IWSG April: Groove Music or Silence for Writing?

 

It’s that time for the monthly Insecure Writer’s Support Group blog hop, the longest running blog hop that I know of in the world. We meet to encourage, to share woes, and to wish each other well in our writing journeys.

This month, led by our intrepid leader Alex J. Cavanaugh and a team of regular volunteers, we are also joined by the monthly co-host volunteers: Melissa Maygrove, Cathrina Constantine, Kate Larkinsdale, and Rebecca Douglass!

Our optional April 1st question is: If you have a playlist (or could put one together) that either gets you in the groove to write or fits with one of your books, what is it? What type of music or what songs?

OR, as I have styled it: Groove Mood or Silence is Golden?

As a writer, I prefer natural sounds or “background house sounds” like the dishwasher running for my actual writing time. 

But, before that, I typically turn on my yearly playlist for a mixture of upbeat songs from pop, rock, instrumental, and sometimes full orchestra music. 

I tend toward anything upbeat and happy, but some years, I’ve added some moody, storytelling vibe music and even spoken poetry to my playlist. I create a different playlist for every year, although some songs move from playlist to playlist. 

A true mixture might include: Good Feeling by Austin French, Stronger by Kelly Clarkson, Tempest by guitarist Jesse Cook, Unwritten by Natasha Bedingford, New Creation by Mac Powell, Boots Don’t by Shania Twain and Breland, Watch Me Do by Meghan Trainor, Falling Inside the Black by Skillet, I Like You by Champagne Sunday, Set it All Free by Scarlett Johansen, The Cremation of Sam McGee performed by Johnny Cash, The Warrior by Patti Smyth, Where Did You Sleep Last Night? Performed by Nirvana, Come Undone by Duran Duran, and Rhapsody in Blue by Gershwin. 

I prefer positive and upbeat music for getting ready to write, but I’ll listen to moodier music before certain writing sessions.

However, the music goes off when I’m writing. I tend to be an almost “silence is golden” type of writer. 

Music gets me ready. Silence lets me go into the story world.

Kickstarter Update 

Today is the last full day of my Kickstarter for The Dark Blade Trilogy! The Kickstarter met the main goal in less than 3 hours and I am so thankful for that!

From there, the campaign has continued to build, and I’m super grateful for all who have joined. The Kickstarter ends tomorrow at 8:30am PT (Pacific Time).

 If you would like to know more or join in, please feel free to click the link. 

Kickstarter Link

Courage, Creation, and The Title To Speak

 

Courage Before “Launch”

As the Kickstarter clock ticks down, nerves rattle louder. The collection is titled To Speak for a reason: it’s a call to step up, speak out, and weave faith with creativity, no matter the butterflies. Yet here I am, tempted to stall, to fuss over perfect copy, to hide behind “research” instead of clicking Publish.

Long posts? Readers skim. Short posts? I fear they miss the heart. The dread says, “Wait until everything is flawless.” The truth says, “Perfection is silence in disguise.” My answer is to break the work into small, honest pieces and share one brave line at a time.

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Call to Writers

If the blank page shakes your knees, hold the pen anyway. Courage is walking forward while fear tags along—write, post, submit, repeat.

Call to Readers

Ready to see where that courage leads? Peek at my Kickstarter Preview for To Speak and join the journey from first tremor to final print.

IWSG July 2025, A New Book, and Kickstarter

Happy IWSG Day!

Purpose: To share and encourage. Writers can express doubts and concerns without fear of appearing foolish or weak. Those who have been through the fire can offer assistance and guidance. It’s a safe haven for insecure writers of all kinds!

The awesome co-hosts for the July 2 posting of the IWSG are Rebecca Douglass, Natalie Aguirre, Cathrina Constantine, and Louise Barbour!

And as always, we are lead by our Captain Alex J. Cavanaugh!

Optional Question of the Month:

Is there a genre you haven't tried writing in yet that you really want to try? If so, do you plan on trying it?

My answer:

Yes, I really want to try writing adventure-tech-paranormal thrillers as a mashup. And yes, I have some scraps of stories that may eventually come together someday.

My current focus for writing and publishing involves my upcoming poetry collection (see more below) and moving forward with The Dark Blade Trilogy this fall with book 2 on the way. 

Why I wasn’t here last month to chat: we had a family member in the emergency room. Everyone is okay now, but it’s part of my life taking care of my elderly parents as an only child. 

Even with life rollercoaster moments, I still keep on going.

My Big News:

I am launching a Kickstarter Campaign for To Speak: Poems of Inspired Courage, Wild Grace, and Sacred Ordinary. 

This poetry collection will include poems over the last twelve years of my writing life, including a poem that tied for second place in the Lakewold Gardens Poetry in the Gardens Contest from 2022, poems which have been published in various places, and new-never-seen-before poems. 

This is a sample mockup of one of my tiers (almost the highest reward one). Please note this isn't the final cover with all the extras on it - gold foil, etc.

To find out more, head to my Kickstarter Campaign Page (or see Monday's post).

A huge way you can help me without spending any money on the campaign is to sign up BEFORE it even begins. If I have a certain number of sign ups, Kickstarter will promote it to their “regular” backers. 

Praying you all have happy writing and find beauty in life for all the month of July and beyond!

And Happy Fourth of July!

 

A Key Kickstarter Moment - BEFORE the campaign starts

Kickstarter Tip

Did you know that a pivotal moment in a Kickstarter Campaign is BEFORE the campaign begins?

It's true. 

Signing up beforehand helps the campaign get early recognition and helps the reach go farther.

Please consider helping me out by signing up for To Speak: Poems of Inspired Courage, Wild Grace, and Sacred Ordinary!

Click HERE to Help

To Speak: Poems of Wild Grace, Quiet Courage, and Sacred Ordinary 

A poetry collection that invites readers to pause, breathe, and rediscover wonder. Through vivid imagery, gentle strength, and faith-rooted reflections, these poems explore what it means to speak truth, heal from silence, and find beauty in the everyday. From garden gates and library nooks to whispered prayers and owl-watched nights, each poem offers a moment of connection, hope, and renewal. 

This Kickstarter supports the launch of the first print edition, beautifully designed and made for those who love language that listens, sings, and soars.

A poetry collection of quiet strength, wild grace, and sacred moments—now becoming a beautiful book you can hold.