Wednesday, February 05, 2020

The Insecure Writer's Support Group and Upcoming Releases

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

Today’s question: Has a single photo or work of art ever inspired a story? What was it and did you finish it?

I can’t think of a single image or piece of art that inspired me. 99% of my fiction writing comes from dreams. I dream a scene, I form a story around it.

However, once I have a story idea and an outline, I do rely on visuals. I have Pinterest boards for several of my books and story ideas. Those help this visual person stay with the story.

You can view my boards on Pinterest.

But!

I have little time for writing.

Dancing Lemur Press has five releases this year:

March 17 –
Gabe’s Guardian Angel by Beverly Stowe McClure
Fiction – Young Adult: Boys & Men/Loners & Outcasts/Bullying
Print ISBN 9781939844668 $15.95
EBook ISBN 9781939844675 $4.99

May 5 –
Voyagers: The Third Ghost - An Insecure Writer’s Support Group Anthology
Juvenile Fiction – Historical/Action & Adventure/Fantasy & Magic
Print 9781939844729 $13.95
EBook 9781939844736 $4.99

June 2 –
Lost Helix by Scott Coon
Science Fiction – Action & Adventure/Mystery
Print ISBN 9781939844682 $17.95
EBook ISBN 9781939844699 $4.99

July 14 –
Keep Writing with Fey: Sparks to Defeat Writer's Block, Depression, and Burnout by Chrys Fey
Writing / Self-Help: Depression-Stress Management
Print ISBN 9781939844743 $17.95
EBook ISBN 9781939844750 $4.99

September 15 –
Bubba and Squirt’s Mayan Adventure by Sherry Ellis
Juvenile Fiction - Action Adventure/Legends, Myths, Fables-Caribbean & Latin American/Fantasy & Magic v Print ISBN 9781939844705 $7.95
EBook ISBN 9781939844712 $3.99







What image or art inspired you?

We are still looking for reviewers for DLP’s upcoming releases. Let me know if you are genuinely interested in reviewing one of the above titles.

64 comments:

Jennifer Hawes said...

You've been busy! Congrats to you and the authors. I love Pinterest and using boards to create story ideas.

Nick Wilford said...

Great line-up of authors there! I am yet to delve into Pinterest, but perhaps this year. It's always good to try new ideas and approaches.

Elizabeth Seckman said...

I have a Pinterest account, but like so many of my social media platforms, I have no idea how to best use it. I started a board for a book I was working on and kept forgetting to update it and eventually abandoned it.

Jemi Fraser said...

Look at all that good news coming up!!! Very exciting!
My dreams are usually too chaotic and scary for me to write about :)

Tamara Narayan said...

What a great and varied line-up. Go DLP!

I've written some stories from dreams. It's funny, I don't get those kind of dreams if I watch TV before I go to bed. (But it's hard to resist TV most days.)

Ellen Jacobson said...

DLP is keeping you busy with some great releases coming up! I've come ups with ideas in my dreams as well.

Alex J. Cavanaugh said...

Look at all of the upcoming books!

Jennifer Lane said...

I love Pinterest boards for stories!

Beverly Stowe McClure said...

A busy year for sure, which is good. I sometimes dream but never remember it enough to write about it. Short term memory, I guess. If you still need reviewers, I'll be happy to review something.

Rachna Chhabria said...

Hi Diane, I love the idea that inspiration for your fiction ideas comes from your dreams. Though I dream a lot, I never get inspired to write a story from those dreams.

Joylene Nowell Butler said...

Same here. I have the most vivid dreams. Years ago, I made certain to have a pad and pencil on my bedside table. For what it's worth, Diane, you inspire me.

cleemckenzie said...

Congrats on all the publications! Keep dreaming.

Steven Arellano Rose Jr. said...

That's a really good accomplishment when you can develop your stories from dreams. For me it's really difficult. I tried doing it one time and I lost direction in the story. I normally have to rely on ideas that I record in my journal, ideas that come to whenever. Then I have to refer to the journal when I'm ready to write the story.

Sandra Cox said...

I love it when dreams turn into stories. I can remember on several occasions having a dream and thinking during the dream that this would make a great story. Do I ever remember the dream? No. Sigh.

Nicki Elson said...

I'm like that, too, with the visuals - always pulling up Google pics when writing.

Congrats on all the upcoming releases for Dancing Lemur! I'd love to review Bubba & Squirt's Mayan Adventure. You can contact me via: elson.nicki@gmail.com

Chrys Fey said...

So many releases this year! Congrats to you and to all the authors!

David Powers King said...

Well done, Dancing Lemur, you've been busy! I hadn't paid much attention to my dreams before, until I started a dream journal last year. :)

Julie Flanders said...

I've had dreams turn into stories too. I actually wish that would happen more often LOL.
Best of luck with the 2020 releases! Definitely looks like some great books coming out into the world.

L. Diane Wolfe said...

Thank you Beverly - I'll send you an email.

L. Diane Wolfe said...

Thank you, Joylene.

L. Diane Wolfe said...

Thank you, Nicki.

emaginette said...

You are busy. I don't know how you do it. :-)

Anna from elements of emaginette

Juneta key said...

Lots of great releases coming. I also have dreams sometimes that turn into story. Happy IWSG!

Loni Townsend said...

I get sucked into the Pinterest black hole so often, but such a lush resource for visuals!

Liz A. said...

That's quite the release schedule. I don't pop into Pinterest as often as I should. It is a great resource.

Anonymous said...

Wow - that is an impressive line-up of upcoming publications! Congrats!

I dream vividly, but have never based any of my fiction on them. A bit too personal, perhaps. But worth considering.

Natalie Aguirre said...

I haven't had a picture inspire me either. Looks like you've got a great line up of books this year.

Chemist Ken said...

I pinned away quite a few pictures for my books. I just never get around to looking at them again. (Hangs head in shame).

I might be interested in reviewing Lost Helix.

J E Oneil said...

I get my ideas from dreams. I get bored with ideas inspired by other things, for some reason.

Olga Godim said...

I never remember my dreams, but images often inspire my stories.
I'm surprised you find any time for your writing these days - being a publisher is a full-time occupation, and you do a great job with it.

Carol Kilgore said...

If I tried to use Pinterest, I think I'd end up looking at all kinds of stuff every day and not write, LOL.

Pat Hatt said...

Dreams sure can bring me ideas too. Great that you have so many releases this year.

AJ Bock said...

Dreams bring me inspiration too. Good luck with your upcoming releases!
Www.alliebock.com

Fundy Blue said...

Congratulations on all the upcoming releases! I don't know how you do it, Diane! It's fun to learn how various writers are inspired. Have a good one!

Lynda R Young as Elle Cardy said...

I like the idea of inspiration boards.
I have read Lost Helix and enjoyed it. My review will be coming shortly.

L. Diane Wolfe said...

Ken, thanks! I will email you.

L. Diane Wolfe said...

Thank you, Lynda!

Susan Gourley/Kelley said...

I've been dabbling with making Pinterest boards. I need to more consistent.

kimlajevardi.com said...

Congrats on all the releases coming up.

Jo said...

Clever you, I can never remember my dreams that long. I have some good ones too.

Hilary Melton-Butcher said...

Hi Diane - yes you are busy ... and helping those authors on their way to publication ... let alone the rest who are in the sidelines, helping us all with ideas and creative thoughts. Your Pinterest boards must be inspiring ... cheers Hilary

Mason Canyon said...

I can't seem to remember my dreams enough to jot anything down. Congrats on all the upcoming releases. Looks like a lot of great reading to come.

Tonja Drecker said...

So many books! You are busy.

Karen Baldwin said...

Dreaming you books is the first time I've heard of that. Wow! At least you know the purpose of your dreams, well a least some. I'm like most of the other comments...can't remember squat unless it's a nightmare. Maybe that's why I write dark. Congratulations on all the releases.

Susan Flett Swiderski said...

It's fascinating that your writing is fueled by your dreams. All I can say is your dreams must be much more coherent than mine. Mine are so bizarre and complicated, I can't imagine any of them turning into reading material any sane person would enjoy. :)

Toi Thomas said...

I too get a lot of my ideas from dreams and also like to create story boards on Pinterest. I just followed you.

Denise Covey said...

I'm inspired by all sorts of images, but my favorites are Vincent van Gogh's paintings. Incidentally WEP has chosen his Cafe Terrace in Arles for the prompt this month. We'll see how inspired everyone became.
Your publishing business seems to be doing well. Good for you and your authors.

RO said...

This is a great post and a reminder of how we can use so many things to inspire writing. A certain image from Gwyneth Paltrow will be the headliner of my next post, and it's quite the attention grabber.(lol) I like your idea about using Pinterest too! Happy Friyay! RO

Yolanda Renée said...

I see Bbet99 is making the rounds. I deleted him but he'll most likely be back. what a waste.

Anyway, Congratulations! You are one busy woman! I've been getting caught up on my reading/reviewing. A few more to catch up with then on to the new releases. LOL it never ends. Just wish I had a hardcover copy of every book I've ever read. I'd have a library. :)

Patricia Stoltey said...

Five upcoming releases! That's excellent, Diane.

DMS said...

I usually draw pictures which inspire me to write and help me work out the details in my story.

Wow! Lots of new releases! Congrats!
~Jess

Stephen Tremp said...

I love seeing the New Year kicked off to a great start! Best wishes to everyone for a smashing success in 2020.

Damyanti Biswas said...

Loved your Pinterest Boards

Mary Aalgaard said...

Dreams are a wonderful inspiration. I have vivid dreams. I could use them in my writing.

Michelle Wallace said...

Photographs always inspire me... but you already know this!
I've never tried Pinterest boards. I'm not very active on Pinterest...
I must have a look at your boards to see how it works.

Tyrean Martinson said...

Congrats to all of the DLP authors! I need to write some reviews.
I like Pinterest, but it seems like I drift away from it pretty quickly after creating my boards.

Anonymous said...

Wowzers! Look at you! Congratulations to you and all the authors. That's fantastic.

I'm a visual person too. I can be inspired by a photo. :)

Elsie
(new domain)

L. Diane Wolfe said...

Thank you, Toi.

L. Diane Wolfe said...

Watch out, it's addictive!

Michael Di Gesu said...

Hi L. Diane.

Congrats on all the releases. That is AMAZING! All the best to you and the authors!

R's Rue said...

😀

J.H. Moncrieff said...

Wow, congratulations on all the new titles! That's awesome.

I hope you can find time for your own writing, but I know it's hard. Hang in there. x

Shannon Lawrence said...

Congratulations on all the releases!

laixinjie said...

You've been busy! Congrats to you and the authors. I love Pinterest and using boards to create story ideas.custom iphone xr case