It's IWSG time!!!!
What is that?
In the words of the founder, Alex J Cavanaugh, the IWSG is here 'To share and encourage. Writers can express doubts and concerns without fear of appearing foolish or weak. Those who have been through the fire can offer assistance and guidance. It’s a safe haven for insecure writers of all kinds!'
The first Wednesday of every month is the time we post our woes, hopes, dreams, concerns, ideas, chit-chats, or whatever else moves us.
(Founded by author Alex J. Cavanaugh, the Insecure Writer’s Support Group offers support for writers and authors alike. It provides an online database; articles; monthly blog posting; Facebook, Twitter, & Instagram groups; #IWSGPit, and a newsletter. https://www.insecurewriterssupportgroup.com/)
Today's a special day for IWSG because it's the first day after the release of the latest anthology!
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!
Print ISBN 9781939844828 $14.95 EBook ISBN 9781939844835 $4.99
Science Fiction: Collections & Anthologies / Space Exploration / Genetic Engineering
Amazon / iTunes / Kobo / Barnes & Noble / Goodreads
Also, the new contest is being announced today! Head on over
here to learn all about it...
because you aren't going to miss that, either!
Now, that we've gotten the announcements out of the way, it's time for this month's question!!!
Has any of your readers ever responded to your writing in a way that you didn't expect? If so, did it surprise you?
The first answer, which pops into my head is...
Some people actually claimed they enjoyed my writing!
Now, this might sound like a silly statement, but I'm more than willing to bet that I'm not the only one who was and is seriously shocked by this, at times. Of course, we hope for it and dream about people saying, "Wow. That was good!" But if you're anything like me, there's always that huge voice inside, which really isn't convinced this will ever be the case. So, hearing that for the first time is a shocker. Very unexpected (even if that sounds crazy). And even now, part of me whispers a little doubt, wondering if they're just saying it to be nice or maybe didn't read correctly?
That self-doubt monster is ruthless. Always has been. Always will be.
But here's my other answer: When Music Boxes came out, I did have a person in my family, who was disappointed I went into 'darker magic'. Since it's an evil witch, who's spinning her most sinister magic in the last scenes, I didn't think this was any worse than the usual, run-of-the-mill fairy tale. But my aunt was frustrated by the unsuitable dark tones, and that surprised me.
Another piece I wrote received feedback that I'd opened up the reader's eyes to a new-for-them genre...which was unexpected and nice. And then another, never printed tale shocked a reader with it's 'brutality and twisted-ness', which they later admitted wasn't really that bad, since they discovered I'd only based it on facts from history.
So, what odd or surprising remarks have you received? What response weren't you expecting and made you take a think-pause?
