IWSG DAY, APRIL 6, 2022, NO, NOT YET, 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.

 

https://www.insecurewriterssupportgroup.com/p/iwsg-sign-up.html

The awesome co-hosts for the April 6 posting of the IWSG are Joylene Nowell Butler, Jemima Pett, Patricia Josephine, Louise - Fundy Blue, and Kim Lajevardi!

Submissions:

 2 Flash fiction pieces in the RRBC MOM (Memories Of Mom) Anthology

Submitted a short story to the Alpha Omega Contest 

NO, NOT YET

I enjoy listening to audio books in the evenings, especially when my eyes are tired.  So, yes, I desire to see my books made into audio books. 

Have a lovely month of April. 

Shalom aleichem,

Pat Garcia

IWSG DAY, MARCH 2, 2022, WRITING INTIMATE SCENES 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.

 

https://www.insecurewriterssupportgroup.com/p/iwsg-sign-up.html

The awesome co-hosts for the March 2 posting of the IWSG are Janet Alcorn, Pat Garcia,Natalie Aguirre, and Shannon Lawrence!

 

 

 

Submissions: It has become my habit to take a break from submitting in January and February. I'll start submitting this month. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

WRITING INTIMATE SCENES

 

The conflict, for me, almost always lies in the depth of a love scene when the couple enters the bedroom. I follow specific rules based on what I've experienced and heard. And no, I'm not going to give away my secrets. However, I will say that I do my best to write honest love scenes that respect both partners involved. 

 

Wishing everyone a lovely spring month.

Shalom aleichem

Pat Garcia

IWSG DAY, FEBRUARY 2, 2022, Saying Goodbye 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.

 

https://www.insecurewriterssupportgroup.com/p/iwsg-sign-up.html

The awesome co-hosts for the February 2 posting of the IWSG are Joylene Nowell Butler,Jacqui Murray, Sandra Cox, and Lee Lowery!

 

 

Submissions: It has become my habit to take a break from submitting in January and February. I'll be back to the grind in March. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Saying Goodbye

 

 

Yes, I've had to say goodbye to a few people who have supported me in my writing. One person departed this earth last week. Through her faith in what I wrote, she dared to pass it on to someone who opened a door for me to write a weekly article to soldiers during the Gulf War. 

I will miss her when I go to the States for a visit. 

 

Wishing you all a lovely month of February. 

 

 

Shalom aleichem,

 

 

Pat Garcia

IWSG DAY, JANUARY 5, 2022, LISTENING TO OTHERS By Pat Garcia @pat_garcia @TheIWSG #IWSG

Hello Everyone,

HAPPY NEW YEAR!

 

 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.

 

https://www.insecurewriterssupportgroup.com/p/iwsg-sign-up.html

 

The awesome co-hosts for the January 5 posting of the IWSG are Erika Beebe, Olga Godim,Sandra Cox, Sarah Foster, and Chemist Ken!

 

 Submissions:  None

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 IWSG DAY, JANUARY 5 2021, LISTENING TO OTHERS 

 

Seeking advice is not wrong. We can learn from other people.

But because they had success with a particular method doesn't mean their advice will work for you. 

 

I had to learn the hard way to take responsibility for my writing by listening to my gut feelings and moving in the direction I wanted. If I had done that before I started putting other people on a pedestal, thinking that they knew it better than I did, my first short story, TURN THE LIGHT ON, would have come out much sooner than 2021. (I'm talking about six years difference in writing the story and its actual publication.)

 

Maybe, just maybe, I would have won an award back then for it too. The fact is that I don't know if I would have because I kept smothering my creative spirit, waiting on others to tell me they thought it was ready. 

 

However, last year, I axed that pedestal completely then burned it. My gut said to go with it, and my short story went up on Amazon. On December 13, 2021, TURN THE LIGHT ON won the 2021 Kathryn C. Treat International Literary Award Contest.

 

In closing, I speak out good wishes to you all. I hope all of us with the IWSG experience a successful year, that doors open that we never thought possible and that we dare to stand to that tiny whisper, THE VOICE, within us, that gives us new perspectives of perception that will bring change to humanity.

 

See you next month.

 

Shalom aleichem,

 

Pat Garcia

IWSG DAY, DECEMBER 1, 2021, FORGETTING A WORD IN MY NATIVE LANGUAGE 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.

 

https://www.insecurewriterssupportgroup.com/p/iwsg-sign-up.html

 

The awesome co-hosts for the December 1 posting of the IWSG are PJ Colando, Diane Burton, Louise – Fundy Blue, Natalie Aguirre, and Jacqui Murray!

 

 Submissions:  Turn The Light On into the KCT International Literary "TREAT" Award Contest (Still Outstanding)

 

Rejection: A Portrait of Daisy Dee, Fiction, The Writer, Short Story Contest (Even though this story was rejected by the editor, I received a letter with very helpful feedback.)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Forgetting A Word In My Native Language

 

I enjoy being able to speak more than one language. However, it frustrates me tremendously when I can't call up the right word I want to use from my native language when I write. I must search for it. Most of the time, it is a simple word, an everyday idiom, or slang. It gets really complicated when I am looking for a term people use in the Deep South. Often, I have to do a word search by writing the word in one of the languages I know and then googling it before I go to a thesaurus, to check out the different terms related to that word, or I skype with one of my sisters who taught English and still has a good grip on the language back home in the Deep South. 

 

 

Wishing all of you a lovely Advent Season and a Merry Christmas.

Stay healthy, and I hope you cross over safely into the New Year.

 

 

Shalom aleichem

 

 

 

Pat Garcia

 

IWSG DAY, NOVEMBER 3, 2021, WRITING MY BLURB IS MORE DIFFICULT 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.

 

https://www.insecurewriterssupportgroup.com/p/iwsg-sign-up.html

 

The awesome co-hosts for the November 3 posting of the IWSG are Kim Lajevardi, Victoria Marie Lees, Joylene Nowell Butler, Erika Beebe, and Lee Lowery!

 

 

 Submissions:  Turn The Light On into the KCT International Literary "TREAT" Award Contest (Still Outstanding)

A Portrait of Daisy Dee, Fiction, The Writer,  Short Story Contest (Still Outstanding)

A Shared Dream, The Alpha/Omega Short Story Contest, (Made the Honorable Mention List)

WEP October Challenge, The Scream, Stop Signs Ignored, October 20, 2021

 

Writing My Blurb Is More Difficult

 

Writing a blurb for a story is much more difficult for me.  I write my story with the title of the book guiding me. The title is closely tied in with my plot. Because a blurb is not a summary or detailed event of what occurs in the book, I find it hard to free myself from plot points in my story. I usually have to step away for a week or two before I write the blurb.

 

Wishing everyone a lovely November, and for those celebrating the U.S. Thanksgiving Day, 

Happy Thanksgiving!

 

Take care and be safe. 

 

Shalom aleichem,

Pat Garcia

IWSG DAY, OCTOBER 6, 2021, Drawing The Line In Topics Or Language 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.

 

https://www.insecurewriterssupportgroup.com/p/iwsg-sign-up.html

 

The awesome co-hosts for the October 6 posting of the IWSG are Jemima Pett, J Lenni Dorner,Cathrina Constantine, Ronel Janse van Vuuren, and Mary Aalgaard! 

 

 Submissions:  Turn The Light On into the KCT International Literary "TREAT" Award Contest (Still Outstanding)

A Portrait of Daisy Dee, Fiction, The Writer,  Short Story Contest (Still Outstanding)

A Shared Dream, The Alpha/Omega Short Story Contest, July 2, 2021 (Still Outstanding)

 

REJECTIONS: The Wasteland, Carve Magazine, Raymond Carver Short Story Contest 

 

 

 

 

Drawing The Line In Topics Or Language

 

I have a problem with the optional question because it could cause a shadow on writers who write differently than the dominating majority. 

With that said, let me say there are some topics that I don't touch in my writing because I'm ignorant about those issues. Do I draw the line? Yes, I do. However, I try to maintain respect for those writers and their works. You're not going to find me out on the streets boycotting their books.   

 

As for language, I don't like using profanity in my books. You may find a word or two, but that usually is it. However, coming from a neighborhood that was across the railroad tracks, or better known as the ghetto behind the lovely homes on the main streets, the language used wasn't and still isn't from the Emily Post School of Etiquette (excuse me for the sarcasm). Do I draw the line with such books? It depends on if I like the story and what it portrays. Again, I emphasize respecting the writer's journey, which often seeps unknowingly in our manuscripts. 

 

Writing doesn't mean I have to agree with everything authors write or the language they use. Writers are human, and each writer's journey should be respected and not condemned regardless of whether I agree with their book or not.

 

Wishing all of you a lovely October month. 

 

Take care and be safe. 

 

Shalom aleichem,

 

Pat Garcia