JUDGING A BOOK BY?

 

Hey! It’s the Monthly Blog Hop for the Insecure Writers Support Group founded by Alex J. Cavanaugh. 

The first Wednesday of every month, we announce an optional question that members can answer in their IWSG post. These questions may prompt you to share advice, insight, a personal experience, or story. Include your answer to the question in your IWSG post or let it inspire your post if you are struggling with something to say. Remember, the question is optional.

         The awesome co-hosts for the December 6 posting of the IWSG are C. Lee McKenzie, JQ Rose, Jennifer Lane, and Jacqui Murray!

 

December 6 question: Book reviews are for the readers. When you leave a book review do you review for the Reader or the Author? Is it about what you liked and enjoyed about your reading experience, or do you critique the author?

Reading as a writer...

I’m always in editing mode...

It’s hard not to notice grammatical or spelling errors, 

the overuse of certain words, and sometimes inconsistencies. 

But hey...

That’s what editors were supposed to have caught. 

I don’t fault the author.

Regarding reviews...

I don’t often give one...

But when I do...

It’s a positive review for other readers’ purposes.

So far as critiquing...

That’s a different critter...

That goes deep into the nitty gritties. 

I believe getting critiques should be done before the book is 

published when there’s still time to make changes...

Because what’s the point of critiquing afterwards?

To hurt the author?

Both their feelings and possibly potential sales?

That’s not nice.

Reading a book is so subjective...

Just because I don’t like it...

Doesn’t mean others won’t love it...

And millions and millions of copies will be sold.

Case in point for me: Fifty Shades of Grey

What about you?

Do you leave reviews?

And have you ever not liked a book that turned out to a runaway bestseller?

 

Always,

Em-Musing

      

NANO, NANO, BOO BOO

 Hey! It’s the Monthly Blog Hop for the Insecure Writers Support Group founded by Alex J. Cavanaugh. 

The first Wednesday of every month, we announce an optional question that members can answer in their IWSG post. These questions may prompt you to share advice, insight, a personal experience, or story. Include your answer to the question in your IWSG post or let it inspire your post if you are struggling with something to say. Remember, the question is optional!!!

The awesome co-hosts for the November 1 posting of the IWSG are PJ Colando, Jean Davis, Lisa Buie Collard, and Diedre Knight!

November 1 question: November is National Novel Writing Month. Have you ever participated? If not, why not?

Oh, NaNoWriMo...

You’re a tease...

I’d be fun to partake this year...

With thousands of other writers...

But…

You’d take up too much of my real writing time.

I did play with you a few times years back... 

Then, I thought…

I’ll just write whatever comes to mind...

Or work on my current W.I.P. Easy-peasy.

But my muse was not amused.

 

What’s this?

You think you can write without me?

I’m the one who helps you create plots & subplots, 

Character arcs and constructing chapters. 

You, of all people, should know...

I DO NOT work well under pressure.

However...

When you get an agent and work on something...

That has a “real” deadline...

Well, that’ll be a different story.

I’ll be your writing genie...

Making your words fly across your keyboard... 

As swift as Aladdin’s magic carpet...

And your writing wishes will be my command. 

What about you?

Yay or Nay to NaNo this year? 

Always, 

Em-Musing

INTELLIGENCE FOR HIRE

 Hey! It’s the Monthly Blog Hop for the Insecure Writers Support Group founded by Alex J. Cavanaugh. 

The first Wednesday of every month, we announce an optional question that members can answer in their IWSG post. These questions may prompt you to share advice, insight, a personal experience, or story. Include your answer to the question in your IWSG post or let it inspire your post if you are struggling with something to say.  Remember, the question is optional.

The awesome co-hosts for the October 4 posting of the IWSG are Natalie Aguirre, Kim Lajevardi, Debs Carey, Gwen Gardner, Patricia Josephine, and Rebecca Douglass!

October 4 question: The topic of AI writing has been heavily debated across the world. According to various sources, generative AI will assist writers, not replace them. What are your thoughts?

Very timely topic 

Considering the recently-ended 148-day Writers Guild of America’s strike that was mostly about AI—the use and misuse of it.

Me?

I think AI is a handy tool…

And it’s already here, 

Who doesn’t love Goggle Search, Google Translate, Google Maps,

Siri, Alexa, and so many more. 

Me?

I love, love, love Grammarly for editing.

For content writing, ChatGPT is useful...

As it searches the Internet for content...

But... 

There are downsides... 

Some argue that one cannot be sure AI isn’t giving biased information or misinformation.

Does AI  cross ethical boundaries? 

And then there’s plagiarism.

That's a biggie...

There's no guarantee that AI is not giving you someone else's work...

How can someone possibly research to find that out?

There’re already cases in court. 

But here's my thoughts on Authors vs AI... 

What AI cannot do...

Is create 100% original ideas... 

They can't ponder over a glass of wine about story development...

Or decide character arcs with a cup of coffee... 

There's no way AI can have a  muse... 

They can't brainstorm with other writers...

They can't experience something and feel an emotion...

Because they have no emotions...

No spontaneity...

Their intelligence hasn't the capability.

AI can only mix, match, and duplicate what it gleans off the internet...

Or what it's been programmed to do...

AI will never replace the creativity of a writer's brain.

And you?

What are your thoughts?

(only humans can answer)

Always,

Em-musing

Here's an interesting link about AI from LINKEDIN

 

 

 

 

 

IN DREAMS WE?????

Dreams are so interesting, profound, sometimes scary.

I’m impressed (or bored)...

When people tell me their dreams...

And after 20 minutes...

And every little detail later...

It sounded like they wrote an entire script to a movie. 

Wow!

Me?

I woke up the other day...

Saying WEEE doggie!

I had no idea where this saying came from...

But I kept saying WEE doggie all day.

And then I had a vague recollection...

That it was from an old TV Show...

So, I Googled it and sure enough...

Jed Clampett of the Beverly Hillbillies

Used to say WEEE doggie a lot.

But I haven’t been watching old TV shows...

And I never even watched the Beverly Hillbillies.

Jed Clampett

So?

What happened during my sleep...

That stuck in my craw...

And kept me saying WEEE Doggie all day?

Anyone have a clue?

Or why a rationale woman such as myself...

Would walk around all day saying...

WEEEE doggie?

 So tell me...

What's the weirdest thing you woke up with from your sleep?

Yours truly,

Em-Musing

P.S. I think he's actually saying Welll Doggie

HAPPY ANNIVERSARY

INSECURE WRITER'S SUPPORT GROUP

                             12 years and still going strong

                                                   

                                  ALSO...

It’s the Monthly Blog Hop for the Insecure Writers Support Group founded by Alex J. Cavanaugh.

The first Wednesday of every month, we announce an optional question that members can answer in their IWSG post. These questions may prompt you to share advice, insight, a personal experience, or story. Include your answer to the question in your IWSG post or let it inspire your post if you are struggling with something to say. Remember, the question is optional!!!

 The awesome co-hosts for the September 6 posting of the IWSG are Sonia Dogra, J Lenni Dorner, Pat Garcia, Sarah - The Faux Fountain Pen, and Meka James!

 

September 6 question: The IWSG celebrates 12 years today! When did you discover the IWSG, how do you connect, and how has it helped you? 

Hmm? Not sure how I discovered IWSG....

But I remember I was looking for a forum... 

To put all the little writings that I was doing... 

But had no place to put them.

Also...

I wanted to find a place to connect with other writers.

Not sure exactly how I stumbled upon IWSG... 

But what I do remember...

Is when I joined...

The first post I put up...

I got only one comment...

It was from Alex...

I was thrilled and felt validated... 

That he took the time to comment...

And I’m thrilled that he still does. 

The ISWG felt like home way when...

And even today.

Thank you, Alex

Always,

Em-Musing

CIRQUE DU YOUR WAY

 

It seems every year... 

There’s new information... 

On how to keep the mind and body fit..

And lo and behold the other day...  

I found this article: 

Learning new and engaging activities fire off neurons in a positive way. Activities that require focus and practice are: 

Dancing, music, theater, sports, and circus arts. 

Wait a minute (giggle)

Circus arts? 

Like what?

Flying on the trapeze? (chuckling) 

Tightrope walking? (guffawing)

Stilt walking, pogo sticking, foot juggling? (I’m on the floor now)

And just so I don’t seem insensitive... 

To the circus arts and those that perform them...

I did find a few tricks that I liked... 

And just might come in handy one day: 

Knife throwing, club swinging, and bull whipping.

(don’t ask and I promise not to tell) 

So?. 

Are you up for or have you ever done any circus arts?

 Or how do you keep your mind a body fit?

Always, 

Em-Musing

BOO YA!

Hey! It’s the Monthly Blog Hop for the Insecure Writers Support Group founded by Alex J. Cavanaugh.

The first Wednesday of every month, we announce an optional question that members can answer in their IWSG post. These questions may prompt you to share advice, insight, a personal experience, or story. Include your answer to the question in your IWSG post or let it inspire your post if you are struggling with something to say. Remember, the question is optional!!! 

The awesome co-hosts for the August 2 posting of the IWSG are Kate Larkinsdale, Diane Burton, Janet Alcorn, and Shannon Lawrence!

August 2 question: Have you ever written something that afterwards you felt conflicted about? If so, did you let it stay how it was, take it out, or rewrite it?

 

My book, Azael's Lot has some scenes I debated about keeping...

Though conflicted, I kept them.

The story is about fallen angels, demons, and witches.

Too often movies and TV shows... 

Make the dark side is seem not so dark...

Cozy witches cooking potpourri and making candles...

And cute love potions and spells.

Not my witches...

They’re evil and I wanted people to detest them. 

That’s what the darkness is.

Years ago... 

Harriet, my 76-year-old neighbor in Ohio...

Asked to read the manuscript...

So I gave her the whole enchilada.

A few days later Harriet came to my door... 

And shoved the manuscript at me and and said: 

“Oh, Leigh! I couldn’t finish reading your manuscript…

All the blood! The filthy rituals!  What those witches did 

to that boy! I just didn’t want those visions in my head. 

I was afraid of getting nightmares. I’m sorry. I thought

the story was about angels…not witches and demons.”

“But there is a redeeming factor in the end, Harriet.”

“Sorry dear, I just can’t read anymore.”

So? 

That fact that my story scared the bejeebers out of Harriet…

Was that a good thing? 

Always.

Em-Musing