#IWSG Just keep writing (and reading...if you can!) and #WIN an #Amazon #GiftCard

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Hi!

Every first Wednesday of a new month, a group of writers takes time blog about their fears and insecurities without fear of being judged or ridiculed.

In fact, we write about our innermost doubts to join our peers in shared worries and struggles, because we've found that we all suffer from the same concerns, weaknesses, and nerve-wracking experiences.

And we've also learned that many have overcome these same insecurities, so we can blog about our successes and triumphs, too. Many blog to share encouragement and advice, because writers are the most generous, helpful group of people you'll ever meet.

We all want to see each other succeed and don't want anyone to have to reinvent the wheel. If there's one thing writers all need more of, it's time, so when one person has spent countless hours learning something new, the writer will share it with everyone else to save them time!

Sound amazing? It is. And we have the generous Alex J. Cavanaugh to thank for all of this camaraderie.

Need more encouragement and writing buds? Find the IWSG on Twitter: @IWSG and #IWSG

Each Month we blog about our doubts or accomplishments OR we can write about an optional monthly questions. This month's question is:

February 1 Question: How has being a writer changed your experience as a reader?

I still feel like a newbie posting on these Wednesdays, but this month I'm co-hosting, so I look forward to meeting MANY more of you than I have in the past few months!  My response to this month's question is: Man, I've heard writers talk about this a lot. And I have to say, writing has changed my experience as a reader to some extent.

I've always had a harder time getting into novels.  I usually give a book until the fiftieth page to suck me in. In some ways, writing has made this WORSE. It's much harder for me to lose myself in a character and her world because I'm paying attention to the WRITING. I'll reread the first sentence multiple times, and then the first page. I'll consider the premise, the hook, the first pages, the characterization, the goal, obstacle, antagonist...basically I'm trying to reverse outline the dang beginning.  Talk about ruining a good thing! BUT if the book is good enough, I do eventually let go and enjoy the story. That being said, I am constantly aware of phrases I adore and want to save as quotes or strategies the author uses to develop her characters.  Before writing, I'm quite certain I read a book cover to cover and didn't think twice about any of those things.

Also. I think I'm more aware of authors. Before writing, I chose a book based on the cover and title and maybe the blurb and first few pages, but NOW I choose based on author, and genre, of course. I also read a variety of fiction now. Years ago I stuck mostly to adult mystery/thriller series, though I threw in the occasional literary fiction, romance novel, and historical novel...whatever Oprah had been recommending at the time. I didn't venture away from the same ol' same ol' much at all.

For the MOST part though, I'm still a reader, and I'm a writer, and I enjoy the two in different and distinct ways. Unfortunately, the writing takes up a lot of my reading time. I feel scolded when authors tell me how much I should be reading when I'm not, but honestly, during the school year, I have to choose. I either spend a couple of hours reading or I spend a couple of hours writing. And when I have a writing schedule and deadlines I'm holding myself to, well then, there isn't much of a choice. Which, I suppose, is why I devour three books in a week during spring break and the first week of summer. I just can't make it happen even though I KNOW it's important to read a lot to be a better writer. I know, okay?

(Adding this in now that the day is half over...I DO take my Kindle to bed with me every night and fall asleep after reading a page or two of fiction, but that just doesn't feel much like reading to me since it's not long enough to get into the book or enjoy it (even when it's an amazing story...I'm just TIRED). I also read for critique partners when I make time for it, especially when they have deadlines, so I DO read their fiction as well.)

How much time do you dedicate to reading and writing per week? How do you make time for both? I'd love to hear how you make it work. Share any advice you have in the comments. And I'll be by to visit you when I'm done teaching today!

But before you comment and take off...

Today I'm also being featured at the extraordinarily talented author Crystal Collier's blog talking about my pen name's new release. Visit her to discern two truths and a lie about yours truly. 

Last week YA Bound Book Tours hosted a blog tour for my new release and in honor of the tour and my book, I'm giving away a $25 Amazon Gift Card! And you're in luck because there are still 11 days to enter! 

ENTER TO WIN A $25 AMAZON GIFT CARD HERE! 

Good luck!

When you leave here, be sure to visit this month's co-hosts as well as all the other bloggers listed on the hop! 

The awesome co-hosts for the February 1 posting of the IWSG are Misha Gericke, LK Hill,Juneta Key, Christy (that's me!) and Joylene Buter!

And also welcome new IWSG Admin Heather Gardner today!

And... one more tiny thing! (Now that I've written it, it turned really long....Bear with me. It's such HAPPY news!)

I have one really wonderful writerly thing to share. I teach in a PK-8th grade school, and even though I chose a pen name to be all secretive, word got out that I released my first YA novel, and ever since I've been showered with happiness because of it. Parents and their daughters stop me in the car line (while I put their children in the cars at the end of the school day to send them home) to tell me they LOVED my book and that they got nothing accomplished over the weekend because they couldn't stop reading, or that their mom is reading it now because they enjoyed it so much, or that they wrapped it and gifted it to a friend. And THEN I walk down the hall and see middle schoolers reading my book, and when they see me they're so excited.

(Here's the really, really happy part, so if you skipped the rest READ THIS--->>>) BUT THE BEST THING happened the other day when an eighth grade boy who's struggled with behavior and motivation in school since kindergarten approached me to ask about my book and to tell me that he wants to be an author. He told me he wrote a short story that wasn't very good. AND I THOUGHT OF ALL OF US! And I swatted at the air and said "Every writer writes stories that aren't very good at first. I've been writing for six years. Keep writing." And his eyes lit up and he said, "Okay." So I told him to write that night and over the weekend and pledged to get a few chapters of my own done. And since then he's stopped me to tell me that he started a new story. And he's so excited about it. And we've been holding each other accountable for at least fifteen minutes of writing each night. YOU GUYS. I'm tearing up right now just sharing how happy it made me to find a student writing buddy that I can share my love of writing with, and I'm so overjoyed that he is so excited about writing, too. Writing is  such a PASSION, and once we take hold of it and it takes hold of us, we can never let it go, no matter what the world tells us. And THAT'S what this group is all about.

KEEP WRITING.

Thanks so much for visiting with me today!

Christy