IWSG DAY, Jully 7, 2021, What Would Make Me Quit Writing? By Pat Garcia

 

 

 

 

 

Hello Everyone, 

 

It is IWSG Time!

 

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, our successes, or giving encouragement and support to others. 

 

 

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

 

 

The awesome co-hosts for the July 7 posting of the IWSG are Pat Garcia, Victoria Marie Lees,and Louise – Fundy Blue!

 

 Submissions:  Turn The Light On into the KCT International Literary "TREAT" Award Contest (Still Outstanding)

Contemplations Of A Woman Turning Sixty-Five - Flash Fiction, The Masters Review (Still Outstanding)

A Portrait of Daisy Dee, Fiction, The Writer,  Short Story Contest (Still Outstanding)

The Wasteland, Carve Magazine, Raymond Carver Short Story Contest (Submitted June 1, 2021

A Shared Dream, The Alpha/Omega Short Story Contest, July 2, 2021

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 What Would Make Me Quit Writing?

 

 

 

I think many situations could come up that would rob me of my ability to write. A disability, a mental sickness, a memory loss would test me, but I hope I never have to experience such a loss. 

 

Wishing everyone a happy and peaceful month of July. 

Shalom aleichem,

 

 

Pat Garcia

 

 

IWSG DAY, June 2, 2021, Timeframe to Finished Product and Its Shelf-life by Pat Garcia

 

Hello Everyone, 

 

It is IWSG Time!

 

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, our successes, or giving encouragement and support to others. 

 

 

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

 

 

The awesome co-hosts for the June 2, 2021  posting of the IWSG are The awesome co-hosts for the June 2 posting of the IWSG are J Lenni Dorner, Sarah Foster,Natalie Aguirre, Lee Lowery, and Rachna Chhabria! 

 

 Submissions:  Entered Turn The Light On into the KCT International Literary "TREAT" Award Contest (Still Outstanding)

Contemplations Of A Woman Turning Sixty-Five - Flash Fiction, The Masters Review

A Portrait of Daisy Dee, Fiction, The Writer,  Short Story Contest

Results:  LAWD, LAWD into the WEP's April Challenge – made the shortlist

 

 

 

 

 Timeframe to Finished Product and Its Shelf-life

 

For me, it takes time, time, and then more time. When I write the first draft, I revise and revise until I see a chemical reaction taking place with the words that I choose to express myself. It's kind of like a light of insight that lets me know I'm almost there, but I haven't reached the zenith. That's when I put it on my shelf, and I start writing on something else. How long it stays, I cannot say. My first short story that came out this year, I started in 2015. It was only at the beginning of  2020 that I called it up from my computer and started restructuring it, and the result was my first published short story. 

 

I firmly believe that the timeframe is determined by your purpose for writing, what you hope to accomplish, and the raison d'etre behind your writing. 

 

One of my invisible writing mentors is John Gardner. It took him years to get The Sunlight Dialogues published. In fact, it was the first book he wrote but not the first book that was published.

 

Therefore, I don't worry about the timeframe because I will do as many revisions as needed and let it stay on the shelf as long as needed until I think my words speak life to me, and therefore, can speak life to the reader.

Have a lovely month of June.

Shalom aleichem

Pat Garcia

 

 

 

 

IWSG DAY, May 5, 2021, Coping with Disappointed Reader Expectation by Pat Garcia

Hello Everyone, 

 

It is IWSG Time!

 

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, our successes, or giving encouragement and support 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 

 

 

The awesome co-hosts for the May 5  posting of the IWSG are  Erika Beebe, PJ Colando, Tonja Drecker, Sadira Stone, and Cathrina Constantine!

 

 

 Submissions:  Entered Turn The Light On into the KCT International Literary "TREAT" Award Contest (Still Outstanding)

Entered LAWD, LAWD into the WEP's April Challenge (Winners haven't been announced yet)

 

Update on Turn The Light On

Turn The Light On's book trailer is finished. The book trailer was essential to me, and I didn't want to rush it and put out any old thing. I have worked with excellent creative people at 4WillsPublishing who really listened to what I desired. We checked in on everything concerning my trailer, and I wasn't afraid to tell them what I thought or reject what I didn't want. The results of the book trailer are on my side banner, but I have placed the book trailer and the promo banner here today because I am very proud of both pieces of work. Soon, I will be getting in touch with a few people to help me promote my book by publishing it on their blogs. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Coping with Disappointed Reader Expectation

  

In answer to the question given to the group, I would like to say that I have encountered responses to my writing from readers that I didn't expect. Did their reactions surprise me? Yes, of course, the reactions surprise me, and sometimes I have been deeply hurt. After all, I am human, and I bleed just like everyone else. Did I lose them? Yes, some I have. 

Did their reactions make me change my style or my delivery of what I write?

I can say so far that is a definite No. Don't get me wrong, I love readers, but I am not writing to please them. When I write to please someone else, I lie to myself, and the true essence of who I am gets blackened in muddy waters, and I drown.

I want to live in my writing and not die in it. 

Wishing all of you a beautiful month of May. 

Take care and stay safe.

 

Shalom aleichem,

 

Pat Garcia

IWSG DAY, APRIL 7, 2021, RISK TAKER by Pat Garcia

 

 

Hello Everyone, 

 

It is IWSG Time!

 

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, our successes, or giving encouragement and support 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 

 

 

The awesome co-hosts for the April 7 posting of the IWSG are PK Hrezo, Pat Garcia, SE White,Lisa Buie Collard, and Diane Burton!

Submissions:  Entered Turn The Light On into the KCT International Literary "TREAT" Award Contest 

 

Risk Taker

 

I take risks in that I blend what is going on in the world and give my perspective to my characters to find out what they think. The engagement from my character's point of view is always engaging. I also grab situations that bother me within that viewpoint. Even in writing Romance, you can't bury your head in the sand. I like romance stories that weave the reality of death into their plots. These kinds of stories don't always end with the heroine and hero walking to the altar, but sometimes into eternity, and these are the kind of stories that I write.  Within me is a strand that wants to present life as it is, and I do my best to give my readers a realistic view of love and trust that blends with taking responsibility for one's decisions and loving at the same time.

 

Wishing all of you a lovely month of April. 

 

Shalom aleichem,

 

Pat Garcia

 

IWSG DAY, March 3, 2021, My Reading Preferences by Pat Garcia

Hello Everyone, 

 

It is IWSG Time!

 

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, our successes, or giving encouragement and support 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 

 

 

The awesome co-hosts for the March 3 posting of the IWSG are Sarah - The Faux Fountain PenJacqui Murray, Chemist Ken, Victoria Marie Lees, Natalie Aguirre, and JQ Rose!

 

 

Submissions: 

 Fiction - A Time To Love: My novel has been accepted by a publisher. More news to come in the future. 

 

Flash Fiction:  my flash fiction pieces have opened the door for me to become a part of the RAVE Writers  International Society of Authors (RWISA). Membership is by invitation only, and I'm Georgia Peach happy.  One or two of the stories will be published in their Anthology. 

 

It's Christmas 

The Red Wheelbarrow 

Until Death Do Us Part

Caged Birds Don't Sing

 

Non-Fiction: A Spotlight On My Childhood  In The Deep South -This piece was chosen by the RWISA to sit on my RWISA Introductory page. 

My newsletter is up on my author blog, I would appreciate you checking it and if you like signing up for it. I will send it out once every quarter (4 times a year). The website address of  my author blog is https://patgarciaauthor.com/newsletter/

 

Short Story: Turn The Light On, Released on February 23, 2021.  It is published and I am now in the process of building the promotion. For those of you who have volunteered to help me, I have not forgotten you. I will be getting in touch. 

Turn The Light On received on February 26th the Nonnie Jules' Seal of APPROVAL, which declares it to be an amazing read, and I am thankful.

 

 Blurb

**Would you ever accept a dinner invitation to meet a stranger who never spoke one word to you during your time together?  And, would you accept that you couldn't even sit at the same table with them? How about, you don't even know their name and you continue this "game" for months?*

 

**Meet Della Cartwright.  A superstar at what she does professionally, but when the tall, mysterious, Italian stranger, Alessio Terracina, enters her world, she begins to question her judgment and everything about her.*  

 

**In this short story which takes place over the course of one day, this otherwise savvy businesswoman is led into making decisions that could jeopardize her professional life and maybe even cost her her freedom. But, the greatest danger ... just might be to her fragile heart.* 

 

 

 

My Reading Preferences

 

 

 

My reading preferences are totally different from what I write. I read wide. Meaning, I have learned to read almost any fiction genre, and I read most Non-Fiction to include two newspapers. I believe that being versatile in my reading helps me write my Romance, Romantic Suspense, and Women's Fiction stories. 

 

It helps me to relax, especially when I am working on the sticky middle of a novel. Sometimes nothing else helps but picking up a non-fiction book that highlights some of the things that I am striving to incorporate in my story. Sure, the non-fiction book is very detailed, but it gives me ideas or opens up avenues of thought closed to me. 

 

We are sometimes blinded by the forest and can't see the trees when we are writing, and that's where reading wide, way outside of my own genres, help me.  

 

Wishing all of you a lovely March month. 

 

Shalom aleichem

  

 

 

 

 

Pat Garcia

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

IWSG DAY, February 3, 2021, Blogging and Friendship by Pat Garcia

Hello Everyone, 

 

It is IWSG Time!

 

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, our successes, or giving encouragement and support 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 

 

 

The awesome co-hosts for the February 3, posting of the IWSG are Louise - Fundy Blue , Jennifer Lane, Mary Aalgaard, Patsy Collins at Womagwriter, and Nancy Gideon!

 

 

 

Submissions: 

 Fiction - A Time To Love, A Novel– Submitted September 18, 2020, Still Outstanding

 

Flash Fiction: Still Outstanding

It's Christmas 

The Red Wheelbarrow 

Until Death Do Us Part

 

Non-Fiction: A Spotlight On My Childhood  In The Deep South -Still Outstanding

 

Short Story: Turn The Light On, To Be Released February 23, 2021

 

Thanks to all who have volunteered to help me. I will be getting in contact with you soon. 

 

Blogging and Friendship

I don't blog often, but blogging has opened the doors for me to find like-minded people who like to write Romance, Romantic Suspense, and Women's fiction with a tad of fantasy. They have become people that I turn to when I am uncertain about my writing, especially Grammar, and when I have a question, I expect an honest answer. We don't agree all the time, but that is okay with me. Who does? But they have a character trait within them that is priceless––the heart to respect even when we disagree.

 

Wishing everyone a lovely month of February.

 

Shalom aleichem,

 

Pat Garcia