Quote of the Day: As life goes on it becomes tiring to keep up the character you invented for yourself, and so you relapse into individuality and become more like yourself everyday. Agatha Christie
Today is another group posting of the Insecure Writer’s Support Group! Time to release our fears to the world – or offer encouragement to those who are feeling neurotic. If you’d like to join us, click on the tab above and sign up. We post the first Wednesday of every month. You can also visit the founder Alex J. Cavanaugh for more info and links.
Question of the Month: The IWSG celebrates 12 years today! When did you discover the IWSG, how do you connect, and how has it helped you?
I’ve been connected to IWSG from the start. I believe I missed the very first posting because, like today, it was my birthday. I learned about it from Alex because I followed his blog from early in my blogging days. It’s been a great connector. I’ve made friends and connections and looked forward to their posts, and reading their comments on mine. At one point, my blog was listed in the first 10 blogs on the IWSG site. One of my short stories was selected for the IWSG anthology in 2018, Tick Tock: A Stitch in Crime at Dancing Lemur Press. I’ve dropped off a bit, now, since I knew I wouldn’t be able to post or read comments much this summer. But, I’m back today, because I want to help Alex and the rest of the team celebrate, and because this has been a great source for me to make connections, learn about the writing and publishing world, and get inspiration and offer encouragement, as the motto goes.
This summer, I traveled with my sisters and cousins to our family roots in Sweden and Norway. We had an epic adventure and met, or reconnected with, family in the “old country.” We came home just in time for my son’s wedding. Then, I taught theater classes and got right back to viewing and reviewing theater.
Speaking of theater, I wrote a stage adaptation of Jeanne Cooney’s murder/mystery, It’s Murder, Dontcha Know. They will be doing a staged reading of the play at our local college, Central Lakes College, with the director of the department, Joseph Yow, directing, and local actors will be reading the parts. It’s very exciting! I’m so grateful for everyone who is willing to help in the development of this play. A regional theater is already looking at producing it next spring!
I have much to celebrate today. I’m hoping you do, too. This is my new year, with school back in session. Piano students coming back, or starting new ones, and celebrating another year of life.
Go. Create. Inspire!
Journaling Prompt: What are you celebrating this season?
That’s all awesome! Another play. And I envy your trip. I really want to take a similar trip. All the best prog rock comes from Scandinavia.
Thanks, Alex. Start planning! It’s worth it.
Happy birthday! And I hope you had a wonderful trip. Also congrats to your son on his wedding.
Thanks, Meka!
Worth celebrating the IWSG as it’s done so much to bring writers together. Hope you had a great trip and good luck with the play!
Thanks, Nick. I agree!
Happy Birthday, Mary!
Congrats on the play and your son’s wedding too!
The IWSG has such a wonderful sense of community, which is hard to find in online groups.
I’m so glad we connected via the IWSG.
Happy IWSG Anniversary Da
Happy IWSG Anniversary Day!
Same to you, Michelle. I think this is where we met.
Happy birthday! I saw some of your travel photos (FB I think?) and it looked like an amazing trip.
It was. Thanks, Diane!
First, and most important….HAPPY BIRTHDAY! Second, what a great trip that was, and to share it with sisters and cousins has to be the best.
It was. We made memories we’ll treasure forever.
Happy Birthday! And what a wonderful trip to your family roots!
Thanks!
What a busy, wonderful summer. Congrats on the play. That sounds very exciting.
Thanks. It was an epic summer, for sure!
Your trip sounds AMAZING, Mary and HOW HAVE I NOT BEEN BY TO VISIT IN PRACTICALLY FOREVER!!!!
I’m sorry about that. Things are busy but that’s really no excuse. Apologies is all I can ask.
Happy Birthday !! I’m so glad to read that you’re still writing plays.
I hope you have a spectacular rest of your week.
– Jen
Thanks, Jen. Good to “see” you again!!! It has been way too long.
Happy birthday! Sounds like a great way to spend the summer.
The IWSG is celebrating 12 years today, which is so amazing for a blogging community of writers. A dozen years of support! 🎉
“The only thing you absolutely have to know is the location of the library.” – Albert Einstein quote
September is library card sign-up month! Get one, use one, and be grateful such places exist.
J Lenni Dorner (he/him 👨🏽 or 🧑🏽 they/them) ~ Speculative Fiction &Reference Author, OperationAwesome6 Debut Author Interviewer, and Co-host of the #AtoZchallenge
That’s awesome that you knew Alex before he even started the IWSG. Your trip this summer sounds wonderful. I’ve always wanted to travel to Norway.
Hi Mary,
Looks great How about a tour to our local theatre in Westmorland ?
Often, a l small town or village Roundhouse had an earlier existence – as a gasometer.
oday, and all this week, celebrating the skill, good nature and sheer professionalism of the team who
rescued us when the oven tried to burn our 17th C house down. Didn’t get very far, but scary.
New, safe cooker installed, , house wiring checked, post mortem on the offender – kitchen needs repainting, but I had to take a step back from even my ultra low-key promotion of my next book. It’s just good to be on the right side of this – cats safe too.
Not YA, but a key protagonist is 14. and facing something that isn’t possible, Can’t be true. ( Apply Sherlock test) – following Marigold, 102, codebreaker (ret’d) crimesolver, and incidently, giving the NHS a roasting. ..
Boxes insist on being upper case… Can’t fix it.
Your trip sounds wonderful! And congrats on the play – I bet it will be super-cool to hear your work performed.
What a great trip!
I love plays. I wish I lived close enough, I’d come watch.
I get busy at times too, but I quit kicking myself for it. I’d rather be a bad blogger than drop out of blogging all together. I’ve talked to several who have closed their blogs because they can’t do regular visits. I’d rather someone visit me sporadically than quit because I miss blogger peeps when they go away!
Congrats on your son’s wedding and the play! And Happy Birthday! Sounds like an awesome trip.