IWSG DAY, DECEMBER 2, 2020, BREAKTIME By Pat Garcia

Hello Everyone,

 

 

It is IWSG Time!

 

IWSG is a writers' support group created and led by Alex Cavanaugh. 

 

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!

 

This group is an immense help to many of us who do not mind sharing our insecurities, our successes, or giving encouragement and support to others. 

 

 

So, if you are interested and would like to join, the link below will lead you directly to us:

 

The Insecure Writer's Support Group 

 

 

The awesome co-hosts for the December 2 posting of the IWSG are Pat Garcia, Sylvia Ney,Liesbet @ Roaming About Cathrina Constantine, and Natalie Aguirre!

 

 

 

Submissions: 

 Fiction - A Time To Love, A Novel– Submitted September 18, 2020 Still Outstanding

 

Flash Fiction: Still Outstanding

It's Christmas 

The Red Wheelbarrow 

Until Death Do Us Part

 

Non-Fiction:  Still Outstanding

A Spotlight On My Childhood In The Deep South

 

Request for Help

My very first Short Story will be published on February 14, 2021 on Amazon, and I am looking for authors to do a cover reveal and reviews. If you can help,  please send me an email, and I will get back to you. Thanks!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Breaktime by Pat Garcia

 

This year has been a severe year with lots of stress for me, and the pressure had nothing to do with Covid. My break times have helped me get through the year. I learned  some time ago to plan my time off in conjunction with the Bavarian School Calendar. When school is out in Bavaria, I take my breaks and step back to read and do book reviews of the many books I have purchased but have not yet read. 

 

Therefore, I am looking forward to December 18^th or 19^th. That's when the Bavarian Schools go on their Christmas vacation, and so will I. 

 

Wishing all of you a Merry Christmas and a safe passage into the year 2021.

 

 

Shalom aleichem,

 

 

Pat Garcia

IWSG DAY, NOVEMBER 4, 2020, DREAMING THINGS THAT NEVER WERE AND ASKING WHY NOT, BY Pat Garcia

Hello Everyone,

 

 

It is IWSG Time!

 

IWSG is a writers' support group created and led by Alex Cavanaugh. 

 

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!

 

This group is an immense help to many of us who do not mind sharing our insecurities, our successes, or giving encouragement and support to others. 

 

 

So, if you are interested and would like to join, the link below will lead you directly to us:

 

The Insecure Writer's Support Group 

 

 

The awesome co-hosts for the November 4th posting of the IWSG are Jemi Fraser, Kim Lajevardi,L.G Keltner, Tyrean Martinson, and Rachna Chhabria! 

 

 

 

 

Submissions: 

 Fiction - A Time To Love, A Novel– Submitted September 18, 2020

 

Flash Fiction: 

It's Christmas 

The Red Wheelbarrow 

Until Death Do Us Part

 

Non-Fiction: 

A Spotlight On My Childhood In The Deep South

 

 

 

 

 

Dreaming Things That Never Were and Asking Why Not

 

I was 17 years old when I heard the speech from Robert Francis Kennedy that would change my whole perspective about life.  His inclusion of a saying by George Bernard Shaw as he spoke to the University of Kansas hit me right between my eyes. It was a bullseye, and the effectiveness of his words inspire me even to this day. In fact, I googled to find and read it once again while writing this IWSG article, and I am still inspired. 

 

"Some people see things as they are and say why?  I dream things that never were and say, why not?"

 

 I learned that my avenue to changing my focus was through my writing. Only then could I live a successful and engaging life by my own standards and not by the standards of others. Dreaming of things that never were and asking myself why not has moved me to walk my talk as I write, and not worry about the many mistakes I make. That quote has given me the courage to step out and be different, and it has given me a healthy and thankful view of God's creation. 

 

Shalom aleichem,

 

 

Pat Garcia

IWSG DAY, SEPTEMBER 2, 2020, IF I COULD CHOOSE ONE AUTHOR TO BE MY BETA PARTNER, IT WOULD BE CATHERINE ANDERSON BY Pat Garcia

Hello Everyone,

 

 

It is IWSG Time!

 

IWSG is a writers' support group created and led by Alex Cavanaugh. 

 

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!

 

This group is an immense help to many of us who do not mind sharing our insecurities, our successes, or giving encouragement and support to others. 

 

 

So, if you are interested and would like to join, the link below will lead you directly to us:

 

The Insecure Writer's Support Group 

 

The awesome co-hosts for the August 5 posting of the IWSG are  PJ Colando, J Lenni Dorner,Deniz Bevan, Kim Lajevardi, Natalie Aguirre, and Louise - Fundy Blue! 

 

 

Submission: The Writer Magazine – Non-Fiction Challenge (Results Still Outstanding

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

If I Could Choose One Author To Be My Beta Partner, It Would be Catherine Anderson.  

 

The first time I became acquainted with her writing was when I read Keegan's Lady. I fell in love with the book on the first page. By page fifteen, I was hooked, and I read through the night. 

 

Anything she writes I buy, and I believe I have every one of her books. 

 

Her characters fascinate me because they are not perfect. She shows the other side of life where, for example, a woman in a wheelchair meets the love of her life.

 

I am often saddened because of what I call the perfect world romance writers develop where everybody is beautiful and has never had a severe problem. The characters are borne perfect without flaws or deep wounds. However, this is not the case in Anderson's books. She writes stories that I can relate to that deal with real people and real-life situations. 

I have never met her personally, but I feel as if I know her, and if I could have her as my beta partner, I would shout for joy because it would be a dream come true. 

 

Shalom aleichem,

 

 

Pat Garcia

 

IWSG DAY, JUNE 3, 2020, It’s Nobody’s Business But Mine by Pat Garcia

Hello Everyone,

It is IWSG Time!

IWSG is a writers' support group created and led by Alex Cavanaugh. 

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!

This group is an immense help to many of us who do not mind sharing our insecurities, our successes, or giving encouragement and support to others. 

So, if you are interested and would like to join, the link below will lead you directly to us:

The Insecure Writer's Support Group 

Our awesome co-hosts for today are  J.Q. Rose, Natalie Aguirre, and myself, Pat Garcia.

Submission: The Writer Magazine – Non-Fiction Challenge (Results Still Outstanding)

It’s Nobody’s Business But Mine  by Pat Garcia

I don’t like sharing my secrets. Knowing that life here is not permanent, I don’t want everybody digging up bones that I have hidden. When I am gone, I want them to stay buried and go down to the grave with me. 

That’s not being somber. It is a decision that I made some while ago. 

Wishing all of you a beautiful warm and sunny June month.

Shalom aleichem,

Pat Garcia

IWSG DAY, APRIL 1, 2020, The Fear Is Real But Keep Moving, By Pat Garcia

Hello Everyone,

It is IWSG Time!

IWSG is a writers' support group created and led by Alex Cavanaugh. It is an immense help to many of us who do not mind sharing our insecurities, our successes, or giving encouragement and support to others. 

So, if you are interested and would like to join, the link below will lead you directly to us:

The Insecure Writer's Support Group 

Submission: The Writer Magazine – Non-Fiction Challenge (Results Still Outstanding)

The Fear Is Normal But Keep Moving

As a nation, we have been in lockdown a week. Some states started their lockdown long before the German Parliament called for it nationally. For me, the most crucial question was not how to deal with the lockdown but how to keep myself from becoming immobilized by fear. 

So, I have started sharing some of the posts that I write for The Child and The Prophet. I share them on one of my blogs and Facebook. Sharing these posts has re-energize the playful child within me. 

The second thing I decided to do was to return to singing A Capella. It comes naturally to me because that is how I discovered the voice in me. However, because I sing with a band or a piano or guitar accompaniment, I had forgotten how beautiful it is to carry a tune and feel my vocal cords expand and vibrate as I let my voice be the instrument. 

I don’t have any idea how long Corona will last, but while it is here, I am going to make the best out of it. So, this week I’m planning to sit at my piano and play until my heart is completely content. 

Wishing all of you a great April. 

Shalom aleichem,

Pat Garcia

IWSG DAY, March 4, 2020, A Backward Glance at February 2020 By Pat Garcia

Hello Everyone,

It is IWSG Time!

IWSG is a writers' support group created and led by Alex Cavanaugh. It is an immense help to many of us who do not mind sharing our insecurities, our successes, or giving encouragement and support to others. 

So, if you are interested and would like to join, the link below will lead you directly to us:

The Insecure Writer's Support Group 

Submission: The Writer Magazine – Non-Fiction Challenge

A Backward Glance at February 2020

February was rough. It was a real test of my inner strength, perseverance, and my faith. I even doubted that I knew how to write. There were days when I didn’t want to sit at my computer, and even though I did, I wrote little.

The good thing was that I knew it was going to pass over. This confidence that I have is founded and grounded in the Creator of my life, and not myself. I didn’t know when the testing would let up, but I knew it would. 

So, I did the only thing I knew how to do, and that was not to shut myself away and to make myself live up to my obligations to myself and to others. 

I took the time to meditate a little bit more than usual and to read. 

On the last day of February, I saw a tiny light. It’s barely visible, but it’s there, and it keeps growing. For that, I am thankful. 

Wishing all of you a beautiful month of March. 

Shalom aleichem,

Pat Garcia

IWSG DAY, FEBRUARY 5, 2020, The Importance of Relentlessness after a Rejection by Pat Garcia

Hello Everyone,

It is IWSG Time, and we have moved out into a new decade and a new year. So, Happy New Year!

IWSG is a writers' support group created and led by Alex Cavanaugh. It is an immense help to many of us who do not mind sharing our insecurities, our successes or giving encouragement and help to others. 

So, if you are interested and would like to join, the link below will lead you directly to us:

The Insecure Writer's Support Group 

The Importance of Relentlessness after a Rejection

Last Sunday shook parts of the United States. I know it shocked me. As I sat before my television and looked at the video clips about Kobe Bryant’s relentlessness and his pursuit of becoming the best basketballer he could be, it had me thinking about my relentlessness in writing. 

It doesn’t matter how good you think you are; the question is always how good you are willing to become. Being relentless is not the guarantee for becoming a great writer, but it is the key to maximizing your talents. Relentlessness puts you out there to learn what you don’t know and to put your writing out for others to see and criticize.

I received a genuinely nice rejection letter again as I looked at a tribute to Kobe Bryant and his eighty-one-point game. It took Kobe some time to get on a level where he could shoot eighty-one points. It took relentlessness to keep shooting, working out even when he was tired, frustrated, and depressed. I’m quite sure that sometimes the level he wanted to reach seemed too far away, yet he kept moving, kept working, always giving his best in whatever he did, and he made it. 

I looked at my rejection letter once again. It wasn’t what I expected, but it was enough in that letter to encourage me to keep on writing, and to keep on submitting stories. One day I’ll walk through that door. 

Wishing all of you a lovely month of February. 

Shalom aleichem,

Pat G