Red Series

Wednesday 4 January 2017

IWSG: January Co-Host and Monthly Question

Update January 5th: Sorry I won't be posting again until Monday. But I'll still be visiting blogs.


Please Note: 1. The winners of the annual IWSG Anthology Contest will be announced today.
2. My Thank You Giveaway ends on Friday January 6th. Click here to enter.

Happy New Year to all and welcome to 2017! IWSG has arrived and I'm happy to say that this month Alex Cavanaugh is the main host like always. This month I'm one of the co-hosts (Sheena-kay Graham). The rest of  January's co-hosting team includes Crystal Collier, Eva, Chemist Ken, LG Keltner and Heather Graham. Has to be a fine month when you get two Grahams at once.

Right now I'm not feeling any new insecurities so I'll stick with this month's IWSG question.

January IWSG Question: What writing rule do you wish you'd never heard of?

None. You read right. There's no writing rule that I regret hearing about or never wished to have come across. Why? Because as a child I had zero family support for taking on writing or anything art related as a career. If I got encouragement or better yet advice from others, I was grateful. I had to go a lot of this writing journey alone or with limited support before this very blog threw me into a world of love from writers and readers the world over. Sure I found some online support but none like what I've had since starting this blog. Everything I was able to glean or unearth has led me to this blessing. So why would I want to try and un-wish anything that I've learned? There's no turning back for me. I won't lie and say I've never had a regret or anything of the sort. But I know everything that has happened has led me to where I am now. A full time writer. Who cares if any rule, advice or person gave out something that didn't turn out peachy? I'm here and ready to roar. That's all that matters.

So I'll enjoy life and be there for others whether in support of writing or otherwise. Family is more than blood and this writing path has brought in some wonderful people into my life. I made the right choice and that's all that matters. I will be there for you when you need me. Just call. See you on Friday and God Bless.

71 comments:

  1. What a heartwarming post, Sheena-kay! I, too, have found wonderful support through my blogging from IWSG members and other kind and encouraging people around the world. Wishing you continued fulfillment in your writing journey, and thanks for co-hosting the IWSG this month!

    ReplyDelete
  2. I'm so glad you found the blog community and the online writers! It's super hard to try to launch yourself in a new career when you have no support. I'd never have done anything without the amazing support of the online writing community. Have a great 2017, Sheena-Kay!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thanks Lexa, the supportive writing community is amazing.

      Delete
  3. You have such a great attitude! Outside of my wife, no one else knew I was writing until I got online and found the support.
    Thanks for co-hosting today! The IWSG has kicked off with a bang for 2017.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. So glad I co-hosted. IWSG is indeed off to an awesome start for 2017. Thanks for coming Alex.

      Delete
  4. Thanks for co-hosting this month! "I'm here and ready to roar" - love this sentiment and I love this blog post. You've got a great perspective on things.

    Cheers - Ellen

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thanks Ellen. A positive perspective is very helpful.

      Delete
  5. Great Post Sheena-Kay! I also had loads to learn and I'm still learning.

    Happy New Year and thanks for co-hosting this month!!!!

    ReplyDelete
  6. Happy New Year and hip hip hurray.
    Love your sentence, Family is more than blood and this writing path has brought in some wonderful people into my life.
    Those are my feelings too.
    Thank you for co-hosting, and I wish you an awesome 2017.
    Shalom aleichem,
    Pat Garcia

    ReplyDelete
  7. Happy New Year! So glad you found the support you need and deserve from the writing community. And awesome that you are a full time writer. Me too.

    ReplyDelete
  8. You found strength in those rules and that knowledge. And now you've showed them all.

    Happy 2017!

    ReplyDelete
  9. Thanks for co-hosting, Sheena-kay!! Rules are there for guidelines so you can gain the confidence and experience to make your own. So proud of you for your success. I now how difficult it was before I found my wonderful critique group. We're here for you!

    ReplyDelete
  10. What an awesome attitude! You've found the balance of sorting through what works and what doesn't and making a success of your passion. Thanks for co-hosting and wishing you a blessed new year.

    ReplyDelete
  11. I agree! There's nothing that stands in our way of writing. Good attitude. Thanks for co-hosting this month.

    ReplyDelete
  12. When I started out on my journey I tried to recall what my English Profs had taught about writing, rules, etc. But that was so long ago that I dove in and started churning words (and some garbage, too.) I've been blessed with some patient and knowledgeable reader friends who've helped me out tremendously. So yeah, the rules are there and I do my best to adhere, but I'll wander when I do. Not everyone stays in the lines very well all the time. Thanks for co-hosting this month.

    ReplyDelete
  13. sadly family does not always acts as the support pillar. Mine was always more of a quake factor :)

    ReplyDelete
  14. I like your attitude about the writing rules and finding support where and when you needed it for your writing!

    Hapy New Year!

    betty

    ReplyDelete
  15. That's a great attitude! I didn't expect my family to get too excited about my writing, but they have been pretty good about it. My husband is my cheerleader and that's a bonus.

    ReplyDelete
  16. Great way to look at the posed question. Happy writing.

    ReplyDelete
  17. Totally agree, Sheena. Writing has made the world very smaller and much friendlier. Happy New Year. Thanks for co-hosting!

    ReplyDelete
  18. Awesome attitude! Love that pic too :)
    Thanks for hosting and have a great 2017!

    ReplyDelete
  19. I admire your attitude and hear your roar all the way over here (San Diego, CA). Thank you for co-hosting.

    ReplyDelete
  20. I'm glad you finally found the support you needed on your writing path! I agree, no lesson is a bad lesson!

    ReplyDelete
  21. Writing is hard work and I don't think any of us really find all the support we ever need in our immediate family. My mother has always been there for me but other than that I think the rest of my family think I'm just a crazy dreamer. Of course I do work in an herb shop as a day job. I guess I am just a crazy dreamer ! The point is, we're all crazy dreamers together and I'm so happy you've found your support group. The IWSG is a wonderful place and I'm honored to have been a part of it for so long!

    Thanks for co-hosting! Here's to a splendid NEW YEAR!
    Jen

    ReplyDelete
  22. I have to say that I have great support from my family, and I know I'm extremely lucky. I wish everyone had that because I see how not having that support affects so many writers.

    ReplyDelete
  23. Happy New Year!

    I don't regret hearing any writing rules either.

    ReplyDelete
  24. Thanks for co-hosting this month, Sheena, you ROCK! I will admit that I have trouble with active/passive voice, but I'm "actively" working on it. :)

    ReplyDelete
  25. When I started out writing, I had no one. I had to learn on my own. It was tough, but I am grateful for the things I did learn. With that said, several of those did cause me a lot of grief. I mention a couple of them in my post. :)

    ReplyDelete
  26. Not regretting hearing any rules makes complete sense to me. I think it's something like education and we should never regret any education.

    Arlee Bird
    Tossing It Out

    ReplyDelete
  27. Oh, how I love this! - "I'm here and ready to roar. That's all that matters." :)

    ReplyDelete
  28. Absolutely love your answer! So glad you're hear roaring with us.
    Enjoy co-hosting!

    ReplyDelete
  29. I don't share your love of rules, but I too appreciate a guide. Thank you for co-hosting, and Happy New Year!

    ReplyDelete
  30. I love your answer too! I don't like the rules but I am grateful for the learning. Happy 2017!

    ReplyDelete
  31. I love your answer. So glad you found your 'tribe' and they gave you what you needed.

    ReplyDelete
  32. Happy 2017 & thanks for co-hosting. Yeah, not having family support is a killer. I remembered how my mom freaked and practically staged an intervention because she thought I wanted to waste going to college to become a songwriter. All because I check off writing and music as subjects I was interested in on a college form/survey. Just recently heard from her, sounding all proud, that she saw my book online (likely FB). :-O

    ReplyDelete
  33. We all have to find our way in life--rules or no rules--so my rule is do my best and don't look back.

    ReplyDelete
  34. That is the right attitude! Just like you, I appreciate all the tips and support I can get and I am equally amazed at the friendships that have evolved throughout my blogging experiences! The IWSG is the most amazing and supportive group I have come across online!

    ReplyDelete
  35. Well put, and I wholeheartedly agree. *hands over a wedge of cheese* Here's to the epic blogging community and the lessons we've all learned along the way, eh? We rock.

    ReplyDelete
  36. Woot for finding strength! I love the attitude. Thanks for co-hosting. You pass along strength and encouragement well. <3

    ReplyDelete
  37. Good for you, Sheena-Kay! More power to you. All the best for a wonderful 2017, my dear. I love your picture of the child flying through the air. I recollect a few of my five children have done that.

    ReplyDelete
  38. Happy new year to you, Sheena! I don't hate any one rule. I just hate it when so-called experts think that you ALWAYS have to follow the rule, regardless of whether it makes the story better or not.

    ReplyDelete
  39. Great post, Sheena, very inspiring. Thanks for co-hosting this month.

    ReplyDelete
  40. What wonderful words, and a great take on things. I'm going to take this inspiration and head on out on to the writing front.

    ReplyDelete
  41. I'm thrilled you found support in this community - I have too! Thank God you followed your heart (and mind) to get here. Now there's no stopping you ;)

    ReplyDelete
  42. Glad you are continuing to follow your dreams! Happy New Year!

    ReplyDelete
  43. I never thought of it that way. Thanks for sharing that, Sheena. <3

    And thanks for co-hosting!

    ReplyDelete
  44. It's so sad you didn't have support. Husband has been awesome. I can't imagine taking this journey without him onboard. Anytime you need something, email me or find me on Twitter or FB. I'll do what I can to help you or find someone who can. Hugs ♥

    ReplyDelete
  45. You make a very good point. Trying out any rule does exercise our writing skills.

    ReplyDelete
  46. A few of you like the rules, not surprised. :) As I'm sure folks aren't surprised that I hate them. LOL
    Happy 2017!

    ReplyDelete
  47. Thanks for cohosting this month. I'm so glad you found this group. Although I have support from my family, they don't really "get" what writing is like. This group does. Best wishes for a great 2017.

    ReplyDelete
  48. This reader is grateful (very grateful) for all writers. You rock. (Something to remember next time insecurity beasts nag...)

    ReplyDelete
  49. Good to see you're able to stay positive. God bless you as well.

    ReplyDelete
  50. Great perspective, Sheena! Thanks for reminding me of the support I've gotten from family and friends.

    ReplyDelete
  51. I guess I was lucky. My family always supported me and my goals in writing and otherwise and I always had great teachers pushing and encouraging me to become better. Am I as good of a writer as I could be? Absolutely not. When you don't know what you have, I think you are more likely to take it for granted.

    Thanks for being an awesome co-host for IWSG. It's always fun linking up and learning that my struggles in writing aren't mine alone. :)

    ReplyDelete
  52. Writing is not as easy as people think it is. There's a delicate balance to it--too much of one element or too little of another makes it not good, but even though my family know I write, I'd rather they didn't read my work. My friends have read my stuff and though they're supportive, I don't tihnk they really get it because they're not writers.

    ReplyDelete
  53. I'm so glad you found such support among the writing community! It's really hard when people you care about don't see writing as a love or career opportunity. You're not alone. ((hugs)) Thank you for hosting this month!

    ReplyDelete
  54. Family is so much more than blood indeed. Great you found the support.

    ReplyDelete
  55. What a great look on life. Check out my blog if you have time. I'm gathering support for the launch of Forbidden - and offering a gift worth $200 for the bloggers and reviewers who post during my launch Feb 14-18. Thanks http://www.featherstoneauthor.wordpress.com Blessings

    ReplyDelete
  56. Happy to "meet" you through the IWSG. Thanks for being a co-host this month. I enjoyed your site and recent blogs. Keep up the good work! www.dianeweidenbenner.com

    ReplyDelete
  57. Lol, I love that picture at the end :) I feel about the same way you do. I gained a little encouragement from a couple of my teachers in school, but joining the blogging community has taught me so much more about writing. I would probably have given up on writing, besides my journaling, had it not been for the blogging community and IWSG.

    ReplyDelete
  58. So true, Sheena. Writing has brought so many wonderful people into my life.

    ReplyDelete
  59. That picture is awesome. I guess I agree with you about the writing rules--generally. When some people though (like some agents) try to "enforce" them to the extreme (as in laying down a certain number of adverbs that can be used on a page) I get a more than a little irritated.

    ReplyDelete
  60. Great post, Sheena-kay. I don't regret anything I've learned. It's best to learn it all and then decide what you can ignore or discard. Like you, I was on my own on this writing journey until I met the writing-blogging world! I hope you have the best year ever!

    ReplyDelete
  61. What a good point you make. I agree too; this blogging community has made all the difference.

    ReplyDelete
  62. I love to learn new rules and try to keep learning all the time. I love the blogging community and have learned so much from my blogger friends all around the world. :)
    ~Jess

    ReplyDelete
  63. Interesting.

    I didn't really answer this question for my blog, but if I did, it would be all the rules that aren't actually rules, but strong suggestion. There are a lot of things that is taught in English class that is just plain wrong, and I wish that more classrooms would teach actual English rules and not what they teach now.

    ReplyDelete
  64. That's awesome that you're able to write full-time--congrats! You're living the dream.

    I rarely answer the question of the month. There's too much other stuff going on.

    ReplyDelete
  65. Thanks for being an awesome co-host!

    I do understand some of the way you feel when it comes to support and family. I'm the odd one out in mine. None of them share my love of sci-fi or writing (we're not biologically related, which does explain why I'm different to them all). It's especially hard when in the past my parents have supported my brothers financially in their career ventures, but would never consider helping me. Having said of all that, I'm extremely fortunate to have found a family that gave me a home and stuck with me. So, I really can't complain.

    I agree about family being more than blood. The writing community is a wonderful and supportive thing.

    ReplyDelete

Waiting on Wednesday: Reconnected

Please Note: The final WOW on this blog as I take my final bow this month. I want to thank all readers of this post and all my blogging. I r...