Wednesday, December 2, 2015

Insecure Writer's Support Group December 2015

The last post of the year! IWSG was founded by Alex. J. Cavanaugh and has grown to offer a support group and critique group on Facebook. Very impressive.

So, what are you insecure about? Or, can you offer encouragement to others? To read what others have written, go here.


For this last post, I find myself insecure about two things. They are ongoing.

1. My health. I have vasculitis, a form of cancer which has been in remission since I left the hospital at the beginning of April 2014. However, my specialist has me on medication that makes me so tired I hardly get anything done. With an early death a real possibility, I fear not being able to complete my stories.

2. Money or the lack thereof. I am handicapped and unable to work a real job. I was turned down for disability and sweating to make ends meet every month. I wanted to start a small press, but with my fatigue that seems a bad idea. To start a small press, I need classes in promotion, and other business stuff. I am plain too tired.

For the encouragement part, I am determined to pull through. After all, my wonderful grandmother lived to be 104 and a half years old. If she can do it, why not me?

Now for some disturbing news. Amazon is deleting any review they deem written by a friend or family member. If you give a book away, and that person leaves a review, Amazon thinks you paid for the review. Here's the link to the post about it. Disappearing Amazon Reviews.

It might be time to expand away from Amazon.

To end, let me wish you all Happy Holidays.
Nancy

Dreamstime photo number:

 Christmas Drum

ID: 179256

10 comments:

Melodie Campbell said...

Dear N. Really hoping for better health for you, and more energy to do the things you love, like writing.
Yes, that Amazon review policy is scary. A real problem is authors are readers, and if authors aren't allowed to review, we are missing an audience of enthusiastic readers- a huge audience.

Alex J. Cavanaugh said...

Sorry you can't get disability. (And I know way too many who get it and don't deserve it.)
So far none of my reviews have vanished...

L.G. Keltner said...

So many people deserving of disability don't qualify for reasons I'll never understand.

I hope your health and energy levels improve, and I hope you're able to keep telling stories. Hang in there!

I've heard about the Amazon review policy, and it's definitely problematic. I understand their reasoning for it, but their implementation is so bad that I think it does more harm than good. In my opinion, they'd be better off getting rid of it completely.

Adrienne Reiter said...

Hi N,
I hope you feel better. Personally, I avoid reading Amazon reviews. Sending healing vibes your way. Happy holidays!

Best,

Adrienne

Hilary Melton-Butcher said...

Hi Nancy - I do hope things improve for you ... having vasculitis must be really troublesome and painful, let alone the med fatigue. I sincerely hope you will find some kind soul who can help you along with some work ... good luck - but keep writing ... all the very best - Hilary

dolorah said...

Everybody gets turned down for SSD the first time. Appeal and keep at it.

alexia said...

Continued good luck with everything! I've noticed with a lot of my reviews, people put something like "free book received for an honest review" or something similar, so Amazon knows it's not from one of those paid services for fake reviews.

Yolanda Renée said...

Hope you are feeling better soon, and do try once more for your benefits. Setting goals is key to keeping on keeping on! You'll do it!

N. R. Williams said...

Thanks everyone. Wednesday was a long nap day, I'll stop by soon.
Nancy

Denise Covey said...

Dear Nancy, I can't believe you were turned away at disability! From what you say, you are in dire need. But you have a positive attitude and that goes a long way. It must be so difficult to continue to write when you are so tired.

Yes, my only reviews are from friends, so I expect my reviews to disappear any day. They are hitting the little guys cuz the big guys are too difficult.

Keep at it, Nancy!

Denise :-)