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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.

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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.

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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

Categories
Books IWSG

#IWSG September 2019: Where in the world?

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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: 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. 

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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