IWSG, My Dream Beta Partner, 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:  PJ Colando, J Lenni Dorner, Deniz Bevan, Kim Lajevardi, Natalie Aguirre, and Louise - Fundy Blue!

This month's question is:  If you could choose one author, living or dead, to be your beta partner, who would it be and why?

Before I answer the question... Oh Lord, Blogger has changed the format. I don't like it. Things aren't nearly as easy to find, nor do I seem to be able to manipulate pictures as easily. First it was Facebook, now it's Blogger. What next? Is someone going to secretly come into my home and change the format on TV channel flipper? Hasn't 2020 been hard enough without these added mind bending changes? GAAAAKKKK. *she screams in dispair*  Okay, I got that off my chest. Now, on to nicer things.

Back to the question. I'm going to go with John Steinbeck. Wait! Maybe I should go with Ray Bradbury, or J.R.R. Tolkien, or A.A. Milne, or...WAIT! Jack London! Yes, maybe it should be Jack London. (Why are there no women on this list?)

Steinbeck it is. Currently he appeals to my sense of ignorance and inability. 

"I am assailed with my own ignorance and inability…Sometimes, I seem to do a good little piece of work, but when it is done it slides into mediocrity…"

"My work is no good, I think — I’m desperately upset about it…I’m slipping. I’ve been slipping all my life."

"Are you paralyzed with fear? That’s a good sign. Fear is good. Like self-doubt, fear is an indicator. Fear tells us what we have to do. Remember one rule of thumb: the more scared we are of a work or calling, the more sure we can be that we have to do it."

John Steinbeck's 6 Rules on Writing

1. Abandon the idea that you are ever going to finish. Lose track of the 400 pages and write just one page for each day, it helps. Then when it gets finished, you are always surprised.

2. Write freely and as rapidly as possible and throw the whole thing on paper. Never correct or rewrite until the whole thing is down. Rewrite in process is usually found to be an excuse for not going on. It also interferes with flow and rhythm which can only come from a kind of unconscious association with the material.

3. Forget your generalized audience. In the first place, the nameless, faceless audience will scare you to death and in the second place, unlike the theater, it doesn’t exist. In writing, your audience is one single reader. I have found that sometimes it helps to pick out one person—a real person you know, or an imagined person and write to that one.

4. If a scene or a section gets the better of you and you still think you want it—bypass it and go on. When you have finished the whole you can come back to it and then you may find that the reason it gave trouble is because it didn’t belong there.

5. Beware of a scene that becomes too dear to you, dearer than the rest. It will usually be found that it is out of drawing.

6. If you are using dialogue—say it aloud as you write it. Only then will it have the sound of speech.

Being Thankful

Today I'm thankful for air conditioning.

It's been hot, hot, hot. 97, 98 with too many days at 100 or better. 

So, air conditioning is something to be really thankful for. 

I think about the pioneers, particularly the women in all those long skirts and petticoats and corsets, working, travelling, caring for children, and COOKING over a fire place or wood stove in this heat. 

We are all so soft.

What are you thankful for? Who would you want as a beta partner? Do you like the new Blogger format?

IWSG

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, JH Moncrieff, Madeline Mora-Summonte, Jen Chandler, Megan Morgan, and Heather Gardner!

This month's question is: Did you ever say “I quit”? If so, what happened to make you come back to writing?

The only thing I've quit doing is journaling. I know, I know... as writers we're supposed to journal or keep a diary. I've journaled off and on throughout my life, but after a month or two I've always come back to the same set of questions. 

Why bother to journal? To preserve some aspect of my most exciting life? Who's going to read this crap and why would I want anyone to read it? And why would I want to leave it behind for someone else to have to deal with when it will probably be burned or thrown away when I'm dead and gone anyway? What's the point when even I don't reread what I've written? 

After years of struggling with these questions and doing the three morning pages suggested by Julia Cameron in her most excellent book, The Artist's Way, I finally gave it up for good. Don't get me wrong, I worked her whole book, faithfully doing those morning pages and it kick-started a long dry spell. But what did I end up with? Reams of hand written trash on college rule paper stuffed into an already over-stuffed four-drawer file cabinet. (I burned them all.)

Instead of journaling I much prefer spending my time on a new story. I like discovering the characters, world building, researching, taking notes, doing outlines, creating time-lines and then, the piece de resistance, writing the story. And that's what I keep, that's what fills my three ring binders and my file cabinet. I have stories, story ideas, snippets of stories, conversations, character descriptions, world descriptions/maps, lists of made up words/names, lists of titles, (etc. etc. etc.) that go all the way back to high school. And I do occasionally go through it because there are tons of possibilities for a NEW story -- my novel A Lizard's Tail came from these sources. 

That's my journaling, that's my diary. Within the binders and drawers is the history of my writing journey. From horrible angst-filled teenage poetry to philosophical/spiritual observations, it's all there. And whoever has to deal with it when I dead and gone can do with it what they will. 

So, the answer to the question is no, I've never said, "I quit."

What about you? Ever given up writing, quit and then found your way back?

IWSG

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. Either answer the monthly question or share your thoughts on the ups and downs of being a writer.

Let's give our co-hosts  a warm welcome! 
Joylene Novell Butler, Jen Chandler, Mary Aalgaard, Lisa Buie Collard, Tamara Narayan, Tyrean Martinson, and Christine Rains!


Today's question is: What is your favorite aspect of being a writer.

This is an easy one for me. It's the process of developing an idea, the research, the note taking, the making of maps (if needed), figuring out time-lines, developing characters. Although I don't work up an in depth outline, all of the work I do before hand gives me a pretty clear picture of my story.

After I do all that the rest is easy. Writing the story is ice cream on the cake, it's dessert following a favorite meal.

What about you?

IWSG - I'm at Alex's and Joylene's!

How can it be? I'm in three places at once. I'm not only here, I'm over at Alex's talking about a dungeon that plays a small but important part in my book The Bowl and the Stone: A Haunting Tale from the Virgin Islands. But wait! I'm also visiting with Joylene Butler where you can learn what St. John was like in 1962. Hope you'll stop by and say hello. 

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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. 

Let's give our co-hosts  a warm welcome! 
Beverly Stowe McClure, Megan Morgan, Viola Fury, Madeline Mora-Summonte, Angela Wooldridge, and Susan Gourley!

This month's question is: When do you know your story is ready? 

Which is a good question considering how long it took me to write and "finish" The Bowl and the Stone. I can't tell you how many times I changed the POV and tense, deleted chapters, and changed the ending. Still, I wonder if it's done, if it's right. I think every writer could tweak and edit and revise and tweak some more FOR. EV. ER. *says to self* Have I made all the corrections I can make? Are all my commas in the right places? Could I use a better word in this sentence? How about a new sentence entirely? (On and on and on.)

But at some point (a point only you can decide) we MUST stop or we'll never write anything else.

Here's a bit of advice from Neil Gaiman. "The best advice I can give on this is, once it's done, to put it away until you can read it with new eyes. Finish the short story, print it out, then put it in a drawer and write other things. When you're ready, pick it up and read it, as if you've never read it before. If there are things you aren't satisfied with as a reader, go in and fix them as a writer: that's revision."

See you at Alex's and Joylene's!

IWSG

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. 

To change things up a bit, every month, we'll announce a question that members can answer in their IWSG Day post. 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.

Let's give our co-hosts  a warm welcome! C. Lee McKenzie, Rachel Pattison, Elizabeth Seckman, Stephanie Faris, Lori L MacLaughlin, and Elsie Amata! 

Today's question is: How do you find the time to write in your busy day?

I don't have any excuses. I'm retired. I can write or not write whenever I damn well please, or feel like it, or not. I've never been one of those sit-down-every-day-at-such-and-such-a-time-and-write-for-X-amount-of-time-or-until-I-have-X-number-of words. I used to feel guilty about that, but not any more. When I am writing, I'm rather prolific. When I'm not...well, I'm not, and I don't sweat it.

Which brings me to this quote from Confucius.

It does not matter how slowly you go so long as you do not stop.

As for other news... I'm pleased to say that some loose goals I set for myself have been met. (I'm not big on making goals.) All the guest posts I committed to for my October Book Tour  (except for one) have been written and sent to my various hosts. I have quite a line-up that I'm rather excited about. Every post will be different, even if the subject is the same. I hope when October comes you'll hop around with me. I'll let you know where I'll be when the time comes.

Also, I'm doing my first Goodreads giveaway for The Bowl and the Stone, which you can enter HERE, and which ends on September 30th. Also, come October I'll be doing my first Rafflecopter in which you have another chance to win an autographed copy of my book.

All in all, I'm not feeling so insecure these days. How about you?

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Are you excited about the next IWSG anthology contest? Are you going to enter? Is it easy or hard for you to find time to write? 

Insecure Writer's Support Group

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. To change things up a bit, every month, we'll announce a question that members can answer in their IWSG Day post. 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.

Let's give our co-hosts  a warm welcome! 
Yolanda Renee, 
Tyrean Martinson, 
Madeline Mora-Summonte, 
LK Hill, 
Rachna Chhabria, and JA Scott! 

This month's question is:

What's the best thing someone has ever said about your writing?

I love this idea! After all, how many inspiring quotes can a person share? Oh they'll probably continue to show up, but a shared question binds us even closer together as a family, as a group.

Aside from my mother, who was first person to recognize I might have authorial leanings and was always encouraging, I have to say that the best thing anyone has said about my writing came from Clara Gillow Clark, who was my instructor when I took the novel writing course through the Institute of Children's Literature.

Her final letter to me pretty much blew me away.

"The emotional story is powerful. ...There are so many poignant moments that touch the soul. You’ve captured something special in this story, Bish, something that resonates and feels right and good and true even as it breaks the heart and heals it at the same time. What also struck me again and again is how finely and carefully and thoughtfully crafted each part of the story is developed, revealed, and satisfied. I love the way you handle time and connect all time in a way that affirms and uplifts the reader. Spiritually, it was truly refreshing

Once again, I need to gush about your story, Bish! Your book, A Piece of the Sky, is a powerful and resonating story that has life changing qualities. I can’t tell you how much I hope to see this book in print."

Of course, it isn't in print yet, but after THE BOWL AND THE STONE is published, my next task will revising, editing and finishing A PIECE OF THE SKY. And, it'll be a big one as it's a young adult novel that doesn't take place anywhere near the Caribbean and took years to research. However, Clara's words give me the courage to move forward with the project.

You can find Clara's books, HERE.

Her Goodreads page is HERE.
She is also on Facebook
And Twitter: @ClaraGillow

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So, taking a deep breath here. If you feel inclined to help me out with The Bowl and The Stone, fill out this long complicated form! I'll be reposting it periodically in the coming months. A big THANKS each and everyone of you who has been so very supportive and generous with your time and help.

***

So, what's the bestest, nicest thing someone has said about your writing? Have you been inspired to start or finish a project because of someone's pat on the back?

IWSP

Posting first Wednesday of every month YOU can sign up HERE to find out more about the purpose of the Insecure Writer's Support Group, the brainchild of Alex Cavanaugh.

Let's give our co-hosts  a warm welcome! 
Allison Gammons,
Tamara Narayan, 
Eva E. Solar, 
Rachel Pattison, 
and Ann V. Friend!

In an effort to keep these posts short I will be sharing a quote. 

Today's quote is from Neil Gaiman:
“The best advice I can give on this is, once it's done, to put it away until you can read it with new eyes. When you're ready, pick it up and read it, as if you've never read it before. If there are things you aren't satisfied with as a reader, go in and fix them as a writer: that's revision."

I don't know about you, but I struggle with revisions. My attitude about them is getting better, but still, I struggle.

 Is revising something you enjoy or something you dread? Something you resign yourself to or something that excites you?

IWSG

Posting first Wednesday of every month YOU can sign up HERE to find out more about the purpose of the Insecure Writer's Support Group, the brainchild of Alex Cavanaugh.

Let's give our co-hosts  a warm welcome! 

Sandra Hoover,
Mark Koopmans, 
Doreen McGettigan, 
Megan Morgan, and 
Melodie Campbell! 


In an effort to keep these posts short I will be sharing a quote. Today's quote is from H. H. the 14th Dalai Lama.


Love and compassion are necessities, not luxuries. Without them humanity cannot survive.

Although this quote may not relate to writing, it relates to the community we belong to. If we did not have this community of support where would we be?

Don't we, on some level, care about and even love each other? When someone shares his/her fears and anxieties about their writing, aren't we compassionate? Could this community exist without those two qualities?

Expand these qualities outward towards those with whom you have little or nothing in common and the world will be a better place.

It is, after all, The Golden Rule. Do unto others an as you have them do unto you.

IWSG!

Posting first Wednesday of every month YOU can sign up HERE to find out more about the purpose of the Insecure Writer's Support Group, the brainchild of Alex Cavanaugh.

Let's give our co-hosts  a warm welcome! 

IWSG!

Posting first Wednesday of every month YOU can sign up HERE to find out more about the purpose of the Insecure Writer's Support Group, the brainchild of Alex Cavanaugh.

In an effort to keep these posts short and sweet, I'll be sharing an appropriate quote. 

***

Today I'm going with something a bit humorous. It lets us know that much as we think things change, they also remain the same.

From Cicero (107 to 43 BC) Roman philosopher, politician, lawyer, orator, political theorist, consul, and constitutionalist we get this gem. 

Times are bad. Children no longer obey their parents, and everyone is writing a book.

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To celebrate eight (8!) years of blogging, I'm offering up a bloghop I know every writer dreams of.

Really, what writer doesn't make lists? And if you haven't, can you really be considered a writer? Ooops, hope I haven't offended any listless people....

Although I've been listing since I was in high school, it wasn't until I read Ray Bradbury's book ZEN IN THE ART OF WRITING that I became aware of the importance of listing in the creative process.

You can read what Mr. Bradbury has to say about lists HERE. If you haven't read his book I strongly suggest you do.

This fest will be so easy and fun it should probably be a crime.

The rules are simple. All you have to do is sign up in the linky thingy below, grab the banner, and make a list. I suggest you keep your list to between 5 and 25 items long. We'll visit each other on October 26th.

You can list whatever you feel like (except for adult type content). That's it! Of course, if you'd like to help spread the word, I'm not going to fuss at you.


Did you get a chuckle out of Cicero's quote? Do you think it's true? Have you signed up for my celebration bloghop?

Insecure Writer's Support Group

Posting first Wednesday of every month YOU can sign up HERE to find out more about the purpose of the Insecure Writer's Support Group, the brainchild of Alex Cavanaugh.

In an effort to keep these posts short and sweet, I'll be sharing an appropriate quote. 

***

"NeilGaimanNov04". Licensed
under Public Domain via Wikimedia Commons.

Today's quote is from Neil Gaiman and it's for those of us who can't seem to get our thoughts down on paper.

"Write the ideas down. If they are going to be stories, try and tell the stories you would like to read. Finish the things you start to write. Do it a lot and you will be a writer. The only to way to do it is to do it."

Can it really be as simple as that? Yes.

Today I'm co-hosting IWSG, so I'd best be off to visit! Come follow me HERE and we can visit together. My awesome co-hosts for the August 5 posting of the IWSG will be Nancy Gideon, Bob R Milne, Doreen McGettigan, Chrys Fey, and Pat Garcia! 

IWSG

Posting first Wednesday of every month YOU too can sign up HERE to find out more about the purpose of the Insecure Writer's Support Group, the brainchild of Alex Cavanaugh.

In an effort to keep these posts short and sweet, I'll be sharing an appropriate quote. 

 ***

Today's quote is from , Under the Wide and Starry Sky, by Nancy Horan, an historical novel about the extraordinary lives Robert Louis Stevenson and his wife, Fanny.



 l to r: In Hawaii, Lloyd (Fanny's son) Fanny, RLS, King Kalakaua, and Stevenson's mother, Margaret. Around 1889.

I've always had a deep fondness for RLS. I knew a little about his life, but this novel opened my eyes to many things. Nancy Horan obviously did a great deal of research.

 Did you know he wrote Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde while near death's door? In fact, he wrote the first draft in three days. Then he decided he didn't like it, burned it, and wrote a second draft in the following three days. All this by hand, in pen and ink.

Despite battling chronic lung problems and other health issues his entire life, that often kept him bed-ridden for weeks, even months at a time, Stevenson had an incredibly optimistic and positive outlook on life.

The author, Ms. Horan, has Stevenson say this about writers who believe they need to write literary realism. "Obviously, I'm not afraid to write about cruelty or violence." (He's talking here about Dr. J and Mr. H.) "But for a writer to feed the reader great dank heaps of ugliness in the name of realism is dispiriting. And to foist such stuff on young minds? It's evil. Writers should find out where joy resides and give it a voice. Every bright word or picture is a piece of pleasure set afloat. The reader catches it, and he goes on his way rejoicing. It's the business of art to send him that way as often as possible. I have to believe that every heart that has beat strongly and cheerfully has left a hopeful impulse behind it in the world. If I cannot believe that, then why should I go on? Why should anyone go on?"

I love, love, LOVE this.

Are you familiar with the novel? Have you read any books by Stevenson? Got a favorite?