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

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

                         Let’s rock the neurotic writing world!

The awesome co-hosts for the April 1 posting of the IWSG are Melissa Maygrove, Cathrina Constantine, Kate Larkinsdale, and Rebecca Douglass!

 

 April 1 question - If you have a playlist (or could put one together) that either gets you in the groove to write or fits with one of your books, what is it? What type of music or what songs?

Oh, you betcha I have songs and playlists.

I have two playlists that I put together years ago that I listen to when I’m writing in the early mornings.

 The first is music from Windham Hill that offered distinctive sounds that became synonymous with the New Age genre that produced acoustic music with folk, classical, and jazz influences. Prominent musicians were William Ackerman, Liz Story, George Winston, Michael Hedges, Alex DeGrassi, to name a few. Here's one of their albums.

My other playlist includes New Age music from Narada, another label from the ‘early 80’s with artists like Paul Speers, and David Lanz. The label evolved through an expansion of formats to include world music, electronica, jazz, acoustic guitar, Celtic music, new flamenco, and piano releases.  

Now, about songs that are relevant to my novel, Love in the Time of Wrinkles  that I’m the process of finding an gent for.

 

The first would be “Kiss of Life”  by Sade. While my novel is fiction, it’s inspired by my true love story. Is there anything more exciting than a first kiss? At any age? 

https://youtu.be/MmOau-PMWJk?si=uSNNPUPny8JsUoaL

https://youtu.be/1qJU8G7gR_g?si=iPUU5veaE4nT8fKl

The second song would be “At Last” by Etta James. When I finally made the move to Mexico after four years of waiting, wanting, and planning, I moved into my second act and all I could think was, at last.

 

And for music during the day writing... 

It's Sky TV's Brazilian station. 

So...

What're yours?

 

Always,

Em-Musing

 

I'm in the trenches again sending out queries...

And it's never ending. Not the amount of queries. The endless amount of little changes. Rethinking an adjective here or an em-dash there.                      

I’ve blogged about the never-ending editing process before.                         But if you haven’t seen it...                                                                         Here it is again:

Daughters:      Mom?

Nurse:             She’s been like this for a while.

Daughters:      What’s wrong with her? 

Nurse:             When she was brought in, she kept 

                       Mumbling “Gotta keep editing. 

                       Gotta keep editing.”

Daughters:      What do you mean? Edit what? 

Nurse:             What we got out of her is that she's written 

                        a book and wants to get an agent,

Daughters:       So what’s holding her back? 

                        It’s a condition some authors are afflicted 

                                                  with, especially unpublished authors.

                          Daughters:       What’s this condition called? 

                          Nurse:             Queryphobia.

                          Daughters:      Queryphobia?                                                                 

                          Nurse:             In layman’s terms—fear of rejection.                                   

                          Daughters:      Rejection from who? 

                          Nurse:             Every agent and publisher in the world.

                          Daughters:      Is there a cure?

                                                  Not that we know of, but every now and then 

                                                  when  we turn on the Hallmark channel she 

                                                 calms down.Their stories are sweet and 

                                                 always have happy endings, but only for an 

                                                 hour or two and then she’s back at it. 

                .         Daughters:      Maybe if you can get her to binge watch it enough it will distract her and we can convince to get the hell out of here.

                         Nurse:              It’s worth a try.

                         Daughters:       Is there hope she’ll be healed?  

                         Nurse:              Don’t know. She’s got a bad case of it. 

                         Daughters:       Does she need anything from us? 

                         Nurse:              Hugs, chocolate, and maybe a shot of tequila.

                         Daughters:       Poor mom. **sighs**                                                                                                                                                                                 

                         So? Have you ever suffered from Queryphobia?

                                                                                                                                   

 

Below, a parody  from Annie get Your Gun 

 

AI:   Anything you can write I can write better. I can write anything better than you.

ME:   No you can’t.

AI:    Yes I can.

ME:   No you can’t. 

AI     Yes I can.

ME:   No you can’t!!!

AI:    Yes I can, yes I can…YES, I CAN!!

ME:   Really? Have you ever been kissed? Felt warm lips on 

         your lips?

AI:    I have no lips so it's impossible to feel someone's lips.

ME:   Ever giggled till you peed your pants? 

AI:    No. I’m unable to giggle, I don’t wear pants, 

          and why would I pee in them if I did?

ME:   Ever cry watching a movie with a tear-jerking scene?

AI:    No. I cannot generate tears. I don’t have emotions. 

          Movies aren't real. Why do humans cry watching a 

          movie?

ME:   So? How do you get your info about characters and 

          writing scenes?

AI:   I generate content based on data that I’ve analyzed. 

ME:   Well then, you really can’t write from experience, can 

          you? That’s why I CAN write better than you. HA!

Always,

Em-Musing

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

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

The awesome co-hosts for the December 3 posting of the IWSG are Tara Tyler, Ronel Janse van Vurren, Pat Garcia, and Natalie Aguirre

December 3 Question: As a writer, what was one of the coolest/best gifts 

you ever received? 

 

I got a gorgeous gift of a pen one Christmas...

From my best friend, also a writer.

 

 

She said she has one just like it...

And uses it all the time when she writes.

Beautiful, no?

And I love it, yes!

But sadly...

I don’t use it.

It’s been sitting in a ceramic jar with all my other pens and pencils for several years now..

Why?

Because I’m very specific about the pens I use.

It’s not about the price, the quality, or how beautiful a pen is... 

For me it’s how it feels in my hand... 

Like the thickness when I hold it...

I like my pens to be more sleek... 

And fit slimly in my hand.

I also like fine pen points — .7 to be exact.

I like the ink to flow freely...

But not a gel pen.

And it can’t weigh heavy between my fingers. 

Me?

My pen preference?

BIC Diamente...

It’s actually made here in Mexico.

One of many countries where they’re made.

And you? 

What’s the coolest/best gift you ever received”

And what’s your pen preference?

 

Always,

Em-Musing

From me here in the Riviera Maya

To all of you in the IWSG.

LAND OF ENCHANTMENT

 

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

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

The awesome co-hosts for the October 1 posting of the IWSG are Beth Camp, Crystal Collier, and Cathrina Constantine!

                                    

October 1 question - What is the most favorite thing you have written, published or not? And why?

Bosque de Apache San Antonio, New Mexico.  Photographer: Vito L.Tanzi

I write a lot and I love everything I write...

But a favorite?

Hmm? Give me a sec...

OK, I guess it would have to be the novel I started a while back. 

The setting is San Antonio, New Mexico...

Near the Bosque de Apache National Wildlife Refuge...

That boasts 393 bird species, many migratory.

The idea for the story ...

Began when I traveled in an RV through this area years ago...

While I found Arizona’s landscapes more dramatic to the eye...

I felt something spiritual about the terrain in New Mexico...

Specifically the Rio Grande Valley...

Between the Chupadera Mountains to the west... 

And the San Pascual Mountains to the east. 

The novel starts off as a mystery... 

A woman’s sister goes missing in the Bosque de Apache... 

The other sister goes to find her then gets wrapped up in American Indian lore, 

Then along comes a shapeshifter, ghosts, Drug smugglers, tales of UFO’s, 

And why not—a romance.

I loved researching for this novel... 

And will finish it one day...

But now...

My other novels are beckoning.  

And you?

What’s the most favorite thing you’ve written?

 

Always,

Em-Musing

FACTOID:

The first Hilton Hotel was in San Antonio, New Mexico in the 1880’s. It wasn’t a hotel like we know them today, but rather a boarding house that rented ten rooms next to a train station.  

https://freshchileco.com/blogs/the-fresh-chile-company-podcast/enchanting-people-of-new-mexico-conrad-hilton

BOSQUE DE APACHE      https://www.fws.gov/refuge/bosque-del-apache/visit-us/activities/wildlife-watching           https://www.fws.gov/refuge/bosque-del-apache