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 as we record our journeys. Check out our newsletter here.
The awesome
co-hosts for this month’s posting of the IWSG are Shannon
Lawrence, Liza, Pat
Garcia, and me; diedre Knight!
Today’s
entirely optional question: As a writer/author, what is something
you regret? Or something that you wish you’d done differently in your writing
process?
Oh sure. I have regrets. But I keep all
those shoulda-woulda-coulda thoughts that would do me no good to dwell upon now
in a box with a lid, covered with an old red bandana and tucked way in the back
of a drawer I only open every other week or so.
I should have used a pen name. Why didn’t
I pay more attention to illustrations? Why did I change the title
at the last minute? I should have networked more. Much more.
“We crucify ourselves between two thieves:
Regret for yesterday and fear of tomorrow” ~ Fulton Oursler
If you’re interested, August is Read a
Romance Novel Month 😉 August 20th is National Radio Day – Did
you know from 1917 till 1919 (WWI) private American citizens were not allowed
to own radio receivers?
Did you know The Compleat Angler
is the most frequently reprinted book in English Literature?
Smokey the Bear turns 82 on the 9th!
Thanks for having me as your co-host today!
Two thieves indeed!
ReplyDeleteThanks for co-hosting today.
My pleasure, Captain ;-)
DeleteHappy IWSG Day!
Thanks for co-hosting today. We all have things we wish we did better when we look back at life. Keep your box closed. You've learned from your regrets and just need to move forward.
ReplyDeleteHi Natalie! Thanks for the pep talk ;-)
DeleteYes, I have many regrets that could fill a notebook. LOL! Good quote. And thanks for co-hosting!
ReplyDeleteHi Cathrina! Thank you, I do enjoy co-hosting. Isn't it nice to have a place like IWSG where sharing makes the bummers better? :-)
DeleteI laughed reading this only because my blog post title this month is “Shoulda, Woulda, Coulda.” I think we should all strive to not let our regrets outweigh our accomplishments.
ReplyDeleteGreat idea, Anon! I hope to run across your blog ;-)
DeleteI'm with you. There are always things we could beat ourselves up about, but there are also blue skies ahead and we have a choice about what to focus on.
ReplyDeleteHi Crystal! Your mention of "blue skies" gave me a happy sigh ;-)
DeleteMy regret is similar to those, it's doubt and not understanding my own process sooner. Thank you for co-hosting!
ReplyDeleteHi Tyrean! Understanding the process is an issue for many of us. It's why I think networking is so important. We can share what we know and find what we need - even if it's only a cyberhug ;-)
DeleteYour quote is better than mine.
ReplyDeleteThanks for co-hosting.
Ha! I like your quote too, Melissa!
DeleteI used something of a pen name, but I'm not sure it was a good idea, so don't make that one of your regrets. Thanks for the great job of co-hosting today!!!
ReplyDeleteHi Lee! Thanks for the tip. Thanks for having me as co-host ;-) It really is a treat.
DeleteAugust is read a romance book month? Well I've got that one covered! And an excellent excuse for reading my books, on top of it. Awesome. Thanks for co-hosting today!
ReplyDeleteHi there! Something tells me you've been busy ;-) Happy reading - and writing!
DeleteI think we all have some regrets--if we've lived long enough to do anything, we probably regret some things we did and more things we didn't do. But we are always going on from where we are.
ReplyDeleteHi Rebecca!
Delete"...On from where we are." sounds like the title of a book I'd probably love ;-)
Actually, I'm reading lots of romance these days, part of a strategy to create distance from reality! Your humor brought a smile, thank you. And thank you for reminding us that we can just keep those should-have, could-have, would-haves all in a box, tightly closed, and maybe intentionally misplaced.
ReplyDeleteHi Beth! I read 3 or 4 books (various genres) a month for that same purpose ;-) Yes, we can absolutely stash regrets away for when we want to see how far we've come. Happy writing - and reading!
DeleteI always thought regrets are pointless, unless you use them as blueprints for your future change.
ReplyDeleteA romance month, is it? Good. I love romance. I read at least one romance novel every month of every year, usually more than one. Romance is such a soothing genre, so far away from reality, I consider it a subgenre of fantasy.
"Blueprints for future change," I love that! thanks, Olga ;-)
DeleteThose are great regrets. I nodded on all of them, though they didn't bother me when I was doing them!
ReplyDeleteHaHaHa! Me either.
DeleteI keep all those shoulda-woulda-coulda thoughts that would do me no good to dwell upon now in a box with a lid, covered with an old red bandana and tucked way in the back of a drawer I only open every other week or so.
ReplyDeleteKudos on the creative, though likely untrue as per your fiction writer roots, way to hide away any regrets...
Did I mention the two dead crickets?
DeleteLove the Fulton Oursler quote, Diedre. I try to avoid these two thieves. My worst regrets are about the hurt I've caused some people, and I've done what I can to make amends. Thanks for co-hosting today! All the best to you!
ReplyDeleteGood to see you, Fundy Blue! The very best to you as well ;-)
DeleteHi Diedre,
ReplyDeleteI am learning to take all those would've, could've etc and putting them behind me as I move forward.
Thank you for co-hosting.
Shalom shalom
Hi Pat!
DeletePutting them behind us as we should, I guess :-)
It's a pleasure to co-host as I enjoy the like-minded company. Happy August!
What a fun read! I enjoyed the facts, especially 'American citizens were not allowed to own radio receivers' during WWI.
ReplyDeleteThanks for co-hosting this month.
Hi Lynn! Glad you've enjoyed ;-)
DeleteThanks for co-hosting this month!
ReplyDeleteI love that quote. It's so me.
With me, I'd be regretting why didn't I change that title.
Interesting about the radio receivers! A whole receiver prohibition. Now I have to look that up for a story. Also, love the quote!
ReplyDeleteHi Shannon! I was doing some research myself for National Radio Day when I found that interesting piece of information.
DeleteThanks for coming by!
Those are lots of positive thoughts! And I love the Compleat Angler factoid! Thanks for cohosting today.
ReplyDeleteYou're right - it does no good to dwell on regrets. Far better to focus one's energy on moving forward.
ReplyDeleteThanks for co-hosting!