IWSG

…and now it’s the first Wednesday in November

November 2, 2022 By C. Lee McKenzie

so let’s rock the neurotic writing world!

Thanks, Alex

Our Twitter handle is @TheIWSG and hashtag is #IWSG.

The awesome co-hosts for the November 2 posting of the IWSG are Diedre Knight, Douglas Thomas Greening, Nick Wilford, and Diane Burton!

Every month, we announce a question that members can answer in their IWSG 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.

Remember, the question is optional!

November 2 question - November is National Novel Writing Month. Have you ever participated? If not, why not?

I’m so happy this question is easy to answer. I’m just not up to thinking right now. I’ve never participated in NANORIMO. The simple reason is I don’t want to. I don’t write the way participating requires. I don’t want to write that way. If I did write that way, nobody would ever want to read the product-even after major edits-including the author, so there’s no need to consider signing up. I always wish everyone well, and I’m pleased to cheer them on, but I’m a sideliner for this event, and I’m sure I always will be.

Now, talk about a total shift of topic…

There are two things that significantly change the way I see the world. One is writing. The other is travel. And on this trip I combined both interests. For ten days in Sicily I explored an island that’s steeped in history and offers up a chance to see some spectacular examples of civilizations that extend from the prehistoric through the Greek, Carthaginian, Roman, Byzantine, Arab, and Norman invasions-yes, Sicily has long been a target for conquest.

Clatafilmi, Sequesta
I’m listing to an archeologist read a bit of Euripides. Without a microphone her voice could be heard at the top of the theater.

Your face is going to go blank on this next image. With all of the beauty in Sicily why did I post one of an ancient pair of manacles? Great question, and I asked almost the same one. Why were these displayed alongside such amazing works of art in a museum? They’re iron. Iron rusts. Unlike marble or pottery shards, anything made of iron is pretty much gone by the first few decades after being tossed. These manacles are extremely rare, and they offer up an image (author alert) of what it was like to be a captured slave of the Greeks.

Moving right along into the 4th century A.D., here’s the Villa Romana del Casale. The abundant mosaics are almost as brilliant as the day they were created, and that’s because they were buried very quickly by a landslide and preserved by layers of earth for many centuries. I’ve added a link to a more complete look at the villa because the mosaics are nearly uncountable and incredibly beautiful. This very famous one caught my attention.

This is nicknamed the Bikini Girls. It looks like my gym!

I just did this yesterday…with more clothes on.

Obviously, I still have one foot in Sicily, and my head is filled with so much that I saw. How can I use all of what I experienced in a story? Let me think.

Quote of the Month: “The world is a book and those who do not travel read only one page.”
– St. Augustine

TGI August!

August 3, 2022 By C. Lee McKenzie

Purpose: To share and encourage. Writers can express doubts and concerns without fear of appearing foolish or weak. Those who have been through the fire can offer assistance and guidance. It’s a safe haven for insecure writers of all kinds!

Posting: The first Wednesday of every month is officially Insecure Writer’s Support Group day. Post your thoughts on your own blog. Talk about your doubts and the fears you have conquered. Discuss your struggles and triumphs. Offer a word of encouragement for others who are struggling. Visit others in the group and connect with your fellow writer - aim for a dozen new people each time - and return comments. This group is all about connecting! Be sure to link to this page and display the badge in your post. And please be sure your avatar links back to your blog! Otherwise, when you leave a comment, people can’t find you to comment back.

Our Twitter handle is @TheIWSG and hashtag is #IWSG.

The awesome co-hosts for the August 3 posting of the IWSG are Tara Tyler, Lisa Buie Collard, Loni Townsend, and Lee Lowery!

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 a 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.

Remember, the question is optional!

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?

Today I’m answering this question over at The Insecure Writers’ Support Group site, so I hope you’ll stop by and read what I’ve written. However, I’ll be self-serving here and mention one example of my having to choose between this either or question.

The Adventures Of Pete and Weasel — Available on Amazon

When Alligators Overhead came out, I had some requests for more adventures with Pete and Weasel. I hadn’t thought about writing a series, but I’d enjoyed creating the escapades for these two boys, so I wrote Book 2, The Great Time Lock Disaster. After that was published, I received more requests, so those led to Book 3, Some Very Messy Medieval Magic. I suppose this means that I did try to give readers what they wanted, but I’m not sure I could have done that if I hadn’t really liked the stories with those kids doing crazy things.

Did you answer this question? If so, I’ll stop by and see what you had to say.

Last month I didn’t follow through and post each Wednesday, but I had an excuse. This is it!

I entered my car in a show, and that took a lot more time than I’d expected. First, there was the grooming (the car, not me), then there were the rallys, which in truth involved a lot of driving and eating, a lot of wine, and more…grooming (this time for me as well as the car). By the end of the month, I’d pretty much worn both of us out trying to show up when and where we were supposed to be.

It was a lot of work, but a lot of fun, so I may have to do it again. Only next time, I’ll know what I’m supposed to do and not be the total newbie.

Quote of the Month: “If everything comes your way, you are in the wrong lane.” —Unknown

Hot July News

July 6, 2022 By C. Lee McKenzie

Our Twitter handle is @TheIWSG and hashtag is #IWSG.

The awesome co-hosts for the July 6 posting of the IWSG are J Lenni Dorner, Janet Alcorn, PJ Colando, Jenni Enzor, and Diane Burton!

Remember, the question is optional!

Today’s Question: If you could live in any book world, which one would you choose?

I love this question, so whichever admin suggested it, thank you! But it’s a hard one to answer because there are so many book worlds I’d like to dive into. If I have the option of leaving whenever I want, then I’d be much more adventurous in my choice-Moby Dick for example, or Kidnapped. I’d like to “socialize” with Gatsby in the 20s, go back to any of Zane Grey’s westerns, or jump into Dune and actually see those spice worms as Herbert imagined them, not Hollywood’s version. And wouldn’t it be fun to ride along with Holmes and Watson while they solve crimes?

Enough. Obviously, I need many lifetimes to explore the book worlds that fascinate me. So how about if I indulge one of my fantasies and enter a book that I created? I’d like to know more about the main character after I wrote The End. What happened to her?

The Princess of Las Pulgas by C. Lee McKenzie — Amazon

I’d like to think that Carlie (The Princess of Las Pulgas) finished college and went on to live a well-rounded life. Maybe she married Juan Pacheco. I can imagine that happening, but I’d also like it if she was extremely successful as a business executive or a mover and shaker on the national scene as an advocate for those who need a strong voice. She’d understand the need for advocacy.

Authors, I’m sure you’ve all had thoughts about the lives your characters went on to live. I think that’s one of the fascinating parts of being an author. You live with a lot of interesting people in your head, who don’t go away.

Onward to some HOT news!

The IWSG Book Club has two super books in the spotlight for July

Reaching For Normal (Bloo Moose #1) by Jemi Fraser
Magic at Midnight by Ronel Janse van Vuuren

The stickers for Shattered arrived last week. They’re very shiny. Here’s how the cover looks with them included.

Free for Reading & Reviewing on NetGalley

Quote of the Week: “Sometimes I don’t even know why I’m writing what I’m writing…
I’m just following these people around and taking notes.”
― P. Anastasia

I’m Back in the Saddle for IWSG’s First Wednesday

June 1, 2022 By C. Lee McKenzie

The month of May zipped by, but not without many wonderful experiences hiking in some of the most beautiful country in the US. A lot of people are excited about Paris or New York, but for me, there’s nothing more beautiful than the open spaces and nature’s architecture. Stop me before I wax poetic about petrified forests, slot canyons, waterfalls, and pine forests! I could go on for hours, and then there are the pictures that I will want you to see-lots of pictures.

Grand Staircase National Monument Escalante

The road trip took 17 days. The average hike was 5 miles. I only got into trouble once when I was on a steep grade and the ground turned to sand. No matter how I tried, I couldn’t keep from sliding about ten feet onto the lower trail, filling my shoes with enough sand to keep me from going headfirst. I surprised a hiker below me with, “Look out! I’m on my way down.” I’m glad he was there because after him came the canyon.

At times the elevation made breathing while hiking up a mountain a challenge. Let’s face, it made it damned hard. I almost turned back a couple of times, but there was always a waterfall that I really wanted to see or a view that couldn’t be missed, so while those hikes took longer than I expected, I made it. Good thing I have great hiking friends for encouragement.

Canyonlands National Park

While I’ve hiked some of these trails before, doing it again was as if it were my first time. I’m much older than I was when I first visited these places and a very different person. While I was hiking what should have been familiar spots, sophomore year Philosophy 1A replayed Heraclitus who philosophized something like-and I paraphrase-You cannot step into the same river twice…

Cave at Great Basin National Park, Utah

Moab, Utah

I’ve missed hearing what everyone is doing, so I look forward to visiting and catching up.

And now…

The awesome co-hosts for the June 1 posting of the IWSG are SE White, Cathrina Constantine, Natalie Aguire, Joylene Nowell Butler, and Jacqui Murray!

Remember, the question is optional!

When the going gets tough writing the story, how do you keep yourself writing to the end? If 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?

I’ve really already answered this question at the beginning of the post. My first resort when I’m stuck or in the writing doldrums is to get up and get out. Walking or hiking always clears my head and returns me to the story. It took me a while to figure this out.

For a long time, I’d force myself to stick with the page even when the words wouldn’t come.

Miserable!

Then one day, just before I hurled the computer out the window, I turned the thing off and headed outside. I think I walked ten miles that day. By the time I came back, not only was I feeling smug about how much exercise I’d had, but I also had the words I needed to move ahead with the story.

Well, duh! Why did it take me so long to figure this out?

Ouray, Colorado

Quote of the Week: “Look deep into nature and you will understand everything better.” - Albert Einstein

Gone Hiking

May 4, 2022 By C. Lee McKenzie

I’m taking a break this month, but want to welcome

Sandra Cox

as a new admin for #IWSG!

She’s a great addition to this group.

See everyone in June!

Some 1st Wednesday Inspiration

September 1, 2021 By C. Lee McKenzie

“A dream written down becomes a goal. A goal broken down into steps becomes a plan. A plan backed by action becomes reality. Today my goal for the past 4 years, well 5, thanks to COVID becomes a reality!…” Leanne Smith

Leanne Smith represented the U.S. in the breaststroke at the 2020 Paralympics in Tokyo. Smith who suffers from dystonia (a neurological muscle disease that causes painful and uncontrollable muscle spasms) is one heck of a planner and competitor. When I read what she wrote about making it down the path to the big games, I was so impressed that I copied her words and tried to put them into my own context as a writer.

As I wrote this next book that’s coming out in October 2021, I did a lot of research about paraplegia, and I never failed to find inspiration in the lives of those who have had life-altering events that threatened to derail their cherished plans. It seemed that the more challenges these people encountered, the more they pushed to succeed in making their goals. That’s something I’ve tucked away to remember when my plans derail. Instead of giving up, I’ll remember what I’ve learned from writing this book about those who don’t have give up in their vocabulary.

And now the winners from my month-long contest to celebrate the publication of this next book.

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