Wednesday, November 2, 2016

IWSG: November Edition

November already! And time for the monthly posting for the Insecure Writer's Support Group. This supportive group started by Alex J. Cavanaugh, offers advice, shares our woes and cheer for each others' successes. You can join this wonderful group by signing up here.  And even if you're not already a member, you can visit other bloggers today.

A few months ago, we started posing a monthly question to our members. Members don't have to answer it, but if they don't know quite what to post that day, they can use it.

This month's question:
What is your favorite aspect of being a writing?

I love being self-employed. I love working at home. The coffee is good at home, but I can also have a glass of wine while I'm at work. Reading is part of my job. I have a great office. I guess I just can't pick one aspect. I love being a writer. Oh, and I've met some great friends.

Other news. The IWSG anthology contest has a large number of great entries. Way to go, you wonderful writers. And I love that so many have submitted even though not everyone will be in the anthology, people will keep writing. This business is about never giving up.

More news! Crystal Collier has a new release. Timeless, the third book in her Maiden of Time series, is now available on Amazon. And to celebrate, the first book, Moonless, is now available for free but only for a few days.

Don't forget that Daylight Savings Time Ends this weekend. The dark will be coming early which doesn't bother me at all when it's cold out. I always get more writing done in the winter.

Recently in a shocking revelation, my husband and I discovered my daughter didn't know who Yogi Berra was. What is the world coming to?
"The future ain't what it used to be?" Yogi Berra

Do you like when the time changes? What do you like about being a writer? Are you grabbing up Crystal's free book?





75 comments:

nashvillecats2 said...

I find it takes time to adjust to the time changing of our clocks, although lighter in the morning it is dark by 4-30om. I wish Crystal luck with her book. Loved the overall reading of your post Susan. Happy November.
Yvonne.

Sarah Foster said...

I don't mind changing the clocks back. It's nice to get that extra hour (especially when I don't have to work!)
Congrats to Crystal!

Nicola said...

I don't mind turning the clocks back - forward is a different matter :) Great post and I'm so pleased to read that you love your work and love being a writer. Lots of great stuff going on this month. Congrats to Crystal.

L. Diane Wolfe said...

Yes, my coffee is much better than anyone else's coffee. I'd much rather be working from home.

I wondered when we were changing the clocks back. Thank you. I might've missed it.

Madeline Mora-Summonte said...

I love my office, too!

RE: the time change - I don't mind so much when it's darker earlier. I'm more of a morning person so I like seeing the sun at breakfast. :)

Patsy said...

I like working from home and being my own boss too - except when I have to tell myself off for being lazy.

Maria Zannini said...

I always prefer 'falling' back because that's what nature intended. I imagine though, if we ever go back to Pre Daylight Savings Days,we'll now have a faction complaining bitterly about this "absurd" trend not to change time.

Hilary Melton-Butcher said...

Hi Susan - I love working at home too ... however your daughter and I can be friends ... I'd no idea who Yogi Berra was ... I do now! Cheers Hilary

Pat Hatt said...

All those things are sure great about being a writer, except I stick to water over coffee haha awesome that there were so many great entries.

betty said...

Working at home does have its advantages. I discovered this past weekend son had never had sauerkraut. How could that have been? So I can understand your daughter not knowing who Yogi Berra is. Thankfully we don't change time in Arizona. I don't like losing the light so early.

Betty

Christine Rains said...

I do love working at home too! Though the cat can be a brat and I'm my own worst boss. :) Congrats to Crystal!

Joylene Nowell Butler said...

I wish they would stop dropping back the time. It's pitch dark here at 3pm in the winter. I miss the sun. I do love working at home. Congratulations to Crystal. So many great books published lately.

Diane Burton said...

It will be so great having light in the morning again. Love working at home--in my nightie & robe, with coffee. LOL Truly shocking that your daughter didn't know Yogi Berra. Shame. :)

Alex J. Cavanaugh said...

Now she knows!
Looking forward to that extra hour of sleep on Sunday.

Chrys Fey said...

Working at home is great. :) I can't wait for the extra hour of writing time on Sunday.

cleemckenzie said...

Being home is one of the best things about the writing life.

Anonymous said...

When you're a writer and you work from home pants are optional and that's the best thing. ;););)

Stacy McKitrick said...

The mornings are too dark right now, so I'll be happy to see the change. Frankly, I wish they'd do away with DST.

Unknown said...

I like fall back and wish it would stay. the constant changing is a bit irritating. especially since some states have eliminated it. I like work from home but I have to be a harder task master to get things done. the cover for Timeless is beautiful

Jen said...

I've always enjoyed Falling Back in autumn. I wish they'd just keep it that way. I work part time right now and I love having my afternoons and weekend mornings to spend writing and creating.

Happy November!
Jen

messymimi said...

Working for yourself you have both the best and the worst boss ever! At least, that's how i feel working for myself. Happy November!

Tyrean Martinson said...

Setting our own hours, and having books to read as a part of "work" are definitely some good parts of being writers!
Happy November!

Tony Laplume said...

I like to say a writer can call everything they experience part of the job. It's all relevant to the task of writing itself.

Loren E. Pryce said...

I drink wine at work too! It is definitely one of the perks of being self-employed :) I also love the time change. I never quite feel "right" until they turn the clocks back. Thanks for your inspirational post!!!

Jeffrey Scott said...

Personally, I hate when we "Fall Back". I wish they would leave the time alone because I hate leaving for work and it's dark. And then leaving for home and it's dark again.
How I would LOVE to work for home or simply write for my profession. It's just not possible for me at this time.

Arlee Bird said...

I love being self-employed. Now if I could only start making money doing it.

Arlee Bird
Tossing It Out

Susan Gourley/Kelley said...

LOL. Exactly!

Susan Gourley/Kelley said...

I don't mind the dark earlier as much as I mind the cold that goes along with it.

Susan Gourley/Kelley said...

I don't mind it since I work at home. I do get more writing done.

Susan Gourley/Kelley said...

I do hate the forward. I can't wake up in the morning for weeks after.

Susan Gourley/Kelley said...

My coffee is so much better since I started buying spring water instead of using my tap water. Even though I have a well, the water doesn't make good coffee or tea.

Susan Gourley/Kelley said...

My office is so homey and has everything I need.

Susan Gourley/Kelley said...

LOL. I have to tell myself off sometimes too.

Susan Gourley/Kelley said...

Not that I work from home, I would prefer it stayed the same all the time too.

Susan Gourley/Kelley said...

I'm not surprised you didn't know Yogi but my daughter grew up in a baseball crazy family. No excuses for her.

Susan Gourley/Kelley said...

I always have water first thing in the morning. Coffee is my afternoon or evening drink.

Susan Gourley/Kelley said...

LOL. Your son can join my children. I hate sauerkraut and especially the odor. My children never had sauerkraut at home though they've all tried it elsewhere.

Susan Gourley/Kelley said...

I actually miss my cat. She always kept me company by sleeping under my writing desk when I was at work. But I don't miss her enough to get another one.

Susan Gourley/Kelley said...

I usually put on my flannel shirt and yoga pants in winter. Tee shirts and my walking shorts in the summer. No shoes,... heavenly.

Susan Gourley/Kelley said...

That extra hour is nice though I tend to stay up later at night the first few days so I lose out anyway.

Susan Gourley/Kelley said...

I never seem to get writing done on Sunday. My boys watch football so I often watch a movie or read. The house is just too busy with the guys here.

Susan Gourley/Kelley said...

Home is best. I love home.

Susan Gourley/Kelley said...

I love my winter flannel pants. So warm and comfy.

Susan Gourley/Kelley said...

Lots of people feel that way. Will it ever change?

Susan Gourley/Kelley said...

I slack off on the task master duties too sometimes.

Susan Gourley/Kelley said...

Fall back is great by Spring ahead really isn't so much fun.

Susan Gourley/Kelley said...

LOL. Today I have the worst boss. Keeping me at my desk.

Susan Gourley/Kelley said...

And not that my kids are grown, the hours are even better.

Susan Gourley/Kelley said...

I should have said it like that, Tony. Going for another walk later. For work, of course.

Susan Gourley/Kelley said...

The wine is great. Never could do that when I was teaching though there were days it might have helped.

Susan Gourley/Kelley said...

When I was teaching, that was how it was for me too. Dark when I left and if I got out of work on time, I might get 45 minutes of daylight at home. Winter is not fun.

Lisa said...

Me too love the working at home part. Like Arlee, now if I could just make a living at it! I mind the time change but only for a week or so. Once I get used to it I'm fine.

Michelle Wallace said...

From the above comments, it sounds like quite a few writers are enjoying working from home, dictating the pace and according to their own schedules.
I agree that my coffee is much better than coffee served at restaurants/outlets.
Recently, I've been experimenting with a few new coffees, so I get to choose from different flavors.
This end of the globe, we're moving from Spring into Summer.
Days are hotter...and humidity is on the rise!
Happy IWSG Day!

J E Oneil said...

Those are all my favorite reasons for being a writer, too! :)

Nick Wilford said...

Yep, working from home suits me very well! The commute down the stairs is nice, for a start. I'm lucky that I also do editing from home to keep money coming in.

Our clocks already went back this weekend. Love the dark mornings for writing too.

Jemi Fraser said...

Love your answers! Those are all really great things :)
My students always read the Yogi Berra quotes on my wall twice ... or more before they get it :)

Rachel Pattinson said...

I can't wait for the day when I'll also be able to work from home! Mainly because I'm not that sociable ;). The clocks in the UK have already gone back - I love the lighter mornings, but don't like going home in the dark!

Crystal Collier said...

Thanks, Alex!

Crystal Collier said...

*waves* Thank you, Sarah!

Crystal Collier said...

Yay! Thank you, Nicola!

Crystal Collier said...

Thanks, Christine!

Crystal Collier said...

Thank you, Joylene. I totally agree! (Including yours.)

Crystal Collier said...

Thank you, Michelle! I'm in love with my cover designer. Seriously.

Crystal Collier said...

Susan! Thank you so much for the shout. You are beyond amazing. Beyond.

Once the kids are out of the house, I imagine I'll feel about the same way you do about setting my own schedule. Right now they're kind of my bosses--and I can't wait to fall back. It's way too dark when I wake up in the morning.

Lynda R Young as Elle Cardy said...

Working at home is the best!!

Raimey Gallant said...

Can't wait to hear more about this anthology!

Braja said...

I can even smell the coffee. Writing is such an addiction with all those goodies around :)

The Cynical Sailor said...

I'm always shocked by the things that my 14 year old nieces don't have a clue about that I thought everyone knew about. Of course, they know about lots of things I don't have a clue about :-)

Tamara Narayan said...

I am so glad for the time change and that extra hour of sleep. Boy, do I need that. I did read Timeless and thought it had an excellent plot and great pace.

Pat Garcia said...

Right On. I love being self-employed also. It doesn't mean it doesn't get scary, it means no rather, it demands I get creative.
Shalom aleichem,
Pat

Jan Morrison said...

I have a day job and so don't get to hang around in my pj's, but I like having a secret life. And I like creating other secret lives.

Michael Di Gesu said...

So happy your writing life is such a happy and productive one, Susan.

May we all have the happiness someday. There is nothing I'd like more than to work FULL TIME at home.... but my interior design clients keep me moving...shopping, staging, and creating their perfect living spaces.... At least I had one GLORIOUS month at home to be able illustrate a book. I so enjoyed not having to run all over town.....

Tara Tyler said...

yay for Crystal!
and i like being self-employed, but I wish it made more money to be called employment! ha!

Mary Aalgaard said...

I'll be helping to promote Crystal's new book next week. We have much educating to do of our children. I've discovered that my boys don't know all the classic musicals. What!?!
Mary at Play off the Page

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