Blog Schedule

I post on Monday with an occasional random blog thrown in for good measure. I do my best to answer all comments via email and visit around on the days I post.

Wednesday, January 2, 2019

IWSG - Books - Being Thankful

Posting the First Wednesday of every month, the Insecure Writer's Support Group, is the brainchild of Alex Cavanaugh. YOU can sign up HERE to participate.

Every month a question will be posed that may prompt you to share advice, insight, a personal experience or story. Remember, the question is optional. You can write about anything that relates to your writing journey.

Let's give a warm welcome to our co-hosts:  Patricia Lynne, Lisa Buie-Collard, Kim Lajevardi, and Fundy Blue!

This month's question is: What are your favorite and least favorite questions people ask you about your writing?

(Personally I'm glad the question isn't about goals and resolutions.)

Favorite question: Where/how did you get your idea? Those are stories in themselves and I'm always glad to share them.

Least Favorite question: Can you tell me how to publish/write/edit, etc.? My answer is always the same. I direct the person to IWSG, and to other writerly sites, and tell them that writing, to be good, is very hard work. 
***

Books Read in 2018
I read 31 of my usual 40 books in 2018 the reason being that quite a few of them were quite long and since I'm a slow reader they took longer to get through. I like going over my list and seeing what I read. Last year it included many books in the historical fiction and non-fiction genre.

Lost in Shagri-La - Michael Zuckoff - nonfic
The Royal Physician's Visit - Per Olov Enquist - historical fic
Some Very Messy Medieval Magic - C. Lee McKenzie - MG fantasy
Two Old Women - Velma Willis - Native American myth
Secrets of the Savanna - Mark and Delia Owens - nonfic
The Joy Luck Club - Amy Tan - fic
Hunger - Donna Jo Napoli - MG historical fic
The Inquisitor's Tale - Adam Gidwitsz - MG fantasy
The Wright Brothers - David McCullough - nonfic
Forty Years a Slave, Three Yeas in the White House - Elizabeth Hobbs Kechley - bio
Watership Down - Richard Adams - fic
Lilack Girls - Martha Hall Kelly - historical fic
The Green Song - Doris T. Plenn - MG
The Cow-Tail Switch and Other West African Stories - Harold Courlander - MG
News of the World - Paulette Jiles - historica fic - excellent
The Sparrow - Mary Doria Russell - scifi
Children of God - Mary Doria Russell - scifi
Caliban's Shore - Stephen Taylor - nonfic
Sing Down the Moon - Scott O'Dell - MG - historical fic
Water Buffalo Summer - Huyhn Quang Nhuong - MG bio
Dragon of the Lost Sea - Laurence Yep - MG
Sand Dollar Summer - Kimberly K. Jones - MG
Grass - Sheri S. Tepper - scifi
The Gate to Women's Country - Sheri S. Tepper - scifi
Freud's Mistress - Karen Mack - historical fic
The Queen's Captive - Barbara Kyle - historical fic
Diggers - Terry Pratchette - MG
The Chilbury Ladies Choir - Jennifer Ryan - fic with a little history thrown in
The House with Chicken Legs - Sophia Anderson - MG
The Boy, the Boat, and the Beast - Samantha M. Clark - MG
Blended - Sharon M. Draper - MG
***
Being Thankful
I'm thankful it's a new year and that there are more books to read and,
that I get to wear these cool socks my sweetie gave me for Christmas.



What are you thankful for? What's your favorite/least favorite question people ask you about your writing? Read any of the books I've read?

28 comments:

  1. Love the socks! I read 68 books last year, which is more than I've ever read in one year. I really want to make it to 100 someday.

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    1. Unless they were very short, I doubt I'd ever make 100 books in one year. Being dyslexic has a few drawback, but it's never stopped me from loving to read.

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  2. I love your socks. And you read Lee's book - wonderful.

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    1. It's my favorite of Pete and Weasel's adventures!

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  3. Loved seeing the books you read. The only one I read was Lee's book, which I really enjoyed. Love your new socks.

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    1. Lee's book may be the only one that matters! :)

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  4. Yeah, I direct questions like that to great resources--either groups on FB or videos on YouTube.

    Happy New Year, Bish!

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  5. Yes, direct them to the IWSG site! Much easier and much more efficient.

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  6. That's a lot of books! Impressive. I've read a ton more this year too. When people ask how do you write a book I want to scream. UGH. The worst question ever. How do you even begin to tell them all the years and tears and learning that goes into each book??? :)

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    1. Exactly. I think some people think writing is easy.

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  7. I used to get a lot of young/new writers asking me how to publish, and I'd always think, "Oh no!" I'd direct them to books, sites, etc. and say it takes a lot of research and perseverance.

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  8. It’s fun tracking reading and seeing what you accomplished and enjoyed during a given period. Great socks. I got a nice wool pair to keep my tootsies warm for the next few months! Happy New Year, Bish!

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  9. I've read The Joy Luck Club and Lilac Girls. Both were very good. I should keep track of what I read in a year. I always wonder about the number of books I finish.

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    1. The only way I can keep track is through Goodreads, and I've only been doing it the past 3 or 4 years.

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  10. I've read two of the books you've read. I LOVE the socks! My sister loves to wear fun socks like these. I signed up for the 2019 Goodreads challenge. I love to do it because it makes me remember to read! Happy new year!

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  11. Love the socks, Bish! I enjoyed reading the list of books you read this year. I have to tally mine up when I get home ~ hopefully we pull in our driveway on Saturday. I spotted several books I've read and some that I haven't that are written by favorite writers of mine in your list. Have you read Donna Jo Napoli's "The Prince of the Pond?" I read that to many of my third graders over the years, and this older reader still loves that story. I really enjoyed Sheri S. Tepper's "Singer from the Sea." I want to read one of Lee's books this year! Thanks for sharing, and all the best to you in 2019!

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  12. I love the socks, too. LOL Your reading list is quite diverse. I tend to read the same genres (subgenres) but my book club "forces" me to read outside my interests. Happy reading and happy writing!

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  13. Those socks are awesome. I love fun socks.

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  14. If anyone wants to write, it's best to know from the off about the hard work involved! I've only read Diggers from your list, but I am a Pratchett nut. Your list is very varied.

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  15. Love the socks! Your favorite question is one my least favorite. Next time I'm asked, I direct them your way :)

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  16. I now have sock envy! I do think all writers write/market in such different ways, it's hard to offer advice on how to do that. I've taken a little bit from here and a little from there. Hope your new year is going well. :)

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  17. Those socks look amazing!

    www.ficklemillennial.blogspot.com

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  18. Hi Bish - fun socks ... and here to wish you and the family a happy 2019 - cheers Hilary

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