My December IWSG post and writing stresses and delights

 

This year flew at a supersonic speed, making everything a gigantic blur. This year I wrote so many picture books that I surprised myself. I also rewrote a middle grade novel, revised a love story and edited a few chapter books. I exercised like a maniac. I also made some wonderful publishing connections, had some amazing feedback from agents. But my reading suffered a lot. I guess I am no superwoman who can do everything!

With the end of 2021 comes the last IWSG of the year. IWSG was started by the amazing Alex J Cavanaugh. Alex is the author of Amazon Bestsellers: CassaStar, CassaStorm, CassaFire and Dragon of the Stars. Do visit the IWSG website for more information on this wonderful group and some writing related posts.

December 1 question – In your writing, what stresses you the most? What delights you?

The awesome co-hosts for December 1 posting of the IWSG are PJ Colando, Diane Burton, Louise-Fundy Blue, Natalie Aguirre and Jacqui Murray!

What stresses me about my writing is when I get stuck with a difficult scene or in a sticky plot hole. I also get stressed wondering whether the readers will like what I have written. Before the readers I start worrying whether the editor I have submitted to, will like what I have written. I’m delighted when the story shapes up beautifully and make an emotional connection with the readers and when the readers gush over my book/s.

What are your writing stresses and delights?

 

 

My November IWSG post and writing blurbs

 

Last month I wrote a couple of picture books, researched for a non-fiction book and wrote a few chapters of a creative non-fiction book. I also caught up with my reading and followed up with a few editors who had my submissions.

Sadly, I had to yet again postpone my participation for NaNoWriMo as November also has our main festival Diwali, its tomorrow - 4^th November. The days preceding Diwali are hectic, shopping, pujas, cleaning the house, distributing sweets, making rangolis, visiting friends and relatives, the innumerable phone calls, the list is endless. This continues for a few days after Diwali too.

IWSG (Insecure Writers Support Group) is an online group of writers posting on the first Wednesday of the month.

IWSG was started by Alex J Cavanaugh. Alex is the author of Amazon Bestsellers: CassaStar, CassaStorm, CassaFire and Dragon of the Stars, and many more on the way. Do visit the IWSG website for more information on this wonderful group and some writing related posts. Don’t forget to visit Amazing Alex’s blog and to read the other IWSG posts here.

November 3 question – What’s harder to do, coming up with your book title or writing the blurb?

The awesome co-hosts for the November 3 posting of the IWSG are Kim Lajevardi, Victoria Marie Lees, Joylene Nowell Butler, Erika Beebe and Lee Lowery!

Writing the blurb. Titles come to me very easily, its as though someone dropped them into my head. Writing the blurb makes me tear my hair out in frustration, I have to do several versions and revise and tweak so often that I go mad. Even then, I’m never happy with the blurbs I have written. I feel my blurbs just don’t do justice to my story.

What about you all?

 

 

My October IWSG Post and taboo topics

 

2021 is drawing to a close. Just 3 months more before we wish it goodbye. It has been a sad year with the Covid19 second wave wrecking havoc. To distract myself from all that was happening around me, I wrote and wrote and wrote. I also slowed down the pace of my life, spending time watching the clouds, sunset, talking to friends and cousins on the phone, played card games and bingo with family (as with the pandemic protocol we were in an enforced lockdown for several months.

And before I realized September merged in October and it was time for another IWSG post. IWSG (Insecure Writers Support Group) is an online group of writers posting on the first Wednesday of the month.

IWSG was started by Alex J Cavanaugh. Alex is the author of Amazon Bestsellers: CassaStar, CassaStorm, CassaFire and Dragon of the Stars, and several more on the way. Do visit the IWSG website for more information on this wonderful group and some writing related posts. Don’t forget to visit Amazing Alex’s blog.

October 6 question - In your writing, where do you draw the line, with either topics or language?

The awesome co-hosts for the October 6 posting of the IWSG are Jemima Pitt, J Lenni Dorner, Cathrina Constantine, Ronel Janse van Vuuren, Mary Aalgaard.

As I write middle grade, I pay special attention to language, no swear words, no four-letter words. There are certain topics I keep away from: molestation, rape, sex and murder. I ensure there is no kissing scene (I even deleted a kissing scene from one of my middle grade novels, though two adults were kissing, but they were being watched by my main character. Didn’t want the parents to create a ruckus over it.

But for the adult novel I’ve written, I had no qualms about adding them!

What about you all? Where do you all draw the line with the topics and language.

 

 

 

 

 

September IWSG Post and my definition of success as a writer

 

2021 is going by too rapidly. I badly want to grab it and ask it to slow down. But I guess that is the tendency of time, it flies by, taking along with it, weeks, months and years. All too soon September has arrived at our doorstep and brought with it another IWSG (Insecure Writers Support Group) post. IWSG is an online group of writers posting on the first Wednesday of the month.

Started by Alex J Cavanaugh, IWSG is now a force to reckon with, as is Alex, the author of Amazon Bestsellers: CassaStar, CassaStorm, CassaFire and Dragon of the Stars, with many others on the way. Do visit the IWSG website for more information on this amazing group and some writing related posts and also Alex’s blog.

September 1 question - How do you define success as a writer? Is it holding your book in your hand? Having a short story published? Making a certain amount of income from your writing?

The awesome co-hosts for the September 1 posting of the IWSG are Rebecca Douglass, T. Powell Coltrin, Natalie Aguirre, Karen Lynn and  C. Lee McKenzie.

I would define it as all three and add few more. Success as a writer would be having large first print runs (as publishers are certain that the book/s will sell fast and well). Success is getting fat advances (the reason being the same as before). Success is getting amazing book launches (publishers willing to spend money as they are sure of the returns). Success would also be getting amazing displays in bookstores, attending lit fests, doing regular book signing events and getting fabulous reviews from all the readers. (One can dream big right?).

I’m eager to read all your definitions of success as a writer.

 

 

 

August IWSG Post and my Favourite Writing Craft Book

 

My plan for August is to read lots. With back to back deadlines from last year, I missed reading. I’ve loads of books all around me, and I plan to devour that pile like a book monster.

With July being my birthday month, I had several birthday celebrations with family and friends. It was really nice to go out, with masks, sanitizers and maintaining social distancing.

I’ve posted many pictures on my Instagram handle.

rachna.chhabria

7 months of 2021 gone by, it’s time for another IWSG (Insecure Writers Support Group) post. IWSG is an online group of writers posting on the first Wednesday of the month.

IWSG was started by Alex J Cavanaugh. Alex is the author of Amazon Bestsellers: CassaStar, CassaStorm, CassaFire and Dragon of the Stars, with several more on the way. Do visit the IWSG website for more information on this amazing group and some writing related posts.

 The awesome co-hosts for the August 4 posting of the IWSG are PK Hrezo, Cathrina Constantine, PJ Colando, Kim Lajevardi, and Sandra Cox!

August 4 question - What is your favorite writing craft book? Think of a book that every time you read it you learn something or you are inspired to write or try the new technique. And why?

I have a confession to make. I bought the book ‘Writing The Breakout Novel Workbook’ by Donald Maass ages back, but I am yet to read it properly. This August I’ll be going through the book and making notes.

What are your August plans?

July IWSG Post, My First Video Interview and Switching to follow.it

   

6 months of 2021 have flown by. From July 5^th my city has opened up. Fingers crossed that the cases which have drastically decreased, will remain low. Though hearing about the crowds and seeing few pictures in the newspaper, I’m quite apprehensive.

With the arrival of the first Wednesday of the month, its time for IWSG (Insecure Writers Support Group) post. IWSG is an online group of writers started by Ninja Captain Alex J Cavanaugh. Alex is the author of Amazon Bestsellers: CassaStar, CassaStorm, CassaFire and Dragon of the Stars, with several more on the way. Do visit the IWSG website for more information on this amazing group and some writing related posts.

 July 7 question – What would make you quit writing?

The awesome co-hosts for the July 7 posting of IWSG are Pat Garcia, Victoria Marie Lees, Chemist Ken and Louise Fundy Blue.

To be honest, I’ve never given this thought. Writing is my way of expressing my feelings. If I stopped writing, I would probably burst. I just can’t imagine not writing. Even if I stopped sending my books to publishers, I would still be writing. 

I also want to share with you all my first video interview that went live last month. It was for a book library and a book club called ‘House of Books and Tales.’

After dilly-dallying for a few months, I finally shot the videos in February, answering each question separately. But then the long lockdown happened. Finally, the video was posted on 18^th June.

Here is the YouTube link.

 Please do let me know what you think of my interview, if possible do leave a comment on YouTube.

 I also made the switch from Feedburner (which will stop email services sometime in July) to follow.it, which is a Feedburner Alternative.

The follow.it team was super helpful and efficient. They helped a techno dinosaur like me to navigate the shift so well. Really grateful to them. I was shocked to see so many bots following me. Now it’s all cleared up, thanks to the follow.it team. I have added the follow.it widget on the top right of my blog, for those who want to subscribe to my posts.

I read a bit about follow.it. They have created retention tools that make visitors to our site/blogs come back for more visits. That’s such a good thing. Most visitors don’t bother returning.

They have not just added subscription tools for us bloggers, but also for our subscribers which is actually a good thing. The subscribers are spoilt for choice.

For those sitting on the fence, you can read all about follow.it here. I’m sure it will answer all your questions. I'll be reading more about their free pop-ups services for follow.it users during the weekend. 

Have a nice July everyone.

 

 

June IWSG Post and Re-drafting my Books

 

From 27^th April night, we have been in a lockdown, which has now been extended till 7th June. This lockdown is longer than the one we had last year, when Covid19 was declared a pandemic. We are still in the second wave and the doctors are talking of a third wave that will happen in October-November. I’m counting out this year too. I very much doubt that normalcy will return anytime soon. I was just telling a friend that I may become a senior citizen by the time Covid fizzles out.

This time round with the spate of bad news coming at me from all directions, my writing has gone for a toss. My attention span has been reduced to just editing my previous stories. No energy to work on something new.

As IWSG rolled into view, I realized that we are five months into 2021. IWSG (Insecure Writers Support Group) is an online group of writers with members from all over the world. IWSG members post on the first Wednesday of the month, building their posts on the question of the month, some members post about other aspects of their writing. Do visit the IWSG website, you will thank me for the wonderful and informative articles on writing that you will see there.

IWSG was started by Ninja Captain Alex J Cavanaugh author of Amazon Bestsellers: CassaStar, CassaStorm, CassaFire and Dragon of the Stars, with many, many more on the way. IWSG is the wonderful place all because of Mr Nice, Mr Generous and Mr Helpful, aka Alex. Ever ready to help other writers find their place in the sun.

My awesome co-hosts for the June 2 posting of the IWSG are J Lenni Dorner, Sarah Foster, Natalie Aguirre and Lee Lowery.

June 2 question - For how long do you shelve your first draft, before reading it and re-drafting? Is this dependent on your writing experience and the number of stories/books under your belt?

For my fantasy novels I usually shelve the first draft for several days (atleast a week, many times more than that) before re-drafting, so that when I read it again, I view it with a fresh perspective and with a better insight. But for the last three books I worked on (all were commissioned by publishers and had a strict deadline), I had no time whatsoever to leave the first draft aside for a few days. Infact for one of the books, the second draft started the moment I completed the first draft. For the other two books, the gap was very much reduced due to time constraints.

What about you all? How long is your gap between drafts? Hope all of you have got vaccinated? I got both my shots.

 

My May IWSG Post and Readers’ Reaction to my Books

 

I don’t know about Covid in your countries at this point, but it seems to have caught India in its deadly grip. The cases are rising everywhere, so many people are falling prey to Covid. To break the transmission chain, we are in a 14 day lockdown. The second wave has been really devastating, all around me I’m hearing sad news. The spate of bad news has made me anxious and fearful. I’m unable to concentrate on anything. I just pray to God to get us out of this and keep everyone safe.

And before I realized it, April slipped into May. It’s time for another IWSG (Insecure Writers Support Group) post. IWSG is an online group of writers posting on the first Wednesday of the month. Our posts are mostly writing related. Do visit the IWSG website for some amazing writing and publishing resources and tips.

IWSG is the brainchild of Ninja Captain Alex J Cavanaugh, author of Amazon Bestsellers: CassaStar, CassaStorm, CassaFire and Dragon of the Stars, with several more on the way.

May 5 question - Has any of your readers ever responded to your writing in a way that you didn't expect? If so, did it surprise you?

Yes, I’ve often been surprised by readers’ reaction to my books. Many readers told me that they cried after reading my feature on Father's Day in the newspaper. The feature was a dedication to my father. One middle aged lady after reading my book ‘The Lion Who Wanted To Sing’ told me that she was so motivated by the lion and his passion for singing, that in her forties she started pursuing her dreams, saying that if the lion could do it, so could she. A school principal mentioned my book in her graduation speech to motivate the tenth graders to reach out for their dreams. Both these incidents surprised me. I had no plans of writing an inspirational book, but my singing lion ended up inspiring people. Many people, especially children have told me during school visits, that my book ‘Festival Stories Through The Year’ has inspired them to celebrate festivals in a different way, the way the characters in my books celebrate.

I’m eager to read about what reaction from your readers has surprised you all?

P.S. Please pray for us. We need all your prayers to see us safely out of the pandemic that is now a raging like a tsunami.

April IWSG Post and my Risk-Taking Habit in Writing

 

I think it’s raining picture books for me. After I met my deadline of 31st March, I happily emailed my manuscript to my editor telling him I am sending it a day early. I had decided that I would take a week to ten-day break to catch up with my reading.

On day one of my break, I had few commissioned picture book offers heading my way from two editors. That was the end of my break. But I am not complaining. For a long time, I have been thinking of focussing on picture books. I have been writing very long books and I desperately needed a change. Hope all of you have loads of good news to share, because I am starved of good news, all I am hearing is Covid 19 news.

It’s time for another IWSG post. IWSG (Insecure Writers Support Group), an online group of writers posting on the first wednesday of the month. Our posts are usually writing related. IWSG members are each others’cheerleaders. Its great to belong to a community of writers who understand us and our problems and support us when our books are published. If you haven’t yet joined IWSG, do go through the IWSG website and click on the join button. I promise you, you won’t regret it.

IWSG is the brainchild of Ninja Captain Alex J Cavanaugh, author of Amazon Bestsellers: CassaStar, CassaStorm, CassaFire and Dragon of the Stars, with many more on the way.

 April 7 question - Are you a risk-taker when writing? Do you try something radically different in style/POV/etc. or add controversial topics to your work?

I’m a big risk-taker when it comes to my writing. I try all kinds of things, from the style (trying new styles, mixing two styles to create something new), to making the anti-hero the main character, to even making non-animated objects as the character of my picture books, to playing with the time, by following a non-linear time frame. I play with the plot and settings, make some elements so quirky, that my editor messages me in alarm.  

What about you all? Do you like taking risks or playing safe?

 

 

March IWSG Post and my Reading Preference

 

Time is really flying fast. I clearly remember the first day of 2021 and now we are 2 months down. After a lull, Covid-19 is once again rearing its ugly head and spreading its tentacles in India, though the vaccination of health workers and doctors has started.

I’ve been writing a lot, working on a non-fiction book, with a looming deadline. I’ve written 3 picture books in verse in the last 2 months, for a non-poet like me it’s a big achievement.

I was looking forward to the March IWSG, as I wanted to catch up with everyone. IWSG (Insecure Writers Support Group) is an online group posting on the first Wednesday of the month. Our IWSG posts revolve around writing, most of us build our posts on the IWSG question of the month. Do visit the IWSG website for helpful articles, featuring industry professionals.

IWSG is the brainchild of Ninja Captain Alex J Cavanaugh, author of Amazon Bestsellers: CassaStar, CassaStorm, CassaFire and Dragon of the Stars, with many more on the way.

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?

The awesome co-hosts for the March 3 posting of the IWSG are Sarah - The Faux Fountain Pen, Jacqui Murray, Chemist Ken, Victoria Marie Lees,  Natalie Aquirre, JQ Rose! 

I love reading across genres and age groups. Fantasy, sci-fi, dystopian, thrillers, children’s books, motivational books, adult novels, non-fiction, middle-grade, chapter books and picture books, I devour them all. I pick books according to my mood and also books by authors I love reading and word of mouth recommendations. I’m also adventurous in my reading choice, I try reading different genres all the time.

February IWSG post and my Blog Buddies

 

2021 is moving at a brisk pace. We are already one month down. I’m quite positive that this year will be way better than 2020. 2020 was one unforgettable year that I want to wipe away from my life.

With a new month its time for our IWSG (Insecure Writers Support Group) post. IWSG is an online group of writers and the first Wednesday of the month sees our IWSG blog post, where most of us smartly build our posts around the IWSG question of the month. Do visit the IWSG website to see all the amazing activities of the group.

Lucky for us Alex J Cavanaugh got the idea to start IWSG. He is the successful author of several amazon bestsellers: CassaStar, CassaStorm, CassaFire and Dragon of the Stars, with more bestsellers on the way.

I did something very different in January. I recorded my first ever video interview. I was nervous, it was something new, but as I had been postponing it for a long time, I decided to be bold and go for it. And I must tell you it was fun once I got over my initial reluctance. Will share the link after its posted on the House of Books and Tales website and YouTube.

February 3 question - Blogging is often more than just sharing stories. It’s often the start of special friendships and relationships. Have you made any friends through the blogosphere?

I completely agree. Blogging was a start of wonderful and enduring friendships for me. I started blogging in March 2010 and I must say I have made many awesome friends along the way, every year. I even found my critique partner Mark Noce via my blog.

If I hadn’t started blogging I would never have met such talented authors and come to know about their books. All these wonderful humans: Alex Cavanaugh, Elizabeth Mueller, Elizabeth Varadan, Madeline Mora Summonte, Jennifer Hawes, Natalie Aguirre, Michael Di Gesu, Michelle Wallace, Tara Robinson, Diane Wolfe, Carole Ann Carr, Lynda Young, Carol Riggs, Lee McKenzie, Gwen Gardener, Nick Wilford, Mary Pax, Mark Koopman, Stephen Tremp, Alexia Chamberlynn, Arlee Bird, Chrys Fey, Tyrean Martinson, David Powers King, Al Diaz, and Rahul Bhatia, are there in my life, courtesy my blog.

P.S. I may have forgotten some names. My apologies to those blog buddies.

My January IWSG Post and my turn offs in other people’s books

 

Happy New Year Everyone!

2021 has me excited. I hope and pray we have left the worst of Covid behind us. And with the vaccination starting in some parts of the world, things are definitely looking brighter.

I’m excited to see what 2021 has in store for all of us.

Its time for the first IWSG (Insecure Writers Support Group) post of 2021. IWSG is an online group of writers posting on the first Wednesday of every month and more often than not, our posts are writing related, though many of us have taken the answering the IWSG question route, building our posts around the monthly IWSG question. January 20, will also see the IWSG Twitter pitch contest (#IWSGPit). So, peeps get the pitches ready. Make them sparkle. Do visit the IWSG website for more details about the Twitter Contest.

IWSG was created by Ninja Captain Alex J Cavanaugh. He is the successful author of several amazon bestsellers: CassaStar, CassaStorm, CassaFire and Dragon of the Stars, with more bestsellers on the way (I’m sure they are lurking around inside his mind, waiting to emerge.)

The awesome co-hosts for the January 6 posting of the IWSG are Ronel Janse van Vuuren, J Lenni Dorner, Gwen Gardener, Sandra Cox and Louise - Fundy Blue!

January 6 question - Being a writer, when you're reading someone else's work, what stops you from finishing a book/throws you out of the story/frustrates you the most about other people's books?

I really get bugged if a writer has not done justice to the plot, or if there are glaring holes through which I can see the gaping errors in the story. I also dislike inconsistency in both writing (sentence structure and grammar) and the story. As a book reviewer for 2 newspapers, I have had the misfortune of reading several books where I felt that the writers didn’t do justice to the story, or the genre or the characters (made them one-dimensional). And sadly, I had to point it out in my reviews, and I ended up making a few enemies in the process. But my conscience wouldn’t let me lie.

I just hope someone else doesn’t find the same flaws and faults in my story.

What about you all? What frustrates you about other people’s books?