Wednesday, July 03, 2019

#IWSG Posting, Anthology, and Free Books

It’s time for another edition of The Insecure Writer’s Support Group, founded by Ninja Captain, Alex J. Cavanaugh.

Today’s question:
What personal traits have you written into your character(s)?

Quite a few! I’ve always said writing my series, The Circle of Friends, was therapeutic. I dealt with a lot of issues and there were personality traits from me in every single character.

Lori got my positive optimism. Sarah got my insecurities. And it goes on and on. (If you’ve read any of the books, I’ll let you guess what part of me is in each character.)

* * *

The IWSG anthology contest is open for two more months.

The genre is middle grade historical – adventure/fantasy.

For those who are confused by the genre:

Middle grade – suitable for 9 – 14 year-old children.

Historical – it must have historical aspects and be set in a time before 2000 or earlier. It just needs to be set in the past.

Adventure/fantasy – the subgenre can be either adventure OR fantasy. The fantasy genre is acceptable as there are many ancient cultures and times that believed in supernatural occurrences.

If you need examples, Dancing Lemur Press’ next release is a MG historical-adventure - Stone Man, and while not historical per se, Bubba and Squirt’s Big Dig to China has a ton of historical fantasy in it with its Chinese history mixed with the ghost of an emperor.

* * *


BUY ONE BOOK – GET ONE FREE

Buy any print title and get an inspirational print book free. Buy two, get two books free!

Buy any eBook and get another comparable eBook free. Buy two and get two free!

Must purchase print and eBooks directly from Dancing Lemur Press. Bookmarks and other swag will be included in shipment. Free book is our choice.

Books must be purchased July 3rd, 4th, or 5th 2019.

USA orders only.

Visit Dancing Lemur Press and place your order this week!

64 comments:

Denise Covey said...

That's a generous offer for US readers. I don't want to think about learning to write for middle grade unfortunately. I'll leave that to the experts.

Sarah Foster said...

Writing can definitely be therapeutic.
Good luck to everyone submitting to the anthology! Middle grade is definitely not my strong suit.

Pat Garcia said...

Hi,
So is it with me too. I think there is a little part of me in almost everything I write. From goody goody two shoes to downright villain, there is some me in them.

Shalom aleichem,
Pat G @ EverythingMustChange

Karen Baldwin said...

They always say, 'write what you know' and we sure know our traits, don't we. I think it's fun to play with character's personalities. Happy 4th.

Natalie Aguirre said...

That's great that your writing and characters have been therapeutic. For me, I think the process is starting to be that too.

The Cynical Sailor said...

That's a great offer that Dancing Lemur Press is running! I hope lots of people take you up on it.

cleemckenzie said...

I guess a lot of use writing as therapy instead of seeing a counselor. I'm not sure writing's cheaper and it certainly takes a lot more time.

Astrid said...

I definitely feel writing can be therapeutic. I am so glad it was for you.

Tonja Drecker said...

I've often heard people refer to writing as therapeutic, which can only be a good thing. I'll make sure to shout-out the sale.

L. Diane Wolfe said...

Natalie, that's good.

L. Diane Wolfe said...

Add a bottle of wine and some friends and you are good to go with the therapy.

L. Diane Wolfe said...

Thank you, Tonja.

Jemi Fraser said...

My characters tend to be far more outgoing that I am, but there are some silimarities!

Tyrean Martinson said...

Free books are always nice!
Happy 4th!

Chrys Fey said...

Some Very Messy Medieval Magic by C. Lee McKenzie is also a very good example for the IWSG contest genre. :)

Alex J. Cavanaugh said...

Hopefully everyone understands the anthology contest genre now.

Cathrina Constantine said...

Hmmm...I keep reading about the IWSG Anthology contest everywhere. And it's tempting me to start putting words to paper...or rather computer...LOL.

Happy 4th!

Patricia JL said...

I know a few writers who have characters like them and it's really therapeutic for them.

Juneta key said...

I'm glad you explained about the genre. I did think I could really write a historical one but since you phrased like that maybe I can. So I will think about it again. Thanks.

Rachna Chhabria said...

I love the title 'The Circle of Friends.' Writing is indeed very therapeutic. Like you, I too add a lot of my personality traits in my characters.

Susan Gourley/Kelley said...

Great sale going on. I already have so many DL books, I'll have to check it out and see what teases my fancy.

kimlajevardi.com said...

I've also passed pieces of myself to different characters.

J E Oneil said...

Gee, I don't know. I don't think about my personal traits all that much.

emaginette said...

I'm glad you explained the genre, etc. better. I tried put something together, but gave up. It became such a mess. :-)

Anna from elements of emaginette

Lynn J Simpson said...

I'll have to go back and read the Circle of Friends series. I'm not sure what character traits of your own that you transferred to each character! I wrote a short story once with the main character's name as Celine. A reader mentioned how the name was close to my own. I changed the characters name to something much different after that comment!

Chemist Ken said...

I tend to populate my characters with traits that I wish I didn't have, along with traits that I wish that I did have. For example, my characters are always much braver than I would be under the circumstances.

Lisa said...

I like to think the parts of ourselves that "might" find their way into our characters, are the parts others can relate to the most. Thanks for dropping by my blog!

Fundy Blue said...

Writing is definitely therapeutic, Diane. Working on my memoir has certainly resolved a number of painful issues for me. Thanks for the generous 4th of July Special. I hope lots of people take advantage of it!

Beverly Stowe McClure said...

It's great. Diane, that writing has helped you deal with issues. Also, thanks for explaining about the Anthology. I confuse easily.

L. Diane Wolfe said...

Yes it is!

L. Diane Wolfe said...

Please do enter. DLP loves to work with authors new to us.

L. Diane Wolfe said...

Juneta, please give it a try.

L. Diane Wolfe said...

Susan, that's wonderful to hear.

Pat Hatt said...

Therapeutic it sure can be indeed. Hopefully all know what to submit now indeed.

L. Diane Wolfe said...

Lynn, of all the characters, Lori is who I aspire to be, Sarah is who I usually am.

L. Diane Wolfe said...

Thank you for taking advantage of it! Just wait until you get your goodie bag of books.

L. Diane Wolfe said...

It's definitely one you should enter.

Olga Godim said...

Yes, channeling your problems and challenges into your writing is sometimes the only way to deal with them.
I'd also second Chemist Ken: my characters are always braver than I'm. They are my dream self, something I want to be.

Anonymous said...

Writing can be theraputic in so many ways. I must admit that I use characteristics of some bad actors I've known. Those characters always come to a bad end. That's what I call therapudic! Also, wine. Lots of wine.

Michael Di Gesu said...

Hi L. Diane,

Yes, I agree, writing is very therapeutic, but it can also bring up some very unpleasant memories from out past. When writing my second book, there were many times I had to stop writing because it was so painful. Even in the rewrites, but I'm sure it helped in the long run. We can make our characters go through so much of our dramas and hurts, and through them, our readers will feel they are not alone when life is unkind to them. They many help cope with their burdens.

Lynda R Young as Elle Cardy said...

Ha, I started writing as a therapy, though I hadn't realized it at the time.

Gwen Gardner said...

Writing is therapeutic and an escape! Sometimes it's just plain fun to live in your characters world.

Jennifer Lane said...

I can relate to optimism and insecurity.

Stephen Tremp said...

Yes writing is therapeutic I'd be a mess if I didn't have this outlet.

Liz A. said...

Now you'll have me reading all sorts of things into your characters ;)

Susan Flett Swiderski said...

I think it's only normal for us to insert bits and pieces of our personalities into our work. I can see how writing could be therapeutic, too, but it takes a lot of courage to put some things into words. More courage than I have.

Happy 4th of July!

Anonymous said...

I'm with you. Writing is very therapeutic for me too. There's something about putting pen to paper or I guess fingers to keyboard that's freeing.

Elsie

Sandra said...

Happy 4th, Di! Wonderful sale, by the way.

Julie Flanders said...

What a great sale! Happy Fourth to you and your family. :)

L. Diane Wolfe said...

Michael, there were elements in my books just like that.

L. Diane Wolfe said...

Thank you, Sandra.

Fundy Blue said...

I can't wait, Diane!

J.L. Campbell said...

I hope the sale is going well.
As to personality traits, some of mine can be a little snarky, which I can be at time.

Nicki Elson said...

I always say that writing is my therapy, so I get you on that.

Elizabeth Seckman said...

A lot of my characters come from the ideal of who I'd like to be.

Sandra Cox said...

Hope your day has been productive and your evening pleasant.

Powdered Toast Man said...

So like Abe Lincoln: Vampire Hunter?

dolorah said...

I sometimes have to edit myself out of some of my characters. But at least I get to be somebody else for a while, lol. But yeah, some of my traits always end up in my characters. Even the bad guys; love the bad guys!

DMS said...

That was a great sale! Hopefully lots of people took advantage of it!

Thanks for sharing about the MG HF Anthology and explaining the specifics. I hadn't heard about it before- or if I did it didn't register.

There's a little of me in all my characters too. :)
~Jess

Sandra said...

Getting many entrants for the anthology?

Nick Wilford said...

I'm sure a bit of us is in each of our characters somehow!

Arlee Bird said...

"Therapeutic" is a good way to describe writing. At least that's what writing has been for me much of the time.

Lee

Arlee Bird said...

OH, and happy summer! (I wanted to check the "Notify me" box)

Michelle Wallace said...

I’m rather late to this party! But better late than never, right? 😜
So I'm trying to play catch up--

I've never thought of writing for middle grade...
Hope the sales are good, Diane!