Wednesday, January 06, 2021

The Insecure Writer's Support Group and IWSG Anthology Contest Winners


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


Today’s optional question:
Being a writer, when you're reading someone else's work, what stops you from finishing a book/throws you out of the story/frustrates you the most about other people's books?

Speaking from a publisher’s standpoint since I read so many submissions, I will say passive voice. A lot of telling rather than showing and excessive use of was, were, had, have, to be, etc. just kicks me out of the story. And I get that’s a struggle for many, as it used to be one for me, but it’s lazy writing.


The Insecure Writer’s Support Group anthology contest winners and upcoming book from Dancing Lemur Press LLC imprint, Freedom Fox Press:


Dark Matter: Artificial
An Insecure Writer’s Support Group Anthology

Discover dark matter’s secrets…

What is an AI’s true role? Will bumbling siblings find their way home from deep space? Dark matter is judging us—are we worthy of existence? Would you step through a portal into another reality? Can the discoverer of dark matter uncover its secrets?

Ten authors explore dark matter, unraveling its secrets and revealing its mysterious nature. Featuring the talents of Stephanie Espinoza Villamor, C.D. Gallant-King, Tara Tyler, Mark Alpert, Olga Godim, Steph Wolmarans, Charles Kowalski, Kim Mannix, Elizabeth Mueller, and Deniz Bevan.

Hand-picked by a panel of agents, authors, and editors, these ten tales will take readers on a journey across time and space. Prepare for ignition!

Release date: May 4, 2021
Print ISBN 9781939844828 $14.95
EBook ISBN 9781939844835 $4.99
Science Fiction: Collections & Anthologies (FIC028040) / Space Exploration (FIC028130) / Genetic Engineering (FIC028110)
186 pages

Featuring:
Artificial by Stephanie Espinoza Villamor
Space Folds and Broomsticks by CD Gallant-King
Rift by Kim Mannix
The Utten Mission by Steph Wolmarans
Sentient by Tara Tyler
One to Another by Deniz Bevan
Resident Alien by Charles Kowalski
Nano Pursuit by Olga Godim
Resurgence by Elizabeth Mueller
Vera’s Last Voyage by Mark Alpert



What throws you out of a story?

47 comments:

Erika Beebe said...

I like your answer to this month's question. Was, that and were, they get me too. Congrats to all the winners in the anthology. Happy New Year :)

Liza said...

In high school, my late husband had an AP English teacher who made them write a 500 word essay every week without ever using the verb to be. I keep that exercise in mind all the time.

Elizabeth Spann Craig said...

Fantastic cover for the anthology! Congratulations to all the winners.

Jemi Fraser said...

Congrats to the winners! I spy several friends and terrific writers!
I agree with the passive writing - makes it difficult to get into the story

Rachna Chhabria said...

Congratulations to all the winners. I too hate the passive voice and telling instead of showing.

Alex J. Cavanaugh said...

Congratulations to the anthology winners!
I'll be sure to avoid passive in my next submission.

L. Diane Wolfe said...

That was a wise teacher.

Nick Wilford said...

The anthology looks excellent. Congrats to all.
I try to steer away from passive as much as possible.

Tyrean Martinson said...

Congrats to all of the winners!
And yes, I struggle with that, but also don't like reading it. :)

Tyrean Martinson said...

I've made my students do that, too. :)

Steven Arellano Rose Jr. said...

Passive voice is really hard to avoid but avoiding it is part of a good writer's craft.

Nicki Elson said...

I bet you've become very efficient at recognizing lazy writing after reading all those submissions.

Congrats to the Dark Matter authors!!

emaginette said...

Congrats to all. :-)

Anna from elements of emaginette

H. R. Sinclair said...

Passive is a tough one. We really have to train ourselves to see it as writers -- as readers it's so easy to pick out. LOL

Congrats to winners!

cleemckenzie said...

The anthology has some excellent stories. A great way to kick off 2021!

Gwen Gardner said...

I really struggle with show don't tell, but I'm getting much better. Congrats to all the anthology winners! Happy New Year!

Natalie Aguirre said...

I don't like telling either, but I seen many established authors do it all the time. Congrats to all the anthology winners!

S.A. Larsenッ said...

Loving the cover of the anthology, and congratulations to all the winners! Happy New Year!

Michael Di Gesu said...

Congrats on the ANTHOLOGY and to those writers selected....ALL the best!

I agree with you L. Diane, I get bored with passive voice and "was/were" all over the place. We have an incredible language with so many choices in verbs!

HAPPY NEW YEAR!

Olga Godim said...

Passive voice doesn't read well for me as a reader, but it's not easy to get rid of it completely in my own writing. I strive though...

Sarah Foster said...

I've been trying to catch a lot of those words while editing my work, but I'd love to be able to train myself to never write them in the first place!

Lynn J Simpson said...

I so agree, Diane! There are tools to help us check for those passive words and replace. The first draft, when the writing is fast and furious, it is understandable but important to try to replace during the editing stage as much as possible.

Tonja Drecker said...

Congrats to the anthology winners! As to putting books down, I use not to do that so easily, but as my volume has shot up, my patience has dropped. There are several things which kill tales for me. If I don't like them by the end of the 3rd chapter, I don't continue anymore.

Jennifer Hawes said...

You hit the nail on the head. Show don't tell. It's age old advice, but I see so much of it!

Steph W. said...

I now know a lot more about avoiding those excessive words! This group truly supports insecure writers!

Susan Gourley/Kelley said...

Congrats to all the authors appearing in the anthology. I'll put it on my shopping list.

Lynda R Young as Elle Cardy said...

Congrats on the winners for the anthology. I loved the stories.

Fundy Blue said...

It's so exciting to hear about the new anthology and its featured authors, Diane! With your guidance and editing, I know another great volume will result. All the best to you, my friend!

Liz A. said...

Congrats to those in the anthology. Passive voice is an issue. It bothers me, too.

Denise Covey said...

Congrats to those who made the anthology cut. Yes, I talked about passive voice in my judgy original post. It's hard to learn for some.

Leigh Caron said...

Congrats to all the winners and how exciting that the release is coming out in May. Love how you say it like it is - a passive voice is lazy writing. And love the trailer!!

Cathrina Constantine said...

Congratulations to the winners of the Anthology!

Happy New Year!

Hilary Melton-Butcher said...

Hi Diane - wonderful the Anthology book is out - congratulations to all the entries and winners. I agree with all the ideas about being put off a book - while I hate enjoying a book, and then having that weak ending ... where the book fizzles out - so disappointing, and really puts me off the author.

All the best to you and for more publications in 2021 - Hilary

Anonymous said...

*raises hand* I'm guilty of passive voice. I try not to use a passive voice, and yet, it still happens. Have a Happy New Year!

Warmly,
Elsie

Mary Aalgaard said...

Great writing advice about the passive voice and the "was were" problem. I'm sure I have it. The new anthology looks good. I'll get a copy!

Elizabeth Mueller said...

What throws you out of a story is excellent advice to writers. Thank you for sharing!

What forces me out of story is when the author's presence is louder than the characters.

Congratulations to the Anthology winners. yay!

♥.•*¨Elizabeth Mueller¨*•.♥

Marie Andreas said...

I agree on the telling issue-- sometimes I'll see an author go to such extremes to avoid that, they end up distorting the story! It's all balance ;). Congrats on the anthology and the people in it!

Diane Burton said...

Congrats to the anthology winners.

L. Diane Wolfe said...

Oh, I have!

Sandra Cox said...

Congrats to you and the authors on the release of the new anthology.
Passive voice and telling definitely need to be on the watch list.
Here's hoping 2021 is wondrous. Kitties okay?

Damyanti Biswas said...

Congratulations to all the winners of the anthology!

Annalisa Crawford said...

Congrats to the anthology winners.

I write a lot in first person, so passive voice/internal monologue is a hard balance to get right. I revise a lot!

Ellen Jacobson said...

So excited for the anthology winners! When will it be on pre-order? I'll definitely be picking up a copy.

Pat Hatt said...

When if first person I tend to slip passive in there sometimes, but that just is the way I may roll lol whoops

Melissa said...

Oo. Looks like there's some interesting stories in this one. Congrats to the contributing authors.

I'm tardy in making return visits for IWSG because I was helping my mom move last week.

Toi Thomas said...

The things that throw you out of a story are the things I struggle with, which is why I seek critiques and beta readers before seeking an editor. I'm so excited about this next anthology. Can't wait.

J.H. Moncrieff said...

I think the biggest thing that makes me stop reading is when the book is boring. I'll set it down and forget to come back to it, and after a while, decide it wasn't worth the time.

The other big one is superficiality. I used to love "silly" books like the Shopaholic series, but now they drive me CRAZY. There's more to life than what brand of shoes you're wearing.