IWSG DAY, OCTOBER 2, 2024, MY EXPERIENCES WITH EDGAR ALLEN POE By Pat Garcia @TheIWSG #IWSG

Welcome to our tenth IWSG Day of the year 2024. 

 

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 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

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

The awesome co-hosts for the October 2 posting of the IWSG are Nancy Gideon, Jennifer Lane, Jacqui Murray, and Natalie Aguirre!

MY EXPERIENCES WITH EDGAR ALLAN POE

I discovered Edgar Allen Poe and his poetry in school. I consider Poe's poetry to be excellent. Therefore, it was hard for me to digest when Annabel Lee became a short film. But I could handle the sadness, or better said the sorrow. 

As The Pit and The Pendulum came out in 1961, another one of Poe's works, which starred Vincent Price, I had big problems. It was horror pure and caused me many sleepless nights, and I decided horror was not a genre for me. 

Have a lovely month of October!

Shalom shalom

IWSG DAY, SEPTEMBER 4, 2024, MY HORROR By Pat Garcia @TheIWSG #IWSG @pat_garcia

Welcome to our ninth IWSG Day of the year 2024. 

 

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 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

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

The awesome co-hosts for the September 4 posting of the IWSG are Beth Camp, Jean Davis, Yvonne Ventresca, and PJ Colando!

I know I’ve been singing this song since July 5, and I won’t promise to stop singing it, but I just had to show off my first Paperback book, THE POWER OF TOUCH. I received 5 copies yesterday, and now, next to my piano, they bring me joy. I’m smiling.

MY HORROR

If there is one rule that messed me up in my English Classes and still does as a writer, it is the use of commas. Sometimes, I think commas hunt me down in my sleep; the little curvy, black crooks at the top grab me by the neck, and choke me. 

My solution: I have a good proofreader, so I no longer experience the horror.

Have a lovely month of September, and be safe.

 

Shalom shalom,

Pat Garcia

IWSG DAY, AUGUST 7, 2024, Do I Use AI In My writing? By Pat Garcia @TheIWSG #IWSG @pat_garcia

Welcome to our eighth IWSG Day of the year 2024. 

 

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 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

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

The awesome co-hosts for the August 7th posting of the IWSG are Feather Stone, Kim Lajevardi, Diedre Knight, C. Lee McKenzie, and Sarah - The Faux Fountain Pen!

Submissions: THE POWER OF TOUCH  submitted to the ALPHA/OMEGA CONTEST sponsored by RAVE REVIEWS BOOK CLUB (RRBC). The winner will be announced in October 2024.

THE POWER OF TOUCH's ebook version is now available on Amazon Bookstores worldwide, and the paperback will debut on August 30th. I am excited, and my heart is filled with thankfulness toward the four people who stood by me to make this happen. This is my first paperback, and it has thrown me into a tizzy. I am thinking heavily about putting my other ebooks in paperback format. I didn't realize many people still prefer a hardbound or paperback version of a book instead of an ebook.

Do I Use AI In My Writing?

AI IS NOT GOING AWAY, BUT IT DOESN'T MEAN I HAVE TO USE IT. I am sure there are some good ways to use it, but I haven't taken the time to find out how it would suit me. Therefore, I am not using AI. I still do my research by using Google and other online libraries that have the material that I need. I hunt through the Internet Archive, and I still read lots of books so that there is a sense of reality in my stories that my readers can relate to. 

In all honesty, I don't want AI to write my books. That is why there are writing classes all over the internet, where authors are willing to pass on their know-how, and I take advantage of those writing classes when I don't know how to do something. I would rather learn how to write myself than depend on a software program that would weaken my brain muscles and rob me of my ability to think creatively for myself.

 

May all of you have a wonderful month of August. 

Take care.

Shalom shalom,

Pat Garcia

IWSG DAY, JULY 3, 2024, MY FAVORITE APPS FOR WRITING By Pat Garcia

Welcome to our seventh IWSG Day of the year for 2024. 

 

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 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: THE ALPHA/OMEGA CONTEST sponsored by RAVE REVIEWS BOOK CLUB (RRBC)

This is my first competition in this short story event, which is required to be up on Amazon.com by July 4, 2024. My story, THE POWER OF TOUCH, is up on Amazon for pre-order across all Amazon stores until July 5. 

This story is unique because of its collaboration with others who helped me get it published during a time of tremendous stress. One of the people who helped me was our Olga Godim. Many thanks, Olga, for a cover that perfectly befits the main character. 

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

The awesome co-hosts for the July 3 posting of the IWSG are JS Pailly, Rebecca Douglass, Pat Garcia, Louise-Fundy Blue, and Natalie Aguirre!

My FAVORITE APPS FOR WRITING

In the past, I have used Microsoft Word. It has been a favorite of mine for a long time, and it is still my go-to for writing my articles, but I am switching to Scrivener to write my short stories and novels. I've had Scrivener for the longest time but have yet to use it. The learning curve was too steep for me. I've changed my mind since I formatted my first story in Vellum. I will return to Scrivener and try it with my mind open to learn the new changes. 

Other than that, I used DAY ONE, similar to Evernote, which I stopped using because the price was too high. In DAY ONE, I put all my research, pictures, and timelines for whatever story I write.

Finally, I use the Agenda calendar to keep track of time. I usually write four hours daily, except on my Sabbath, when I don't work.  

My all-time favorite App is DAY ONE. I've had it since DAY ONE began. It carries my journal, shopping lists, and everything else I take notes on or pictures I notice while walking. 

Have a lovely month and Happy Fourth of July to all Americans. 

Shalom shalom,

Pat Garcia

IWSG DAY, JUNE 5, 2024, DO WE REALLY NEED TO OFFER MORE? By Pat Garcia @TheIWSG #IWSG #amwriting @pat_garcia

Welcome to our sixth IWSG Day of the year for 2024. 

 

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 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

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

The awesome co-hosts for the June 5 posting of the IWSG are Liza at Middle Passages, Shannon Lawrence, Melissa Maygrove, and Olga Godim!

DO WE REALLY NEED TO OFFER MORE?

The IWSG offers a lot already. However, I would like to see us continue to provide writers with the opportunity to be a part of an IWSG Anthology. Outside of that, we have partners listed on our website that cover most areas of writing that an author needs.  

Have a lovely month of June, everyone.

Take care. 

Shalom shalom

 

Pat Garcia

IWSG DAY, MAY 1, 2024, INTERRUPTIONS AND DISTRACTIONS By Pat Garcia @TheIWSG #IWSG, #amwriting

Welcome to our fifth IWSG Day of the year for 2024. 

 

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: None

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

The awesome co-hosts for the May 1 posting of the IWSG are Victoria Marie Lees, Kim Lajevardi, Nancy Gideon, and Cathrina Constantine!

INTERRUPTIONS AND DISTRACTIONS

Fifteen years ago, I realized that I would have to make a significant change in my life if I wanted to take my writing seriously. At that time, I was constantly interrupted by the telephone, friends, and neighbors. I also was distracted by text messages and emails because I had chosen to be notified whenever I got an email or a text message. It was horrible. Each time I would get in my flow, something would interrupt it.

I decided to do something dramatic and stopped all notifications, turned off my landline and mobile, planned certain days to go shopping, stopped using television to eliminate my dull moments, and developed a few other rules I won't mention here. It was challenging to adjust my life around what was important, but I knew I had to do it. Amazingly, these rules have become habits, and I still do them. For example, I go on my landline and mobile at noon. 

My family and friends know if they need to reach me, they can text me and will hear from me after twelve PM.

Since then, I have written six days a week and had writing experiences where I am highly satisfied.

Have a lovely month of May.

Shalom shalom 

Pat Garcia