Thinking Above Chance

Happy Holidays, Everyone! Tis the perfect season for memories in the making as cherished traditions are observed or newly introduced, savored - and stored for use in future writing projects  - for which we can sharpen our amazing writing skills on with any of the many great resources offered by the Insecure Writers Support Group, founded by Alex Cavanaugh, right here and right now on this first Wednesday of the month, when IWSG members convene through blogging, Facebook, and Twitter to talk about whatever is on our writing minds and agendas. See what we’re all talking about here.

I think about writing all the time, especially when I can’t. Sometimes I think about writing when I shouldn’t; as in, to the point of distracting me from what I should be doing – for instance, working. I didn’t have to look incredibly deep to understand this preoccupation; it’s simply how I’d rather be occupied. It’s on my Bucket list ;-)

But there’s more, and I think you’ll relate, there are things we know and feel non-consciously before or without, consciously realizing it. This was discovered by a panel of psychology, science and computer science experts intent on proving – or dis-proving – the timelessly tantalizing ‘powers’ of the Ouija board game who found that the accuracy of answers rested solely on belief. Because each player believed that something mysterious could happen, each player was then able to channel their non-conscious, inner-self and thereby think above chance to reach the most knowledgeable, or at least plausible, answer.

Of interesting note is that this exercise only worked with two or more participants, perhaps a demonstration of the old ‘Safety in numbers’ adage? If so, we’re in the right place; here at Insecure Writers Support Group! 

As for the optional question of the month,

“As you look back on 2017, with all its successes and failures, if you could backtrack, what would you do differently?”

What a year it’s been! In retrospect, I would believe more and expect less ;-) How about you?

Are you a neighborhood decoration dominator?

Strange and Mysterious History

Quality Time

Happy National Author’s Month! While many of us may not be reading that epic novel, in honor or National Novel and Memoir Writing Month,  we may well have honed our amazing writing skills on any of the many great resources offered by the Insecure Writers Support Group, founded by Alex Cavanaugh, right here and right now on this first Wednesday of the month, when IWSG members convene through blogging, Facebook, and Twitter to talk about whatever is on our writing minds and agendas. See what we’re all talking about here.

And while you’re at it, check out our awesome Co-Hosts:

Tonja Drecker, Diane Burton,  MJ Fifield, and Rebecca Douglass!

Did you take part in the IWSG 2017 Anthology contest? In a rare moment of capriciousness, I decided to sign up. And now I’m actually reveling in not being consumed by all that I left on the bank of the creek, which did indeed rise, while I was away indulging my inner-rebel by spending most of the last several weeks – writing! Such a time I had on a daring whim, that I remain undaunted by all that awaits my attention ;-) And today as I soar as a windswept cloud, stretching as if after slumber, I realize how precious are moments stolen and pleasing the gifts, if ever so few, for having observed at all. Every second, every word, and every day was and is well-worth the experience. Thank you, IWSG!

OPTIONAL IWSG Day Question: Win or not, do you usually finish your NaNo project? Have any of them gone on to be published?

Hmm. Well, about that. I’ve never once attempted a NaNo project for fear I’d break a promise to myself. I plan to, one day, complete a project of this proportion. But the dream will have to wait a little while longer ;-) 

Happy Writing!

“There was a young lady named Bright, who could travel much faster than light. She started one day, in a relative way, and came back on the previous night”.  ~ Anonymous

Read, Write, Breathe - and Smile!

It’s National Reading Group Month and if you aren’t too engrossed in reading that epic novel, you could always sharpen your writing skills to write one with any of the many great resources offered by the Insecure Writers Support Group, founded by Alex Cavanaugh, right here and right now on this first Wednesday of the month, when IWSG members convene through blogging, Facebook, and Twitter to talk about whatever is on our writing minds and agendas. See what we’re all talking about here.

And if you dare... 

 

Just when I couldn’t imagine witnessing something exaltingly fresh, unexpectedly vivid - and absolutely free (yes, I thought I had ‘seen it all’), I spent a week watching seasonal transformations in the woods. I had one last fleeting thought of our sassy whiptail lizards, cavorting year-round in the unyielding desert back home before an autumn butterfly perched briefly on my keyboard as soaring treetops swayed in a bracing breeze that rushed the clouds across the sky as if they were late for something. 

You couldn’t have peeled me off that bench, from that place where it was suddenly clear how so many writers before me; Zane Grey, J.A. Jance, Stephanie Meyer and Barbara Park, had been so completely suffused in atmospheric inspiration.  

But I hadn’t come to write about nature or the weather, though I understand Climate-themed fiction is popular these days. Perhaps “The History of Bees” by Maja Lunde would lend insight as to how to keep them out of hummingbird feeders. As an adventurous spirit who still needs a home to return to, Barbara Kingsolver’s “Flight Behavior” certainly weaves the dreaded word extinction into my unsuspecting thought waves.

But what was I going to write about? Checking my inboxes is one of my favorite distractions, and that’s when I read the latest (at the time) IWSG newsletter in which Ninja Captain, Alex reminded us of the upcoming deadline for submissions for the annual Anthology. Four hours, four (single-spaced) pages later, and it’s history in the making! How’s your journey?

In answer to the optional Question of the Month: “Have you ever slipped any of your personal information into your characters, either by accident or on purpose?”  Indubitably ;-)

Happy Writing!

“Why can’t people just sit and read books and be nice to each other?” – David Baldacci, The Camel Club