Today’s the day for the Insecure Writer’s Support Group (IWSG) where, on the first Wednesday of every month, writers get together to share their insecurities and offer encouragement. The IWSG was created by Alex J. Cavanaugh, and you can learn all about it and sign up for it here.
I really don’t have a lot of writing insecurities this month other than the usual trying to balance writing and marketing, so I’m going to go right to the Question of the Month.
The August 3rd IWSG question: What was your very first piece of writing as an aspiring writer? Where is it now? Collecting dust or has it been published?
I’m happy to say that my first piece of writing has been published! After many years of hobby-writing and revising and then a year of serious revising and editing, my first piece — my novel, Lady, Thy Name Is Trouble — was published on February 27, 2015.
For anyone slogging in the trenches of whatever stage of writing you’re at, be it drafting, revising, editing, querying, or looking into the self-pubbing process, I’m here to say, Don’t give up! Keep going, you’ll get there.
During all those years working on my story, I had many doubts that I’d ever see my book in print. It was a dream I chased without much hope of success, but with hard work, persistence, and determination, I brought that dream within reach. It is possible to make dreams come true. I have the book in my hand to prove it.
Keep chasing those dreams, and never, ever let them go.
© Lori L. MacLaughlin and Writing, Reading, and the Pursuit of Dreams, 2016. All rights reserved.
I loved that first piece of writing too and the second. Can’t wait for the third. Glad you kept at it,
Juneta @ Writer’s Gambit
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Thanks, Juneta!!
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That’s so wonderful that you’ve already seen publication as a writer! Your story sounds great!
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Thank you!
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So wonderful to hear success stories! Congrats! 🙂
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Thanks very much!
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Yay Lori!!!
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Thanks, Erika!
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It’s great to read about success stories. . .and I’m betting you have many more to come! Yay!
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Thanks, Tonja! I hope so. 🙂
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I agree with your advice and I’m following it right now. Thanks, Lori. 🙂
Anna from elements of emaginette
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That’s great, Anna!
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Awesome! Sometimes those first books are our first success.
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Thanks, Alex!
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Yay for Lady!!! 😉
We must never give up.
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Thank you, Chrys!
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That is awesome news, Lori. I’m thrilled for you. Not too many of us can say our first piece was worthy of publishing. Love your profile photo.
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Thanks so much, Joylene!
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Yay!! That’s fantastic!!
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Thank you, Julie!
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Great advice. Congratulations on your success. Never give up.
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Thank you!
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It is wonderful when your first piece of writing is a success story. I’m sure you have many more success stories in the future.
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Thank you, Olga!
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Congratulations Lori! I have your book! Haven’t read it yet but I am following you on Goodreads and your book is sitting in my iPad.
All the best.
Shalom aleichem,
Patricia
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Thank you so much, Patricia! I hope you enjoy it.
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Congrats on getting published! That’s such a huge accomplishment!
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Thank you!
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Congratulations on getting your novel published! Quite an accomplishment.
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Thanks, Kim!
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Lori,
I had no idea that was your first novel ever! What an inspiring story. Here’s wishing you many successes in the future.
Anne
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Thank you very much, Anne!
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It’s not easy, is it? I’m always impressed by writers who won’t let go of their goal to publish something they believe in. Congratulations for seeing this through.
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Thank you, Lee! It was a long time coming, but so worth it.
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Yay, another first book written that saw publication! I really think I’m seeing more posts where that is the case, and I find that refreshing (and reassuring).
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Thanks, Shannon!
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Congratulations! You are part of a special group of authors who have published their very first manuscripts.
I mean, how many authors get to do so? To my knowledge, not many… 🙂
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Thank you, Michelle!
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Ooh, that is inspirational. I feel like never giving up!
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That’s one of my favorite mantras, along with Nike’s “Just do it.”
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Great post! Truly inspiring 🙂
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Thank you, C.G.!
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Very inspiring Lori
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