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3 things I’d like to change about the publishing industry
Whenever authors gather, we will complain about the publishing industry. Guaranteed. Why? Let me count the ways (because most of us can count those ways a lot more easily than we can count the money we earn from publishing). In this case, I’ll only be counting to 3, which is good, because I haven’t had my caffeine yet. Read on for my list of 3 things I’d like to change about the publishing industry. Before I attempt advanced mathematics: This post is part of the Insecure Writers Support Group (IWSG) blog hop. On the first Wednesday of every month, we IWSG-ers share our doubts, fears, struggles, and triumphs. Our awesome…
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Where my story ideas come from
Where do you get your ideas? That’s a stock question almost every author gets asked at some point. For authors of crime fiction and horror, like me, it’s often asked with a tinge of, well, horror. I imagine the person’s thought bubble as either, “How does a nice girl like you think up so much murder and mayhem?” or “I’m going to back away slowly before she kills me and dissolves my body with quick lime.”1 Today I’m going to share where my story ideas come from. The short answer is, everywhere. For the longer answer, keep reading. But first: This post is part of the Insecure Writers Support Group…
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The most inspiring feedback I’ve ever received
As soon as you show your writing to someone else, you’re going to get feedback. Readers, critique partners, agents, editors, contest judges, hell, even your mom–all will have something to say about your creative darling (let’s hope at least your mom is kind). Some of that feedback will be encouraging, some will be daunting but constructive, and some will break your fragile little writer’s heart. Then there’s the special kind of feedback querying authors are all too familiar with: silence. As someone wiser than I once said, No answer is an answer–and it’s rarely the answer you want. But I’m not going to talk about the heartbreaking feedback or the…
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How my novel, Delta Dawn, got its name (#IWSG)
If you’ve been hanging out here in my little cobweb-infested corner of the interwebs for very long, you know that I’m currently revising a domestic suspense novel called Delta Dawn. Inspired by this month’s IWSG discussion question, I’m going to tell you how it came to be called Delta Dawn and infest your brain with a wonderful early 1970s earworm. But before we get to the brain infestation: This post is part of the Insecure Writers Support Group (IWSG) blog hop. On the first Wednesday of every month, we IWSG-ers share our doubts, fears, struggles, and triumphs. Our awesome co-hosts this month are Melissa Maygrove, Cathrina Constantine, Kate Larkinsdale, and Rebecca Douglass. Each month…
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Dispatch from the query trenches
Happy March! Welcome to this month’s IWSG post, a/k/a my latest dispatch from the query trenches. I continue to labor away, though my querying is winding down. I’ve queried all the agents on my query list that are open to queries. Fortunately, some agents I have my eye on have opened in the new year, so I’ve sent a few more queries out. Otherwise, I’m in waiting mode, which is so much fun.1 Before I whine say more about my querying experience: This post is part of the Insecure Writers Support Group (IWSG) blog hop. On the first Wednesday of every month, we IWSG-ers share our doubts, fears, struggles, and…
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What it’s like to reread my old work
This week on the IWSG blog hop, we’re talking about rereading old work. What’s it like to reread my old work? Before I dive into that: This post is part of the Insecure Writers Support Group (IWSG) blog hop. On the first Wednesday of every month, we IWSG-ers share our doubts, fears, struggles, and triumphs. Our awesome co-hosts this month are J Lenni Dorner, Victoria Marie Lees, and Sandra Cox. Stop by and leave them some comment love. Each month our fearless leader (Ninja Captain Alex J. Cavanaugh) gives us an optional question to answer. This month’s question is, Many writers have written about the experience of rereading their work years later. Have you…
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My 2025 highlight reel: writing, travel, and more
It’s time for my 2025 highlight reel post. I love writing annual highlight reel posts, because 1) I get reminded of things I forgot I did last year, and 2) I get to relive some good memories. 2025 was our first full year here in Clovis and in our new house, so there was lots of settling in, and since it’s me, lots of gardening. Also a little (very little) writing and some travel. Here we go: Writing highlights Academic writing The academic book I co-edited in 2024 was released early in 2025, so that was exciting. There’s nothing quite like holding a book in my hands with my name…
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My So-Called Writing Life: expectations vs. reality
I love books about the writing life. In fact, they are one of my favorite ways to procrastinate from living the writing life (by, you know, actually writing). I want to know every famous writer’s writing routine, favorite beverage while writing, where they wrote, what they wrote with, even the name of the human/animal/epic tragedy that inspired them to write. Writing is a vocation that inspires awe. We like to imagine that it involves some kind of magic (and really, I’m half convinced Stephen King’s works are actually written by a sentient Ouija Board, because he’s clearly channeling something). So let’s talk about the writing life, or at least my…
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My favorite thing I’ve written–and the terrifying real-life event that inspired it
Thanks to some work commitments, I’m very late with my October IWSG post, but better late than never. At least this month’s topic is an easy one: What is the most favorite thing you have written, published or not? And why? Before I get to my answer: his post is part of the Insecure Writers Support Group (IWSG) blog hop. On the first Wednesday of every month, we IWSG-ers share our doubts, fears, struggles, and triumphs. Our awesome co-hosts this month are Beth Camp, Crystal Collier, and Cathrina Constantine. Please stop by and leave them some comment love. Now, back to my favorite thing I’ve written. I like all my writing (eventually, after…
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The most unethical practice in publishing
What is the most unethical practice in publishing? There are plenty to choose from, from scammy, predatory publishers (not all publishers! just scammy, predatory ones) to the zillions of businesses popping up like dandelions to profit off authors without adding any value, to publishers that want to profit off authors and readers without adding much actual value–e.g., minimal editing, minimal marketing, no willingness to invest in an author’s career. (Again, I’m not talking about all publishers here.) But the most unethical practice in the publishing industry puts these to shame. But before I do the big reveal: This post is part of the Insecure Writers Support Group (IWSG) blog hop.…
Janet Alcorn
Suspense | Horror | Romance
