IWSG: A Day Late!

I went home allergy-sick yesterday, so I forgot to post! So Happy Over-the-Hump Day! It's time for another Insecure Writer's Support Group post. This group was created by the ninja Alex J. Cavanaugh, and it's gotten so big that it has its own website, book, and upcoming anthology! We post (normally) every 1st Wednesday of the month, and you can sign up to join us any time!

This is mostly a post about being grateful for another group I joined last month. It's the Pitch Warriors, people who didn't make the cut during Pitch Wars. We mostly talk on Facebook, but it's such a helpful and encouraging group, and I even received a CP who I hope will be with me for the long term (she's also got a GREAT story I can't wait to see published). I'm a super introvert, so I rarely do any of these contests or groups to make new friends and what-not, but this time it's really nice to be around people who were on the same boat.

That's all. :-D

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IWSG: In Need of A Good Day

Happy Wednesday, and Happy September!

As you may know by now, this is the Insecure Writer's Support Group, created by the awesome ninja Alex J. Cavanaugh. You can visit him and also sign on at the group's very own website, Insecure Writer's Support Group dot com. And a big thank you to the ninjas who are visiting us all, as we are in the HUNDREDS.

I'm writing this the night before so I can get it out and read other people's posts today, and while also hoping Wednesday is a better day than Tuesday. First but not first-first. I didn't make the Pitch Wars list. It's a surreal movie feeling as you hear the mentors you picked pick other people and you're counting down thinking, "Okay, four more...Three more...Two..." By the 4th mentor, I'd pretty much lost hope because they had moved onto the mentors who were looking for YA OR NA, but now I guess I'm in that phase of total depression before I pick up my things and keep moving. The least I can hope for is that I'll get feedback in 2 to 4 weeks.

I said it was first but not first-first because by 9am Tuesday, I knew that I no longer wanted to Tuesday. I'm in a job that doesn't challenge me and that I don't want to do anymore, but I'm either over- or under- qualified for every other job out there right now, so I'm basically just sitting at my desk feeling so ADHD that I don't know what to do anymore. I'm also an insomniac, but it only seems to be on weekdays (probably because I hate my job), and by 10am, I'm ready to go to sleep and just don't want to be bothered. That certainly doesn't help.

There was a familial issue that happened actually just before the Pitch Wars video went up that upset me, too, and while I was straining to hear the first 30 minutes of the video because of noisy family members (not related to the aforementioned familial issue), I was kind of hoping just a little bit, that I would be picked. And I slightly blame myself because I said I wasn't doing anymore contests, and I probably shouldn't have because I'm not emotionally built for them in any capacity.

So anyway, here's to a good day.

IWSG: Changes

Happy...whoa, *ctrl+B* Happy August! lol Welcome back to the Insecure Writer's Support Group, created by the blogfather himself, Alex J. Cavanaugh.

I went through a few changes for my blog and myself while on my 2-month blogosphere hiatus, and I think it will help refresh my writing energy and query trials.

Blog Schedule. While I was on my hiatus, I returned to express my desire to change my schedule, so I did. After 1st Wednesdays, I'll only be blogging twice a week. This will help me free up some more time for writing and revisions.

Pen Name. You may have noticed (maybe not lol) that my real name is sitting up in that little space by my face now, because I wanted to change my pen name. Partially because I feel like Debra McKellan no longer fits me, despite the awesome reason I chose it in the first place. Partially because I picked it for reasons of neutrality (just like when women writers choose initials because it comes off less female), but in the world of We Need Diverse Books (and all its various social media) and Write Inclusively, I decided I need to be me sans any inclination that I'm someone I'm not.

There's not much about my birth name I'm cool with, to be honest, but nothing else really fits. On Twitter, I expressed that I may just go with my first and middle name (Debra Renée) and went on a spiel from there. Even wrote out my signature to see if I like it (I love it). So, I believe that will be it. Of course, now when I list publications, I'll have to say "Origin" was published under Debra McKellan, but well, I believe other people have done that before. Blah. Still stoked that it was published.

An Opening that Hooks an Agent. I expressed just yesterday that I planned on adding a new scene to my opening. I basically added a whole new chapter from bits I mention later in the story and a short prequel that may or may not ever see daylight. I'm hoping this new opening will wow more than my previous opening so I can stop getting depressed when I check my inbox. Two agents I was pretty nervous about querying and finally did passed. That hurts.

It is now midnight, and I said I would be going to bed 2 hours ago. Fail. Have a happy IWSG Day!

IWSG: Enjoying This Break

Hello.

I'm writing this on Tuesday night with a little bit of red wine in me, so I don't have much energy for my normal greetings. I will say thank you to Alex J. Cavanaugh and co-hosts because they deserve it.

I decided at the end of May that I wanted to take a break in June. July was also on my mind, and to be honest, I'm for it. I know blogging is good to build networks etc., but it's exhausting and sometimes tedious to me. I have actually written a LOT this past month, and I feel like a lot of it is BECAUSE I haven't been blogging.

I'm also back to querying agents. One said she was drawn by my query but not hooked by my first pages, so I know if I get the same sentiments from the next couple of agents, I need to do something about those first pages...AGAIN. I have friends getting their songs on tv shows, other friends getting into the careers they want. My cousin is finally branching out and doing solo performances at churches. I'd really like to be one of the successes soon. This life of working jobs I don't love just to get by is draining my soul.

IWSG: Inspiration

Happy First Wednesday!

It is time to share our writerly woes, achievements, and thoughts with others like us. This was created by Alex J. Cavanaugh, and there are now hundreds of writers who participate! There is also a website now, which can be visited HERE.

A couple of weeks ago, my cousin messaged me to tell me her son was writing a story, "Just like Deborah."* It definitely made me get a little misty, and it also made me feel like I have to keep pushing myself to write and get to that publication goal to make him proud. I'm sure by this week, he'll want to be a fireman or something, but it was just nice to hear. Some people do find the inspiration to write from authors they've read, so I would love to be that author for someone out there.

Hope to visit you today!



(*He actually wrote a two-sentence story on my old laptop when he was 4, so when his mom told him that, he said, "Oh, so this is my second novel?" haha)

Insecure Writer's Support Group: Short message

Happy Hump Day! Happy April! Happy Fools! lol No, not so much the last one, but this is the day we writers all get together to share our insecurities and such. A big thanks to Alex J. Cavanaugh, who I think I've finally beat in getting my post up first (he does his at like 5am or something) for beginning this awesome journey 3 years ago.

As it is April, the A to Z Challenge has started! I can't remember if I've put a badge up, but my posts can be found HERE. I have a neurosis about my blog count being skewed because of these daily April posts, so I moved them all a couple years back (useless tidbit for y'all).

I just want to wish everyone good luck with their challenge, with the contest season, with any stories you are submitting right now. You can do it! :)

Insecure Writers Support Group

Good morning, all!

This is the Insecure Writer's Support Group, where like a thousand of us get together and talk about our insecurities or just what's on our mind on the first Wednesday of the month. There would be no IWSG without the great Ninja Alex J. Cavanaugh and his team of super samurai (I know those don't go together, but why not), who can be found commenting on our blogs today. You can also visit the blog for the group by clicking THIS.

While I have a short story being published this month (eeee!) by Cactus Heart Press, I still have to build up the strength to work on a synopsis for my major project The Crystal Bearer. I have one or two companies in mind that I want to submit to this time around, and I want to make sure everything is in order. I haven't really worked on a synopsis in years, and whatever paper I started writing it on this year, I think I've lost. It was in one of my coat pockets. Maybe it's still there.

This project means everything to me, so I really want to get it out there. I don't want to downplay my early declarations, because I've already said 2015 is going to be my year. I just need to force myself to make it that way as well.

IWSG: Next Project

Seriously? It's February already? Time is FLYING.

Oh well, it's the first Wednesday of the month, so you know what that means: IWSG! If you are a writer, the chances you have some doubts is very high, and that's why Alex J. Cavanaugh created this hop, so we can all support one another. The thing is so big now, it even has its own website and Facebook page! There is also a critique group now on Facebook, so if someone can comment that so peeps can see it. :) (Update: posted, hyperlinked. Thanks, Alex!)


This week, I opened up three short stories I began writing in high school. It focuses on these 4 best friends and the ups and downs they go through. I've wanted to expand their stories for quite some time and had even started a short story in the future that focuses on some of their children, but I didn't finish it.

I really want to do this story; the characters are dear to me. I just want it also to be relevant and realistic (the stories were so melodramatic and WORDY lol), so I might have to *gasp* plot.

Wish me luck!

IWSG Part 2: Introductions!

So I wrote my first post yesterday, and today I learn we're to introduce ourselves to the IWSG community. Sheesh. All the links and stuff I usually post are in the other post I posted. lol I'll make this brief.

HELLO! My name is Deborah, and I'm a writer from Delaware. My pen name is Debra McKellan. You can call me Deb. I've been writing since I was 7 years old, and my current focus is YA fantasy. I'm a Final Fantasy addict, hence the blog name and mage over that way ---->.

I'm also a Zumba instructor, singer/songwriter, and churchgoer. lol You may follow me on Twitter at @DebraMcKellan for writer stuff, and @QueenBDeb for non-writer stuff, though every now and then I retweet myself or talk about what I'm reading there.

o/

IWSG: This Is My Year

Happy New Year!

Every first Wednesday of the month, hundreds of writers get together and post their insecurities for the world to see! It's a non-judgement zone and a great way to vent, celebrate, and support! It was dubbed the Insecure Writers Support Group and birthed by the great sensei Alex J. Cavanaugh! It also has 2 (?) Facebook pages (right? One is a crit page?) and its own Website! You may join if you haven't done so already. Someone will always stop by to support you. :)

As for me, I think this is The Year. I don't know when, and I don't know from where, but I feel like this is going to be the year things start falling into place for me as a writer. It's been a pretty hard, emotional few years since I first put that figurative pen down, with a lot of frustration and tons of doubt and self-disapproval, and so much internal blood, sweat, and tears that sometimes I didn't even get on my laptop at all. But even if it's not until December, I feel like this will be the year, my year!

I had a whole other post planned out, but my mind said, "No, talk about this." lol So there you have it. :)

Insecure Writer's Support Group!

Happy December!

Now Charlie Brown's Christmastime is playing in my head. -_-

I'm on Revision 2000 on my WIP and did a MAJOR overhaul on a lot of things, but I think it's helping flesh out my story into something that will finally be queryable (I hereby patent the word queryable).

I also just cut another huge side-quest in my story. Why? Well, books don't need side-quests. lol When I develop the video game for my book that I haven't even published yet, then I can add the optional side-quests like FFIX did. Heck when the DVD/BluRay/LaserMindmeld comes out for the movie of the book I haven't even published yet, I can add the things I cut out of the book into the extras. I'll probably still remember them.

Enough about me. How did everyone do on NaNoWriMo? I hope you got close to 50k. If not, don't worry! You can always keep (or start) writing or try again next year! But mostly, keep writing. ;)

Fake Disclaimer But Real People: The Insecure Writer's Support Group was created by Alex J. Cavanaugh, the guru of all things writer's support. His co-hosts this month are Heather Gardner, Tonja Drecker from Kidbits, Eva E. Solar at Lilicasplace, and Patsy Collins.

See you all in 2015!

Insecure Writer's Support Group

Happy Wednesday, and Happy November! I hope you went out to vote yesterday. I did!

It is also the first of the month, so that means, INSECURE WRITERS, UNITE! This mammoth of a bloghop was created by the legend, the ninja, the guitar hero, Alex J. Cavanaugh. Visit both links for IWSG posts, hosts, and participants.

National Novel Writing Month has once again started! I was thinking about trying it again this year (I tried 2 years ago and failed miserably). I even had thoughts on what to write, but I'm helping my friend revise her first novel--an adult women's sci-fi--and am working on revising my own fantasy WIP, so I have to not bog my brain down with anything else.

For you all here, I want to post some inspirational quotes or memes. SOMETHING. lol (I just Googled "inspiration for writiers." Yes, Google, I did mean writers, thanks. lol SMH. It's too early.)

Buzzfeed has a great list but terrifying pictures of the people who said them, so I'm going to put the link here with some of my favorites from the list and let you stare at the people if you want. lol

"If something isn't working, if you have a story that you've built and it's blocked and you can't figure it out, take your favorite scene, or your very best idea or set-piece, and cut it. It's brutal, but sometimes inevitable."

--Joss (O Cap'n, My Cap'n) Whedon

"There is no greater agony than bearing an untold story inside you."

--Maya Angelou

"Each writer is born with a repertory company in his head. Shakespeare has perhaps 20 players...I have 10 or so, and that's a lot.  As you get older, you become more skillful at casting them."

--Gore Vidal

"No tears in the writer, no tears in the reader. No surprise for the writer, no surprise for the reader."

--Robert Frost

"If there's a book that you want to read, but it hasn't been written yet, then you must write it."

--Toni Morrison

"I know I was writing stories when I was five. I don't know what I did before that. Just loafed, I suppose."

--(teehee) P.G. Wodehouse

"A writer is someone for whom writing is more difficult than it is for other people."

--(Say that!) Thomas Mann

"There are three rules for writing a novel. Unfortunately, no one knows what they are."

--(HA!) W. Somerset Maugham

And finally:

"I can shake off everything as I write; my sorrows disappear, my courage is reborn."

--Anne Frank

Good luck this month, NaNobites! hehe

IWSG: Write Because You're A Writer

Creator: Alex J. Cavanaugh (sensei)
Website: http://www.insecurewriterssupportgroup.com/


I know that sounds pretty obvious, right? But some of you would be surprised. People will ask some of us what we do for a living, and even if we have a day job, saying that we’re writers will sometimes get us strange looks. I had some perfect stranger (I hate when people at bus stations try to spark conversations) ask me, when I told him I majored in Creative Writing (at FSU), what would I write other than newspaper articles. As if books just…I don’t even know.

Heck, saying you want to be a published author when you grow up may not even be supported by your family. I follow a blogger who has that issue, and my older sister used to tell me how unrealistic it was to be a writer and spent too many years trying to get me jobs for which I was unqualified. And many people who ask what I graduated with (BA in English) think an English degree means I want to be a teacher. I still don’t understand why. I’ve known people who instead of going into Creative Writing or English go into weird things they’re not particularly interested in just to please their parents. No offense, but that’s some crap.

Some people have small minds. If you’re not being a teacher, doctor, lawyer, or whatever, you’re not doing anything of importance. WRONG.

You are a writer. NEVER put it on the backburner because people who don’t understand what it is to think these things up and to create other worlds and see other forms of mankind in their mind aren’t particularly worth pleasing. Life is not a drill. Go through it doing what you were meant to do. You’re not crazy, you’re not dreaming too hard. You write. That’s what you do. So, do it.

(Yes, IWSG peeps, you may use this for the E-Book. Happy Anniversary!!)

IWSG: Third Anniversary!! & Express Yourself Weekly

Happy Third Anniversary, Insecure Writer's Support Group!!

I think I've been a member for about a year now (if it's longer, where did the time go?!), and it's been a great help. Thanks to Alex J. Cavanaugh-Sensei for creating this group. And in one month, it will be the 1st anniversary of the website and Facebook Group, and the team has something in store for us, so go check it out. You can also sign up to join our monthly lamentations and/or encouragements, as well as see who is co-hosting this month. I think there's a Shah, a Sheena, a Baffled Brain, and an Irish Hawaiian. ;)

So I have the yo-yo'ing wonder in mind as to whether or not my stories will ever see the light of day. I write some that I know I never really mean to publish, but what about the ones I do? I've kind of staked my whole life on getting the title "author" somewhere close to my name, and there was SO much I didn't know about writing until after I graduated college that it's taking so much longer at working towards that goal. Pray for me. lol

In the meantime, I've also been working on doing more reading, and last month was very successful. With that said, Jackie @ Bouquet of Books and Dani @ Entertaining Interests put up this month's Express Yourself questions, and this week's goes in line with my reading goals. :)

This week, they asked what we plan on reading this month.

At the moment, I'm reading Neil Gaiman's American Gods, a very good read so far. If it doesn't take me two more weeks to read it, I'll be reading two graphic novels, Flight, books 4 & 5. And because whenever I check out more than one book at the library, the book I placed on hold decides it's time to be available (crap, I need to go pick it up!), I will hopefully be reading By Blood We Live by the end of the month.

IWSG: Reading More! and Wednesday Words

Happy 1st Wednesday!

Welcome to the Insecure Writer's Support Group, a safe haven for us insecure, self-conscious, often anxious, always nervous writers to vent and voice our issues without being judged. This group was created by the awesomely talented ninja Alex J. Cavanaugh and now even has its own website! Visit either for the list of co-hosts and other group members, and feel free to join!

So today, I realized I actually spend too much time on my phone. Not particularly tweeting, which I do a lot on my non-writer Twitter account, but playing this little game called Pixel Dungeon. I've played over 500 times (you die very easily. Think Rogue or Castle of the Winds, if you're familiar with dungeon RPGs). I can play for hours because the goal is to get to the bottom and beat a demon, I think, and if it's like other dungeon games, go all the way back upstairs and leave victorious. What's more: there are 4 characters from which to choose, so you can play 4 different ways!

Problem with that, not only are my eyes extremely tired, but I could've been reading. *slaps forehead* I have to do more of it. I used to read SO much. My cousin's pop-pop remembered that about me the other day, and I blame college for taking my enthusiasm for reading away. I should've majored in Music. Less reading. lol

That said, today I will begin reading Natalie Whipple's Transparent. Definitely visit her page today, because she's also doing a cover reveal for Trust Me, I'm A Ninja, the sequel to her novel Relax, I'm a Ninja.

Today is also my Wednesday Words, so because I'm vowing to read more, I thought I'd connect my two topics. :) Using Random.org, I will be posting a few random lines from a random page from Transparent, so you get to see what I'm reading, and I get to see what I'm getting myself into.

There are 352 pages in the Kindle Edition, so Random has chosen.....pg. 136.

That's about 38.6% into the book. There are about 36 lines in that vicinity, so Random has chosen.....line 5.

He could be messing with us, and Mom would never recover from that kind of betrayal. She'd never try again.

Having read the sample, I know a little about what this is about. I can't wait to see how things turn out for Fiona.

IWSG - This is Your Life!

I definitely almost forgot. Happy IWSG Day!

The Insecure Writer's Support Group was created long ago in a galaxy far, far away by a ninja named Alex J. Cavanaugh. hehe Visit his page and group website for the hosts and to visit or join the other group members.

I turn 30 in 17 days! That said, I had many goals and milestones throughout my life so far, so I thought I'd lay them out today so we can all look at them and laugh. lol

At age 5: I decided I wanted to have kids. O.o

At age 7: I wanted to be a firefighter, not in the future, but while I was 7. Go to school in the morning and fight fires by night. (So apparently, I wanted to be a superhero).

Also at age 7: I asked my Mom if I could go to Disney World, and she said "Some day."

At age 8: I wrote my first X-men based picture book. I also decided I wanted to be a writer and illustrator.

At age 9: I wrote my first song. It was about playing out in the field, and it was called "Out in the Field".

At 11: I decided I wanted to write horror. I'd seen Stephen King's It 11 times and was inspired.

At age 13: I had my first life-crisis because I was now a teenager. I also wrote my first contemporary fiction based off of The Outsiders.

At age 14: I started writing Backstreet Boys fan-fiction, some of which I adapted into my first short stories.

At age 17: I sang with my sister at a Talent Show, got rave reception, and decided I wanted to try to be a pop singer.

At age 18: I decided I didn't want to go to college and wanted to pursue singing. I also had the dream that became the then-opening scene to my fantasy WIP.

At age 19: I went to the University of the Arts' Summer Program for illustration, preparing to go to college.

At age 20: I submitted the first pages of my fantasy story to UArts' Writing for Film & TV program and went to college.

At age 24: I graduated from college! lol

As you can see, I didn't become a pop star lol, but I think I am finally ready to query that story. I can't wait to see what the next 30 years will have in store, but for now, I'll keep counting down the next 17 days. :) Also, still haven't been to Disney World. >:(

IWSG: The Thick Skin

Happy Wednesday! It's time for another meeting of the Insecure Writer's Support Group! This group was created by Alex J. Cavanaugh, a master of all trades and our resident ninja! Stop by his page to meet the co-hosts for the month, and visit the Insecure Writer's Support Group for blog posts, helpful links, and the IWSG Participants list.

This past couple of weeks has been pretty exciting for me on the writer side. I was finally chosen as an entrant for the Query Kombat! And I followed and met about 100 other people through Twitter, even finding a beta partner in my opponent!

Together, we've endured some harsh but needed criticism, and had I made it maybe last year or the year before, I wouldn't have been able to handle it. One of the first things we're taught when we join the online writer circuit is to grow a thick skin. I never thought I would! I'm a naturally sensitive person, and it was hard enough putting my baby out there. I used to get really defensive and yell at my computer screen, but I'm learning to take my grumbling down to a 1 and reevaluate my writing. That thick skin grew!

So even if I don't make Round 2, I can still say I came out a winner!

IWSG: How to Make Time?

It's that time again! I feel like it's been ages!

Welcome back to the Insecure Writer's Support Group, created by the fabulous Ninja Alex J. Cavanaugh and co-hosted by awesome gurus every month. Visit Alex and The Insecure Writer's Support Group for the co-hosts and tens of tens of participants!

I'm in a weird place at the moment. A month or so ago, I couldn't really find the motivation to do any writing type things, and now, in a good way, I'm too busy during the day and tired by the time I get home! New job feeling. lol

So I think I need to make myself a schedule. I want to get back into blogging, and I need to write more. AND I need to read faster. lol I might not be able to control that one, but the other two I can do, I think.

Insecure Writer's Support Group

Happy Wednesday!

I just wanted to pop in and say I'm taking a break for the month. It's a busy month for me, and I'd like to actually try to get into some of my WIPs and find betas for my manuscripts. I hope everyone doing A to Z gets through it victorious!

Insecure Writer's Support Group was created by the ninja Alex J. Cavanaugh. Stop by his page to view the co-hosts and other participants! You can also visit the new website for Insecure Writer's Support Group.

IWSG: My 200th Post!

It's the first Wednesday of the month! Happy Insecure Writers Support Group Day! And Happy Lent! lol Be sure to stop by as many of the hundreds of group members in the link embedded two sentences ago. ;)

Today marks my 200th blog post in The Writer Ambitious! That's a feat. I didn't think I'd still be trying to blog 2 years later. I went to see what some of my old posts were. My very first, I was sending a not-ready manuscript out to a publisher(ouch). I might actually try again, now that I have two years behind me and a better take on reality. My second was about the tribute sequel I just talked about, Ruby, which is kind of cool that two years later, I'm leaning towards making it my first publication instead of my fantasy WIP I've slaved over for more than those two years. Honestly, though, Ruby also came to me so much more easily. Interesting.

With that said, for today, I advise everyone to take a look back, laugh, cry (lol), and then move forward. :) Have a good day!

This blog hop is sponsored by the legendary guitar guru and ninja warrior Alex J. Cavanaugh.