IWSG DAY, DECEMBER 6, 2023, MY METHODS FOR REVIEWING A BOOK, By Pat Garcia, @pat_garcia @TheIWSG #IWSG

Welcome to our Last  IWSG Day of the year for 2023. 

 

IWSG is a writers' support group created and led by Alex J. 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 and successes or giving others encouragement and support. 

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

 

 

Submissions: I made the shortlist in the WEP’s, The Phantom of the Opera Challenge that was held in October 2023.

NEWS: I finished NaNo. 

 

Our Twitter handle is @TheIWSG, and the hashtag is #IWSG.

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

 

 

 

 

MY METHODS FOR REVIEWING A BOOK

 

Every book I read for review is not usually the genre I write in. Thus, my critique is based on my experience with the book. When I start reading it, I hope to quickly get into the story if it is fiction or promptly move into the subject matter I am reading about if it is non-fiction. 

For a book that is well written, I sink into the book quite fast. 

If a book is filled with many typos, missing words, and/or the structure is so far out, I need to figure out what the author is trying to say; I put the book down and write my review telling why I couldn't get into the book. 

I do my best to be respectful to all authors, but being compliant does not mean giving a poorly written book a high rating. When people read my reviews, they ask for my honest opinion, and that is what I want to give them.

 

 

With this last post of the year, I wish all of you a Merry Christmas and a blessed crossover into 2024, and I hope to see you again on the IWSG DAY Platform on January 3, 2024.

 

 

 

Shalom shalom

 

 

 

Pat Garcia

IWSG DAY, NOVEMBER 1, 2023, NaNo – A Good Place To Write That First Draft By Pat Garcia #IWSG @TheWEP @TheIWSG @pat_garcia

Welcome to our eleventh IWSG Day of the year, 2023. 

 

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 and successes or giving others encouragement and support. 

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

 

 

Submissions: WEP, The Phantom of the Opera, October 18, 2023 

 

Won: The Best Book Cover for Janie B at The RRBC’s Online Writer’s Conference and Book Expo

 

 

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

 

 

 

 

NaNo – A Good Place To Write That First Draft 

 

The unrevised manuscripts in my computer are witnesses to my participation in NaNo. For me, NaNo is hard work. So, I am shutting down as many outside activities that have nothing to do with NaNo to achieve my goal this time–– the first draft of my new book. 

It may be a novella or a novel, and I have an idea: my characters are talking to me, and I want to see what happens. 

 

I wish you a lovely November and a Happy Thanksgiving for those in the USA! Enjoy your family and the feast.

 

Shalom shalom

Pat Garcia

IWSG DAY, OCTOBER 4, 2023, HAVEN’T CAST MY VOTE FOR OR AGAINST AI, YET By Pat Garcia @pat_garcia @TheWEP #IWSG

Welcome to our tenth IWSG Day of the year, 2023. 

 

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 and successes or giving others encouragement and support. 

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

 

 

Submission : None

 

 

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!

 

 

 

 

 

 

HAVEN’T CAST MY VOTE FOR OR AGAINST AI, YET

 

My vote about AI is still out, not because I'm scared. Someone has to address the many factors in favor of AI concerning honesty and other moral ethics questions that I have. Since AI doesn't have a conscience, it can swipe, copy, and steal passages of manuscripts or any business or scientific documentation. Uncovering any damage done to the writer or author would take years.

 

Have a lovely month of October!

 

Shalom shalom

 

 

 

Pat Garcia

IWSG DAY, September 6, 2023 Happy 12th Birthday, IWSG! @TheWEP #IWSG @pat_garcia

Welcome to our ninth  IWSG Day of the year, 2023. 

 

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 and successes or giving others encouragement and support. 

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

 

Submissions: None

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

Happy 12th Birthday, IWSG!

I learned about the IWSG while participating in the A to Z Challenge and tried it. 

That was some years ago, and  I'm still here. It was and is a decision that I don't regret. 

Happy 12th Birthday, IWSG!

You're simply one of the best. 

Shalom shalom

Pat Garcia

IWSG DAY, AUGUST 2, 2023, MY WRITING MAY CREATE CONFLICT By Pat Garcia @pat_garcia #IWSG @TheIWSG #amwriting

Welcome to our eighth IWSG Day of the year, 2023. 

 

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 and successes or giving others encouragement and support. 

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

 

Submissions: None

 

 

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

 

 

 

My Writing May Create Conflict

 

I admit that I occasionally write things people don't like, such as a poem, a short story, or an essay, which causes friction. I receive snubs from people I thought understood me. I've learned to accept that people will not agree with everything I write, and I don't try to justify myself anymore.  

 

They have a right to their opinions, and you know what? I've learned I have a right to mine, so I keep what I write. I stand by it and keep going. 

 

Have a lovely August, and be safe. 

 

Shalom shalom

 

Pat Garcia

IWSG DAY, July 5, 2023, The Origin of My Stories, By Pat Garcia, @pat_garcia #IWSG @TheIWSG, #amwriting

Welcome to our seventh IWSG Day of the year, 2023. 

 

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 and successes or giving others encouragement and support. 

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 July 5 posting of the IWSG are PJ Colando, Kim Lajevardi, Gwen Gardner, Pat Garcia, and Natalie Aguirre!

Submissions: I submitted to the WEP'S Challenge, Close Encounters Of The Third Kind, for June. As always, the competition was stiff. That's why I admire it. I won. It was lovely news to wake up to on Monday morning, July 3.

I'm back to submitting again, finally. I'm excited to see what will happen. 

The Origin of My Stories

To say my stories come from my heart is simple but accurate. I write with my vision of how I would like to see people of all nationalities and cultures, whose significant differences are the color of their skin and their language, respect, accept, and react to one another. I keep my eyes open, observe people around me, and listen to others' conversations in languages I may not understand. I am a notorious listener. I go into strange situations and watch people's reactions to me, and I jot down in my journal as soon as I can what I think as I allow the cesspool of ideas and longings to rise and almost drown me. This is where ninety-nine percent of my stories began to develop. To paraphrase Robert Kennedy's quote to my liking,  I see things within me, around me, and outside of me, and instead of laughing about how silly those stories might be, I ask myself why not and write them. 

Have a lovely month of July, and take care.

Shalom shalom

Pat Garcia

IWSG DAY, JUNE 7, 2023, IT'S NEVER CROSSED MY MIND TO STOP WRITING, By Pat Garcia, #IWSG, @The IWSG

Welcome to our sixth IWSG Day of the year, 2023. 

 

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 and successes or giving others encouragement and support. 

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 June 7 posting of the IWSG are Patrcia Josephine, Diedre Knight, Olga Godim, J. Lenni Dorner, and Cathrina Constantine!

 

Submissions: None

 

 

IT'S NEVER CROSSED MY MIND TO STOP WRITING

 

I've never thought about pulling the plug on my writing. That doesn't mean I haven't had some hard times that have knocked me down to my knees to pray. I've even cried tears and licked away the cruel words of people who thought they knew how to engineer my  writing life better. But even in these situations, it has never crossed my mind to stop writing. I don't think about something that I don't plan on doing. It's a waste of my energy and my time.

 

 

Take care, everyone, and have a lovely month of June.

 

Shalom shalom

 

 

Pat Garcia