One book leads to another...

Wednesday, August 3, 2022

IWSG August 2022 Original Hooks and Generous Lines

 


Welcome readers, writers, authors, and bloggers!

We’re glad you’re here! It's the First Wednesday of the month; when we celebrate IWSG Day in the form of a blog hop featuring all of the members of the Insecure Writer's Support Group. Founded by author Alex Cavanaugh (Thank you, Captain!) and fostered by like-minded associates, IWSG is a comfortable place to share the views and literary news from our perspective writing desks as we record our journeys. Check out the August newsletter here

Our awesome co-hosts for this month's posting of the IWSG are:  Tara Tyler, Lisa Buie Collard, Loni Townsend, and Lee Lowery! 

This month’s optional question is: When you set out to write a story, do you try to be more original or do you try to give readers what they want?

Unless it is a sequel or part of a series, I'm not thinking of the reader when I set out to write a new story. Yet. My routine is writing, editing, revising, repeating, then revealing. Reader reviews will come soon enough. And they don’t mind letting us know ;-)

One sweet reader I call Goldilocks contacted me regarding the ending to Cotton’s Place before she’d finished reading the book, “Blue’s not gonna die, is he?” Bless her heart. I’ll never tell. But does Goldilocks dictate the ending? Are we writing the story or am I? Do I care what she thinks? You bet I do. And I’m elated that since she likes this character so much, there’s a good chance she’ll love the ones she hasn’t met yet ;-)

Last month was a bit crazy, so I’ve got some catching up on visiting to do this month. See ya around!

Oh! One more thing:

Q: Why, even on the hottest of days, do writers always feel chilly?

A: They are surrounded by drafts.

  


20 comments:

  1. Funny joke. Yes, when you're writing a series, you do have to think of the reader more when writing subsequent books. I'm writing a series so will have to consider that in book 2 and 3.

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    1. Hi Natalie!
      You're writing a series? Yay you!
      This allows you to divulge delicious little character tidbits at whim ;-)
      Happy writing!

      Delete
  2. That she cares so much is a good thing!

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  3. May we all be surrounded by Goldilocks! Reader anticipation is an awesome thing. Surrounded by drafts . . . snort!

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    1. Hi Nancy!
      Wouldn't that be wonderful? I do love pleasant surprises ;-)

      Delete
  4. It's up to the writer to sell their product to an audience and that comes through good writing and stories that people find interesting. I don't read with an intent to torture myself through the act and a writer who writes like that doesn't win many points with me. If I don't like what I'm writing then why should anyone else?

    Arlee Bird
    Tossing It Out

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    1. Hi Arlee!
      I agree. And I believe writers not only write to be read, they write what they want to read. Time and again stories are refreshed in the light of a new voice, new angle.

      Delete
  5. What an involved reader you have in Goldilocks! Hope your answer was "No way will Blue die!" :-)

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    1. Hi Lee!

      Yes, surprisingly so ;-) I let her know how devastated I too would be if anything bad happened to Blue, and we discussed possible ways of protecting him ;-)

      Delete
  6. Me, in my fleece, while it's 104 outside: Ha! Funny joke!

    It's great to hear you've got someone invested in your story and characters. Woot!

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    1. Hi Loni!
      It gave me a smile too ;-)
      She is an unexpected pleasure, the nod I didn't know I so desperately needed.

      Delete
  7. What a sweet fan you have! And I love your insights to her interest.

    Also, love the graphic quote. Could have used that on my site this month!

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    1. Hi Lee!
      Indeed. In terms of connection she's my bullseye ;-)
      When I read about your recent tribulations, fearless lady, I decided that you are the most resilient person I've met in a long time. I can't wait to read how you'll write about it all. Hang in there!

      Delete
  8. Haha, very punny! ☺ Goldilocks sounds like the perfect fan and someone whose feedback will be beneficial.

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    1. Hi Debbie!
      Good to see you! Ha! Glad to share a giggle :-) I'll swing by your place soon!

      Delete
  9. How wonderful that Goldilocks reached out, desperate to save her favourite character. It must have warmed your heart to have your character become so alive to her. Every writer's dream!

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    1. Hi Andrea!

      Very much so ;-) She's read for me before and hadn't ever been as expressive. Certainly was a patch of blue (ha!) on a cloudy day.

      Delete
  10. Hi, dIEDRE!

    Look who's here! You can call me F.L. (for Fashionably Late or Freakin' Lame).

    >>... My routine is writing, editing, revising, repeating, then revealing.

    Hey! You stole that from a shampoo bottle! Plagiarist!! ;^D

    >>... Unless it is a sequel or part of a series, I'm not thinking of the reader when I set out to write a new story.

    I really like that and I approve that message.
    It reminds me of a very old Pat Metheny interview I saw a very old time ago. If you're not familiar with him, Metheny is a Jazz guitarist who writes some extraordinarily memorable melodies. He's been one of my top two favorite musicians since about 1985-ish. The first Metheny album I bought was the 2-LP live set 'Travels'. But for the uninitiated, I generally recommend starting with the album 'Letter From Home', and giving it lots of time (repeated listenings - especially while driving) to seep into the deeper recesses of the brain.

    Anyway... back on track here... Metheny said in that interview that he appreciated the fact so many folks love his music, but first and foremost, he writes and plays music for himself. I think it's a "to thine own-self be true" thing, and then you just hope that others out there will feel the same way you do. Any true artist is expressing their own artistic muse FIRST! Otherwise, they're just producing pasteurized, homogenized, synthetic, disposable, superficial, commercial, GMO "stuffs" for the store shelves.

    >>... Last month was a bit crazy...

    Last month? How about the last (nearly) three years?!

    >>... Oh! One more thing:

    Who do you think you are, Lt. Columbo?!?!

    Er... "Mrs. Columbo" is what I should have probably said. (I feel safe in assuming that you're still identifying as a woman. ;-)

    (Sorry. I'll try to be better and more pasteurized, homogenized, synthetic, disposable, superficial, and commercially acceptable with my next blog comment.)

    ~ D-FensDogG
    STMcC Presents BATTLE OF THE BANDS

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    1. Well, hello there, StephenT!

      Now I'm the one who is late, but you were certainly on a roll ;-)
      I appreciate your input, and just for that I listened to a few Metheny tracks. Wow! Smooth, sensual, beautiful. Thanks for the tip! I imagine I'd get a lot more work done with Pat in the background than reruns of Columbo (grin).
      At the risk of roaring, you assume correctly ;-) And to the relief of a well-meaning few, I am not plural. There's only one, which is a good thing.
      Happy August!

      Delete

Any thoughts? Join the conversation, comments welcome here!