December #IWSG: Food (poisoning), Family, and Fun!

  

    

Come join Alex J. Cavanaugh and the Insecure Writer's Support Group. We discuss our fears, insecurities, ups and downs of the writing process and post the first Wednesday of every month! http://alexjcavanaugh.blogspot.com/p/the-insecure-writers-support-group.html

Let’s rock the neurotic writing world!
Our Twitter handle is @TheIWSG and hashtag is #IWSG.

 

The awesome co-hosts for the September 4 posting of the IWSG are Beth Camp, Jean Davis, Yvonne Ventresca, and PJ Colando!

Every month, we announce a question that members can answer in their IWSG post. These questions may prompt you to share advice, insight, a personal experience or story. Include your answer to the question in your IWSG post or let it inspire your post if you are struggling with something to say. 

Remember, the question is optional

Let’s rock the neurotic writing world!
Our Twitter handle is @TheIWSG and hashtag is #IWSG.

 

The awesome co-hosts for the December 4 posting of the IWSG are Ronel, Deniz, Pat Garcia, Olga Godim, and Cathrina Constantine!

Every month, we announce a question that members can answer in their IWSG post. These questions may prompt you to share advice, insight, a personal experience or story. Include your answer to the question in your IWSG post or let it inspire your post if you are struggling with something to say. 

Remember, the question is optional

 

December 4 question - Do you write cliffhangers at the end of your stories? Are they a turn-off to you as a writer and/or a reader?

First of all, I apologize for my absence these past few months. I wish I had some crazy awesome excuse, but besides family, food poisoning, and my small little farm life, work has stretched me thin. As fast as my world is spinning, I'm still wrangling my dreams and taking time to feed the chickens and enjoy the holidays. 

Now, on to this month's question...

Yes and no. Obviously, every story should pose a question. I believe you should answer your What if premise/question by the end of the book. What can I say? I like closure. Then why am I drawn to cliffhangers? However, leading your readers to the edge of a cliff, where the writing suddenly ends, isn't cool. 

The size of your cliffhanger should resemble a small ladder not the overlook from, say, Angel's Landing. My adventurous oldest son has climbed this twice--once during a snow storm. Back to our dilemma: I need closure, but I always want to feel there's more to a story, like all those subtle cues and gut instincts were correct. The mystery continues. The plot thickens. Dun dun dun. And we better be not have to wait a year or more to discover major plot points in another book.  

I hope this Thanksgiving finds you healthy and writing well-thought out cliffhangers that don't result in your fan base hunting you down with torches.

The neighbor kitty likes to hang out in the mornings

                                             

September #IWSG: BEST CLASS EVER

  

    

Come join Alex J. Cavanaugh and the Insecure Writer's Support Group. We discuss our fears, insecurities, ups and downs of the writing process and post the first Wednesday of every month! http://alexjcavanaugh.blogspot.com/p/the-insecure-writers-support-group.html

Let’s rock the neurotic writing world!
Our Twitter handle is @TheIWSG and hashtag is #IWSG.

 

The awesome co-hosts for the September 4 posting of the IWSG are Beth Camp, Jean Davis, Yvonne Ventresca, and PJ Colando!

Every month, we announce a question that members can answer in their IWSG post. These questions may prompt you to share advice, insight, a personal experience or story. Include your answer to the question in your IWSG post or let it inspire your post if you are struggling with something to say. 

Remember, the question is optional

 

September 4 question - Since it's back to school time, let's talk English class. What's a writing rule you learned in school that messed you up as a writer?

I don't think anything from English class really messed me up as a writer. Let's talk about AP Lit class in high school. My love of reading actually started in elementary school, but it flew off the charts reading all the assigned books in this class. A love for writing has to start with a love for reading. I still try to fit in reading time even though my life is crazy busy right now. 

Another class that I will cherish forever was my Creative Writing class in college. My teacher taught us to eavesdrop on conversations and write short stories about them. BEST CLASS EVER.

"Pay attention to the details," she would always say. "Life is very interesting. Just watch people and listen. You can get a ton of good material (for writing) this way." 

And, boy, was she right!!

Happy September!! My favorite time of the year has begun. Hope you are writing all the stories and reading all the books.

July #IWSG: Summer Mode Activated

  

    

Come join Alex J. Cavanaugh and the Insecure Writer's Support Group. We discuss our fears, insecurities, ups and downs of the writing process and post the first Wednesday of every month! http://alexjcavanaugh.blogspot.com/p/the-insecure-writers-support-group.html

  Let’s rock the neurotic writing world!

Our Twitter handle is @TheIWSG and hashtag is #IWSG.

The awesome co-hosts for the  July 3 posting of the IWSG are JS Pailly, Rebecca Douglass, Pat Garcia, Louise-Fundy Blue, and Natalie Aguirre!

Every month, we announce a question that members can answer in their IWSG post. These questions may prompt you to share advice, insight, a personal experience or story. Include your answer to the question in your IWSG post or let it inspire your post if you are struggling with something to say. 

Remember, the question is optional

 

July 3 question - What are your favorite writing processing (e.g. Word, Scrivener, yWriter, Dabble), writing apps, software, and tools? Why do you recommend them? And which one is your all time favorite that you cannot live without and use daily or at least whenever you write?

I live the simple life: open Word every morning and write. One thing I'm kind of picky about is that I don't like to write away from my house. Getting into the writing mode daily happens in the comfort of my own home.

Summer has been extremely hard to carve out time for my writing ritual. Vacations creep in (not that I'm complaining!). Family time, fun in the sun, traveling take over the writer's life. 

Another amazing vacay up North last week brought us to Mackinac Island--again. It's my happy place on earth. My hubs and I have been exploring this amazing destination our entire married lives. He's from Michigan. I'm from his rival state of Wisconsin. :-) 

If you have never been to this tiny island situated between Lake Michigan and Lake Huron, I strongly recommend it. Buy ferry tickets online. Spend a day or two. Bike the island if you can! FYI, no cars allowed in this magical place. However, you can ride a horse, if you're mega rich. LOL. Or you can just walk and enjoy the adventure. If you love history, horses, small town vibes, quaint shops, fantastic food, and breathtaking scenery, GOOO to Mackinac Island. 

That is all. Carry on in summer mode. 

Bought 2 lilac cuttings from Mackinac lilac bushes!
Photo from the Mackinac Bridge

Little Library on the island

June #IWSG: The Perfect Storm

                                             

    

Come join Alex J. Cavanaugh and the Insecure Writer's Support Group. We discuss our fears, insecurities, ups and downs of the writing process and post the first Wednesday of every month! http://alexjcavanaugh.blogspot.com/p/the-insecure-writers-support-group.html

                                        Let’s rock the neurotic writing world!

Our Twitter handle is @TheIWSG and hashtag is #IWSG.

 

The awesome co-hosts for the May 1 posting of the IWSG are Victoria Marie Lees, Kim Lajevardi, Nancy Gideon, and Cathrina Constantine!

Every month, we announce a question that members can answer in their IWSG post. These questions may prompt you to share advice, insight, a personal experience or story. Include your answer to the question in your IWSG post or let it inspire your post if you are struggling with something to say. 

Tourist season is in full swing along the Mississippi River. Gorgeous blue skies and beautiful temps create the perfect storm of adventure-seekers from classes on field trips, tour busses pouring in, and families on vacation. It's hard to sit down and write when the scenery is calling your name! However, each morning I try to carve out a time for writing and editing before the day gets away from me. Hopefully, your summer is off to a spectacular start. Don't forget to stop and look around once in awhile.

Psalm 150:6

May #IWSG: Mayday!

 

    

Come join Alex J. Cavanaugh and the Insecure Writer's Support Group. We discuss our fears, insecurities, ups and downs of the writing process and post the first Wednesday of every month! http://alexjcavanaugh.blogspot.com/p/the-insecure-writers-support-group.html

                                        Let’s rock the neurotic writing world!

Our Twitter handle is @TheIWSG and hashtag is #IWSG.

 

The awesome co-hosts for the May 1 posting of the IWSG are Victoria Marie Lees, Kim Lajevardi, Nancy Gideon, and Cathrina Constantine!

Every month, we announce a question that members can answer in their IWSG post. These questions may prompt you to share advice, insight, a personal experience or story. Include your answer to the question in your IWSG post or let it inspire your post if you are struggling with something to say. 

Remember, the question is optional

May 1 question - How do you deal with distractions when you are writing? Do they derail you?

 

When the house empties itself of people and pets, I race to my laptop and dive into my work. The sweet sound of nothing accompanies my writing sprints. And as far as distractions go, after raising two boys and currently living with a teenage girl, distractions abound. It's a part of life. If May is anything like April, it will speed by faster than a lightning strike. I'm anticipating a few distress calls with my upcoming schedule. Hang in there! 

April #IWSG: Country Roads, City Girl

  

    

Come join Alex J. Cavanaugh and the Insecure Writer's Support Group. We discuss our fears, insecurities, ups and downs of the writing process and post the first Wednesday of every month! http://alexjcavanaugh.blogspot.com/p/the-insecure-writers-support-group.html

Let’s rock the neurotic writing world!
Our Twitter handle is @TheIWSG and hashtag is #IWSG.

 

The awesome co-hosts for the April 3 posting of the IWSG are Janet Alcorn, T. Powell Coltrin, Natalie Aguirre, and Pat Garcia!

Every month, we announce a question that members can answer in their IWSG post. These questions may prompt you to share advice, insight, a personal experience or story. Include your answer to the question in your IWSG post or let it inspire your post if you are struggling with something to say. 

Remember, the question is optional
 

April 3 question - How long have you been blogging? (Or on Facebook/Twitter/Instagram?) What do you like about it and how has it changed?

Blogging for me started many years ago. It's been a looooong journey, because I'd rather be writing actual content for my books. Of all the social media outlets, I enjoy Instagram the most. Insta-stories are my thing rather than actual posts. Photos inspire me. What can I say? It's a much quicker way of communicating. I don't have the time to read lengthy blog posts. No offense if that's you. 

My life is crazy busy. As a property manager, I never know what to expect in any given day. For instance, meet Sherlock, the softest, most gentle baby cat in the world. One of my tenants couldn't keep him, so she offered him to me, because she knew I adored Sherlock, and she knew we recently moved into the country. 

Yes, he's wearing a sweater. I didn't know a cat could be this sweet! He's about six months old and loves to go for walks. This city girl is adapting well to country life.

I hope your spring finds you writing, editing, reading, or scrolling through Instagram for your daily inspiration.

I never thought I'd enjoy the country life this much. Here are a couple of friends I found today in a field. When I hopped out of my vehicle, they were very polite and posed for me. 

February #IWSG: Just Do It

  

         

Come join Alex J. Cavanaugh and the Insecure Writer's Support Group. We discuss our fears, insecurities, ups and downs of the writing process and post the first Wednesday of every month! http://alexjcavanaugh.blogspot.com/p/the-insecure-writers-support-group.html

Let’s rock the neurotic writing world!
Our Twitter handle is @TheIWSG and hashtag is #IWSG.

 

The awesome co-hosts for the February 7 posting of the IWSG are Janet Alcorn, SE White, Victoria Marie Lees, and Cathrina Constantine!

Every month, we announce a question that members can answer in their IWSG post. These questions may prompt you to share advice, insight, a personal experience or story. Include your answer to the question in your IWSG post or let it inspire your post if you are struggling with something to say. 

Remember, the question is optional
February 7 question: What turns you off when visiting an author's website/blog? Lack of information? A drone of negativity? Little mention of author's books? Constant mention of books?

When visiting an author's website, I can't stand when the site is "under construction." Like, get it together, KAREN, and just do it. Kidding. Mine is currently under construction. ;-) I love authors' websites that are playful, interactive, and fun, so I'm mostly visiting kid-lit authors. Another plus is when they feature their books, because that's why I'm there, right? Aren't they allowed to show off their life's greatest accomplishments that cost them blood, sweat, and buckets of tears?  

How is everyone emerging from winter's wild rollercoaster ride? Ice, snow, sleet, hail, sub-zero temps, thunder, thunder-snow...we've had it all in the short span of two weeks. I will say, compared to Wisconsin's winters, Missouri's are a walk in the park. We are back to a balmy fifty degrees, shorts weather, for sure. 

I hope February finds you fully motivated to just do it, and get all the writing done. My son's birthday falls on Michael Jordan's birthday this month. With my son's height, we had high hopes he'd be a basketball star someday. Growing up, he had more brute strength like a football player and less finesse of a basketball player flying through the air and dunking a ball. 

Don't compare yourself to others. Whatever you need to finish this month or start, just get it done. MJ and myself will be proud that you reached your goals. 

Here is a rare picture of me enjoying winter
for five minutes. 

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