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Wednesday, May 4, 2016

IWSG - May 2016




On every first Wednesday of the month, a fabulous crowd of tenacious writers gathers to share thoughts and wisdom at the Insecure Writer’s Support Group. Won’t you join us?

As many of us are refueling after another rousingly fun April A to Z Challenge (myself included) our thoughts just may be on the manuscript or memoir; now buried in a pile. Or submissions that we meant to send, now lost in To-Be-Filed.  My thoughts are bursting like pop-rocks!


 
A month has passed since I’ve watched as shadows slide from lofty canyon knolls; dispersing flocks and fox dens to greet the dawning day. Less appealing is the valley, roaring into life to race to concrete mazes of superficial fortune as if the richness beyond matters naught.  

Oddly, I am inspired as I squint at a list of acceptable To-do’s and happily vow to resume stalking an unassuming mailman in a truck laden with paper confirmations of genuine household names. Will mine be one today?  Or will I receive a writer’s goathead

“Failure is success if we learn from it” ~ Malcolm Forbes

Would I crumble like an old dried leaf beneath a careless heel, or soar above the mountains high? Demand repentance and repeal, or nestle in a fragrant tree, with ever-watchful eyes? I have, I will, I won’t, and I am! 

The surest thing you’ll ever know is when words still flow unfettered – no matter what did or did not come in your mailbox – that you are a writer.  Chin up, Muse on and Write away!

“…reach must exceed grasp or what’s a heaven for?”  ~ Robert Browning





Just for fun: My online grammar app says I used a politically incorrect word. Did you catch it?

16 comments:

  1. Hi, dear Diedre!

    I read your post over and over, and the only word I can spot that might be construed as un-PC would be "stalking" as used in a humorous context. I'm probably wrong. (I'm old - what do I know :)

    I don't know for sure how much of this post was written by you, but it is all brilliant reading to me. Clearly your mind is coming alive, mimicking the flora and fauna of the desert that surrounds you.

    Enjoy the rest of your week, dear friend Diedre!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Mornin' Shady!

      No sir, 'stalking' wasn't the word in question. But your comment made me smile;-)

      I'll take it as a compliment my friend, unless otherwise noted, i.e., Forbes and Browning, this post is all me - rambling;-) I'm glad you enjoyed and thank you for sayin' so!

      Have a wonderful week, dear Shady!

      Delete
  2. I think I missed the politically incorrect word. And for writers, I think that failure and rejection are such dirty, dirty words they should be considered expletives.

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    1. Hi Quanie!

      I was surprised and actually disagreed that the word was incorrect. That's why I left it in (grin).

      No argument about the dirty words for writers, shouldn't there be an app for that? :-)

      Have a perfect day!

      Delete
  3. I agree with the Forbes quote. We live and we learn.

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    1. Hi Cynthia!
      Yes, and as long as we do, we can't fail. Right? ;-)
      Have a creative day!

      Delete
  4. I've read and re-read your post. My only guess would be 'mailman'. I suppose your grammar app would prefer the use of 'letter carrier' instead.

    Great thoughts today.

    Mary
    #AtoZChallenge Reflections and #IWSG

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    Replies
    1. Hi Mary!
      You're exactly right! The app suggested 'letter carrier' but I chose to be more descriptive;-)
      Thanks for your comments;-)

      Delete
  5. I remember stalking my PO box for rejection letters...or just that little sliver of hope that came with a "we'd love to see the full manuscript." I knew acceptance would be a phone call. Then by the mid-00s, it all switched to email...I still stalk my email inbox on my phone when I'm away from my computer. Either good news from my agent or an acceptance from one of the online sites I've pitched...either will make me happy! 99 percent of the times I check, it's nothing good.

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    1. Hi Stephanie!
      I was surprised to find there were still agencies left that require snail mail. It does expand my accepted/rejected routine to include no crying at the mailbox and it's perfectly alright to hug a stranger:-)
      Savor the day!

      Delete
  6. You will soar above the mountains high! I like the Forbes quote. Failure is always a learning opportunity. Just like mistakes are learning opportunities.

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  7. Great post. I didn't catch the un-PC word. We don't have mailmen in Britain, we call them postmen or postwomen. We would never use the term letter-carrier.

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    1. Hi there!

      I've never understood the need to make up new words and terms when the old ones worked perfectly fine. Years ago,we were proud to be the first on the block to have a mail-lady:-)

      Delete
  8. If you write, you are a writer. If you get published, you are a published writer. End of story.
    Not a PC word? Can I guess goat-head? Because that would be rude to a goat.

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    1. Hi, Jeffrey!

      According to some, the difference between a writer and an author is whether or not you're published, but I don't believe there is a difference.
      Ha! Rude to a goat...;-)
      Good to see you, Jeffrey!

      Delete

Any thoughts? Join the conversation, comments welcome here!