Like a Big Apple...
The IWSG is a monthly online gathering of writers to share their hopes, their fears, or to whine a little over just how damned hard it is to live the dream. Thanks to our leader, Alex Cavanaugh and this month's co-hosts Toi Thomas, T. Powell Coltrin, M.J. Fifield, and Tara Tyler!
Sign up here.
Okay, so I'm not reading these yet, but I'm planning to add them to my reading list. To celebrate her new release, Nicole Zoltack is having a book sale!
Cinderella's powers will destroy the Kingdom of Fantasia, and the only one who can save the kingdom is her "wicked" stepmother.
When Lady Angelique put her second husband to rest, she tried to do right by her step-daughter Eleonore. After Eleonore's mystical abilities put Angelique's own daughters' lives at risk, she makes the difficult decision to lock the girl in the tower to keep the family safe
After Eleonore's devil-bird minions unleash her on an unsuspecting royal ball, Angelique must join forces with the king to save Fantasia before Eleonore destroys it.
Of Cinder and Madness (free) https://amzn.to/2PdD3Yc
Of Slumber and Discord (99 cents) https://amzn.to/2PJog8J
Of Flight and Fancy (new release) https://amzn.to/2MB0zl2
Sign up here.
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When Lady Angelique put her second husband to rest, she tried to do right by her step-daughter Eleonore. After Eleonore's mystical abilities put Angelique's own daughters' lives at risk, she makes the difficult decision to lock the girl in the tower to keep the family safe
After Eleonore's devil-bird minions unleash her on an unsuspecting royal ball, Angelique must join forces with the king to save Fantasia before Eleonore destroys it.
Of Cinder and Madness (free) https://amzn.to/2PdD3Yc
Of Slumber and Discord (99 cents) https://amzn.to/2PJog8J
Of Flight and Fancy (new release) https://amzn.to/2MB0zl2
It's like the dishes - cleaning them never ends and neither does the writing stuff.
ReplyDeleteThat is the absolute truth!!!! With four boys, I used to have a rule that no one could dirty a dish until I walked out of the kitchen, if not I'd have stood in there washing all night.
DeleteI love your son's advice. It's true. We never know enough and writing changes with each story we imagine. I've been working on a piece and it made me laugh when I went back to edit. I had a mix of POVS from third to first, and tense shifts from past to present. I'm not really sure how that happened but thankfully I figured out which one I wanted to go with. I attribute it to learning though and how planning is so important. New York is fun and overwhelming. It sounds like you still had a great trip. Happy IWSG day :)
ReplyDeleteI have those stories too! It's fun to go back and realize that I truly am learning something.
Deleteor - to continue Alex's analogy - waiting to see the bottom of the laundry basket! ;)
ReplyDeleteThe laundry basket has a bottom? LOL.
DeleteI have been to New York City lots of times but it just doesn't grow on me. It's not a place where I want to live.
ReplyDeleteA twenty-four hour city that never sleeps makes me jittery.
All the best for September.
Shalom aleichem,
Pat G @ EverythingMustChange
Like you, I would prefer not to live there. I enjoy my quiet spaces.
DeleteLol! Alex's comment was right on target. It's just like housework. But I won't think of it like that because that is simply depressing.
ReplyDeleteI suppose we have to shoot for good enough instead of finished perfection.
DeletePerfect advice and SOOOOOO true. When I hear young people talking about becoming authors, I kind of cringe. But hey, there have to be a few of us insane people out there, eh?
ReplyDeleteYou know, I lived in the city for a time. Lots of highs and lows, but basically, I was SUPER happy to move away. The big thing I learned: if you can make it in NYC, you can make it anywhere.
When I talk to new authors, I will tell them to develop a thick skin as quickly as they can. I hope they don't think I'm being mean, but it's a simple reality.
DeleteI grew up in a small town. Cities fascinate me, but I prefer to visit. I wouldn't want to set up roots there.
Too right on the writing! "Neverending storyyyyyy" sung high. I love your sons, all of them. I hear you on the crazy of big cities. Living in one now, for the first time ever, means learning a lot. Do like the shopping opportunities and restaurant choices. Not so much the filth. Can't believe people are okay living among such trash...
ReplyDeleteI imagine it's hard to keep up with the trash...just so many people making messes. Can you imagine what these places were like pre-public sanitation? Ugh.
DeleteHow very true. We are always working, always improving. That's the essence of life. I suppose that writing is like life itself!
ReplyDeleteI hope I'm improving. Fingers crossed on that one. LOL
DeleteI've never been to NY, but stinky is not a word I ever associated with it, but in this heat, makes sense. All those people, and all the refuse we manage to create. Yep, makes sense. I'll consider my first visit to be in the spring or fall. :)
ReplyDeleteWriting is a never ending job. Even when you walk away, it's not long before you're back at it. It's an obsession! And obsession's are dangerous. LOL
I always did say it wasn't a job as much as it is an addiction. Seems we see it the same way.
DeleteOh, I love what your son told you. He's right on! I think I'll jot that down and put it above my computer.
ReplyDeleteHe'll be so proud that he's getting quoted before his mother. LOL
DeleteYou are right. One day at a time. Otherwise it would be overwhelming!
ReplyDeleteThere are days when I imagine all the things I should be doing so much that I do noting. That's not overly productive!
DeleteComing back home from a trip can be so discombobulating. I was thrown off kilter for most of July after I returned from my vacation.
ReplyDeleteI agree that the writing never exactly ends, but sometimes I tend to put it on hold as I get distracted by other stuff.
Arlee Bird
Tossing It Out
Sometimes life gets in the way and we have to put it on hold. The trick is to keep coming back.
DeleteYou're so right about writing never ending. Even when I want it to, it keeps calling. Good to see you again! :)
ReplyDeleteI have prayed for God to give me another obsession...maybe weight loss or decluttering and cleaning my house...
DeleteYour son is very wise.
ReplyDeleteThat is what he keeps telling me!
DeleteI've never been to New York City and think I'd find it overwhelming too. And you're right about the writing never ends, even for my low-paying contract job.
ReplyDeleteI suppose we just keep plugging away!
DeleteVery true. Like anything in life, from doing taxes to laundry, it always comes back around to the next load.
ReplyDeleteYep. No matter how hard we work, there will always be something else we need to finish. Or start.
DeleteI agree with your son's assessment. Is he a burgeoning author too? At least he is for-warned :)
ReplyDeleteNo, he's a future lawyer. Unlike his mother, he is well-grounded in rational thought.
DeleteHousework is never ending as well Liz. But I think your son is right, writing is a never ending job and I have seen first hand all the work that goes into it. I'm glad you do it though, I enjoy your stories.
ReplyDeleteYou're the best, Jo! Readers like you make all the work worthwhile.
DeleteThere are so many parallels between writing and life, always a work in progress!
ReplyDeleteDamyanti at Daily (w)rite
That's why it's important to love the work!
DeleteWhat a great post! You were definitely in the zone for this one. And what a clever son. :)
ReplyDeleteI've never had a desire to go to New York. Stick me out somewhere where there's open space, sprawling trees and rolling hills, and I'll be in paradise.
He is a clever guy.
DeleteGive me an ocean view and I'm in heaven.
Writing will never end. Whether that thought horrifies or delights you is something to consider.
ReplyDeleteIt relaxes me. Giving up on the notion that I will ever be completely done makes me worry less about striking things off the to-do list.
DeleteThis is kind of profound but so true! I was thinking of all the projects I'm juggling and how many other stories are percolating in the back of my mind. It never ends.
ReplyDeleteAt least we can be happy that we will never be bored.
DeleteHi, Elizabeth,
ReplyDeleteYour son is SPOT ON and very wise. Oh,and your descriptions of NYC are also SPOT ON! I always hated August in NYC... the high temps, humidity, and stench really can curl your hose hairs. BUT as you say, it is an exciting place! I do miss it. Fall is always a beautiful season there. IN just a month, it will be glorious! Your son is lucky to be experiencing his education there. He will learn more for "LIFE" than from books. It seems he has already!
CONGRATS to Nicole! Her book sounds really intriguing!
And it was a hot weekend in the city this weekend! Our car said it was 111 degrees at one point!
DeleteWhat a clever boy! How did he become so smart at such a young age :) I've been to NYC a few times when I was younger and always enjoyed it, but was also glad I didn't live there. It can be a bit overwhelming.
ReplyDeleteYou'd never run out of places to order food, that's for sure!
DeleteYour son is one clever fella. Gee, I wonder where he got THAT...? (Ooh, ooh, teacher, teacher call on me!)
ReplyDeleteThe good thing about being obsessed... or even merely interested... in something that can never end is it gives us direction and purpose. Otherwise, we might be a bunch of little rudderless boats wondering where in the world we're gonna go and how we're gonna get there. Now, we climb into our boats, pick up the oars, and let our characters tell us where we're going. :)
That is a VERY good point!! We will never get bored and even if our feet fail us, we can still stick with it.
DeleteI'm repeating everyones comments, but your son gets it!!
ReplyDeleteI was in NYC in the summer. You described it perfectly!
And to think he refused to learn to tie his shoes until he was six.
DeleteHappy Be-lated IWSG Day!
ReplyDeleteNever been to NYC. May go one day.
Your son's a genious.
I'm not familiar with this series, but I may check it out.
Thanks for co-hosting! And you're not belated, there is so much to do on IWSG days, it should be more like IWSG week.
DeleteSo true, writing is all of that and them some. It takes a special breed of person to stick with it 0_o
ReplyDeleteNeed a bit of crazy dreamer to keep you going.
DeleteFantastic advice! Goodness knows I get that overwhelmed feeling often, but it's only because writing is never-ending. I'll never stop doing it, of course, but it's refreshing to think of it as an on-going journey rather than a particular end goal.
ReplyDeleteI'm so glad to hear you'll never give it up. I enjoy your stories!
DeleteI used to live in NYC. It was very different in the 80s from now. I was last there 10 years ago. I like your comparison to writing. It's true. It can be totally overwhelming. I put on blinders and work on one project at a time. I look at it as enjoying my stay in a made -up world for a little bit. That makes it more enjoyable. I don't think about anything else, but the fact I love writing and love the world I created and spending time in it.
ReplyDeleteYou are the wisest of ladies! Whenever I get too overwhelmed, it is the love of writing that keeps me going too. My fall back is to imagine a writing world with just the stories, a sort of Emily Dickens sort of writer life.
DeleteSounds like a great philosophy! And if you think about it, always having something else to explore is a positive thing. You'll never be bored, after all!
ReplyDeleteI agree, Nick! Being bored is such a sorry state to be in. I've never quite understood boredom. I have so much to do, I could be busy 24/7.
DeleteIt is a great way of thinking. Spot on. One day at a time or one step at a time.
ReplyDeleteThe is the best way to get to where you want to go!
DeleteI think that NY is the kinda place you don't either love or hate. You do both. I like your comparison to writing. Very appropriate.
ReplyDeleteCheers and stay well.
It is a fascinating city!
DeleteCheers to you too, my friend.
Your son is a wise young man. The job of a writer is never done.
ReplyDeleteThere is always something left on the to-do list.
DeleteWriting is so messy and it never ends and that is why I love it.
ReplyDeleteKeeps us from getting bored, right? That's worth all the headache.
Delete