Our Twitter handle is @TheIWSG and hashtag is #IWSG
Every month, we announce a question that members can answer in their IWSG post. These questions may prompt you to share advice, insight, a personal experience or story. Include your answer to the question in your IWSG post or let it inspire your post if you are struggling with something to say.
Remember, the question is optional!
November 1 question – Win or not, do you usually finish your NaNo project? Have any of them gone on to be published?
The awesome co-hosts for the November 1 posting of the IWSG are
Tonja Drecker, Diane Burton, MJ Fifield, and Rebecca Douglass!
I can’t answer today’s question because I don’t do NaNo. I’m a No. No. to NaNo. I don’t write that way and never will. However, I do support those who enjoy the fast-paced push to create a story, and I wish them well.
So Go, NaNo Peeps and Good Luck.
This month I’m more than insecure. I’m losing and I hate losing, but someone has to, and it must be
my turn. Double Negative’s up for Reader’s Choice Award, but bringing up the rear. It’s listed under YA and Middle-Grade books on page 12 for 16–talk about being at the back of the pack! If you want to give me your VOTE, I’d appreciate it. Maybe I’ll place. For those who have supported me, many thank yous.
AND. . .if you’ll notice I’ve moved my blog from Blogger to WordPress just because I don’t already have enough insecurity and anxiety this month.
I’ll be announcing my Featured Follower for November on my next post ( Nov. 6) and I’ll be yakking about the Canal du Midi and the south of France. I’m in love with that place and all I need is a nudge and high-speed internet to make me pull up my tent stakes and move there. Of course, I have to tell about Texas. Austin was awesome and then some. Now it’s time to face real life and get some writing done. I’ve missed our exchanges and look forward to catching up with what you’ve all been up to.
Loni Townsend says
I’ve already voted for you and it won’t let me vote again. I hope you start pulling ahead, Lee!
C. Lee McKenzie says
I believe it’s a lost cause, but it has been interesting. Thanks for your vote, Loni.
Gary aka your starstruckest fan! says
Hey superstar author, Lee,
How did I end up over here. Oh no, it’s WordPress time and yep, to comment I have to choose a name, slap in an email address and maybe stick in my blog’s website. Sheesh!
Anyhow, well done on your successful migration from there to here. As for that NaNo stuff…..NoNo to NaNo, for this here shy and humble type dude.
Oh, you did get my vote.
As usual, no matter where your blog is, I’m still your starstruckest fan!
Penny’s human dad,
Gary
C. Lee McKenzie says
I’ve caused you no end of suffering. For that I apologize. And you voted for me, too. I’ll make it up. Promise.
Stephanie@Fairday's Blog says
Hope you enjoy your move to Word Press! Sounds like a lot to take on and I hope the new site is good to you. 🙂
I don’t do NaNo either. I have wanted to try it- but November is always a crazy month for me. Also, I write like a turtle- so I don’t know how far I would get. 🙂
C. Lee McKenzie says
Turtle unite! We need a Slooooow NaNo. 🙂
Toi Thomas says
Thank you so much for stopping by my blog and for your kind words. It really means a lot. Sorry I didn’t respond sooner; life got in the way. Sorry to hear that you’re falling behind in your contest, I’ll be happy to give it a vote if I still can. I thought this blog looked a little different. I like it. Do you?
C. Lee McKenzie says
I’m liking some of it. Not liking other parts. My html isn’t up to date, so tweaking the widget area is giving me fits. I’ll survive.
Thanks for stopping by, and yes, you can vote up to Dec. 10. Any vote appreciate– losing or not!
HR Sinclair says
You did it! Here you are. Congrats.
C. Lee McKenzie says
I’m still not believing I’ve actually migrated from Blogger to WP. And you found me! All systems go. Thanks so much for following me over here.
Sage says
I don’t do the Nano thing either. November tends to be one of my busiest months (but so was this October). I’ll go vote for your book!
C. Lee McKenzie says
You found me! And during one of your busiest months. 🙂 Thank you more than you know for your vote.
C. Lee McKenzie says
I do think I’ve gone over the edge, but then it’s always exciting out here. 🙂
Far Away Eyes says
Yikes! you’ve been busy. Good luck with the move to WordPress. I simply can’t imagine taking on a move like THAT.
Lynda R Young says
I believe I already voted. Best wishes for climbing those ranks.
C. Lee McKenzie says
Yes, you did, and thanks again.
Lynda Dietz says
Well, I’m sorry your book isn’t doing better in the ranking. I voted for you and I’d do it again. I have my paperback copy of Double Negative and loved it!
I’ll have to change to your new address on my Easy Reader blog roll. New site looks great!
C. Lee McKenzie says
Me too. But I’m stressed enough about everything else like this new blog and the glitches out there to snag me, so I’ll have to forget the poor performance on Readers Choice and move on. Thanks for following me around. I appreciate the time it takes to do that! And thanks for the vote!!!!
ChemistKen says
Just moving to WordPress would be more than enough to give you insecurities, even without all the other stuff that’s going on.
And NaNo isn’t for slow writers like me.
C. Lee McKenzie says
The Slow Writers’ Club we belong to is quite large. I’m glad I’m in it. Everything’s too fast as it is. As to WordPress, yes. It’s giving me fits. Thanks for the heads up about the link. I’m off to fix that.
Cynthia says
I like hearing people’s travel stories and look forward to hearing you share about the South of France and Texas.
C. Lee McKenzie says
I have tons of pictures. Now I just have to write the stories. Thanks for the visit, Cynthia.
Hilary Melton-Butcher says
Hi Lee – I think I voted earlier (or back then!) … but I can’t say I enjoy their site and went through this time … found your book – but after that the site lost me! I tried …
So glad you happy times down in the South of France and then in Austin – looking forward to the updates … and now as you say settling to more writing.
I’ve put this blog into Feedly – so am now connected to the new one – cheers Hilary
C. Lee McKenzie says
Thanks for tracking me down, Hilary. I’d hoped to make it easy for all of you to find me, but as you know my link didn’t work. All mended!
Barbara says
I voted or at least, I hope I did! I clicked on your book, but nothing much happened. I did vote for you a few weeks back so maybe it wouldn’t let me vote again?
C. Lee McKenzie says
Yes, the site only allows one vote per IPN. Thanks so much for the help.
Louise (Fundy Blue) says
Hi, C. Lee! Hopefully I’m now following you at Word Press and hopefully I voted for your book! I haven’t done NaNo, although I’d like to push my self in December in the NaNo way. Good luck with your book!
C. Lee McKenzie says
Wonderful to have you here! I’m hoping most of my “old” followers will find me. Thanks for the vote. I really appreciate it.
Heather M. Gardner says
Nice new digs you’ve got here!
I can’t do the NaNo either. We can just cheer from the sidelines!
Heather
C. Lee McKenzie says
Pom poms at the ready. So glad you like my new space. I’m getting used to it.
Beverly McClure says
Your new site is great. So easy to read. I have WordPress and blogger both, but haven’t done much on wordpress. It’s too complicated for me.
I voted awhile back. Hope you get a lot more votes. NaNo isn’t for me. Trying to write a certain number of words in a limited time is too stressful.
C. Lee McKenzie says
We are on the same page with the NaNo, Beverly. Glad you like the new site. I want my followers to feel comfy and welcome here.
Damyanti says
I’m sorry your book isn’t soaring yet. I voted, though. All the best, and welcome back!
C. Lee McKenzie says
Appreciate the vote, Damyanti. I won’t win, but maybe that’s the way it should be.
Denise Covey says
Good luck with WP. I have one too, but still prefer blogger til i have time to make my site more my own. Love the way you’ve managed to make yours look much the same as your old site.
Hope you had a fantastic vacation. Looked awesome.
Denise 🙂
C. Lee McKenzie says
Fantastic time away. I’m never sorry I take off; I’m just sorry I get so far behind.
Nick Wilford says
I already voted. Hopefully you can pull ahead a little. Hope the move is going smoothly – your blog looks very clean on WordPress.
C. Lee McKenzie says
Thanks, Nick.
I hope the blog works. Guess we’ll see.
Anna says
There will always be another contest. Maybe next time. :-/
Anna from elements of emaginette
C. Lee McKenzie says
I’m not too keen on another contest like this. I’m not sure how I got into this one, actually. I didn’t do it or I don’t remember doing it.
Natalie Aguirre says
Congrats on moving your blog, Lee. And sorry about your disappointment. Those can be hard but you did what you could.
C. Lee McKenzie says
I was gone when I should have been taking care of business, but maybe business is to enjoy my time more and not worry about votes.
Juneta says
Heh, no wonder I could not find you. Found your link in a post you posted on another blog. You even manage to keeping looking a lot like your other blog. Congrats. Juneta @ Writer’s Gambit
C. Lee McKenzie says
Thanks for persisting. I should have left my new link in my comment. Sorry.
Sarah Foster says
Love the new site!
I’ve really only tried NaNo once and failed miserably. I’d love to really give it a shot someday but I’m really more of a slow writer.
C. Lee McKenzie says
I like slow. It means you’re giving time to those characters and their story.
Thomas Anderson says
“I love the smell of a new blog in the mornin’.”
Hi, again, Cheryl-Lee! I found you! I reached you!
It’s Shady. I hope my comment gets published. Sometimes I have difficulty leaving comments on WordPress blogs because they are sorted to the junk or spam folder. (Perhaps that is where most of my comments belong. 🙂
Your earth tone site is very attractive, dear friend. I like it! I also admire your candor. It requires courage to admit that you do not wish to participate in the “write a novel in a month” challenge. I don’t like to be rushed either, although I sometimes impose a deadline on myself as a challenge.
I wish you a kinder, gentler November, dear friend Cheryl!
C. Lee McKenzie says
We did it! All things are possible when you put two brains together. Great to see you here, Shady and glad you like the earthiness of this place. I’m not a stainless steel kind of person, so this suits me.
L. Diane Wolfe says
I like the new site. It reminds me of your old one that had more than a blog, but it’s better.
I think I voted for you, but I’ll go check.
C. Lee McKenzie says
I didn’t want to revamp the site entirely. Just too expensive, so I just updated it. I might go for more later, but for now this will do.
Ellen @ The Cynical Sailor says
I voted for you, sorry it’s not doing as well as you had hoped 🙁 Looking forward to your France posts.
C. Lee McKenzie says
I should have been doing something to get votes I guess. But choosing between France and getting votes. . .well, no contest.
Jemi Fraser says
I voted too 🙂
I’m always loaded with insecurities – so if anyone needs any, I’ve got plenty to share! 😛
C. Lee McKenzie says
All votes appreciated. Thanks, Jemi. And you can keep your insecurities. I don’t want to deprive anyone of something so valuable. 🙂
Pat Hatt says
Great new site indeed. Yeah, nano gets a pass from me. I write every day anyway, so no need. Losing stinks indeed. Voted away at my bay long ago.
C. Lee McKenzie says
Thanks, Pat. I’m getting used to it. Trying.
Elephants Child says
I feel a bit like a stalker, but am happy to follow you to WP. Welcome back.
Is there an option to receive follow-up comments I missed?
C. Lee McKenzie says
Okay, so see I don’t know the answer to that question. I’ll add it to my list. Oye!
Cherie Reich says
The new site looks lovely. I voted for your book. Good luck!
C. Lee McKenzie says
Thanks, Cherie. It helps to have support.
Rebecca Douglass says
Here’s hoping next month looks better. If you head off to France, I’m sure it will!
Just in case you don’t have enough to deal with, now you have to figure out how to make your Blogger/Google profile link here instead of to the old blog. All those details are why I haven’t been willing to change my blog!
C. Lee McKenzie says
That’s exactly why I dragged my feet, but I was convinced to change and now I’m committed. Make that, “I should be committed.”
ShootingStarsMag says
Welcome to WordPress! I made the switch over the summer and I’m really loving it. 🙂
I’ve never officially done NaNo, but I like the idea of trying to write as much as I can this month since so many others are and it’s kind of motivating. Not sure I could ever reach 50k though.
-Lauren
C. Lee McKenzie says
I’m sure it will grow on me. I just wish I could be faster at this learning curve business.
Pat Garcia says
I read about your nomination for the Reader’s choice award on Juneta’s blog. You’ve got my vote and I hope you win.
Have a lovely time in France. I don’t know which airport you’re flying into but if you fly into Frankfurt International (FraPort) Airport, let me know. I’ll meet you at the airport for a coffee.
Shalom aleichem,
Pat G @ EverythingMustChange
C. Lee McKenzie says
I have to thank Juneta for the help. I’ve been gone all of October and haven’t really pushed for votes except some scheduled tweets and fb posts that I scheduled ahead. Thank you for your vote and for the offer of a coffee in Frankfurt. Next time. 🙂
Heather R. Holden says
Congrats on the move! Your new blog looks great. And best of luck to Double Negative–have already voted!
C. Lee McKenzie says
Appreciate the vote, Heather–a lot.
Olga Godim says
I don’t participate in NaNo either, but I have the utmost respect for those who do.
And I love WordPress, much more than Blogger. You’ll get used to it in no time.
C. Lee McKenzie says
I hope so. It is different, and since I’m still not back in town mentally, I’m struggling to keep up with those difference. Thanks for the encouragement.
Christine Rains says
I voted! Lovely to see you back. I’m curious as to what you think of WP compared to Blogger.
C. Lee McKenzie says
Right now it seems complicated, but I’m hoping that will stop soon and become easy. I liked Blogger, but heard that this was going to be a better platform for search engines.
Erika Beebe says
I voted for you too Lee. I also love WordPress. It’s much easier to network and link social media. I wish you the best with your writing 🙂
C. Lee McKenzie says
Great to have you visit here today, Erika. Thanks so much for your vote.
Cathrina says
I voted. Double Negative is a wonderful book!!!
I don’t do NaNo either…
C. Lee McKenzie says
Thanks so much, Cathrina! We’re No NaNo sisters. 🙂
Liz A. says
I don’t do NaNo either. I did vote. Are you liking WordPress better?
C. Lee McKenzie says
Hi Liz! I’m not sure about WP yet. This is only my second post here and the first one was kind of a test run. I’ll let you know.
Mary Aalgaard says
You are a great writer, and your books shine, awards or not. Good to have you back. WordPress is good. I switched a few years ago. Looking forward to hearing about your travels!
Mary at Play off the Page
C. Lee McKenzie says
That’s a lovely compliment, Mary. Thank you. I may be around to all of you WP people to ask for help. I have a few things I still haven’t figured out.
Jacqui Murray says
I’m voting! That book has just got to win. The move to WP–I love WP. It has lots of flexibilities I don’t think Blogger has.
C. Lee McKenzie says
Thanks for your vote. I appreciate the support, Jacqui. I may be calling on you for some WP help!
Karen Lange says
Welcome back! Hope your break was great! As for NaNo, I don’t do it either. Like you, it’s not really my thing, but I think it’s a wonderful idea for those who like to do it. Have a great rest of the week!
C. Lee McKenzie says
It’s a great motivator for some, so I’m glad it’s out there. Thanks for the visit to my new space, Karen.
Arlee Bird says
I voted!
Hope you enjoy WP. Since I don’t seem to have problems commenting on WP blogs anymore then I don’t mind the move.
Now watch me have problems getting this comment through. Hope not!
Arlee
Tossing It Out
C. Lee McKenzie says
Thanks so much, Arlee. I’m still in a bit of a dither about WP, but I hope to work out the kinks as I become familiar with it.
Tamara Narayan says
I don’t Nano either. I don’t think I could write that fast and come up with quality stuff. My brain is too slow maybe.
C. Lee McKenzie says
Me, too. Slow. I’m just fine with that.
Alex J. Cavanaugh says
I’m sorry your book isn’t doing well in the rankings. I voted.
Found your new site with a Google search and I updated you on the IWSG list.
C. Lee McKenzie says
Thanks, Alex. I’m in a 100% tizzy right now. Take a break and be prepared to have absolutely everything go crazy when you return.