IWSG Day, September 6, 2017, Have I Ever Surprised Myself In My Own Writing?

Hello Everyone,

It is the first Wednesday of the month, and IWSG Time. 

IWSG is a writer support group created and led by Alex Cavanaugh. It is a big 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 

My report:

Submission August 2017

Three poems to the Lascaux Review

Outstanding Submissions

Lascaux Review – The Woman and Her Dream - Rejection

The Wigleaf - The Box in the Loft - Rejection

 Rocky Mountain Fiction Writers Anthology – Turn the Lights On – Still Outstanding

Death – a poem in the Rattle Poetry Contest – Still Outstanding

 Have I Ever Surprised Myself  In My Own Writing?

Yes, and a triple yes, yes, yes!  In fact, I find myself being continually amazed when I allow myself to remain open to the voice whispering inside me.

I have never thought of myself as a poet. Poetry is one of those avenues of writing where I sit and read and marvel at the viewpoints some poets in the past saw happening around them. Or, I am astonished at what some poets see taking place in our world today. However, participating in the April WEP Challenge changed my mind about my writing poetry.  I am no longer a lover of poetry but also a writer who also writes poetry.

There are hidden emotions deep within me that react to how humans are treating each other, and I release these emotions by writing poetry.

Change means surprise,

Sometimes shock,

Sometimes, it makes your temper rise,

Or your knees knocked against each other,

Forcing you to step up to  the challenge.

And like David facing Goliath,

You pick up your five stones;

You run toward your mountain,

And slowly you whittle it down to size.

You surprise yourself.

What you’ve discovered,

Has melted away a portion of the iceberg

That lies within you,

And moved you toward your dream.

Have a lovely month of September and walk peaceably through life if you can. 

Shalom aleichem,

Pat G

IWSG DAY, August 2, 2017, A Time to Be Silent and A Time to Speak; A Time to Embrace and A Time to Refrain From

Hello Everyone,

It is the first Wednesday of the month, and IWSG Time. 

IWSG is a writer support group created and led by Alex Cavanaugh. It is a big 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 InsecureWriter's Support Group 

My report:

Submission July 2017

Death – a poem in the Rattle Poetry Contest

Outstanding Submissions

Lascaux Review – The Woman and Her Dream

The Wigleaf - The Box in the Loft

 Rocky Mountain Fiction Writers Anthology – Turn the Lights On

  

A Time to Be Silent and A Time to speak; A time to embrace and a Time to Refrain From

When someone wakes up in the morning talking non-stop, I am annoyed. I do not see what is so important that people must pollute the atmosphere with conversation. I wonder if people ever listen to the birds twittering or the sounds of the trees as they crack as they awaken in the dew of early morn. Or, have they ever observed as the dawn says goodbye and permit the sun its time to shine? Talking does have its place but have we forgotten the value of silence? There is a time to be silent and a time to speak.  

We humans do not notice it, but we tend to grumble and complain about ourselves, about others, and about nature. The sun is shining but. Yes, it is good that it rained, but. Sure, I have a good job, but. Yes, I write, but.  Yes, I do like my nappy hair, but. She does excellent work but sometimes. These buts annoy and warn me to move along quickly. A shadow is about to be cast upon someone or something.  There is a time to embrace and a time to refrain from.*

I treasure my morning time filled with silence like some people treasure a morning cup of tea or a cup of coffee, and I do my best to attack the negative buts in myself and kill them and to avoid the negativity others speak out.  There is a time to be silent and a time to speak.

I like to embrace people. Thus, I have to refrain from my own self-righteous thoughts of being better than those people I encounter.  Notice I said, refrain from* my own self-righteous thoughts?  Grumbling or complaining about others makes me feel like I can do it better. There is a time to embrace and a time to refrain from.*

Wishing all of you a lovely month of August and be safe.

Shalom aleichem,

Pat Garcia

*Quote from Ecc 3: parts of verses 5 and 7. From, by the word refrain, was added by the author. 

IWSG, July 5, 2017 - My Insecurities

Hello Everyone,

It is the first Wednesday of the month, and IWSG Time. 

IWSG is a writer support group created and led by Alex Cavanaugh. It is a big 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 InsecureWriter's Support Group 

My report:

Submission June 2017  

Turn the Lights On – Rocky Mountain Fiction Writers Anthology

Outstanding Submissions

Lascaux Review – The Woman and Her Dream

The Box in the Loft – The Wigleaf

GOOD NEWS!

The Bridge of Hope was runner-up in the WEP JUNE BRIDGES’  CHALLENGE  

If you care to read the story, it is linked to this post, so please tap on the story's title and it will take you to it.

My Insecurities

 Been sitting here wondering how I can shortened my insecurity article for the IWSG.

Well, what am I insecure about? Nothing! I’ve learned to kick myself in the butt and continue reading, writing, and journaling even when life is attacking me in all kinds of unexpected ways from every direction.

I’ve learned to submit my stories, my essays and whatever else I write to agents, publishers, editors and my writing colleagues and expect to get commentaries or critiques.

I’ve learned not to accept these positive or negative critiques as an acceptance or rejection of myself. They are responding to what I write.

Most important, I’ve learned that not everyone is going to dig (get that word dig? It is slang and it means like) what I write. People are just as opinionated as I am.

Sure, the fears knock on my door every now and then, but I’ve learned how to say BOO! And they have to flee.

So why am I still in the IWSG?  That’s easy to answer.

Among all of the writing organizations that I know of, the IWSG just happens to be one of the few that stands out as a flagship of compassion and willingness to support their writing members.

So, y’all have a lovely July as they say in the Deep South and be safe.  

This Georgia girl based on the European Continent hopes to see you  next month.

Shalom aleichem,

Pat G