Welcome all to the last IWSG post of 2021. The past year has solidified how much the support of online groups such as IWSG is necessary for the mental health and motivation needed to keep going in this business. Thanks to the IWSG admins, our founder, Alex J. Cavanaugh, and all the participants who share knowledge, comradery, as we navigate the writing world. See the entire list of participants here.
This month's optional question: In your writing, what stresses you most and what delights you the most?
I don't think any one things stresses me. I worry about timelines when I'm writing fantasy. I worry about keeping it fresh when writing romances. A hundred different things are always bubbling about. Over the past year, not finding time to write is stressing me more than anything. I hope the major theif of my writing time is not a problem by next summer. Delight? There are those moments when the perfect solution or perfect scene appear in my thoughts out of nowhere. Doesn't happen every day, but I usually have some kind of delightful moment a few times in each novel I write.
"Time is what we want most, but what we use worst." William Penn
Thanksgiving was lovely. My daughter was able to be here after the pandemic kept her away last year. We even had the pleasure of two relatives from Myrtle Beach who were able to join us. For the first Thanksgivng in our new home, we had many things to be happy and grateful about. I hope yours was the same.
A little pet peeve here. I read a lot of library books and support our library system with donations. I love the library, and the workers there are so friendly and helpful. A few days ago, I picked up five books on hold for me. One was a new fantasy book by an author who is new to me. It is a delightful need which I'll probably finish by the time this post is published. Much to my disgust, a previous borrower had underlined passages throughout the almost brand new book. It's not the first library book I've found vandalized in such a way. But why? Why would someone do that to a book that doesn't belong to them? Such casual misuse of public property really offends me, and the obvious disregard to other readers is very arrogant and self-centered. Sorry about the rant. Guess it isn't such a small peeve.
"There is more stupidity than hydrogen in the universe, and it has a longer shelf life." Frank Zappa
I'm looking forward to reading the last book in The Expanse book series which was released yesterday. The Wheel of Time series on Prime is keeping my interest. I read the books, but most of the changes in the show make it better. They can't put everything in the books in a show. Some good shows coming in December. The final season of Lost in Space on Netflix is out this week. The final season of the Expanse is on Prime next week. And the following week, the next season of The Witcher is on Netflix. Enough to keep me occupied and fill those hours when I'm not watching my granddaughter and working on my responsibilities to Pennwriters.
I hope the supply chain issues are interferring with your holiday preparations and shopping. With my children all grown, my granddaughter is the only one I had to search for gifts for. All done and wrapped and under the tree. I only send a few Christmas cards to people that I don't see very often. It will be nice not to visit the post office at this time of year. It was stressful last year when I worried about packages arriving on time or even arriving at all. And we all plan to be together again and that what really makes the holiday special for me.
"The best thing to hold onto in life is each other." Audrey Hepburn
Anything particularly stressful about writing for you? Was Thanksgiving a good time for your family? Are your holiday plans coming along?
