Happy New Year and ISWG

 

Happy New Year!  I wish you all a very happy, healthy, and productive 2022!

So, let's see. This month's IWSG question is, "What's the one thing in your writing that you regret the most?" Well, that's a tough question to start the New Year with! I don't know that I actually have anything I regret. If I had to say something, it would be that I started my writing journey not knowing enough about the craft or the business. It was a spontaneous, unplanned thing. If you've read any of my interviews from some of the book tours I've done, you know that it was my 3-year-old daughter who encouraged me to get my stories published. Being in the sleep-deprived state I was in, I didn't do much in the way of research. If I had, I probably would have revised my work a little more and waited for a traditional publisher to publish my first book. It's been 17 years since That Baby Woke Me Up, AGAIN was published. I've learned a lot along the way and made some great connections. And yes, I did get traditionally published. So, in spite of my ignorance in getting started, it's turned out well. (Now, if I don't finish writing the last of my Bubba and Squirt books, I may have regrets. Two manuscripts are ready to go, but the last one is a little slow on getting out of my brain. Better get working on that!)

  

And here is big boy, Klaus. Today is his first birthday (January 5)! It's been a year of chaos and mayhem. But he sure is cute!

IWSG: Writing Stresses and Joys

 

Today's IWSG question is, "What stresses you out as a writer?  What brings you joy?"

Stresses:  Trying to complete a project when I either don't have time, or I have writer's block. Sometimes revisions stress me out, too, but mostly because of my time issues.

What brings joy:  Completing a project, knowing people like my work, and selling books—lots of them!

How about you? What things make you want to pull your hair out, and what makes you jump up and down?

IWSG and Another Klaus Story

 

Okay. So I'm a few days late on the IWSG post. Sorry. It's been busy in my world!  Better late than never. The question is, is it easier for me to come up with a title for my work or write a blurb?  Title. For sure! I have titles popping out of my head all over the place. Blurbs take way more effort. They have to be concise, convey the story, and interest the reader at the same time. Not an easy task!  What about you?  Which do you find easier?

And now for another Klaus story:  The feisty canine reached the point in his life all dogs dread. It was time to get neutered. On the day of the operation, he was up bright and early at 6 AM, jubilant and jumping with glee. He knew a car ride was in the picture. The excitement was too much. He arrived at the vet's office, still overjoyed., super-hyper, tugging at the leash, jumping, and greeting everyone who was there.

As you probably know, a dog undergoing the neutering process has to be sedated. Well, Klaus, being the extraordinarily hyper beast he is, wouldn't settle down. Extra tranquilizers were required. Then afterward, when it was time to put the "cone of shame" on him, he needed three people to hold him down to get it done. You'd think after having his privates altered, he'd be a little more subdued. But no. He still wanted to greet everyone. Bumping into them like a drunk person, he rammed them with his cone of shame.  

I'm sure there was a collective sigh of relief when he finally went out the door.

Klaus has fully recovered and is no longer wearing the cone of shame. And he is still as crazy as ever!

Have you ever known a dog (or cat) that required extra tranquilizers to have any kind of operation?

(Note: The story is a second-hand account. I did not take the dog to the vet. The ex did. This is what he says happened.) 

 

IWSG and Cat Dog

 

This month's Insecure Writer's Support Group question is:  Is there anything you wouldn't write in your books? (That's loosely paraphrased.) Well, yes. I don't write profanity or sexual scenes in my manuscripts. First of all, for children's books, it's not appropriate. Second, I just plain wouldn't feel comfortable doing that. I don't use profanity in my everyday vocabulary because I don't think it's very classy, so why would I write that way?  And I guess I really have never had any desire to write a steamy hot sex scene. What happens in the bedroom should stay private between lovers because more often than not, it ends up coming off less-than-romantic in the written word. It takes a really special talent to pull it off. 

Are there any things you would not think about writing in your manuscripts?   

About cat dog...I am speaking of the wild German Shepherd named Klaus. The other day, I went to the mansion (the ex's place) to pick up my son. When I got there, I found the giant, 80-pound dog standing on a table. What in the world...?  I thought. The ex quickly came and yelled at the beast to get down. 

So, ladies and gentlemen, Klaus does indeed have a new trick:  Jumping on any table he can.  He's like a Tigger (think Winnie the Pooh). Bouncing and jumping,  just like a cat.  Have you ever seen a German Shepherd standing on a kitchen table? If you have, I'd sure like to know about it!

IWSG and Lost in the Secret Room

 

This month's Insecure Writer's Support Group question is, "How do you define success as a writer?"  I think there are different levels of success. The first level is that you actually complete a manuscript. If you are a writer, you know that's a challenge unto itself. Then I would say getting your work published is the next level. For me, it wasn't just publishing it myself. It was finding an agent/traditional publisher who actually thought my work was decent enough to accept. It gave me a sense of validation. The next level would be selling copies of your work. That means people are actually interested in what you write and that you've done a decent amount of marketing to get the word out. Finally, if you hit a best-seller list and make a lot of money, I'd consider that the ultimate success. Not many of us get to that level, but we should all take pride if we reach the first level. As one of my author friends likes to say, "If writing was easy, everyone would be doing it."

Now for the story. It's another Klaus one. The overgrown German Shepherd puppy had been let out of his crate. Usually, I keep a pretty good eye on him, because he's nothing but trouble. But I had gotten sidetracked answering work emails. By the time I looked up, Klaus was nowhere to be found. I called his name. No response. I went upstairs to look for him. No dog. I began to worry. Did he somehow get outside?

Going back downstairs, I noticed the basement door was open. Surely, he had gone down there. I went into the basement and called his name. No Klaus. No sounds indicating another living creature was there. I went into the storage room. I went in the theater. I went into the other storage room. Nothing. 

Then I looked on the ground in the first storage room I had checked. A dog toy! Evidence the wayward creature had been there. Puzzled, I wondered where in the world an 85 pound, frisky German Shepherd could possibly be hiding. And so quietly!

My son, Bubba, solved the mystery. He came down into the storage area and crawled into a small space that led to a little door under the basement steps. He opened that door and guess who popped out? Klaus! With his tongue hanging out and a big doggy smile. He had gone into the secret cubby space and somehow closed the door behind him. Why he didn't bark to tell us he was trapped is a mystery. Apparently, he enjoys a good game of hide-and-seek!

   

IWSG and More Klaus Destruction

 

This month's question is:  What is my favorite writing craft book?  Answer:  Save the Cat! Writes a Novel.  It breaks up a story into 15 plot points. All you have to do is follow the plot points and voila, you have a novel.  Right. If it were only that easy!  But seriously, it takes out some of the mystery of how to write a good novel. I have found it quite useful on my writing journey.

And now for the latest report of German Shepherd, Klaus's destruction:

My daughter's wallet. Apparently, Klaus has an appetite for fine leather.

And styrofoam pots. 😁

  

IWSG and the End of Bootsy

 

Today's Insecure Writer's Support Group question is, "What would make you stop writing?"

Not enough time. And unfortunately, I am struggling with the time factor. I manage to write a paragraph here and there, but it's taking me forever to finish the last Bubba and Squirt book. If I had more of me or more hours in the day, then I don't think I'd ever stop writing.

What about you? What would make you stop writing?

And some not so fabulous news:  Our cat, Bootsy, seems to have met his demise. He's always been an outdoor cat (a stray we rescued, but who absolutely refused to live in the house). He usually stays on the back deck and comes for meals like clockwork. But he's been missing. It's been about three weeks now, and no sign of him. I know he didn't like the new German Shepherd, Klaus, but he still never missed a meal.  Bootsy was about 16 years old. So, I think he slinked off to die in peace. We'll miss him. Hopefully, he and Schultz are playing in animal heaven now. RIP, Bootsy!