Wednesday, January 4, 2023

IWSG: January 2023

 


Can we believe it's 2023? Not quite but welcome to the first blog hop post for IWSG for this year. Thanks to the IWSG admins for keeping us going and to our founder, Alex J. Cavanaugh, for bringing us together in the first place. Find the entire list of participants on this page.

I'm skipping this month's question and putting to page some thoughts going into a new year. As many of you know, my publisher closed their doors at the end of 2022. That's more than 20 published books that are now homeless. Enough to crush my motivation. But...

I have found some things to inspire me.

1. Seeing colleagues having new books coming out. Some are writers I've known for years and have spent time at writers conferences networking together. I love seeing them succeed and it makes me work harder.

2. Reading the various newsletters that come my way from a variety of sources. Some are writing groups like this one and some are from individual authors. I learn so much and also witness the writing successes of the other members.

3. Finding a new author, or new-to-me, that I fall in love with. There have been a few recently, but one fantasy writer I'll point out is Kel Kade. Kel's first serious was self-published and her second series was picked up by TOR.

4. Helping set up registration for the Pennwriters Conference coming to Pittsburgh, PA in May of this year. I love spending the weekend with other writers.

5. Receiving an invite from a successful local author to join her FB group. If you attended last year's Pennwriters Conference, you know Misty Simon. A gifted writer of mysteries who brings a lot of laughter and joy to those she interacts with.

Those are a few things to keep me going on this writing path with all its hills and valley. Things to remind me to work harder. What keeps you going?

"There are no traffic jams along the extra mile." Roger Staubach

"Hope is a waking dream." Aristotle





14 comments:

  1. So good to look around us and see what inspires. Wishing you joy and success in the New Year, Susan.

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  2. Your publisher closed? Oh no! What an awful end/start to the year. Do the rights all revert to you? You'll have to reveal the whole story sometime in another year when the dust has settled and you've survived.
    Good luck, and hope 2023 ends better than it started.

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  3. That sucks. Get your rights back and self-publish.

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  4. Get inspired to achieve your dreams!

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  5. The fact that you're staying inspired and positive will open up new doors and create new paths for you and your books, Susan. You've got this!

    And love the "extra mile" quote!

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  6. I hope all of that keeps you moving forward.

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  7. I admire your upbeat attitude. I'm glad you found inspiration from so many sources and I hope your books find a loving home soon.

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  8. Great you can find inspiration rather than a single word. Do what you have to do to move forward in 2023!

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  9. Many writer friends have been where you are, homeless You can take this as an opportunity to self-publish those books. It's not that hard if you read and follow directions. Wishing you the best in 2023.

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  10. That is a very positive way to move forward. Happy New Year and best wished for moving forward.

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  11. I hope you find more inspiration and another publisher.

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  12. Sorry to read about your publisher, Susan.
    That's a great list of things that inspire you. Keep moving forward!
    All the best for 2023!

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  13. Maybe one of your convention connections might have an idea for a new home for your novels? I hope you find your motivation again!

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  14. I love that writers can motivate and inspire other writers. Hope you can find a new home for your books!

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