IWSG - June 2022 A Place at the Table

Welcome readers, writers, authors, and bloggers!

We’re glad you’re here! It's the First Wednesday of the month; when we celebrate IWSG Day in the form of a blog hop featuring all of the members of the Insecure Writer's Support Group. Founded by author Alex Cavanaugh (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 here.  Perusing the many tips and resources offered here is definitely worthwhile and highly rewarding, so pull up a comfy chair, or better yet -  join us!

Our awesome co-hosts for this month's posting of the IWSG are:  SE White, Cathrina Constantine, Natalie Aguire, Joylene Nowell Butler, and Jacqui Murray!

This month’s optional question is:  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?

Actually, I think I’ve finished the final chapter of my last WIP. But that’s the problem, I only think so.  I think it’s time for fresh eyes. Do you ever feel that way?

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 😊 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 fluffy, flaffler, and carfuffle be the death of him?

In an article in last week’s issue of Publishing Trends, I read (among other topics, of course) that women readers and (more to the point) women writers 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 the people Hollywood 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.

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?

Don’t miss the full Strawberry moon on the 14^th

Until again, be happy, and write well!

  

Watchful Eyes

Welcome Readers and fellow Writers, to the March 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:  Fundy Blue, Beverly Stowe McClure, Erika Beebe, and Lisa Buie-Collard!

               Oh – and this month’s Newsletter is a must-read for everyone!

Happy 65^th day of 2019! Only 300 days left to finish writing those novels.

Have you ever had one of those months you just wanted to tear off the calendar and shred into confetti-sized pieces? Having done so, I feel better now ;-) But, I sure missed visiting my blogging friends, and have yet to get back to any semblance of a writing routine, though I have managed to do some reading. Next best thing, right? 

After finishing two books and starting another, I decided to check the inbox reserved exclusively for all things ‘writing’ and managed to rekindle at least a partial sense of belonging in a summer pool on opening day. By the way, the weather here is beautiful, now. I hope it is where you are too.

Anyway, Publishing Trends always provides insightful articles of interest such as:

Publishing as it currently relates to reaching the reluctant reader. While this may present a difficulty for traditional publishers, I think technology today provides a somewhat independent curatorship we as writers can certainly take advantage of. Kim Briggs suggests things we may have already figured out here.

“Substantially all ideas are secondhand” Mark Twain consoled, in a letter to his friend Helen Keller on the subject of her first book and subsequent fall from literary grace for (gasp!) plagiarism. To be fair, she was only 11 years old when she wrote “The Frost King” but it’s easy to honestly (cryptomnesia) do, nearly impossible to prove, and, as Helen Keller replied “I have ever since been tortured by the fear that what I write is not my own,” Gulp. Careful out there, folks. 

Now that I’ve seen how terribly realistic they look, I’ll not be employing the Fake Snake idea I talked about last month. I couldn’t bring myself to touch one ;-) Instead, I’m considering an Owl box as a more natural form of pest control. I think this guy pictured on the left had taken a wrong turn the day he stopped to watch me at my desk, but I wouldn’t mind if he returned. I accomplished a good amount of writing under his watchful eye ;-)

“I dream of painting and then I paint my dream” ~ Vincent Van Gogh

 If you were to send a message in a bottle what would you say?

You Don't Say

Welcome Readers and fellow Writers, to the January 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: Patricia Lynne, Lisa Buie-Collard, Kim Lajevardi, and Fundy Blue!

Season’s Greetings, Everyone!

I had quite the ‘other worldly’ Christmas this year. 

This season, we traveled in hopes of a glimpse of “the white stuff” for Christmas. What began as dainty angel socks dropping softly to the ground gradually turned into a scene that this life-long desert dweller could only describe as (insert emoji) WOW! At one point, someone said “Where’s Lucy?” and we all swallowed hard.

Evidently, friends and family really enjoy the use of emoticons as they often share with me their latest reasons to laugh uproariously – or sigh in disgust. This puts a rather exciting new spin on “Show, don’t tell,” don’t you think?  It’s the way everyone communicates these days, and entirely acceptable - unless you want a publisher to take your work seriously. While there are a handful of editors who use them sparingly, most explain the usage as tools to alleviate “the sting” (ouch!). When pestered for an opinion on the subject, one of my editors replied with a question I doubt I’ll soon forget: “Are you a writer or an illustrator?”

But aren’t those expressive little symbols irresistible? The trouble is that it takes me longer to find just the right one than it does to formulate in writing the thoughts or feelings I want to convey. Do you ever feel that way?

How is your writing journey looking for 2019? Will you begin or finish that project that so absorbs your every thought?

Oh, by the way, Lucy’s dilemma was only temporary. All we had to do was rattle a box of Cheez-its 😉

Happy Writing!

Confessions and Awakenings

Welcome Writers! And Happy Cereal Day, everyone! Have you had your bowl today? 

There is so much to celebrate this month, and not the least of which is today, and here’s why:   Take a look around our awesome group by clicking the links below and check out the many fantastic resources offered by the Insecure Writers Support Group, founded by Alex Cavanaugh, right here and right now on this first Wednesday of the month, when IWSG members convene through blogging, Facebook, and Twitter to talk about whatever is on our writing minds and agendas. See what we’re all talking about here. 

As for me:

So far, I’m achieving my goal of at least 1400 words per week. Granted, once in a while that may or may not include a creatively crafted shopping list, i.e., Dishwasher pillows, Coffee buddies, Dog cookies, Rabbit food, and Carnivore essentials.

 

National Ghostwriter’s Week:

Do you know what Alexander Dumas, Ian Fleming, Tom Clancy and Michael Crichton all had in common? They all worked with ghostwriters. I considered ghostwriting once, briefly. The loneliness of secrecy seemed too high a price for too little pay. But is it really? Could a ghost also be a star in his/her own right? Author of over 80 books and one of the most sought-after ghosts in the world, Andrew Crofts sheds some favorable light on the once considered dark craft of ghostwriting in his 2014 memoir “Confessions Of A Ghostwriter.”  

National Women’s History Month:

After losing both her husband and mother in the course of a year, Kate Chopin; mother of six was left with enormous debt and deeply depressed. She took up writing as prescribed by her physician, for therapy, as well as possible income. Indeed, her stories appeared in periodicals and literary magazines, though providing little income. And writing did prove to be the perfect outlet for her “extraordinary energy.” Her second novel and best-known work “The Awakening” was met with mostly unfavorable reviews and subsequently put out of print for 70 years! Critics claimed she was too far ahead of her time for her subject matter (southern feminism) to be embraced. The novel is now considered an American classic and lauded for its bold sophistication and artistry.

I can’t imagine having to be advised to write, can you?

If you could eliminate one word or phrase from the English language, what would it be? 

Happy Writing!