Tag: Alex J. Cavanaugh

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IWSG

#IWSG December 2019: What Does the Dream Look Like?

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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.

Oops! I forgot to post this morning and then my site experienced some technical difficulties.
You know how it is this time of the year. 😉

Optional Monthly Question: Let’s play a game. Imagine. Role-play. How would you describe your future writer self, your life and what it looks and feels like if you were living the dream? Or if you are already there, what does it look and feel like? Tell the rest of us. What would you change or improve?

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I’m not really sure what living the dream looks like for me because I have so many ambitions. I guess if I was to imagine that everything I ever wanted to do happened just as I wanted it to, it might look a little something like this…

As a writer, I wouldn’t necessarily be award-winning, but I’d have regular consistent sales of my four major series (only two exist right now) and would be traveling, at least, around the U.S. speaking about them. As a book lover and entrepreneur, I’d be running a successful book fair in Hampton Roads, featuring mainstream and indie authors from all over. My claim to fame would be as an advocate of reading.

Between my writing, speaking engagements, and my book fair, I wouldn’t have a day job anymore. My husband would be my manager and my sister would be my stylist… Oh, and I’d be surrounded by all my rescue pups, however many that may be.

A girl can dream, right?

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The November IWSG member spotlight was Ronel Janse Van Vuuren. Be sure to stop by her blog and say hi.

IWSG Book Club News

Join the IWSG Book Club on Good Reads for polls, freebies, book chats, and fun.
The December 2019/January 2020 book will be On Writing: A Memoir of the Craft by Stephen King. Discussion Fun Day will be January 22, 2020.

WEP-IWSG

Footprints in the sand…Footprints in the snow…and they don’t have to be human – alien, monster, unknown creatures…all up for grabs. Footprints are metaphors for so many situations – we walk in someone else’s footprints, we leave footprints in the sands of time, we minimize carbon footprints, or at least try to.

The next WEP challenge is coming quickly; not sure I’ll be ready in time.

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Now, on to the personal updates.

I’ve submitted to three anthologies. I was accepted to one, but it doesn’t offer a royalty. I honestly just wanted the practice of submitting and really liked their specifications. I’m still waiting to hear from the other two. I’ve submitted to anthologies before and have about a 50/50 track record on acceptance, which I personally consider a win.

I recently set up a vendor table, two weekends in a row, to sell my books and meet and greet people, while hoping to spread the word about my idea to host a book fair. I guess I’ll be focusing on fundraising for the next few months. I’ve designed some original t-shirt designs and set up an online store. We’ll see what happens. You can check it out here if you’d like. My husband and I are wearing two of the designs in the image below. I plan to add more designs later.

I’m happy to say that I’ve been busy writing some of everything: short stories, children’s books (trying to illustrate but it’s really hard), and even a screenplay. I’m very excited to take some time off from my day job to celebrate the holidays. Looking forward to time with family, sleep, and more writing.

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Ever consider where you could be in five years? What does your writer dream look like?
Submitted any work lately?
Looking forward to or enjoying the holiday season?
It may take some time, but I promise, I will stop by your blog.

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After hanging out with Alex, be sure to stop by and visit this month’s co-hosts:
Tonja Drecker,
Beverly Stowe McClure,
Nicki Elson, and
Tyrean Martinson!

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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 #42).

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

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IWSG

#IWSG November 2019: Do Not Google That!

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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: What’s the strangest thing you’ve ever googled in researching a story?

I have had to research a lot of things when outlining a story. I’ve delved deep into angelic lore, the origins and meanings of names, and even some exotic botany. I think the most unusual research I’ve done included DNA and blood disease research. But the one topic that actually started sending out odd things to my SPAM folders and social media feeds (because you know all that stuff is connected) was my dream research. For weeks I couldn’t get away from dream interpretation articles and programs and crystal recommendations for anything that might ail me. I was also contacted by three psychics and two dream studies. So, be careful when researching dreams.

*Updated 11/7/19- I started with a Google search, but it was the pursuit of those results that led to all the SPAM and psychic and sleep study contacts, not just the search.*

Since we’re on the subject, I thought I’d share a few crazy Google searches others have shared with me.

A family friend and youth pastor once told me that he had to destroy is office PC and get a new one after doing a search on “Teen Sex”. He was looking for statistics on pregnancy and STDs and got images and videos he says still haunt him to this day. Another family friend, an older woman, had to destroy her laptop and get a new one after trying to do research on Black Holes, only she couldn’t remember that’s what they were called and tried all sorts of searches that deeply disturbed her and crashed her computer. I still have no clue what she actually searched but I have some ideas and I know better than to test them out.

My suggestion for those not so computer savvy or unsure of what you’re searching for, try the library first. If it doesn’t crash their computer, you’re good to go. (PLEASE don’t tell the library I sent you.)

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The November IWSG Newsletter member spotlight was Pat Garcia. Be sure to stop by her blog and say hi.

IWSG Book Club News

Goodreads

Our October/November fiction book, voted on by our members, is The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society. Discussion Fun Day will be November 20th.

WEP-IWSG

Click here to see all the winners!

I won the commenting award this month. I really enjoyed reading all the stories and look forward to the next challenge in December. You can read my entry here.

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Now, on to the personal updates.

I’ve been trying really hard to be more active on social media without overwhelming myself. I figured out that social media is there all the time whether I am there or not so there’s no way I can see and do everything. Now that I’ve accepted that, it’s been going a lot better for me. I think I might even go back on YouTube and stop caring about the fact that my videos don’t have the production value of the larger channels. I’m not trying to reach everyone, I’m simply trying to reach those I’m meant to reach.

With that in mind, I thought I’d share two posts, one from each of my Instagram profiles, just because. One is dedicated to Margie my Redbone rescue and the other is where I post my bookish stuff.
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View this post on Instagram

 

Just had my walk, got a treat, feeling WONDERFUL! #coonhoundsofinstagram #petcostumes

A post shared by Margie “Scaredy Dog” Thomas (@margiescaredydog) on


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View this post on Instagram

 

Meant to start this in October. Better late than never. #tbrpost #bookstagram #ebook

A post shared by Lit Carnivale (@carniethebookworm) on

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What Google search have you regretted in the name of research?
Anyone want to follow me on Instagram? I follow back. 😀
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:
Sadira Stone,
Patricia Josephine,
Lisa Buie-Collard,
Erika Beebe, and
C. Lee McKenzie!

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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 #43).

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

Categories
IWSG

#IWSG October 2019: To Read or Not to Read?

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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: It’s been said that the benefits of becoming a writer who does not read is that all your ideas are new and original. Everything you do is an extension of yourself, instead of a mixture of you and another author. On the other hand, how can you expect other people to want your writing, if you don’t enjoy reading? What are your thoughts?

Writers who don’t read make me feel uncomfortable. I don’t expect most writers to read as much as I do, but I do expect them to read somewhat regularly. Like the question says, why should other people read a writer’s work when that writer doesn’t read anyone else’s work. I don’t think it’s right to expect people to read and or buy your books if you aren’t yourself a consumer of books.

I always appreciate an opportunity to read an ARC, but I still buy books from other authors as well. (At least, I post my ARC reviews right away, while my leisure reads usually come with leisurely posted reviews.) I’ve seen writers online bragging about how they only read books sent to them for review purposes or they don’t read at all because they don’t have the time. I’m not cool with that.

I know I make reading a priority in my life, but that has nothing to do with me as a writer. If I wasn’t already an avid reader, I’d still make a point to read at least one book a month. For some writers, reading one book every quarter is all they can muster because they are so focused on their writing, and I think that’s great. It’s better than saying, I won’t make time to read but I expect other people to read what I’ve written.

So, those are my thoughts. Probably not popular, but it is what it is.

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IWSG Book Club News
September 25, 2019, was discussion day for Forest for the Trees: An Editor’s Advice by Betsy Lerner. I haven’t made it over there yet, but I will. I must admit, I had trouble reading this one, but Part 2 of the book was better for me than Part 1.

Our October/November fiction book, voted on by our members, is The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society. Discussion Fun Day will be November 20th.

In anticipation of this being the chosen title, I read the book and watched the Netflix movie. Loved them both. Will say more at discussion time.

WEP-IWSG

The October challenge has been officially announced. Posting is the 16th -18th. I’ve already finished my story but may need to polish it a bit. I’m not in love with the story I’ve written but I feel it’s the story I need to tell right now. I’m open to other ideas coming along and playing out before submission day, so I guess we’ll see what I post when I post.

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Now, on to the personal updates.

Is anyone in the U.S. having a real Fall experience right now. It’s October and I’m still waiting to wear all my scarves and sweaters. I’m ready for cool temperatures and rainbow leaves. Plus, I really don’t want to be sweating on my birthday. I’m so ready for Fall.

I’m currently in the process of rewriting four books. Why, you ask? Apparently, I’m a crazy person who lets her characters dictate her life and right now they are all demanding makeovers.

OMG! I don’t care if no one says that anymore. I got to meet L. Diane Wolfe at the Hampton Roads Writer’s Conference last month and have no shame in admitting that I was a total fangirl. The whole writing conference was a wonderful experience, but meeting Diane just made it even more special.

This writer’s conference also lit a fire in me to get back out into my local community to network and share my writing and speaking skills. I have a few events lined up and feel good about sharing my love of books and reading. If I sell books along the way, great. If not, at least I got to have the experience.

Speaking of networking, are there any IWSG members living in or near Hampton Roads (Tidewater), VA willing to connect and or collaborate?

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So, are you a writer who reads or doesn’t read? Do you think writers should also be readers?

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:
Ronel Janse van Vuuren,
Mary Aalgaard,
Madeline Mora-Summonte, and
Ellen @ The Cynical Sailor!!!

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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