Created and hosted by the Ninja himself, Alex J. Cavanaugh, the Insecure Writers Support Group posts the 1st Wednesday of every month. Click the image to learn more or sign up.
Optional Monthly Question: If you could pick one place in the world to sit and write your next story, where would it be and why?
It’s not so much where in the world would I write, but how much time do I have to write? Wherever I am, if I could clear my schedule and just write and breathe fresh air, I’d need about a month. But, for the sake of this question, I’d like to spend a month either on a temperate island or a temperate forest, in the Fall or Spring.
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Newsletter Member Spotlight.
Congratulations to Cathrina Constantin on her September spotlight. She’s also a co-host this month.
Today is the last day for IWSG Anthology submissions.
Click here for details.
IWSG Book Club News
Our August/September book is Forest for the Trees: An Editor’s Advice by Betsy Lerner. Discussion Fun Day will be September 25, 2019. Until then, enjoy this freebie created by one of our book club moderators, Juneta Key: Story Study Checklist Click on the link to open and then save the PDF to your computer. Join Us.
WEP-IWSG
I didn’t submit this time around, but I thoroughly enjoyed reading all the stories. If you have the time before the submission date, please check these stories out. The next sign up begins October 1.
Today I’m sharing a book review.
Micah dreams of someday being a famous explorer who discovers hidden treasure all around the world. But there’s one major problem: he’s afraid of the Unknown.
One day he discovers a mysterious door that reads “Treasure Inside!” He reluctantly opens the door and is whisked away to a strange new land. Once there, he learns of a lost treasure that is his and his alone — but first, he must make his way through the Unknown.
Join Micah as he travels into the Unknown and learns that what you find isn’t always what you’re looking for… sometimes it’s even better.
My 5-star review:
A little boy afraid of the unknown is willing to risk it all to go in search of treasure and finds the greatest treasure of all. The story begins and ends at the boy’s home, but the places he travels in between are quite an adventure.
This is such a cute and impactful book. It seems simple, at first, but upon a second reading, all the layers are revealed. The illustration is calming and inviting, with colors that aren’t too bright but still warm and comforting. The characters are wonderous and cuddly. I love the facial expressions of the main character.
The message is astounding. Aside from the overall lesson being taught, there are several other messages to discover when reading between the lines, and they are all good. I can’t wait to share it with my students.
Disclaimer: I received a digital ARC in exchange for an honest review.
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Now, on to the personal updates.
So, my day job is good. Even when it’s not good, it’s still 10 times better than my last job. I really like what I’m doing. But, as much as I like what I’m doing, I still have other goals, dreams, and interests to pursue. My current challenge is just finding the time to pursue it all.
Margie the Scaredydog is getting older, but she’s more well-adjusted than she’s ever been. Still, she struggles with anxiety. Considering she’s a rescue who’s scared of her own shadow, I feel confident and proud that my husband and I have given Margie a good life. She now sits for treats, plays with us when there’s food around, and runs to us (instead of away from us) when she’s scared…Unless there’s thunder, to which she wraps herself around one of my old skirts that now belongs to her. I do feel bad that I haven’t illustrated the stories I’ve written about her or tried to publish them. I’m sure I’ll get to it one day.
I’ve been reading a lot and have been trying new or less preferred genres to expand my horizons. I recently read a contemporary book by an author I already adore, but never picked up this title before. I haven’t written my review yet, but FYI- Better Than Perfect by Tricia Drammeh is a wonderful 5-star read.
Lastly, I’ve been writing a lot. I mean, a lot, but I haven’t finished anything. I’d like to start sending out some of my short stories for critique and perhaps publish an anthology, but who knows when that will happen.
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So, if you could, where would you go to write your next story?
Thanks for stopping by.
It may take some time, but I will stop by your blog too.
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After hanging out with Alex, be sure to stop by and visit this month’s co-hosts:
Gwen Gardner,
Doreen McGettigan,
Tyrean Martinson,
Chemist Ken, and
Cathrina Constantiner!!
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Click here to visit other IWSG blogs and sites to receive and share more inspiration and support. (This month, I’m #44).
Thank you for taking the time to read this post. If you like it let me know and share it with others. See you next time, Toi Thomas. #thetoiboxofwords
40 replies on “#IWSG September 2019: Where in the world?”
Hi,
I had to laugh at your first thought because you’re a very busy woman and I don’t think that you will be able to clear your schedule. I don’t know how you would react being somewhere without internet or telephone access either. 🙂
I love your book review. It was convincing. In fact, I went on amazon and purchased it. The book sounds like something I would enjoy reading.
All the best, Toi.
Shalom aleichem,
Pat G @ EverythingMustChange
Ha, you have a point. I could definitely do without phone service for a while, but since some of my writing tools are online and in the cloud, I’d still want access to the internet. I could do without it, but I wouldn’t want to. Glad you enjoyed the review.
That sounds like an interesting place for writing.
PS: Margie is soooooo cute!
Thanks for stopping by. Margie loves praises, I’ll be sure to tell her someone thinks she’s cute.
Glad your rescue dog is finally settling. Makes you wonder what people did to her. People who are cruel to animals are the lowest.
Yes they are. I’m just glad she has a better life now.
A small, quiet space would work for me while I write.Congratulations on the news about your dog. I’m sure she’ll be ever so grateful once she learns she can trust you.
Thanks, C. Lee. I think her trust is growing every day, but I think thunder currently trumps everything else.
I’d want to stay somewhere for a month, too. And it would likely being during the autumn, as well.
Margie looks so sweet.
In find the colors of all to be comforting.
Sitting in a forest, huh? Whoa.With lions tigers, and bears? Oh my! That’s kinda cool…so I guess they write too? Or maybe read? Or just maybe share a bowl of porridge? Now that’d be just right, for sure!
I’ve dealt with bears before and know to just stay out of their way. As for the lions and tigers, I’m heading to the forest not the jungle. I’m not that adventurous, but I do love the reference. 😀 Thanks for stopping by.
Spring and Fall energize me the most, so I get that and temperate forest….I’m thinking you mean one with seasons…I get that also. Sounds restfully quiet.
Yes, I need a place with clear seasons, otherwise it’s always either too hot or too cold. Plus, I love the colors of Spring and Fall.
It would be nice to have more time for writing. 😉
Anna from elements of emaginette
Yes, time is the real precious commodity here.
I’m glad your scaredy dog is settling into life! And, I think temperate regions are nice to write in. 🙂
Happy writing and life!
Thanks. She’s doing better that I would have imaged two years ago.
More writing time? That’s my problem too. The day job is eating into my life…
But I’ll forge ahead. Just keep at it.
We’ll get there. A step at a time.
Happy IWSG Day!
Writer In Transit
Yes, a step at a time is still forward movement. I’ll take it.
Fall is definitely the best time to write. Now that I have more time to write, I’m looking forward to seeing how productive I become in the coming months. I’m glad Margie is getting better. I used to have a cat who would stick her head in the corner whenever there was thunder.
Something about fall is just cozy and ideal for writing.
Poor kitty, I hope things got better.
A month just to write would be amazing! I wouldn’t even care where I was.
Glad Margie has found such a great life with you.
I know what you mean. While I’ve listed my preferences, I’d write anywhere if given a month to focus on just that.
Margie is just gorgeous! The children’s book looks excellent. I hope you find more.time to write and follow your hopes and dreams.
Thanks for the well wishes. Margie has come a long way. She inspires me.
Time is definitely the issue when it comes to writing. I do like your choices of the ideal places to write though.
Oh to have more time.
We have a German Shepherd that has never been abused but is scared of thunder and tries to crawl under feet. We have found giving stress treats which have a mild calming affect help but he still scared just not as rambunctious.
Margie used to dig holes into our carpet trying to get away and would almost shed herself bald. She’s come a long way. Now, she has a special spot she likes to curl up in and we wrap her in her skirt and use a combination of calming oils and sprays, and medication as needed.
Sounds like things are going pretty well. Here’s hoping you can find the time to do more writing, finish it, and get it out there!
Thank you. It would be nice to at least finish something this year.
I am glad your dad is well and you like your job. That makes life a little less stressful. Great review. Great response this this month’s question.
No kidding. This is the first time in my adult life since college that I haven’t been overwhelmed by stress. I still experience a healthy amount of stress, but it doesn’t keep me up at night right now.
Margie is so cute. Her nervousness is understandable. You & your husband are great to adopt a rescue dog. Finding time to do what you want is never easy. Time management is what I need.
We’re really glad we took the leap to get a rescue. It’s hasn’t been easy, but we can’t imagine what took us so long. We love her.
Anywhere temperate, LOL. I’m with you on that. I love your doggie. I have an old dog too, who’s very anxious. We try not to leave him alone, so he pretty much goes where we go these days.
We take Margie on road trips with us and she likes it. She’s gotten better about being home alone for short periods of time because she has a radio and a long halway to play in, but over night just isn’t an option unless she goes to the Doggie Motel.
A quiet cabin on a rugged sea…
Like you, I think I could write anywhere given the time and inspiration. I really like my couch at home!
I like my couch too. Don’t know how much longer it’s going to last though. Margie really likes it too, a little too much.