IWSG - Wishes

IWSG—Insecure Writers Support Group: The Final Frontier.

These are the continuing voyages of the Ninja Captain, AJC. His mission, to explore all new writing venues, to seek out new authors and new blogs. 

To boldly go where no blogateer has gone before.

Coming together on the first Wednesday of every month for a virtual pat on the back. 

When contemplating Life, the Great Beyond, and the nutritional value of almonds, I forget I have a blog and posts for IWSG.

*cue Slinky falling down the steps*

But toasted almonds top my munch-list, my belief in an All Powerful Deity remains unfazed, and here is my Post for Insecure Writers Support Group.

I wish:

There was less vitriol in social media, politics, and public. 

Tolerance for all viewpoints. 

More quiet Dis-cussion and less Cussin’.

I wish...  

There were fewer handouts and more handups

More encouragement and less battering of spirits

People realized the value of Routines, the Golden Rule, and a child’s laugh.

Not more time but the insight to use time wisely

I wish:

People would listen to I Believe by The Lettermen at least once a week.

Watch more sunsets and sunrises and marvel. 

Everyone had a dog or cat to love.

 I wish:

People would investigate and research rather than accepting an internet source depending on donations, listen to people with dirt on their hands and love in their hearts, and realize that desk-jockeys with book smarts have no real experience.

I want people to remember the sacrifices and courage of D-Day, 911, the Battle for Britain, Thermopylae, and watch Schindler’s List and Saving Private Ryan.

And finally, I wish for more Hope, Less Strife, more Personal Intelligence, and less Internet Intellect. More backbone, common sense, and gentle determination.

My blog, my space, my wishes

What do you wish for most in the world?

IWSG - A to Z Challenge, I Haz a Sad

IWSG—Insecure Writers Support Group: The Final Frontier.

These are the continuing voyages of the Ninja Captain, AJC. His mission, to explore all new writing venues, to seek out new authors and new blogs. 

To boldly go where no blogateer has gone before.

Coming together on the first Wednesday of every month for a virtual pat on the back. 

A to Z. Congratulations to all A to Z participants. You are so cool for doing it. I’m envious. And sad. I wish I could do more. But it just is not to be. I appreciate all the work and marvel at the participants’ ambition. *Big Thumbs Up*.

But I just cant do it. I feel somewhat ashamed. 

I iz sorry

Don’t get me wrong. It was fun but just too much. Last year I repeated my A to Z theme, Guess the Movie. Then I discovered that not only did I use the exact same movie—Young Frankenstein—but even the very same quote as the clue that I used two years before. 

DOH.

So it's a No Go this year. But still...I'm wearing my frowny face.

April 5 Question: Have you taken advantage of the annual A to Z Challenge in terms of marketing, networking, publicity for your book? What were the results?

Answer: Not so much. I like the exposure and am proud of the badges. Heaven knows we earned those, right? But I haven't pushed it. 

Are you doing A to Z this year? Feeling remorseful? Wishing you could do more? *hanging my head*

IWSG - Routines. HTML and A to Z

Insecure Writers Support Group: The Final Frontier.

These are the continuing voyages of the Ninja Captain, AJC. His mission, to explore all new writing venues, to seek out new authors and new blogs. 

To boldly go where no blogateer has gone before.

Coming together on the first Wednesday of every month for a virtual pat on the back. 

Routines are about the hardest chore. I try, I really try but sometimes stuff gets in the way.

My daily goal is to get all my stuff done by 9 am then spend two hours plus writing. After noon, I start in again about 1 – 1:30 and continue until 4-ish.

But Life doesn’t work that way and interference results. Cows have calves, toilets overflow, and cats need a trip to the vet. Grownup kid calls and spouses want a hand fixing the tractor. Weather interferes. Computer goes loony tunes.

But more likely the interference begins with shiny objects, the proverbial Squirrel! Oh well.

B.I.C. is still the best advice. Avoiding Facebook is the other.

Spouses though...What can you do when he says, “Hey honey. Did you know its national Pillow Fight day?” *sigh*

HTML and other strange letters. Do you know how to leave a comment with a link to your blog? It is an efficient way to tie your name to your site. 

I’ve clicked on names that takes me to multiple blogs or Google+. If you sign off with a link, it directs people to your blog. Way easier.

Go to this site for the recipe.

A to Z. My blog—Spirit Called—is not participating this year, but Unicorn Bell is. Wander over there for our posts.

Do you have a writing routine? Can you keep it in any semblance of order? Do you have a sign off for blogs? Crazy enough to participate in the 2016 A to Z Challenge?

IWSG – Politics and Social Issues...

...or how to alienate half your followers

IWSG—Insecure Writers Support Group: The Final Frontier.

These are the continuing voyages of the Ninja Captain, AJC. His mission, to explore all new writing venues, to seek out new authors and new blogs. 

To boldly go where no blogateer has gone before.

Coming together on the first Wednesday of every month for a virtual pat on the back. 

Issues divide the country like a pizza. Some like thick crust, others like crispy. Everyone has an opinion. But when vicious name-calling starts and vitriol splashes the headlines, take note and tread lightly. Those people are nuts.

The Democrats are getting Hillary whether they want her or not. Bernie is a likable guy but I don’t see his racecar getting the checkered flag.

Republicans have their own problems. Nuff said.

So who do you like? And what do you think about SCOTUS, abortion, immigration, BLM...

WAIT WAIT!! 

Don’t...for Pete’s Sake, answer those questions!!

Because I can guarantee, you will P. O. a fan or reader.

Have an opinion. Do the research. Be firm in your convictions. Don't cuss contrary views; Discuss. Who knows? Maybe we can exchange ideas and the world will be a better place.

Note to all raccoons that read blogs:   

If you stay out in the wild, the Very Large Dog can’t catch you and probably won’t even try. However, if you come onto my patio to hassle the cats and eat their food, you will die.

With the help of The Lady Who Feeds Him, Ruffian will send you on a one-way trip to the Great Beyond. Even dressed in an L.L Bean, long-flannel nightgown, and flip-flops, The Lady is county and knows what to do and how to do it.

What do you think about the varmints taking advantage of your good nature? 

And what about those raccoons also?

IWSG - Sequels, Shimmer, and Syfy

IWSG—Insecure Writers Support Group: The Final Frontier.

These are the continuing voyages of the Ninja Captain, AJC. His mission, to explore all new writing venues, to seek out new authors and new blogs. 

To boldly go where no blogateer has gone before.

Coming together on the first Wednesday of every month for a virtual pat on the back. 

IWSG. To sequel or not to sequel? That is the question.

Of Adamant and Fire

With a manuscript of a new book series in first edits, I wonder now if I really want to make it into a multiple books. I could tie up the characters and empathize The End to make it hit a wall. Or leave it as it is despite not knowing where it is headed.

It is a quandary.

Shimmer. Matthew Keith has a new book out that dives into the mysteries of the lost colony of Roanoke. 

July, 1587

115 men, women, and children vanished from the Island Colony of Roanoke with no explanation. The only clue left was a single word carved into a post on the fence surrounding the village: “CROATOAN”.

This is their story, and the story of the family who was the cause of the colony's downfall.

Shimmer follows Alexander Croatoan, the modern-day descendant of a man whose brilliance undid an entire community, as well as his family for generations after.

Movies and TV. Dominion on SyFy channel starts its second season on July 9th. It has an interesting yet disturbing

premise. 

God vanishes and in his absence the archangel Gabriel and his army of lower angels wage war against mankind, believing them to be the cause of God's absence. 

Archangel Michael has chosen to side with humanity against Gabriel, living among humans in the fortified city of Vega (once Las Vegas) until the time a prophesied savior appears to save mankind - courtesy Wikipedia.

Gobs of plot holes in this rather cool series and too many clichéd tropes. But it is my guilty pleasure of the month.

Since the script could be improved, clearly the hunk-factor is part of the allure. Examples:

Tom Wisdom as Archangel Michael

Carl Beukes as Gabriel

And Christopher Egan—Eragon, Letters to Juliet—as the Chosen One.

Agents. New agents, Rebecca Stead, The Book Group and Lena Yarbrough at InkWell.

Ms. Stead is interested in young adult and childrens. Ms Yarbrough in commercial, literary, and nonfiction.

News in Book World. How can Harper Lee top To Kill a Mockingbird? And who hasn't pre-ordered her second book in fifty-five years, Go Set a Watchman?

Do you like reading series? How about writing multiple books of the same universe. How you seen Dominion and isn't Michael...well, hot?

IWSG - Blogs. Huh. Yeah.

IWSG—Insecure Writers Support Group, coming together on the first Wednesday of every month for a virtual pat on the back. 

Blogs.

What are they good for?

Sorry. Couldn’t resist. 
Actually, the answer is: It depends.

What do you like to see? What do you read?

Advice is great. Unless said advice is info you mastered several years ago. I like marketing information, publishing, or sales. But how to research literary agents, publishers, and write a query? Eh, not so much.

Agents and what they are looking for. Yes, especially their personal blogs. They get into the meat of their likes and dislikes. But then confusion can set in. One said she liked contemporary fantasy but not urban. Uh...okaaaay?

Cover reveals or new releases. I do read them and sometimes I buy, but I’m more likely to see the novels at  BettyBookFreak .

Personal stuff. It’s crazy, I know. But I like blogs that occasionally post personal stuff when I know and enjoy them as a person. They must be a blogging friend. Otherwise, it’s like a stranger accosting me on the street with their problems. Don’t Care.

So what do you like? What do you read? And answer the question:

Blogging. Huh. Yeah. What is it good for?

 Absolutely...Everything

* * * * 

Insecure Writers Support Group: The Final Frontier.

These are the continuing voyages of the Ninja Captain, AJC. His mission, to explore all new writing venues, to seek out new authors and new blogs. 

To boldly go where no blogateer has gone before.

IWSG - Beside the Dying Fire

IWSG—Insecure Writers Support Group, coming together on the first Wednesday of every month for a virtual pat on the back. 

Intro. Just the facts. Pertinent and otherwise.

Published author of Wilder Mage and Mage Revealed and hard at work with the third and last in the series, Chimera Mage.

I color not only outside the lines but on another page entirely and worship at the altar of Fantasy. 

All kinds, all flavors. Kinda like pizza.

Beside the Dying Fire.

IWSG. If you are a Walking Dead enthusiast, you'll recognize the above title from one of the episodes. To me, it epitomizes the flame that once blazed bright for some writers and now has died to glowing embers. Or are as cold as long-dead ashes.

So many bloggers and forums that I started out with, so many have faded away, gone.

How completely depressing.

Are you wavering? Is the conflagration that once burned like a lava flow dwindling? Are you worried that you are Pretty Much Dead Already?

It is hard to hold onto the passion that gripped my senses, white-knuckled and fervent. But it is necessary to create a routine, follow it without regard to the shiny objects that distract me.

What Lies ahead for the writer who wanders? The answer is keeping the passion. Hug it close like the Wildfire it once was. 

Because it is Clear that the end you will regret those Days Gone Bye if you give in to the miasma.

Insecure Writers Support Group: The Final Frontier.

These are the continuing voyages of the Ninja Captain, AJC. His mission, to explore all new writing venues, to seek out new authors and new blogs. 

To boldly go where no blogateer has gone before.

IWSG - What is Plagiarism?

IWSG—Insecure Writers Support Group, coming together on the first Wednesday of every month for a virtual pat on the back. 




Here is the scene: You've conceived a fine premise, written not only that first book but continued the series by 300 K word count. You love it. Your friends and family love it. But it's your first attempt at this career and after querying it to only a few agents, you set it aside to hone your skill and become a better writer.

Since completing the first manuscript, you've gone on and achieved Published Writer with another novel. You decide to return to your first manuscript and polish it for publication.

The unthinkable happens. Another author publishes a book very like your original. The author is well known. A similar book coming out by a mostly unknown writer like yourself might be construed as “riding the coattails” of the famous author.

What do you do?

****

In 2009, I wrote Of Oak and Dragons. The first line in my query: “Dragons walk among us, silent, in human form.”

The new book by Julia Kagawa, Talon: "Dragons walk among us in human form”

*cursing a blue streak*

No, there is no plagiarism involved. And yes, I’ve seen other shape-shifter books. But...GAAAHHH... 

No, I don’t think her book has the same premise and no, I’m sure she didn’t latch onto my query via a literary agent who showed interest and made it her own. At least, I hope she didn’t.

How would it make you feel?

What do you do?

****

Insecure Writers Support Group: The Final Frontier.

These are the continuing voyages of the Ninja Captain, AJC. His mission, to explore all new writing venues, to seek out new authors and new blogs. 

To boldly go where no blogateer has gone before.

IWSG - Disappointment

IWSG—Insecure Writers Support Group, coming together on the first Wednesday of every month for a virtual pat on the back. 

Did you ever look forward to a much-anticipated book only to be sorely disappointed when it fell short of glory?

It happened to me. Twice in two months.

Two great series—one by a hero of mine and the other book written by a new author who I had put on a pedestal—went thunk in my literary opinion.

It sure is a killer when a book doesn’t live up to my anticipation. And not just the wasted money. But the eagerness, the counting down the days until the release date, opening that fresh cover, turning the page that’s no one’s turned before. Then, half way through the book, you know it’s...blah.

As I’ve said before, giving bad reviews isn’t my style. Not anymore. I prefer to let someone else slap them upside the head. I can’t. It hurts too much when I receive them. How can I do it to other authors?

I hope my literary hero starts a new series. I think his MC has been-there, done-that. The other author has a third book in the series that I won’t buy. The second was just that bad.

So, is there a book that you desired greatly thinking it would quench your thirst only to find a damp palm to lick instead?

****

Insecure Writers Support Group: The Final Frontier.

These are the continuing voyages of the Ninja Captain, AJC. His mission, to explore all new writing venues, to seek out new authors and new blogs. 

To boldly go where no blogateer has gone before.

IWSG - The Accidental YA Author

IWSG—Insecure Writers Support Group, coming together on the first Wednesday of every month for a virtual pat on the back. 

I like the YA genre. My bookshelf proves that. But I am not a YA author. Writing for a younger audience is different from adult.

Or is it?

I've said before that genre designations are confusing. Take mine, the speculative fiction/urban fantasy/contemporary fantasy genre. Yeah, that one. The Magic Withheld trilogy is set in modern times, in the real world, in urban and rural settings about characters doing impossible things.

It is an adult novel. Little cursing, no explicit sex. But I wrote it for an adult audience.

So why are fifteen-year-old boys falling all over themselves to read it?

I marketed it to adult men and women. I didn’t try to use YA lingo or follow the normal well-traveled path of popular youth-oriented novels when I wrote it.

So why are kids in Middle School reading it and writing book reports?

Holy Jehoshaphat.

I had a young man come up to me and blurt out how much he loved it. How he'd read it so many times that he knew every line. I sure my expression was the epitome of surprise/shock listed in The Emotion Thesaurus by Angela Ackerman and Becca Puglisi:

the mouth falling open, a hand flying to the chest, fingers touching parted lips, an incredulous stare or dazed look. 

Not that there is anything untoward about my storyline. I felt RL Stine was iffy when my daughter was in school and I don't think my books cross that line especially in Wilder Mage.

But that’s the first book. Things kinda heat up in the next one in the series, Mage Revealed, to be released October 24^th.

Uh, eek.

So how do I face parents or the winking school kid when it comes out?

* * * *

Insecure Writers Support Group: The Final Frontier.

These are the continuing voyages of the Ninja Captain, AJC. His mission, to explore all new writing venues, to seek out new authors and new blogs. 

To boldly go where no blogateer has gone before.