Tag: fresh start

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IWSG

#IWSG August 2021: I said craft book, not craft beer.

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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 is your favorite writing craft book? Think of a book that every time you read it you learn something, or you are inspired to write or try the new technique. And why?

Reading aloud my response to this question had my husband looking at me funny. Then I realized that he thought I said craft beer. I laughed. He and I both know I don’t know anything about craft beer.

I never felt like picking a favorite writing craft book would be a “thing” for me. It’s always simply been a matter of whether I got anything out of it or not. I’ve read quite a few craft books, especially since the IWSG Book Club started, and have learned something from all of them, even if I didn’t like them.

Here’s a list of a few of my 5-star craft reads:
Write With Fey: 10 Sparks to Guide You from Idea to Publication
Big Magic: Creative Living Beyond Fear
On Writing: A Memoir of the Craft
Keep Writing with Fey: Sparks to Defeat Writer’s Block, Depression, and Burnout
Deep Point of View (Busy Writer’s Guides, #9)
How to Publish and Promote Your Book Now!
I also have plenty of 4 and 3-star craft reads that I revisit as needed. But if I had to pick one, and only one, it would be…

Deep Point of View.

Before I read this book, I wasn’t even convinced that Deep POV was worth my time. I mean, the idea of it sounded nice, but I just didn’t get it. Oh, and what this author does with her appendixes is so effective, I was thoroughly impressed.

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IWSG BOOK CLUB ON GOODREADS

Don’t know if you’ve heard, but there are some changes coming. Many of us were shocked to see the book club founder, Chrys Fey, step down as admin of the Goodreads group. I personally expressed to her many times how important the book club has been to me over the years. Looking ahead to the future, I was honored to accept the role as admin to a new version of the club. We hope to have an announcement with all the details and new titles next month.

For now, I finished both of the June/July/August reads and am excited to post my first discussion after much guidance from Chrys, herself, and amazing feedback from my co-moderators Ronel Janse van Vuuren and Juneta Key.
Even if you haven’t read either of the books, I’d love for you to stop by and join the discussion. You can get so much out of just the discussions. Click here to join us.

Now, on to the personal updates.

I took the month of July off to reset myself and make a plan for getting through the rest of this year. Unfortunately, I didn’t really put much thought into how I would communicate that I was taking some time. Oh, well, I’ve said my apologies and am moving forward. I’m getting a handle on some of my health issues and following plans to continue my creative endeavors. Updates on all the details later.

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Any writing craft books worth mentioning?
If I bailed on you in the month of July, I truly am sorry. Poor planning on my part.
It may take some time, but I promise, I will eventually 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:
PK Hrezo,
Cathrina Constantine,
PJ Colando,
Kim Lajevardi, and
Sandra Cox!

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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 #36).

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 #blacklivesmatter

Categories
IWSG

#IWSG January 2021: Reading As A Writer

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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: Being a writer, when you’re reading someone else’s work, what stops you from finishing a book/throws you out of the story/frustrates you the most about other people’s books?

I’ve talked to many writers who don’t believe it’s important to read, and to that I say, WHAT! To each his own, I guess. I get the idea of not reading a lot while you are actively working on a story so that you aren’t overly influenced by what you read, but for me, a writer should also be a reader- no quota or nothing, just read something at some point that you didn’t write.

But, to answer the question being asked, I feel like I’m a more flexible reader than many other writers. I think sometimes we writers can be too harsh. Still, that’s not to say that writers shouldn’t be a little critical of their peers. For me, every reading experience is a learning one. I can learn what I’d like to be better at and what I hope I’m not doing or plan to stop doing immediately. With that said, the few reading pet peeves that make me want to put a book down are as follows:

-Too much profanity.
-Really bad grammar, not a few typos or misplaced commas, but grammar so bad I can’t figure out what’s happening.
-Gratuitous sex. I like a little steam as much as the average adult, but I do also need a reasonable plot.
-Too much snark. I like a laugh but again, plot. I need this to all be going somewhere not just endless jokes.
-Too many unnecessary descriptions.

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IWSG BOOK CLUB ON GOODREADS

Our book club is changing things up!
We will have quarterly book selections now, giving us more time to read. We will also have one fiction book selection and one writing craft book selection. Members can read both or choose between them. Finally, we won’t be offering 5 optional discussion questions anymore. Instead, we will be utilizing the polls that our members enjoy, so there will be one poll question for the fiction book and one for the non-fiction book on Discussion Day.

Our December/January/February reads are…

Ghost Light by Joseph O’Connor, a book written in second person. Since many readers haven’t read a book in second person, and many writers haven’t written in second person, we figured this is a great chance to explore something new.


Preparing to Write Settings that Feel Like Characters by J Lenni Dorner. This will be our writing craft book, with a focus on settings.

Discussion Day for both books will be February 24, 2021!

JOIN US! 

Now, on to the personal updates.

So, my husband and I just bought a house. The whole experience was horrible, stressful, and painful, but at least it’s over. I’m so happy on so many levels.

I just launched a Patreon page because I have a few people who expressed an interest in the idea but then none of them supported it when I launched it on the first. Still, I love the idea and will continue to work at convincing those people that using Patreon is no different from shopping at Amazon. We’ll see how it goes.

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Is reading as a writer more or less fun for you?
What are your reading pet peeves?
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:
Ronel Janse van Vuuren,
J Lenni Dorner,
Gwen Gardner,
Sandra Cox, and
Louise – Fundy Blue!

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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 #37).

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 #blacklivesmatter

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About Toi

It’s launch day and blooming time!

Happy New Year!

This is the last day I’m going to drag out the flower blooming metaphor. Today is my Patreon launch-day and I’m blooming on the inside.

The last and ultimate tier I have to share is my Tribe. This is for all the writers who are fans and all the fans who are also writers. The last two days, I explained how I didn’t want to pigeonhole would-be supporters into engaging in things they simply weren’t interested in. But, today I want to spotlight those who want it all.

I am a reader and writer and I want to connect with others like me. The main things that make this package stand out from the others, because all previously mentioned perks are included, is the option to participate in story collaboration and a live, themed, chat-party.

I’m so elated with the prospect of creating a story from beginning to end with a whole tribe rooting me on along the way, giving prompts and feedback at every turn. Oh, and I can’t wait to host virtual parties for this special group of people.

All this will be made available to anyone who chooses to become part of the TRIBE on my page for $4 a month.

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Please go visit my Patreon page today to participate. Be sure to check out my goals. I’m offering a special snail mail perk to anyone who supports this effort, at any level, within the first 30 days.

Below, you’ll find a short video explaining just how to navigate my Patreon page (it was made during the setup process and changes have been made). I look forward to seeing you there.

https://youtu.be/0r9baYSkWgc

 

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 #blacklivesmatter