July IWSG Post...

 Wow, July already? That's just incredible. Time seems to move faster the older you get. It'd be nice if it would slow down just an eensy, teensy little bit. Right?

Oh, well.

Let's get to this month's Insecure Writer's Support Group question!

If you could live in any book world, which one would you choose?

This is a difficult question for me. There are many, many book worlds I would love to live in, but I think I wouldn't survive most of them! 

If I had to choose, it'd be a tough call between the Harry Potter world or Middle Earth.

In Harry's world, I would hopefully have magic, and not be a Muggle. Because, let's face it, that would suck. Living in a magical world and you're still mundane. That would be more like a torture. But, we're assuming that whatever world we choose, we'd get the gifts of the characters. And magic would be so fun! My house would be spotless as I learn from Mrs. Weasley, all the magical ways of cleaning. I'd have a penseive for those most important, special memories. I hope my Patronus would be a wolf, or even a cat. Ooh! A llama!

If I chose Tolkien's world, it would probably be a pretty dangerous place for a while. But I would love to be either an Elf or Hobbit. Hobbits seem to have a pretty quiet life, full of laughter and friendship. The Elves are respected and quite snobbish at times, but they're elegant and graceful. I'd be the only clumsy Elf alive! So, I think I would choose a nice quiet life of a Hobbit.

It would be a very difficult decision. I have so many other book worlds I would love to live in, such as The Little House on the Prairie book world. Or even the world of David Eddings, the Mallorean world. There's also the world of The Dragon Prince, by Melanie Rawn. It's a magical world with dragons and so many places to go.

Okay, final decision, I choose Middle Earth. I need some furry feet.

Thanks for dropping by and reading my post! Don't forget to hop on over to everyone else's post and at least leave a quick comment! Happy Hopping!

Insecure Writers Support Group...

 Holy cow! Can you believe it is the first Wednesday of the month? Not only that, NaNoWriMo has kicked off!

You'll see to the left of this post, I have a counter to show my progress. Here's to hitting 50K words!

But on to IWSG. This month's question is:

What's harder to do, coming up with your book title or writing the blurb?

Man. I am torn on this one. To be honest, I had an easier time naming my children. Sometimes, the book title just presents itself before I even have a story idea. It'll pop into my head and I'll be like, "Okay. Nice, but what is this about?"

Sometimes the title comes to me after I begin writing the story. Sometimes, not at all and then I'm scrambling to ask friends for a book title.

But the BLURB! O..M...G... I absolutely DESPISE having to sum up my story in a few short paragraphs that will make it interesting enough for someone to pick up. Honestly. I'd rather go have my teeth pulled again.

I know people say to pretend you have 30 seconds or less to pitch your book, what would you say? Okay, first of all, I'm becoming more socially awkward in my old age, so I'd be all over the place. I'd be telling them about the book, but then go, "Oh! Wait, I forgot! Before that happens, THIS has to happen! Oh, but so and so does such and such to get there, and then ... wait, no. That came after. Sorry!"

To pare it down, I'd be a hot mess.

A blubbering mass of confusion.

Okay, so the blurb is harder. I had to work through that, I suppose.

All right, enough about me! Go on to read more from other IWSG bloggers! You can find the list here.

Have a great rest of your week!

Insecure Writer's Support Group...

 Wow, guys! It's October already!! Where has the year gone? Well, if you're reading this, today is the first Wednesday of the month and you know what that means!

Insecure Writer's Support Group Blog Hop!

This month's topic:

In your writing, where do you draw the line, with either topics or language?

I tell you what, I'm kind of a no-holds-barred kind of girl. I don't sugarcoat the truth (which doesn't make many friends) and I tell it like it is.

I know there are a lot of taboo topics out there, mainly politics and religion. The two things that should end wars, but actually starts them instead. But I wouldn't touch on topics I know nothing about. I do see people putting a lot of topics into their writing that is more personal opinion, as if trying to change the minds of readers, but I won't do that.

If I don't know everything about a topic, I won't write on it. But if I know quite a bit about it and have the actual references to back up my words, I'll write about it. But if it isn't pertinent to the story, I'll leave it alone. I write about bullies, I write about abused women. Topics I am familiar with. But I also write about how to stand up or get away. To become stronger.

I once had a beta reader for my "Blood of my Sisters" story who had to stop reading because the bully triggered her. She didn't blame me for it, and I didn't feel a need to put a warning in there, but she just couldn't continue. She loved the story, but couldn't get past that character.

Will I stop putting in those scenes? Nope. I'm hoping it will connect with someone and they can see how they can stand up for themselves and not be bullied. Or maybe they're reading it and they are a bully, and can't stand the character. Who knows what I'll trigger or help with.

I do draw the line at sex scenes, rape scenes and things of that nature. If it is a sex scene, you'll get the idea well enough without me going into graphic detail. I'm not a prude, but I just feel that isn't appropriate in stories in order to tell the story. (Yeah, I'm going to get hate mail from romance authors.)

As far as language goes? I'm pretty flexible with it. Profanity, no matter who you are, will come out in certain situations. That's life. I know a lot of people who don't like to swear or read books with any curse words in there. But, if my characters are going to be true to life, I throw it in. However, I go along the same guideline of sex scenes, it isn't always appropriate in the story to tell the story. So I do limit it, even though in real life I could make a trucker blush.

All right, now it's your turn! Let's hop on to the next blog and see what that author thinks! Have a good rest of your week!

Many Stops & Starts...

 Well, the last post I listed was back in 2019. We can all safely say that 2020 was not kind, and 2021 was about the same.

I have had many things happen over the course of the year +, as I'm sure you all did as well.

My writing has been on hiatus.

I got Covid and survived.

I became my mother's caregiver.

I've battled severe depression.

I've struggled with anxiety.

And now I feel as if I have come back full circle to try and revive my blog and my writing.

Several things have changed in the blog format: I removed the BlogLovin' link, because I don't even know what's going to happen. I've kept the author links to the ISWG Guide to Publishing & Beyond as well as updated all of the Ladies & Gentlemen of Horror and Fantasy links I could.

You'll see a Remembrance Anthology for Jenna Miller, who passed a few years ago. Not going to lie, that's one of the biggest reasons I feel my writing has lapsed. She was a friend and mentor to me. I still feel her loss deeply.

I have the opportunity to teach a basic writing class, which is why I have begun thinking, once again, about my writing and where I want to go with it. I miss it greatly. I mean, miss it like a part of me has died, miss it. So if you're still out there, if you're still interested in what is going on in my world, writing or otherwise, I'm here. I'm trying to come back.

I have a new Twitter account: @MelMcC7. I'm still on Facebook, but have no page to list. I figure I'll take this one step at a time and see what happens.

Missed all y'all. See you soon.

New Blog, New Link, Same Person...

Hey guys!
I know, it's been a loooong time! I have been working like crazy, both at work and on a new project.

Matter of fact, that is what this post is about.

First, been working, moving, helping my kids and grandkids out and just in general, busy.

Second, I'm working on a new project called Legacy Scribes Collaborative, and that has kept me extra busy!

Third, I'm moving my blog from here, over to our Legacy blog, here. I find it difficult to maintain two blogs. I've tried before and failed, even with the scheduling features. I focus better when there is one, so please, drop by and follow me there!

Legacy also has a website up now, which has a blog page, but I've decided to use the scheduling feature of Blogger and then update the website blog for those who don't use Blogger.

We're about to have another book signing event and all of those details are on the website, here.

I've also linked to Insecure Writer's Support Group and hope to get back into participating in that, because it's a resource I think all writer's should utilize! I love IWSG and have missed so much, I have to get caught up again.

I hope you all have a wonderful holiday coming up, for those that celebrate, and I hope to see you on my new page!

IWSG...

I'm back to the IWSG post! Woohoo! If you want to know more about this or want to find the list of other participants, please visit Alex J. Cavanaugh's blog here.

This month, the optional question is:

How has your creativity in life evolved since you began writing?

I am choosing to do my own insecure thing this month.

Over the last few years, I have quietly been working with Midian Entertainment on a massive project. It hasn't been until recently that we've been allowed to share, do book cover reveals, etc.

My role in all of this is basically a writer, an editor, a publisher, and an adviser. I'm also currently acting as a marketing manager, trying to build a following on Twitter without really having given the public much to look at and go all on faith.

I wear a lot of hats. My writing has sort of come to a standstill due to multiple reasons. I'm not complaining, I'm just wanting to get back to it.

My constant fear is, will everything I've done be good enough? Will this just bomb entirely and if it does, how will it affect me? I'm pretty sure I know how it will affect me...  and it won't be good.

I have grown as a writer over the last several years. I've worked to hone my craft. I just haven't been able to put anything out into the world until now to prove that. So will I still be viewed as a hack fantasy writer who couldn't cut it so she self published? I still don't have the third book finished! Which... is in the works.

See? Lots of insecurities as I step into these new roles in my writing career.

How about you? Comment down below. And don't forget to visit the other participants!

Have a great day!

Old Friends, New Posts...

Wow!

I spent Wednesday scrolling through my blog reading list and tried to visit as many of you as I could. It's been forever since I have read any IWSG posts! (Insecure Writer's Support Group). I will certainly be signing up again for that.

It was great to hear from some old friends. It was amazing to catch up and see how things have been going. I've been gone for a very long time. Longer than I expected.

It's getting easier to get back into this habit of blogging. Especially after reading posts and leaving comments. I felt MUCH more like my old self. I missed you guys!

But it is Friday! And now I will leave you with something else a little familiar:

Funnies and Favorites!

You can find this book by clicking here

So, I have certainly found some new favorites over time.

If you ever saw any of my book reviews for Jill Nojack, you'll know she's now a favorite author. I love her Bad Tom series.

And this book here

And the third one here

I have done reviews for all of them on here. But if you'd rather just take my word for it, there you go!

She's got a very clever wit, the books are pretty well paced and the story is just purrrrfect!

Sorry, totally could not help that AT ALL!

All right, now on to another favorite. I have discovered a love for (and this has nothing to do with books!) recycling in my crafts!!

I'm not kidding. I have taken making my own paper clay to a whole new level. I've been doing a lot of things lately that have been really cool!

And my final favorite thing today: my new place. We found a house last April that hubs and I just fell in love with. It had good, solid bones and structure, so we talked the owner into a sweet deal. We've been doing a lot of the remodeling on the place ourselves. We took it all the way down to the bare bones and built it back up again. I can't begin to tell you... that's a lot of damn work! But well worth it. That, of course, has been the biggest reason for me to not blog these last few months.

But now I'm back. I'm rambling as usual and I know you all just want to get to the funnies. So here they are! Have a super weekend and see you soon!