One book leads to another...

Wednesday, March 1, 2023

IWSG Mar 2023 Somewhere between

 


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 members and guests 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 views and literary news from our perspective writing desks as we record our journeys. Check out the March newsletter here

Besides my humble self, our awesome co-hosts this month are:  Tonya Drecker, Bish Denham, Olga Godim, and JQ Rose!   Feel free to hop around and say hello to everyone!

The optional question for this month is:  Have you ever read a line in novel or a clever plot twist that caused you to have author envy?

Absolutely! Most recently, a line in a short story made me stop and read the line again:

If you trust there’s nothing under your bed you never have to come face to face with it.” 

Keep Calm and Carry On by Harvey Stanbrough

Often, the simple lines –or phrases- have the greatest impact. A dear friend of mine once conveyed an unforgettable lesson (once was all we needed) when he said that if the towel is dirty after you wash your hands, you’re not doing something right.

Does anyone remember the line (paragraph, really) in Million Dollar Baby:

“I just hope he found some place where he could find a little peace. A place set in the cedars and the oak trees. Somewhere between nowhere and goodbye. But that’s probably wishful thinking.” ~ Morgan Freeman / Eddie “Scrap Iron” Dupris

I don’t think I’d have watched the movie if not for that humanizing expression.

And now I’m off to see what everyone else is talking about – See ya soon!





72 comments:

  1. Hello! Thank you for co-hosting. In my case, I'm mostly left awestruck. I wouldn't like to call it envy (haha) but inspiration, maybe.

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  2. Dirty towel means hands are still dirty!
    Thanks for co-hosting today.

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  3. I am so grateful for the joy that reading good writing brings to me. Thank you for co-hosting IWSG this month!

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  4. I KNOW what's under my bed, which is why I don't want to go anywhere near it... ;-)

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  5. I the space under my bed must be crowded. Not inclined to check it out. Thank you for co-hosting!

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    1. Usually nothing to see under there anyway, unless you have a cat;-)
      Thanks for coming by!

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  6. Hi, this is Pat Garcia. My comment wasn't accepted on Google. So, now I'm trying Safari.
    I don't remember thosee lines from A Million Dollar Baby, but that's okay. The main thing is that they impressed you.
    Thanks for co-hosting.
    Shalom shalom

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    1. Hi Pat!
      Wonder what's got into google?
      I think it was the trailer for the movie, and you hear Morgan Freeman's distinctive voice thinking out loud...
      Glad you stopped by!

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  7. Your final quote on the picture is my favorite of the day. Seeing the moon during the day does make you pause. Thanks for co-hosting IWSG!

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    1. Hi Mary,
      I'm not, but I could have been a Moon Child ;-) Thanks for coming by!

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  8. A great turn of phrase stops me everytime. I have to reread, reappreciate and sometimes save to savor later!

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  9. Love that quote! Thank you for Co-hosting!!

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  10. Thank you for highlighting what really works as an inspiring quote for writers -- the craft that moves the reader to stop, reflect, and feel.

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  11. You chose some beautiful examples to share.

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  12. Love the quotes you shared. Thanks for co-hosting this month.

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  13. Great line. And you remind me, those one-off quotes are perfect for memes.

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    1. Hi Jacqui,
      I agree - unless they detract from the original meaning.

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  14. Little lines can be super impactful. Thanks for co-hosting!

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  15. Such simple thoughts, yet so profound. Thanks for sharing them and thanks for cohosting.

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    1. Hi Diane,
      Exactly what I love about simplicity ;-)
      Glad you stopped by.

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  16. I too had to stop and read that first quote a second time. It makes a person pause and think for a moment. Thanks for co-hosting today.

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  17. Hi, Em-Musing here. I had to sign in using anonymous. Ha! had to chuckle at the line: if the towel is dirty after you was your hands, you're not doing something right. Thanks for hosting

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    1. Hi Leigh!
      And your "Under-writers" post cracked me up! Thanks for coming by ;-)

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  18. Hi diedre, writing prowess leaves me full of admiration, rather than envy. Love your examples, here! You're no slouch for a turn of phrase, either. ☺

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    1. Hi Debbie!
      Aw, bless your heart my friend. Thank you!

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  19. Thanks for co-hosting this month. It really is the simple lines conveying simple truths that stick with us, for good or bad.

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  20. Those are two wonderful quotes. Worth keeping in mind any time :)

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  21. I love that line about dirty towels. So true.

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    1. Indeed. And in the delivery we learned two lessons ;-)

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  22. It's the bald truth in the simplicity of language that makes us think twice. Thanks for co-hosting. All best to you!

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    1. I agree. Truth gets right to the heart of any matter. Thanks for coming by, Victoria!

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  23. That phrase made me stop and read it a few times through...so good!

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    1. It effected me the same way. Glad you enjoyed!

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  24. Thanks for co-hosting and for stopping by my blog. Thanks for sharing the great lines/quotes.

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  25. Thanks for co-hosting today, Diedre! Great quotes, btw. I never trusted that there was nothing under my bed. I knew there was a wolf, and I had to make a flying leap into my bed and under the covers before the wolf caught me. I can still remember my thundering heart after a trip to the bathroom in the middle of the night. That's a wonderful image and character description. I hope you have lots of fun today!

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    1. Hi there, Fundy Blue!
      You have described my childhood nights to a T. We could have been partners in fear ;-)
      I do enjoy visiting everyone, and appreciate the warmth of camaraderie. Thanks so much for coming by!

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  26. Excellent quotes. Thanks for co-hosting;)

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  27. Hey Diedre! Thanks so much for the shout out. Anything I can do to help the writers in Pensive Pens gain some confidence, please don't hesitate to share my email addy with them.

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    1. Hi Harvey!
      You are so welcome. I couldn't resist sharing a line that powerful. I did insert a link to you and hope it results in favorable traffic to your site. I'm just one of many here at IWSG. Thanks for coming by to check us out.

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  28. Hey Deidre. Thanks for visiting my blog. Lovely to see you. Some phrases we come across stop us in our tracks, then we analyse and wonder why.

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  29. Thanks for co-hosting and adding to the delightful honesty of this group.

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    1. What a wonderful way to look at who and what we are!

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  30. Those are some excellent lines. Thanks for sharing them! I couldn't really remember any lines, just where I'd read them.

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    1. Hi Shannon!
      You've composed a few unforgettable lines yourself. I know because I've read them ;-)
      Glad you stopped by, I'm on my way to your place next!

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  31. Love the examples you provided. As you say, it's the single line, not the full paragraph.
    Lynn La Vita

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    1. Hi Lynn!
      Glad you enjoyed. Often, less is more impactful when atmosphere is not your aim. Thanks for coming by ;-)

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  32. Thanks for co-hosting, Diedre! I agree that short and simple poetic lines, like "Somewhere between nowhere and goodbye" make a big impact.

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    1. Yes! Those words exactly ;-) Thanks for stopping by, Jennifer!

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  33. I know good lines--or at least lines that strike to my heart--when I read them. Remembering them is another thing though.

    Lee

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    1. A reader's heart is typically a writer's target ;-) Happy reading AND writing, Lee

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  34. Those are great lines. I'm in awe of the pithy nugget, but even more in awe of the writers who keep it up for the whole book.

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    1. Keeping it up for an entire book would be quite an achievement. I'm just as happy being temporarily winded by a sentence that might have escaped my own heart; one that has me checking for leaks ;-)

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  35. I love that quote from Million Dollar Baby. I might have to watch it just for that part. "Somewhere between nowhere and goodbye"--just wonderful.

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    1. Hi Janet!
      My thoughts exactly ;-) I knew I had to watch the movie. It's a two-boxer (no pun) for sure.

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  36. Ha! Love that first quote. Not sure it always works, though ;)

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Any thoughts? Join the conversation, comments welcome here!