IWSG Blog Hop: What Do You Read? 99 Cents eBook Sale #IWSGbloghop

 

Hello and Welcome to the Focused on Story Blog 
AND the Insecure Writers Support Group Blog Hop

Always on the first Wednesday of the month.

#IWSGbloghop

Happy IWSG Blog Hop Day!!

and an early Happy Saint Patrick's Day!

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What is the Insecure Writer's Support Group?

Founded by author Alex J. Cavanaugh, the Insecure Writer’s Support Group offers support for writers and authors alike. It provides an online database, articles and tips, a monthly blog posting, a Facebook and Instagram group, Twitter, and a monthly newsletter. To find out more, click this link:  Insecure Writer’s Support Group

The purpose of the group is 

* 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! 

You're invited to become a member of this supportive group. Click here to sign-up to join.

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Aye, 'tis a lucky day for me indeed because it's my turn to be a cohost, sharing duties with a bunch of lively leprechauns.--- Sarah - The Faux Fountain Pen, Jacqui Murray, Chemist Ken, Victoria Marie Lees, Natalie Aguirre.

You may not find a pot of gold at the end of your blog hop stops, but I bet you'll find some golden nuggets of information, inspiration and encouragement that are more valuable than gold.

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Question of the Month

March 3 question - Everyone has a favorite genre or genres to write.

 But what about your reading preferences? 

Do you read widely or only within the genre(s) you create stories for?

What motivates your reading choice?

As I romped through the wide-open cyberspace filled with books, I discovered I have my go-to genres- romantic suspense, cozy mystery, YA, time travel, historic fiction, and Westerns (written by Sandra Cox). My non-fiction choices are mainly books dealing with the craft of writing, marketing, publishing and memoir. ( I like memoirs written like fiction.) I have tried many other genres to support fellow authors in the BWL Publishing Stable and here at IWSG.I found delightful reads that widened my reading horizons. Frankly, there were some genres I sampled, but could not finish. I'm sure you have the same experience when it comes to trying something new. 

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WRITING UPDATES

1. You may remember last fall, I was revising and adding new material to my Girls Succeed: Stories Behind the Careers of Successful Women interactive eBook. I had to put that plan on hold when my publisher decided to put my memoir, Arranging a Dream on pre-order in November. 

I picked up where I left off. I contacted the 15 role models to let me know what they were up to nowadays. Afterall, it had been 10 years since their interviews. What fun to reconnect with these amazing women. And yes, they have moved on. 

I updated each interview and added another interview. I was privileged to interview add another amazing role-model for girls, an attorney. (Girls requested a chapter about the career of an attorney.) 

With so many changes, the book needs to be released with a different title and cover. In a nutshell, the book profiles successful women who made their childhood dream careers come true. Their stories will inspire MG girls to dream big and work toward making that dream come true.

So--if you have an idea for a clever title that would catch a reader's attention, please let me know.

Here are a few ideas: 

• Girls' Dreams Come True: Stories Behind the Careers of Successful Women
• Dream Careers Can Become Reality
• Dream Careers Can Come True.   

I plan to release the book in March during Women's History Month.

Naturally go together-Your Words, Your Life Story and My Life Writing Journal

2. As you may know, I am a life storytelling evangelist! To further my mission for encouraging people to write their stories, I made the needed changes to My Life Writing Journal to make it a useful tool. The writer can choose from a long list of topics to spark their memories, then jot down notes, thoughts, or a complete essay in the journal about the topic such as Travel, Hobbies, Homes, etc.

I also updated the eBook that accompanies the journal, Your Words, Your Life Story:  A Guide for Sharing Memories. 

If you have thought about sharing stories from your life, click here to download the eBook format of this guide at your favorite digital bookseller. On sale now for 99 cents.

Click here to order your life story writing journal at amazon.com. Promotional price $5.82.

Thank you!

Click here to visit more bloggers. I hope to see you on the hop!

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The Rose Courier March 2021 Edition

Stay in touch with updates from JQ--packed with articles, freebies, and photos!
Click here to sign-up for delivery once a month.

3 Reasons to Create a Facebook Group #Authortoolbox Blog Hop

#AuthorToolboxBlogHop

Hello and welcome to the Focused on Story Blog and to the Author Toolbox Blog Hop #AuthorToolboxBlogHop which meets every third Wednesday of the month to share resources and tips for authors. Thanks to Raimey Gallant for hosting this venture. 

Please join us to learn more about the craft of writing and to meet bloggers who are dedicated to helping each other become the best writers possible. Click here to visit other blog hop participants.

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Why Create a Facebook Group? by J.Q. Rose

Do you have an author page on Facebook? Have you considered creating a Facebook Group Page? I opened my group in January, Telling Your Life Story and Memoirs Circle, and I'm enjoying interacting with folks who are interested in telling their life stories. Every author will have a different goal for their group.  I listed below 3 reasons why I created my group.

Why Create a Facebook Group?

3 Reasons to Create a Facebook Group:

1. Mentoring--My book,Your Words, Your Life Story: A Journal for Sharing Memories, is based on my workshops on life storytelling. The best part of the class was always the time when the participants volunteered to share a life story with us. I was amazed at the gamut of topics folks wrote about and how well they presented such emotional and funny pieces to the members; the participants also appreciated the stories which sparked memories from their lives too. Lively conversations followed the readings.  

Writing memories in the journal offers no way to share the stories with a group. So to give that supportive, interactive piece of the class, I created a Facebook group where it is possible to inspire, motivate, teach, spark memories and a place to post their writings, video or audio recording.

The closed group assures privacy and safety for those who wish to contribute. You do not have to buy my book to join the group.

2.  Author Platform--A group based on your fiction or non-fiction book is perfect for your fans. If your book is about gardening or historical romance, your group may be based on gardening or the era that is the backdrop of your story. Members get perks like unveiling the book cover, being the first to read excerpts, deciding or suggesting a character's name, offering opinions through polls, helping you with research.  Use social media to allow people to get to know, like and trust you, the author. You bet they will share about the book and about you. The members will become a "street team" who are happy to shout about you and your book.

3.  Marketing--If you haven't already realized it, being an author means you are operating a business. You are an entrepreneur with a product to sell. You wrote the book and you want folks to have the experience of reading it for entertainment, information, awareness and so many other reasons. If not, why bother to write it? 

Caution: Avoid saying "buy my book, buy my book, buy my book" every day!

Are you a member of a Facebook group? Why? 
If you have created a group, please tell us about it and why you decided to create a FB group. Please share the link below in the comments.

Thank you for visiting.  Click here to visit other blog hop participants.

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I am a life storytelling evangelist. 

I want everyone to tell his/her story. 

Your life is important. 

Join the Facebook group and/or pick up the Journal or eBook to learn how to begin.

Your Words, Your Life Story: A Journal for Sharing Memories
by J.Q. Rose

↪Click here to join the Telling Your Life Story and Memoirs Circle Facebook group. 

↪Click here to order the paperback, Your Words, Your Life Story so you can begin telling YOUR life story. This book is a great gift for Father's Day!

Watch the Youtube video from self-publishing expert Dale Roberts in his interview with Facebook guru, Scott Jay Marshal II, about creating and growing a Facebook Group.

VIDEO: Grow Your Facebook Group

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Photo courtesy of Canva.com

Have a fantastic Father's Day!

From JQ Rose

IWSG Blog Hop: What Inspired Me to Write a Story, #World Read Aloud Day

IWSG Blog Hop---the first Wednesday of every month.

Hello and welcome to the Insecure Writer's Support Group Blog Hop! 

Always on the first Wednesday of the month.

What is the Insecure Writer's Support Group?

Founded by author Alex J. Cavanaugh, the Insecure Writer’s Support Group offers support for writers and authors alike. It provides an online database, articles and tips, a monthly blog posting, a Facebook and Instagram group, Twitter, and a monthly newsletter. To find out more, click this link:  Insecure Writer’s Support Group

The purpose of the group is 

* 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! 

You're invited to become a member of this supportive group. Click here to sign-up to join.

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Happy IWSG Day!

Add caption

Question for February 5

February Question 

February 5 question - 

Has a single photo or work of art ever inspired a story? 

What was it and did you finish it?

Dangerous Sanctuary by J.Q. Rose
Romantic suspense

I'm sorry to say I have not been inspired by a photo or artwork to write a story. However, story ideas come from the stories in the news. I wrote an entire romantic suspense novel based on a newspaper article about a motorcoach exploding at a campground. Everyone got out alright with no injuries, including their service animals--a pig, a kangaroo, and a goat. Yes! That's a true story. Of course, my version in the novel, Dangerous Sanctuary, is not true. But so fun to write!

CELEBRATE WORLD READ ALOUD DAY 

ON FEBRUARY 5!

2 Boys Reading to Each Other

Image by Виктория Бородинова from Pixabay 

The World Read Aloud Celebration is a new one for me. However, LitWorld and Scholastic have promoted this special day for 11 years. Now, according to the Scholastic site, 173 countries celebrate the occasion! 

Join in. Here are the rules! 

1.Select a book 

2. Find a buddy 

3. Read aloud 

4. Share your favorite read-aloud moments on social media with #WorldReadAloudDay and be sure to tag @Scholastic, @LitWorldSays and 3 friends so they can join, too!

Click here to go to the Scholastic site.

I know when I read to my kids, my grandkids, my third-grade students, I felt all warm and fuzzy inside to share a quiet, special time with them. No matter what your age, reading a story or hearing a story read aloud is appreciated. 

I'll be presenting a workshop in Telling Life Stories this week, and I plan to read a few stories to the participants. Every time I've done this, they always listen intently and enjoy the time. It works both ways. I love hearing them share their life stories with the class.

Author and teacher Jacqui Murray is the one who brought attention to this day on her blog, Word Dreams. Click here to link to her informative post about why writers should celebrate the day and the importance of reading aloud.

GOOD NEWS! 99 Cent eBook February 4-February 7

Your Words, Your Life Story: A Guide to Sharing Memories

The content in this eBook is what I use to present Life Storytelling workshops. 

Easy to read and understand for those who want to learn how 
to share their life stories with family, friends and the world! 
Get your eBook copy now for 99 cents!

Click here to download the digital copy from your favorite online bookseller.
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GET THE NEWS: the Valentine Edition of the Rose Courier was delivered this morning. (If you're not signed up for the Courier, then let me know and I'll send you this edition.)
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