IWSG~Do You Dare?

Welcome to another spotlight of our Insecure Writer's Support Group community! This week, we're asking the question: 

Are you a risk-taker when writing? Do you try something radically different in style/POV/etc. or add controversial topics to your work? 

 

To address this question, I need to define what I believe the term risk-taker means. 

 

According to Merriam-Webster, a risk-taker is:

a person who is willing to do things that involve danger or risk in order to achieve a goal

Hmm . . . danger is not my forte; however, I am open to stretching my current skills to make them grow.

In my research, I found some common characteristics that risk-takers possess.

• Constant learners
• Trust their gut
• Embrace change
• Accept defeat & learn from it
• Set high goals
• *somewhat of a gambler
  

 

I believe that my evolution as a writer is where any risk-taking has come into play. When I first began writing, I had zero idea who to write. I had zero idea how to structure a paragraph or chapter let alone an entire story. But I wanted to learn. (That covers setting high goals element. And yes, it was a high goal at first. LOL) 

 

And I love continuing to learn. (That covers Constant learner.) 

 

Embracing change and Accepting defeat/learning from it was the hardest risk-taker characteristic for me to take. And I did so, at first, with my head hung low, my heart in my gut. It was when I separated from my first agent. I was down, but soon realized I wasn't out. So I eventually sold both my manuscripts on my own.(Here's where I embraced my inner gambler.)  

 

And with things going so well . . . they soon fell apart, again, with the closing of my middle grade publisher. That was my true defeat. But only until I accepted it, brushed myself off, and learned to read myself better. Which brings me to the final point. (Trusting my gut.)

 

I'd say trusting my gut has been the element I've most recently embraced. I might not know the future or the outcome of my decisions, but I do know my-writer-self much better - what I'm willing to do or compromise, what I'm willing to wait for, and what I'm willing to risk. 

What about you? Do you trust your gut?

 

 

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Thank you goes out to the awesome co-hosts for this posting: PK Hrezo, Pat Garcia, SE White, Lisa Buie Collard, and Diane Burton! You all RAWK!

 

SHERI~

IWSG~Mount Katahdin & Genres

Here we are at our third IWSG post of the year. Crazy, right?

I've decided to veer from our optional question for a minute to share a little of my recent snowmobiling weekend in Maine.

 

This is MOUNT KATAHDIN

 

Here's a few interesting facts. 

 

 

 

 

The trails were like highways. Amazing!

 

Lastly, here we are in front of Mount Katahdin.

 

This IWSG optional question is:  Everyone has a favorite genre or genres to write. But what about your reading preferences? Do you read widely or only within the genre(s) you create stories for? What motivates your reading choice?

 

I tend to gravitate to romance and/or character based stories and also middle grade fantasy, adventure, and coming of age stories - all are what I write. But I'm always open to reading any story if it's well-written and enticing. I also like to read articles and short stories that are completely out of my norm. Sometimes I purposefully pick up books like that as well, using them to challenge myself through content, structure, craft, and technique. I always learn something knew when I do that, so I'd totally recommend it.

 

One last thing, I'd love for you to meet the newest member of our family - ASHER! He's a nine-week-old German Shepherd puppy and new little brother to our current two-year-old GSD Sadie.

 

Have an amazing month, everyone! 

 

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 Major Kudos goes out to our co-hosts for the month of March: Sarah - The Faux Fountain Pen Jacqui Murray, Chemist Ken, Victoria Marie Lees, Natalie Aguirre, and JQ Rose!