Yellow Bloomers

Hello there!

Whether you’re just passing through, or looking for a comfortable online group in which to share your writing journey, you’ve come to the right place! The Insecure Writer’s Support Group offers resources, tips, timely news, how-to’s, and don’t do’s – all the support we writers can use to make the most of our craft.

We meet on the 1^st Wednesday of every month. Feel free to browse around and mingle. As in the words of IWSG founder and “Cassa Series,” author Alex Cavanaugh, “Your words may be the encouragement someone else needs” Join us!

This month’s gracious co-hosts are   Jacqui Murray, Lisa Buie-Collard, Sarah Foster, Natalie Aguirre, and Shannon Lawrence!

We’ve had an extraordinary amount of rain over the last several months, so much so that our city has now declared it unnecessary to continue filling our historically-dry riverbed with treated water. Rumors of the return of near-extinct fish and wildlife notwithstanding, there are reports of never before documented species beaching on the banks to bask beneath the branches of what looks for all the world like summer foliage. We may not sport the bright green clovers, but we’ve got the yellow bloomers, alright. These hardy flowering shrubs in brilliant golden splendor prove beyond a doubt that no, it’s not THE dreaded virus, the sneezing fits will pass. It’s merely March in the desert. March already!

It’s not only March into Literacy and Paws to Read Month, but we’re also smack in the middle of National Words Matter Week, and posting on none other than National Grammar Day! Don’t nobody panic ;-)

Today is also Discover What Your Name Means Day. As a kid, I pretty much judged what my name meant at any given moment by the tone in which it was spoken. Were they requesting my company or demanding my presence for a missing cookie inquisition?  This is probably why I learned to love the written word. The writer chooses the words that set the tone. Pretty empowering, huh?  Some of us even manage to do it artfully. I’m still working on that ;-)

One of my favorite things about March is the celebration of St. Patrick, the non-Irish guy who reportedly brought Christianity to Ireland. Rumor has it St. Patrick also drove out all the snakes, though according to Mental Floss and Popular Science, snakes can’t survive on islands. Harder still to grasp is the fact that up until the 1970s all the pubs were closed in observance of St. Patrick’s Day. My all-time favorite tales about March are the legendary miniature gold-collecting cobblers called Leprechauns. I’m fascinated by the mythical sprites and thoroughly enjoy the folklore, including one story where a farmer caught a Leprechaun who then had to disclose where he’d buried his pot of gold. The farmer tied a red ribbon around a tree to mark the spot and went to get a shovel. Upon his return, he was astonished to find red ribbons tied around every tree in the forest. My kind of shenanigans!

So, in answer to this month’s IWSG Optional Question:  “Other than the obvious holiday traditions, have you ever included any personal or family traditions in your stories?”  Absolutely!  I've got a developing series for children starring a Leprechaun in search of new adventures and in need of cooler duds, better tricks, and the answer to one burning question when he finds himself far from the verdant forests of Emerald Isle, and way out of place in the western desert town of Sunburnt.

Trivia Question:  What book idea did Irishman Hugh Beaver originate?

Happy Writing!

Come Again?

Welcome Readers and fellow Writers, to the May 2019 online meeting of the Insecure Writer’s Support Group! Founded by author Alex Cavanaugh and comprised of writing members just like you (and me), featuring writing tips, resources, articles, contests, and IWSG swag! See what we’re all talking about here and join us as we share our writing journeys.

*We meet on the first Wednesday of every month – join us and enjoy!

Visit our gracious Co-hosts, and let them know you’re here: Lee Lowery, Juneta Key, Yvonne Ventresca, and T. Powell Coltrin! 

Happy May Day, Lei Day, International Workers Day, and congratulations to all who survived the April 2019 A to Z Challenge!

It’s “Get Caught Reading Month” Will you? I’m reading my fifth book of the year so far. I haven’t started writing anything new yet, though I am plowing through my WIPs like a champ. So far, so good ;-)

The world is full of new ideas with prevailing meanings:

I’m not sure what to think of cover re-designing – after your book has been published. Has anyone had any experience with that? 

While enlisted in the military during WWII, Joseph Keller discovered a troubling paradox involving the subject of insanity with regard to he and his fellow bombardiers; which inspired his novel “Catch 22” the eventual success of which exceeded that of his later works to the point that when critics asked why he hadn’t written a second best-seller, he responded wryly: “Who has?”  

Well, there was Orson Welles who, after convincing every listener that New Jersey had indeed been attacked by Martians in the radio drama “War of the Worlds” went on to write “Citizen Kane” a critically acclaimed Box Office bust; which ultimately defied all dismal odds, and in 2011 released its 70^th Anniversary Blu-ray edition.

“The day will come when our silence will be more powerful than the voices you are throttling today” ~ August Spies 1886 - As true now, I think, as it was then, though for different reasons.

IWSG Optional Question of the Month:

“What was an earlier experience where you learned that language had power?”

The power of the spoken word clicked for me the first time I realized how much quicker you receive what you ask for by merely saying “please” how rewarding a simple “Thank you” feels, and the healing effects of “I’m sorry.”

Raised in a home of avid readers, it wasn’t long before I followed suit and was immediately enamored with the notion of relatively private entertainment or instruction obtained through written language; words intentionally assembled to describe, enlighten, entrance or forewarn – What a concept!   I still feel that way, and I guess that’s why the practice of changing (except in good-natured jest) the time-honored meanings of words at random or whim seems so disrespectful. Especially for writers who strive so hard to get it right. Can you imagine today’s definition of snowflakes dropping softly to the ground near a grand woke oak throwing shade on a hangry squirrel? It’s enough to crash a GOAT grammar app! I don’t even want to think about what my human editor would say.

Moving along…

Do you have a special Mother’s Day tradition? I’m thinking of proposing a couple for our family. Perhaps a Family Comic Strip? A Lip-synch Tea Party? A backyard Bug Safari? (These ideas all came from Parents.com   I suspect my family could use a break from playing Bingo every year ;-)

Have a wonderful month of May!

2018 A - Z Challenge - Y

Y    Things We Appreciate

Back in 1907, Chicago car salesman John Hertz, along with Walden Shaw began using trade-ins as taxicabs. Hertz painted the cars yellow to attract attention and in 1915 incorporated the Yellow Cab Company with a fleet of 40 cars. By 1925 it was the largest taxicab company in the world and boasted a fleet of over 2500. Several significant innovations were introduced under the leadership of Hertz, including the automatic windshield wipers, smooth-riding balloon tires, and telephone dispatch. But in 1929, John Hertz gave up his share of the Yellow Cab Company to focus on a rental car company he’d purchased in 1923. After merging with Checker, Yellow Cab remained in business throughout the years and in the late 90’s split off on its own again and founded the Wolley (yellow spelled backward) Cab Association, which runs a fleet of 120 bright orange cabs in Chicago.

Yellowstone National Park – The nation’s first national park was established and signed into law by President Ulysses S. Grant in 1872. Encompassing nearly 3500 miles including areas of Wyoming, Montana, and Idaho, the park is well-known for its geothermal features such as the ‘Old Faithful” geyser that erupts every 91 minutes, and Yellowstone Lake; one of the largest high-elevation lakes in North America, is centered over Yellowstone Caldera which is the largest super-volcano on earth. There are 290 waterfalls, 2 rivers, and 3 deep canyons to explore, though 80% of the park is forest and grassland. 311 species of birds, including 26 pairs of nesting Bald Eagles had been documented within the park as of 1999.

Bison are among the 60 different mammals you might see roaming free, though, for the bison, Yellowstone may be their last remaining stronghold. When the photo of Park Ranger Horace Albright and his dinner companions was taken in 1922, the practice of feeding the friendly bears was a favorite tourist activity, but several years and a few hundred injuries later, the practice was abolished.

Speaking of bears and Yellowstone Park, did kindly Yogi the Bear of Jellystone Park ever remind you of Ed Norton (played by Art Carney) from the television sitcom The Honeymooners? As many Hanna-Barbera characters were based on trending celebrities, Ed may well have been the inspiration.  I’m kind of partial to Yogi’s best friend Boo-boo ;-)  Fun Fact: Yogi was one of several Hanna-Barbera characters who wore a collar so that animators didn’t have to re-draw his entire body for each frame.

Any thoughts? Can you add to the list of things we appreciate that begin with the letter Y?

2018 A Z Challenge - K

K    Things We Appreciate

Kaibab Squirrel – Exclusive to the North Rim of the Grand Canyon National Park, and strictly protected by State and Federal government, these distinctive-looking critters (a sub-species of the Albert’s squirrel) complete a trio of uniquely substantive survival components within their natural habitat of Ponderosa Pines, and the fungi that grows beneath; which becomes part of the root system. After happily feasting on the food the trees provide, the squirrel then scampers off, dispersing the fungi collected on its feet, through the forest so that more and more trees will grow. This process is repeated year after year in a 20 X 40-mile area. 

Kingsnakes – Appearances aside, the name “King” tells us that this reptile can and does eat other snakes – including rattlesnakes. This is something I very much appreciate ;-)  Kingsnakes cover the widest geographical range of any land snake and (believe it or not) are considered among the most beautiful snakes in the world for the array of polished colors they display. Some even look like the venomous Coral snake, but if you’re ever in doubt here’s a couple of saws to help you out:  “If red touches black, you’re okay, Jack” and “If red touches yellow, you’re a dead fellow.”

"Big Room" Kartchner Caverns

Kartchner Caverns is a massive living limestone cave featuring 13,000 feet of passages and two ‘rooms’ as large as football fields containing both live and ancient inhabitants such as bats, Soda Straws, Stalactites, and Moonmilk. Kept a secret for 14 years after its discovery, the caverns were carefully secured for preservation and future maintenance of the stunning and still-growing formations before being publicly presented as a Tour Cave. It is indeed an awesome tour ;-)

Sir David Brewster stumbled upon what became a brilliant parlor diversion in 1816 when, after observing color and pattern changes at the end of two mirrors, he invented the Kaleidoscope.

It seems that no one really knows who invented Kettle Corn, but I’m sure glad they did!

Knees are another thing I appreciate because, as my dear friend Mrs. Mildew puts it, “They’re terribly indispensable.” ;-)

Any thoughts? Can you add to the list of things we appreciate that begin with the letter K?