It's the first Wednesday of the month, and that means IWSG posting!
Purpose: To share and encourage. Writers can express doubts and concerns without fear of appearing foolish or weak. Those who have been through the fire can offer assistance and guidance. It’s a safe haven for insecure writers of all kinds!
The awesome co-hosts for the September 2 posting of the IWSG are PJ Colando, J Lenni Dorner, Deniz Bevan, Kim Lajevardi, Natalie Aguirre, and Louise - Fundy Blue!
Every month there is an OPTIONAL question:
September 2 question - If you could choose one author, living or dead, to be your beta partner, who would it be and why?
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I've had some fun thinking about who I'd like to have as my beta partner. I mean, I already have some of the best, members of this group with a keen eye to plot and prose. But what could I learn from Dorothy Sayers or Agatha Christie?
Maybe not as much as I think. I love their books, but there's no denying their writing styles are dated. So maybe I can think about someone contemporary... I'll pick on a few mystery writers I really admire, and whose style I think would compliment my own. Here's the short list off the top of my head:
Jacqueline Winspeare. Her Maisie Dobbs mysteries are beautifully crafted, both plot-wise and linguistically. And I bet she could help me get a grip on my characters' feelings.
Rhys Bowen: Her "Royal Spyness" series proves she knows a lot about goofiness and sometimes wild plots, developing characters that are just a touch over the top, and how to balance humor with murder.
Elena Taylor/Elena Hartwell. She knows a thing or two about quirky small towns, as well as about humor in murder mysteries. Plus she set her first series in Bellingham, WA, just a stone's throw from Pismawallops Island.
Finally, just for the sake of some of the best prose I've ever read, I'll take Ivan Doig (see an example of my ravings about his writing here or here).
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Now for my writer's update. I spent a lot of the last month on the road, or in the wilderness, so much of my writing was mundane journalling, with some less mundane entries, and a little work on the main character of the new mystery series I'm contemplating.
But all is not about hiking: I did manage to complete and send in my entry for the new IWSG anthology, and am still plowing, little by little, through the edits on Death By Donut. I have a lot more travel on my agenda now through October, but I do have some hopes of completing the book and bringing it out early in the new year, though I don't think I can make the pre-Xmas target I was trying for before the world turned upside down.
My mind wants to skip around, too. I still have other stories and some anthologies in mind to work on. Maybe as my ability to focus returns (not that it's ever great), and when I settle in this fall to stay home for a couple of months (mostly), I'll be able to at least edit the shorts and put together those anthologies!
Every word written, every page edited, is a triumph.
This month's photo treat: a couple of really nice moose. Meese? Mooses?
All images and text ©Rebecca M. Douglass, unless otherwise indicated.
As always, please ask permission to use any photos or text. Link-backs appreciated!
OMG it’s Wednesday already? I’ve not even thought of posting this week. My mind has been on... well let me go and post that right now!
ReplyDeleteFor once I reminded you! Usually I get my wake-up call when your post hits my in-box :)
DeleteIt's lovely that you managed to get some time away. Good luck with those edits!
ReplyDeleteThanks. I'm working hard to be away as much as possible. It doesn't make the editing any easier, but I'm not sure it makes it any harder, either.
DeleteWow, moose! Thanks for sharing the photos! I'd like Dorothy Sayers or Agatha Christie, too, but as you say, I'm not sure it would exactly be helpful :-)
ReplyDeleteLove me some moose :)
DeleteThat's great that you are still able to travel and to write when you are on the road. Loved seeing the authors you picked. I love mysteries so may see if my library has some of those books. Good luck with your edits.
ReplyDeleteHard to do much when I am really on the road, but I sneak in a bit here and there. When backpacking, it's mostly journals and some brainstorming about the next project (note to self: transcribe those brainstorms into the idea file...).
DeleteIt's nice to get away from things. Great pictures!
ReplyDeleteWhat amazing pictures!
ReplyDeleteJournal writing is great, though, Keep it up, no matter how mundane it is. :)
Agatha Christie was my first choice, but yes, contemporary authors might be better.
ReplyDeleteGreat moose pictures!
The mind leaps to the greats of the golden age of the English mystery, but times have change, so I don't know.
DeleteHi Rebecca. Congrats on entering the IWSG anthology. I wish you every success in being chosen. Great that you're focusing better. Yeah, reading some of the older style writers makes you wonder if they'd be published traditionally today. But they're still inspirational.
ReplyDeleteWow Rebecca. Congratulations for the entry for the IWSG anthology and good luck too. Thanks for adding those pictures. I enjoyed those.
ReplyDeleteCongratulations for the entry in the anthology!
ReplyDeleteDamyanti at Daily (w)rite
Ah moose. Reminds me of back home, where the moose outnumber the humans. 😄
ReplyDeleteTravel feels a little wrong, but it's helping me keep my sanity.
ReplyDeleteHi, Rebecca! I'm glad to hear that you are getting out and about. I'm so tired of being stuck in our house with going to the grocery store as a big adventure ~ LOL. I'm grateful to be healthy and happy! Wilderness sounds wonderful, and that is one awesome moose you captured. I didn't finish my anthology entry this year. Kudos to you for doing so! I'm rooting for you! Take care! Keep enjoying the wilderness and writing!
ReplyDelete