The Power of Words

6:00 AM Elizabeth Seckman 34 Comments



May 1 question - What was an early experience where you learned that language had power? 


My initial thought was the first time I dropped an F-bomb and got myself in trouble. But that's too easy an answer. So, after some more thought, I have to say that I realized the power of words and stories from my dad. He was a funny guy. He could entertain a group with quick come backs and anecdotes that seemed always at the tip of his tongue. The first time I remember being impressed with his talent for words was after he'd wrecked his Thunderbird. It was a sporty car and my mom predicted a wreck would happen. My dad came home that night, gave my mom a hug, and said, "Don't worry honey, I learned my lesson. Thunderbirds fly like a dream, but they don't land for shit."

My mom laughed and the anger was forgotten. I learned a valuable lesson that day. Happy people don't ground you. 


The awesome co-hosts for the May 1 posting of the IWSG are Lee Lowery, Juneta Key, Yvonne Ventresca, and T. Powell Coltrin!


New Books for IWSG Writers! 
*If you have a new release and want a shout out in the newsletter, drop me a note at elizabethseckman(at)ymail(dot)com and we'll share your good news. 


Masquerade: Oddly Suited
An Insecure Writer’s Support Group Anthology
Release date – April 30, 2019
Young Adult Fiction: Romance - General/Paranormal/Contemporary
Print ISBN 9781939844644
EBook ISBN 9781939844651

Find love at the ball…

Can a fake dating game show lead to love? Will a missing key free a clock-bound prince? Can a softball pitcher and a baseball catcher work together? Is there a vampire living in Paradise, Newfoundland? What’s more important—a virtual companion or a date to the ball?

Ten authors explore young love in all its facets, from heartbreak to budding passion. Featuring the talents of L.G. Keltner, Jennifer Lane, C.D. Gallant-King, Elizabeth Mueller, Angela Brown, Myles Christensen, Deborah Solice, Carrie-Anne Brownian, Anstice Brown, and Chelsea Marie Ballard.

Hand-picked by a panel of agents and authors, these ten tales will mystify and surprise even as they touch your heart. Don your mask and join the party…

Links:
iTunes, Amazon, Barnes and Noble, Kobo, and Goodreads


Here are the stories and authors that have been selected for our fourth anthology, Masquerade: Oddly Suited:

Oddly Suited by LG Keltner
Sea of Sorrows by Anstice Brown
Behind the Catcher’s Mask by Jennifer Lane
A Diver’s Ball by Angela Brown
Fearless Heart by Deborah Solice
The Dark Charade by CD Gallant-King
The Cog Prince by Elizabeth Mueller
Flower of Ronda by Myles Christensen
Remedy by Chelsea Marie Ballard
Charleston Masquerade by Carrie-Anne Brownian

The anthology's release date is April 30, 2019

Congratulations to IWSG Member Jean Davis!


Protecting the human advisor who brought peace to Vayen Ta’set’s star system seems like the perfect opportunity to make life better for his people. Deep in Kazan’s world of bribes, blackmail, and assassins, Vayen must eliminate the threats to his boss and his homeworld without becoming a target himself. It’s hard to make your mark on the universe if you’re dead.  Buy it here!

Do you want to get a story in print? The IWSG is here to help. 

Winning stories will be edited and published by Freedom Fox Press next year in the IWSG anthology. Authors will receive royalties on books sold, both print and eBook. The top story will have the honor of giving the anthology its title.

We’re excited to see the creativity and enthusiasm that’s such a part of this group put into action. So don your creative caps and start writing. And spread the word!


IWSG Anthology Contest 2019:


The 2019 Annual IWSG Anthology Contest is now open for submissions!

Guidelines and rules:

Word count: 3500-5000

Genre: Middle Grade Historical – Adventure/Fantasy

Theme: Voyagers

Submissions accepted: May 1 - September 4, 2019

How to enter: Send your polished, formatted (double-spaced, no footers or headers), previously unpublished story to admin @ insecurewriterssupportgroup.com before the deadline passes. Please include your contact details, your social links, and if you are part of the Blogging, Facebook, Instagram, or Twitter IWSG group.

Judging: The IWSG admins will create a shortlist of the best stories. The shortlist will then be sent to our official judges:

Elizabeth S. Craig, author and honorary judge
Elizabeth is the bestselling cozy mystery author of the Southern Quilting mysteries, the Myrtle Clover Cozy Mysteries, the Village Library Mysteries, and Memphis Barbeque mysteries for Penguin Random House, Midnight Ink, and independently. Follow her on Twitter where she shares writing links @elizabethscraig or at her blog where she offers tips for writers. She lives in Matthews, North Carolina with her husband and is the mother of two.

Dianne K. Salerni, author
Dianne K. Salerni is the author of the The Eighth Day fantasy series and historical novels, The Caged Graves and We Hear the Dead. The Roosevelt Ghosts, featuring young cousins Eleanor and Alice Roosevelt and a vengeful ghost, will be released in 2020 by Holiday House.

Lynda Dietz, editor
Lynda has been fascinated with the written word since her earliest years of reading the back of the cereal box at the breakfast table. She’s now a copyeditor who works with authors in a variety of genres, both in fiction and nonfiction. She’s had a blog for over six years, and shares writing tips from an editor’s point of view with a healthy dose of snark and silliness. She’s also an unapologetic—but always encouraging—grammar thug.

S.A. Larsen, author
S.A. Larsen is the international award-winning author of the middle grade fantasy-adventure MOTLEY EDUCATION and the young adult contemporary-fantasy romance MARKED BEAUTY. When she’s not chasing her characters around a graveyard or antagonizing them with young love, she can be found in Maine with her husband and four children. Visit her cyber home at S.A. Larsen Books.

Rachna Chhabria, author
Rachna Chhabria's imagination has taken her all over the world and introduced her to all kinds of creatures. She is the author of Festival Stories Through The Year, Lazy Worm Goes on a Journey, The Lion Who Wanted to Sing and Bunny in Search of a Name. A columnist with Deccan Chronicle and The Asian Age, her stories have appeared in Young World, Open Sesame, Tele Kids and Deccan Herald Student Edition newspaper, as well as in several school textbooks. She also taught creative writing in a college for many years. As a child she loved listening to stories, now she loves writing them.

Tonja Drecker, author
Tonja Drecker is a writer, blogger, children’s book reviewer and freelance translator. After spending years in Germany exploring forgotten castles, she currently resides in the Ozarks with her family of six. When she’s not tending her chickens and cows, she’s discovering new adventures, nibbling chocolate and sipping a cup of tea.

David Powers King, author
David's works include WOVEN, THE UNDEAD ROAD, and FULL DARK: AN ANTHOLOGY. He currently resides in the Mountain West with his wife and 4 children.




Prizes: The winning stories will be edited and published by Dancing Lemur Press' imprint Freedom Fox Press next year in the IWSG anthology. Authors will receive royalties on books sold, both print and eBook. The top story will have the honor of giving the anthology its title.


Our previous IWSG anthologies -
Masquerade: Oddly Suited
Tick Tock: A Stitch in Crime
Hero Lost: The Mysteries of Death and Life
Parallels: Felix Was Here


34 comments:

  1. Happy people don't ground you - good one.
    Although your first answer was just as good!

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    1. The downside to that is that my kids figured it out too. My mother probably told them. LOL

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  2. Two great memories. I like the thought on Happy People. It is so true. Congratulations to all the authors. Happy IWSG Day Elizabeth. :)

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  3. Great story! I always wish I was clever/funny like that.

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  4. I love that story about your dad! So cute and very sweet. Congrats to the Masquerade authors!

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    1. I still need to read the rest of the stories in the anthology. I love anthologies during my busy times.

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  5. What a great way to tell your spouse you trashed the car! Priceless.

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  6. I love that story about the Thunderbird!

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  7. Sounds like your dad was quite a character. All fun and little seriousness.
    Happy IWSG Day.

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    1. My dad was quite a character. A very clever, funny guy.

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  8. Ha! Excellent lesson (worth remembering!)

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    1. Yes. Make them smile. It's hard to be mean when you're smiling.

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  9. That's a great story about your dad, and a great lesson!
    Happy IWSG day and congrats to all of the authors!

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  10. What a great memory! And I love the Happy People thought. Looking forward to reading the new anthology - congrats to all the authors.

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  11. Thanks for sharing your sweet memory about your dad. It made me smile. And congrats to everyone in the anthology.

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  12. Your dad's line was too funny! I guess he knew how to use the right words to keep out of trouble!

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  13. Heh. Yeah, knowing how to use words can definitely save your behind in times like that!

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  14. The F-bomb an "land for shit" made me laugh.

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  15. haha a wise thing to learn indeed. Avoided getting into trouble with humor is a win for us.

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  16. I love that "Happy people don't ground you"! Nice memories. Congrats on your newest release!!

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  17. The F- bomb would've gotten me a slap across the cheek, LOL. I love happy people, wish we had more of them!!!

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  18. Haha! Great story, and I can see you have your dad‘s sense of humor LOL.

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  19. LOL What a brilliant memory, Elizabeth!! Your Dad sounds like a hoot <3
    Suzy xx

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  20. I love that story. Your dad cracks me up, and your mother sounds like she has a great sense of humor.

    I'm not sure what you mean by happy people not grounding you. Unhappy people do? ;)

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  21. I like that Happy People Don't Ground You, lol. Makes sense. Happy IWSG.

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  22. Hi Elizabeth,

    What a lovely story about your father. Such an incredible memory of someone you love. It's priceless.

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  23. After hearing what you learned about 'Happy People', I'm wondering what other stories you have using that knowledge ;)

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