1.) Finish the next chapter in my 'Writer's Block' series.
(I failed to do this, this month. I will try again this month.)

2.) Remove the sample chapters of my story from my blog.
(This was one goal I accomplished. I hope this will encourage me to move forward with the goal above.)

3.) Start compiling a list of what I need to be working on and questions I should be researching in regards to my writing and what to do with it.
(Perhaps I shall put this goal on the back-burner till I get nearer completion of the four story YA series I'm writing.)

New Goal:
April is going to be a blogging explosion here. My goal this month, is to get a few posts prepped and ready to post before April 1st.


My Encouragement:
If you think you are a writer, you are a writer. So write something grand!


Questions to ponder:
How do you deal with a failed goal?
Do you think it's better to set difficult goals? Or simple baby-step goals?
Should an unfulfilled goal with a time limit be scraped, amended, or extended?

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The Insecure Writer's Support Group posts the first Wednesday of every month. Please follow along as my fellow writers and I relate why we feel insecure, or read as we help encourage others suffering from insecurity.

Are you an insecure writer? Why not join the group? Find out more information via the group HERE.

The site is founded by Alex J. Cavanaugh - Thanks for all the support!

Avoiding New Project Overload

Today I'm hosting guest blogger, Stephanie Faris. She will be discussing how to avoid becoming overburdened by a new project undertaking.

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You have a great idea for a book. You’ll just sit down, start writing, and 80,000 words later, you’ll be done
Wait…80,000 words?

The idea of writing a book can seem beyond daunting at the beginning. With so many words to get to “the end,” it’s hard to imagine you’ll ever get there. If it takes six months, a year, or longer to reach the final page, is it worth it? What if you never get it published? What if you self-publish and nobody buys it?

If you’re a planner, the best way to get past those early feelings is to sit down and map out your entire book. When you see the full trajectory of your book, you’ll at least see it as accomplishable. Then set small daily goals for yourself and try to stick to them. You don’t have to write 2,000 words a day, but at least try to write 100 words. Most days you’ll write more words than 100 and soon you’ll find you’re halfway to the end.

I’m not a planner, but I downloaded Scrivener last year and I’ve found it has helped in a lot of ways. One major way is that I can’t easily see the word count on my manuscript while I’m writing. So instead of watching that number at the bottom of my screen, I just write. Occasionally I “compile” to see how far along I am and I’m always surprised by how much progress I’ve made. You may find that’s easier.

National Novel Writing Month is also a great way to make serious progress on your manuscript. You commit to writing a book during the month of November and if you succeed, you get a nice little badge for your blog. If you don’t succeed, you almost always have made significant progress on your book. Finishing is just a matter of sticking with it into the new year.

Writing a book is hard work. It’s a long-term commitment but when you finally type “the end,” it is such a huge accomplishment. Like anything in life worth doing, you’ll put in long hours and sometimes feel like you can’t continue but if you just push through, you’ll have a finished book that you can then edit, revise, and (eventually) share with the world.

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Piper Morgan Joins the Circus

By Stephanie Faris

Blurb:
Piper helps some four-legged friends find the perfect home in the third book of the brand-new Piper Morgan series.

Piper is super excited to help out at Bark Street, a local animal shelter in town. Who wouldn’t want to be surrounded by adorable puppies and dogs all day? And when Piper sees Taffy, the cutest dog she has ever seen, Piper is determined to find a way to bring Taffy home. But it won’t be easy—especially when she finds out someone else wants to make Taffy a part of their family, too!

Bio:

Stephanie Faris knew she wanted to be an author from a very young age. In fact, her mother often told her to stop reading so much and go outside and play with the other kids. After graduating from Middle Tennessee State University with a Bachelor of Science in broadcast journalism, she somehow found herself working in information technology. But she never stopped writing.

Stephanie is the Simon & Schuster author of 30 Days of No Gossip and 25 Roses, as well as the upcoming Piper Morgan series. When she isn’t crafting fiction, she writes for a variety of online websites on the topics of business, technology, and her favorite subject of all—fashion. She lives in Nashville with her husband, a sales executive.


Links:

Website

Blog

Facebook

Twitter

Instagram

a Rafflecopter giveaway

I.W.S.G. (6) - Lost in Writing

Last entry, I promised I would complete editing one more chapter in my 'Writer's Block' series. It's a YA series and so the chapters are not extremely long. Truly, a manageable task. So I'm happy to report I accomplished that goal! I even got a few more ideas about the direction I want the series to take. But! I hit a road block as well.

It was nice to accomplish one task, but I realized I have many more goals which need fulfilling. It's like the series, 'Lost'. To any who followed that show as much as I did, each episode delighted and angered you. They promised to answer a question we had about the cast-aways, but in answering the question, a few more popped up. But that was smart for them to do. For me, it's what kept the series interesting. However, in the writing process, it can be annoying, frustrating and maddening. I solve one rewrite problem, only for two more to arise. It's a never ending battle.

And that is just the story itself, never mind the additional tasks I need to start trying to solve. When the story is finished, what do I do with it? Is it a good idea to publish myself on-line (I mean to my blog)? Should I find test readers? These and many others goals I need to work on.

Yes, I know I need to continue my previous goal of finishing the next chapter. Each month I should be working on that. But if I am to move forward, I need to keep working on new goals. Additionally, I need to start identifying additional questions I need answering. So from here on out, each month I'm going to continue to work on one old goal and one new goal. It's what will keep me motivated and as I answer each question or complete each goal, I'll feel less and less lost.

My Goals:
Old Goal: Finish the next chapter in my 'Writer's Block' series.
New Goal: Start compiling a list of what I need to be working on and questions I should be researching in regards to my writing and what to do with it.

My Encouragement:
You are never to old to start. Laura Ingalls Wilder was 44 when she began her writing career as a columnist. It wasn't till she was 64 her "Little House on the Prairie" books began to be published.

Questions:
Do you ever feel lost working on your writing?
Do you think posting stories online is a good thing?
Is there one question you feel every writer should ask himself?

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The Insecure Writer's Support Group posts the first Wednesday of every month. Please follow along as my fellow writers and I relate why we feel insecure, or read as we help encourage others suffering from insecurity.

Are you an insecure writer? Why not join the group? Find out more information via the group HERE.

The site is founded by Alex J. Cavanaugh - Thanks for all the support!

Its Won More Grammer Post

I was reading an article written by my one time 'consultant', Professor Sanee. She has a fascination with using humour in counselling and therapy sessions. This particular article caught my eye because she picks apart a 'Weird Al' song. She also discusses her writing (which is pretty much what the article was about). How could I pass this up?

I asked if I could repost and she agreed on the 'proviso' (her word, not mine) I remind everyone her new book, "Giggle, Guffaw & Other Curious Words", is now in book stores. The book researches various word and phrase origins. It also identifies how certain archaic words fell into disuse.

Anyway, her abridged article on grammar is below.
Hope you enjoy it as much as I did.
J.A.Scott

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The humorist Al Yankovic recently penned a song describing the decline of proper grammar. You will note, the song is replete with both information and humour. In one of the first verses, he points out how the inability to conjugate results in mocking. This is especially true when you post your inability on social networks.

Is it not sad how social media is the catalyst for the inundation of 'grammar fools'? Simple words are suddenly lost from even the most basic nomenclature of written communication. It's enough to make a grown women cry. Particularly when editing students term papers.

Mr. Yankovic then uses the examples of words such as; be, see, are & you. He points out writing such as B, C, R & U is not only lazy and sloppy, but indicative of a lower intellect. If I might point out, the number 2 is also not a word. Unless you are utilizing it to indicate an amount of something.

In a similar vein, misusing a wrong can bring hours of entertainment to any 'Grammar Nazi'. Al points out the words 'its' and 'it's' differ in meaning. While one is possessive, the other is a contraction. A contraction is actually two words. The proper use should be apparent. As I continually tell my students, if you don't know, say it out loud. For example 'The dog wagged it's tail'. If you were to write it this way, you are saying the dog wagged it is tail. Does that makes sense to you?

I also appreciate how the song points to the incessant errant grammar found in almost every e-mail and blog post online. I was reading a blog not long ago and found this gem, "My wish is too B visiting london, Europe and it's surrounding countries this year." What sort of syntax is that? Hold my grammar pen! This sort of spastic writing gives me a migraine.

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Thanks again to Professor Sanee for letting me use a portion of her article. I love her writing style and how it's infused with humour. The rest of the article can found in the European magazine, 'A Writer's Right'. For anyone unfamiliar with the song she is referencing, I've included the video below.

Additional Questions:
What grammar errors drive you nuts?
What grammar errors have you had to work on?
Are you a 'Weird Al' Yankovic fan?
Have you read either of Sanee's books?



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Professor Sanee resides in Italy
and teaches the course 'the
Ethics of Humour' at I.M.A.
She's also author of the book,
"Why Isn't Anyone Laughing?"

I.W.S.G. (5) - Something Old, Something New

Well, it's 2016. You know what that means right? That means we are going to be writing 2015, cursing, crossing out and rewriting 2016 for the next month or so. It's the same old story. Speaking of the same old story, let's pick up where I left off in the last IWSG posting. I talked about making a list and keeping to it.

Unfortunately, it was a disaster. I started out with good intentions, but failed to deliver. That's not to say my goals have been written off. It was a goal I set in the last (old) year. But they can be dusted off for the (new) year. Right?

Last entry I talked a bit about what I needed to include on a goal list. This entry I am only going to concentrate on what the 'W' refers to in IWSG. Because, that's what this is all about, isn't it? I still think I'm trying to find my footing in this series. You know, get to the root of my writer's insecurity. Stop wasting my time and actually getting back into my creative writing. Of course I'd like to try and encourage others as well. So a bit of positive...

The good news is, 2015 was not a total waste. (This is where a bit of encouragement comes in.) I finally finished editing two complete episodes in my eight part YA series. So that's something good that happened. And if I can do that, so can you! Truth be told, I had hoped to be finished with the first four parts, but I let things get in the way. So I'm promising before the next IWSG article, I will have at least one more chapter complete of the third story. I shall strive to find the perfect time for me to get my writing done. I've found I don't like writing at home. Too many distractions. I need to get back to going out and about (i.e. coffee shops and airport) and get back to my writing. It's what I love!

Questions:
Where do you like to write?
What encourages you the most to get your writing done?
Does something besides Writer's Block get in the way of your writing? What have you done to overcome it?

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The Insecure Writer's Support Group posts the first Wednesday of every month. Please follow along as my fellow writers and I relate why we feel insecure, or read as we help encourage others suffering from insecurity.

Are you an insecure writer? Why not join the group? Find out more information via the group HERE.

The site is founded by Alex J. Cavanaugh - Thanks for all the support!

I.W.S.G. (2) - Writing vs. Blogging

It may or may not be news to many, I'm slowly working to complete a project I started nearly 30 years ago...

Has it been that long? Yikes!

You see I have always wanted to be a writer. And I've always enjoyed writing. I started a personal journal in 1984 and continued writing in it till 1992. Why did I stop? Good question. I'll address that in a bit.

Thirty years ago (while in school) I wrote a fun piece of fiction for a friend of mine about the two of us driving around the city, goofing off. We repeatedly and humorously continued to get injured and sent to the hospital. I broke the 'fourth wall' frequently and myself as the Author was a character in the story. It was such a success with my friend we showed other friends who enjoyed it also. From there, I went on to write six more sequels, with a seventh planned. For a time, I literally had several friends waiting to have their turn to read the latest episode. In the ensuing years, interest waned. No, not because people were losing interest in the story, but because life was getting a hold of me. I got married and my wife was not keen on my writing and was not encouraging. ("Why are you writing? There are things to do around the house.") Quite the reverse, to be honest. Needless to say, I pretty much stopped writing. Remember my journal I mentioned before? That too fell by the wayside.

Oddly, as we were on our way to splitsville, my interest in writing took a hold once again. Around 2002 I acquired my first real computer. (I was using an Apple IIe till then, with no printer. PS - I still have it set up in my basement bar. Pictures can be found HERE). One of the first things I got involved in was posting to forums and joining such awesome social sites as Myspace. Remember Myspace?

But then the real writing came back to the forefront when I began to blog. Discovering blogger was a blessing as far as I'm concerned. It's been a way for me to spend my time creatively and productively. I've written many a poem via my blog and have appreciated any who were entertained by my rants. I even utilized my blogs to continue my short story writing. One of my favourite projects (though I admit still very sloppy) was a Fan-Fiction I wrote involving the TV series, Doctor Who, Quantum Leap and Sliders. I also incorporated Fan-Fiction from the comic book world, namely the Legion of Super Heroes. To make it even more confusing, (LOL), I decided to include (a non-canon) tale using my short story series from almost 30 years ago. The story can be found HERE.

So this is where my insecurity for the month comes in. After I wrote that story, I started to develop a longing to return to the series. But in it's previous form, it was no where near ready for public display, let alone, submission. So I've slowly been working on redoing the series. Removed the Author as a character and have made it less ridiculous. (One of these days I should scan a copy of what the original draft looked like). My writing has improved significantly too, so I knew it was time to do a final final draft. In fact, a few have noticed I've started to upload the polished off episodes to my blog HERE. It's something I've been longing to do for a long time as you are now well aware. But what about my blogging? I love my blogging friends and colleagues I've become acquainted with. But there is so little time. I want to get back to my YA short story series, but keep finding it hard to get back to. Am I doing this wrong? Should I finally take some ME time, buckle down and get to my series once again? I've loved my blogging because I look at it as a continual writing practice. Yet, m I spending too much time on my blogging? How do I find the time? Am I just insane?

Sorry for such a long blog posting this time. I promise not to run on so much next time. As this is only my second contribution to the IWSG, I felt it would probably be a good idea to inform everyone exactly why I write and the base reasoning why I too am an Insecure Writer who needs a Support Group.

Questions:
What was your first computer?
What was your first social media site?
What is the first thing you remember writing, and being proud of?
How long have you been blogging?
Am I rude to my family and friends if I finally decide to take time off for me to work only on my writing?

My IWSG postings will be done the first Wednesday of every month. My fellow writers will be doing like-wise. Are you an insecure writer? Why not join the group? You can find out more information via the website found HERE.
The site is founded by Alex J. Cavanaugh - Thanks for all the support!

Insecure Writer's Support Group

And now for something entirely different. That's right, this is going to be a new feature on my blog. I've decided to join a support group for writers. It seems I'm not the only one who feels insecure about writing. I guess most if not all writers do? But am I a writer? Do I get to call myself that without having anything published? I suppose this can be the topic of my very first article.

I read in a book (about writing) years ago, that if you write, you are a writer. I see the point, but I often wonder, do others perceive me to be a writer? Yes, that's always been one of my biggest fears. True, some friends recognize I love to write. But am I an author? If I have nothing officially published, can I call myself an author? Or is that title reserved for the lucky ones who have actually been published? Lucky? Or is it hard work and determination? Am I lacking the training I need? Do I not have the correct connections? Is my writing not good enough? All valid questions and ones I shall be addressing in the near future. For today, my fear is solely on the following question.
Am I an author? I do have an eight episode YA short story series. Unpublished, of course. Though I have been posting the polished bits to my blog here. But does that make me an author?
Am I really a writer?
What do you think?

Thank you for joining me, as I explore the rest of my insecurities and a few of the questions listed above in the following months.

My IWSG postings will be done the first Wednesday of every month. My fellow writers will be doing like-wise. Are you an insecure writer? Why not join the group? You can find out more information via the website found HERE.
The site is founded by Alex J. Cavanaugh - Thanks for all the support!

Piper Morgan Joins the Circus

Today, I'm very excited to welcome Stephanie Faris to my corner of the blogsphere. Stephanie is author of the books, '30 Days of No Gossip', '25 Roses' and the forthcoming, Piper Morgan series. I had the lovely chance to chat with her a bit about her new book, where she gets her inspiration from, and if she had any tips for aspiring writers. The transcript is below:

Jeffrey Scott: What can you tell my readers about your Piper Morgan series?
Stephanie Faris: Piper Morgan is a spunky seven-year-old who gets to travel the world with her mom. In the first book, Piper Morgan Joins the Circus, her mother gets a temporary job with the circus. Later books have her working in a school, at a pool store, and at a veterinary clinic.

JS: What inspires you most before you start writing anything new?
SF: I find I get my best ideas while reading other books. That’s why you’ll see me reading so many children’s books! The funny thing is, usually what I’m reading has absolutely nothing to do with the idea that hits me. Something about reading fiction just gets those wheels turning!

JS: What sort of research do you do to prepare?
SF: I do a lot of online research. For Piper Morgan Joins the Circus, I was desperate to go to a zoo but the zoo never came to town while I was writing! So I watched a ton of YouTube videos of circuses and spent hours reading behind-the-scenes articles about it.

JS: Do you create an outline or do you utilize something else to prepare?
SF: I’m not an outliner. I usually have to get those first couple of chapters down before I even have a grasp on the characters and the story. Then I’ll usually stop and write a synopsis to help myself understand where I’m going with this.

JS: When did you decide to become a writer?
SF: As a child, I read constantly. I remember reading advice that if you wanted to be a writer when you grew up, you should read and I figured, “Hey, I have that part down!” But to me, writing isn’t something you really consciously decide to do—it’s a talent you hone. I began experimenting by writing really cheesy poetry starting at the age of 13. I still have those poems somewhere. I probably should burn them!

JS: What authors have influenced you the most?
SF: Like many authors of my generation, I grew up on Stephen King novels. I think he’s had a huge influence on the writing community as a whole. As a writer for young readers, the person whose career I admire the most is Meg Cabot. I love that she’s been able to have so much success writing for just about every age group.

JS: What advice would you give aspiring writers?
SF: Read, read, read. I also have found that writers’ groups are very important. I was very active in Romance Writers of America when I first started and without the workshops and conferences I attended then, I probably wouldn’t be published today. Writers are among the most helpful, friendly people you’ll ever meet.

JS: Do you like your book covers? Are you always happy with them?
SF: I have been so lucky with my book covers! They’re always so fun and eye catching. I know that isn’t always the case, but I’ve never even had one thing I would change about any of them!

JS: How important do you think the cover of a book is for potential readers?
SF: Extremely important, even in an e-book era. Many bookstores place all the new books face-out and kids will look at the entire wall and go directly to the most eye-catching covers. Even with e-books, I’ll often scroll through books and see which covers catch my eye.

JS: Where can we buy your books? Or get additional information about you?
SF: 25 Roses and 30 Days of No Gossip are on Amazon and BarnesandNoble.com. The Piper Morgan books don’t come out until next year, so they aren’t available for pre-order yet, but I’ll let everyone know when they are!

I'd like to thank Stephanie once again for stopping by.
Make sure to say hi to her in the comments below.
As a special treat, she's provided some additional information about her new book and contact details:

Piper Morgan Joins the Circus

Stephanie Faris

Cover illustration by Lucy Fleming.


Blurb:
When Piper Morgan has to move to a new town, she is sad to leave behind her friends, but excited for a new adventure. She is determined to have fun, be brave and find new friends.

And after learning her mom’s new job will be with the Big Top Circus, Piper can’t wait to learn all about life under the big top, see all the cool animals, and meet the Little Explorers, the other kids who travel with the show. She’s even more excited to learn that she gets to be a part of the Little Explorers and help them end each show with a routine to get the audience on their feet and dancing along!


But during Piper’s grand debut, her high kicks and pointed toes don't go quite as planned. After causing a dance disaster, she has to prove to everyone--especially queen of the Little Explorers, Lexie--that she belongs in the spotlight. 


Stephanie Faris:

Bio:
Stephanie Faris knew she wanted to be an author from a very young age. In fact, her mother often told her to stop reading so much and go outside and play with the other kids. After graduating from Middle Tennessee State University with a Bachelor of Science in broadcast journalism, she somehow found herself working in information technology. But she never stopped writing.

Stephanie is the Simon & Schuster author of 30 Days of No Gossip and 25 Roses, as well as the upcoming Piper Morgan series. When she isn’t crafting fiction, she writes for a variety of online websites on the topics of business, technology, and her favorite subject of all—fashion. She lives in Nashville with her husband, a sales executive. 


Links:

Website

Blog

Facebook

Twitter

Instagram

Writer's Block

R.a.n.t. for week of 06/28/15

This was a weekend initially earmarked for getting serious (or series) writing done. After (during actually) my April A-Z r.a.n.t.-fest, attention to my short story series 'Writer's Block' was placed on the back burner. Till then, I was getting one chapter posted a week. As it's a short story series, the chapters are really not that long. But now the intense April is almost two full months behind and I've noticed I have not returned to the series.

Clicking the 'Writer's Block' link above, you will notice I have one full story complete and the second episode with six chapters complete. It's been my long desire to finalize this piece of work. So why have I not gotten back to it? One word. Irony. Get what I mean? So how do I get back into the habit? As mentioned above, I meant to get some writing done this weekend, but as always, things came up. I helped a friend move on Saturday and Sunday I was lazy. Realistically, I was tired from the day before. I'm not spring chicken any more. Looks like the next few weekends will be utilized for helping others as well. No, I'm not ranting about helping others, because I enjoy being appreciated and feeling wanted for something. But how do I jump back in? How is it I can find time for so many other people, but never find time for myself? How do I get inspired? Where has my zeal gone? Where is my motivation? Can you help with some positive affirmation?

Some questions for discussion.
How do you battle Writer's Block?
What do you do to unwind?
Do you ever feel pulled in 15 different directions?



Did you know Jeffrey Scott has it's own Facebook Page?
It's true! Follow the link below.
It's a great way to keep in touch apart from leaving comments here.

Help me reach 100 follows by the end of the Summer.
Current count - 59
Jeffrey Scott Facebook Page

The Creative Blogger Award

I was nominated as a creative blogger. If I am to accept the award, I need to follow a few rules. That's where this blog post comes in.

The rules:
1. Thank and post the link of the person who nominated you.
2. Share 5 facts about yourself to your readers.
3. Nominate 10-20 blogs and notify them.
4. Pass on the rules.


Thanks
I would like to thank Chrys Fey from Write With Fey for the nomination.
Chrys lives in Florida and is an author, blogger and reader. She''s also a Titanic survivor. :)
Her blog is an invaluable resource for tips on writing. Make sure you visit and say hi. Tell her I sent you.


Five facts about myself.
1.) I"m a huge Sci.Fi. nerd. Doctor Who, Star Trek, Star Wars, Farscape, Red Dwarf etc. etc.
2.) I love music and enjoy most genres. I'm an 80's nut first and foremost.
3.) I tell everyone Country is the only genre I won't listen to, but I secretly like a few country songs/artists.
4.) I'm learning to speak an Asian language known as 'Karen Sgaw', spoken in Myanmar and Thailand. Instead of an alphabet like we have, it uses a whole new alphabet I had to learn. I can now read the language, I just don't understand it all.
5.) My favourite food is cereal, my favourite non-alcoholic drink is coffee, my favourite alcoholic drink Guinness. My favourite candy is Jelly Babies.


I nominate the following bloggers:
1.) Rachel Hoyt - A fantastic poet. She takes current events and discusses in poetry.
2.) Roy A. Ackerman - Making the world better, one click at a time.
3.) Muriel - Whether discussing fish and chips or giving dating tips, her blog posts are fantastic reading.
4.) Stephanie Faris - A Children's Author. Her posts are always intriguing.
5.) Liesel K. Hill - Another author sharing writing advice and supporting fellow bloggers.
6.) Dixie - Everyone loves a good laugh. You'll find all the humour you need here.
7.) The English Kitchen - Debunking the myths of English cookery, one recipe at a time.
8.) Jennifer S. Pitts - Scribbles from Jenn. Always something interesting and fun to read here.
9.) Spacerguy - Star Trek / Sci.Fi. Blog. You can't go wrong talking about Star Trek
10.) Mary Burris - Do you like music? Of course you do, and so does she. She provides interesting background information on some of your favourite artists.

Reflections from A to Z

R.a.n.t. for week of 05/03/15

Now that April has passed, I can go back to my regular schedule of r.a.n.t.ing away on a weekly basis. It also means I will begin working on my short story collection again. Does that mean more work for me or less? Your guess is as good as mine. But it is good to reflect on the previous month, so I'll incorporate that as my r.a.n.t. for the week because working on this project has given me plenty to complain about. Well, not really, it's actually given me more to appreciate. With a few small complains.

First the appreciation. April was a great month because I had many visitors. I love writing, but I love writing more when it's appreciated. In April I also received the highest amount of traffic ever (if you discount the two months I was being spammed). Also, instead of receiving a stray comment from time to time, I received daily comments. For a writer such as myself, it means a lot. It felt like my writing was finally being appreciated. On top of all that, I discovered many great blogs and bloggers. The various topics amazed me. Anything from Cornwall to Outer-space were discussed. Tales of the Twilight Zone or a brave lizard were related. Writers gave helpful writing tips, or discussed motorcycle trips. Some wonderful information about Florida was presented and some not so wonderful disasters were described. Musical info and movies to watch. Yes, I think there was a fantastic assortment of things to read about this month. I enjoyed it, did you?

As for things to r.a.n.t. about, I will always find something. It's what I do. There were so many participants, I was not able to find time to visit everyone. I really would have liked to do that, and if I had the time, I would. Some of the blog postings were quite long, but I can't really point the finger at anyone because there would be three more pointing back at me. I tend to go on, if you couldn't tell from this post. Finding the blogs of others who visited me was sometimes nerve racking when they used Google+ to comment, but never posted links to their blog in Google+. It baffled me. Also, I found myself visiting more blogs where the blogger replied to comments or visited my blog. There where a few I visited and I didn't feel welcome so I didn't go back again.

But this was my first year. I learned a few things. I learned I was probably at fault for using Google+ to post comments. I would always forget to check boxes giving me the option to sign comments using my name and blogger page. I also discovered I didn't visit many people at first, even when they left comments. I shall endeavour to do better next year. What next year? Yes, I shall be back. I did it this year, and I can do it again next year. Maybe utilizing a few of my blogs. So, in closing, I had lots of fun. So glad for the people I met and I hope we continue to be blogging pals.

Now for a few honourable mentions.
Chrys Fey - I actually found her blog before the whole April challenge started. To be honest, if it were not for her banners posting the challenge, I would never have know about it or participated. Additionally, she stopped by every single day, left comments and replied to all the comments I left on hers. And I have a bad habit of leaving long comments, so props to her for putting up with all my nonsense and Titanic chatter. (Well, at least we didn't die on the Titanic).

Spacerguy - Besides being a Star Trek guy with a great blog, once he found my blog, he stayed through till the letter Z. And that's a challenge, I know. I posted some out of control posts. But that's me. He saw through my spoof posting. In case anyone else missed it, Spatula City is not a real store. It was a humorous parody and the tags listed that. Again, thanks for visiting!

Alex J. Cavanaugh - I guess we all know who this guy is. I was honoured he came, he read, he commented right up till the final letter. How does he do it? His postings each day were such fun. How was he able to find such diversity for each letter every day? I'm just amazed.

Additional visitors stopping by were Roy, Lisa, Jennifer, Tammy, Hilary, Arlee, Bish, Liesel, Stephanie, Kim, Mary,, Stephen, Bob and Hannah. They all stopped by frequently and left comments. I appreciated every single one. I truly wish I had time to go on about how much I loved visiting their blogs.

28 other bloggers also stopped in to say hi as well. In total, 45 people visited and were kind enough to leave a comment. I tried to return to every blog, but as I said above, I think I fell short. I shall rectify that in the next few weeks. A total of 173 comments were left during the month. I know some bloggers receive that in a single day, but coming from my world where receiving five comments a month was about it, it was a big deal.

In closing. I had a lot of fun this month. I found other bloggers I can connect with and believe I found a few more people I can rant away too. I'll see you next year. Or, the next time I stop over to your blog for a visit.

N is for Naysayers

R.a.n.t. of day 04/16/15

I don't know about other writers, but I'm passionate about my writing. When I'm working on a story, it's all I think about. Writing is something I would, and have, taken a day off of my day job to do. Still, there have been other times I've wanted to give up. Last year, I did that. But then I kept feeling this burning inside me. I had things to write, and it was killing me. I had to write! So I did. Why do I bring this up? Because I was doubting myself. I was being my own naysayer.

Honestly, I think every writer has at some point, done this. Good thing it seems to be self correcting. If you are a serious writer like myself, a brief hiatus won't stop you from writing. It may be a struggle, but don't give up. Don't be your own naysayer. There will be plenty more out there. You can excuse yourself, but when other people are the naysayers, it's a whole different ball game.

I have a brother-in-law who has always implied my writing is a waste of time and pointless. Any talk of writing and he rolls his eyes, as if I'm doing the dumbest thing in the world with my time. That hurts. I put a lot of time and effort into my writing. Either for others to enjoy or just myself. I have enough self doubt. I fear I'll never be appreciated as a writer. That feeling is intensified when others are negative. So no, I'm not hiding out from people, or being a hermit I'm simply doing what I love and enjoy.

I love writing and my writing. Be it my usual humorous stories or when I write serious pieces such as this. Sorry for there not being many jokes today, but this is a r.a.n.t. I feel strongly about. You can tell me I'm not funny, you can say I'm not attractive, complain about my shyness, but don't tell me writing is stupid and I'm wasting my time. I don't care what you think. Because I love writing, and I'm going to do it. Go be a naysayer somewhere else.

Some questions for discussion:
Have you had to battle naysayers?
How do you keep yourself encouraged?
Have you ever taken a break from your writing or other hobby you enjoy only to return to it?

Editing

When I use the word 'about',
I get enraged and want to shout.
Or when describing, I say 'very',
but it's a word I long to bury.
Certain words I use 'a lot',
but usually best if they're forgot.
My brain will often sneak in 'that'.
Taunting me, it's such a brat.
And umpteen times I see 'just',
another word I do not trust.
This problem I have always 'had',
but correcting makes my readers glad.
Yes, now you know what I 'think',
laziness makes my writing stink.
I edit tedious words like 'really',
And let creativity flow more freely.
Clarifying what I 'began',
Editing is a constant plan.

J.A.Scott

R.A.N.T. About A Lot of Very Bad Words That I Kind Of Just Really Hate When Editing

R.a.n.t. of week 02/15/15

Almost 30 years ago I wrote a short story series. The story consisted of two parts of four stories each. Recently, I've been thinking of the story and reread it. I was horrified when I realized how much editing work needs to be done. The writing was far from concise and even simple sentences were horrific run-ons. So this week, I've compiled a top 10 list of words I keep an eye on when doing my editing work. Do you find yourself overusing any of these words? Are there different words on your editing list?


ABOUT
Problem: This is a word I frequently over use resulting in sloppy, lazy writing.
Example 1 - Erick said, "What are you talking about? That never happened."
Example 2 - "I thought about how excited you were to get that assignment." Vicki replied.

Solution: Perhaps they can be written this way.
Example 1 - Erick says, "I don't understand. When did that happen?"
Example 2 - "I suddenly realized how excited you were to get the assignment," Vicki replied.
Example 3 - Blog header: A LOT OF VERY BAD WORDS THAT I KIND OF JUST REALLY HATE WHEN EDITING


VERY
This is a very bad word that is very much over used. I hate it very much. Very sloppy and unimaginative.
Example 1 - "It's just another computer." Kenny replies not very impressed.
Example 2 - "She wasn't very happy when I originally told her I wanted to join the newspaper team."

Deleting the word forces a more creative way of expressing my thoughts.
Example 1 - "It's another computer," Kenny says unimpressed.
Example 2 - "She wasn't enthusiastic when I told her I was joining the newspaper.
Example 3 - Blog header: A LOT OF WORDS THAT I KIND OF JUST REALLY HATE WHEN EDITING


A LOT
What does a lot mean? (Also notice it's two words). Is a lot of pennies in a dollar the same amount as a person who eats a lot of hamburgers during the week?
Example 1 - Mrs. Wright seems to appreciate this attitude a lot better.
Example 2 - "I suppose you and Jenni will be spending a lot of time together."

Explain what 'a lot' really means or simply delete it.
Example 1 - Mrs. Wright appreciated Erick's sudden change of attitude.
Example 2 - "I suppose this means you and Jenni will be spending a couple hours together every week?"
Example 3 - Blog header: 10 WORDS THAT I KIND OF JUST REALLY HATE WHEN EDITING


THAT
Another word adding nothing to the sentence. It cheapens whatever you are discussing.
Example 1 - "Andrea is the only one that seems to have a problem with me."
Example 2 - "What was it that broke the camels back?"

The sentence can be rewritten to sound better and with more meaning.
Example 1 - "Only Andrea has a problem with me."
Example 2 - "What finally broke the camels back?"
Example 3 - Blog Header: 10 WORDS I KIND OF JUST REALLY HATE WHEN EDITING


JUST
If something just happens, it happens right then and there. But do you need to say something just happened if you are already describing it's happening?
Example 1 - "I'm just glad I finally ended it."
Example 2 - "I think I've just lost my appetite."

Deleting 'just' makes the sentence flow better.
Example 1 - "I'm glad I finally ended it."
Example 2 - "That's disgusting! Now I've lost my appetite."
Example 3 - Blog Header: 10 WORDS I KIND OF REALLY HATE WHEN EDITING


KIND OF
Would you want someone to kind of give an explanation to you? It's a fuzzy statement, what does it mean exactly?
Example 1 - "I thought maybe she'd give me some kind of indication."
Example 2 - "It really is a must for anyone wanting to get into any kind of entertainment field."

Flesh out what 'kind of' actually means or just get rid of it.
Example 1 - "I hoped she'd tell me whether you aced the test or failed."
Example 2 - "It's a must for anyone looking to become a professional comedian."
Example 3 - Blog Header: 10 WORDS I REALLY HATE WHEN EDITING


REALLY
Like 'very', I really really hate this word. Using really is lazy writing.
Example 1 - "We really need to talk."
Example 2 - "I used to go out with her and we really don't get along any more."

Be more creative with your descriptions.
Example 1 - "You better sit down. We have to talk and you are not going to like it."
Example 2 - "We use to go out and saying we don't get along is an understatement."
Example 3 - Blog Header: 10 WORDS I HATE WHEN EDITING


BEGAN
I begin to cringe every time I see myself using this. Wait no, I don't begin to do it, then stop. I actually do it. This word should never be used if it describes something still happening.
Example 1 - People began to gather around to watch the demonstration.
Example 2 - She began to develop strong feelings for him the past few weeks.
Example 3 - Kenny began pointing at Erick and laughing hysterically.

Normally a person doesn't begin something, then suddenly stop. When they do something, they do it.
Example 1 - People gathered to watch the demonstration.
Example 2 - During the past few weeks Vicki developed stronger feelings for him.
Example 3 - Kenny pointed at Erick, laughing hysterically.


THINK
If a person is telling you about something, do they also have to tell you they are thinking about it?
Example 1 - "Why do you think she blames you?"
Example 2 - "I think Jenni will be able to help you."
Example 3 - "Do you think I care any more?"

Sometimes it's better to do something instead of thinking about it. Also, asking what a person thinks is redundant. When they reply, you'll know what they think.
Example 1 - "Why does she still blame you?"
Example 2 - "I'm assigning Jenni to help you."
Example 3 - "I give up. I don't care any more.


HAD
This word implies you no longer have whatever you are referring to. I have a problem using it when I shouldn't.
Example 1 - "I thought we had an honest relationship."
Example 2 - Erick did comply despite all the nonsense she had put him through.
Example 3 - Erick begins to tell Vicki what had just happened to him.

Rewrite so the sentence doesn't imply the situation no longer exists.
Example 1 - "Don't we have an honest relationship?"
Example 2 - Erick complied despite the nonsense she puts him through.
Example 3 - Erick starts explaining to Vicki what happened earlier but suddenly stops, not wanting to bring up Jenni again.