Wednesday, August 07, 2019

The Insecure Writer’s Support Group and Comic Con Photos

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

Today’s question:
Has your writing ever taken you by surprise? For example, a positive and belated response to a submission you'd forgotten about or an ending you never saw coming?

The only thing that really surprised me was how easily I took to writing non-fiction after writing fiction my whole life.

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The IWSG anthology contest is open for one more month.

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.

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We are also welcoming new IWSG admin, Juneta Key. She is a delightful addition and we welcome her to the team.

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The Write…Edit…Publish challenge for August is Red Wheelbarrow.

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August’s IWSG Instagram -

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We have one review copy left of Stone Man: And the Trail of Tears. It’s a historical middle grade book geared towards boys.

If you are interested in reviewing it and perhaps featuring the author on his blog tour, left me know in the comments.





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I’d like to end with some photos from Dancing Lemur Press’ recent cons. Both were huge successes.

Raleigh Galaxycon:


Greenville Comic Con:



Have you ever been to a comic con?

71 comments:

nashvillecats2 said...

Good luck to those who have or are entering the Anthology.
Loved the pictures Diane.
Have a good day.

Yvonne.

Karen Baldwin said...

I've never been to a "con" but they sure look like fun. The photos are great! Do you dress up for these too?

Elizabeth Spann Craig said...

Great pictures! My daughter is about to go to school in Greenville. :)

I think it would be tough for me to switch to non-fic; inspiring that it was easy for you!

The Cynical Sailor said...

I love seeing the con pictures - so much fun!

L. Diane Wolfe said...

Since I'm manning the booth and need to look somewhat professional, I didn't. But I can do a mean Brandon Lee from The Crow.

L. Diane Wolfe said...

You already do it with your blog posts, so it might be easier than you think.

Jemi Fraser said...

LOVE the pics - I've never been to a con but they look like so much fun!
I love writing nonfiction as well!

H. R. Sinclair said...

Comic con people are the best! I love that the new anthology is for middle grade!

Alex J. Cavanaugh said...

The photos are great! Been to a con before. The costumes are wild.

Gwen Gardner said...

I'm a native San Diegan and have never been to our famous comicon. Go figure. Love your photos, it looks like fun!

Rachna Chhabria said...

I have never been to a comic con, but would love to go to one. Your photos are great Diane.

Sandra Cox said...

Oh my gosh. These are great. Looks like so much fun. Did you meet Will W.?

Jennifer Hawes said...

No, I have to say I've never been. But Halloween is always fun! I love dressing up and watching my kids have fun with costumes.

emaginette said...

Great pics.

I can't imagine writing non-fiction and know there are intellects out there busy at the keyboard. The non-fiction section of our local library is bursting with useful and important info.

PS. They are the only books I buy in a hard-copy. ;-)

Anna from elements of emaginette

Juneta key said...

I love seeing your pics from these things. Looks like so much fun.

Anonymous said...

I left a career of non-fiction writing to write fiction. But writing fiction was always what I really wanted to write.

Love the pics! I've never been to a comic con, but it looks like everyone is having a blast!

Loni Townsend said...

You find the most entertaining cosplayers at conventions. Great pics! Hope you get lots of good entries for the anthology!

Damyanti Biswas said...

I enjoyed your comi con photos on FB!! And you were great in the live, showing off your stand!

Also, apropos of nothing, if you're ever looking for a good illustrator/ designer for your press, let me know: I just met a fab designer who's great to work with.

L. Diane Wolfe said...

I heard it is a zoo!

L. Diane Wolfe said...

Good to know! LOL

L. Diane Wolfe said...

Is she free? That's my one advantage - my illustrator does the work for free.

Sarah Foster said...

Love the pictures!
I think the only non-fiction I can write is my blog posts.

Elizabeth Seckman said...

I always enjoyed research papers. Not as much as fiction, but even a nonfiction paper has the bonus of research, structuring, and writing. All good fun.

cleemckenzie said...

I love a good non-fiction book! Love those comic con images, too.

Natalie Aguirre said...

That's great that non-fiction has come easier than you thought. I love the pictures. Wish we had those things where I live.

Yvonne Ventresca said...

Glad to hear the con went well! Thanks for sharing the photos.

Beverly Stowe McClure said...

Looks like you had a great time at the Cons. I enjoy non-fiction. Some of my first writing was articles for children's magazines. A lot of fun.

kimlajevardi.com said...

It looks like it was a fun con.

Pat Hatt said...

Great pics indeed. Being able to switch between fiction and non-fiction is a win.

Lynda R Young as Elle Cardy said...

I love your con photos. They are so much fun!!

J E Oneil said...

Awesome pics! That's some great cosplay.

Liz A. said...

You've been doing a lot of cons. I enjoy the pics on Instagram.

Jennifer Lane said...

Fun photos! Welcome to Juneta.

Susan Flett Swiderski said...

I'd think that switching from fiction to non-fiction wouldn't be nearly as surprising as how much things changed for you after you started your publishing company. Betcha never imagined yourself being at those comic cons... or meeting Will Wheaton!

Nick Wilford said...

As a former journalist I'd like to think I should be able to write non-fiction, but writing a whole book is a different ball game - I'm sure it's not easy. The cons look like a lot of fun!

Olga Godim said...

Love the dress-up photos!
As for writing non-fiction - I do both, fiction and non-fiction. I think they help each other. I'm better at both than I would've been if I wrote one exclusively, either fiction or non-fiction. The skills needed in both cases interconnect and enhance each other.

Renee Scattergood said...

I think with nonfiction, if you're writing about something that you're passionate about or know well, it's not as difficult as it might seem. Creating something from nothing is much harder. :-D

dolorah said...

Attending a comic-con is on my bucket list :)

Chrys Fey said...

Your pictures from Comic Cons are always a lot of fun to see. :)

Susan Gourley/Kelley said...

I want to go to a comic con. They look like so much fun.

F. Stone said...

I love non-fiction, especially stories of people's endurance and survival in spite of all the risks and hurdles. Wish you great success. Blessings

L. Diane Wolfe said...

No, I certainly did not! But I'm glad we attended Galaxycon two years ago as fans - that sparked the idea that we could do it.

L. Diane Wolfe said...

Yes they do.

Hilary Melton-Butcher said...

Ha ha ... I thought you meant free to do the work? - but you meant cost! I expect you both understood! Cheers Hilary

Hilary Melton-Butcher said...

Hi Diane - I'm so pleased both occasions went so well - love the photos - the characters must be pretty special too. I'd have to do the opposite to you ... go from non-fiction to fiction - and am not sure that would be easy. Time will tell - cheers Hilary

Rawknrobyn.blogspot.com said...

That minion guy is funny.
Never been to a comic con. I'd be far too clueless, but I enjoy your photos.
Be well, Spunk.

Michael Di Gesu said...

Great pics! Glad the CONS were so successful!

L. Diane Wolfe said...

You might be surprised.

L. Diane Wolfe said...

First time I've ever seen a Despicable Me character! I was so excited.

J Lenni Dorner said...

I, too, love how fast and easy writing a reference or non-fiction book can be. There's still research to do, and editing of course. But it's a nice way to mix things up, keep the muse on their toes.

Anonymous said...

I cannot express how much I love seeing the pictures of your cons. It looks like a ton of fun. What a great way to share yourself with the public. I'm so glad they were successful. Congratulations!!

Elsie

L. Diane Wolfe said...

Do you follow DLP on Instagram? We post all of the images there.

Sandra Cox said...

A warm welcome to Juneta.
Hope you've enjoyed your weekend, Di.

Powdered Toast Man said...

So can I write about the history of middle school set in a Final Fantasy video game?

Shannon Lawrence said...

Congrats to Juneta! I'm about to put together my first non-fiction project, so we'll see how that goes.

Christine Rains said...

I love it when you post pictures from cons! :) Tried my hand at some nonfiction this summer and I didn't do as horribly as I thought. *LOL*

Sandra Cox said...

Are you getting any of the thunderstorms?

Fundy Blue said...

Fun photos, Diane. I've never been to a comic con. My knowledge of them comes strictly from "The Big Bang Theory." Your exhibit at the comic con looks awesome. I would be thrilled to see it! I've seen many book exhibits at our state literacy convention. Have a good one!

J.H. Moncrieff said...

Congrats on the con success, Diane! Great photos.

I used to attend two comic cons locally, but sadly, they got super disorganized and the crowds started dwindling. At the last one I was at, vendors actually began packing up hours early. Not long after that, the organizers announced they wouldn't be doing it anymore. Didn't come as a huge shock.

Stephen Tremp said...

Fun photos. Wish I could have attended one this summer. Have to make it a point in 2020.

L. Diane Wolfe said...

Sorry, Final Fantasy is copyrighted!

L. Diane Wolfe said...

Sandra, we did get some last night, although the worst of it went north of us through Wilson and Rocky Mount.

L. Diane Wolfe said...

That's sad when they come apart like that.

Lynn J Simpson said...

Those comic con pictures are so great! Looks like they were so much fun. I've only been to one similar event which was the Supernatural Convention in Vancouver about 6 years ago. I'd like to go to a full-blown comic con event that does happen here in Alberta, Canada every fall I believe. Maybe you could be a vendor sometime! :) I'd like to be more involved with IWSG. I must be more intentional to do so! It's always inspiring here!

Tamara Narayan said...

I've never been to a Comic Con, but I love the outfits those people come up with! Looks like fun and the Dancing Lemur booth looks fantastic.

Sandra said...

I have never been to a comic con but the pictures certainly make me want to go.

L. Diane Wolfe said...

Lynn, I'll let you know when we start venturing outside NC.

SpacerGuy said...

I've been to sci-fi conventions and book signings which are a total buzz I have to admit, you never forget, ever. When a Star takes the time to speak and its you he or she is sharing the universe with better again standing right before YOU, be ready - COS WOWSERS, I still go back to the portals in time and marvel, thinking that happened to me!

Sandra Cox said...

Enjoy your weekend, Di.
Did you get any of the thunderstorms? About 1K lost power here and we lost internet and cable.

Cherie Reich said...

I absolutely love the Comic Con photos! So cool!

Sandra Cox said...

Are you done with conferences for awhile?