Tag: #IWSG

To Read or Not to Read #IWSG

  By IWSG
 
October 2 optional 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?
 
The awesome co-hosts for the October 2 posting of the IWSG are Ronel Janse van Vuuren, Mary Aalgaard, Madeline Mora-Summonte, and Ellen @ The Cynical Sailor!
 
Full Disclosure: I am a reader. I’ve been a reader since I first figured out the meaning of those weird shapes in books. I used to read a book a day. I love to read. I’ve slowed down, but I still read. I can’t imagine not reading.
 
Now, I have made the decision to not read books in the same genre I am writing in. That satisfies my need to keep my books fresh and original.  But I write in two different genres, so I can trade off, and there are plenty of books  still out there that I can read.
 
And the concept of ideas being all yours- I can’t fathom it. My ideas are a conglomeration of things I read, things I see, people I talk to … you get the idea. Sure, I try to put those ideas together in a new-to-me way, but I don’t downplay the influence of the world around me. After all, we all know there’s nothing new under the sun.
 
I find no shame in building upon the legacy of our ancestors. Sure, the language has changed and vocabulary shifted, but isn’t that what we, as authors are still doing? Sitting around a campfire and telling our stories?
 
So, read on, fellow authors. 
 
 
 
 
 
 

Finding a Place to Write #IWSG

  By IWSG
 
September 4 question – If you could pick one place in the world to sit and write your next story, where would it be and why?
The awesome co-hosts for the September 4 posting of the IWSG are Gwen Gardner,Doreen McGettigan, Tyrean Martinson, Chemist Ken, andCathrina Constantine!
 
There’s this little lake I know, not exactly in the mountains, but in the high plains. The altitude is about 8000 feet. It’s got a wonderful view of several mountain ranges, depending upon which direction you look. On a normal days, there’s at the most, three or four people there- more cows than people, but they are on the other side. The cows, that is.
 
Ducks, geese and the occasional seagull swim on the lake’s surface. Along the shoreline, songbirds play hide-and-go-seek among the bushes. Their songs mingle with the lowing of the cattle.
 
There’s not an electric plugin to be had, so once the battery on the laptop is dead, it’ll be writing with pen and paper. The nearest town, population under 600, is fifteen miles away. 
 
But to sit there in the shade of one of the few trees (or bring my own) and write! No distractions, no cell phone service, no internet, no one bothering me. That would be heaven.
 
So I’m not going to tell you where it is. You know the song…you call someplace paradise, you kiss it goodbye. I’m not ready to for that.
 

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Pieces of Me #IWSG

  By IWSG

 

Welcome to the Insecure Writer’s Support group blog hop for July. 

July 3 question: What personal traits have you written into your character(s)?

I think every one of my major characters has a small piece of me written into their personality. But the one that has the most of me is Harmony Duprie, the main character in my female sleuth series. At least, that was true in the first book. She has grown and evolved in each book, and has developed her own unique personality. In fact, I’ve changed the series name to recognize the fact. What were once called the Oak Grove Mysteries are now the Harmony Duprie Mysteries.

One easy to see similarity between Harmony and myself is our profession. She’s en ex-librarian turned internet researcher. I planned on being a librarian when I was growing up, and took some college classes in the field. I even worked as a part-time librarian in a small town for a year or so. 

Of course, as a librarian, Harmony has a love of reading. I’ve given her tastes similar to mine. That erotic novel about the billionaire dinosaur-shifter president? She won’t touch it with a ten-foot pole. But she’s more than willing to tackle the driest historical accounts to find the interesting tidbits of information.

Another aspect of my personality that Harmony shares is her need for having time alone. Although she enjoys her friends, there are times that she just wants to be by herself. Her little apartment serves as her sanctuary. I have my writing cave.

But I keep discovering aspects of her that have no basis in my likes and dislikes. She likes to start her morning with a cup of coffee—not unusual. (But I don’t like coffee at all and don’t drink it!) here’s a quick snipptet from the first book, The Marquesa’s Necklace, that features her habit:

I must have set my alarm out of force of habit, because I woke up earlier than I needed to. I was sitting on the second-to-bottom step drinking my coffee, reading the paper, and patting Piper when Elijah arrived. He put his coffee down, pulled a doggie treat out of his pocket, and tossed it to Piper. Piper didn’t bark or growl or anything. He just wagged his tail, gobbled up the goodie, and allowed Elijah to pat him.

“What’s up with that?” I asked, astonished. “Piper doesn’t let strangers touch him, not ever!”

Elijah picked up his coffee and sat down beside me. “Piper and I reached an agreement,” he said, picking up the front section of the paper. I was done with it, and had moved on to the sports section. “I bring him dog cookies, and he lets me help keep an eye on you. He figured it was a fair trade, from what I can tell.”

I snorted into my coffee cup. “Sounds to me like you got the raw end of the deal.”

“Depends on your point of view, I guess.” He avoided my eyes and I didn’t press the issue. I hadn’t gotten enough sleep to worry about what he meant.

We sat in companionable silence, sipping our coffees and enjoying the crisp morning air. It wouldn’t be much longer that I could do this. Once winter arrived, I’d be banished back to my apartment. At least until spring. Winters tend to be long here.

Of course I didn’t tell him, but I enjoyed having Elijah share the moment with me. He would be gone all too soon. I’d lost my ghost in the library.

 

If you want to find out more about Harmony, check out her stories HERE.

Don’t forget to check out how other IWSG authors share their personal traits with their characters. 

The awesome co-hosts for the July 3 posting of the IWSG are Erika Beebe, Natalie Aguirre,Jennifer Lane, MJ Fifield, Lisa Buie-Collard, and Ellen @ The Cynical Sailor!
 

Favorite Genre #IWSG

  By IWSG

IWSG Day Question: Of all the genres you read and write, which is your favorite to write in and why?

The awesome co-hosts for the June 5 posting of the IWSG are Diane Burton, Kim Lajevardi, Sylvia Ney, Sarah Foster, Jennifer Hawes, and Madeline Mora-Summonte!
 

Here’s the thing. I’ll read just about anything, from sci-fi to mysteries to biographies. As long as it’s well-written, I’m game. I’m not crazy about erotica, but if it’s got a decent plot, I can read it.

Obviously, I don’t write in every genre I read. I only write in two-urban fantasy/paranormal and mysteries. (I’ve tried writing in a third, romance, and wasn’t much good at it!)

I freely admit that the mysteries are better sellers than the fantasies. And I love my main character, Harmony Duprie. But the genre I prefer? The urban fantasy.

There’s so much freedom with what I can do with my characters. Sure, I’ve set guidelines for how my world works, but I can also break the rules. And, I do! Or, at least I twist the rules to match what the plot demands.

I’ve written three books so far in the Free Wolves series. At this point, I’m not sure when I’ll add another one. Sure, ideas for more are floating around in my head, demanding my attention, but I’m holding off for now. (But don’t worry, I don’t write cliffhanger endings, so you can read the books and not feel cheated.) 

If you are interested in the books, you can grab more information HERE. 

And you might want to check out some of the other insecure writers below.

One Wish for Writing #IWSG

  By IWSG

 IWSG Day Question: If you could use a wish to help you write just one scene/chapter of your book, which one would it be?

First, lets thank our co-hosts for this month

I thought hard about this question. Since I work so hard to craft my stories, the idea of having someone else help me write a scene or chapter doesn’t feel right.

And I thought about a sex scene. I’ve never written one because my stories don’t need them. I’ve been tempted to try one, but haven’t gathered up the courage. I’ve read so many bad ones, and I’m afraid mine would be worse.

I sometimes wish I had a magic wand for my opening chapter. In my current WIP, I re-wrote the first chapter at least four times. and that was before I started editing. I had to go back and change it as my characters revealed hidden parts of the story I hadn’t planned for.

But I can’t let someone else write the beginning of my book. Then it wouldn’t be mine.

I’ve been known to write a fight scene or two, and I struggle to get enough action without getting carried away with it. Especially when I write a fight between two wolf shifters. How many ways can I describe wolves trying to prove their dominance? Keeping fights fresh across the series is a challenge. I wouldn’t mind a different set of eyes helping me develop my scene.

So that’s my wish. Help with future fight scenes. I’m interested to see what everyone else asks for.

But before we go, I’d like to welcome you to my new website. I’d be honored  if you would take a moment to look around. And even happier if you would follow me on here. See the subscribe box to the right? Yeah, that one. Go ahead, enter your email. That way you won’t miss any of my posts.

If not, I hope to see you next month for another #IWSG post!