Am I the only one who wants Christmas back? I was happy to see the end of 2020, but so far, 2021 has brought me: a broken filling (ouch), “fun” with an insurance company who wrongly terminated my benefits, a kitten that was so destructive he had to be given back to the shelter (first time that’s ever happened to me and I’m still so sad we couldn’t make it work); and an upsetting conversation with a friend whom I’m realizing isn’t very good for me. Fun, right? I’m just not ready to pack away the twinkling lights and return to the real world yet.
But for you — or at least those of you who are interested in writing classes — I have some good news:
In my last post, I mentioned three upcoming writing classes I’ll be teaching. Well, thanks to some lovely government funding, the first two of these classes will be offered for free. No catch! And they’re still available to anyone, anywhere in the world.
All class times are 7 to 9 p.m. CST, and the classes will be taught on Zoom.
To find my classes, you need to scroll to the bottom of the McNally Robinson site page once you’ve clicked on the links below. McNally Robinson is an amazing bookstore.
Finding Joy in Writing: Techniques for Writers of All Levels (Jan 18, 25, Feb 1, 8, 22, March 1)
The rewards of writing are many: it’s a stress release, a creative outlet, a much-needed escape, and self-guided therapy. Join award-winning author J.H. Moncrieff as she helps you discover the essential building blocks of a great story, including voice, character, setting, point of view, creating suspense, and more. The class will be customized to the needs of the students. Students can submit a sample of their writing for detailed feedback.
Beating the (Writers’) Block (March 10, 17, 24, 31)
To be successful, a writer must vanquish many foes, including time constraints, negative self-talk, endless distractions, and a lack of inspiration. Award-winning suspense author J.H. Moncrieff will teach you a variety of techniques and tricks to jumpstart your writing muse, conquer self-doubt and fear of failure, and carve out time to write from an overwhelming schedule.
Writing a Page Turner (April 12, 19, 26, May 3)
Want to write a book that will keep your readers on the edge of their seat? There’s an art form to building and maintaining suspense. Award-winning suspense novelist J.H. Moncrieff will take you through the techniques you need to master in order to create a page-turning novel or story, including voice, beginnings and endings, and character development. This course is suitable for every genre, as no one wants to write a book that’s easy to put down. Come prepared to write!
How were your holidays? Any projects planned for the New Year? Resolutions you’re excited about? Tell me your good news — I’d love to hear it!
Happy New Year!
The purpose of the Insecure Writers’ Support Group is 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. To see a full list of IWSG authors, click here.
Dear Miss Moncrieff
Happy New Year, it can only get better.
Losing a friend is never easy, but if that person was a negative influence they are best left to others on their wave length, rather than being allowed to bring you down. Sometimes, you just have to let go.
I cannot think of anything sadder than having to return your kitten, but do not be too hard on yourself, the rescue centre will find it a forever home before too long. I have taken in countless strays over the years, some of which were even feral, so I sympathise with your plight for lost/broken/torn, clothes/ornaments/books, etc. One day I returned from work to find my treasured crystal fruit bowl-the only nice thing I received custody of when my partner and I split-smashed to pieces on the kitchen floor, and five very guilty pairs of eyes looking up at me as if to say, ‘It wasn’t me, daddy.’ I still cry about it…Perhaps I need therapy! Anyway, the Egyptians treated cats like Gods, and they have never forgotten that. It’s like they say, dogs have owners, cats have staff…What can you do?
Sorry, I’m rambling (my poor fruit bowl).
Have a very happy, healthy and successful 2021. Take care, and stay safe.
Happy (Belated) New Year to you, Mr. L’estrange. What a wonderful comment–it made me smile. I can just picture those cats looking up at you, amid the remains of your poor shattered fruit bowl. At least they had the decency to look guilty.
Ordinarily, I’d never give up on a kitten just for being destructive, but we also didn’t bond. He was friendly enough, but didn’t seem interested in us, and I couldn’t connect with him. My poor mentally disturbed cat had just passed away after fourteen years, and she was another kitty I didn’t get to meet before I adopted her. Because of her issues, we never really connected–I just took care of her, and I didn’t want to be in that situation again. I’m sure Jasper will find the proper match soon, if he hasn’t already. (He’s a handsome devil, and still a kitten.)
That’s a rough start to the new year. It’s hard when you realize a friend isn’t being a true friend, or that your beliefs are quite different and a relationship with them becomes difficult, if not toxic. I would be sad about the kitty, too, but you can’t save every critter. This one wasn’t the right fit for your “family.”
I just signed up for a writing class with an author I know in Minnesota. I got a grant, so I was able to pay for it and offer a scholarship to another author. I’d love to take one of your classes. I’ll see if it works in my schedule. Glad you got the government funding for your classes.
Here’s to improvements to health, career, and relationships in 2021!
Aw, same to you, Mary. I hope you’re having a fantastic 2021 so far. You’re such a kind soul.
I hope you’ve enjoyed your writing class, and you’re so right about the cat–he was not a good fit.
Sorry your year started off a mess! Keep those lights out a while longer.
Free classes – cool!
Thanks, Alex. I did. 🙂
Ugh on the start of the year! I tend to fall into the trap of thinking the year needs to start out perfectly and/or that the year will be perfect. I have to remind myself that a year is long and will have lots of ups and downs. Your “ups” will come soon! 🙂
Thanks, Madeline. That’s a great reminder. I was being a tad fatalistic, but it did feel like an awful lot at once!
I think I’ll have to take advantage of your classes! I’m working on a project right now, so it can only help. Thank you for offering these. I hope your new year gets a hefty lift of spirits now, this week, and I’m with Alex, keep those lights out! Bright colors can always help!
Thanks so much, Lisa! Did you sign up for one of the classes? You’re not in the current one, but I have high hopes for the next….
I would love to take one of your classes. Too bad I work nights, even with the time difference I’d never be able to make it. I do hope all your classes go well. What a blessing to have them free.
I’m happy to be moving into my new home and trying out some new platforms this year. Happy New Year!
Aw, darn, Toi–too bad the timing doesn’t work for you. Maybe one of my other classes will take place during the day. I’ll definitely let you know.
Congratulations on your new home, and thank you so much for the incredible review you wrote for If I Die Before I Wake. You’re all kinds of awesome!
That is a rough start.
That’s wonderful the classes are free. That’s why I like offering mine through the community colleges – the college pays me and the class is free for attendees.
Wow, it’s nice that they can offer free classes year-round. My library courses are free, but the colleges have to charge.
Wow. I thought 2020 was bad until I read the beginning of your 2021. Hang in there. It has to get better.
Thanks, Diane. It has, for the most part. I just had a bad case of self-pityitis. Others are dealing with so much more than me right now!
That’s no way to start the year! Hope things get better fast, and best of everything to you in 2021.
Thanks so much, Rebecca. Thankfully, there was no where to go but up.
First, congrats on the writing seminars which I know you will teach quite well. Which Kitten did you have to return? This is sad news and I am sorry you had to bring kitty back. As for the friend, It hurts but, as time goes by, you may ponder on the relationship and realize it was probably one-sided and that friend made you feel guilty or defensive etc… so the friendship was not true on their side. As for your tooth..I hate dentists and sorry you went through that too.
Hello Birgit. The kitty I had to return was Jasper, the tabby. I went against my better judgement and was pressured into adopting a kitten I’d never met because the shelter owner insisted that “Spooky needed a kitten friend.” I’d been told Jasper was laid back, but in my home, he was anything but. Every single door needed to be closed, every lamp put away, every piece of furniture covered in protective tape, and even with those measures, he needed to be supervised constantly. Which meant that when I was working, both kittens had to be shut in a bathroom or bedroom, which didn’t seem like much of a life for them. Jasper was a sweet cat, who purred if you picked him up, but he never seemed to bond with us. He was that guy at a party who’s always looking over your shoulder for someone more interesting to talk to. So I finally gave up.
As for my friend, I don’t think she means to be insensitive. She’s very wealthy and doesn’t realize that not everyone is in the same position. But sometimes it’s difficult to confess your most precious dreams, only for her to cheerfully remind you that she’s “been there, done that.”
Thanks for caring!
I’ve had a few 2021 snafus already and want to go back to the blinking lights too. Actually, the tree is still up. LOL.
Sorry about your kitty. Hang in there!
Thanks so much, Gwen. You too. Hope things get better for you as well!
So sorry to hear about the sucky start to the year, especially that you had to give back the kitty. Been there, so I know how hard… Still, the courses sound excellent. Just think, the year can only go up from here!!
So true, Donna. It already has, and now I know for sure that relinquishing Jasper was the best decision. Rather than adding to my life, he made it unnecessarily stressful for everyone.
I hope that the rest of 2021 is better and kinder!
Thanks, Damyanti. Happy New Year to you!
I hope 2021 gets better for you! Thanks for the info on the classes–I’ll check my schedule and see if I can make one of them work.
Thanks, Janet. It’s gotten a lot better, thankfully.
That’s great you got funding for 2 of the classes.
I hope 2021 decides to be more kind for the rest of the year.
Hi Patricia…the funding is more of a benefit for the bookstore. It hasn’t worked out that well for me, as people who weren’t serious about the course or who didn’t take the time to read about what it was signed up because “free.” I actually had one person tell me the class wasn’t for them because they didn’t read or have any desire to write fiction, but yet they enrolled in a creative writing class.