IWSG Day- Oops, I Did It Again

Happy 2017! How is everyone doing? As you know, or if you don’t know already, the first Wednesday of each month is IWSG Day. IWSG is short for Insecure Writer’s Support Group and like the name says, we provide support. Writing can sometimes be as lonesome and draining as it is invigorating. And we can all use a little encouragement and support. Confirmation that we’re not really that crazy for pursuing this career. Although Edgar Allen Poe said it best when he said, “I’m a writer. Therefore I am not sane.”

So thanks for creating this creative community for all us crazies goes to Alex Cavanaugh. And thanks for co-hosting this month goes to: Eva @ Lillicasplace, Crystal Collier, Sheena-kay Graham, Chemist Ken, LG Keltner, and Heather Gardner!

Our Twitter hashtag is #IWSG

If you’re interested in signing up click on the badge above or follow this link.

So what’s going on with me this month? Well, let’s just say I’m feeling like that Britney Spears song, “Oops I did it again.”

Here I am thinking about what I should write today when bam! It hits me. A new story idea.

It’s day 3 into 2017 and although I haven’t written a word (this post doesn’t count). I’ve been thinking about what should happen next in my adult romance Dreaming of You. In my all star character edition, most of my characters from the 4 work in progress novels I worked on in 2016. It was a fun little post that helped me tap into my characters, who they are as people. As well help figure out which WIP should have my complete focus to completion in 2017.

So, since I’ve been thinking nothing but plot points and story lines. And about love scenes for Dreaming of You, so Dreaming of You it is. YAY!

Dreaming of You Cast

But my problem now is what happened while thinking about Dreaming of You. When my muse went and smacked me upside my head with a new story idea. This time featuring Kim’s cousin in NYC. This new series branches out to Kim’s cousin and their childhood friends who used to live in the apartment next door. So now I have the beginning of a new series, stand alone romances, for the 5 boroughs of New York. The series is tentatively known as Love in the City. And the title for Kim’s cousin, whose name I still haven’t learned yet, is Double Trouble. Also tentative.

Kim’s cousin from NY (1 of the 5 boroughs in Love in the City series (tentative title)   Character Inspiration Source: K.D. Aubert                                   Credit image: otsmagazine.files.wordpress.com

I promised myself no new stories for 2017. To just concentrate on putting the words ‘the end’ on 1 or 2 of  my work in progress novels. But I’m getting a creeping doubt that I enjoy the coming up with stories stage more than the finishing it part.  All these story ideas are great because I have plenty of material to choose from. But I worry if this should be something I should worry about. What if I can start a story but I can’t finish it?

Hmmmm….

How has 2017 been to you so far? Has your muse been acting up or being helpful? What do you do when you’ve been hit with an inspiration? And if it’s for a new or different WIP?

Credit image: leilaworldblog

January 4 Question: What writing rule do you wish you’d never heard?

I have two: ‘Show. Don’t tell.’ And ‘Write what you know.’ These are the most limiting advice I’ve heard. And I’m tired of hearing. As if those three to four little words, disguised as advice, is actually helpful. When I first heard them I was thrown for a loop. And it often left me questioning myself whether I’m not showing enough or telling too much. Which didn’t help the doubts I already had about my writing. And there’s stuff that I know that I could use in my writing. It might make writing easier but also boring. If I can’t get excited about my work, how do I expect to get a reader excited.

Instead they should amend both writing rules. eg.

Show and tell. Find the balance between the two. And know when to show and when to tell.

Write what you know. And write what you don’t know. (my college professor taught me this one and I’m all the better for it)