tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-37822319355690585552024-03-28T21:27:55.066-06:00Pensive PensFacts and Fiction, words of wisdom. Writers writing.diedre Knighthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12772557495518846226noreply@blogger.comBlogger363125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3782231935569058555.post-67838596422925806662024-03-06T01:30:00.004-07:002024-03-06T01:30:00.251-07:00IWSG March 2024 Is AI Keeping it Real?<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEief4iz1JuLcebvCccryV1PD4xOP9OegJbyn21D5fKqpJu8qiPgN2Q3AFRETkRwqK9PH8JNC1CMJ7AOGYiAE9CHhyphenhyphenvcBZWkERbrX_oIoeudHI6BtwQvY1u_Eo1HU0YuyBK_cmSkZrb-IeHgpi04fNQKPZviY_Vf965zFlsii5ZgTHqO5Ff9WPIktfpjaBCm/s932/Insecure%20Writers%20Support%20Group%20Badge2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="918" data-original-width="932" height="315" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEief4iz1JuLcebvCccryV1PD4xOP9OegJbyn21D5fKqpJu8qiPgN2Q3AFRETkRwqK9PH8JNC1CMJ7AOGYiAE9CHhyphenhyphenvcBZWkERbrX_oIoeudHI6BtwQvY1u_Eo1HU0YuyBK_cmSkZrb-IeHgpi04fNQKPZviY_Vf965zFlsii5ZgTHqO5Ff9WPIktfpjaBCm/s320/Insecure%20Writers%20Support%20Group%20Badge2.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;"><br /></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;">Welcome
readers, writers, authors, and bloggers!<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;">We're
glad you're here! It's the First Wednesday of the month, when we
celebrate <a href="https://www.insecurewriterssupportgroup.com/p/iwsg-sign-up.html"><b><span style="color: #034990; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">IWSG Day</span></b></a> in the form of a blog hop
featuring members and guests of the <a href="https://www.insecurewriterssupportgroup.com/"><b><span style="color: #034990; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Insecure Writer's Support Group</span></b></a><b><span style="color: #2f5496; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">. </span></b>Founded by author <a href="https://www.alexjcavanaugh.com/">Alex
Cavanaugh</a> (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
March newsletter <a href="https://us12.campaign-archive.com/?u=b058c62fa7ffb4280355e8854&id=7a925f8b4c">here</a><span class="MsoHyperlink">.</span><u><span style="color: blue; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p></o:p></span></u></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">The awesome co-hosts for the March 6 posting of the IWSG are <a href="http://kristinaseyes.com/" target="_blank">Kristina Kelly,</a> <a href="https://miffieseideman.com/" target="_blank">Miffie Seideman,</a> <a href="http://jeanddavis.blogspot.com/" target="_blank">Jean Davis,</a> and <a href="http://middlepassages-lcs.blogspot.com/" target="_blank">Liza @ Middle
Passages!</a><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Every month, we announce a question that members can answer
in their IWSG posts. These questions may prompt you to share advice, insight, a
personal experience or story. Include your answer to the question in your IWSG
post or let it inspire your post if you are struggling with something to
say. <br />
<br />
Remember, the question is optional!<br />
<br />
<b><i><span style="color: #2f5597; mso-style-textfill-fill-alpha: 100.0%; mso-style-textfill-fill-color: #2F5597; mso-style-textfill-fill-colortransforms: lumm=75000; mso-style-textfill-fill-themecolor: accent5; mso-themecolor: accent5; mso-themeshade: 191;">Have you
"played" with AI to write those nasty synopses, or do you refuse to
go that route? How do you feel about AI's impact on creative writing?<o:p></o:p></span></i></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">No, I haven’t played with AI. I’m too busy hiding from it. I
don’t trust any application that may well have been programmed by someone in a
very bad mood the day the program was “born.” I wonder if users of a program
(comprised of the thoughts of the programmer), which might here on out be considered
“all anyone needs to know about creativity,” could truly produce anything original?
<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Can you sue a machine for plagiarism? I like keeping things
real. <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">As far as getting an AI-composed synopsis, I’m skeptical. But
it might be worth a try. When it comes to something as personal as creativity, there
should be no contest between humans and machines. <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">I believe everything has a place in this world, but you won’t
find weeds in a vase on my table. And I won’t be accepting AI as exceptional in
terms of creativity. <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">According to my writing app (yes, I do use some
applications), I’m off to a good start this year. I can almost hear clapping in
the background ;-)<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Happy Writing!<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><i><span style="color: #2f5597; mso-style-textfill-fill-alpha: 100.0%; mso-style-textfill-fill-color: #2F5597; mso-style-textfill-fill-colortransforms: lumm=75000; mso-style-textfill-fill-themecolor: accent5; mso-themecolor: accent5; mso-themeshade: 191;">“There’s a page that aches for a word which speaks of a theme that
is timeless,”<o:p></o:p></span></i></p>
<p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><i><span style="color: #2f5597; mso-style-textfill-fill-alpha: 100.0%; mso-style-textfill-fill-color: #2F5597; mso-style-textfill-fill-colortransforms: lumm=75000; mso-style-textfill-fill-themecolor: accent5; mso-themecolor: accent5; mso-themeshade: 191;">BE ~ Neil Diamond<o:p></o:p></span></i></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><i><span style="color: #2f5597; mso-style-textfill-fill-alpha: 100.0%; mso-style-textfill-fill-color: #2F5597; mso-style-textfill-fill-colortransforms: lumm=75000; mso-style-textfill-fill-themecolor: accent5; mso-themecolor: accent5; mso-themeshade: 191;"> </span></i></p>
<p> </p>diedre Knighthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12772557495518846226noreply@blogger.com19tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3782231935569058555.post-61696507591910200312024-02-07T08:00:00.002-07:002024-02-07T08:00:42.819-07:00IWSG February 2024 - Modestly Remarkable<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjatTnvKwmOEjL1TW06poHT1ZgSzADGGCeGla_JJ4RP-PLugQCVxqbR63Dnu24ZPkuEy_V1_xfF2UAYqSwU2TKwXWYas9RXp9CyXcDy7k8V-ldKAocBVvVobww4YopN4-7DOOOG-z_ZAJR0nvPujBFwhTOjH-XBtEoKvmijWy76YrQCdMySENU5H4AVoB31/s932/Insecure%20Writers%20Support%20Group%20Badge2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="918" data-original-width="932" height="197" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjatTnvKwmOEjL1TW06poHT1ZgSzADGGCeGla_JJ4RP-PLugQCVxqbR63Dnu24ZPkuEy_V1_xfF2UAYqSwU2TKwXWYas9RXp9CyXcDy7k8V-ldKAocBVvVobww4YopN4-7DOOOG-z_ZAJR0nvPujBFwhTOjH-XBtEoKvmijWy76YrQCdMySENU5H4AVoB31/w200-h197/Insecure%20Writers%20Support%20Group%20Badge2.jpg" width="200" /></a></div><br /><p><br /></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;">Welcome
readers, writers, authors, and bloggers!<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;">We're
glad you're here! It's the First Wednesday of the month when we
celebrate <a href="https://www.insecurewriterssupportgroup.com/p/iwsg-sign-up.html"><b><span style="color: #034990; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">IWSG Day</span></b></a> in the form of a blog hop
featuring members and guests of the <a href="https://www.insecurewriterssupportgroup.com/"><b><span style="color: #034990; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Insecure Writer's Support Group</span></b></a><b><span style="color: #2f5496; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">. </span></b>Founded by author <a href="https://www.alexjcavanaugh.com/"><span style="color: blue; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Alex Cavanaugh</span></a> (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
February newsletter <a href="https://us12.campaign-archive.com/?u=b058c62fa7ffb4280355e8854&id=7a925f8b4c"><span style="color: blue; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">here</span></a><span class="MsoHyperlink"><span style="color: blue; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">.</span></span><u><span style="color: blue; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p></o:p></span></u></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">The
awesome co-hosts for the February 7 posting of the IWSG are:<span style="background: #F4F2F8;"> </span><span style="background: white;"> </span></span><a href="https://janetalcorn.com/" target="_blank"><b><span style="background: rgb(244, 242, 248); color: #0b0bc3; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; text-decoration-line: none;">Janet Alcorn,</span></b></a><b><span style="background: rgb(244, 242, 248); font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"> </span></b><a href="https://sewhitebooks.com/" target="_blank"><b><span style="background: rgb(244, 242, 248); color: #0b0bc3; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; text-decoration-line: none;">SE White,</span></b></a><b><span style="background: rgb(244, 242, 248); font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"> </span></b><a href="https://www.victoriamarielees.com/" target="_blank"><b><span style="background: rgb(244, 242, 248); color: #0b0bc3; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; text-decoration-line: none;">Victoria Marie Lees,</span></b></a><b><span style="background: rgb(244, 242, 248); font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"> </span></b><span style="background: rgb(244, 242, 248); font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">and </span><a href="http://cathrinaconstantine.blogspot.com/" target="_blank"><b><span style="background: rgb(244, 242, 248); color: #0b0bc3; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; text-decoration-line: none;">Cathrina Constantine!</span></b></a><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white;"><b>Today’s entirely optional question: </b> What turns you off when visiting an author’s
website/blog? Lack of information? A drone of negativity? Little mention of the author’s books? The constant mention of books?<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white;"><i><span style="color: #2f5496; mso-themecolor: accent5; mso-themeshade: 191;">I’m not usually
shopping when I visit author websites; I’m visiting. So, I’m not keen on sales
pitches. But I appreciate the blurbs. I love author blogs because they
invariably offer tantalizing tidbits of interest about the author, clues as to
why they write what they do, and how they go about marketing. What inspires the
author, and where do they store that endless supply of confidence?<o:p></o:p></span></i></p>
<p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; text-align: center;"><b><i><span style="color: #2f5496; mso-themecolor: accent5; mso-themeshade: 191;">“Dare to be
remarkable” ~ Jane Gentry<o:p></o:p></span></i></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white;"><i><span style="color: #2f5496; mso-themecolor: accent5; mso-themeshade: 191;">Have you ever
noticed how you meet the nicest people in the Greeting Card aisle? Can you
imagine meeting someone who would one day change your life in a cemetery?
Charles Dickens, born on this day in 1812 with a knack for creating indelible
characters, wrote a classic novel around this premise. Have you read “Great
Expectations”? <o:p></o:p></span></i></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white;"><i><span style="color: #2f5496; mso-themecolor: accent5; mso-themeshade: 191;">It’s Library
Lover’s Month, and we’re right in the middle of Freelance Writers Week. 2024 is
a Leap Year, so a few good people might be walking around with an extra
birthday later this month. Leap Day is otherwise known as National Time Refund
Day. <o:p></o:p></span></i></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white;"><i><span style="color: #2f5496; mso-themecolor: accent5; mso-themeshade: 191;">I love a good
mystery, especially when it gets solved, and I wonder how I
missed it. Hopefully, between tonight as I write and tomorrow when we meet
again, I will have figured out how a perfectly good tub of homemade Red Chile
ended up in my washing machine! To Be Continued…<o:p></o:p></span></i></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white;"><i><span style="color: #2f5496; mso-themecolor: accent5; mso-themeshade: 191;">Happy writing!<o:p></o:p></span></i></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white;"><b><i><span style="background: #FCE5CD; color: #2f5496; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; mso-themecolor: accent5; mso-themeshade: 191;"><o:p> </o:p></span></i></b></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b><i><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjN5qD93G18HVfsLxa_v7RNo-97xb1wufIaYmYDYDlSiiEj9JO9xOpjWpaI_ap9CjcWCwRfstTxQCA9jBk4GkD3Yso1o82dTAh1IR-0gyXKiW32gnx9QY6mPmmzho5J2DIZrTNHyhXwUHTI_oB3K7OFS-Wlu4XSGV8dNXV_93geErLJqV9XMYsE-LwPvPj9/s236/be%20you.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="236" data-original-width="236" height="236" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjN5qD93G18HVfsLxa_v7RNo-97xb1wufIaYmYDYDlSiiEj9JO9xOpjWpaI_ap9CjcWCwRfstTxQCA9jBk4GkD3Yso1o82dTAh1IR-0gyXKiW32gnx9QY6mPmmzho5J2DIZrTNHyhXwUHTI_oB3K7OFS-Wlu4XSGV8dNXV_93geErLJqV9XMYsE-LwPvPj9/s1600/be%20you.jpg" width="236" /></a></i></b></div><b><i><br /></i></b><p></p>diedre Knighthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12772557495518846226noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3782231935569058555.post-84381134519845096112024-01-03T01:30:00.001-07:002024-01-03T01:30:00.133-07:00IWSG January 2024 Loose Ends - New Beginnings<p> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEheWEPfoO2X4ZfWylLELg6zoFfsDPhiLHLvcXJl5Nk5s-xeJWnp_kd0D8fAXMkSoW-Ei6h2JXhDyYvxiVdp1wlrKcOoC1T5Y7p6jTaNZydaHNzTcVlqcp9uc6ah6iTBXallvd_5qAkccIYo9ZZteSyWJV3gwwPvpR_EB3wDs2S6kBnb8qMX7OrHKXG99NBF/s932/Insecure%20Writers%20Support%20Group%20Badge2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="918" data-original-width="932" height="197" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEheWEPfoO2X4ZfWylLELg6zoFfsDPhiLHLvcXJl5Nk5s-xeJWnp_kd0D8fAXMkSoW-Ei6h2JXhDyYvxiVdp1wlrKcOoC1T5Y7p6jTaNZydaHNzTcVlqcp9uc6ah6iTBXallvd_5qAkccIYo9ZZteSyWJV3gwwPvpR_EB3wDs2S6kBnb8qMX7OrHKXG99NBF/w200-h197/Insecure%20Writers%20Support%20Group%20Badge2.jpg" width="200" /></a></div><br /><p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;">Welcome
readers, writers, authors, and bloggers!<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;">We're
glad you're here! It's the First Wednesday of the month; when we celebrate <a href="https://www.insecurewriterssupportgroup.com/p/iwsg-sign-up.html"><b><span style="color: #034990; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">IWSG Day</span></b></a> in the form of a blog hop
featuring members and guests of the <a href="https://www.insecurewriterssupportgroup.com/"><b><span style="color: #034990; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Insecure Writer's Support Group</span></b></a><b><span style="color: #2f5496; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">. </span></b>Founded by author <a href="https://www.alexjcavanaugh.com/"><span style="color: blue; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Alex Cavanaugh</span></a> (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
January newsletter <a href="https://us12.campaign-archive.com/?u=b058c62fa7ffb4280355e8854&id=7a925f8b4c"><span style="color: blue; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">here</span></a><span class="MsoHyperlink"><span style="color: blue; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">.</span></span><u><span style="color: blue; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p></o:p></span></u></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Arial, "sans-serif";">The
awesome co-hosts for the January 1 posting of the IWSG are<span style="background: white;"> </span></span><u><span style="background: white; color: #007c89; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">Joylene
Nowell Butler, Olga Godim,</span></u><span style="background: white; font-family: Arial, "sans-serif";"> </span><u><span style="background: white; color: #007c89; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;">Natalie Aguirre, </span></u><span style="background: white; color: #007c89; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;">and<b> </b>me, diedre Knight!</span><span style="font-family: Arial, "sans-serif";"><o:p></o:p></span></p><p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"> <b>Today’s
entirely optional question: </b><i><span style="color: #00b050; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Do you follow back your readers on
BookBub, or do you only follow back other authors?</span></i><i><span style="color: #00b050; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p></o:p></span></i></p><p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, "sans-serif"; font-size: 12pt;"> <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><b><span style="color: #2f5597; mso-style-textfill-fill-alpha: 100.0%; mso-style-textfill-fill-color: #2F5597; mso-style-textfill-fill-colortransforms: lumm=75000; mso-style-textfill-fill-themecolor: accent5; mso-themecolor: accent5; mso-themeshade: 191;">Good question. And
one I’d gladly answer had I ever heard of BookBub before today’s optional query.
I’ll add doing some research into BookBub to my list of New Year goals. I do
know that I haven’t followed back a reader for years, and that was with a
promise to let them know when I wrote the sequel to a book that about a dozen
good-natured folks read and reviewed (mostly favorably!). I’ve yet to write the
sequel, yet, being the operative word. This year does not look promising, but
who knows?<o:p></o:p></span></b></p><p class="MsoNormal"><b><span style="color: #2f5597; mso-style-textfill-fill-alpha: 100.0%; mso-style-textfill-fill-color: #2F5597; mso-style-textfill-fill-colortransforms: lumm=75000; mso-style-textfill-fill-themecolor: accent5; mso-themecolor: accent5; mso-themeshade: 191;">I try to keep
resolutions, plans, pledges, promises, vows – goals by any other name, to a
manageable minimum so as to keep headaches to a dull roar and regrets out of
the equation. That’s why I tie up loose ends first. However, the current
condition of my desk suggests there’s been a struggle. I wonder who won. <o:p></o:p></span></b></p><p class="MsoNormal"><b><span style="color: #2f5597; mso-style-textfill-fill-alpha: 100.0%; mso-style-textfill-fill-color: #2F5597; mso-style-textfill-fill-colortransforms: lumm=75000; mso-style-textfill-fill-themecolor: accent5; mso-themecolor: accent5; mso-themeshade: 191;">The best thing about
sharing your goals is giving others fuel, ammo with which to shame or coax you
into completing a successful tying up of loose ends –OR- the warmth of a smile,
a nod of confidence, a hug of courage that keeps your muse on the path of
creativity – rather than traipsing off into Dorothy’s poppies. Support is
everything. Support is something I think should be on everyone’s list to seek
or provide.<o:p></o:p></span></b></p><p class="MsoNormal"><b><span style="color: #2f5597; mso-style-textfill-fill-alpha: 100.0%; mso-style-textfill-fill-color: #2F5597; mso-style-textfill-fill-colortransforms: lumm=75000; mso-style-textfill-fill-themecolor: accent5; mso-themecolor: accent5; mso-themeshade: 191;">Last year was, all
in all, a good year in terms of writing. I have faith that this year will be
even better. I even managed to read 41 books, most of which my daughter had
made into miniatures that fit into a glass Christmas bulb…sometimes Christmas
makes my eyes water.<o:p></o:p></span></b></p><p class="MsoNormal"><b><span style="color: #2f5597; mso-style-textfill-fill-alpha: 100.0%; mso-style-textfill-fill-color: #2F5597; mso-style-textfill-fill-colortransforms: lumm=75000; mso-style-textfill-fill-themecolor: accent5; mso-themecolor: accent5; mso-themeshade: 191;"> </span></b></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghit8KipNqkdni99nn7dKEjsbjO7YfCLCOM1Xq4_IxXpDtS7MXZDK8QutVK5eJnhw31ApnQsEeQ9ctpHNpJW1_AhhA8h9MygYcswiVUXwzckd7wxwz2uaI0WMw8QcxzXtl6y66gx1HIWNpiv7_nXIVCKhW-NdK_GPkyZWO_B5Mr6pTcFZGoScB7AHDX1Kv/s960/Christmas%20book%20bulb.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="917" data-original-width="960" height="306" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghit8KipNqkdni99nn7dKEjsbjO7YfCLCOM1Xq4_IxXpDtS7MXZDK8QutVK5eJnhw31ApnQsEeQ9ctpHNpJW1_AhhA8h9MygYcswiVUXwzckd7wxwz2uaI0WMw8QcxzXtl6y66gx1HIWNpiv7_nXIVCKhW-NdK_GPkyZWO_B5Mr6pTcFZGoScB7AHDX1Kv/s320/Christmas%20book%20bulb.jpg" width="320" /></a></b></div><p></p><p class="MsoNormal"><br /></p><p class="MsoNormal"><b><span style="color: #2f5597; mso-style-textfill-fill-alpha: 100.0%; mso-style-textfill-fill-color: #2F5597; mso-style-textfill-fill-colortransforms: lumm=75000; mso-style-textfill-fill-themecolor: accent5; mso-themecolor: accent5; mso-themeshade: 191;">I’m off to see how
your year is getting started!<o:p></o:p></span></b></p><p>
</p><p class="MsoNormal"><b><i><span style="color: #2f5597; mso-style-textfill-fill-alpha: 100.0%; mso-style-textfill-fill-color: #2F5597; mso-style-textfill-fill-colortransforms: lumm=75000; mso-style-textfill-fill-themecolor: accent5; mso-themecolor: accent5; mso-themeshade: 191;">Happy writing, Happy New Year, everyone!<o:p></o:p></span></i></b></p>diedre Knighthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12772557495518846226noreply@blogger.com54tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3782231935569058555.post-74969237911568373222023-12-06T01:30:00.003-07:002023-12-06T01:30:00.128-07:00IWSG December 2023 and RATTLENAKE ALERT!<p> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh683FLrW5M8hGh31ureka29DJ4STS2USWvsXBP_zg3tsjck659Ze_Uq2l0_xo0FDinkQ-F8udAM1-2LCPp7NH_w9PSlTYMOx_-Gc91wvvlhQkhkgzFATwW5qr_3wjLL_XrdOAI190BARpSo50Wj8gIW2H9Qu5yrCBL9YPa1bqS2h7iIy9uKFURj4MR4G06/s932/Insecure%20Writers%20Support%20Group%20Badge2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="918" data-original-width="932" height="197" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh683FLrW5M8hGh31ureka29DJ4STS2USWvsXBP_zg3tsjck659Ze_Uq2l0_xo0FDinkQ-F8udAM1-2LCPp7NH_w9PSlTYMOx_-Gc91wvvlhQkhkgzFATwW5qr_3wjLL_XrdOAI190BARpSo50Wj8gIW2H9Qu5yrCBL9YPa1bqS2h7iIy9uKFURj4MR4G06/w200-h197/Insecure%20Writers%20Support%20Group%20Badge2.jpg" width="200" /></a></div><br /><p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;">Welcome
readers, writers, authors, and bloggers!<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;">We're
glad you're here! It's the First Wednesday of the month; when we
celebrate <a href="https://www.insecurewriterssupportgroup.com/p/iwsg-sign-up.html"><b><span style="color: #034990; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">IWSG Day</span></b></a> in the form of a blog hop
featuring members and guests of the <a href="https://www.insecurewriterssupportgroup.com/"><b><span style="color: #034990; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Insecure Writer's Support Group</span></b></a><b><span style="color: #2f5496; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">. </span></b>Founded by author <a href="https://www.alexjcavanaugh.com/"><span style="color: blue; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Alex Cavanaugh</span></a> (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
December newsletter <a href="https://us12.campaign-archive.com/?u=b058c62fa7ffb4280355e8854&id=843e947c50" target="_blank"><span style="color: blue; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">here</span></a><span class="MsoHyperlink"><span style="color: blue; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">.</span></span><u><span style="color: blue; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p></o:p></span></u></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="background: #F4F2F8;"><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">The awesome co-hosts for the December 6TH posting
of the IWSG are </span><b><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;"><a href="http://www.cleemckenziebooks.com/blog/" target="_blank"><span style="color: #0b0bc3; text-decoration-line: none;">C. Lee McKenzie,</span></a> <a href="http://www.jqrose.com/" target="_blank"><span style="color: #0b0bc3; text-decoration-line: none;">JQ Rose,</span></a> <a href="http://jenniferlanebooks.com/" target="_blank"><span style="color: #0b0bc3; text-decoration-line: none;">Jennifer Lane,</span></a> </span></b><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;">and <a href="https://worddreams.wordpress.com/" target="_blank"><b><span style="color: #0b0bc3; text-decoration-line: none;">Jacqui Murray!</span></b></a></span><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"> <o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal"><b><span style="background: rgb(244, 242, 248); font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">Today’s entirely optional question:</span></b><span style="background: rgb(244, 242, 248); font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"> When
you leave a book review, do you review the book for the reader or critique the
author?<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal">Now, there’s a question. Without the author, there’d be no
story. And if you can’t say nuthin’ nice… just don’t. I would not critique the
author. I like to save the critiques for less public settings where five of us
can throw all the barbs we want about someone’s prose or style as long as we
share No-Hard-Feelings refreshments later. Compliments should flow like
snowmelt down a sparkling summer stream. Always.<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal">In honor of National Write a Business Plan Month, I’m
re-sharing a transcript from a guy who certainly had a plan. (Courtesy of <a href="https://twistedsifter.com/2015/02/20-amazing-letters-worth-reading/">Twister
Sifter.com</a> – Letters of Note)<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal">Tired of his copywriting job in NYC, <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Robert_Pirosh">Robert Pirosh</a> packed up
his dreams one day and moved to Hollywood to see them through. Not sure how to
go about expressing his desire to become a screenwriter, Robert used his skills
to write probably the best cover letter anyone ever read and sent it to every
studio exec he could think of:<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="background: white; color: #0070c0; font-family: "Helvetica",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">Dear Sir:</span><span style="color: #0070c0; font-family: "Helvetica",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><br />
<span style="background: white;"> </span><br />
<span style="background: white;">I like words. I like fat buttery words, such as
ooze, turpitude, glutinous, toady. I like solemn, angular, creaky words, such
as straitlaced, cantankerous, pecunious, valedictory. I like spurious,
black-is-white words, such as mortician, liquidate, tonsorial, demi-monde. I
like suave “V” words, such as Svengali, svelte, bravura, verve. I like crunchy,
brittle, crackly words, such as splinter, grapple, jostle, crusty. I like
sullen, crabbed, scowling words, such as skulk, glower, scabby, churl. I like
Oh-Heavens, my-gracious, land’s-sake words, such as tricksy, tucker, genteel,
horrid. I like elegant, flowery words, such as estivate, peregrinate, elysium,
halcyon. I like wormy, squirmy, mealy words, such as crawl, blubber, squeal,
drip. I like sniggly, chuckling words, such as cowlick, gurgle, bubble and burp.</span><br />
<span style="background: white;"> </span><br />
<span style="background: white;">I like the word screenwriter better than
copywriter, so I decided to quit my job in a New York advertising agency and
try my luck in Hollywood, but before taking the plunge I went to Europe for a
year of study, contemplation and horsing around.</span><br />
<span style="background: white;"> </span><br />
<span style="background: white;">I have just returned and I still like words.</span><br />
<span style="background: white;"> </span><br />
<span style="background: white;">May I have a few with you?</span><br />
<span style="background: white;"> </span><br />
<span style="background: white;">Robert Pirosh</span><br />
<span style="background: white;">385 Madison Avenue</span></span><span style="color: #0070c0; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal">I know I’d call this guy back. Wouldn’t you?<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal"><br /></p><p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: red;">Now, about that RATTLESNAKE ALERT</span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: 11.75pt;"><b><i><span style="color: #2f5597; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;">I am
honored today to announce a new YA book release by C. Lee McKenzie, who really
needs no introduction if you’ve read any of her other compelling YA (as I have)
or any of the magical stories she writes for MG readers. </span></i></b><span style="color: #222222; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;"><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: 11.75pt;"><b><i><span style="color: #2f5597; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;">Moreover,
I had the chance to talk with Ms. McKenzie the other day, and she graciously
answered a few burning questions about her latest new release, “Rattlesnake”</span></i></b><span style="color: #222222; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;"><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: 11.75pt;"><b><i><span style="color: #c55a11; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;">How
does a normal day of writing begin for you?</span></i></b><span style="color: #222222; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;"><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 8.05pt;"><b><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Times",serif; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">I really can’t claim a normal day of writing anymore, but let me
describe what I do a lot of. First, I don’t always write. I have other
things I like to do, and sometimes I can’t sit—something required if you want
to put words down in some fashion other than in your head. I hike a lot
or walk, and while I’m not technically writing, I often come up with stories,
or dialogue for characters I’m already developing. Some of what I think are my
best ideas come when I’m doing something besides writing.
Hiking/walking,/thinking about writing, then</span></b><b><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Times",serif; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"> </span></b><b><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; color: #202124; font-family: Roboto; font-size: 10pt;">Voilà--</span></b><b><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Times",serif; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">actually
typing some words that make sense. This as close to a normal day for me as I
can come up with.</span></b><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Times",serif; font-size: 9.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: 11.75pt;"><b><i><span style="color: #c55a11; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;">Did
the idea for the story fall from the sky or develop unhurriedly in your
heart? </span></i></b><span style="color: #222222; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;"><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 8.05pt;"><b><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Times",serif; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">I think all the stories I write develop in an unhurried fashion
and definitely in my heart. And what a great question this is. A lot of
times I “chew” on a story for years before I put one word on the page. The
characters and I have nice chats, and I like to mentally walk around the
setting they’ll live in, so I’m familiar with their place in the world. I do
have to be careful not to talk out loud to these invisible people if I’m in
public, and I need to watch where I’m going sometimes because my real location
isn’t the one in my head. I did run into a fence once. Now that was embarrassing. </span></b><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Times",serif; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: 11.75pt;"><b><i><span style="color: #c55a11; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;">Did
you research the setting of the story, or is it a place you’ve been or are
familiar with?</span></i></b><span style="color: #222222; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;"><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 8.05pt;"><b><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Times",serif; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">I’ve always thought the 1850s-60s were a pivotal time in our
history. The discovery of gold, and then the pursuit of silver impacted the U.
S., and especially the West, in such a significant way that we are still
feeling the effects of that time. Because of this interest, I’ve read a lot
about the Nevada high desert, and I’ve enjoyed exploring the area I saw
Rattlesnake taking place in. The Bucket of Venom Saloon is an ill-disguised
Bucket of Blood Saloon that’s in Virginia City, and some of the desert scenes
are straight out of either Death Valley or Gold Hill.</span></b><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Times",serif; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: 11.75pt;"><b><i><span style="color: #c55a11; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;">Did
you already know how it would end when you started writing?</span></i></b><span style="color: #222222; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;"><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 8.05pt;"><b><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Times",serif; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Yes. I’m big on the theme of justice. If you read my other
books, you’ll see it pop up all the time. I like it when everyone gets what
they should. I’d love for that to happen in our real world. Bad guys get the
axe. Good guys come out on top. In Rattlesnake, justice comes, but it’s late and
not complete for some characters in this story. For others, justice comes along
with a chance for a new beginning. I’d decided on these outcomes before I
really got started with Rattlesnake.</span></b><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Times",serif; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: 11.75pt;"><b><i><span style="color: #c55a11; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;">As an
expert at crafting unusual, sometimes challenging family dynamics, how tricky
was adding a ghost to the mix?</span></i></b><span style="color: #222222; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;"><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 8.05pt;"><b><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Times",serif; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">I’m not sure I’ve achieved expert standings, but thank you. As
to adding a ghost…it was easier than I at first anticipated. Catherine, who is
the ghost, became just another character. I imagined her dealing with the
experiences we can all have no matter the year or the century. Her mother dies,
she, her father and brother struggle to survive in a strange land where
foreigners aren’t readily accepted, and she faces economic hardship. I
liked that both she and modern day Jonah shared these same challenges—Catherine
in the 1860s and Jonah in the late 1900s..</span></b></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 8.05pt;"><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Helvetica",sans-serif; font-size: 9.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Helvetica; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 8.05pt;"><b><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Times",serif; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Thanks for asking these interesting questions, Diedre. It was
fun writing the answers.</span></b></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Helvetica",sans-serif; font-size: 9.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Helvetica; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p></o:p></span></p><p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
</p><p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: 11.75pt;"><b><i><span style="color: #2f5597; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;">You’ve
been more than kind, Ms. McKenzie; I’ve enjoyed and so will your readers. Thank
you!<o:p></o:p></span></i></b></p><p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: red;"><br /></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;"><b><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Georgia",serif; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Helvetica; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">More from the
author:</span></b></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: #454545; font-family: "Georgia",serif; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Helvetica; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Until about a year ago, my writing was all about what was real
and current in the world. I’ve written about cutting (<i>Sliding on the Edge</i>,
2009), death of a parent (<i>The Princess of Las Pulgas</i>, 2010), illiteracy
(<i>Double Negative</i>, 2014–voted as one of the top ten novels for YA),
homophobia (<i>Sudden Secrets</i>, 2014), injustice (<i>Not Guilty</i>, 2019,
and paraplegia (<i>Shattered,</i> 2021–finalist in the Indie Book Awards).
Then suddenly…<i>Rattlesnake</i>, my first other-worldly YA.</span><span style="color: #454545; font-family: Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 9pt;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: #454545; font-family: "Georgia",serif; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Helvetica; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">It was probably a reaction to what was happening in my personal
life as well as the world around me during the Covid shutdown, but I needed
escape, and I thought others did as well, so I gave this story my best
shot. </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: #454545; font-family: "Georgia",serif; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Helvetica; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">When I’m not writing, I’m hiking or traveling or practicing yoga.
I love to cook and I love to eat. I love to talk with friends, and while I’m
not a snob about it, I appreciate good wine—all of these seem to pair well of
an evening.</span></p><p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
</p><p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 5.0pt;"><span style="color: #454545; font-family: "Georgia",serif; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Helvetica; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">I live on edge
of a forest and don’t hate cities, but I can only take them in short stays
before I itch to return to where there are a lot of trees or an ocean. </span><span style="color: #454545; font-family: "Helvetica",sans-serif; font-size: 9.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Helvetica; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 9.0pt;"><b><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Georgia",serif; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Helvetica; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"> </span></b></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8NUIuVBrFGg9lIOg83KXmiFm50DzbIJk2fv_bxh21DVuaQBpvBQEmBiTUPE0Aix-JdYaazT0PQmJryr8bVBRVqKOkAwN-Hr5IYCvufdaOriKQIFl2uz8XcOLeIBS67G2KucgDPBNlhVJpj5iEpPLqSbsVy6YgbIzRLSAdZla-TAx-oxjyRjEzWafQEB8x/s600/Rattlesnake%20by%20C%20Lee%20McKenzie.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="600" data-original-width="400" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8NUIuVBrFGg9lIOg83KXmiFm50DzbIJk2fv_bxh21DVuaQBpvBQEmBiTUPE0Aix-JdYaazT0PQmJryr8bVBRVqKOkAwN-Hr5IYCvufdaOriKQIFl2uz8XcOLeIBS67G2KucgDPBNlhVJpj5iEpPLqSbsVy6YgbIzRLSAdZla-TAx-oxjyRjEzWafQEB8x/s320/Rattlesnake%20by%20C%20Lee%20McKenzie.jpg" width="213" /></a></b></div><b><br /></b><b><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Helvetica",sans-serif; font-size: 9.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Helvetica; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p></o:p></span></b><p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 9.0pt;"><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Georgia",serif; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Helvetica; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">The desert town
of Rattlesnake isn’t a destination. It’s a last resort. Seventeen-year-old
Jonah Guthrie’s aunt sold their home in New England and fled to this place to
escape the humiliation of his dad’s indictment for embezzlement and subsequent
disappearance. </span><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Helvetica",sans-serif; font-size: 9.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Helvetica; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Georgia",serif; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Helvetica; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">While their late uncle left them a house and a silver mine, the
house is a shambles and the mine is defunct. They’re almost out of money, so
they have no choice but to stay in Rattlesnake. And then Jonah discovers
they’ve inherited something else. Her name is Catherine, and she’s been dead
for over a hundred years. Now, she needs his help.</span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: red; text-align: center;"> </span></p><p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: center;"><b><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Times",serif; font-size: 10.5pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Rattlesnake is now available to buy.</span></b><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Helvetica",sans-serif; font-size: 9.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Helvetica; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Helvetica",sans-serif; font-size: 9.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Helvetica; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"> </span></p><p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-align: center;"><a href="file:///C:/Users/Diedre/Documents/IWSG%20-%201ST%20Wed/2023%20IWSG/IWSG%20December%202023.docx#youngadult%20%23paranormal" target="_blank"><span style="color: #453ccc; font-family: "Georgia",serif; font-size: 9.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Helvetica; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Amazon</span></a><span style="color: #453ccc; font-family: "Georgia",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Helvetica; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"> . </span><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Helvetica",sans-serif; font-size: 9.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Helvetica; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><a href="https://www.smashwords.com/books/view/1481237" target="_blank"><span style="color: #1155cc; font-family: "Georgia",serif;">Smashwords</span></a></span><span style="color: #453ccc; font-family: "Georgia",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Helvetica; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"> . </span><a href="https://www.kobo.com/us/en/search?query=Rattlesnake%20(C.%20Lee%20McKenzie)&ac=1&acp=Rattlesnake&ac.title=Rattlesnake&ac.author=C.%20Lee%20McKenzie" target="_blank"><span style="color: #1155cc; font-family: "Georgia",serif; font-size: 9.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Helvetica; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Kobo</span></a><span style="color: #453ccc; font-family: "Georgia",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Helvetica; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"> . </span><a href="https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/rattlesnake-c-lee-mckenzie/1144383328?ean=2940167647718" target="_blank"><span style="color: #1155cc; font-family: "Georgia",serif; font-size: 9.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Helvetica; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Barnes & Nobel</span></a><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Helvetica",sans-serif; font-size: 9.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Helvetica; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p></o:p></span></p><p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-align: center;"><a href="https://cleemckenziebooks.com/" target="_blank"><span style="color: #1155cc; font-family: "Times",serif; font-size: 10.5pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">C. Lee McKenzie</span></a><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Helvetica",sans-serif; font-size: 9.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Helvetica; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p></o:p></span></p><p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-align: center;"><a href="https://substack.com/@cleemckenzie" target="_blank"><span style="color: #1155cc; font-family: "Times",serif; font-size: 10.5pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Substack</span></a><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Times",serif; font-size: 10.5pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"> . </span><a href="https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/2809083.C_Lee_McKenzie" target="_blank"><span style="color: #1155cc; font-family: "Times",serif; font-size: 10.5pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Goodreads</span></a><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Times",serif; font-size: 10.5pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"> . </span><a href="https://www.facebook.com/cleemckenzie" target="_blank"><span style="color: #1155cc; font-family: "Times",serif; font-size: 10.5pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Facebook</span></a><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Times",serif; font-size: 10.5pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"> . </span><a href="https://www.instagram.com/cleemckenzie/" target="_blank"><span style="color: #1155cc; font-family: "Times",serif; font-size: 10.5pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Instagram</span></a><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Times",serif; font-size: 10.5pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"> . </span><a href="https://YouTube@cleemckenzie/" target="_blank"><span style="color: #1155cc; font-family: "Times",serif; font-size: 10.5pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">YouTube</span></a><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Times",serif; font-size: 10.5pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"> . </span><a href="https://www.linkedin.com/in/cleemckenzie/" target="_blank"><span style="color: #1155cc; font-family: "Times",serif; font-size: 10.5pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">LinkedIn</span></a><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Helvetica",sans-serif; font-size: 9.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Helvetica; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal">Happy writing!<o:p></o:p></p><p>
</p><p class="MsoNormal"> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQh9Cdd5BE7wdOtsT3frVOvE7iKOX3pfZ9WaEFq4ukVzdsYJVnYXlZQ4m4bXZJDudMvZp8VLWB9veHiNU_XcZXFHd4q0ZwNyaCwxyhtiaX9CxZ2z8EaJhQms0yXXKhF2q8e-XWukvNN9g1dz7q-lnLE1-xUFLX-3-Nlo70Ak_O5wk-fmeeJoogGEzXp8kn/s835/christmas%20memes.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="835" data-original-width="564" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQh9Cdd5BE7wdOtsT3frVOvE7iKOX3pfZ9WaEFq4ukVzdsYJVnYXlZQ4m4bXZJDudMvZp8VLWB9veHiNU_XcZXFHd4q0ZwNyaCwxyhtiaX9CxZ2z8EaJhQms0yXXKhF2q8e-XWukvNN9g1dz7q-lnLE1-xUFLX-3-Nlo70Ak_O5wk-fmeeJoogGEzXp8kn/s320/christmas%20memes.jpg" width="216" /></a></div><br /><o:p></o:p><p></p>diedre Knighthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12772557495518846226noreply@blogger.com15tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3782231935569058555.post-72619835072858068672023-11-01T02:30:00.001-06:002023-11-01T02:30:00.147-06:00IWSG November 2023<p> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPv10OMI-esfwjSzE7600p5868AMy4Q23wt9GrxfS5gdmV5MpefzBpua5oZn7A-Fs6bxeZ1-ARZG-Q8lNWSX5vy9UjIpSz_nQjJ6X0loNHGoLy-5og8Cq78nZpzaaXOewlTU_LR-0BKf2HySu-LHR6vHELrT-j9NN6QVQkLISwzi5_8rmcOaNBUoHQ7y7r/s932/Insecure%20Writers%20Support%20Group%20Badge2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="918" data-original-width="932" height="197" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPv10OMI-esfwjSzE7600p5868AMy4Q23wt9GrxfS5gdmV5MpefzBpua5oZn7A-Fs6bxeZ1-ARZG-Q8lNWSX5vy9UjIpSz_nQjJ6X0loNHGoLy-5og8Cq78nZpzaaXOewlTU_LR-0BKf2HySu-LHR6vHELrT-j9NN6QVQkLISwzi5_8rmcOaNBUoHQ7y7r/w200-h197/Insecure%20Writers%20Support%20Group%20Badge2.jpg" width="200" /></a></div><br /><p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;">Welcome
readers, writers, authors, and bloggers!<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;">We're
glad you're here! It's the First Wednesday of the month; when we
celebrate <a href="https://www.insecurewriterssupportgroup.com/p/iwsg-sign-up.html"><b><span style="color: #034990; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">IWSG Day</span></b></a> in the form of a blog hop
featuring members and guests of the <a href="https://www.insecurewriterssupportgroup.com/"><b><span style="color: #034990; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Insecure Writer's Support Group</span></b></a><b><span style="color: #2f5496; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">. </span></b>Founded by author <a href="https://www.alexjcavanaugh.com/"><span style="color: blue; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Alex Cavanaugh</span></a> (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 <a href="https://us12.campaign-archive.com/?u=b058c62fa7ffb4280355e8854&id=7a925f8b4c"><span style="color: blue; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">here</span></a><span class="MsoHyperlink"><span style="color: blue; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">.</span></span><span class="MsoHyperlink"><span style="color: blue;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;">Our
awesome co-hosts this month are: <span style="background: rgb(244, 242, 248); font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 18pt;"> </span><o:p></o:p><span style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; text-align: center;"> </span><strong speechify-initial-font-family="Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif" speechify-initial-font-size="18px" style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.pjcolando.com/" speechify-initial-font-family="Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif" speechify-initial-font-size="18px" style="color: #007c89; font-weight: normal; text-size-adjust: 100%;" target="_blank">PJ Colando,</a> <a href="http://jeanddavis.blogspot.com/" speechify-initial-font-family="Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif" speechify-initial-font-size="18px" style="color: #007c89; font-weight: normal; text-size-adjust: 100%;" target="_blank">Jean Davis,</a> <a href="http://www.lisabuiecollard.com/" speechify-initial-font-family="Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif" speechify-initial-font-size="18px" style="color: #007c89; font-weight: normal; text-size-adjust: 100%;" target="_blank">Lisa Buie Collard,</a></strong><span style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; text-align: center;"> and me, </span><strong speechify-initial-font-family="Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif" speechify-initial-font-size="18px" style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; text-align: center;"><a href="https://pensivepenspost.blogspot.com/" speechify-initial-font-family="Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif" speechify-initial-font-size="18px" style="color: #007c89; font-weight: normal; text-size-adjust: 100%;" target="_blank">Diedre Knight!</a></strong></p><p>
</p><p class="MsoNormal">The optional question(s) for this month is: <strong speechify-initial-font-family="Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif" speechify-initial-font-size="18px" style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; text-align: center;">November is National Novel Writing Month. Have you ever participated? If not, why not?</strong></p><p class="MsoNormal">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 ;-) <o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal">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 <i>only</i> one
word whatever possessed me. <o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal">American author Dorothy Straight’s motivation came from her
mother, who posed a question in 1962, “Who made the world?” Dorothy answered by
writing <i>and</i> 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. <o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal">Author <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ray_Bradbury">Ray
Bradbury</a> earned his first paycheck at age 14 for a joke he sold to George
Burns and never looked back. <o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal">Then there are the silent ones, the ones that can’t or
couldn’t brag even if they wanted to, the ghostwriters. For instance, <b>H.P. Lovecraft</b>, creator of supernatural
tales, was also a ghostwriter for Harry Houdini. Former high school teacher <b>Andrew Neiderman</b> was hired to (as it
turned out<i>, flawlessly</i>) 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. <b>Mark
Twain</b> 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 ;-)<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal">What matters as a writer, whether for passion or fame, is that you write well and often. <o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal"><strong speechify-initial-font-family="Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif" speechify-initial-font-size="18px" style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; text-align: center;">
</strong></p><p class="MsoNormal">Happy writing!<o:p></o:p></p>diedre Knighthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12772557495518846226noreply@blogger.com53tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3782231935569058555.post-60985447758916640342023-10-04T02:30:00.003-06:002023-10-04T02:30:00.211-06:00IWSG October 2023 <p> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOHRSFkHOmP_liPVqrvpvSRQ4pycIPFvWvzemZu_H58_1Bhc033g8ikQzjKlcRKsb6YyIMibU48OlknZDPdPog8CA5cyewjqzuNvioz7877fB6DLklqKP516wTV6lW8FrMzOx7LWXrEvdOeBz0JK3KKmRewmSmyAOBqit9befMMyjH8DXTwQzmi-olb0t9/s932/Insecure%20Writers%20Support%20Group%20Badge2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="918" data-original-width="932" height="197" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOHRSFkHOmP_liPVqrvpvSRQ4pycIPFvWvzemZu_H58_1Bhc033g8ikQzjKlcRKsb6YyIMibU48OlknZDPdPog8CA5cyewjqzuNvioz7877fB6DLklqKP516wTV6lW8FrMzOx7LWXrEvdOeBz0JK3KKmRewmSmyAOBqit9befMMyjH8DXTwQzmi-olb0t9/w200-h197/Insecure%20Writers%20Support%20Group%20Badge2.jpg" width="200" /></a></div><br />Welcome
readers, writers, authors, and bloggers!<p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;"><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;">We're
glad you're here! It's the First Wednesday of the month; when we
celebrate <a href="https://www.insecurewriterssupportgroup.com/p/iwsg-sign-up.html"><b><span style="color: #034990; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">IWSG Day</span></b></a> in the form of a blog hop
featuring members and guests of the <a href="https://www.insecurewriterssupportgroup.com/"><b><span style="color: #034990; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Insecure Writer's Support Group</span></b></a><b><span style="color: #2f5496; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">. </span></b>Founded by author <a href="https://www.alexjcavanaugh.com/"><span style="color: blue; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Alex Cavanaugh</span></a> (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
October newsletter <a href="https://us12.campaign-archive.com/?u=b058c62fa7ffb4280355e8854&id=7a925f8b4c"><span style="color: blue; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">here</span></a><span class="MsoHyperlink"><span style="color: blue; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">.</span></span><span class="MsoHyperlink"><span style="color: blue;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;">Our
awesome co-hosts this month are: <span style="background: rgb(244, 242, 248); font-family: Arial, "sans-serif"; font-size: 18pt;"> </span><b><span style="background: rgb(244, 242, 248); font-family: Arial, "sans-serif";"><a href="http://www.literaryrambles.com/" target="_blank"><span style="color: #0b0bc3; text-decoration-line: none;">Natalie Aguirre,</span></a> <a href="http://kimlajevardi.com/" target="_blank"><span style="color: #0b0bc3; text-decoration-line: none;">Kim Lajevardi,</span></a> <a href="https://fictioncanbefun.wordpress.com/" target="_blank"><span style="color: #0b0bc3; text-decoration-line: none;">Debs Carey,</span></a> <a href="http://gwengardner.blogspot.com/" target="_blank"><span style="color: #0b0bc3; text-decoration-line: none;">Gwen Gardner,</span></a> <a href="https://twistingmyths.substack.com/" target="_blank"><span style="color: #0b0bc3; text-decoration-line: none;">Patricia
Josephine,</span></a></span></b><span style="background: rgb(244, 242, 248); font-family: Arial, "sans-serif";"> and <b><a href="https://www.rebecca-douglass.com/" target="_blank"><span style="color: #0b0bc3; text-decoration-line: none;">Rebecca
Douglass!</span></a></b></span> <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">The optional question(s) for this month is: <b><i><span style="color: #2f5496; mso-themecolor: accent5; mso-themeshade: 191;">The topic of AI
has been heavily debated across the world. According to various sources,
generative AI will assist writers, not replace them. What are your thoughts?<o:p></o:p></span></i></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: #538135; mso-themecolor: accent6; mso-themeshade: 191;">First, Happy October, everyone! It’s Children’s Magazine Month! It’s also
Banned Books Week as well as Good Books Week. Does anyone see a correlation? <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: #538135; mso-themecolor: accent6; mso-themeshade: 191;">Is AI going to ruin the writing industry? Well, probably
not. But it will eliminate jobs in every industry, including ours. However, given
the absence of emotional range without the slightest ability to incorporate
ethics or morality into a soulless system programmed only to problem-solve, it
stands to reason that AI also lacks the creative aptitude that human writers
are born with. I am somewhat heartened by that.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: #538135; mso-themecolor: accent6; mso-themeshade: 191;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKyyXBfOlmk7DyGtjdUHpLQvcw86nJZEmzTk3MOCb9S-B1esXEa_VCgp0gJiwM5elYBb_1XUd5skqFA0KTouM0Nz1viP_qCJWFQELprpThuPMFGIcyl1zE_QNI0ieyRGodIfoTMfoPyGP0wLw0EoAag8K01O8WZLCKh8C50nkNywdFO_6Z5FJ9IKsFpRAb/s225/AI%20funnies.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="225" data-original-width="225" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKyyXBfOlmk7DyGtjdUHpLQvcw86nJZEmzTk3MOCb9S-B1esXEa_VCgp0gJiwM5elYBb_1XUd5skqFA0KTouM0Nz1viP_qCJWFQELprpThuPMFGIcyl1zE_QNI0ieyRGodIfoTMfoPyGP0wLw0EoAag8K01O8WZLCKh8C50nkNywdFO_6Z5FJ9IKsFpRAb/w200-h200/AI%20funnies.jpg" width="200" /></a></div><br />Keeping in mind that AI is only as reliable as the input it
receives, one has to wonder what to expect when a data entry specialist is
tasked to describe to a machine the psychological effects of being caught in a
perilous sea squall, the loss of a cherished friend, the physical pain of heartache.
Could AI then impart the information with any semblance of realism to inspire
joy, invoke fear, or extract a sob or a tear from the reader? I doubt it.<o:p></o:p><p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: #538135; mso-themecolor: accent6; mso-themeshade: 191;">AI could, however, unflinchingly pass your data off as the
property of someone or some<i>thing</i>
else. Privacy and Security are what is most at stake here, and as long as we’re
vigilant, we should all be alright.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: #538135; mso-themecolor: accent6; mso-themeshade: 191;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEirirOmUGxsCStgtKUBn19iTp2vYHl1r9Ley6Cr63kHnV-ccPiLEkdXwY5kFzpvCIS82zYY-mx5ugDl4FvbsVCkZGjSD6APqV2b3muPi1K9y8zNznfgp_PwvilqgOrlsljdIfkGpAxAVzghG7iCd8pK_nkJkNtEg_rOh7ucn9I9Vs4uenFXBF31lGyaZXcj/s387/Autumn%20inspiration.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="387" data-original-width="236" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEirirOmUGxsCStgtKUBn19iTp2vYHl1r9Ley6Cr63kHnV-ccPiLEkdXwY5kFzpvCIS82zYY-mx5ugDl4FvbsVCkZGjSD6APqV2b3muPi1K9y8zNznfgp_PwvilqgOrlsljdIfkGpAxAVzghG7iCd8pK_nkJkNtEg_rOh7ucn9I9Vs4uenFXBF31lGyaZXcj/s320/Autumn%20inspiration.jpg" width="195" /></a></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;">Wishing everyone a highly creative season!</div><o:p></o:p><p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #538135; mso-themecolor: accent6; mso-themeshade: 191;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgoeHOI0uHC-OuLvEYzGIFkygFSweo4ECTq_6c7-H-oN34cGEC4cy63o1eHV7ldh6cH4BXKT2RX_lDRoacETNnVyRY7U37TTx6ggbDRYM0wnGL3_Z_KRRpEsG0QIFRh2kZtmG40h59rac7W0Rw9kfA4zjp0zUa0hXdYG38VGX9B3d649nUWFHtIyCNTcicX/s235/happyhalloween.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="72" data-original-width="235" height="61" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgoeHOI0uHC-OuLvEYzGIFkygFSweo4ECTq_6c7-H-oN34cGEC4cy63o1eHV7ldh6cH4BXKT2RX_lDRoacETNnVyRY7U37TTx6ggbDRYM0wnGL3_Z_KRRpEsG0QIFRh2kZtmG40h59rac7W0Rw9kfA4zjp0zUa0hXdYG38VGX9B3d649nUWFHtIyCNTcicX/w200-h61/happyhalloween.jpg" width="200" /></a></div><br /> <p></p>diedre Knighthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12772557495518846226noreply@blogger.com23tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3782231935569058555.post-41176299629155476872023-09-06T02:30:00.002-06:002023-09-06T02:30:00.140-06:00IWSG Sept 2023 12th Anniversary!<p> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRd4QWxokJnMZvgiQn7MQevJbPJgs0c-iOMdd5_QHBTovH7IgQjaeuT9lwmadH3MpQuxsj8pYxz3GSWQyGwXD6RQpKTd7AjwVNEc4m-FydeIQ7zNyCCQ-gh__ruohITe_2JTQReegUTlpBmaBShuX8-Er2oPZq45KdBiXigEdO2mmvVr4kiyU-D1OClBbI/s932/Insecure%20Writers%20Support%20Group%20Badge2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="918" data-original-width="932" height="197" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRd4QWxokJnMZvgiQn7MQevJbPJgs0c-iOMdd5_QHBTovH7IgQjaeuT9lwmadH3MpQuxsj8pYxz3GSWQyGwXD6RQpKTd7AjwVNEc4m-FydeIQ7zNyCCQ-gh__ruohITe_2JTQReegUTlpBmaBShuX8-Er2oPZq45KdBiXigEdO2mmvVr4kiyU-D1OClBbI/w200-h197/Insecure%20Writers%20Support%20Group%20Badge2.jpg" width="200" /></a></div><br /><p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;">Welcome
readers, writers, authors, and bloggers!<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;">We're
glad you're here! It's the First Wednesday of the month when we
celebrate <a href="https://www.insecurewriterssupportgroup.com/p/iwsg-sign-up.html"><b><span style="color: #034990; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">IWSG Day</span></b></a> in the form of a blog hop
featuring members and guests of the <a href="https://www.insecurewriterssupportgroup.com/"><b><span style="color: #034990; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Insecure Writer's Support Group</span></b></a><b><span style="color: #2f5496; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">. </span></b>Founded by author <a href="https://www.alexjcavanaugh.com/"><span style="color: blue; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Alex Cavanaugh</span></a> (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
September newsletter <a href="https://us12.campaign-archive.com/?u=b058c62fa7ffb4280355e8854&id=7a925f8b4c"><span style="color: blue; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">here</span></a><span class="MsoHyperlink"><span style="color: blue; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;">Our
awesome co-hosts this month are: <span style="background: rgb(244, 242, 248); font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 18pt;"> </span><a href="https://soniadogra.com/" target="_blank"><b><span style="background: rgb(244, 242, 248); color: #0b0bc3; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; text-decoration-line: none;">Sonia Dogra,</span></b></a><b><span style="background: rgb(244, 242, 248); font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;"> </span></b><a href="https://jlennidorner.blogspot.com/" target="_blank"><b><span style="background: rgb(244, 242, 248); color: #0b0bc3; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; text-decoration-line: none;">J
Lenni Dorner,</span></b></a><b><span style="background: rgb(244, 242, 248); font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;"> </span></b><a href="http://www.patgarciaandeverythingmustchange.com/" target="_blank"><b><span style="background: rgb(244, 242, 248); color: #0b0bc3; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; text-decoration-line: none;">Pat Garcia,</span></b></a><b><span style="background: rgb(244, 242, 248); font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;"> </span></b><a href="http://thefauxfountainpen.blogspot.com/" target="_blank"><b><span style="background: rgb(244, 242, 248); color: #0b0bc3; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; text-decoration-line: none;">Sarah
- The Faux Fountain Pen,</span></b></a><span style="background: rgb(244, 242, 248); font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;"> and </span><span class="msoIns"><ins cite="mailto:diedre%20Knight" datetime="2023-09-01T10:43"><a href="https://authormekajames.wordpress.com/" target="_blank"><b><span style="background: rgb(244, 242, 248); color: #0b0bc3; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; text-decoration-line: none;">Meka James!</span></b></a></ins></span><o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal"><b><i><span style="color: #538135; mso-themecolor: accent6; mso-themeshade: 191;">Happy
12th anniversary, IWSG!</span></i></b><span style="color: #538135; mso-themecolor: accent6; mso-themeshade: 191;"> </span>I haven’t been around quite that long, but
that doesn’t curb my enthusiasm ;-) Cyber hugs all around!<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal">The optional question(s) for this month is: <b><i><span style="color: #2f5496; mso-themecolor: accent5; mso-themeshade: 191;">When did you
discover the Insecure Writer’s Support Group, how do you connect, and how has
it helped you?<o:p></o:p></span></i></b></p><p class="MsoNormal">My first IWSG post was on May 4, 2016. I talked in somewhat
over-flowing prose about stalking my mail carrier for a response to a
submission. I shared a quote by Malcolm Forbes about how failure is success if
we learn from it. Then I unabashedly wrapped up with a transcribed embrace for
all of us: “The surest thing you’ll ever know is when words still flow
unfettered…” <o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal">As far as I can tell, July 6, 2016, was the very first
official Optional Question of the Month. The question was: <i><span style="color: #2f5496; mso-themecolor: accent5; mso-themeshade: 191;">What’s
the best thing someone has ever said about your writing? <o:p></o:p></span></i></p><p class="MsoNormal">My answer was that someone said I paint beautiful word
pictures. The compliment came from an
author I deeply loved as a friend and respected as a mentor. She’s gone now, but her words remain embedded
in my heart, indelible proof that someone – and not just anyone – believed in
me. I can’t adequately describe how heartening that was. <i>Is.</i> She might as well have been the one jogging behind me the
first time I rode my bike without training wheels. The one who let go, knowing
I’d be alright.<o:p></o:p></p><p>
</p><p class="MsoNormal"><b><span style="color: #2f5496; mso-themecolor: accent5; mso-themeshade: 191;">Encouragement </span></b>instills<b><span style="color: #2f5496; mso-themecolor: accent5; mso-themeshade: 191;">
confidence,</span></b> which has everything to do with success. Members of IWSG
already know these are just a couple of the many nouns we pass around like
reassuring hugs. <b><span style="color: #2f5496; mso-themecolor: accent5; mso-themeshade: 191;">Inspiration</span></b> is
another. Join us and see for yourself!<o:p></o:p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhb0yzT86z826uFv2oWrCAu3E6kmerxgBN2BKS6Va0qhKp4ou4GfqkFE4UY2ZZM6QUwfAX0VH6HJR9r6KXMYztaa2y4mJYwUYNpSlJ2SPwk8BgDbxDCcKX2C_XF1kErkmLH-10KYzxzmY3rULXB4jDFttqDyvh0WBP6e0cgC8VYS-PeVO5XHGoCcZPOjNVL/s800/Words-of-Encouragement.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="600" data-original-width="800" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhb0yzT86z826uFv2oWrCAu3E6kmerxgBN2BKS6Va0qhKp4ou4GfqkFE4UY2ZZM6QUwfAX0VH6HJR9r6KXMYztaa2y4mJYwUYNpSlJ2SPwk8BgDbxDCcKX2C_XF1kErkmLH-10KYzxzmY3rULXB4jDFttqDyvh0WBP6e0cgC8VYS-PeVO5XHGoCcZPOjNVL/s320/Words-of-Encouragement.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><p class="MsoNormal"><br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh41mjHpoZPifWOnyLhGdXfmEoI4Bldn6MS6w5P1GIj4vS-7IJS802naq_0u5w1HkAXDvFHxISa8bGhEMpbRcDNwI0LocZbIkHb6Vx3-vLBHRXV9Sp_Qto6ydNI3cBZoUui4vxWGFku7LLsJV3IW3yMykzPgS2gRbO9YhFmN8VymXQBOOBF-VJKGxFhMDpy/s450/Worn%20but%20wise.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="450" data-original-width="300" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh41mjHpoZPifWOnyLhGdXfmEoI4Bldn6MS6w5P1GIj4vS-7IJS802naq_0u5w1HkAXDvFHxISa8bGhEMpbRcDNwI0LocZbIkHb6Vx3-vLBHRXV9Sp_Qto6ydNI3cBZoUui4vxWGFku7LLsJV3IW3yMykzPgS2gRbO9YhFmN8VymXQBOOBF-VJKGxFhMDpy/s320/Worn%20but%20wise.jpg" width="213" /></a></div><br /><p class="MsoNormal">I'm on the road today, dear friends. So I'll be just a little behind schedule on my visits ;-)</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjOb_w8_ytPi9MheVH2XNEhqprmF9Ynj0LXyL3G0cXEC5siRcaSGHCWapcnUaPO-GO3pNni7GVHLaVfcYfYJXQBjGwVMHOS9Ty4TKI1dc4Rl-X-4Mh68BbECaZk-vE160UioTisyeuAAonqaJysOaQ8vH-j4av8_bvT2Eb8Bsfg2bkny6x33he8JcsL9FdL/s702/Roadtrip.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="702" data-original-width="564" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjOb_w8_ytPi9MheVH2XNEhqprmF9Ynj0LXyL3G0cXEC5siRcaSGHCWapcnUaPO-GO3pNni7GVHLaVfcYfYJXQBjGwVMHOS9Ty4TKI1dc4Rl-X-4Mh68BbECaZk-vE160UioTisyeuAAonqaJysOaQ8vH-j4av8_bvT2Eb8Bsfg2bkny6x33he8JcsL9FdL/w161-h200/Roadtrip.jpg" width="161" /></a></div><br /><p class="MsoNormal"><br /></p>diedre Knighthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12772557495518846226noreply@blogger.com18tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3782231935569058555.post-50795453161728720392023-08-02T02:30:00.001-06:002023-08-02T02:30:00.144-06:00IWSG August 2023 Conflict and Tenses<p> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiG1gQ5plSlC96kGi4qHTac4KrlDQ2H1Mc7EOtuRuBAPwYIDPEZMac7TH8wnoANcfoTaDKv-jAM8rgnRvJNy51kA1PTsssLUTCnlAWDKVeScozQhy9xRJSH_CB0kCTiXBP1SLxSFx74PZf4xQ-q7Q0ZCTwrh6-WGL9urFqmEt98swwcJYxYKBT4N4ahvVOn/s932/Insecure%20Writers%20Support%20Group%20Badge.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="918" data-original-width="932" height="197" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiG1gQ5plSlC96kGi4qHTac4KrlDQ2H1Mc7EOtuRuBAPwYIDPEZMac7TH8wnoANcfoTaDKv-jAM8rgnRvJNy51kA1PTsssLUTCnlAWDKVeScozQhy9xRJSH_CB0kCTiXBP1SLxSFx74PZf4xQ-q7Q0ZCTwrh6-WGL9urFqmEt98swwcJYxYKBT4N4ahvVOn/w200-h197/Insecure%20Writers%20Support%20Group%20Badge.jpg" width="200" /></a></div><br /><p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", "serif"; font-size: 12pt;">Welcome readers,
writers, authors, and bloggers!</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", "serif"; font-size: 13.5pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", "serif"; font-size: 12pt;">We're glad you're here!
It's the First Wednesday of the month; when we celebrate </span><a href="https://www.insecurewriterssupportgroup.com/p/iwsg-sign-up.html"><b><span style="color: #034990; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">IWSG Day</span></b></a><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", "serif"; font-size: 12pt;"> in the form of a blog hop featuring members and guests of
the </span><a href="https://www.insecurewriterssupportgroup.com/"><b><span style="color: #034990; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Insecure Writer's Support Group</span></b></a><b><span style="color: #2f5496; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">. </span></b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", "serif"; font-size: 12pt;">Founded by author </span><a href="https://www.alexjcavanaugh.com/"><span style="color: blue; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Alex Cavanaugh</span></a><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", "serif"; font-size: 12pt;"> (Thank
you, Captain!) and fostered by like-minded associates, IWSG is a comfortable
place to share views and literary news from the viewpoint of our</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", "serif"; font-size: 12pt;"> writing desks as we
record our journeys. Check out the August newsletter </span><a href="https://us12.campaign-archive.com/?u=b058c62fa7ffb4280355e8854&id=7a925f8b4c"><span style="color: blue; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">here</span></a><span class="MsoHyperlink"><span style="color: blue; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">.</span></span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", "serif"; font-size: 13.5pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", "serif"; font-size: 12pt;">Our awesome co-hosts
this month are:</span><b><span style="background: white; font-family: Arial, "sans-serif";"> <a href="http://katelarkindale.blogspot.com/" target="_blank"><span style="color: #007c89; font-weight: normal;">Kate Larkinsdale,</span></a> <a href="http://dianeburton.blogspot.com/" target="_blank"><span style="color: #007c89; font-weight: normal;">Diane Burton,</span></a></span></b><span style="background: white; font-family: Arial, "sans-serif";"> <b><a href="https://janetalcorn.com/" target="_blank"><span style="color: #007c89; font-weight: normal;">Janet Alcorn,</span></a></b> and </span><a href="http://thewarriormuse.blogspot.com/" target="_blank"><b><span style="background: white; color: #007c89; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">Shannon
Lawrence!</span></b></a><b><span style="background: white; color: #2e74b5; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"> </span></b><span style="background: white; font-family: "Times New Roman", "serif"; font-size: 12pt;">Feel free to</span><b><span style="background: white; color: #2e74b5; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"> </span></b><span style="background: white; font-family: "Times New Roman", "serif"; font-size: 12pt;">hop around and say hello to
everyone!</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", "serif"; font-size: 13.5pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">The <i>Optional</i>
question for this month is: <i><span style="color: #2f5597; mso-style-textfill-fill-alpha: 100.0%; mso-style-textfill-fill-color: #2F5597; mso-style-textfill-fill-colortransforms: lumm=75000; mso-style-textfill-fill-themecolor: accent5; mso-themecolor: accent5; mso-themeshade: 191;">Have you ever
written something that afterwards you felt conflicted about? If so, did you let
it stay how it was, take it out, or rewrite it?<o:p></o:p></span></i></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">Absolutely. I’ve yet to meet a writer who hasn’t
gone back at least once along the way to revise, rewrite or completely remove
something that just didn’t feel right. Providing it hasn’t already gone to
publication, I have and will always rewrite or delete anything I don’t feel
comfortable with or about. To quote one of our members, Arlee at <a href="https://tossingitout.blogspot.com/">Tossing it Out</a>, “<i>The story belongs to the author, the book
belongs to the readers.</i>” I think it’s a good thing to keep in mind. Timely
proofreading is also important.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_JCl1ya0K-Sj-Cm696tdCgNNkMp2qvQ_dHRRD0tYxg92PHhnGZrNSylfOBVk4GTj8WUnIkUT2JUAWSxG8lWIvghLNHUgPT488VaMlTyBIeLMupuLC8C4ABNVY_pERxLK_jOIo-fd5fDuAF1suwu98Ra4rS28CZy2gWarsA3_M7i1n6i1VfR3e693OKxzE/s480/Best%20proofreading.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="480" data-original-width="480" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_JCl1ya0K-Sj-Cm696tdCgNNkMp2qvQ_dHRRD0tYxg92PHhnGZrNSylfOBVk4GTj8WUnIkUT2JUAWSxG8lWIvghLNHUgPT488VaMlTyBIeLMupuLC8C4ABNVY_pERxLK_jOIo-fd5fDuAF1suwu98Ra4rS28CZy2gWarsA3_M7i1n6i1VfR3e693OKxzE/w200-h200/Best%20proofreading.jpg" width="200" /></a></div><br /><p></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">My current WIP is one that had been in my “Someday,
maybe” drawer for quite a while. To be honest, the exile was deflating, yet
necessary. I’m attempting to gain back some of the lost momentum while
struggling to keep the tenses straight. Anyone else ever encountered this? <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">I did run across a few tips I plan to try in an
article at <a href="https://www.nownovel.com/blog/writing-tenses-past-present-future/">nownovel.com</a> For now, I’m open to suggestions ;-)<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">Happy Writing!<o:p></o:p></span></p><p>
</p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;"> </span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-rVMu77koYf26E3fNLmRn27PhaEv8_RwZ30IktvzJ0oQK9ZTmNidDojJ2pKV0XC8UI5qnEab5cfnd1o-OCi7F8KIzevrwQYKHK2pbmT9qqXHw2H5ln8xBKjaTuu9F2DTJiRlnuyJh1zA8HQPmAAsbTLsD0C6JnqNHQD0P4qjmrn37ad4GzRc0XFcXmMgJ/s959/Sneaky%20typos.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="787" data-original-width="959" height="263" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-rVMu77koYf26E3fNLmRn27PhaEv8_RwZ30IktvzJ0oQK9ZTmNidDojJ2pKV0XC8UI5qnEab5cfnd1o-OCi7F8KIzevrwQYKHK2pbmT9qqXHw2H5ln8xBKjaTuu9F2DTJiRlnuyJh1zA8HQPmAAsbTLsD0C6JnqNHQD0P4qjmrn37ad4GzRc0XFcXmMgJ/s320/Sneaky%20typos.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><p></p>diedre Knighthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12772557495518846226noreply@blogger.com21tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3782231935569058555.post-84898259851078620242023-07-05T02:30:00.001-06:002023-07-05T02:30:00.139-06:00IWSG July 2023 One Tomato, Two Tomatoes,<p> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFhPbZE8uCxE2VAVkI3FnsXR3sreq12vmBv1uqdEtVHc8Scalw2selcwbaJwAhEcjBF8fjTDEFXzWROVvi7bdygv7PNUqFseIuTa16EY0Zz0pYuFvtbSLKQL7uwOEyFA6qEueQWsKAgnUK-JZzbiUGJ4sGRbvlaHxDCp1dPgTGqAYS9u_NTPxL1RQBAdH6/s932/Insecure%20Writers%20Support%20Group%20Badge2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="918" data-original-width="932" height="197" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFhPbZE8uCxE2VAVkI3FnsXR3sreq12vmBv1uqdEtVHc8Scalw2selcwbaJwAhEcjBF8fjTDEFXzWROVvi7bdygv7PNUqFseIuTa16EY0Zz0pYuFvtbSLKQL7uwOEyFA6qEueQWsKAgnUK-JZzbiUGJ4sGRbvlaHxDCp1dPgTGqAYS9u_NTPxL1RQBAdH6/w200-h197/Insecure%20Writers%20Support%20Group%20Badge2.jpg" width="200" /></a></div><br /><p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt;">Welcome readers,
writers, authors, and bloggers!</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 13.5pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt;">We're glad you're here!
It's the First Wednesday of the month; when we celebrate </span><a href="https://www.insecurewriterssupportgroup.com/p/iwsg-sign-up.html"><b><span style="color: #034990; font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">IWSG Day</span></b></a><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt;"> in the form of a blog hop featuring members and guests of
the </span><a href="https://www.insecurewriterssupportgroup.com/"><b><span style="color: #034990; font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Insecure Writer's Support Group</span></b></a><b><span style="color: #2f5496; font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">. </span></b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt;">Founded by author </span><a href="https://www.alexjcavanaugh.com/"><span style="color: blue; font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Alex Cavanaugh</span></a><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt;"> (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 July newsletter </span><a href="https://us12.campaign-archive.com/?u=b058c62fa7ffb4280355e8854&id=7a925f8b4c"><span style="color: blue; font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">here</span></a><span class="MsoHyperlink"><span style="color: blue; font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">.</span></span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 13.5pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;"><span style="background-color: #eeeeee;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt;">Our awesome co-hosts
this month are:</span><b><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"> <a href="http://www.pjcolando.com/" target="_blank"><span style="color: #007c89; font-weight: normal;">PJ Colando,</span></a> <a href="http://kimlajevardi.com/" target="_blank"><span style="color: #007c89; font-weight: normal;">Kim Lajevardi,</span></a> <a href="http://gwengardner.blogspot.com/" target="_blank"><span style="color: #007c89; font-weight: normal;">Gwen Gardner,</span></a> <a href="http://www.patgarciaandeverythingmustchange.com/" target="_blank"><span style="color: #007c89; font-weight: normal;">Pat Garcia,</span></a> and <a href="http://www.literaryrambles.com/" target="_blank"><span style="color: #007c89; font-weight: normal;">Natalie Aguirre!</span></a></span></b><u><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; color: #007c89; font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"> </span></u><b><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; color: #2e74b5; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;"> </span></b><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt;">Feel free to</span><b><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; color: #2e74b5; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;"> </span></b><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt;">hop around and say hello to
everyone!</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 13.5pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial;"><span style="background-color: #eeeeee;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;">The <i>optional</i> question for this month
is: </span><strong><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">99% of my story ideas come from dreams. Where do yours
predominantly come from?</span></strong><b><i><span style="color: #2e74b5; font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-themecolor: accent1; mso-themeshade: 191;"><o:p></o:p></span></i></b></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial;"><span style="background-color: #eeeeee; color: #7030a0; font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;">I'm reminded of a quote (I'll paraphrase for
brevity) by Orson Scott:<o:p></o:p></span></p><p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; text-align: center;"><span style="background-color: #eeeeee; color: #7030a0; font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;">"Everybody walks
past a thousand story ideas every day,"<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial;"><span style="background-color: #eeeeee; font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;">A few cool and unusual things happened on my way to a job
fair a few weeks ago; I received a great compliment and a strange prompt. There
was also a promise of rain. Thankfully, the praise came first, or I might have
disregarded the prompt to describe my own funeral from the attendees' point of
view. This is going to be so much fun! <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial;"><span style="background-color: #eeeeee; font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;">I wrote the first 300 words in a parking lot! Later, it took
me longer to decipher my own handwriting than it did to write those words in my
excited state ;-) But the seed was planted and already growing. *In my defense,
Agatha Christie also had terrible handwriting and had to dictate much of her
work ;-)<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial;"><span style="background-color: #eeeeee; font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;">The compliment was also just the encouragement I needed to
revisit, revise, and at last <i>release</i>
a story (I've left blowing in the wind) to the capable hands of an editor, who
by now must think I've given up and torched the manuscript. Not so. I've just
been…distracted.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial;"><span style="background-color: #eeeeee; font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;">So, what do you do when focusing is easier said than done?
Has anyone heard of the "<a href="https://freedom.to/blog/productivitys-power-couple-freedom-the-pomodoro-technique/">Pomodoro</a>
Technique"? Setting specified writing sessions – or Pomodoro, which is
Italian for tomato - sounds like
something that just might work for me. <i>One
tomato, two tomatoes, three tomatoes, four…</i>It all adds up.<i><o:p></o:p></i></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="background-color: #eeeeee;">Hemingway's tip for keeping the creativity flowing between
sessions was to stop right in the middle of a scene you can't wait to get back
to. That way, your next session is already in progress, and you're not facing
the dreaded blank <i>what-do-I-write-now</i> page.</span><span style="background-color: white;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">Fun Fact:<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">Author Roald Dahl was a taste-tester for Cadbury Chocolate.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjU0tzXmu1Me2PLxfWbUceDsBceyo3uza4CoRD88rQP7ylT_0s1Cq8AB-Y0M9sVCKyitXUdJyOJ6hjwWprPg56GqzjnBDAqiM8SeGNmOs_cwgWJ0kujjxJiLlSuQEcX-wKAfQNG1DakODa2-Yvb9AKHLnNqY4kGaIum7kMJOGSGPu6ZdrdLrhzU6x4EDYeU/s320/c5877a15565a977358d8ee37034c18a1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="320" data-original-width="320" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjU0tzXmu1Me2PLxfWbUceDsBceyo3uza4CoRD88rQP7ylT_0s1Cq8AB-Y0M9sVCKyitXUdJyOJ6hjwWprPg56GqzjnBDAqiM8SeGNmOs_cwgWJ0kujjxJiLlSuQEcX-wKAfQNG1DakODa2-Yvb9AKHLnNqY4kGaIum7kMJOGSGPu6ZdrdLrhzU6x4EDYeU/w200-h200/c5877a15565a977358d8ee37034c18a1.jpg" width="200" /></a></div><br /><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><br /></span><p></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;"> </span></p><p>
</p><p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="color: #7030a0; font-family: "Cambria",serif;">"Hold the
vision, trust the process.”<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>diedre Knighthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12772557495518846226noreply@blogger.com27tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3782231935569058555.post-70096938500782917032023-06-07T02:30:00.001-06:002023-06-07T02:30:00.130-06:00IWSG June 2023 Never Too Late<p> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhArlPm9gwSQtECT4GoNMzCiCV-kuTeibbgYOmo6639q0VDdWz1ZJLhnGi4ItT0Sd4hCvMv5HmTvsSldGh-4y10g7xRs0GSw7OGKZxouHNyMAFGB9JKHUIUagvMVTxCJ_Py3--f0GhtVCHaPorZ2Y5WJ9uV5uRjPIFIBL8W0N3HuMU0dylnUJGGZ_xaRQ/s932/Insecure%20Writers%20Support%20Group%20Badge2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="918" data-original-width="932" height="197" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhArlPm9gwSQtECT4GoNMzCiCV-kuTeibbgYOmo6639q0VDdWz1ZJLhnGi4ItT0Sd4hCvMv5HmTvsSldGh-4y10g7xRs0GSw7OGKZxouHNyMAFGB9JKHUIUagvMVTxCJ_Py3--f0GhtVCHaPorZ2Y5WJ9uV5uRjPIFIBL8W0N3HuMU0dylnUJGGZ_xaRQ/w200-h197/Insecure%20Writers%20Support%20Group%20Badge2.jpg" width="200" /></a></div><br /><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", "serif"; font-size: 12pt;">Welcome readers,
writers, authors, and bloggers!</span><p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", "serif"; font-size: 12pt;">We’re glad you’re here!
It's the First Wednesday of the month; when we celebrate </span><a href="https://www.insecurewriterssupportgroup.com/p/iwsg-sign-up.html"><b><span style="color: #034990; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">IWSG Day</span></b></a><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", "serif"; font-size: 12pt;"> in the form of a blog hop featuring members and guests of
the </span><a href="https://www.insecurewriterssupportgroup.com/"><b><span style="color: #034990; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Insecure Writer's Support Group</span></b></a><b><span style="color: #2f5496; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">. </span></b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", "serif"; font-size: 12pt;">Founded by author </span><a href="https://www.alexjcavanaugh.com/"><span style="color: blue; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Alex Cavanaugh</span></a><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", "serif"; font-size: 12pt;"> (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 June newsletter </span><a href="https://us12.campaign-archive.com/?u=b058c62fa7ffb4280355e8854&id=7a925f8b4c"><span style="color: blue; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">here</span></a><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", "serif"; font-size: 13.5pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", "serif"; font-size: 12pt;">Our awesome co-hosts
this month are: </span><b><span style="background: white; font-family: Arial, "sans-serif";"><a href="https://www.patriciajosephine.com/blog" target="_blank"><span style="color: #007c89; font-weight: normal;">Patrcia
Josephine,</span></a> <a href="http://olgagodim.wordpress.com/" target="_blank"><span style="color: #007c89; font-weight: normal;">Olga Godim,</span></a> </span></b><a href="https://jlennidorner.blogspot.com/" target="_blank"><b><span style="background: white; color: #007c89; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">J.
Lenni Dorner</span></b><span style="background: white; color: #007c89; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">,</span></a><span style="background: white; font-family: Arial, "sans-serif";"> and </span><a href="http://cathrinaconstantine.blogspot.com/" target="_blank"><b><span style="background: white; color: #007c89; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">Cathrina
Constantine!</span></b></a><b><span style="background: white; color: #2e74b5; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"> </span></b><span style="background: white; font-family: "Times New Roman", "serif"; font-size: 12pt;">Feel free to</span><b><span style="background: white; color: #2e74b5; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"> </span></b><span style="background: white; font-family: "Times New Roman", "serif"; font-size: 12pt;">hop around and say hello to
everyone!</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", "serif"; font-size: 13.5pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", "serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;">The <i>optional</i> question for this
month is: </span><b><i><span style="color: #2e74b5; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-themecolor: accent1; mso-themeshade: 191;">If you ever did stop
writing, what would you replace it with?<o:p></o:p></span></i></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white;"><span style="color: #7030a0; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">I can’t imagine not writing anymore. If I’m
not writing, I’m thinking about writing. Does revising count as writing? Besides
writing and of course, reading, revising is one of my favorite things to do. It’s
not the same as editing, which is my likeliest Plan B. Finding and fixing
mistakes is easy and fun as long it’s not my own work ;-) <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Revising fiction is often that second chance you never
really get in reality to hone the impression you want to make. For instance,
did the sun simply rise on any day in question, or did it burst from behind the
clouds and spill across the sky in crimson ribbons?<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Author Anna Badkhen recommends avoiding PEDESTRIAN SENTENCES
and advises writers to “Approach each paragraph as you would a poem, then make
it stun” Because an orchard’s worth can’t be assessed without a taste of the
golden fruit? <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white;"><i><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">On the other hand, <o:p></o:p></span></i></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white;"><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; font-family: "Times New Roman", "serif"; font-size: 12pt; letter-spacing: 0.1pt; line-height: 107%;">“Whenever you feel an impulse to perpetrate a piece of
exceptionally fine writing, obey it – wholeheartedly – and delete it before
sending your manuscript to press. Murder your darlings.” — Sir Arthur
Quiller-Couch, </span><em style="box-sizing: inherit;">On the Art of Writing</em>, 1916<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white;"><i><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Then again, </span></i></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">“You never have to change anything
you got up in the middle of the night to write” ~ Saul Bellow<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Remember that eleventh-hour magic never happens before the
deadline, and it’s never too late to revise. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white;"><i><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">How often do you get up in the
middle of the night to write? How do you feel about revisions?<o:p></o:p></span></i></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Martina;">Happy Writing!<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Martina;"> </span></p>diedre Knighthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12772557495518846226noreply@blogger.com67tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3782231935569058555.post-78092061402222383642023-05-03T03:00:00.001-06:002023-05-03T03:00:00.135-06:00IWSG May 2023 <p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjTtO2kJZaT_R4dbbFIj4MBM1c4QuUyOsHyKVeVmhyPiap_cmUvetNmwrpUcMn8_YFQ29xBUIgTt2FMSdoTg0OQmjE3pAUr6ClYWVyzEcgqGSHoKeYi2OG8RWP0zlHZkCE7IrQ9k6Bot3H_q1-uYipBnPqydw2QzFDzltgzuxXo4icvCMc2NcbxKC1mw/s932/Insecure%20Writers%20Support%20Group%20Badge2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="918" data-original-width="932" height="197" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjTtO2kJZaT_R4dbbFIj4MBM1c4QuUyOsHyKVeVmhyPiap_cmUvetNmwrpUcMn8_YFQ29xBUIgTt2FMSdoTg0OQmjE3pAUr6ClYWVyzEcgqGSHoKeYi2OG8RWP0zlHZkCE7IrQ9k6Bot3H_q1-uYipBnPqydw2QzFDzltgzuxXo4icvCMc2NcbxKC1mw/w200-h197/Insecure%20Writers%20Support%20Group%20Badge2.jpg" width="200" /></a></div><br /> <span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", "serif"; font-size: 12pt;">Welcome readers,
writers, authors, and bloggers!</span><p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", "serif"; font-size: 12pt;">We’re glad you’re here!
It's the First Wednesday of the month; when we celebrate </span><a href="https://www.insecurewriterssupportgroup.com/p/iwsg-sign-up.html"><b><span style="color: #034990; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">IWSG Day</span></b></a><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", "serif"; font-size: 12pt;"> in the form of a blog hop featuring members and guests of
the </span><a href="https://www.insecurewriterssupportgroup.com/"><b><span style="color: #034990; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Insecure Writer's Support Group</span></b></a><b><span style="color: #2f5496; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">. </span></b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", "serif"; font-size: 12pt;">Founded by author </span><a href="https://www.alexjcavanaugh.com/"><span style="color: blue; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Alex Cavanaugh</span></a><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", "serif"; font-size: 12pt;"> (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 May newsletter </span><a href="https://us12.campaign-archive.com/?u=b058c62fa7ffb4280355e8854&id=7a925f8b4c"><span style="color: blue; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">here</span></a><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", "serif"; font-size: 13.5pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", "serif"; font-size: 12pt;">Our awesome co-hosts
this month are: </span><b><span style="background: rgb(244, 242, 248); font-family: "Times New Roman", "serif"; font-size: 12pt;"><a href="https://joylenebutler.com/blog" target="_blank"><span style="color: #0b0bc3; text-decoration-line: none;">Joylene Nowell Butler,</span></a> <a href="http://www.ronelthemythmaker.com/blog/" target="_blank"><span style="color: #0b0bc3; text-decoration-line: none;">Ronel Janse van
Vuuren,</span></a> <a href="https://authormekajames.wordpress.com/" target="_blank"><span style="color: #0b0bc3; text-decoration-line: none;">Meka James,</span></a> <a href="https://www.victoriamarielees.com/" target="_blank"><span style="color: #0b0bc3; text-decoration-line: none;">Victoria Marie Lees,</span></a></span></b><span style="background: rgb(244, 242, 248); font-family: "Times New Roman", "serif"; font-size: 12pt;"> and </span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;"><a href="http://selkiegrey4.blogspot.com/" target="_blank"><b><span style="background: rgb(244, 242, 248); color: #0b0bc3; text-decoration-line: none;">M Louise Barbour!</span></b></a></span><b><span style="background: white; color: #2e74b5; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"> </span></b><span style="background: white; font-family: "Times New Roman", "serif"; font-size: 12pt;">Feel free to</span><b><span style="background: white; color: #2e74b5; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"> </span></b><span style="background: white; font-family: "Times New Roman", "serif"; font-size: 12pt;">hop around and say hello to everyone!</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", "serif"; font-size: 13.5pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", "serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 105%;">The <i>optional</i> question for this
month is: </span><b><i><span style="color: #2e75b6; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 105%; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-style-textfill-fill-alpha: 100.0%; mso-style-textfill-fill-color: #2E75B6; mso-style-textfill-fill-colortransforms: lumm=75000; mso-style-textfill-fill-themecolor: accent1; mso-themecolor: accent1; mso-themeshade: 191;">When you’re working
on a story, what inspires you?</span></i></b><b><i><span style="color: #2e75b6; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 105%; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-style-textfill-fill-alpha: 100.0%; mso-style-textfill-fill-color: #2E75B6; mso-style-textfill-fill-colortransforms: lumm=75000; mso-style-textfill-fill-themecolor: accent1; mso-themecolor: accent1; mso-themeshade: 191;"><o:p></o:p></span></i></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 105%;">Depending on the setting of a particular story, I
like to have a reminder handy. A walk in the forest, a view of the ocean.
Sometimes I sit in the dark on the patio and listen to the sounds of the night.
There’s always a dog or two (usually mine) barking in the distance. Crickets
are terrific watch-bugs; going silent when an intruder nears. With the
exception of javelina herds that stink to high heaven (you don’t have to see
them to know they’re near), aroma therapy is always nice. Lavender is my
peaceful favorite. Sandalwood goes well with a lot of the stories I write. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 105%;">I can’t wait to hear what inspires you!<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 105%;">It’s <i><span style="color: #2f5597; mso-style-textfill-fill-alpha: 100.0%; mso-style-textfill-fill-color: #2F5597; mso-style-textfill-fill-colortransforms: lumm=75000; mso-style-textfill-fill-themecolor: accent5; mso-themecolor: accent5; mso-themeshade: 191;">Get Caught Reading</span></i><span style="color: #2f5597; mso-style-textfill-fill-alpha: 100.0%; mso-style-textfill-fill-color: #2F5597; mso-style-textfill-fill-colortransforms: lumm=75000; mso-style-textfill-fill-themecolor: accent5; mso-themecolor: accent5; mso-themeshade: 191;"> </span>month once again.
How many have you read so far this year?<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 105%;">In honor of <i><span style="color: #2f5597; mso-style-textfill-fill-alpha: 100.0%; mso-style-textfill-fill-color: #2F5597; mso-style-textfill-fill-colortransforms: lumm=75000; mso-style-textfill-fill-themecolor: accent5; mso-themecolor: accent5; mso-themeshade: 191;">Lumpy Rug Day </span></i>I’ve
started a quick little mystery about how a rug might get lumpy ;-) Care to join
me? <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 105%;">Have a wonderful month – call your Mom or send her a
smile from your heart.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5FIyFdDuhOM2XuK1KOPnPag8cWJu-_1LEsrXdjvJfK8ZJsigZ7IagNdsFcklEpwSYsLyHPsE1LIATQZXbLywG09vVfU_4omAovUTJ4t3V0sdZYtlVToPudzXyCBfPZ-mx0IuW6cY6LaMdU62Ih8f9zylhu9xekTmkAvydQiFrlqEkACDdZH9jea6Urg/s600/Oak%20creek%20fishing.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="600" data-original-width="450" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5FIyFdDuhOM2XuK1KOPnPag8cWJu-_1LEsrXdjvJfK8ZJsigZ7IagNdsFcklEpwSYsLyHPsE1LIATQZXbLywG09vVfU_4omAovUTJ4t3V0sdZYtlVToPudzXyCBfPZ-mx0IuW6cY6LaMdU62Ih8f9zylhu9xekTmkAvydQiFrlqEkACDdZH9jea6Urg/s320/Oak%20creek%20fishing.jpg" width="240" /></a></div><br /><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 105%;"><br /></span><p></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 105%;"><br /></span></p>diedre Knighthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12772557495518846226noreply@blogger.com30tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3782231935569058555.post-39854953527480794882023-04-05T02:30:00.006-06:002023-04-05T02:30:00.183-06:00IWSG April 2023 Books on the Move<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgw885JbTRX-Vcpc-bgWJufr_xcuUb0a28EoA0e9vv_oh2_DSTDzILk2jRlsObFL3mr9eM4j-7PFBninrasHblLiGUEOBIi4ysGAH0zvmwA68XPDYgetO3gbvFD5RlndxpJmd6fe7-jfwpfk18rkP3k49d278gdlSFJybs7tKqVlJpeTTHL-XxD-1-60A/s932/Insecure%20Writers%20Support%20Group%20Badge2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="918" data-original-width="932" height="197" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgw885JbTRX-Vcpc-bgWJufr_xcuUb0a28EoA0e9vv_oh2_DSTDzILk2jRlsObFL3mr9eM4j-7PFBninrasHblLiGUEOBIi4ysGAH0zvmwA68XPDYgetO3gbvFD5RlndxpJmd6fe7-jfwpfk18rkP3k49d278gdlSFJybs7tKqVlJpeTTHL-XxD-1-60A/w200-h197/Insecure%20Writers%20Support%20Group%20Badge2.jpg" width="200" /></a></div><br /> <span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", "serif"; font-size: 12pt;">Welcome readers,
writers, authors, and bloggers!</span><p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", "serif"; font-size: 12pt;">We’re glad you’re here!
It's the First Wednesday of the month; when we celebrate </span><a href="https://www.insecurewriterssupportgroup.com/p/iwsg-sign-up.html"><b><span style="color: #034990; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">IWSG Day</span></b></a><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", "serif"; font-size: 12pt;"> in the form of a blog hop featuring members and guests of
the </span><a href="https://www.insecurewriterssupportgroup.com/"><b><span style="color: #034990; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Insecure Writer's Support Group</span></b></a><b><span style="color: #2f5496; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">. </span></b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", "serif"; font-size: 12pt;">Founded by author </span><a href="https://www.alexjcavanaugh.com/"><span style="color: blue; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Alex Cavanaugh</span></a><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", "serif"; font-size: 12pt;"> (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 April newsletter </span><a href="https://us12.campaign-archive.com/?u=b058c62fa7ffb4280355e8854&id=7a925f8b4c"><span style="color: blue; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">here</span></a><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", "serif"; font-size: 13.5pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", "serif"; font-size: 12pt;">Our awesome co-hosts
this month are: </span><strong><span style="background: white; font-family: Arial, "sans-serif";"><a href="http://jemimapett.com/blog/" target="_blank"><span style="color: #007c89; font-weight: normal;">Jemima Pett,</span></a> <a href="https://nancygideon.blogspot.com/" target="_blank"><span style="color: #007c89; font-weight: normal;">Nancy Gideon,</span></a></span></strong><span style="background: white; font-family: Arial, "sans-serif";"> and </span><a href="http://www.literaryrambles.com/" target="_blank"><strong><span style="background: white; color: #007c89; font-family: Arial, "sans-serif"; text-decoration-line: none;">Natalie Aguirre!</span></strong></a><b><span style="background: white; color: #2e74b5; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"> </span></b><span style="background: white; font-family: "Times New Roman", "serif"; font-size: 12pt;">Feel free to</span><b><span style="background: white; color: #2e74b5; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"> </span></b><span style="background: white; font-family: "Times New Roman", "serif"; font-size: 12pt;">hop around and say hello to
everyone!</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", "serif"; font-size: 13.5pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", "serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 106%;">The <i>optional</i> question for this
month is: </span><i><span style="color: #2f5597; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 106%; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-style-textfill-fill-alpha: 100.0%; mso-style-textfill-fill-color: #2F5597; mso-style-textfill-fill-colortransforms: lumm=75000; mso-style-textfill-fill-themecolor: accent5; mso-themecolor: accent5; mso-themeshade: 191;">Do you remember writing your first book?
What were your thoughts about a career path on writing? Where are you now and
how is it working out for you? If you're at the start of the journey, what are
your goals?</span></i><span style="font-family: Arial, "sans-serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 106%;"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><span style="background-color: #f3f3f3; font-family: "Times New Roman", "serif"; font-size: 12pt;">As I somewhat feverishly
wrote my first book, I basically had a career, two part-time jobs, and a small
family. Time for writing was tight, to say the least. Thus the adverb
“feverishly”; you tend to write (and run and drive) faster when racing against
time. I had written short stories for years. Yet a career in writing hadn’t
entered my mind. But the book was different. From the moment the premise came
to mind, I couldn’t wait to write it. What I wanted, desperately <i>needed</i> to do was get the all-consuming
story out of my system. Once the story was finished, I realized it wasn’t ever
leaving my “system” or my heart ;-) And
the idea of sharing what I write began to feel much less terrifying.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", "serif"; font-size: 12pt;"><span style="background-color: #f3f3f3;">I’m finishing up my
fourth (and likely last) book now. I continue to keep my weekly writing goals
(700 words per week) ridiculously low in hopes of achieving them. Despite the busyness
of tax season, my grammar app says I wrote 4400 words last month! I hope I’m
not writing in my sleep ;-) </span><span style="background-color: white;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", "serif"; font-size: 12pt;">It’s </span><span style="color: #2f5597; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-style-textfill-fill-alpha: 100.0%; mso-style-textfill-fill-color: #2F5597; mso-style-textfill-fill-colortransforms: lumm=75000; mso-style-textfill-fill-themecolor: accent5; mso-themecolor: accent5; mso-themeshade: 191;">National Bookmobile Day! </span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", "serif"; font-size: 12pt;">Did you know Library Camels spend five (5) days a week delivering
books in Kenya? Or that elephants deliver books in the hard-to-reach mountain
regions of northern Thailand? Indeed they do! And you can read all about them (and others) in a book called “<a href="https://www.amazon.com/My-Librarian-Camel-Brought-Children/dp/1590780930">My
Librarian is a Camel</a>”<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgIwoO-703My3er-IGGnYUfxDtGDdlMo47I176MUrvn0PonhWyckbHYNomlxzHe7ecvWyVHvVgTB0pf0L88EHwVwMWqCOplBBXcUxpvajixiE4_FuGku_44lWJjfvaHLoHXyt1zXIXD1TWQBe1n3nZz6QW7K_0N_ervGWKX09t0x7G_0_itXDS3wmdo8Q/s474/Biblioburro.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="348" data-original-width="474" height="147" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgIwoO-703My3er-IGGnYUfxDtGDdlMo47I176MUrvn0PonhWyckbHYNomlxzHe7ecvWyVHvVgTB0pf0L88EHwVwMWqCOplBBXcUxpvajixiE4_FuGku_44lWJjfvaHLoHXyt1zXIXD1TWQBe1n3nZz6QW7K_0N_ervGWKX09t0x7G_0_itXDS3wmdo8Q/w200-h147/Biblioburro.jpg" width="200" /></a></div><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", "serif"; font-size: 12pt;"><br /></span><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhu2r1s7g7nxns2YGFQ9CQPwTMcZ1FMJZOqZPbF5BpfxKQVAKuyLR6sJAbzDYA4rEufoChcqHRkp1raVEFc87yExKotlYfEJlGdiB4WoN7TFFZ3zSVuLo6HqPV4IAi6ZOjnV9lj30LvNr7_c8JUV9hdsUqstLDDWg8EwcW_-8Ip2kh7VANbcZsV6GNkpA/s880/Bookmobile%20-%20New%20Castle%20county.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="705" data-original-width="880" height="160" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhu2r1s7g7nxns2YGFQ9CQPwTMcZ1FMJZOqZPbF5BpfxKQVAKuyLR6sJAbzDYA4rEufoChcqHRkp1raVEFc87yExKotlYfEJlGdiB4WoN7TFFZ3zSVuLo6HqPV4IAi6ZOjnV9lj30LvNr7_c8JUV9hdsUqstLDDWg8EwcW_-8Ip2kh7VANbcZsV6GNkpA/w200-h160/Bookmobile%20-%20New%20Castle%20county.jpg" width="200" /></a></div><br />
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><i><span style="color: #7030a0; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 106%;">“If you don’t like to
read, you haven’t found the right book.” J.K. Rowling<o:p></o:p></span></i></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><i><span style="color: #7030a0; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 106%;"><br /></span></i></p>diedre Knighthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12772557495518846226noreply@blogger.com16tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3782231935569058555.post-1801880940226011012023-03-01T02:00:00.001-07:002023-03-01T02:00:00.241-07:00IWSG Mar 2023 Somewhere between<p> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-j1ZfP52VDTd_jQZ4rFkxWHdaNLRueMhsO_HrSLpF8Wjkdm8MrN2JKCfC0z228h3osyFJR-NgSgtIS7g7mHlN5QVRhlRTECcVEQK3qR35I6b4JnIgI5_YIlcbbMM9aWaUY2UzMOb3eu5MGe5b3dp2YFvKcbzz3kgIOSzm2deweg28Y2GpQynwzjFc3A/s932/Insecure%20Writers%20Support%20Group%20Badge2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="918" data-original-width="932" height="197" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-j1ZfP52VDTd_jQZ4rFkxWHdaNLRueMhsO_HrSLpF8Wjkdm8MrN2JKCfC0z228h3osyFJR-NgSgtIS7g7mHlN5QVRhlRTECcVEQK3qR35I6b4JnIgI5_YIlcbbMM9aWaUY2UzMOb3eu5MGe5b3dp2YFvKcbzz3kgIOSzm2deweg28Y2GpQynwzjFc3A/w200-h197/Insecure%20Writers%20Support%20Group%20Badge2.jpg" width="200" /></a></div><br /><span style="font-size: 12pt;">Welcome readers, writers, authors, and
bloggers!</span><p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 105%; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">We’re glad you’re here! It's the First
Wednesday of the month; when we celebrate </span><a href="https://www.insecurewriterssupportgroup.com/p/iwsg-sign-up.html"><b><span style="color: #034990; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 105%; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-themecolor: hyperlink; mso-themeshade: 191;">IWSG Day</span></b></a><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 105%; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"> in the form of a blog hop featuring members and guests of the </span><a href="https://www.insecurewriterssupportgroup.com/"><b><span style="color: #034990; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 105%; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-themecolor: hyperlink; mso-themeshade: 191;">Insecure Writer's Support Group</span></b></a><b><span style="color: #2f5496; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 105%; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-themecolor: accent5; mso-themeshade: 191;">. </span></b><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 105%; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">Founded
by author </span><a href="https://www.alexjcavanaugh.com/"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 105%; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">Alex Cavanaugh</span></a><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 105%; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"> (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 </span><a href="https://us12.campaign-archive.com/?u=b058c62fa7ffb4280355e8854&id=7a925f8b4c"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 105%; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">here</span></a><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 105%; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">
<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 105%;">Besides my humble self, our awesome
co-hosts this month are: </span><span style="background: white; font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"> </span><strong style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.bookwormforkids.com/" style="color: #007c89; font-weight: normal; text-size-adjust: 100%;" target="_blank">Tonya Drecker,</a> <a href="http://bish%20%20randomthoughts.blogspot.com/" style="color: #007c89; font-weight: normal; text-size-adjust: 100%;" target="_blank">Bish Denham,</a> <a href="https://www.insecurewriterssupportgroup.com/p/olgagodim.wordpress.com" style="color: #007c89; font-weight: normal; text-size-adjust: 100%;" target="_blank">Olga Godim,</a> </strong><span style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; text-align: center;">and </span><strong style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.jqrose.com/" style="color: #007c89; font-weight: normal; text-size-adjust: 100%;" target="_blank">JQ Rose!</a></strong><b><span style="background: white; color: #2e74b5; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 105%; mso-themecolor: accent1; mso-themeshade: 191;"> </span></b><span style="background: white; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 105%;">Feel free to</span><b><span style="background: white; color: #2e74b5; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 105%; mso-themecolor: accent1; mso-themeshade: 191;"> </span></b><span style="background: white; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 105%;">hop around and say hello to everyone!</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 105%;">The <i>optional</i> question for this month is: </span><strong><i><span style="background: white; color: #c45911; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-weight: normal; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-themecolor: accent2; mso-themeshade: 191;"> </span></i></strong><strong style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #2b00fe; font-size: medium;">Have you ever read a line in novel or a clever plot twist that caused you to have author envy?</span></strong></p><p class="MsoNormal"><strong style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Absolutely! Most recently, a line in a short story made me stop and read the line again:</span></strong></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">“<span style="color: #2b00fe;">If you
trust there’s nothing under your bed you never have to come face to face with
it.”</span></span><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="color: #2b00fe;"> </span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;"><i>Keep Calm and Carry On</i> by </span><a href="https://stanbroughwrites.substack.com/p/keep-calm-and-carry-on/comments"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">Harvey Stanbrough</span></a></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">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.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">Does anyone remember the line (paragraph, really) in
<i><span style="color: #7030a0;">Million
Dollar Baby</span>: <o:p></o:p></i></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><i>“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.”</i> ~ Morgan Freeman /
Eddie “Scrap Iron” Dupris<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">I don’t think I’d have watched the movie if not for
that humanizing expression.<i><span style="color: #7030a0;"><o:p></o:p></span></i></span></p><p class="MsoNormal">
</p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">And now I’m off to see what everyone else is talking
about – See ya soon!<o:p></o:p></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjg67qO6k3i9QTOcFqMLG1Jf7VhvRJGrAwDYzHGT5VOZ10IfD72VUTET5WBG0sBEa1WZ2X0rHijXYvymJ-t2-IcbrSKx_X5S5-uUDOpGHK1h-DaMhyUGeBwn4poNOSsWQrk9RBsg_EalzTwACOFEPBrB4pBWkXKpf3YIoN2V1K7DerJCvvgR-nZo4DLGw/s564/Beautifully%20out%20of%20place.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="564" data-original-width="564" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjg67qO6k3i9QTOcFqMLG1Jf7VhvRJGrAwDYzHGT5VOZ10IfD72VUTET5WBG0sBEa1WZ2X0rHijXYvymJ-t2-IcbrSKx_X5S5-uUDOpGHK1h-DaMhyUGeBwn4poNOSsWQrk9RBsg_EalzTwACOFEPBrB4pBWkXKpf3YIoN2V1K7DerJCvvgR-nZo4DLGw/s320/Beautifully%20out%20of%20place.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;"><br /></p>diedre Knighthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12772557495518846226noreply@blogger.com72tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3782231935569058555.post-41756370161214801062023-02-01T02:00:00.001-07:002023-02-01T02:00:00.236-07:00IWSG February 2023 Book Covers<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgx3F_KeQhcBlQMPChsq8tEvajP0ADzxeHlOIR31KfJjK1q7ZblFMGbHlP-MngD7wAh2BPBmb0MFDJTO4UIXdOn5JDnaLogyICXp-D1WM1EbnWuDjO1NuMo0VuXFjQVO4xhfft8WlTbgiO-9x4YytM_eQe7WJWYzletr8W_yTxufAon-uyjSzli55zzDA/s932/Insecure%20Writers%20Support%20Group%20Badge2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="918" data-original-width="932" height="197" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgx3F_KeQhcBlQMPChsq8tEvajP0ADzxeHlOIR31KfJjK1q7ZblFMGbHlP-MngD7wAh2BPBmb0MFDJTO4UIXdOn5JDnaLogyICXp-D1WM1EbnWuDjO1NuMo0VuXFjQVO4xhfft8WlTbgiO-9x4YytM_eQe7WJWYzletr8W_yTxufAon-uyjSzli55zzDA/w200-h197/Insecure%20Writers%20Support%20Group%20Badge2.jpg" width="200" /></a></div><br /> <span style="font-size: 12pt;">Welcome readers, writers, authors, and
bloggers!</span><p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 105%; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">We’re glad you’re here! It's the First
Wednesday of the month; when we celebrate </span><a href="https://www.insecurewriterssupportgroup.com/p/iwsg-sign-up.html"><b><span style="color: #034990; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 105%; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-themecolor: hyperlink; mso-themeshade: 191;">IWSG Day</span></b></a><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 105%; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"> in the form of a blog hop featuring all of
the members of the </span><a href="https://www.insecurewriterssupportgroup.com/"><b><span style="color: #034990; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 105%; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-themecolor: hyperlink; mso-themeshade: 191;">Insecure Writer's Support Group</span></b></a><b><span style="color: #2f5496; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 105%; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-themecolor: accent5; mso-themeshade: 191;">. </span></b><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 105%; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">Founded
by author </span><a href="https://www.alexjcavanaugh.com/"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 105%; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">Alex Cavanaugh</span></a><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 105%; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"> (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 February newsletter </span><a href="https://us12.campaign-archive.com/?u=b058c62fa7ffb4280355e8854&id=7a925f8b4c"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 105%; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">here</span></a><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 105%; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">
<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 105%;">Our awesome
co-hosts this month are: </span><span style="background: white; font-family: Arial, "sans-serif";"> <b><a href="https://worddreams.wordpress.com/" target="_blank"><span style="color: #007c89; font-weight: normal;">Jacqui Murray,</span></a> <a href="http://www.ronelthemythmaker.com/blog/" target="_blank"><span style="color: #007c89; font-weight: normal;">Ronel Janse van Vuuren,</span></a> </b></span><a href="http://www.patgarciaandeverythingmustchange.com/" target="_blank"><b><span style="background: white; color: #007c89; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">Pat
Garcia</span></b><span style="background: white; color: #007c89; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">,</span></a><span style="background: white; font-family: Arial, "sans-serif";"> and <b><a href="http://gwengardner.blogspot.com/" target="_blank"><span style="color: #007c89; font-weight: normal;">Gwen Gardner!</span></a></b></span><b><span style="background: white; color: #2e74b5; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 105%; mso-themecolor: accent1; mso-themeshade: 191;"> </span></b><span style="background: white; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 105%; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">Feel free to</span><b><span style="background: white; color: #2e74b5; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 105%; mso-themecolor: accent1; mso-themeshade: 191;"> </span></b><span style="background: white; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 105%;">hop around and say hello to everyone!</span><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 105%; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 105%;">The <i>optional</i> question for this month is: </span><strong><i><span style="background: white; color: #c45911; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-weight: normal; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-themecolor: accent2; mso-themeshade: 191;"> </span></i></strong><strong><span style="background: white; font-family: Arial, "sans-serif";"><span style="font-size: x-small;">February
1 question - If you are an Indie author, do you make your own covers or
purchase them? If you publish trad, how much input do you have about what goes
on your cover?</span><o:p></o:p></span></strong></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><strong><span style="background: white; font-family: Calibri, "sans-serif"; font-size: 12pt; font-weight: normal; line-height: 105%;">As an Indie author, you can
create your own cover or choose from any gallery you like. You can change your
mind as many times as it takes to look and feel just right. It’s not free or
as easy as it looks, but it is an enjoyable and rewarding experience. While Traditional
publishers alleviate many of the trepidations, they also have a say in the look and feel of your cover because they control the purse strings and the timeline and prefer to keep both at a minimum. <o:p></o:p></span></strong></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><strong><span style="background: white; font-family: Calibri, "sans-serif"; font-size: 12pt; font-weight: normal; line-height: 105%;">We’ve come a long way since the
first Dust Jackets. Did you know it was Lewis Carroll who first requested
(1876) his titles be printed on the spines of the plain “paper wrappers” that
encased his books? While that became a standard, any other printing that appeared on the
front, back, or flaps of dust jackets has always been determined by the publishers. By the
1920s, much more emphasis was being placed on the Dust Jacket than the ornate
binding it was created to protect as publishers began to hire commercial artists
to design attractive jackets in addition to including author bios and synopsis’
on the inside flaps.<o:p></o:p></span></strong></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><strong><span style="background: white; font-family: Calibri, "sans-serif"; font-size: 12pt; font-weight: normal; line-height: 105%;">Our library had a number of old
books without dust jackets. I’d run my finger over the title embossed on a
cover and try to imagine the storyline. Or what the author was like. There was
a certain excitement in simply wondering. <o:p></o:p></span></strong></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><strong><i><span style="background: white; font-family: Calibri, "sans-serif"; font-size: 12pt; font-weight: normal; line-height: 105%;">Happy writing, all!<o:p></o:p></span></i></strong></p><p class="MsoNormal"><strong><i></i></strong></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><strong><i><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihDc1J1YfoonpbaDKBA9sTAQzo5Y7ErI1CecMRS68BSabSTFHVcAzzvY3vs2pVsHflOHlgSTvhXihW6Ako2qcvOhAOCIOBXZRcL2DGddae809VcQ1ViF57nenf6N5gzpn60Iwv_IZu7ODPHk8MB7n2P5Qv52rD-aNu4KgMb0MimDC0zaYr2aAi9RYv2g/s640/Bookshelf%20library.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="640" data-original-width="480" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihDc1J1YfoonpbaDKBA9sTAQzo5Y7ErI1CecMRS68BSabSTFHVcAzzvY3vs2pVsHflOHlgSTvhXihW6Ako2qcvOhAOCIOBXZRcL2DGddae809VcQ1ViF57nenf6N5gzpn60Iwv_IZu7ODPHk8MB7n2P5Qv52rD-aNu4KgMb0MimDC0zaYr2aAi9RYv2g/s320/Bookshelf%20library.jpg" width="240" /></a></i></strong></div><strong><i><br /><span style="background: white; font-family: Calibri, "sans-serif"; font-size: 12pt; font-weight: normal; line-height: 105%;"><br /></span></i></strong><p></p>diedre Knighthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12772557495518846226noreply@blogger.com25tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3782231935569058555.post-37665579206707946292023-01-04T01:30:00.003-07:002023-01-04T01:30:00.243-07:00IWSG Jan 2023 Ready, Set, Steadfast!<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4u-bcXXQLjxYUYjXRZvFfWJntie6-5HORdZXC31uNS5IWIZdUhAceU46hDU9ZFNRLUh3ifdEeaGdVy7tnO7N9FKKDg67U1_5cpYO9oMZcxVKZ8u_uGtXQK3PKYW6j_udmPIPuygvvjn5eTuop9Jj64THizMvJX4ySBn5B_EOGQi22-gBOxgZxcOkNYA/s932/Insecure%20Writers%20Support%20Group%20Badge2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="918" data-original-width="932" height="197" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4u-bcXXQLjxYUYjXRZvFfWJntie6-5HORdZXC31uNS5IWIZdUhAceU46hDU9ZFNRLUh3ifdEeaGdVy7tnO7N9FKKDg67U1_5cpYO9oMZcxVKZ8u_uGtXQK3PKYW6j_udmPIPuygvvjn5eTuop9Jj64THizMvJX4ySBn5B_EOGQi22-gBOxgZxcOkNYA/w200-h197/Insecure%20Writers%20Support%20Group%20Badge2.jpg" width="200" /></a></div><br /> <span style="font-size: 12pt;">Welcome readers, writers, authors, and
bloggers!</span><p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 105%; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">We’re glad you’re here! It's the First
Wednesday of the month; when we celebrate </span><a href="https://www.insecurewriterssupportgroup.com/p/iwsg-sign-up.html"><b><span style="color: #034990; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 105%; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-themecolor: hyperlink; mso-themeshade: 191;">IWSG Day</span></b></a><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 105%; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"> in the form of a blog hop featuring all of
the members of the </span><a href="https://www.insecurewriterssupportgroup.com/"><b><span style="color: #034990; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 105%; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-themecolor: hyperlink; mso-themeshade: 191;">Insecure Writer's Support Group</span></b></a><b><span style="color: #2f5496; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 105%; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-themecolor: accent5; mso-themeshade: 191;">. </span></b><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 105%; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">Founded
by author </span><a href="https://www.alexjcavanaugh.com/"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 105%; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">Alex Cavanaugh</span></a><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 105%; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"> (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 January newsletter </span><a href="https://us12.campaign-archive.com/?u=b058c62fa7ffb4280355e8854&id=7a925f8b4c"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 105%; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">here</span></a><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 105%; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">
<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 105%;">Our awesome
co-hosts this month are: </span><b><span style="background: white; color: #2e74b5; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 105%; mso-themecolor: accent1; mso-themeshade: 191;"> </span></b><span style="background: white; font-family: Arial, "sans-serif";"> </span><a href="http://jemimapett.com/blog/" target="_blank"><span style="background: white; color: #007c89; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">Jemima Pett,</span></a><span style="background: white; font-family: Arial, "sans-serif";"> </span><a href="https://fictioncanbefun.wordpress.com/" target="_blank"><span style="background: white; color: #007c89; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">Debs
Carey,</span></a><span style="background: white; font-family: Arial, "sans-serif";"> </span><a href="http://kimlajevardi.com/" target="_blank"><span style="background: white; color: #007c89; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">Kim Lajevardi,</span></a><span style="background: white; font-family: Arial, "sans-serif";"> </span><a href="http://thefauxfountainpen.blogspot.com/" target="_blank"><span style="background: white; color: #007c89; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">Sarah
Foster,</span></a><span style="background: white; font-family: Arial, "sans-serif";"> </span><a href="http://www.literaryrambles.com/" target="_blank"><span style="background: white; color: #007c89; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">Natalie Aguirre,</span></a><span style="background: white; font-family: Arial, "sans-serif";"> and </span><a href="http://journalingwoman.blogspot.com/" target="_blank"><span style="background: white; color: #007c89; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">T.
Powell Coltrin!</span></a><b><span style="background: white; color: #2e74b5; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 105%; mso-themecolor: accent1; mso-themeshade: 191;"> </span></b><span style="background: white; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 105%; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">Feel
free to</span><b><span style="background: white; color: #2e74b5; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 105%; mso-themecolor: accent1; mso-themeshade: 191;"> </span></b><span style="background: white; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 105%;">hop around and say hello to
everyone!</span><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 105%; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 105%;">The <i>optional</i> question for this month is: </span><strong><i><span style="background: white; color: #c55a11; font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; font-weight: normal; line-height: 105%; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-style-textfill-fill-alpha: 100.0%; mso-style-textfill-fill-color: #C55A11; mso-style-textfill-fill-colortransforms: lumm=75000; mso-style-textfill-fill-themecolor: accent2; mso-themecolor: accent2; mso-themeshade: 191;">Do you have a word of the year? Is there one
word that sums up what you need to work on or change in the coming year? For
instance, in 2021 my word of the year was Finish. I was determined to
finish my first draft by the end of the year. In 2022, my word of the year
was Ease. I want to get my process, systems, finances, and routines where
life flows with ease and less chaos. What is your word for 2023? </span></i></strong><b><i><span style="color: #c55a11; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 105%; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-style-textfill-fill-alpha: 100.0%; mso-style-textfill-fill-color: #C55A11; mso-style-textfill-fill-colortransforms: lumm=75000; mso-style-textfill-fill-themecolor: accent2; mso-themecolor: accent2; mso-themeshade: 191;"><o:p></o:p></span></i></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 105%; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">What a great question! The first word
that came to mind even as I read the question was “Finish.” But I’ve already
used it. The term “Satori” has been on my mind for months on end. It roughly
translates to “sudden enlightenment”. This time next year, I’d like to be able to
tell you I had it this year;-) Therefore, my word for 2023 is <b><i><span style="color: #c55a11; mso-style-textfill-fill-alpha: 100.0%; mso-style-textfill-fill-color: #C55A11; mso-style-textfill-fill-colortransforms: lumm=75000; mso-style-textfill-fill-themecolor: accent2; mso-themecolor: accent2; mso-themeshade: 191;">Steadfast</span></i></b>
because that’s what I’ll need to be in order to achieve at least a couple of
the goals I’ve set. Ready, Set, <i>Go!</i> <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 105%; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">In honor of Trivia Day, here are a few
literary fun facts: <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 105%; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">Charles Dickens actively practiced
hypnosis, most notably on his wife (mother of their ten children) whenever she
got one of her frequent headaches. However, he himself refused to be put into a
trance.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 105%; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">Regrettably, Stephen King doesn’t
remember writing “Cujo”. Fortunately, Mr. King has since parted ways with the
memory-thieving genie in a bottle ;-)<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 105%; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">No one could have guessed that Mary
Shelley’s “Frankenstein” would one day inspire the invention of the defibrillator.
Much less that old Dick Tracy comics would inspire the future invention of the
SmartWatch.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 105%; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">Early episodes of Star Trek introduced
gadgets that most of us now find impossible to live without, like the cell
phone - with Facetime. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 105%; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">Can you imagine not only writing an
epic, timeless novel but also being around to realize it also changed the
world? <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 105%; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">Happy writing!<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><i><span style="color: #4472c4; mso-themecolor: accent5;"> </span></i></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><i><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwUl_7V6W2ep3TdcQShFdsqyHRWiafce9EV62oPI9OI6bcunmfvISKVQ4mhGp4XnbTLWwq3zNfUr4nQUYAXfQ74viINodjkKM6ZO-X-x0DV1PvL61no8aPaidte04AO3jcRuUEFpAHkSy84pqLcNiwS8X9yhqTIUGDxYjZPs9llf_y9xz34BwwyasroA/s564/Writing9.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="335" data-original-width="564" height="190" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwUl_7V6W2ep3TdcQShFdsqyHRWiafce9EV62oPI9OI6bcunmfvISKVQ4mhGp4XnbTLWwq3zNfUr4nQUYAXfQ74viINodjkKM6ZO-X-x0DV1PvL61no8aPaidte04AO3jcRuUEFpAHkSy84pqLcNiwS8X9yhqTIUGDxYjZPs9llf_y9xz34BwwyasroA/s320/Writing9.jpg" width="320" /></a></i></div><i><br /></i><p></p>diedre Knighthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12772557495518846226noreply@blogger.com11tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3782231935569058555.post-2429041529756130802022-12-07T01:30:00.001-07:002022-12-07T01:30:00.237-07:00IWSG December 2022 Roses in December<p> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4W5q1y-YqXz2_rKqpnXFlQXMQmcrpAx4qlPfPf1IQ-V01C2CSi5tjnz40yWprxewSyAgod4jHbwcLepn71Kdv-eCc100BytnP_HMXxh7Hk-lQctMpZoLwoo0gT5klVXl2MD6sLoPzWMD5aJ1WyAd5KGjfNrugP_vcx-E725gQqoNGuTpG-Bs9urvDKg/s932/Insecure%20Writers%20Support%20Group%20Badge2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="918" data-original-width="932" height="197" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4W5q1y-YqXz2_rKqpnXFlQXMQmcrpAx4qlPfPf1IQ-V01C2CSi5tjnz40yWprxewSyAgod4jHbwcLepn71Kdv-eCc100BytnP_HMXxh7Hk-lQctMpZoLwoo0gT5klVXl2MD6sLoPzWMD5aJ1WyAd5KGjfNrugP_vcx-E725gQqoNGuTpG-Bs9urvDKg/w200-h197/Insecure%20Writers%20Support%20Group%20Badge2.jpg" width="200" /></a></div><br /><p></p><p><span style="font-size: 12pt;">Welcome readers, writers, authors, and
bloggers!</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 106%; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">We’re glad you’re here! It's the First
Wednesday of the month; when we celebrate </span><a href="https://www.insecurewriterssupportgroup.com/p/iwsg-sign-up.html"><b><span style="color: #034990; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 106%; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-themecolor: hyperlink; mso-themeshade: 191;">IWSG Day</span></b></a><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 106%; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"> in the form of a blog hop featuring all of
the members of the </span><a href="https://www.insecurewriterssupportgroup.com/"><b><span style="color: #034990; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 106%; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-themecolor: hyperlink; mso-themeshade: 191;">Insecure Writer's Support Group</span></b></a><b><span style="color: #2f5496; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 106%; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-themecolor: accent5; mso-themeshade: 191;">. </span></b><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 106%; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">Founded
by author </span><a href="https://www.alexjcavanaugh.com/"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 106%; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">Alex Cavanaugh</span></a><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 106%; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"> (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 December newsletter </span><a href="https://us12.campaign-archive.com/?u=b058c62fa7ffb4280355e8854&id=7a925f8b4c"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 106%; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">here</span></a><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 106%; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">
<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 106%;">Our awesome
co-hosts this month are: </span><b><span style="background: white; color: #2e74b5; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 106%; mso-themecolor: accent1; mso-themeshade: 191;"> </span></b><strong><span style="background: white; font-family: Arial, "sans-serif";"><a href="https://joylenebutler.com/blog" target="_blank"><span style="color: #007c89; font-weight: normal;">Joylene Nowell Butler,</span></a> <a href="http://hogwartssabbatical.blogspot.com/" style="text-size-adjust: 100%;" target="_blank"><span style="color: #007c89; font-weight: normal;">Chemist
Ken,</span></a> <a href="http://www.literaryrambles.com/" style="text-size-adjust: 100%;" target="_blank"><span style="color: #007c89; font-weight: normal;">Natalie
Aguirre,</span></a> <a href="https://nancygideon.blogspot.com/" style="text-size-adjust: 100%;" target="_blank"><span style="color: #007c89; font-weight: normal;">Nancy Gideon,</span></a> and <a href="http://cathrinaconstantine.blogspot.com/" style="text-size-adjust: 100%;" target="_blank"><span style="color: #007c89; font-weight: normal;">Cathrina
Constantine!</span></a></span></strong><b><span style="background: white; color: #2e74b5; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 106%; mso-themecolor: accent1; mso-themeshade: 191;">
</span></b><span style="background: white; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 106%; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">Feel free to</span><b><span style="background: white; color: #2e74b5; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 106%; mso-themecolor: accent1; mso-themeshade: 191;"> </span></b><span style="background: white; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 106%;">hop around and say
hello to everyone!</span><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 106%; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 106%;">The <i>optional</i> question for this month is: </span><i><span style="background: white; color: #0070c0; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 106%; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">It's holiday time! Are the holidays a time to catch up or
fall behind on writer goals?</span></i><i><span style="color: #0070c0; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 106%; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><o:p></o:p></span></i></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 106%; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_JfRorUmlF3tQ0fwGEJub0aRmQRoL9NSGDAXgD7CklbEGecAiYYlzTNBGn4Qy--MDUH5WqIzlQ8wFqMmJ5qIMWyOqHaMy2gAE2o94gBxxsOj-24KxLv6dkL-K74RtRKLhC1KF_ZjbjSt6jNOsVNdWFcqr8__h5ZPo7ngaglHM6yiTROxXrkorDQodfA/s800/Roses%20in%20December.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="800" data-original-width="800" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_JfRorUmlF3tQ0fwGEJub0aRmQRoL9NSGDAXgD7CklbEGecAiYYlzTNBGn4Qy--MDUH5WqIzlQ8wFqMmJ5qIMWyOqHaMy2gAE2o94gBxxsOj-24KxLv6dkL-K74RtRKLhC1KF_ZjbjSt6jNOsVNdWFcqr8__h5ZPo7ngaglHM6yiTROxXrkorDQodfA/w200-h200/Roses%20in%20December.jpg" width="200" /></a></div><br />December is such a busy month I try
not to have any writing goals – per se. But naturally, there are lists to make,
misplace, and find the day before Christmas when they are no longer useful.
There are holiday cards – and letters! Does anyone write those lengthy
chronicles of everything that happened in your neck of the woods for the last
year? I receive one every year and thoroughly enjoy reading about life on the
outskirts of Saskatchewan. My one and only response was promptly returned,
stamped ADDRESS UNKNOWN. Hmm… [Dear Sam, bless your heart, if by some wrinkle
in time (get it?) you’re reading this, keep the letters coming and call me. The
number is still the same.] But, honestly,<o:p></o:p><p></p>
<p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="color: #0070c0; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 106%; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">“How did it get so late
so soon?” ~ Dr. Seuss<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 106%; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><br /></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 106%; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">While there’s no shortage of
inspiration this time of year, it helps to have an empty <i><span style="color: #2e75b6; mso-style-textfill-fill-alpha: 100.0%; mso-style-textfill-fill-color: #2E75B6; mso-style-textfill-fill-colortransforms: lumm=75000; mso-style-textfill-fill-themecolor: accent1; mso-themecolor: accent1; mso-themeshade: 191;">First Thing</span></i><span style="color: #2e75b6; mso-style-textfill-fill-alpha: 100.0%; mso-style-textfill-fill-color: #2E75B6; mso-style-textfill-fill-colortransforms: lumm=75000; mso-style-textfill-fill-themecolor: accent1; mso-themecolor: accent1; mso-themeshade: 191;"> </span>(next year) basket handy for ideas you can’t yet get to ;-)
So far, there’s only one message in my basket:<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 106%; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"> </span></p>
<p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 106%; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjk-4_7OrqPl5cgX4OHcYBu6EiPtkENzSho0cOK_MBSmgl03Z1S0y8GgBYpZquNJvFBzvQ8XJ2I_nc0MtUP1nYJBaJHDqw2EkHg-U3p4gOii9PU9YBR4SuOyjkSmig5KQ58PrNN_gdQ5cxESb5rEGiRhRJNvrebWdqtZEImZ4cT8Ku__24W7L8HRWh_OQ/s800/Words-of-Encouragement.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="600" data-original-width="800" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjk-4_7OrqPl5cgX4OHcYBu6EiPtkENzSho0cOK_MBSmgl03Z1S0y8GgBYpZquNJvFBzvQ8XJ2I_nc0MtUP1nYJBaJHDqw2EkHg-U3p4gOii9PU9YBR4SuOyjkSmig5KQ58PrNN_gdQ5cxESb5rEGiRhRJNvrebWdqtZEImZ4cT8Ku__24W7L8HRWh_OQ/s320/Words-of-Encouragement.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /> <p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 106%;">Have you
ever gone caroling? Do you decorate much for the holidays?<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 106%;"> </span></p>
<p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="color: #00b050; font-family: Martina; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 106%;">Merry Christmas, everyone!<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 106%;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1j0HAmGos8_VbisbryVk6824426ddobpk2Mk3dvd1klu87pAr39_wdRhoLytI7H428YZ0rumTN-FOtCZYZiltFBOHRUNVZeVniWkRV4_ioxgbivpLNiA1u2N4CSilDWPhBWx9nBDNluixzRbfJk5C2MYfKczMO68bSZnGVpEDVlHpw9mCANIHV8pjXA/s736/Desert%20Christmas%20full%20moon.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="736" data-original-width="736" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1j0HAmGos8_VbisbryVk6824426ddobpk2Mk3dvd1klu87pAr39_wdRhoLytI7H428YZ0rumTN-FOtCZYZiltFBOHRUNVZeVniWkRV4_ioxgbivpLNiA1u2N4CSilDWPhBWx9nBDNluixzRbfJk5C2MYfKczMO68bSZnGVpEDVlHpw9mCANIHV8pjXA/s320/Desert%20Christmas%20full%20moon.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 106%;"><br /></span><p></p>diedre Knighthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12772557495518846226noreply@blogger.com16tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3782231935569058555.post-82195082252296376772022-11-02T02:30:00.001-06:002022-11-02T02:30:00.233-06:00IWSG Nov 2022 Commas, Crosswords, and Bookstalls<p> </p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjyoEwgN2K2NxwM2PCKheuPzaE0nfVlD4Ar-_LemvGDg8Ekixy8_b14ohDuHdqck_whV76G4AFA7itfRQbzkuvsu4J3JkDmOiqUZmXaWXb0oS0rjG74bJaMgYc5vc4dTJDoOdRw5g4S_hGANScrbFhtdZYG2jzPGuKUts1P2XOfJtLo8CeO7vwyceLRjQ/s932/Insecure%20Writers%20Support%20Group%20Badge2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="918" data-original-width="932" height="197" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjyoEwgN2K2NxwM2PCKheuPzaE0nfVlD4Ar-_LemvGDg8Ekixy8_b14ohDuHdqck_whV76G4AFA7itfRQbzkuvsu4J3JkDmOiqUZmXaWXb0oS0rjG74bJaMgYc5vc4dTJDoOdRw5g4S_hGANScrbFhtdZYG2jzPGuKUts1P2XOfJtLo8CeO7vwyceLRjQ/w200-h197/Insecure%20Writers%20Support%20Group%20Badge2.jpg" width="200" /></a></div><br /><span style="font-size: 12pt;"><br /></span><p></p><p><span style="font-size: 12pt;">Welcome readers, writers, authors, and
bloggers!</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">We’re glad you’re here! It's the First
Wednesday of the month; when we celebrate </span><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><a href="https://www.insecurewriterssupportgroup.com/p/iwsg-sign-up.html"><b><span style="color: #034990; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-themecolor: hyperlink; mso-themeshade: 191;">IWSG Day</span></b></a></span><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">
in the form of a blog hop featuring all of the members of the </span><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><a href="https://www.insecurewriterssupportgroup.com/"><b><span style="color: #034990; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-themecolor: hyperlink; mso-themeshade: 191;">Insecure Writer's
Support Group</span></b></a></span><b><span style="color: #2f5496; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-themecolor: accent5; mso-themeshade: 191;">. </span></b><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">Founded by
author </span><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><a href="https://www.alexjcavanaugh.com/">Alex Cavanaugh</a></span><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"> (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 November newsletter </span><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><a href="https://us12.campaign-archive.com/?u=b058c62fa7ffb4280355e8854&id=7a925f8b4c">here</a></span><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"> <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">Our awesome
co-hosts this month are: <a href="http://douglasthomasgreening.com/" target="_blank"><span style="background: white; color: #2e74b5; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; mso-themecolor: accent1; mso-themeshade: 191;">Douglas Thomas
Greening,</span></a></span><b><span style="background: white; color: #2e74b5; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-themecolor: accent1; mso-themeshade: 191;"> </span></b><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><a href="http://nickwilford.blogspot.com/" target="_blank"><span style="background: white; color: #2e74b5; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; mso-themecolor: accent1; mso-themeshade: 191;">Nick Wilford</span></a><a href="http://nickwilford.blogspot.com/" target="_blank"><span style="background: white; color: #2e74b5; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; mso-themecolor: accent1; mso-themeshade: 191;">,</span></a></span><b><span style="background: white; color: #2e74b5; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-themecolor: accent1; mso-themeshade: 191;"> </span></b><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><a href="https://dianeburton.blogspot.com/"><span style="background: white; color: #2e74b5; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; mso-themecolor: accent1; mso-themeshade: 191;">Diane
Burton<b> </b></span></a></span><span class="MsoHyperlink"><b><span style="background: white; color: #2e74b5; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-themecolor: accent1; mso-themeshade: 191;">, </span></b></span><b><span style="background: white; color: #2e74b5; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-themecolor: accent1; mso-themeshade: 191;">and</span></b><span style="color: #2e74b5; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-themecolor: accent1; mso-themeshade: 191;"> Yours truly, me – diedre Knight!</span><b><span style="background: white; color: #2e74b5; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-themecolor: accent1; mso-themeshade: 191;"> </span></b><span style="background: white; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">Feel free to</span><b><span style="background: white; color: #2e74b5; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-themecolor: accent1; mso-themeshade: 191;"> </span></b><span style="background: white; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;">hop around and say hello to everyone!</span><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">The <i>optional</i> question for this month is: <i><span style="color: #0070c0;">November is
National Novel Writing Month. Have you ever participated? If not, why not?<o:p></o:p></span></i></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">The optional
question brings to mind a quote: <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><i><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">“I write only when
inspiration strikes. Fortunately, it strikes every morning at nine o’clock
sharp.” ~ W. Somerset Maugham<o:p></o:p></span></i></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">I admire
anyone for whom inspiration strikes on a regular basis. More so those who can
readily seize the moment – <i>at the moment</i>
– that it hits. <i>Wistful sigh</i>. Between
work, kids, and caring for elderly family members, I’ve never felt like I had
the time required for a commitment as monumental as achieving a specific word
count in a month seems. Now that things have slowed down considerably, I like
to think there’s still time to try it one day. How about you? Are you
feverishly typing to meet your daily word count? If so, is this your first
time?<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">What I find
most intriguing about the challenge is not so much the emphasis on daily word
count but how much every word counts. For the next 30 days, “Less is more” will
be the last thing on your mind, and you can even forget about commas – for now,
as you’re encouraged to write your heart out every day without a care or much
of a clue as to where you might end up. Instead, you chase an idea like you
would a kite with a tail made of words and an endless supply of string. I can’t
think of anything more stimulating! <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="color: #538135; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-themecolor: accent6; mso-themeshade: 191;">“</span></b><b><span style="color: #538135; font-family: "Bradley Hand ITC"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-themecolor: accent6; mso-themeshade: 191;">End each day
mid-sentence,”<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">Before you
know it, it’ll be time to think about commas again, and perhaps a host of other
grammar issues. Think of it as cleaning the bugs off the windshield after a
long drive, but don’t even think of trying this alone! We writers just aren’t
good at seeing our own faults, and editors love their jobs ;-) <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: red; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;"> </span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwr7PYqArm7PZcpYEDR7qIHmyFw4IEL_OQ1xYVHalM91MYo8YUIEz7-gwZRqVz6mI1imnmB5F2rZCI5rYdjsqeweh3010Dz3Eb3SkjpQo69mfSrprZPzRgl0vsQxChcEzj2LOpq-zaCmsUO1yspsjoA2pLg9qsc6QfpdGDuUSGWJ4gC8Z8lXoM660ocA/s300/Lynne%20Truss%20-%20punctuation.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="300" data-original-width="206" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwr7PYqArm7PZcpYEDR7qIHmyFw4IEL_OQ1xYVHalM91MYo8YUIEz7-gwZRqVz6mI1imnmB5F2rZCI5rYdjsqeweh3010Dz3Eb3SkjpQo69mfSrprZPzRgl0vsQxChcEzj2LOpq-zaCmsUO1yspsjoA2pLg9qsc6QfpdGDuUSGWJ4gC8Z8lXoM660ocA/w220-h320/Lynne%20Truss%20-%20punctuation.jpg" width="220" /></a></div><br /><o:p></o:p><p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">Notable
events in November: <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">The first UK
newspaper crossword puzzle appeared in the Sunday Express in 1924 – Closely
followed by the first Book of Crossword Puzzles, which was printed by Simon and
Schuster (also in 1924), and came with a pencil. As you might guess, it was an
instant success. How are you at working crossword puzzles? Care to try one <a href="http://www.theholidayzone.com/thanks/Talking_Turkey_Crossword.pdf">here</a>?<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">What began
as a humble railway bookstall opened in 1792 by Henry Walton Smith and his
wife, Anna, would more than stand the test of time. Spanning over 200 years in
continuous operation, the success of WH Smith bookstalls can easily be
attributed to the enduring entrepreneurial flair employed by multiple
generations of the same enterprising family. In 1905 when William Henry Smith
faced steep rent increases at most of his railway stations, he opened 150 new
shops on busy “high” streets, ensuring that when the rails were no longer
popular, his stores would still be in business. In 1966 yet another Smith
created a Standard Book Numbering system for their “circulating library,” which
soon became the international standard or ISBN. The last family member left the
board in 1996.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">Have an
inspiring month!<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><br /></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEit0ayjtPJ1u543IscSGU8ntkZPHnW_Y8j9XoDeV4QIgF3i4IWaiTqATUGbScPYiFT9qVOxA2cKQTYgyQyQ2qPeKOwwLCDad-k7kmfPBDFufvykRm_BgmtXImuKQCLw1GJ8TN-QUsiuYQzz_tYFMTYn1Ssk31wtzlF-Ci18uflYxIGPi2PL5QhP4wTCqg/s650/WH%20Smith%20bookstands.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="650" data-original-width="595" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEit0ayjtPJ1u543IscSGU8ntkZPHnW_Y8j9XoDeV4QIgF3i4IWaiTqATUGbScPYiFT9qVOxA2cKQTYgyQyQ2qPeKOwwLCDad-k7kmfPBDFufvykRm_BgmtXImuKQCLw1GJ8TN-QUsiuYQzz_tYFMTYn1Ssk31wtzlF-Ci18uflYxIGPi2PL5QhP4wTCqg/w183-h200/WH%20Smith%20bookstands.jpg" width="183" /></a></div><br /><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><br /></span><p></p><p class="MsoNormal"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8fPoPAJ8s5ZiY9WBMjJyCK7CeqvSrjtAjkOq2HePcdXp6yM9XDw6-gL_BNFGKV3F9J5azaUZNM-Qi-xCF6eXXGJEJF1xqR4shHWZKFFgaIVuJwx2AJiiJEVDzxExRWUHdsrYlwWlTsOxZO3_5vNBaZtc-g1Za13cS-PPNtqAvweJGhMy2TuZtKosteg/s480/USA-Thanksgivingdreamstime_xs_120053188.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="320" data-original-width="480" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8fPoPAJ8s5ZiY9WBMjJyCK7CeqvSrjtAjkOq2HePcdXp6yM9XDw6-gL_BNFGKV3F9J5azaUZNM-Qi-xCF6eXXGJEJF1xqR4shHWZKFFgaIVuJwx2AJiiJEVDzxExRWUHdsrYlwWlTsOxZO3_5vNBaZtc-g1Za13cS-PPNtqAvweJGhMy2TuZtKosteg/s320/USA-Thanksgivingdreamstime_xs_120053188.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><br /></span><p></p>diedre Knighthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12772557495518846226noreply@blogger.com66tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3782231935569058555.post-79925603710313876532022-10-05T02:30:00.001-06:002022-10-05T02:30:00.241-06:00IWSG October 2022 Cliffhangers<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiOSUQixmlwA3EzxTH7_mFlRfwIjsK_Y8sK1XkSF66U8awdA4FoYH5Zix4g-qa2XdowGlqMaojbAbC-kmv1DyjUYt6b99HC0DIyr_0cs4tAV8ppOSyYtWoBQY2UTDG3dimP60Uxw7CjSjGktBoKGtwd1q4k88jnvS0a-c9ncGfsBb0jV7c42vXNPgs23A/s932/Insecure%20Writers%20Support%20Group%20Badge2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="918" data-original-width="932" height="197" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiOSUQixmlwA3EzxTH7_mFlRfwIjsK_Y8sK1XkSF66U8awdA4FoYH5Zix4g-qa2XdowGlqMaojbAbC-kmv1DyjUYt6b99HC0DIyr_0cs4tAV8ppOSyYtWoBQY2UTDG3dimP60Uxw7CjSjGktBoKGtwd1q4k88jnvS0a-c9ncGfsBb0jV7c42vXNPgs23A/w200-h197/Insecure%20Writers%20Support%20Group%20Badge2.jpg" width="200" /></a></div><br /> Welcome readers, writers, authors, and bloggers!<p></p><p class="MsoNormal"><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">We’re glad you’re here! It's the First Wednesday of the month;
when we celebrate <a href="https://www.insecurewriterssupportgroup.com/p/iwsg-sign-up.html"><b><span style="color: #034990; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-themecolor: hyperlink; mso-themeshade: 191;">IWSG Day</span></b></a> in the form of a blog hop featuring all
of the members of the <a href="https://www.insecurewriterssupportgroup.com/"><b><span style="color: #034990; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-themecolor: hyperlink; mso-themeshade: 191;">Insecure Writer's
Support Group</span></b></a><b><span style="color: #2f5496; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-themecolor: accent5; mso-themeshade: 191;">. </span></b>Founded by author <a href="https://www.alexjcavanaugh.com/">Alex Cavanaugh</a> (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 October newsletter <a href="https://us12.campaign-archive.com/?u=b058c62fa7ffb4280355e8854&id=7a925f8b4c">here</a> <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Our awesome co-hosts this month are: <b><span style="background: white; font-family: Arial, "sans-serif";"><a href="http://www.bookwormforkids.com/" target="_blank"><span style="color: #007c89; font-weight: normal;">Tonja Drecker,</span></a> <a href="https://www.victoriamarielees.com/" target="_blank"><span style="color: #007c89; font-weight: normal;">Victoria Marie Lees,</span></a> <a href="http://playoffthepage.com/" target="_blank"><span style="color: #007c89; font-weight: normal;">Mary Aalgaard,</span></a> and <a href="http://sandracox.blogspot.com/" target="_blank"><span style="color: #007c89; font-weight: normal;">Sandra Cox!</span></a>
</span></b><span style="background: white;">Stop on by
and say Hello!</span><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">The <i>optional</i>
question for this month is: <i><span style="color: #0070c0;">What do you consider the best characteristics of your
favorite genre?<o:p></o:p></span></i></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">As a reader, I love an unassuming (beat-up shoes and a stain
on his shirt) hero with a taste for Red Vines, methodically plodding through
impossible plot twists and deceptive clues that lead him to conclude that the
ghost of the mansion didn’t kill the widow, the cable guy did.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">As a writer, what I love most about paranormal is the
absolute unpredictability. I can be curious or evil. Or curiously evil. I can
save the day or end the world, <i>and if I
truly believed that, I wouldn’t be so flippant ;-) </i>Likewise, teens and young
adults, I suppose, who also seem to grasp this genre. Except, they’ve clicked
the unpredictability level all the way up to Cliffhanger endings. I’m not sure
how I feel about that. I love a good “page-turner,” but to be left hanging
without the promise of a sequel or a “Tune in again next week, folks,” is a fresh
form of literary torture ;-)<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">In the Children’s books category, I strive for simplicity in
powerful messaging, particularly on issues involving family, friendship,
courage, and kindness. And hope. Hope does for children what sunshine does for
gardens.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">It’s officially the holiday season! Any plans for Halloween?
Most of our local stores skipped right over it and put out Thanksgiving
decorations. I’ve even seen a few Christmas trees. <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Did you know Washington Irving, author of “The Legend of
Sleepy Hollow,” is buried at Sleepy Hollow Cemetery, about a stone’s throw from
the setting of the 1820 short story. Besides Mr. Irving – and the Rockefellers,
there are a ton of notable people interred there, including <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Paul_Leicester_Ford">Paul Leicester Ford</a>.
The great-grandson of Noah Webster (yes, of Miriam-Webster), Ford was a famed
novelist and biographer until his untimely death at the hands of his own
brother. Ford’s only child, a daughter, was born one month after his passing. <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">As is customary for a non-profit institution owned
collectively by its lot owners, visiting hours at Sleepy Hollow cemetery are
strictly enforced, and visitors are requested to act as if they are attending a
funeral or visiting one of their own. I think the request is fair.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">I know a lot of people do, but I can’t imagine visiting a
cemetery on a Halloween tour. Can you? Have you?<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">What do you think of the recent “Cliffhanger” trend in YA
paranormal novels? <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><i><span style="color: #0070c0;">Have an inspiring month!<o:p></o:p></span></i></p>diedre Knighthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12772557495518846226noreply@blogger.com19tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3782231935569058555.post-82023591351234416512022-09-07T02:30:00.001-06:002022-09-07T02:30:00.230-06:00IWSG Sept 2022 Doing it Again<p> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhkwZhzZbBUteGgzoX6R-nKusoaEjEguFCycVEf1D79U1YUzkJc-7US6VlxddEhci7vvbiaeagSK_IizkAnvILJdE7i2TRBT55XpE2opKpOVhpEgeMUhneofjq1hUY3FkY9PG7NKh6_p780IJEDz2-MQPac1pD0jISQyDY80CtaIcn-32MvbIID-ZnH1w/s932/Insecure%20Writers%20Support%20Group%20Badge2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="918" data-original-width="932" height="197" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhkwZhzZbBUteGgzoX6R-nKusoaEjEguFCycVEf1D79U1YUzkJc-7US6VlxddEhci7vvbiaeagSK_IizkAnvILJdE7i2TRBT55XpE2opKpOVhpEgeMUhneofjq1hUY3FkY9PG7NKh6_p780IJEDz2-MQPac1pD0jISQyDY80CtaIcn-32MvbIID-ZnH1w/w200-h197/Insecure%20Writers%20Support%20Group%20Badge2.jpg" width="200" /></a></div><br />Welcome readers, writers, authors, and bloggers!<p></p><p class="MsoNormal"><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">We’re glad you’re here! It's the First Wednesday of the month;
when we celebrate <a href="https://www.insecurewriterssupportgroup.com/p/iwsg-sign-up.html"><b><span style="color: #034990; mso-themecolor: hyperlink; mso-themeshade: 191;">IWSG Day</span></b></a> in the form of a blog hop
featuring all of the members of the <a href="https://www.insecurewriterssupportgroup.com/"><b><span style="color: #034990; mso-themecolor: hyperlink; mso-themeshade: 191;">Insecure Writer's Support Group</span></b></a><b><span style="color: #2f5496; mso-themecolor: accent5; mso-themeshade: 191;">.
</span></b>Founded by author <a href="https://www.alexjcavanaugh.com/">Alex
Cavanaugh</a> (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 September
newsletter <a href="https://us12.campaign-archive.com/?u=b058c62fa7ffb4280355e8854&id=7a925f8b4c">here</a>
<o:p></o:p></p>
<p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; text-align: center;">Our
awesome co-hosts this month are: <b><span style="font-family: Arial, "sans-serif";"><a href="http://kimlajevardi.com/" target="_blank"><span style="color: #007c89; font-weight: normal;">Kim Lajevardi,</span></a> <a href="http://cathrinaconstantine.blogspot.com/" target="_blank"><span style="color: #007c89; font-weight: normal;">Cathrina Constantine,</span></a> <a href="http://www.literaryrambles.com/" target="_blank"><span style="color: #007c89; font-weight: normal;">Natalie Aguirre,</span></a> <a href="https://www.alexjcavanaugh.com/p/olgagodim.wordpress.com" target="_blank"><span style="color: #007c89; font-weight: normal;">Olga Godim,</span></a> <a href="http://www.writer-in-transit.co.za/" target="_blank"><span style="color: #007c89; font-weight: normal;">Michelle Wallace,</span></a> and <a href="http://selkiegrey4.blogspot.com/" target="_blank"><span style="color: #007c89; font-weight: normal;">Louise - Fundy Blue!</span></a></span></b><span style="font-family: Arial, "sans-serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;">D</span>id
anyone (besides me) not know that revising your work <i>after publication</i> is acceptable in some cases?! You can cover your
astonishment by resting your chin in your hand. It worked for me. <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Yet, I digress. <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">According to <a href="https://www.mentalfloss.com/posts/books-edited-after-publication">Mental
Floss.com</a> at least five of the most iconic authors have revised and republished their work,
including Mary Shelley (Frankenstein), George Elliot (Middlemarch), and Joan
Lindsay (Picnic at Hanging Rock) to name a few. <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">I know what you’re thinking: “She’s doing it again. That
name-dropping thing.” Why, yes. It’s
what I do ;-) <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">As to this month’s Optional Question: <b><i>“What genre would be the worst one for you
to tackle and why?”</i></b><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">I could never write in the medical thriller genre. I would
never even try. Why? Much as I enjoy a good medical mystery, they also scare me
half to death. Besides, can you imagine the amount of research it would take to
sound like you know what you’re talking about? I mean, what if an actual doctor
or nurse decided to read your book? Fiction (as opposed to reality) has to make
sense, right?<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Truth is, most medical thriller authors do have a degree in
the medical field, and almost no one ever plans to write a book about the
profession. Writing is usually an afterthought and typically an aside.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">For instance, <b><a href="https://www.tessgerritsen.com/">Tess Gerritsen</a></b>, a general
physician, began writing her first book while on maternity leave. An avid reader,
her first novels were romantic thrillers. Her breakout medical thriller “<b>Harvest</b>” was inspired by a conversation
with a retired detective and was followed by three more New York Times
bestselling novels before her first crime thriller “<b>The Surgeon</b>” led to a television series called <i>Rizzoli and Isles.</i> <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">At least a couple thrillers by <b>Robin Cook</b> depict fictional accounts of his experiences as a
medical intern. <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Patricia_Cornwell">Patricia Cornwell</a></b>
may not have a medical degree (she does have a B.A. in English), but she was a
technical writer for the Chief Medical Examiner of Virginia for six years in addition
to volunteering with the Richmond Police Department – and this was before her “Scarpetta”
series was ever published. Cornwell is also known as a capable cartoonist and a
talented athlete on the tennis court. <i>Whew!</i><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Do you know who else doesn’t have a medical degree? Me. And I’m
okay with that ;-)<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">What genre would be the worst for you to write in? What
genre would be the easiest for you to write in?<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Be happy. Write well.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><b><i>“Make the most of yourself. For
that is all there is of you.” ~ Ralph Waldo Emerson<o:p></o:p></i></b></p><p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><b><i><br /></i></b></p><p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><b></b></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjRnbaevmrAmR6GtzgpRjbqBiKDQi69xrNLICdqg41fITPcnpenSG7fr4LUBgvxW4CUVzDV5DwK6EqQvvw9SbfS149VlrUsKfMZhHK32g3Yq9b_QYzsFOMpeaIwrn40Ahq3sA6xldZmjp5sVtf1E5pQtHkFPJHlSAAb0H5E0gfTSoq8oSdMaq3QJxJZpg/s942/Grateful%20every%20day.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="942" data-original-width="530" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjRnbaevmrAmR6GtzgpRjbqBiKDQi69xrNLICdqg41fITPcnpenSG7fr4LUBgvxW4CUVzDV5DwK6EqQvvw9SbfS149VlrUsKfMZhHK32g3Yq9b_QYzsFOMpeaIwrn40Ahq3sA6xldZmjp5sVtf1E5pQtHkFPJHlSAAb0H5E0gfTSoq8oSdMaq3QJxJZpg/s320/Grateful%20every%20day.jpg" width="180" /></a></b></div><b><br /><i><br /></i></b><p></p>diedre Knighthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12772557495518846226noreply@blogger.com25tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3782231935569058555.post-42712755333721212012022-08-03T02:30:00.001-06:002022-08-03T02:30:00.256-06:00IWSG August 2022 Original Hooks and Generous Lines<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivBijX_EcupFNgOQRCY8kj7YjHLd2looM5X3CM51c5dB7_MKEQSof0WTK5-GfUOtwMXQX9WRxHM0CKbajZIQzz1XEplfjpP8NmLF2m7c2Xzc-QgD8O5t8mllsreKL9E7bvsraU3jvQ7hn1cYTs4xM7SbkD2qyCqPpBSuxThBFyCSIvEet7BIU2OkUnHw/s932/Insecure%20Writers%20Support%20Group%20Badge2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="918" data-original-width="932" height="197" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivBijX_EcupFNgOQRCY8kj7YjHLd2looM5X3CM51c5dB7_MKEQSof0WTK5-GfUOtwMXQX9WRxHM0CKbajZIQzz1XEplfjpP8NmLF2m7c2Xzc-QgD8O5t8mllsreKL9E7bvsraU3jvQ7hn1cYTs4xM7SbkD2qyCqPpBSuxThBFyCSIvEet7BIU2OkUnHw/w200-h197/Insecure%20Writers%20Support%20Group%20Badge2.jpg" width="200" /></a></div><br /><p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;">Welcome readers, writers, authors, and bloggers! <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;">We’re glad you’re here! It's the First Wednesday of the month; when we
celebrate </span><a href="https://www.insecurewriterssupportgroup.com/p/iwsg-sign-up.html"><b><span style="color: #034990; font-family: "Georgia","serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-themecolor: hyperlink; mso-themeshade: 191;">IWSG Day</span></b></a><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;"> in the form of a blog hop featuring all of the
members of the </span><a href="https://www.insecurewriterssupportgroup.com/"><b><span style="color: #034990; font-family: "Georgia","serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-themecolor: hyperlink; mso-themeshade: 191;">Insecure Writer's Support Group</span></b></a><b><span style="color: #2f5496; font-family: "Georgia","serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-themecolor: accent5; mso-themeshade: 191;">. </span></b><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;">Founded by
author </span><a href="https://www.alexjcavanaugh.com/"><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;">Alex Cavanaugh</span></a><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;"> (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 </span><a href="https://us12.campaign-archive.com/?u=b058c62fa7ffb4280355e8854&id=7a925f8b4c"><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;">here</span></a>
<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="background: white; font-family: Georgia, "serif";">Our awesome co-hosts for this month's
posting of the IWSG are:</span><span style="font-family: Georgia, "serif";"> </span> <span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;"><a href="http://taratylertalks.blogspot.com/" target="_blank"><span style="background: rgb(244, 242, 248); color: #0b0bc3; text-decoration-line: none;">Tara Tyler,</span></a><span style="background: rgb(244, 242, 248);"> </span><a href="http://www.lisabuiecollard.com/" target="_blank"><span style="background: rgb(244, 242, 248); color: #0b0bc3; text-decoration-line: none;">Lisa Buie Collard,</span></a><span style="background: rgb(244, 242, 248);"> </span><a href="https://www.lonitownsend.com/" target="_blank"><span style="background: rgb(244, 242, 248); color: #0b0bc3; text-decoration-line: none;">Loni Townsend,</span></a><span style="background: rgb(244, 242, 248);"> and </span><a href="http://leelowery.com/" target="_blank"><span style="background: rgb(244, 242, 248); color: #0b0bc3; text-decoration-line: none;">Lee Lowery!</span></a><span style="color: red;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="background: rgb(244, 242, 248); font-family: Georgia, "serif";">T</span><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;">his month’s
optional question is: </span><i><span style="background: white; font-family: Arial, "sans-serif";">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?</span></i><i><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;"> <o:p></o:p></span></i></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;">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 ;-) <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;">One sweet reader I call Goldilocks contacted me regarding the ending to <i>Cotton’s Place </i>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 <i>we </i>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 ;-)<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;">Last month was a bit crazy, so I’ve got some catching up on visiting to
do this month. See ya around!<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><i><span style="background: white; font-family: Georgia, "serif";">Oh! One
more thing:<o:p></o:p></span></i></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: #7030a0;">Q: Why, even on the hottest of
days, do writers always feel chilly? <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: #7030a0;">A: They are surrounded by
drafts.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYVlzODirUeQgEVt64ZpXwOVz72gqzijE9wmSXJ4skeu7JRc5XCysb5c-jk3B0-KA44wXUthye2OVATSSOdEHn_YtY25xfvpUe6-ksVdOPkWKiy_-rzIph6Yjr-ZtY5WDKQL1_-hoW5qnNX4hZ2COds6KhHGKNP8x5Z0ufuvwDpmwivm-Z8QkDPCaPnw/s290/a6fa4952859845abc913d5faae7c9b45.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="290" data-original-width="235" height="290" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYVlzODirUeQgEVt64ZpXwOVz72gqzijE9wmSXJ4skeu7JRc5XCysb5c-jk3B0-KA44wXUthye2OVATSSOdEHn_YtY25xfvpUe6-ksVdOPkWKiy_-rzIph6Yjr-ZtY5WDKQL1_-hoW5qnNX4hZ2COds6KhHGKNP8x5Z0ufuvwDpmwivm-Z8QkDPCaPnw/s1600/a6fa4952859845abc913d5faae7c9b45.jpg" width="235" /></a></div><br /><p></p>diedre Knighthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12772557495518846226noreply@blogger.com20tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3782231935569058555.post-38972989539967390022022-07-06T02:30:00.004-06:002022-07-06T02:30:00.256-06:00IWSG July 2022 Choice Worlds<p> </p><p><span style="font-family: Georgia, serif;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEicRG_2NXd8OS1hcY_MowVtj-i5iGgByfNS-gZseIMQXFbSt1_Adp13KM7GSm2jkYAUgNcBq3B8s-OYltXFWLkPNr1mTeKBkWBViKEApLMpYx7CIRZ7gv6bVV21LmTYIKJrU3T9NeejfmU0hTFLXC4gKr65Gqm8yTBo7fgI_EO5L6Ux72TAnYEACxPZ-g/s932/Insecure%20Writers%20Support%20Group%20Badge2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="918" data-original-width="932" height="197" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEicRG_2NXd8OS1hcY_MowVtj-i5iGgByfNS-gZseIMQXFbSt1_Adp13KM7GSm2jkYAUgNcBq3B8s-OYltXFWLkPNr1mTeKBkWBViKEApLMpYx7CIRZ7gv6bVV21LmTYIKJrU3T9NeejfmU0hTFLXC4gKr65Gqm8yTBo7fgI_EO5L6Ux72TAnYEACxPZ-g/w200-h197/Insecure%20Writers%20Support%20Group%20Badge2.jpg" width="200" /></a></div><br /><br /></div><br />Welcome readers, writers, authors, and bloggers!<p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Georgia",serif; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;">We’re glad you’re here! It's the First Wednesday of the month; when we
celebrate </span><a href="https://www.insecurewriterssupportgroup.com/p/iwsg-sign-up.html"><b><span style="color: #034990; font-family: "Georgia",serif; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-themecolor: hyperlink; mso-themeshade: 191;">IWSG Day</span></b></a><span style="font-family: "Georgia",serif; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;"> in the form of a blog hop featuring all of the
members of the </span><a href="https://www.insecurewriterssupportgroup.com/"><b><span style="color: #034990; font-family: "Georgia",serif; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-themecolor: hyperlink; mso-themeshade: 191;">Insecure Writer's Support Group</span></b></a><b><span style="color: #2f5496; font-family: "Georgia",serif; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-themecolor: accent5; mso-themeshade: 191;">. </span></b><span style="font-family: "Georgia",serif; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;">Founded by
author </span><a href="https://www.alexjcavanaugh.com/"><span style="font-family: "Georgia",serif; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;">Alex Cavanaugh</span></a><span style="font-family: "Georgia",serif; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;"> (Thank you,
Captain!) and fostered by like-minded associates, IWSG is a place to share the
fabulous views and exciting news that occurs along our fascinating writing
journeys. Check out the July newsletter </span><a href="https://us12.campaign-archive.com/?u=b058c62fa7ffb4280355e8854&id=7a925f8b4c"><span style="font-family: "Georgia",serif; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;">here</span></a><span style="font-family: "Georgia",serif; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;">.<span style="color: red;"> </span>Perusing the
many tips and resources offered here is definitely worthwhile and highly
rewarding, so pull up a comfy chair, or better yet - </span><a href="https://www.insecurewriterssupportgroup.com/p/iwsg-sign-up.html"><span style="font-family: "Georgia",serif; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;">join us</span></a><span style="font-family: "Georgia",serif; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;">!<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="background: white; font-family: Georgia, serif;">Our awesome co-hosts for this month's
posting of the IWSG are:</span><span style="font-family: Georgia, serif;"> </span> <a href="https://insecurewriterssupportgroup.us12.list-manage.com/track/click?u=b058c62fa7ffb4280355e8854&id=40dce6070a&e=5c25da5b77" target="_blank"><span style="background: white; color: #007c89; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif;">J Lenni Dorner,</span></a><span style="background: white; font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"> </span><a href="https://insecurewriterssupportgroup.us12.list-manage.com/track/click?u=b058c62fa7ffb4280355e8854&id=ace8a82573&e=5c25da5b77" target="_blank"><span style="background: white; color: #007c89; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif;">Janet Alcorn,</span></a><span style="background: white; font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"> </span><a href="https://insecurewriterssupportgroup.us12.list-manage.com/track/click?u=b058c62fa7ffb4280355e8854&id=4abd3f3bcd&e=5c25da5b77" target="_blank"><span style="background: white; color: #007c89; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif;">PJ Colando,</span></a><span style="background: white; font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"> </span><a href="https://insecurewriterssupportgroup.us12.list-manage.com/track/click?u=b058c62fa7ffb4280355e8854&id=1d4b88844e&e=5c25da5b77" target="_blank"><span style="background: white; color: #007c89; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif;">Jenni Enzor,</span></a><span style="background: white; font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"> and </span><a href="https://insecurewriterssupportgroup.us12.list-manage.com/track/click?u=b058c62fa7ffb4280355e8854&id=58e9b5471d&e=5c25da5b77" target="_blank"><span style="background: white; color: #007c89; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif;">Diane Burton!</span></a> <span style="background: white; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 106%;"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="background: rgb(244, 242, 248); font-family: Georgia, serif;">T</span><span style="font-family: "Georgia",serif; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;">his month’s optional
question is: </span><b><span style="background: white; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 106%;">If you could live
in any book world which one would you choose?<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="background: white; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 106%;">Only one?
My first choice (operative word being “world”) would be “Camino Island” by John
Grisham. I’d want to be a part of the compelling storyline; peopled with authentic
characters I wouldn’t mind knowing, in an ideal coastal setting featuring a charming
avantgarde with a dream job. What’s not to like? When the story ended, as they’ve
a tendency to do, I’d stay on in a room with a breathtaking view of unyielding storms
propelled upon the mainland by an indifferent sea. I’d hang around long enough
to watch sea turtles hatch on the beach, along with a couple hundred other
spectators. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="background: white; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 106%;">Before long,
I’d have to return to the Sonoran Desert where a 3-day old character named
Quinn Quicksilver appeared swaddled in a blanket at dawn one day on a desolate
stretch of Arizona highway. Quinn’s story doesn’t involve living in a world so
much as an epic journey through one in route to an uncertain future while in
search of his unknown past. Who doesn’t enjoy a good adventure now and again? <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="background: white; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 106%;">Can’t
wait to read other responses to this month’s optional question!<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="background: white; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 106%;">Until again, be happy, write well!<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh20e_PaoJtajGD2-q84pfEQUak94eh_9QoNCIk-Fv_C8GJv08ZyOgL4AXjW8uJhMB-1dL9XT8my3RVuyWpX4zyyqQRzDVSPU01tmpiNqB5kGLmx1OBgqA5-6ehhsychL3axbm0PTg8Fkb1dAd90D2sReNAB1aza7qxHpLa_DkqRhLjnU_WXrNq5YP_9Q/s525/storms%20at%20sea.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="328" data-original-width="525" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh20e_PaoJtajGD2-q84pfEQUak94eh_9QoNCIk-Fv_C8GJv08ZyOgL4AXjW8uJhMB-1dL9XT8my3RVuyWpX4zyyqQRzDVSPU01tmpiNqB5kGLmx1OBgqA5-6ehhsychL3axbm0PTg8Fkb1dAd90D2sReNAB1aza7qxHpLa_DkqRhLjnU_WXrNq5YP_9Q/s320/storms%20at%20sea.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><p></p>diedre Knighthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12772557495518846226noreply@blogger.com18tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3782231935569058555.post-26592663751241399922022-06-01T07:55:00.000-06:002022-06-01T07:55:41.237-06:00IWSG - June 2022 A Place at the Table<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Georgia",serif; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEitc19d7uO1b5I7C2d22fkFPXeK6ySu1QPrKjqsUU4VbIjJAjp5QFo9nacNvjpDwaweiY8MOCguElN0V771iYbpeZlVT5mkkvasmzjbk0ocK2sPXVvErM-AO1McXUK3gLPt2FqdV3y8StQ5VKbyB_douQ8TwEGgucXIYlrQ8MaN6InlKeDesAx83gGqgQ/s932/Insecure%20Writers%20Support%20Group%20Badge.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="918" data-original-width="932" height="197" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEitc19d7uO1b5I7C2d22fkFPXeK6ySu1QPrKjqsUU4VbIjJAjp5QFo9nacNvjpDwaweiY8MOCguElN0V771iYbpeZlVT5mkkvasmzjbk0ocK2sPXVvErM-AO1McXUK3gLPt2FqdV3y8StQ5VKbyB_douQ8TwEGgucXIYlrQ8MaN6InlKeDesAx83gGqgQ/w200-h197/Insecure%20Writers%20Support%20Group%20Badge.jpg" width="200" /></a></div><br />Welcome readers, writers, authors, and bloggers! <o:p></o:p><p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Georgia",serif; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;">We’re glad you’re here! It's the First Wednesday of the month; when we
celebrate </span><a href="https://www.insecurewriterssupportgroup.com/p/iwsg-sign-up.html"><b><span style="color: #034990; font-family: "Georgia",serif; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-themecolor: hyperlink; mso-themeshade: 191;">IWSG Day</span></b></a><span style="font-family: "Georgia",serif; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;"> in the form of a blog hop featuring all of the
members of the </span><a href="https://www.insecurewriterssupportgroup.com/"><b><span style="color: #034990; font-family: "Georgia",serif; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-themecolor: hyperlink; mso-themeshade: 191;">Insecure Writer's Support Group</span></b></a><b><span style="color: #2f5496; font-family: "Georgia",serif; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-themecolor: accent5; mso-themeshade: 191;">. </span></b><span style="font-family: "Georgia",serif; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;">Founded by
author </span><a href="https://www.alexjcavanaugh.com/"><span style="font-family: "Georgia",serif; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;">Alex Cavanaugh</span></a><span style="font-family: "Georgia",serif; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;"> (Thank you, Captain!)
and fostered by like-minded associates, IWSG is a place to share the fabulous
views and exciting news that occurs along our fascinating writing journeys.
Check out the June newsletter </span><a href="https://us12.campaign-archive.com/?u=b058c62fa7ffb4280355e8854&id=7a925f8b4c"><span style="font-family: "Georgia",serif; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;">here</span></a><span style="font-family: "Georgia",serif; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;">.<span style="color: red;"> </span>Perusing the
many tips and resources offered here is definitely worthwhile and highly
rewarding, so pull up a comfy chair, or better yet - </span><a href="https://www.insecurewriterssupportgroup.com/p/iwsg-sign-up.html"><span style="font-family: "Georgia",serif; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;">join us</span></a><span style="font-family: "Georgia",serif; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;">!<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="background: white; font-family: Georgia, serif;">Our awesome co-hosts for this month's
posting of the IWSG are:</span><span style="font-family: Georgia, serif;"> </span> <a href="https://sewhitebooks.com/" target="_blank"><span style="background: #F4F2F8; color: #0b0bc3; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 106%; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">SE White,</span></a><span style="background: rgb(244, 242, 248); font-size: 12pt; line-height: 106%;"> </span><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 106%; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><a href="http://cathrinaconstantine.blogspot.com/" target="_blank"><span style="background: #F4F2F8; color: #0b0bc3;">Cathrina Constantine,</span></a><span style="background: rgb(244, 242, 248);"> </span></span><a href="http://www.literaryrambles.com/" target="_blank"><span style="background: #F4F2F8; color: #0b0bc3; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 106%; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">Natalie Aguire,</span></a><span style="background: rgb(244, 242, 248); font-size: 12pt; line-height: 106%;"> </span><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 106%; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><a href="https://joylenebutler.com/blog" target="_blank"><span style="background: #F4F2F8; color: #0b0bc3;">Joylene Nowell
Butler,</span></a><span style="background: rgb(244, 242, 248);"> and </span></span><a href="https://worddreams.wordpress.com/" target="_blank"><span style="background: #F4F2F8; color: #0b0bc3; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 106%; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">Jacqui
Murray!</span></a><span style="background: white; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 106%;"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="background: rgb(244, 242, 248); font-family: Georgia, serif;">T</span><span style="font-family: "Georgia",serif; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;">his month’s
optional question is: </span><b><span style="background: white; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 106%;">When the going
gets tough writing the story, how do you keep yourself writing to the end? If
you have not started the writing yet, why do you think that is and what do you
think could help you find your groove and start?<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="background: white; font-family: Georgia, serif;">Actually, I think
I’ve finished the final chapter of my last WIP. But that’s the problem, I only <i>think</i>
so. I think it’s time for fresh eyes. Do
you ever feel that way? <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="background: white; font-family: Georgia, serif;">It’s fairly
breezy here in the woods as I write. At times it’s as if an onery angel is determined
to smother the splendor of spring in celebratory yellowcake dust. I hope we don’t have another pollen squall
while I’m out here. Moreover, I hope I remember to save my post before slamming
my laptop closed if we do. But, isn’t technology fantastic? I learned a
valuable lesson about the importance of page numbers after once having to chase
loose papers, snatched away by a gust of wind and strewn all over the yard. Gone
are the days of using writing utensils as flyswatters, in case they land in the
dog’s water bowl </span><span style="background: white; font-family: "Segoe UI Emoji", sans-serif;">😊</span><span style="background: white; font-family: Georgia, serif;"> My only concern today is having to plug in my laptop before I’m ready to go inside, and what will become of the
little black ant that ambled across my keyboard letters A through D before
slipping under the F? Might words like <i>fluffy, flaffler, and carfuffle</i>
be the death of him? <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="background: white; font-family: Georgia, serif;">In an article in
last week’s issue of </span><a href="https://www.thebookseller.com/comment/women-over-45-love-books--its-time-the-book-trade-loved-them-back"><span style="background: white; font-family: "Georgia",serif; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;">Publishing Trends</span></a>,<span style="background: white; font-family: Georgia, serif;"> I read (among other topics, of course) that women
readers and (more to the point) women <i>writers </i>over the age of 45 are
being dismissed by the very industry we support and rely on. I’m just going to
pretend I didn’t read that and that the unacceptable practice is gone like trash
after collection day. Chances are it will be. Especially considering recent
campaigns aimed at streamlining the page-to-screen pipeline whereby authors are
increasingly <i>the</i> people </span><a href="https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/business/business-news/publishing-hollywood-deals-authors-1235152812/"><span style="background: white; font-family: "Georgia",serif; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;">Hollywood</span></a><span style="background: white; font-family: Georgia, serif;"> wants to be friends with. Granted, not everyone has jumped on the
bandwagon…yet. But it’s nice to imagine a time when authors have a significant
place at the (screen) publishing table.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="background: white; font-family: Georgia, serif;">It's Audiobook
appreciation Month! Have you created one yet? I’m not yet convinced, but I’m
getting there. Do you check out free audio samples before choosing what to read
next?<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="background: white; font-family: Georgia, serif;">Don’t miss the
full Strawberry moon on the 14<sup>th</sup><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="background: white; font-family: Georgia, serif;">Until again, be
happy, and write well!<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p> </p>diedre Knighthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12772557495518846226noreply@blogger.com26tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3782231935569058555.post-90633663994595846172022-05-04T02:30:00.001-06:002022-05-04T02:30:00.229-06:00IWSG May - Highs and Lows<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;"><br /></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;"><br /></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjOKONYlE6OhpPNtGSgMPeDN4rWG22MTNujKiNuX8gVknTDAHIZpZEw1Ca_SCkc58fB3dM2dECh4XYhHG3GFLuBOEroJOzls2TLGc9XtuTueq5JOR82JLXLWvLBLiHyzWGPMHoTKD_QinuPQxKctgLT3Sy1Phjd3zAgH79dAXYJ9H9G-Z7gmw6Neumr-g/s932/Insecure%20Writers%20Support%20Group%20Badge2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="918" data-original-width="932" height="197" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjOKONYlE6OhpPNtGSgMPeDN4rWG22MTNujKiNuX8gVknTDAHIZpZEw1Ca_SCkc58fB3dM2dECh4XYhHG3GFLuBOEroJOzls2TLGc9XtuTueq5JOR82JLXLWvLBLiHyzWGPMHoTKD_QinuPQxKctgLT3Sy1Phjd3zAgH79dAXYJ9H9G-Z7gmw6Neumr-g/w200-h197/Insecure%20Writers%20Support%20Group%20Badge2.jpg" width="200" /></a></div><br /><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;"><br /></span><p></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;">Welcome readers, writers, authors, and bloggers! <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;">We’re glad you’re here! It's the First Wednesday of the month; when we
celebrate </span><a href="https://www.insecurewriterssupportgroup.com/p/iwsg-sign-up.html"><b><span style="color: #034990; font-family: "Georgia","serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-themecolor: hyperlink; mso-themeshade: 191;">IWSG Day</span></b></a><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;"> in the form of a blog hop featuring all of the
members of the </span><a href="https://www.insecurewriterssupportgroup.com/"><b><span style="color: #034990; font-family: "Georgia","serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-themecolor: hyperlink; mso-themeshade: 191;">Insecure Writer's Support Group</span></b></a><b><span style="color: #2f5496; font-family: "Georgia","serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-themecolor: accent5; mso-themeshade: 191;">. </span></b><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;">Founded by
author </span><a href="https://www.alexjcavanaugh.com/"><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;">Alex Cavanaugh</span></a><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;"> (Thank you,
Captain!) and fostered by like-minded associates, IWSG is a place to share the
fabulous views and exciting news that occurs along our fascinating writing
journeys. Check out the May newsletter </span><a href="https://us12.campaign-archive.com/?u=b058c62fa7ffb4280355e8854&id=7a925f8b4c"><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;">here</span></a><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;">.<span style="color: red;"> </span>Perusing the
many tips and resources offered here is definitely worthwhile and highly
rewarding, so pull up a comfy chair, or better yet - </span><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";"><a href="https://www.insecurewriterssupportgroup.com/p/iwsg-sign-up.html">join us</a></span><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;">!<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="background: white; font-family: Georgia, "serif";">Our awesome co-hosts for this month's
posting of the IWSG are:</span><span style="font-family: Georgia, "serif";"> </span> <span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 106%; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><a href="https://kimelliottauthor.weebly.com/blog" target="_blank"><span style="background: rgb(244, 242, 248); color: #0b0bc3; text-decoration-line: none;">Kim Elliott,</span></a><span style="background: rgb(244, 242, 248);"> </span><a href="http://melissamaygrove.blogspot.com/" target="_blank"><span style="background: rgb(244, 242, 248); color: #0b0bc3; text-decoration-line: none;">Melissa Maygrove,</span></a><span style="background: rgb(244, 242, 248);"> </span><a href="http://hogwartssabbatical.blogspot.com/" target="_blank"><span style="background: rgb(244, 242, 248); color: #0b0bc3; text-decoration-line: none;">Chemist Ken,</span></a><span style="background: rgb(244, 242, 248);"> </span><a href="http://leelowery.com/" target="_blank"><span style="background: rgb(244, 242, 248); color: #0b0bc3; text-decoration-line: none;">Lee Lowery,</span></a><span style="background: rgb(244, 242, 248);"> and </span><a href="https://nancygideon.blogspot.com/" target="_blank"><span style="background: rgb(244, 242, 248); color: #0b0bc3; text-decoration-line: none;">Nancy Gideon!</span></a></span><span style="background: white; font-family: Georgia, "serif";"> <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="background: rgb(244, 242, 248); font-family: Georgia, "serif";">T</span><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;">his month’s
optional question is: </span><b><span style="background: white; font-family: Arial, "sans-serif";">May 4
question - It's the best of times; it's the worst of times. What are your
writer highs (the good times)? And what are your writer lows (the crappy
times)?<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="background: white; font-family: Georgia, "serif";">I am happiest
when I’m writing. I’m even happy when stuck at a pivotal crossroads; one make-or-break
decision away from almost home (The End) or following a path to the second half
of a burgeoning novel. Either way is fine with me ;-)<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="background: white; font-family: Georgia, "serif";">Rejection is
always a bummer. But scams are worse. They leave you feeling lower than dirt. Question
everything, and be safe out there folks. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="background: white; font-family: Georgia, "serif";">It’s Children’s
Book Week! Have you one you’d like to mention? Do you have a childhood
favorite?<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="ES-MX" style="background: white; font-family: Georgia, "serif";">Do you celebrate Cinco de Mayo? <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="background: white; font-family: Georgia, "serif";">Don’t forget to
call your mom on Sunday ;-)<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p><span style="background-color: white; font-family: Georgia, "serif";">Have an
A-May-zing month of May!</span> </p><p style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://youtu.be/gvJdjQ2IHQk" target="_blank">It's a Beautiful Day</a></p>diedre Knighthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12772557495518846226noreply@blogger.com21tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3782231935569058555.post-88021835488424356742022-04-30T02:30:00.001-06:002022-04-30T02:30:00.210-06:00A to Z Blogging Challenge - Z<p> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihgqFQ38e2ViXF48ZqJGeYjbhIT3nhhw3bc6GG6siEyolAy2cT9jxREyMYEIJIS-DMvyXRYcb4mrd2ol1LKzoeqrglmurnyAU_VrySh4schXFufi1hdlbBuyKOZzwX9ntxcYep2YdoIE-BuxcZNlzB1UCoeigyvt_GGd_Zayu3GkfQLy3rUDYfki-2Hw/s250/A-TO-B_badge_1c.jpg%202022.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="250" data-original-width="250" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihgqFQ38e2ViXF48ZqJGeYjbhIT3nhhw3bc6GG6siEyolAy2cT9jxREyMYEIJIS-DMvyXRYcb4mrd2ol1LKzoeqrglmurnyAU_VrySh4schXFufi1hdlbBuyKOZzwX9ntxcYep2YdoIE-BuxcZNlzB1UCoeigyvt_GGd_Zayu3GkfQLy3rUDYfki-2Hw/w200-h200/A-TO-B_badge_1c.jpg%202022.jpg" width="200" /></a></div><br /><p></p><p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">A to Z
April (2022) Blogging Challenge<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">Hello, dear
readers!<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">I’d like to
thank you all in advance for stopping by, and I hope that at least a few on my
list of remarkable buildings pique your interest as they did mine. <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><i><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">“Design is not a coincidence or a
formula; it is a result of human reflection and vision in response to a
specific challenge.” ~ Unknown<o:p></o:p></span></i></p><p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p><p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Algerian; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;">Z<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><b><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">Zimmerman House<o:p></o:p></span></b></p><p class="MsoNormal"><b><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"></span></b></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhuWmrFQjIGpOZu4l1ulDv4Hc8tj708A1IlgWMEyIB-wmCfwQexpZhSb_OiHn30wHHCSftk9PHEPftHYmXogKWTAcq44mAXV8AtDi0uUxNUpqr7_JBTqHA7JN4eWzKfWWIhIheV-L5VLdJ-DTVAsbA0SWNvtGy5foTgDHTgWr1tyoU8SYdgmTYKoXyQog/s1024/Zimmerman%20house.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="259" data-original-width="1024" height="101" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhuWmrFQjIGpOZu4l1ulDv4Hc8tj708A1IlgWMEyIB-wmCfwQexpZhSb_OiHn30wHHCSftk9PHEPftHYmXogKWTAcq44mAXV8AtDi0uUxNUpqr7_JBTqHA7JN4eWzKfWWIhIheV-L5VLdJ-DTVAsbA0SWNvtGy5foTgDHTgWr1tyoU8SYdgmTYKoXyQog/w400-h101/Zimmerman%20house.jpg" width="400" /></a></b></div><b><br /></b><span style="font-size: 12pt;">One of only two Usonian homes (the
other is right down the street) in Manchester, New Hampshire, this home was
designed almost entirely with the personal tastes of the homeowners in mind. By
1952 Frank Lloyd Wright had established his signature Usonian style in homes
intended for middle-class families with modest requirements and was expanding the
use of reinforced concrete in residential applications such as flooring.</span><p></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiw0Sz136uqApj7snF11h82CgGRzYmreilLrJoFRy02g4teIgjMmVEP-TNDjYpLSo-lDNT4dNl2YKokqPYgc2aX0FL1ZAmjaMyDdjfbPE8KdTYALsQf1hcdPQwUZ4zPXzP-12PgxtBrqFJlNzLmqco-7GsUXa1x1qB1Yz_gmjjHkHfqmwUJCU4SqIU58w/s768/Zimmerman%20house%204.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="679" data-original-width="768" height="283" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiw0Sz136uqApj7snF11h82CgGRzYmreilLrJoFRy02g4teIgjMmVEP-TNDjYpLSo-lDNT4dNl2YKokqPYgc2aX0FL1ZAmjaMyDdjfbPE8KdTYALsQf1hcdPQwUZ4zPXzP-12PgxtBrqFJlNzLmqco-7GsUXa1x1qB1Yz_gmjjHkHfqmwUJCU4SqIU58w/s320/Zimmerman%20house%204.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br />For the Zimmerman couple, Wright’s
attention to detail extended to include exterior garden design, interior
furnishings, a small music stage, and to some extent, dishware. <o:p></o:p><p></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhn-Yp1haeOA1-b5ZAWLxOlxZpMacFmzYF-LU1xUk-gj30vv-oBk4SS9gPIPFbT5Dw5WvYtgxsLwBdvyozs_3pIXfC2bPPaq7J76FbIYVPJET3iHnXEbrC7Bnic8UVKsgsCZEsQxMYEFAscvM9ZM5WLhrqXT3FlazryZFL5NcgpZVPAF14yiy_jpTdP_Q/s500/Zimmerman%20house%203.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="332" data-original-width="500" height="212" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhn-Yp1haeOA1-b5ZAWLxOlxZpMacFmzYF-LU1xUk-gj30vv-oBk4SS9gPIPFbT5Dw5WvYtgxsLwBdvyozs_3pIXfC2bPPaq7J76FbIYVPJET3iHnXEbrC7Bnic8UVKsgsCZEsQxMYEFAscvM9ZM5WLhrqXT3FlazryZFL5NcgpZVPAF14yiy_jpTdP_Q/s320/Zimmerman%20house%203.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br />The Zimmermans willed the home to the
Currier Museum, which has maintained the grounds since 1988 and hosts tours for
about 5000 visitors per year. <a href="https://www.themagazineantiques.com/article/frank-lloyd-wrights-zimmerman-house/">Howard
Mansfield</a> was one such visitor.<o:p></o:p><p></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjv7n_u-huvcG_oWJG9u5TVxEiIGicdnlzpmeIXMR5VofMfmhaFpbCRfECDSF2LyFXauhhy5C0YLI9oKnwiFxXa7efEZlvf75hFR1R8NK7KRM0yHCGyYVVjDfFx7ZQjRHK-UY_0YjfsNtYZc-DLWlmHT0INnM53olBUMr8GMGZLu0G3xD4Qs6YEt5K-Kw/s801/Zimmerman%20house%202.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="532" data-original-width="801" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjv7n_u-huvcG_oWJG9u5TVxEiIGicdnlzpmeIXMR5VofMfmhaFpbCRfECDSF2LyFXauhhy5C0YLI9oKnwiFxXa7efEZlvf75hFR1R8NK7KRM0yHCGyYVVjDfFx7ZQjRHK-UY_0YjfsNtYZc-DLWlmHT0INnM53olBUMr8GMGZLu0G3xD4Qs6YEt5K-Kw/s320/Zimmerman%20house%202.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /> <p></p><p class="MsoNormal"><i><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">An unusual home, undeniably. What do you
think? Would you take a tour? <o:p></o:p></span></i></p><p>
</p><p class="MsoNormal"><b><i><span style="color: #2f5597; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-style-textfill-fill-alpha: 100.0%; mso-style-textfill-fill-color: #2F5597; mso-style-textfill-fill-colortransforms: lumm=75000; mso-style-textfill-fill-themecolor: accent5; mso-themecolor: accent5; mso-themeshade: 191;">Many thanks to everyone who stopped by! You kept me at it ;-)<o:p></o:p></span></i></b></p>diedre Knighthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12772557495518846226noreply@blogger.com10tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3782231935569058555.post-60251937195580031272022-04-29T02:30:00.001-06:002022-04-29T02:30:00.243-06:00 A to Z Blogging Challenge - Y<p> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgXF6yEI2R_JWA-gPd5HUPyYlsV0L8-JtXLjGFLDLb_RaOH6m1u1K9FGmxpQEQDoS-4V4Fa6eXWN1hyRaRiN6nBuBGXH4Tc01P9YBFxkq4M78sD_tP8KTq2WUzB-ggWccP6i_C7C-5dGcHiEDmbBtSrIdj6CYJjx28eh9ae1cpGmPSeXvTqlXo1Lc18iA/s250/A-TO-B_badge_1c.jpg%202022.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="250" data-original-width="250" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgXF6yEI2R_JWA-gPd5HUPyYlsV0L8-JtXLjGFLDLb_RaOH6m1u1K9FGmxpQEQDoS-4V4Fa6eXWN1hyRaRiN6nBuBGXH4Tc01P9YBFxkq4M78sD_tP8KTq2WUzB-ggWccP6i_C7C-5dGcHiEDmbBtSrIdj6CYJjx28eh9ae1cpGmPSeXvTqlXo1Lc18iA/w200-h200/A-TO-B_badge_1c.jpg%202022.jpg" width="200" /></a></div><br /><p></p><p><br /></p><p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">A to Z
April (2022) Blogging Challenge<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">Hello, dear
readers!<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">I’d like to
thank you all in advance for stopping by, and I hope that at least a few on my
list of remarkable buildings pique your interest as they did mine. <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><i><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">“Design is not a coincidence or a
formula; it is a result of human reflection and vision in response to a
specific challenge.” ~ Unknown<o:p></o:p></span></i></p><p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p><p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Algerian; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;">Y<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><b><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">Yountville Town Center<o:p></o:p></span></b></p><p class="MsoNormal"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7F2Z47qva4Aisa4NezIczjYMBBYLFlE28BlXyXJaugR8NGOVkwz4vQ-qX43iHaYuVcS6CPfpj1hhUNG2vVrc5xCnC8NSeUFLS1yo4BMKUWlO4xX6d1bAX4WuWBk05ilMfhmkIyRwkNy6T50hWQwIDbSMsCMZiG56a7rijcxAv5-Rm4l5dV1p-gdsGdw/s780/Yountville%20Town%20Center.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="585" data-original-width="780" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7F2Z47qva4Aisa4NezIczjYMBBYLFlE28BlXyXJaugR8NGOVkwz4vQ-qX43iHaYuVcS6CPfpj1hhUNG2vVrc5xCnC8NSeUFLS1yo4BMKUWlO4xX6d1bAX4WuWBk05ilMfhmkIyRwkNy6T50hWQwIDbSMsCMZiG56a7rijcxAv5-Rm4l5dV1p-gdsGdw/s320/Yountville%20Town%20Center.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><br /></span><p></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">When it came time for an upgrade, the
architects at Siegel and Strain knew just how to design a building that would seamlessly
blend old and new, nature and architecture in the heart of Napa Valley’s wine
country. As a result, the <a href="https://www.siegelstrain.com/project/yountville-town-center/">Yountville
Town Center</a> received the 2010 “Savings by Design” award of honor, AIA
California’s highest award. <o:p></o:p></span></p><p>
</p><p class="MsoNormal"><i><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"></span></i></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><i><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYxVPursOeoyl7JkA_wTjhNqAQUINJPuwXqDGj8G11pKUmBv_kvHoRyTs4uW0WMVI2ZQHEVbaIedCQHs-fqcBI9m01hP5FMww6mQggrD-dAhc66LQzh7DRgjpsj_zngVxxhjv2Vzjjqr7o7ulMMZJa1dL2v3EVEaREsM1rImoAOzsoDRCVy7VqCuDUfA/s537/Yountville-Towncenter-11.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="358" data-original-width="537" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYxVPursOeoyl7JkA_wTjhNqAQUINJPuwXqDGj8G11pKUmBv_kvHoRyTs4uW0WMVI2ZQHEVbaIedCQHs-fqcBI9m01hP5FMww6mQggrD-dAhc66LQzh7DRgjpsj_zngVxxhjv2Vzjjqr7o7ulMMZJa1dL2v3EVEaREsM1rImoAOzsoDRCVy7VqCuDUfA/s320/Yountville-Towncenter-11.jpg" width="320" /></a></i></div><i><br />If I were to spend a day strolling this 1.5
square mile town, I’d hope to catch an event going on at the center, wouldn’t
you? <o:p></o:p></i><p></p>diedre Knighthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12772557495518846226noreply@blogger.com5