IWSG DAY, September 6, 2023 Happy 12th Birthday, IWSG! @TheWEP #IWSG @pat_garcia

Welcome to our ninth  IWSG Day of the year, 2023. 

 

IWSG is a writers' support group created and led by Alex Cavanaugh. 

 

Purpose: 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!

 

This group is an immense help to many of us who do not mind sharing our insecurities and successes or giving others encouragement and support. 

So, if you are interested and would like to join, the link below will lead you directly to us.

 

https://www.insecurewriterssupportgroup.com/p/iwsg-sign-up.html

 

Submissions: None

The awesome co-hosts for the September 6  are Sonia Dogra, J Lenni Dorner, Pat Garcia, Sarah - The Faux Fountain Pen, and Meka James!

Happy 12th Birthday, IWSG!

I learned about the IWSG while participating in the A to Z Challenge and tried it. 

That was some years ago, and  I'm still here. It was and is a decision that I don't regret. 

Happy 12th Birthday, IWSG!

You're simply one of the best. 

Shalom shalom

Pat Garcia

IWSG Day, July 3, 2019, What Personal Traits Have I Written into My Characters? By Pat Garcia

Hello Everyone,

It is the first Wednesday of the month, and IWSG Time. 

IWSG is a writers' support group created and led by Alex Cavanaugh. It is a big help to many of us who do not mind sharing our insecurities, our successes or giving encouragement and help to others. 

So, if you are interested and would like to join, the link below will lead you directly to us:

The Insecure Writer's Support Group 

Submissions:

Submissions:. 

Entered the WEP – Results not yet posted. 

What Personal Traits Have I Written into My Characters? By Pat Garcia

My characters determination and willingness to go the extra mile or miles reflects who I am. Their sense of purpose and focusing determinately on that purpose deal with how I have analyzed my own goals. They are kick-ass characters and aren’t afraid to take risks because that is in my DNA. However, my characters also struggle with depression and insecurity, and I have to admit that they come from me too. 

I will even go so far as to say; all of my flaws are planted in my characters. Their mistakes are mistakes that I’ve made, and their successes are triumphs that I’ve celebrated. 

Do I see them as an extension of myself?   Yes. They are a part of the vision incorporated in me.

 An author who goes deep into the waterfalls of life discovers who he or she is, the good and the bad.   Like William Blake, one of my favorite English Poets wrote so ardently in his book of poetry entitled Songs of Innocence and Experience, one must face the cesspool within oneself as well as face one's goodness.

  

My vision of the world  define my characters.  My perception is their perception. 

Wishing all of you in the United States a Happy Fourth of July, and for the rest of us, have lovely month of July. 

Shalom aleichem,

Pat Garcia 

IWSG Day, October 3, 2018, When Life Gets In The Way By Pat Garcia

Hello Everyone,

It is the first Wednesday of the month, and IWSG Time. 

IWSG is a writer support group created and led by Alex Cavanaugh. It is a big help to many of us who do not mind sharing our insecurities, our successes or giving encouragement and help to others. 

So, if you are interested and would like to join, the link below will lead you directly to us:

The Insecure Writer's Support Group 

My report:

Still Outstanding

Submission to the New Writers Scheme for Emerging Writers – June 29, 2018 

Submission: I was given the opportunity to submit the first five thousand words of my manuscript, A Time to Love, to Simon & Schuster in the U.K. I sent it in June 26^thand I am waiting on the results.

Submission: Glimmer Train, Very Short Fiction Story, September 4, 2018

New News:

Submission to The Colorado Gold Writing Contest for Emerging Writers – May 31, 2018

I didn’t place in The Colorado Gold Writing Contest for Emerging Writers, but I received two great critiques that will definitely help me. 

No New Submissions this month

When Life Gets in the Way

At the beginning of 2016, I entered into streams that have been testing principles and beliefs that keep me moving forward. Saying goodbye to a young woman who was like a little sister to me felt like ice cold water thrown in my face. Little did I know that I would not have time to recover from the loss or to grieve before things got worse. A month later, I found myself in a bottomless keg of mire that seemed to bind my feet. I am now learning to move my feet slowly as I maintain my daily meditation, and juggle a writing schedule, my work as a musician and singer, my reading, my naps, and anything else that I do to handle the present crisis that I find myself in.  

Outside of my morning meditation with God, my writing is my joy lifter. If only for fifteen minutes or one hour, a trip to my office where I enter my imaginary world, lifts me up and out of any kind of depression that is trying to get me down.  I write every day. If I do not work on a manuscript, I am busy typing away in my journals, and if I am not working on either a manuscript or one of my journals, I am busy writing out my homework for the writing classes that I take. 

Does writing help? Yes. It helps me put things into perspective and accept that change has impacted my life.  Everything changes; nothing remains the same, Nina Simone once sang. I will no longer be the same person after I get through this.

Wishing all of you a lovely month of October. Enjoy the Fall months, and find the time to look at the leaves as they change their colors.  

Shalom aleichem,

Pat G

IWSG Day, June 6, 2018, Transitioning, by Pat Garcia

Hello Everyone,

It is the first Wednesday of the month, and IWSG Time. 

IWSG is a writer support group created and led by Alex Cavanaugh. It is a big help to many of us who do not mind sharing our insecurities, our successes or giving encouragement and help to others. 

So, if you are interested and would like to join, the link below will lead you directly to us:

The Insecure Writer's Support Group 

My report:

 Submission to Glimmer Train – Very short Fiction – April 30, 2018

Submission to The Colorado Gold Writing Contest For Emerging Writers – May 31, 2018

I am in a transition phase. I am transitioning into something new. I am standing in the tunnel close to the door waiting for it to open. 

Lack of sleep, trouble with focusing, and trying to get a grip on the euphoria within me while I wait are some of the typical signs I am experiencing.  I’m waiting, hoping, and praying that what is about to happen is what I am expecting.  

I have to keep telling myself, it is okay to be sixes and sevens, to be like the absentminded professor, to be afraid, and to feel expectant at the same time. I feel like I am on a roller-coaster.  This is my emotional state at the moment, day in, day out. 

I keep making myself move forward while I wait. Things are going to work out for my good. The door will open. 

When it does, I will let you know.

Wishing all of you a lovely month of June. 

Take care and stay safe. 

Shalom aleichem,

Pat G  

One of the Ups and Downs of Life That Will Cause You to Quit Writing, IWSG Day, June 7, 2017

Hello Everyone,

It is the first Wednesday of the month, and IWSG Time. 

IWSG is a writer support group created by Alex Cavanaugh. It is a big help to many of us who do not mind sharing our insecurities, our successes or giving encouragement and help to others. 

So, if you are interested and would like to join, the link below will lead you directly to us:

The Insecure Writer's Support Group 

My report:

No New Submissions for May 2017  

Lascaux Review – The Woman and Her Dream – Still Outstanding

Masters Review – Turn the Lights On – Rejected May 19, 2017

The Box in the Loft – SmokeLong – rejected May 24, 2017

The Box in the Loft – The Wigleaf – Still Outstanding

One of the Ups and Downs of Life That Will Cause You to Quit Writing

Sometimes unexpected events and situations waylay you, and you cannot help but put your writing on the back burner. It is not that you stop writing, but your regular routine does not exist anymore. You do not have the time to push yourself to write maybe five thousand words in four hours; you limit yourself to just answering your email correspondence and letting your creativity flow as you style your sentences; you catch up on your reading; you browse whatever online bookstore; you use and order more books.

When times like these appear in my life, it is not that I quit, but I have to refocus and make a conscious decision that something or some person is more important than my writing.

Since September of 2016, I have been doing what I described above. I put my writing on the back burner and wrote whenever and wherever I could.

What brought me back to writing? My girlfriend, whom I and another dear friend of mine, were taking care of,  died on May 15 at 6:30 in the morning. She walked through the curtain into eternity.

Monika Gutmann Fuhr
February 8, 1974 - May 15, 2017

She was one of the most loving young women I knew, a dear friend, and an excellent beta reader.

So, I have picked up the writing gauntlet again. I am writing, and I am so thankful that I can. The words are flowing fluidly.  They have become the precious ointment that soothes my hurting soul.

Until next month, this Georgia Girl wishes all of you a lovely month of June and be safe. 

Shalom aleichem,

Pat Garcia

  

IWSG Day - January 4, 2017 - Pacing 2017

Hello Everyone,

Happy New Year!

It is the first Wednesday of the month, and IWSG Time. 

IWSG is a writer support group created by Alex Cavanaugh. It is a big help to many of us who do not mind sharing our insecurities, our successes or giving encouragement and help to others. 

So, if you are interested and would like to join, the link below will lead you directly to us:

The Insecure Writer's Support Group 

My report:

I am the winner of the 2016 WEP DECEMBER CHALLENGE UTOPIAN DREAM. YEAH!  I have linked the story, The Woman and Her Dream  to this blog post if you would like to read it.

Rejections: I finally heard from Diverse Voices Quarterly after nine months. My piece was rejected.

Submissions still out:

Wordhaus. Haven’t got an answer yet.

JANUARY 4TH QUESTION: What writing rule do you wish you’d never heard?

Answer: Show, don’t tell. Why? Because most teachers can’t explain what it means.

 PACING 2017

I closed out 2016 sailing.  Chosen as the winner of the 2016 WEP DECEMBER UTOPIAN DREAMS CHALLENGE, the first thing I did when I read the email notification was cry, and I am not ashamed to say it.

2017 opened with me as a judge in the Winter Writing Contest sponsored by Becoming Writer. Also, twenty-eight minutes after midnight, New Year’s, morning, I received an email and read a superb analysis from a writing coach/editor on my essay for an anthology.

Needless to say, being a judge entails much work I could not imagine because I have always been a submitter. This is my first time participating as a judge. Along with my writing, my music, and other responsibilities, my plate is already overflowing.

Therefore, I am learning to pace myself by using an Excel workbook for every piece of writing I write with actions I need to undertake.   I am learning to love my calendar, and I am making myself take the time to record commitments or things that need taking care of because I FORGET. Frustrations will be written in my journal more quickly when storms come into my life, and I have decided to stick with Scrivener until I have it down pat.

I do not want to lose my momentum by September, so I have two study tools, which are going to keep me going, and I meditate and use them daily. So, my morning begins with Declaring God’s Word by Derek Prince, and my day ends with Clinging to God by Lynda R. Young.

I am only four days into the year. In December, I will let you know if pacing worked for me.

Wishing all of you a praeclara 2017.  Please, walk safely through the year.

Shalom aleichem,

Pat Garcia