Once again, it’s time for the monthly blog hop of the Insecure Writers Support Group.
Join the IWSG monthly blog hop here: http://www.insecurewriterssupportgroup.com/p/iwsg-sign-up.html
Purpose of the IWSG: 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 awesome co-hosts for the June 2 posting of the IWSG are J Lenni Dorner, Sarah Foster, Natalie Aguirre, Lee Lowery, and Rachna Chhabria!
But first, news and a giveaway.
My first tattoo!
I did a thing, y’all! I originally planned to get a tattoo for my 55th birthday, but way leads onto way, and…I’ll be turning 59 next month, so…voilà!
Thanks to Andre Orgego of Old Tacoma Tattoo for this lovely quill pen, inspired by tattoos I saw at the 2018 RWA National Conference as well as the Emerald City Writers Conference . The romance genre is inked on my heart—and now on my arm! Andre’s a wonderful artist, and honestly, the process didn’t hurt as much as a nettle sting. I’m already planning my next tattoo, a dragonfly. Do you have any tattoos? What’s the significance?
We’re moving to Las Vegas!
Countdown to Las Vegas!
Hubs’ surgery is scheduled for June 10th, and barring any complications, we’ll pack out on 6/7 July! Good-bye, Tacoma, hello Vegas! I’m packing all my summer clothes—of which I don’t have that many since I’ve been living in the land of rain. We’re looking forward to new adventures!
June Romance Giveaway!
I’ve joined forces with five other authors to offer you the chance to win a $50 Amazon or Barnes & Noble gift card as well as six great romance ebooks by subscribing to our newsletters!
Here are the books you could win:
Can’t Stay Away by Lilly Avalon
Riding Past Midnight by Ella Cooper
Sons of Sindicato by Cam Johns and Sonya Jesus
Brightly Burning Bridges by Ivy Wild
Sexy Drug (Losing My Heart Book 1) by Melody Calder
Gelato Surprise by Sadira Stone
All you have to do is click this link, enter your email address, and you’re in!
This giveaway runs from June 1st to July 1st at midnight and is open internationally. The winner will be selected and contacted July 1st. Learn more about the giveaway here.
Now, onto the IWSG! June 2 question – For how long do you shelve your first draft, before reading it and re-drafting? Is this dependent on your writing experience and the number of stories/books under your belt?
I’ve been published for a few years, have six books out, and I actually don’t set aside drafts anymore. By the time I finish a first draft, I’ve compiled a long To-Do list of items to address on my first pass, and I’m eager to get started. Typically, I do one pass through the manuscript to fix those issues, trim excess verbiage, and sharpen the language. Then I print the manuscript and do a read-aloud edit—always find more things to fix during that stage. Once it’s as tight and polished as I can make it on my own, it goes to beta readers, then another edit, then to a paid editor.
Before you go:
My next reader newsletter goes out June 9, and I’ll be giving away a signed paperback copy of Opposites Ignite: Bangers Tavern Romance 2, along with some cool Tacoma swag! Interested? Sign up for my monthly newsletter here.
I wish you happy writing and lots of lovely June blooms.
Hi,
I sincerely hope all goes well and you two will be moving Vegas right after the fourth of July.
Take care and have a lovely month of June.
Shalom aleichem,
Pat G
Nice ink! I’ve always said I was going to get one but still haven’t done it at 41. But you’ve got a couple years on me, so I’ve got time. 🙂
Also, nice to see that I’m not the only one who lets their books “percolate” less as they get more experienced.
Love the tattoo! And good luck on your move. I like to visit Vegas, but pretty much hate the heat so my visiting is only during the cool months ;).
I don’t have a tattoo, but I love yours. Good luck on your move. It sounds like you’ve figured out what works best for you when revising a first draft since you’ve published a number of books.
I don’t have any tats. The wildest I’ve gotten was pierced ears and I only have a single hole in each ear. I’m so vanilla it’s sad.
I do love your tat. It’s perfect for a writer. 🙂
Anna from elements of emaginette
Congrats on your first tat! They’re a bit addictive. Since I don’t edit while I write, anything I think of that needs editing goes into a notebook so I won’t stress about it until I’m done.
Shannon @ The Warrior Muse (it defaults to my podcast account) thewarriormuse [dot] com
Loving your quill pen tattoo.
I have a tattoo of a rose on my back. Got it done freshman year in college. Originally planned to have three in total. Was going to get an Egyptian ankh and my zodiac sign. But that plan fell by the wayside.
No tats on me–but a good friend of mine has the most beautiful beet, like crazy cool. I hope all goes well with the surgery.