Wednesday, December 4, 2019

IWSG December



Many thanks to Alex J. Cavanaugh for starting and managing this awesome and encouraging blog hop for writers! The hop has grown and become so much more due to the efforts of Alex and the whole administration team. To find out more, go here: IWSG Website.
Co-hosts for December: 
Beverly Stowe McClure  http://beverlystowemcclure.blogspot.com/  
and me

Optional Question: Let's play a game. Imagine. Role-play. How would you describe your future writer self, your life and what it looks and feels like if you were living the dream?  Or if you are already there, what does it look and feel like? Tell the rest of us. What would you change or improve?

I decided to tackle this with a letter containing what I hope things will be like:

Dear Future Writer Self,
I imagine you are in a cozy space with a cup of hot tea by your side, books lovingly placed on book shelves throughout your house, a journal and a laptop on a desk in front of you. On your walls, you have family pictures and photographs you've taken of your travels and adventures. I also imagine you've managed to tackle all of your projects - from poetry chapbooks and short story collections to novels who have reached readers all over the world, with a handful of graphic novels and some music lyrics written, too. You could retire, but you won't, because writing is your passion. Ideas are everywhere. You also take time to teach writing classes in a Story Arts Studio, a business of your own creation. If you are, like I imagine, close to that retirement age, you're considering who you could mentor to take over that Story Arts Studio, but you aren't ready yet. Or, maybe you already have a business partner who will take over when you're ready to step away. But again, you aren't ready yet. There's so much to do, so many adventures to still have - both in real life and on the page. And, you love encouraging other writers almost as much as writing itself.
I know the journey to where you are is a long road. I know there are many small steps ahead to get there and some mountains to climb, one small step at a time. But I know you're beckoning me onward, and so I will take those steps and climb those mountains, one word and one adventure at a time.
See you soon,
Current Writer Self

That's the kind of life I hope for as a writer - a life of confident creativity and adventure with some dreams fulfilled and some yet to be written. Right now, I feel like I'm still on the first bit of foothills before the real climb.

And now, I just want TO CONGRATULATE all of the 
ANTHOLOGY WINNERS!!!
The Third Ghost – Yvonne Ventresca  http://yvonneventresca.com/blog.html
A World of Trouble – Rebecca M. Douglass  https://www.ninjalibrarian.com
Winter Days - Katharina Gerlach  https://www.katharinagerlach.com
Feathered Fire – Roland Clarke  https://rolandclarke.com/
The Ghosts of Pompeii – Sherry Ellis  http://www.sherryellis.org/
The Blind Ship – Bish Denham  http://bish-randomthoughts.blogspot.com/
Return to Cahokia – L.T. Ward
Dare Double Dare – Louise M. Barbour  https://selkiegrey4.blogspot.com
Simon Grey and the Yamamba - Charles Kowalski  https://charleskowalski.com/
The Orchard - Beth Anderson Schuck  https://twitter.com/schuck_beth

These writers wrote an submitted Middle Grade (ages 9-12) stories for the IWSG MG Anthology Contest and won a spot in the anthology!

If you wrote but didn't win, I hope you submit your stories to another contest, anthology, or magazine. You can find a place for your work!
As someone who has received rejections on my stories, poems, and novels, I know it's hard, but you can keep going. You can find publication.
Keep writing! 
Keep sending out your work!


IWSG Updates:
In January, we will post on the second Wednesday because the first Wednesday is New Year's Day.


For the Goodreads IWSG Reading Group, the book for December/January is On Writing: A Memoir of the Craft by Stephen King. 

On Instagram, we mainly have today's post celebration, a note on the WEP contest, and per usual, some writing tips from the website, and some encouraging quotes to keep you writing!




For WEP in December:

A few brief updates from me:
1. The last few months have included some unexpected life stress which will not be named (it felt that dark), but I kept on writing. I attended a comic con, and I read my work out loud at an open mic night. I went to a critique group, went to several write-ins with an ongoing write-in group, and I won NaNoWriMo with 50,000 words of a jumbled, partial novel which will take much revision to be the novel it's meant to be.

2. I decided to participate in Dressember to help fight human trafficking with awareness and fundraising. To know more about Dressember, go HERE. If you want to help me fund raise, go to A Dress with Comfortable Shoes.
Dressember's vision: A World Without Slavery.

3. I had the honor of having two previously published poems republished in this new anthology by Z Publishing: Washington's Best Emerging Poets

How are all of you doing, IWSG? Any news? 
What does your future writer self look like?




57 comments:

Madeline Mora-Summonte said...

I'm sorry to hear abut the life stresses, and I hope things have smoothed out some for you.

Well done on all of your accomplishments, Tyrean. My NaNo win was a mess, too. But, hey, a win is a win. :)

And thank you for co-hosting today!

S.A. Larsenッ said...

Your imagined image of your future self is pretty sweet! I especially love how you'd like to write lyrical music. You've made me think that doing so would be a great writing exercise in itself. And you had me at Story Art Studio! That gives me all the feels.

Congratulations to all the anthology winners!

Elizabeth Seckman said...

If I can't have my island, I'll take a cozy nook like yours.

So sorry to hear you've been having stresses. If there's anything a fellow insecure writer can do to help, you know where to find my inbox. Hugs.

And congrats on the poem.

Nancy Gideon said...

LOVE your post. We should all hold to such a vision of success . . . because anything is possible. Thanks for co-hosting this month, Tyrean (beautiful name, BTW!).

Cathrina Constantine said...

Unfortunately, this should be a calming, peaceful time of year, Silent Night and all that jazz, but it usually turns into stress filled days and nights. I just came from church, a great place to re-establish my peace.

Congrats on your poems, and winning NaNo, and reading out loud at open mic night, I would've been a nervous wreck...

Thanks for co-hosting and Merry Christmas!!

Alex J. Cavanaugh said...

You might enjoy it so much that you never retire!

Tamara Narayan said...

I love the idea of "confident creativity". I was much more confident when I started than where i am now, even though the writing is getting better.

Lidy said...

Congrats on winning NaNoWriMo and having your poems published! ‘A life of confident creativity and adventure.’ I like the sound of that.

cleemckenzie said...

A very nice letter to yourself, indeed. I love the space you imagined and I hope you have it! Congratulations on those poems, and I hope all the darkness is behind. Thanks for co-hosting today. Great job.

Julie Flanders said...

I love the idea of writing a letter to yourself. Here's hoping at least some of this letter is the life your future self will be living.
I'm sorry you've had some rough times to get through but congratulations on your accomplishments! The fact that they came in the midst of darkness makes them even more admirable.
Take care and I hope you have a good time co-hosting today.

Christine Rains said...

That's an awesome letter to your future self. Little steps matter a lot! Congrats on finishing NaNoWriMo and the poems! Terrific way to end the year. Thanks for co-hosting today.

Lisa said...

Sorry to hear of your stress, and understand not wanting to name it. I hope it goes soon and leaves you striding toward your really awesome writer's life. Thanks for co-hosting today.

PJ Colando said...

Mind if I cadge this significant quote? ..."a life of confident creativity and adventure with some dreams fulfilled and some yet to be written. Right now, I feel like I'm still on the first bit of foothills before the real climb."

Superb - and sorry you had a sad, bad month... You rose above with your writing!

Rachna Chhabria said...

Sorry to hear about your life stresses. Hope things smooth out soon for you.

Love the letter to your future self.

Tyrean Martinson said...

Madeline - Congrats on your Nano win!!!

SA - I was asked by two friends to write some lyrical music and at first, I was hesitant, but it's been fun! I highly recommend it!

Elizabeth - Thanks for the hugs!

Nancy - Thank you!

Alex - Very true!

Tamara - yes, confident creativity is one of my goals next year.

Lidy - Thank you!

C.Lee - Thanks!

Julie - thanks! I hope so, too.

Christine - thank you!

Lisa - thanks for stopping by!

PJ - yes, you can definitely cadge it. Wow. Thanks!

Rachna - Thank you!


Tonja Drecker said...

I'm sorry you had a bad time there. But wow...if that's everything you get done even when everything isn't rosy, I'm impressed! I love your view of the future...if it can really be that way? (I'm off dreaming, now.)

Ellen Jacobson said...

I'm sorry to hear about the stressful stuff going on. I hope things get better soon.

Love the idea of writing song lyrics as part of your vision of your future self.

Tyrean Martinson said...

T Drecker - sometimes I get nothing done in times of stress and sometimes I push forward. It all depends on how close my notebook is to me. Writing helps ease stress.

Patricia - Thank you!

Ellen - Thanks!

S.E. White Books said...

It seems to me your letter to your future self is closer than ever. Confident creativity was all over your year, a big congratulations on the inclusion in the poetry anthology! And thank you for co-hosting this month.

Computer Tutor said...

What a busy group is #IWSG! I didn't even know you/we had an Instagram.

Erika Beebe said...

Your letter is vivid and lovely. I hope it comes true. Congratulations to all the winners! Yay!

Tyrean Martinson said...

SE - Thank you!

Jacqui - Yes, we are this month! And please join us on Instagram!

Erika - thank you!

L. Diane Wolfe said...

Sorry to hear about the stress but that's neat you went to a comic con. It's a whole different world, isn't it?

Mark Koopmans said...

Thanks so much for stopping by, even though I didn't post as I thought *duh* we were taking a break in December!

Make sure you keep that letter to yourself, and maybe take a glance at it every year to see how it's going... best wishes!!

Fundy Blue said...

Thanks for co-hosting today, Tyrean. I enjoyed your post. Yes, the journey is a long road, but it's a wonderful one. I've made it to the summit of a foothill, but I've got my eye on the highest peak! Happy writing to you in December, and the best of holidays!

Natalie Aguirre said...

Thanks for co-hosting. It sounds like you're on the path to your dreams. Sorry for the life stresses, but glad you wrote through them.

emaginette said...

Looks like all you need to do is get busy and make it happen. So... Like... No pressure. hehehe

Anna from elements of emaginette

Kristi said...

I love your way of answering the question this week. I'm now imagining what I might write to my future writer self.

My NaNos are always messy, some more than others. Congrats on your win!

Sarah Foster said...

Congrats on the poems and winning NaNo! I still can't believe I actually wrote that much in one month!

Nicole Pyles said...

I'm sorry to hear about life stresses that have come in - I've been dealing with some myself, but I've managed to meet my writing goal this year of completing 5 submittable short stories. It wasn't a HUGE goal but I'm pleased I got it done. Hoping you have a nice holiday!

Arlee Bird said...

Your dream sounds pretty much like mine. Hope you have fulfillment in your future.

Arlee Bird
Tossing It Out

Jemi Fraser said...

Love your dream!!!
Sorry to hear about your life stress - hope things are looking up for you and yours!!

Lynda R Young as Elle Cardy said...

The foothills are good. You're on your way :)

krystal jane said...

I like your letter to yourself. ^_^
Sounds like you had a good month despite the darker days, with winning NaNo and reading at an open mic night! I wish I had the nerve to even go to one, let alone read anything. Congratulations on getting work done during a tough month!

Samantha Bryant said...

Congratulations on all your news! I enjoyed your letter to your future self :-) @samanthabwriter from
Balancing Act

M.J. Fifield said...

Congrats on your NaNoWriMo win AND for publishing poetry! Awesome!!

J.Q. Rose said...

Love your letter to yoir future self
I don't believe you'll ever entirely walk away from writing and giving to other writers. I could hear your passion in your voice. And yes lots of steps, curves,potholes, obstacles on your journey. But oh what a ride it will be. Take it all in! Best wishes.

Yvonne Ventresca said...

Congrats on the poems and I love your letter to yourself. :)

Anonymous said...

What a lovely future you envision! Congrats on the poems and getting through NaNo. Dark times seem to just be the occasional reality. Good for you for pushing through it. Thanks for co-hosting today.

Diane Burton said...

Love your letter to your future self. Congrats on winning NaNo. Sorry to hear about the stress. Still, amazingly you continued to write. Wow. Congrats on your poems being published. And thanks for co-hosting this month. I hope this month is easier and ext year is the best.

Denise Covey said...

I won't look too far into the future or I might interfere with mindfulness. However, 2020 is looking good where I will be multi-published. Awesome.
Your writing life looks healthy despite the stress. Love your letter to your future self. I expected to see more of these this month.

Susan B.Rouchard said...

Dear Tyrian. Thank you for co-hosting this December post. Congratulations on making the Z Publishing Anthology. Thank you also for the WEP prompt and badge, inspiring. Good for you partaking in the Dressember event. Slavery is appalling and not to be tolerated. As an UNICEF volunteer, I come across many examples and even in our ‘progressive’ societies, slavery still occurs frequently. (Recently read a novel, very close to reality, on slavery in France (Karine Giebel’s Toutes blessent, la dernière Tue), All hurt, the last one kills. Would recommend it highly, if you can stomach it.)
Enjoyed your letter to your future self. I would say you are already half way up the mountain judging by your accomplishments so far. Keep going and a helpful rope will suddenly dangle out of nowhere and lift you quickly to the summit. Once on top you’ll feel like going down one valley to climb the next peak more likely than not. We will all die in our beds with a pen between thumb and finger, I expect. Retire ? Never.

Have a Merry Christmas writing and a happy WEP.

Astrid said...

I love your letter to your future writer self! I’m nowhere near where you are on my writing journey and as such, don’t dream as big as you do. I’m glad you feel confident enough to do that though.

lostinimaginaryworlds.blogspot.com said...

Wishing you a happier and successful new decade 🌹

Chemist Ken said...

Confident creativity. I like that. I sure could use that confidence in every part of my life.

Thanks for co-hosting this month!

CWMartin said...

I certainly hope you get there!

Adrienne Reiter said...

Stress makes a mess. This too will pass. Great post! Thank you for co-hosting. Happy IWSG Day!

Sonia Dogra said...

Such a Lovely letter to self. Wish you luck!

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Lord Mark said...

Are you tired of being human, having talented brain turning to a vampire in a good posture in ten minutes, Do you want to have power and influence over others, To be charming and desirable, To have wealth, health, without delaying in a good human posture and becoming an immortal? If yes, these your chance. It's a world of vampire where life get easier,We have made so many persons vampires and have turned them rich, You will assured long life and prosperity, You shall be made to be very sensitive to mental alertness, Stronger and also very fast, You will not be restricted to walking at night only even at the very middle of broad day light you will be made to walk, This is an opportunity to have the human vampire virus to perform in a good posture. If you are interested contact us on Vampirelord7878@gmail.com

Jemima Pett said...

Thanks for co-hosting this month, and I hope your stresses sort themselves out soon.

I do love the look of this anthology - there are some great stories on them!

mshatch said...

Congrats on winning Nano. I've yet to participate. I like your dream, too :)

Liesbet said...

Hi Tyrean!

I really like how you approached this month's IWSG question with the letter. Imagine you will read this again one day and be in that exact dream-like position. Now that would be beyond awesome! And, based on your successes (congratulations on finishing NaNo and having poems in an anthology), I'd say you are getting to that future self position one step at a time. Thank you for co-hosting this month and I hope your dark period has turned bright! Happy holidays.

Michelle Wallace said...

Congratulations on being recognized as one of Washington's Best Emerging Poets... that is AMAZING!
Reading your work out loud at an open mic night sounds scary... and exciting too! Congrats on this achievement.

Loads of goodness here at your blog, Tyrean!
You always live up to the mark of what an everyday writer should be like.
Thanks for co-hosting the IWSG this month.

Have a Blessed Christmas and a Prosperous and Peaceful New Year!

Juneta key said...

What a beautiful letter and writer dream. Happy Belated IWSG! And Happy Holidays.

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Hilary Melton-Butcher said...

Hi Tyrean - sorry about the challenges - but am glad to see you're skirting them and getting on with writing ... finishing NaNo is no mean achievement ... while supporting other activists against human trafficking - appalling it's still going on in our societies.

Congratulations on getting two poems published in that amazing looking publication ... good for you.

Cheers and Happy New Year and all the best for the year ahead - Hilary