The first Wednesday of every month is the Insecure Writer's Support Group. Posts go up the 1st Wednesday of every month. Although, this month, we pushed it back to the second Wednesday because let's face it, most people were probably too hung over from celebrating last week to worry about IWSG. 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: T. Powell Coltrin, Victoria Marie Lees, Stephen Tremp, Renee Scattergood, and J.H. Moncrieff!

It's a new year, so I'm sure a lot of my fellow writers are looking back to see how they fared in 2019. I am as well, and...

• I published my young adult post-apocalyptic fantasy, Leaves of Fall under my pen name Patricia Lynne
• I read 30 books
• I finished writing FOUR first drafts and wrote over 220K words!
• I rewrote one story, got probably 3/4 through another rewrite as well as a secret project
• I submitted a few short stories, flash fiction, and a drabble to 13 publications. (The drabble was the only acceptance and it wasn't paying, but I submitted and that's what matters.)

But there were a few goals I did not get. I didn't grow my Patreon, write four drabbles a week, or work on a ghost story I wanted to.

But given all I accomplished, I'm pretty happy with my year. It's made me excited for 2020 and what I want to accomplish. How did your 2019 treat you and your writing? Did you reach the goals you set? Have you made plans for 2020? Or do you panster it?

And don't forget the optional question: What started you on your writing journey? Was it a particular book, movie, story, or series? Was it a teacher/coach/spouse/friend/parent? Did you just "know" suddenly you wanted to write? While I still have you, head over to my young adult blog and read how I wrote over 200 THOUSAND words last year.

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 hello to the co-hosts:  Tonja Drecker, Beverly Stowe McClure, Nicki Elson, Fundy Blue, and Tyrean Martinson!

December 4 question - Let's play a game. Imagine. Role-play. How would you describe your future writer self, your life and what it looks and feels like if you were living the dream? Or if you are already there, what does it look and feel like? Tell the rest of us. What would you change or improve?

I'm skipping this question because I couldn't even tell you how I'd describe myself tomorrow. I hesitate to plan much because when I do, life likes the put her foot out and knock me over. It's better to just have some loose ideas of what I want and then go with the flow.

We're in the last month of the year. I've taken a few peeks at the goals I set for 2019 and what I've accomplished this year already. And I have to say, I did pretty damn well this year. The schedule I made worked well and I'm amazed at all I've gotten accomplished this year. But we're not out of the water yet. We still have December and that gives us plenty of time to squeeze a few more words in. I plan on doing that and I hope you are too.

Have you looked at your goals for 2019 yet? Did you meet any? Are there a couple you think you can get in before we ring in the new year? I fiddled with my website design and went for something festive. What do you think?

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 hello to the co-hosts: C. Lee McKenzie, Erika Beebe, Lisa Buie-Collard, Sadira Stone, and ME!

This month's optional question is: What's the strangest thing you've ever googled in researching a story?

I know I've googled some weird things, but every time this question comes up, my mind goes blank. I can't even recall the last thing I googled for a story! Talk about frustrating. I really ought to write down my searches so I can properly answer this question.

As for my writing insecurities, well, I'm on a roll and my insecurities have been quiet these past few months. They must be plotting something! There's no way I'd be having this much confidence with writing without it coming to bite me in the butt. I dunno. I'm trying not to fret and be doom and gloom while things are going well. That's just asking for things to go wrong.

I don't have much else to say, so I'm going to sign off. Be sure to check out the other hosts this month. Let me know how your writing has been going lately. What's the weirdest thing you've had to research. Oh, and I have a giveaway going over on my YA blog and you should totally check it out.

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 hello to the co-hosts: Ronel Janse van Vuuren, Mary Aalgaard, Madeline Mora-Summonte, and Ellen @ The Cynical Sailor!

Last month, I was enjoying a break from insecurity. I honestly didn't expect it to last long, but surprisingly, it has. This month, I'm not feeling terribly insecure. (Although, sales do still suck, but I at least got a few unlike last month.) There was a point I did worry my productivity was going to tank because I wasn't writing every other day like planned.

But I took a moment to think, and instead of panicking, I reorganized my schedule. Now, instead of writing every other day, I'm writing Tuesday, Wednesday, and Friday. That small change got me back on track and I ended up writing almost three  thousand words this past Wednesday!

It got me thinking about how easily we panic when things start to go wrong. I could have fretted over it and tried to force myself to stay with writing every other day. Especially since it had worked well when I started. But by stepping back and allowing myself to change my work flow, I got back on track quickly. I don't think that would have happened if I hadn't swapped my writing days. Sometimes what works well, only works for a little while then we need to shake things up.

How has your writing been this month? Did you see the monthly question? Do you have a writing schedule that you stick to no matter what or do you have to swap it around every once in a while to stay productive?

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 hello to the co-hosts: Gwen Gardner, Doreen McGettigan, Tyrean Martinson, Chemist Ken, and Cathrina Constantiner!

This month's question is: ​If you could pick one place in the world to sit and write your next story, where would it be and why?

I really just like to sit and home and write because I'm usually alone and no one can disturb me.

I'm not feeling insecure at the moment in regards to my writing. August was a great month (if I don't look at my sales dashboard. Heh.) It's left me feeling pretty confident, so I'm going to enjoy the feeling until it passes. After all, it's not often we writers feel this way. If you're having a lapse in insecurity, my advice would be to enjoy it with me!

​This is a short and sweet post, but before I go, I'd like to give a shout out to an upcoming event I do every Halloween: Trick or Treat Reads.

It's an annual event where authors give their books out for free like candy. Readers go from blog to blog and collect their treats. Last year, participation was lacking, so I'm hoping by mentioning it here, I can get more interest. Full details are over on my Patricia Lynne website. If you have a free book and want to sign up, use the form below.

How are your insecurities this month? Leaving you alone or sitting on your shoulder like an annoying pest? What's your answer to the monthly question? Can to join me for Trick-or-Treat Reads?

PS: It's my brother's birthday today. He would have been 44 today. Happy birthday, Big Bro. I miss you. <3