Wednesday, February 3, 2021

Yes it is another meeting of the fabulous insecure writers support group. Click that link to go to the sign-up page.

Purpose: To share and encourage. Writers can express doubts and concerns without fear of appearing foolish or weak. Those who have been through the fire can offer assistance and guidance. It’s a safe haven for insecure writers of all kinds!

The awesome co-hosts for the February 3 posting of the IWSG are Louise - Fundy Blue , Jennifer Lane, Mary Aalgaard, Patsy Collins at Womagwriter, and Nancy Gideon!

 February 3 question - Blogging is often more than just sharing stories. It’s often the start of special friendships and relationships. Have you made any friends through the blogosphere?


Why yes indeedy I have. And most of them through this group I do believe! I'm afraid to name names for the ones that I will inadvertently leave off (I'm old okay).

But I'm going to go ahead and do my best. I think the one I've had the longest as a pal is the Watery Tart Hart Johnson. Her blog Confessions of a Watery Tart was a lifeline of cheer and sheer foolishness for so many years. Unfortunately she has stopped blogging but I think is still active on facebook. I miss her! We never met in the flesh though we cooked up a few plans to do so. We were Beta readers for each other and when the world is allowed to meet again I would happily cross the border to meet with her. There were several other members of the Burrow (a mostly online writing group that instigated BuNoWriMo) like Cruella Collet from The Giraffability of Digressions, Tara Smith, Chary Johnson, and Rayna Iyer. I think mostly only Rayna is still blogging but unsure of that...

There are two pals I met a little after Hart that have been absolute wonderful support types - neither do the IWSG but always post a comment when I do. They are the fabulous Elizabeth Spann Craig who is a stalwart of the writing world with her longstanding blog Writing is Murder.  The absolute dear Margot Kinberg from the wonderful, but now defunct, blog- Confessions of a Mystery Novelist. But my gawd - she has a web site called Crime Writer Margot Kinberg where you can still get your fix.

One person that I'm determined to meet in person sometime in this lifetime is Liza of Middle Passages. She writes beautifully - her poetry takes my breath away and she is a wonderful photographer too. I also appreciate how steady she is - through some incredibly hard times of late she continues to post and share her writing life. 

Oh man, this is difficult. There are so many people I really connected to - Alan Orloff (A Million Blogging Monkeys), Elspeth Futcher (It's a Mystery and her brilliant sidekicks - the sheep), the marvelous Patricia Stoltey and the very fun Talli Roland (a bluenoser who decamped to London). Both Barbara Casey and Niamh Boyce of Ireland have special places in my heart. I also adore any post that Faith Pray makes from her great blog Sacred Dirt.

And I want to make a special shout out to our Captain - Alex J. Cavanaugh - who is the founder of the IWSG and comes to comment more than I think humanly possible! 

All of these folks I have made some personal connection with. Some it has been made up of comments and writing back and forth - some I've been Beta readers and they have in exchange. Some we've exchanged actual things - material objects like woolen hats and photos and paper prayer flags have whizzed through space and been held by one or the other of us. Outside of my writing life I have a number of relationships with bloggers in the visual and textile arts.  This photo is of me in Labrador sporting the best hat I ever had (and yes I lost it!) from Hart.



When I think of these people they are real - they are both body and soul present in my mind. How can that be? I don't care! 

So I will stop here and simply say that the blogging community in the realm of the literary or visual arts is bloody fantastic! Such good training for Covid too...


In Other News : I'm writing! I'm writing! I'm writing! 

What are you writing Jan? I'm writing a novel inspired by my own random crazy life. I don't want to write a memoir - I just want to be inspired by my own memories and see what happens. The protagonist has already split from being me and taken on her own life and history. I'm so enjoying this. I have about 12,000 words and it has been not quite two weeks. 

What a huge relief. I haven't not written for my whole life and I found the fallow field very barren. It was, in truth, only a few months...


7 comments:

Margot Kinberg said...

Thank you so much, Jan. I am proud and privileged to be your friend. I've learned a lot about how to think about life from you, and it's always good to share our writing experiences. Your blog is one of my must-stops. And yes, let's raise a glass to our leader, Alex. He is fantastic, and I am better for being in his circle. And yours.

Liza said...

Oh, Jan. I have a great big lump in my throat. You are so very kind and your comments mean the world to me. I do feel a connection with you, also. Whenever a see you have a post up or you have commented on mine, I perk right up. I stop, read once, read twice, just drinking in your words. Thank you for making me smile--not just today, but so very many days. So very glad to know you are writing!

Elizabeth Spann Craig said...

I miss all of those bloggers, too! Thanks so much for mentioning me here...we've been friends a long while! I love the blogging community. And I love that picture of you!

Bish Denham said...

I recognize several of those blogging names! And I couldn't agree more, Liza is a most lovely and supportive person.

Alex J. Cavanaugh said...

Thank you! That is what the IWSG is all about.
Liza would be a wonderful person to meet.
I miss Hart. She was one of my first blogging buddies.

Mary Aalgaard said...

It's great that your own life is your inspiration. I think that's great. We can draw from personal experience, but create new characters, who might respond a little differently, and create our own outcome. Write on!
Glad to see you made so many great connections through blogging!
Mary at Play off the Page

Chrys Fey said...

So many great blogging friends out there. :)