#IWSG – To Boldly Go

September 4, 2024 by Roland Clarke

It’s time for yet another Insecure Writer’s Support Group post of 2024, and I’m sure many of you know where I’m going to boldly go.

The final frontier?

Not yet, as long as I can mention my Ukraine saga, Freedom Flights, although with so many events concerning Ukraine in July I’m still working on the final part, which is due out sometime after this appears.

To keep up to date I might have to make August’s episode brief, even if that means merging it into September using the Kursk incursion. Plus, as I write this on September 3, 2024, there’s been a deadly Russian attack on Poltava I can’t ignore.

Slava Ukrayini

The other news has been canine. Our Beagalier puppy, Taika continues to chew through Juanita’s oxygen tubes, although Monday, her son Jason put up some wall hooks near the ceiling for the tube. Taika will need to grow wings to reach it… except that night he chewed the part where it ran near the ground. Darn it!

Every month, IWSG announces a question that members can answer in their IWSG posts. These questions may prompt you to share advice, insight, a personal experience, or a 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?

Back in the last century, my English Language teachers must have taught me endless rules I’ve either forgotten or absorbed so well they are ingrained.

Split infinitives were the first that came to mind, as did the classic split infinitive.

“To boldly go where no man has gone before.”

That line from the opening title sequence of Star Trek and its iconic mission statement was grammatically wrong we were told. Yet it made more sense to split the infinitive, and over time Star Trek won and people realized an infinitive could be split… most of the time. However, the ‘split infinitive rule’ never messed me up as a writer, not just because of Star Trek.

My best English Literature teacher told me that English grammar was an amalgam of Latin, French and English grammar, which led to oddities and inconsistencies. This included the split infinitive. In Latin the infinitive is one word as it is in French, a Romance language. Therefore: to go = ire = aller. I guess that means that if a verb is French in origin like ‘compare’ you can’t try to boldly compare 😉

Now I am an IFTW… Insecure Full-Time Writer the grammar rule I struggled to learn, is the one that messes me up. It’s also the one my editor questions me on. Maybe, I use it incorrectly.

The Oxford Comma. But rather than explain what it is, here’s an easy-to-follow infographic on its usage.

https://www.yourdictionary.com/articles/oxford-comma-guide

Finally, I’m interested that Grammarly corrected my simple uses of ‘to boldly go’ (and ‘to boldly compare’) but not the Star Trek quote.

For Trekkies: How Star Trek Boldly Made The Split Infinitive Acceptable

https://www.mentalfloss.com/article/83484/how-star-trek-boldly-made-split-infinitive-acceptable

For Pedants & non: To Boldly Split Infinitives

To Boldly Split Infinitives

Sorry for the pedantry 😉

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

Finally, don’t forget to visit more active writers via the IWSG site:

Insecure Writer’s Support Group

Let’s rock the neurotic writing world!

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

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!

Posting: The first Wednesday of every month is officially Insecure Writer’s Support Group Day. Post your thoughts on your own blog. Talk about your doubts and the fears you have conquered. Discuss your struggles and triumphs. Offer a word of encouragement for others who are struggling. Visit others in the group and connect with your fellow writer – aim for a dozen new people each time – and return comments. This group is all about connecting!

#IWSG – Service or Rebuild

June 5, 2024 by Roland Clarke

Time for another Insecure Writer’s Support Group post of 2024, and more struggles. Getting to this stage has been one obstacle after another, mainly from ongoing health issues for both of us, Juanita’s more troubling issues is her dependence on portable oxygen, plus incessant coughing for months. At least, she now has a nurse practitioner making regular home visits

One concern we have is our trailer home since we discovered it was a meths den before we bought it. Has the meth impregnated the wall so much that our health is suffering? We are desperate to move as soon as possible.

Fortunately, I can sometimes distract myself from my health issues by attempting to focus on writing. My Ukraine saga, Freedom Flights, has helped the most. I posted three times in May, Episodes 20-23, despite rebellious bowels, something akin to sciatica, and bouts of lethargy.

https://wallup.net/eurocopter-tiger-attack-helicopter-aircraft-42/#google_vignette

However, through more occurrences of writhing, I have also been writing what will be June’s Episode 23, ‘Witches Troupe’.

Later today, I must return to writing ‘Freedom Flights’ as time is against me as life gets shorter. Even if the just peace comes soon, I have a gap from 1951 to 2021 crying out to be written.

Slava Ukrayini

Remember, the question is optional!

June 5 question – In this constantly evolving industry, what kind of offering/service do you think the IWSG should consider offering to members?

Apologies if this is brief as I’m struggling for valid suggestions. I had a few thoughts from idea creation to audio-narrator & editor suggestions, but then through meticulous exploration of the IWSG site I found everything somewhere.

If I had located a search feature, my delving might have been faster. Please, can someone tell me where that search function is?

Sorry for posting late.

The awesome co-hosts for the June 5 posting of the IWSG are Liza at Middle Passages, Shannon Lawrence, Melissa Maygrove, and Olga Godim!

Finally, don’t forget to visit more active writers via the IWSG site:

Insecure Writer’s Support Group

Let’s rock the neurotic writing world!

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

#IWSG – Blogging Life

April 3, 2024 by Roland Clarke

This fourth Insecure Writer’s Support Group post of 2024 has to steer away from the same complaints about my health.

Instead, I’ll concentrate on wishing you all a Belated Happy Easter, hoping however you spent it, in worship, with family, hunting for Easter eggs, or all three, it was rewarding, enjoyable, inspiring, and fun.

So, onto the writing front:

The revision of Fevered Fuse is complete and with my editor awaiting her response.

My Ukraine saga, Freedom Flights, is still ongoing. Episode 18 was posted in three parts on consecutive days at the end of March, and the links were added to the above-mentioned page.

However, I discussed my thoughts about April’s episode, in Part 3 of Episode 18. I said, “What I write and whether I do depend on what happens in the war and on your comments.” Plus, I posed some questions to prompt comments, such as, “Am I posting too often? Should I spend more time writing post-1944/pre-2022 episodes?”

For instance, I have an unfinished Korean War episode, started during NaNoWriMo 2023, that I could work on, but the present war in Ukraine is an ongoing concern.

What should I do fellow Insecure Writers?

Slava Ukrayini

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?

On May 25^th 2012, I posted for the first time here on Writing Wings…12 years ago at the end of next month.

Welcome to Writing Wings

Those twelve years feel like quite a journey, not just from Kent via Wales to Idaho, but from writing one-off stand-alone posts to creating sequences of themed posts like the six Blogging from A to Z Challenges (2014-2019) and the WEP/IWSG Challenges (August 2018-December 2023).

The monthly IWSG post has kept me blogging for much of that time… with a few lapses. My biggest regret is having to stop posting book reviews not just when I ceased being able to read. Even listening to audiobooks dried up as I watched more videos and podcasts linked to issues like the War in Ukraine.

Although I struggle with my health, I still enjoy blogging and writing keeps my brain active. Without having to write at least one post a month, my life would be emptier… and when nobody comments it makes me wonder what I’m doing wrong.

But maybe I’m at fault for just hitting ‘Like’ on other people’s posts and not commenting.

Sorry. if this is boring

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

Finally, don’t forget to visit more active writers via the IWSG site:

Insecure Writer’s Support Group

Let’s rock the neurotic writing world!

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

#IWSG – AI Experiments

March 6, 2024 by Roland Clarke

This is the third Insecure Writer’s Support Group post of 2024, so I’m still attempting to avoid repeating the usual gripes and writing failings. I’m aiming to steer away from …boring.

Not so brief, then, my health continued its erratic decline, including one day of dramatically ejecting what I ate. I dismissed the convenient suspicion of attempted poisoning… even if our departing aid company tried to mess up even our last few days. Due to the company’s inefficient scheduler/manager, over the last few weeks, our best aids kept being forced to leave. When our favourite aid, Shaunna, quit, we found ourselves an infinitely better company, Visiting Angels… who live up to their name. We did manage to say ‘hasta la vista’ to our best aids, and at least two were there on my nauseous day.

And Shaunna promises to stay in touch as a friend… of ours and our dogs.

On the writing front, the revision of Fevered Fuse may soon be complete as I’m working on the last 20 pages. However, I fear my editor might find things still need attention. My eyes are taxing me more and more, so I worry about how much more is achievable… a problem, as my Ukraine saga, Freedom Flights, is still ongoing. I’m not even sure when Episode 18 will be written.

However, ending on an upbeat note, my wife Juanita just celebrated her ‘27^th’ birthday on March 1^st, St David’s Day, as noted in my last post. Not only did her family visit bearing gifts, but also some of my ace aids brought flowers, chocolates, and cake. Shaunna even brought balloons and cooked a celebratory meal.

And I haven’t forgotten this photo of the two ‘forever’ roses I gave Juanita… red for Valentine’s Day and periwinkle for her birthday. What colour should I choose for our Anniversary on May 14th? Rainbow?

Two live roses dipped in 24-karat gold and a miniature rose bush.

Slava Ukrayini

Remember, the question is optional!

March 6^th question: Have you “played” with AI to write those nasty synopses, or do you refuse to go that route? How do you feel about AI’s impact on creative writing?

I was hoping to answer ‘yes’ and then give an AI synopsis a crash test. But although I use Grammarly regularly, I’ve not played with its Synopsis setting in the Generative AI… yet.

Going that route might save my eyes.

I’m not sure AI won’t create too many formulaic rip-offs of better-crafted books, flooding an already competitive market. Or perhaps I’m being too pessimistic, and instead, it will help some of us avoid our misteaks 😉

Sorry for my brevity.

The awesome co-hosts for the March 6 posting of the IWSG are Kristina Kelly, Miffie Seideman, Jean Davis, and Liza @ Middle Passages!

Finally, don’t forget to visit more active writers via the IWSG site:

Insecure Writer’s Support Group

Let’s rock the neurotic writing world!

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

#IWSG – Website Diagnosis

February 7, 2024 by Roland Clarke

This is the second Insecure Writer’s Support Group post of 2024, so, I’m conscious that I must avoid repeating last month’s gripes and usual writing failings… as everyone has to be bored by them after months of identical posts.

In brief, then, my health continues its steady decline. The revision of Fevered Fuse plods on, and Episode 17 of Freedom Flights is due out this week.

Slava Ukrayini

Unfortunately, my 2023 tax return was not submitted by January 31^st. Maybe later this week.

However, distressingly my poor wife Juanita was in the hospital for two nights with heart and lung failure. Fortunately, she is back home and on oxygen, so the whole family is praying for her full recovery.

Every month, IWSG announces 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?

It depends on why I’m visiting their site. The key plus elements are being informative, not long-winded nor rambling, and if books are mentioned… just a few titles & blurbs or links if the author is prolific. Good site navigation like a clear menu is important too.

Plus, avoiding the errors I attempt to eliminate on Writing Wings.

So, please let me know where my website fails. Yes, I know a few links are dead ends, which must be irritating.

Sorry for my brevity.

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

Finally, don’t forget to visit more active writers via the IWSG site:

Insecure Writer’s Support Group

Let’s rock the neurotic writing world!

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

Posting: The first Wednesday of every month is officially Insecure Writer’s Support Group day. Post your thoughts on your own blog. Talk about your doubts and the fears you have conquered. Discuss your struggles and triumphs. Offer a word of encouragement for others who are struggling. Visit others in the group and connect with your fellow writer – aim for a dozen new people each time – and return comments. This group is all about connecting!

WEP Get Together – February

February 1, 2024 by Roland Clarke

If this fails to appear on February 1^st, blame HMRC (His Majesty’s Revenue & Customs) for wanting me to file my 2022-2023 tax return by midnight on January 31^st, 2024. Failure to submit by the deadline incurs a £100 fine, which increases after 3 months. Unfortunately, I won’t have submitted the return by the time this post appears, as I’m still missing one document.

However, this WEP Get Together may be about more than writing, yet scribbling might distract me from worrying about unforeseen mishaps.

As I wrote in my last blog post, I will continue writing more Freedom Flights episodes until a just peace for Ukraine is reached. I’m aiming for one episode per month and have devised a thread echoing the 2023 WEP/IWSG Challenges movie theme. February’s episode may appear next week.

Graphics by Jonathan Temples –
http://jonathantemples.co.uk/

My crucial and ongoing issue is editing. Although I have an excellent editor in London, Yen Ooi, I’m over a year behind on her suggested revisions of Fevered Fuse, my North Wales police procedural… the first novel with Sparkle Anwyl. I’m slow, partly as ‘Freedom Flights’ keeps demanding my attention, but mainly as I struggle with health problems including deteriorating eyesight. I fear another rewrite may be a draft too far, even though my UK editor understands my style and approach. Incidentally, Yen was the UK editor of my first novel, Spiral of Hooves.

Maybe I must seriously consider finding a ghostwriter to ensure that at least two more novels are published. A UK journalist cousin did offer to help… but for a price. As for my American stepfamily, there were no serious offers… at any price.

What price is reasonable? Have you ever considered any form of writing partnership?