Welcome Readers and fellow Writers, to the May 2019 online meeting of the Insecure Writer’s Support Group! Founded by author Alex Cavanaugh
and comprised of writing members just like you (and me), featuring writing
tips, resources, articles, contests, and
IWSG swag! See what we’re all talking about here and join us as we share our writing
journeys.
*We meet on
the first Wednesday of every month – join us and enjoy!
Visit our
gracious Co-hosts, and let them know you’re here: Lee Lowery, Juneta Key, Yvonne Ventresca, and T. Powell Coltrin!
Happy May
Day, Lei Day, International Workers Day, and congratulations to all who
survived the April 2019 A to Z Challenge!
It’s “Get
Caught Reading Month” Will you? I’m reading my fifth book of the year so far. I
haven’t started writing anything new yet, though I am plowing through my WIPs
like a champ. So far, so good ;-)
The world is full of new
ideas with prevailing meanings:
I’m not sure
what to think of cover re-designing – after your book has been published. Has
anyone had any experience with that?
While
enlisted in the military during WWII, Joseph Keller discovered a troubling
paradox involving the subject of insanity with regard to he and his fellow bombardiers;
which inspired his novel “Catch 22” the eventual success of which exceeded that
of his later works to the point that when critics asked why he hadn’t written a
second best-seller, he responded wryly: “Who has?”
Well, there
was Orson Welles who, after convincing every listener that New Jersey had
indeed been attacked by Martians in the radio drama “War of the Worlds” went on
to write “Citizen Kane” a critically acclaimed Box Office bust; which
ultimately defied all dismal odds, and in 2011 released its 70th
Anniversary Blu-ray edition.
“The day will come when our silence
will be more powerful than the voices you are throttling today” ~ August Spies
1886 - As true now,
I think, as it was then, though for different reasons.
IWSG Optional Question of
the Month:
“What was an earlier
experience where you learned that language had power?”
The power of
the spoken word clicked for me the first time I realized how much quicker you receive
what you ask for by merely saying “please” how rewarding a simple “Thank you”
feels, and the healing effects of “I’m sorry.”
Raised in a
home of avid readers, it wasn’t long before I followed suit and was immediately
enamored with the notion of relatively private entertainment or instruction
obtained through written language; words intentionally assembled to describe,
enlighten, entrance or forewarn – What a concept! I still feel that way, and I guess that’s
why the practice of changing (except in good-natured jest) the time-honored
meanings of words at random or whim seems so disrespectful. Especially for
writers who strive so hard to get it right. Can you imagine today’s definition
of snowflakes dropping softly to the ground near a grand woke oak throwing
shade on a hangry squirrel? It’s enough to crash a GOAT grammar app! I don’t
even want to think about what my human editor would say.
Moving along…
Do you have
a special Mother’s Day tradition? I’m thinking of proposing a couple for our
family. Perhaps a Family Comic Strip? A Lip-synch Tea Party? A backyard Bug
Safari? (These ideas all came from Parents.com I
suspect my family could use a break from playing Bingo every year ;-)
Have
a wonderful month of May!
