Thanks to Scot Webb for the use of this image. (Posted on April 26th, 2018).
Over on my Patreon account, I like to share public (free) content from time to time, and this is one of those cases. I’ve written a spooky, yet, kind of funny story, I thought you guys might like to see since I haven’t been sharing my writing here much. I hope you’ll give it a look. It’s called Lover’s Lodge. I think it will make you laugh and cringe, just a little.
Here’s my latest WIP Update if you’d like to know more about what I’ve been writing. I try to update my Youtube subscribers with this monthly, and it’s free.
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
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: Blogging is often more than just sharing stories. It’s often the start of special friendships and relationships. Have you made any friends through the blogosphere?
I’ve made a lot of connections online in the past ten years, but to say I’ve made friends is a little different. I’d first like to point out that just because someone is your friend on Facebook doesn’t mean they are your friend in the real world. With that said, the blogosphere, for me anyway, is way better at building solid, meaningful connections that in time can become true friendships.
I’d love to someday meet some of my blogging friends face-to-face. Before COVID-19, it was a real possibility. I mean, I got to meet one of my favorite publishers at a writer’s conference, who’s to say I couldn’t have also met up with a blogging buddy? Still, I recognize the difference in relationships that thrive in cyberspace and the ones that could potentially thrive in reality.
I don’t think there’s anything wrong with having only “online friends,” as long as they are genuine. I consider all the solid connections I’ve made within the IWSG and WEP to be real friends, especially since they’ll be honest about my writing and let me know where I need improvements. Do these friendships translate into the real world? I have no idea. Maybe. Even if they don’t, they’re stronger than most of my Facebook friendships.
Still, there are those that stand out. There are those I’d love to have a cup of coffee or tea with once a month as I do with my old high school friend. I’m so blessed to have made these friendships through the blogosphere. I won’t name names for fear of leaving someone out, but I think they know who they are. They are the ones I email from time to time and follow on social media platforms. They have truly made my life better, and that’s what a good friendship should do.
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IWSG BOOK CLUB ON GOODREADS
I have finished one of the book club books for December/January/February. Preparing to Write Settings that Feel Like Characters by J Lenni Dorner was a short read and I really liked it. Ghost Light by Joseph O’Connor is another story. Aside from my Goodreads overall reading challenge, I also joined an audiobook challenge and I thought I’d listen to Ghost Light instead of reading it. I think I made a mistake. I’m really struggling with it. Still, I hope I’ll make it through by discussion day.
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! Don’t feel pressured to read both. Pick the one that suits you best and go for that. Or don’t read either but still participate in the discussion day poll. They’re pretty good.
I continue my quest to settle into my new home. It’s been a slow process, but it is coming along. I’m hoping everything will be done by the Spring. For now, I’m just trying to survive the winter. It’s so cold, and much as this may hurt some people’s feelings, snow is way overrated.
One month down in 2021 and COVID is still taunting us all.
I’ve been posting videos on Facebook and YouTube chronicling my struggles with technology, but think I finally found something that might work long term for me. You can check it out in my January wrap-up video below.
Lastly, my Patreon experiment is going well, at least in my eyes it is. I have three supporters and am actively writing new material again. It’s not a lot, but every little bit counts. I designed an exclusive postcard to send out to them, hopefully, today or tomorrow… Oh, and check out my most recent book reviews at Lit Carnivale.
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Have you made any lasting friendships through the blogosphere?
Read any good books lately?
Met any writing goals?
It may take some time, but I promise, I will eventually stop by your blog.
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
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!
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.
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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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.