The Insecure Writer’s Support Group
The first Wednesday of every month is officially Insecure Writer’s Support Group day with a purpose to share and encourage. Writers are offered a question to answer each month or to write a block of their own.
This month’s question – Have you ever been conflicted about writing a story or adding a scene to a story? How did you decide to write it or not?
The Struggle for a Decision
My biggest writing conflict occurred over non-fictional material. From the start of my writing career, I wanted to help other writers.
Back then, the problem was that I was young, didn’t have any writing education other than a journalism class, and most of my publications—mostly nonfiction—appeared in magazines.
Fast forward to where I traditionally published several books, to where the internet happened and exploded with teaching opportunities, to where a local college asked me to teach writing craft classes, to where I got the education I had craved and was able to combine a career with my passion of writing, where I taught university-level composition classes.
And then, upon retirement, I became an indie publisher, finally able to work on and produce some of the many projects I had started so long ago. (And am still continuing that work!)
After a couple years, though, I found myself in conflict. I wanted to teach creative writing classes again. Or, should I just write the classes up as short how-to books?
In the end, I’m doing both. The decision was made.
I just finished teaching a Time Management for Writers class and will be teaching a master class from the same website this August based on the book I just published: Finding Your Fire & Keeping It Hot: Discovering Your Why, Your Passion, Your Purpose in Life. (Students will receive a free copy. Other class details TBA.)
This book is the first of my how-to series and while the books address writing issues, some of the topics apply to non-writers as well. This first book is an excellent resource for anyone wanting to find and reach their life’s dream based on a passion, a fire within.
As a new release, the first book in a series that I dreamed about writing for a long time, and which is now tied to a two-week class by the same title, I couldn’t be more excited!
Behind the Scenes with Diana Stout, MFA, PhD 
You’ve got so much information to share and such a fire to keep you motivated (haha, see how I brought in your book’s purpose there!). What a great resource for any writer’s library.
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Thanks, Nancy!
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Hi,
You are amazing. What website is your courses offered on?
I am a member of the RWA’s Romantic Women’s Fiction Chapter , and I would like to pass on the information to them.
Wishing you all the best.
Shalom aleichem,
Pat G @ EverythingMustChange
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Hi Pat,
Awww, you just made my day!!!! Had you clicked on the Time Management link in the blog, it would have taken you to the class I just finished. The next class isn’t up yet, but here’s the website where it will show up. https://writeruniv.com/
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Thank you. I did click on the Time Management Link. I will pass the link on to the President of the Romantic Women‘s Fiction chapter of the RWA. I am interested in the class you are offering in August.
Shalom aleichem
Pat
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Oh, good! I’m glad you found it. Thank you so much for passing on the link. If you go to my website, you can subscribe to my newsletter and follow my blogs. I look forward to seeing you in August! Here’s the website URL: https://sharpenedpencilsproductions.com
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You have so much info and experience that you need to share it with others. Keep up the great work.
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Awwww, thanks, Diane. Thanks for the confirmation of my path. All my best! Hope you’re doing well.
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Finding Your Fire looks awesome!
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Thanks, Kathy! And, thanks for visiting my blog.
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