IWSG & Inspirations

 

Happy August! Did you enjoy IWSG’s first ever Twitter pitch party last week? Well, lucky for you the fun doesn’t end because today’s IWSG Day! We came out last week and we’re back again, the first Wednesday of the month. Whether you’re struggling or flying high in your writing journey, we gather today to lend you our support. Thanks that we can be there for each other goes to ninja extraordinaire Alex Cavanaugh.

Don’t forget to check out today’s awesome co-hosts Christine Rains, Dolarah @ Book Lover, Ellen @ The Cynical Sailor, Yvonne Ventresca, and LG Keltner!

Interested in joining us? Click on the badge above. Our Twitter hashtag and handle are #IWSG and @TheIWSG.

So what’s been going on with me this month?

Well…I’ve been thinking of trying something new. I know my 2017 writing plan said no new stories this year. Been on a romance binge and recently I’ve read a fairy tale retelling anthology by Jill Myles (pseudonym). And it got my muses doing the happy dance.

Writing and Removing Clichés by J.Q. Rose

Hi Lidy, Thanks so much for hosting me today.

I hope readers will leave a comment below because I will add each commenter to a drawing for a free PDF copy of my cozy mystery, Deadly Undertaking. DEADLINE? Sunday, July 30th.

Today I attack my nemesis—using clichés in my writing. They are annoying for readers and a thorn in the side for editors too.

Writing and Removing Clichés by J.Q. Rose

For some reason clichés are not approved by editors when checking my stories. I don’t know why. It makes writing as easy as pie. These familiar expressions are as good as gold when it comes to taking a short cut in your storytelling.

Instead of writing a paragraph about how bad the storm is, I can just say the rain is coming down in buckets. The reader knows exactly how bad that is. However, after sending this in to the editor, the phrase will appear red-lined in the manuscript and a comment will show up in the margin gently reminding me that is a cliché. But seriously, if you have to describe how hot the weather is in a story, why can’t you say it was hot enough to fry an egg on the sidewalk? That really does explain the heat factor!

How to Have a Successful #IWSGPit

Oh yes, you are not seeing things. The IWSG (Insecure Writer’s Support Group) has thrown their hat in doing a twitter pitch event. And next week Thursday, July 27th is their first ever pitch event.

Are you an IWSGer? Have you queried your manuscript far and wide and still haven’t received a response? Or rejected more times than you can count? Do you have a manuscript that’s polished and ready to submit to publishers and agents?

Well, #IWSGPit might be your chance to get your baby in front of them.

Did You Know…Fullmetal Alchemist

Credit image: http://www.animenewsnetwork.com; © Hiromu Arakawa/FA Projects, MBS

Hi, I know I’m supposed to be on break but there’s no way I couldn’t do this post. If you’ve been following me and read my bio, then you know that I’m a huge anime and manga fan. And it just so happens that one of my favorite manga, started its original run two days from now, on July 12, 2001.

So, without further ado…Happy 16th anniversary Fullmetal Alchemist!

FMA, written by Hiromu Arakawa, is a story about the plight of two brothers to right. Who committed a great wrong because of grief and love for their deceased mother. They infringed on God’s domain.