Our Twitter handle is @TheIWSG and hashtag is #IWSG.
Every month, we announce a question that members can answer in their IWSG post. These questions may prompt you to share advice, insight, a personal experience or story. Include your answer to the question in your IWSG post or let it inspire your post if you are struggling with something to say.
Remember, the question is optional!
June 3 question – Writers have secrets! What are one or two of yours, something readers would never know from your work?
We have some truly awesome co-hosts today!
Pat Garcia, J.Q. Rose, Olga Godim, and Natalie Aguirre!
I’m not sure this qualifies as a secret, but I haven’t told anyone about it before now, so maybe it is. Of course, once I’ve published this post, poof goes the secret part. Anyway, here it is.
I’m trying my darnedest to keep writing and stay sane just like everybody else. It’s not easy to write books at any time, at least not for me. But then the heavy lifting called promotion starts, doesn’t it? I’ve been so close to stopping so many times, especially these last two years. Just when I have my fingers hovering over the keys to delete my accounts and shut down all my social media, I get a bit of encouragement from other writers and even some of my readers. So another day passes and I write a few more words, and then the First Wednesday comes…Well you can see where I’m going.
What I’ve discovered is that when I lend a hand to other authors it lifts me out of the doldrum, so I’ve been racking my brain to think of other ways I can help besides buy, read, and review books. I decided more exposure is always good, so I sent out a few emails, announcing an offer to authors on my EMAIL CONNECT. Several responded to my question: “What are you doing this shelter-in place fiasco?” Here’s what some of them sent to me:
 This modern day shape-shifting tale is available on AMAZON. Buy yours today. |
Sandra Cox says, “I garden. It sustains me and my flowers feed my spirit.” |
 This romantic story is a Free Book on AMAZON Get your free copy today. |
Elizabeth Seckman wrote, “My stay sane strategy? When life gets tough, it’s best to stay busy. I made myself a mini bucket list of all the things I could do while quarantined. From cleaning out my closets to keeping a journal about this bizarre turn of life events, there is more on my list than I could ever finish, so no time to worry.” |
 Get your copy of this Cozy Mystery on AMAZON |
Rebecca Douglass sent this: “I’m spending more time than ever exercising, which is good (but getting more challenging as it’s starting to get hot here). One average, close to 2 hours/day. Finding and completing little projects help me cope, but the best thing is when we manage to lure our sons out of their rooms and enjoy some actual family conversations!
It’s not patience I’ve run out of—it’s focus. Trying hard to recover some and get on with those edits, but it’s hard. It’s always hard, but it’s harder this time.” |
 Buy this Fantasy/Mystery on Smashwords. |
J. Lenni Dorner: “I am surviving the quarantine by focusing on what l CAN do. I’ve dealt with impossible situations before, so it isn’t having the same impact on me that it is on my spouse and friends. The most challenging part is saying good-bye to those I’ve lost during and because of this (two so far, another not looking good, and some who I can’t get a hold of so I don’t know.)” |
 This Detective Quaid Mystery is available at Amazon, Barnes & Nobel, and Smashwords. Get your next book in the series now! |
Yolanda Renee says, “As an introvert, isolation isn’t terribly hard. I’ve always enjoyed my alone time. However, watching the daily death count and not being able to visit my sons is heartbreaking. Still, I’ve followed through on my goals. It’s spring, so reorganizing and redecorating has kept me busy. Launching my latest book, writing the next one, and working on several short stories have kept me busy. But for some reason, I also read every piece of mail, even the junk mail, and I have a tendency to cry at the drop of a hat.
As I watch the beachgoers get their party on, I wonder what hotspot they’ve escaped from. So, I avoid crowds and wear my mask in the elevator when going to the laundry room. My deepest desire is to hug my boys. |
| The newest IWSG Anthology is here. If you like to meet the authors, visit their WEBSITE to see who they are and what their stories are about. |
Free on Email Connect
If you’d like to join other writers and readers on my email list, I’d love to have you there. I need more people in my life who like to write, read, and share information. I try to include about something of interest and ( I hope) value in each email. And there’s some free stuff once in a while. Right now you can read this short piece of horror when you sign on. Only my followers get copies because I’ve never sent it out for publication. My next “issue” is going to have something I think is exciting for any Indie writer.
Quote of the Month: “It seems impossible until it’s done.” Nelson Mandela
I think of this quote each day that start out to do my 4 mile walk. It has helped me reach Day 75 and Mile 280 as of today.
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One more bit of great news is from J.Q. Rose. Her latest book is non-fiction, and it’s a perfect gift for someone thinking of writing memoir. 
