The first Wednesday of every month is the Insecure Writer's Support Group. Posts go up the 1st Wednesday of every month. Check it out here and join if you need support with your writing. Don't forget to stop by and say hi to the co-hosts: SE White, Cathrina Constantine, Natalie Aguire, Joylene Nowell Butler, and Jacqui Murray!

This might be my last IWSG...at least for now. I'm not entirely sure. I love this group, after all. Multiple posts have been about how awesome the group is. You've lifted me up so many times, helped me out whenever I needed it, and celebrated with me.

So, why stop?

It's more like a pause. Not really from writing. That I'm fine with. No, I need a pause from the other part that comes with writing now-a-days: publishing. As of now, all my books are pulled. I've deleted some social media. This blog's days are probably numbered. It's all going away for the time.

And before you say "You don't have to be THAT drastic." I know, but I also know if the books are sitting for sale I'll start thinking about things to try. "Maybe if I do this." "Maybe if I promote here." No. For the time being, I'm done.

Now you might be asking, "Why? You're doing great. You've just published a book!"

Look, my timing is god-awful, okay? Do you know how many times I have bought flour and then said, "I think I'll go gluten free."? A lot.

Anyways, back the point.

If I look at how many stories I finished, I've succeeded as a writer. But when it comes to success as a published author (aka finding an audience) I have failed miserably. The number has been going in the wrong direction.

So, I'm pulling the plug and going dark to remove distractions so I can think. I've said many times that I don't really want to give up. I'm too stubborn for that, but we've all heard that quote about insanity right? The definition of insanity is doing the same thing over and over and expecting different results. That's how I feel about publishing right now. I'm just bashing my head against the wall and being surprised when it hurts. It's time to rethink and reassess. I already know I want to go find some courses on SEO and advertising on Udemy (great site for learning new things.)

I think that's my biggest thing right now. I just need to learn shit. Back when I started, anyone could jump in head first and be okay. Today is a different beast. You'll break your neck if you try that now.

I'm not sure what that will mean for the books I've previously published. A few may never get read again and some might get rewritten. Other things might change as well. I may reappear with a new name one day. I've been thinking up ones and seeing how they look signed. LOL Or keep this one. I'm wishy-washy about it.

Also, I have no desire to disappear from this group forever. I've legit made amazing friends, found amazing books, and I am for real getting teary-eyed thinking about all the support you have given me over the years. Sometimes I kept going just because you all had my back and I didn't want to disappoint. I'm still subscribed to your blogs, so I have ways to keep in touch and cheer you on when you need it. (Some of you I have your email.)

But for now, it's goodbye. When I figure my shit out, I'll be sure to let you know.

PS: Since some of you now have some dead links due to times you helped me out, sorry. If I could clean them up for you myself, I would. But I can't so it's up to you.

The first Wednesday of every month is the Insecure Writer's Support Group. Posts go up the 1st Wednesday of every month. Check it out here and join if you need support with your writing. Don't forget to stop by and say hi to the co-hosts: Kim Elliott, Melissa Maygrove, Chemist Ken, Lee Lowery, and Nancy Gideon!

May 4 question - It's the best of times; it's the worst of times. What are your writer highs (the good times)? And what are your writer lows (the crappy times)?

I'm going to skip this month's question because it requires trying to remember things and I just don't feel like doing that right now. It's called being lazy. 😋

Instead, I want to share with you how my foray into serialized fiction went with my novel, Deep Curse.

I have a few paying supporters and a handful of followers more. Not much of an audience, but I had hoped maybe the free chapters would grow my supporters and followers. In the beginning, it worked. I  got a new supporter and some followers. As the story progressed, the supporter/follower count did not.

Kinda-sorta a success.

While I enjoyed the process of releasing the story chapter by  chapter, unsurprisingly, I didn't much care for the promotion part. I felt like I was beating a dead horse saying, "A new chapter is out. Go read the free chapters."

Another thing that makes me hesitant to continue with serial fiction is being told by others that they really don't care to read a book that way. I'd rather read as much as I want, when I want. Which, honestly, that's how I feel too. I have zero desire to read a chapter per week. Let me buy the whole thing and read it in one setting if I want. I don't think serialized fiction has quite caught on like some authors hoped.

More than likely, if I had a bigger audience, it would be worth keeping at. Since I don't have that audience, my efforts are best placed elsewhere. Would I do it again? Maybe with a short story, but for now I'm reassessing and rearranging where my energy needs to go in hopes of finding those elusive readers everyone tells me I need.

Have you tried serial fiction? Any success? What are you author highs and lows? Is saying, "I'm lazy" a good excuse for everything? 🙃

The first Wednesday of every month is the Insecure Writer's Support Group. Posts go up the 1st Wednesday of every month. Check it out here and join if you need support with your writing. Don't forget to stop by and say hi to the co-hosts: Joylene Nowell Butler, Jemima Pett, Patricia Josephine, Louise - Fundy Blue, and Kim Lajevardi!

Hey look, my name is in there. Why yes I may have forgotten I volunteered. Life has been a little hectic since I told Alex I'd help, to say the least.

April 6 question - Have any of your books been made into audio books? If so, what is the main challenge in producing an audiobook?

If you've been to my blog today and noticed the post looks different and the comments are gone, it's because it is. My original post had been about how my writing life seems to be shifting and I wasn't sure how to feel about it. The comments were kind and well intention but a few accidentally hit on a pet peeve of mine. Well, it's more than a pet peeve because it utterly infuriates me. It picks at an old and painful wound from my teens. It's not their fault. They had no idea, but for my sanity. I opted to delete the original post. Thanks to everyone who had commented and tried to help. This apparently isn't a topic I'm ready to discuss with the public yet. Lesson learned.

I want to give a shout out to Alex's new book, Cassadark. It released yesterday.

His world is unraveling…
 
Bassan’s father is stepping down from command. His best friend almost dies when Bassan freezes. Now, he’s being sent across the galaxy to speak at an important conference. Despite saving the eleven races years ago, he’s paralyzed by doubt. Could things get any worse?
 
Once there, new acquaintance Zendar convinces Bassan to visit his planet for a humanitarian mission. Bassan’s special connection to ancient technology is the key to saving Zendar’s people. One problem though—it’s a prisoner planet.
 
On Ugar, he discovers things aren’t so straightforward. As each truth reveals itself, the situation grows more desperate. If he can’t find the right answers, he might die along with Zendar’s people. Can Bassan summon the courage to be a hero again?

Links:
iTunes – https://books.apple.com/us/book/x/id1574189874
Amazon – https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0982FL3SH
Barnes & Noble – https://www.barnesandnoble.com/s/2940164947033
Kobo – https://www.kobo.com/us/en/ebook/cassadark
Scribed – https://www.scribd.com/search?query=9781939844859&language=0
Goodreads – https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/58461762-cassadark