One book leads to another...

Wednesday, November 1, 2023

IWSG November 2023

 


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 GroupFounded by author Alex Cavanaugh (Thank you, Captain!) and fostered by like-minded associates, IWSG is a comfortable place to share views and literary news as we record our journeys. Check out the November newsletter here.

Our awesome co-hosts this month are:    PJ Colando, Jean Davis, Lisa Buie Collard, and me, Diedre Knight!

The optional question(s) for this month is: November is National Novel Writing Month. Have you ever participated? If not, why not?

It’s National Author’s Day! How would you suggest we celebrate? A group trip to the local library? A book party in the park? We could play games like “Name that first (or last) line” or “Who said that?” You could even perceive the day as a happy harbinger and write the first three pages of your future first best-selling novel ;-)

If you are participating in National Novel Writing Month, can you describe in one word the impetus for your story? To be fair, I don’t think it’s possible. I’ve been working on the same manuscript for a while now and still cannot describe in only one word whatever possessed me.

American author Dorothy Straight’s motivation came from her mother, who posed a question in 1962, “Who made the world?” Dorothy answered by writing and illustrating a book - that very afternoon - that described her thoughts. Her parents were so impressed they sent the book to a publisher who published it immediately. Dorothy was only four years old then and still holds the Guinness book title for the world’s youngest author.

Author Ray Bradbury earned his first paycheck at age 14 for a joke he sold to George Burns and never looked back.

Then there are the silent ones, the ones that can’t or couldn’t brag even if they wanted to, the ghostwriters. For instance, H.P. Lovecraft, creator of supernatural tales, was also a ghostwriter for Harry Houdini. Former high school teacher Andrew Neiderman was hired to (as it turned out, flawlessly) complete unfinished work left behind by legendary novelist C. Andrews (Flowers in the Attic) while becoming a notable author in his own right with dozens of novels in his own name including “The Devil’s Advocate ” which was made into a 1997 movie starring Al Pacino and Keanu Reeves. Mark Twain effectively secured President Ulysses S. Grant’s retirement by putting together a memoir that sold for top dollar, allowing Grant a financially comfortable “after” life. Meanwhile, Twain produced two American classics of his own ;-)

What matters as a writer, whether for passion or fame, is that you write well and often.

Happy writing!

54 comments:

  1. Historical would be my one word! Yes, a cop out I know! Lisa Buie-Collard by the way!

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  2. Thanks so much for co-hosting this month! Lisa again…

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    1. You're so welcome, Lisa.
      Btw, I've had trouble posting today too, so if it didn't come through, the Father's Day tribute you posted was exquisite...truly moving.

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  3. The last line is perfect! Thank you for cohosting this month!

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    1. It's always fun to share the journey. Thanks for coming by, Liza

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  4. Those writers left behind a legacy.
    Thanks for co-hosting today!

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  5. Thanks for co-hosting this month and for history lesson.

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    1. Aw, just sharing some fun facts. Happy writing, Toi ;-)

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  6. You're a champ for cohosting, Deirdre!

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  7. Thanks for co-hosting and for the bits of literary history. I have to admit, I'm chuckling at the idea of Lovecraft as a ghostwriter. I hope he didn't write Houdini's book in his, well, Lovecraftian style :-)

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    1. Hi Janet!
      I know, right? But according to sources, Houdini loved Lovecraft's style and hired him to craft short stories for Harry's adoring public ;-)

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  8. Great story about Dorothy Straight. I love those.

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    1. Hi Jacqui!
      I just wonder why she (Dorothy) never wrote - or at least, published - another thing.

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  9. Thanks for co-hosting. It's so true that the important thing is that we write well and often.

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  10. Wow - four years old?! Dorothy Straight was a true child prodigy! I loved Devil's Advocate the movie, but haven't read the book. Maybe I should. ☺ It must be a little frustrating for a ghostwriter, not being able to accept praise for their work. I guess the paycheque makes up for that.

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    1. Hi Debbie!
      Yep. I thought the same about young Dorothy. Often it is the innocent viewpoints of uncorrupted youth that holds a mirror to our truths.
      Ghostwriters supposedly do "make bank" as well they should, not just for talent but for keeping secrets.
      I understand the book "The Devil's Advocate" includes a lot that was left out of the movie. That makes me curious ;-)

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  11. Write well and write often. I love that! And four years old??? That's pretty fantastic!
    Thank you for co-hosting!
    Jen
    https://www.jenchandlerwashere.com/
    (Google's not allowing me to log-in for some reason this month...)

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    1. Hi Jen!
      I've been hearing about - and experiencing - internet challenges for a couple of days now. Guess we need to get out the bug spray ;-)
      I enjoyed running across the story of Dorothy Straight. It was a fun little rabbit hole.

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  12. Thanks for co-hosting today!
    One word? Can’t think of it.
    Love this line “What matters as a writer, whether for passion or fame, is that you write well and often.”

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  13. Some interesting tidbits of information presented here. Describing a book or anything that matter with just one word is woefully inadequate. One word might capture one aspect of something, but it misses another whole realm of ideas.

    Lee

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    1. Hi Arlee!
      Exactly. That's where I am with the WIP I'm on now. Inadequate is right. When I expressed my frustration the response was "I didn't ask for a synopsis," yikes. I guess I'll chew on that for a while ;-)

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  14. Thank you for sharing some amazing facts about these authors. I enjoyed reading and that last line sums up the essence so well. Thank you for co-hosting.

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    1. Thank you for having me, Sonia ;-)
      I love finding and sharing fun facts that prove we author/writers are not as alone as it may sometimes feel.

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  15. Thank you for co-hosting! I try to write well, and often, but I'm a slow writer and life always manages to turn me upside down...LOL

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    1. Glad to do it, Cathrina! Pausing is fine, and sometimes necessary. Just never lose sight of your goal of sharing whatever creativity churns within.
      Happy writing!

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  16. Interesting little factoids. But what about the writers who write but don't publish, whether because they're afraid or lazy or whatever?

    Olga Godim from https://olgagodim.wordpress.com/

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    1. The very act of writing is a form of release. That is enough for many writer's. Nothing wrong with that ;-) However, sharing is highly therapeutic ;-)
      Happy writing, Olga!

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  17. Maybe a one or two sentence description, but one word? That just doesn't seem possible. I can't log in to post as myself. It seems that Blogger is at war with me today. C. Lee McKenzie

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    1. Hi Lee!
      And I thought Wordpress was trying to keep me all to itself! Lots of frustration going on lately.
      I agree! I couldn't possibly whittle it down to a single word.
      I'm heading to your site soon. Let's see if I can get there ;-)

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  18. One word? Intriguing. That's what I'm going for anyway. We'll see how it works out.

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    1. Hi Jean!
      I'll admit; I'm intrigued. But I'm also stumped ;-)

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  19. Fascinating facts about unknown authors. I think my favorite is the four year old kid, Dorothy, that wrote and illustrated "Who made the world?”
    Thanks for co-hosting and sharing a bit of history with us.
    Lynn @ Lynn La Vita

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  20. Thanks for co-hosting! One word? Never! It all came to me as a series of thoughts and feelings. The words came later. And love the interesting colelction of tidbits!

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    1. Thanks for having me, Miffie!
      "Never" is the perfect one word response to the question!

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  21. I love your last line. Very powerful. Thanks for cohosting this month.

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    1. Thanks, Diane. I truly believe it's a valuable key.
      Thanks for having me ;-)

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  22. Thanks so much for cohosting this month. (and no, I absolutely cannot do it in one word). @samanthabwriter from
    Balancing Act

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    1. Happy to do it, Samantha.
      Good to know I'm not the only frustrated person in the one word challenge ;-)

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  23. What a wonderful post, Diedre. I love your suggestions to celebrate National Author Day. And thank you for sharing this truly inspiring information about authors. Thanks for cohosting as well. Have a great day!

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    1. Thank you, Victoria! I aim to please.
      Have a lovely November!

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  24. That’s a great post. Thanks for cohosting today. Google has added new barriers to me commenting from my blog name. Ho hum.
    Jemima from jemimapett.com

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    1. It's always a pleasure, Jemima. Google is trying the patience of many these days. Wish I knew why. Perhaps something good will come of it...
      Happy November!

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  25. I'll never have a writing legacy like those authors, but I hope to at least finish my series within my lifetime.

    Thanks for co-hosting!

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    1. Of course you will, Loni ;-)
      Thanks for having me!

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  26. Great post! What does possess us, anyway, lol?

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    1. Thanks, Jan!
      Haha! You caught that, huh? Well, it's complicated ;-)
      Happy Writing!

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  27. Wow, Diedre. Those tidbits are just the right amount of quirky and inspirational for this morning. Thank you.

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Any thoughts? Join the conversation, comments welcome here!