Thanks for the picture, Jason!
Remember, the question is optional!
The awesome co-hosts for the July 3 posting of the IWSG are Erika Beebe, Natalie Aguirre, Jennifer Lane, MJ Fifield, Lisa Buie-Collard, and Ellen @ The Cynical Sailor!
I’d like to say that there’s nothing of me in the people I create, but I suppose a writer can’t avoid creating a cast that is nothing like them. So when I thought about the question, I had to admit there are bits of me that I recognize in some of my characters.
I’ve been known to be stubborn–I’d prefer to call it determined–and that trait pops up in several characters. If Shawna Stone (Sliding on the Edge) hadn’t been hugely stubborn, she wouldn’t have survived. I threw a lot at Ms. Stone in this story, and she finally fought her way through all of it.
My fears peek out at me when I think about Carlie Simon (The Princess of Las Pulgas) and she withdraws into herself when those fears become very big–my usual strategy. When I’m really scared, I disappear until I get all of that under control.
Like Cleo Brown (Sudden Secrets) I can carry around a lot of guilt about mistakes, and I used to run like she does to escape, but these days I’ve turned to hiking and yoga to help me out.
So in short, these are the traits I’ve written into some of my characters, and I’m sure I’m not alone. Can’t wait to see what others have answered this month.
There are some really good July bargains from Dancing Lemur Press.Some restrictions apply. Free swag with all direct orders. See the SITE for details.
Thirty writers entered the June WEP! Go read some and see what you think. There were many that deserve applause. But here are the stars according to the judges: Pat Hatt, Elephant’s Child , Toi There were so many great stories that I’m sure it was a difficult choice.
Quote of the Month: Compliments of The Muse (AKA The Nag) “Instead of wondering when your next vacation is, maybe you should set up a life you don’t need to escape from.” Seth Godin, entrepreneur, author, speaker.
I research some pretty weird things, but right now, I’m just floored by the fact that my response to your post was “Yeah, they make some pretty gorgeous prosthetic legs, don’t they?” Great minds…
I’m rather late to this party! But better late than never, right? 😜
Looks like you had a good vacation, Lee!
I love your characters, they’re all ‘real’ – Shawna & Kay, Pete & Weasel, Hutch & Father Kerry/Maggie
Congrats on placing in the top ten! Woohoo!
Seems like it was a good trip. The best ones are when you end up somewhere unplanned.
A little bit of day-time snockering isn’t such a bad thing … once in awhile. And this looks like the right place to do it. Gorgeous pics!!!
I do remember how totally relaxed those afternoons were. I can see how the afternoon wine could be a slippery slope .
That made me smile. It’s a happy photo, too. I hesitate to ask, but – Snockered?
Ah, yes that old American idiom. It means slightly intoxicated, but not Brahms and Liszt.
Hello Lee!
I’m so glad you had a good holiday. Seems like just what you needed. And your photos look delightful.
Hi Kelly,
Thanks for the visit. I think I’m ready for another trip already.
I usually find it difficult to write when on a trip, but then I’ve been finding it difficult to write no matter what. With reading I do better while traveling, but still not like I want to.
Hope your summer is going great.
I think I have trouble settling into either reading or writing when I’m on a trip. I do read at night, but I’m usually so eager to talk to people during the day that I can’t focus on what I usually enjoy doing when I’m alone.
Your vacation looks delightful. That water! Sometimes we plan to write and we don’t and that is all good. 🙂 I hope you felt rested and rejuvenated after your time away.
It is interesting to see what parts of us seep into our characters. 🙂
The water was downright incredible. Irresistible, actually…ergo, no writing. 🙂
Its been a long time since I’ve jumped onto your blog. I’m glad I did. Sounds like you had a fabulous vacation. Great for you (and your muse).
So wonderful to see you again, Nana. I find I fall out of a blog that I enjoy, but it’s not for lack of interest, just last of time.
Sounds like you had a great trip. Love the pics! Congrats on your book making the top 10 of Stunning YA Books… I don’t think we can help writing some of our traits into our characters. We write what we know. 🙂 Good luck getting back to writing.
Thanks, Diane. I’m very appreciative of the recognition. Writers have to scramble for every bit we can get, right? Still settling into a writing routine. Fingers crossed.
Great photos! Glad to hear you had such a wonderful vacation. Congrats on that top ten list, too–that’s awesome! ^_^
Hi Heather. Hope you’re still creating those stories with your illustrations.
Sounds like you had a wonderful trip even if you couldn’t drown your nagging muse!
I’d never considered that option, Jeff. However, now that you mention it….
Hey Lee, welcome back. And it looks/sounds just like the holiday you needed. Who needs to write when you can swim/eat/drink in replay. Good for you.
Thanks for reading so many WEP entries when you returned. We’ve put up another list to replace the one the Linky tools removed. Back to InLinkz next month.
Yes, I’m sure we can’t help inserting a little bit of us into our characters.
The WEP had a stellar set of submission last month. I’m glad I wasn’t judging. I’ll try to get back to those I couldn’t post to. Thanks for the update.
Some muses can be so demanding! Don’t they know that time away from the keyboard can be therapeutic? And being snockered is good for the creative part of the brain. At least I think I’ve heard that somewhere. Glad you enjoyed your trip. Your muse is just jealous.
That muse is always jealous, but I kind of like him anyway because he doesn’t let me get away with anything. Thanks for the visit and the great comment.
Not snockered? But you’re a writer. Glad you had a great time!
I know that does seem to go hand in hand, doesn’t it?
Sounds like a wonderful trip! And congrats on that top ten! 🙂
Thanks, Madeline. I was pretty excited to see that happen.
Liked how you used your own characters to explore what personal characteristics you drew from. Really liked how that vacation pulled you away from writing for a bit, despite that fine and earnest picture of you hitting the keyboard. Don’t we all benefit from a vacation from “the Nag”?
We do benefit from time away. I was very fortunate to have the opportunity.
Wow what gorgeous pictures. So glad you had a wonderful trip. 🙂
It was quite special. Thanks.
Awesome post. Glad you had a wonderful vacation and the photos are gorgeous. Your writing is real and captivating.
Cheers!
Thank you, Mary. That’s a very nice compliment coming from you.
It looks and sounds fabulous! I’m glad you enjoyed your adventure and writing break. Best wishes.
Now my break’s over and it’s time to limber up my fingers. Back to work.
I don’t care how great your life is, sometimes you do need a break from it. And I do think that taking a break from writing actually makes you better. Stronger. It lets something lie fallow so that when you do get back to writing, you have more to work with than when you left.
Looks like it was a great vacation. You should feel no guilt for not writing.
I do have some great images in my head, so who knows what will happen when I settle down to write. Thanks, Liz.
It looks like you had a great vacation.
The sparkling blue color of the water is so serene. Seems like it takes a lot to please your muse. 😀
He’s always hard to please, but we’re actually good pals in spite of all that.
Looks like you had a great time. The pics were beautiful. 🙂
Anna from elements of emaginette
That sea was made for swimming in. 🙂
Sounds like your muse needs a vacation of their own to chill out haha
It would’t hurt, but the last one I took him on, he pestered me the entire trip.
Great pictures. Your vacation looks and sounds marvelous.
Top ten list?! So excellent. What a wonderful trip you’ve had. Rest, memories, and writing. Such a perfect combination. Welcome back.
Thanks, Lee. That news about Double Negative really wound up my trip on a high note.
Welcome back, Lee. Sounds like you had an exciting time. The pictures are great. And, I can remember your characters. They didn’t know they were you.
🙂 Thanks, Beverly.
Glad you had a great trip! I always think I’m going to get some writing done when I go away somewhere, but it never happens. Sometimes you just have to have some fun!
You’re right about the need to just have fun. We so often forget how important play is for our brain and our total health.
I’m so envious! How cool, literally, that you got to have a vacation like this! I love how you wrote about it too! Thanks for dropping by my blog…
I love all of your pictures, Lee. I couldn’t resist that ocean either. Happy IWSG Day 🙂
My next trip is to the desert. I hope I’ll be able to adjust. 🙂
Those inner voices are incredible nags aren’t they? I am impressed you can get yours to turn away in disgust (how ever briefly).
And, as you know, I LOVE Double Negative. I have read it several times and will read it again. And again.
He’s hard to manage, but we have created a “working” relationship. Sometimes it’s a bit rocky, but he comes around or I actually settle down and do some work. That always makes him happy.
Thanks for your comment about DN. I really do appreciate it!
Send me the secret to reverse aging. You look like a teen in that picture!
I would also prefer jumping into that water over working. Though, while relaxing, I would be thinking of stories, so technically, I work wherever I go.
Ha! Optical illusion, I’m afraid.
I do admit that while I was talking to my fellow travelers, I made note of some interesting characteristics, so perhaps I did a bit of work after all. 🙂
Hi,
Glad you’re back.
That water in the first picture looks so good and in the second one also. I don’t know what it is, but there is something about vacationing and sailing on the European waters that is relaxing. Did you get the chance to go on land in Greece or Turkey? I hope so.
Your pictures make me want to go on vacation now. I plan to go to Italy in September and just have fun and drink some nice Italian red wine and eat Italian bread.
Shalom aleichem,
Pat G @ EverythingMustChange
Hi Pat. Yes. We were in Athens before and after boarding the boats. The week before that we had a small farmhouse in Pulgia and enjoyed some of that red wine you’ll be tasting soon.
I love that last quote. I like going new places but I love being home most of all. Your vacation looks lovely.
It is such a privilege to have both, isn’t it? Hope your summer is wonderful no matter what you do or where you do it.
What a glorious vacation. That blue crystal water says it all. Welcome back!
Thanks Jacqui. Going was great. Coming home just as great.
I have to debate Seth Godin’s quote. I don’t know many people that want to escape from their lives, except those who are in physical health or/and financial crisis, and in that aspect, it would be hard to set up a new life. Just me getting nit-picky.
It’s nice to leave (escape) your everyday surroundings for a week, though.
On a fabulous trip like yours, don’t worry about your nagging muse. She’ll come back once you’re home and you’ll have plenty of new material to keep the nag happy. 🙂
Happy 4th!
Happy 4th back, Cathrina! I ignore that Muse a lot; I think that’s why he rags on me and comes up with quotes like that.
I’d rather be swimming, too, especially considering your location. Writing can wait for that.
So true. And it did.
That sounds like a wonderful vacation adventure!
Although I agree in part with the quote at the end, I think there is always something to see over the horizon. Vacation is just adventure calling us onward, whether it’s to the local state park or to a different country, or a new coffee shop down the street.
Currently, my adventure is painting the interior of my house (it’s taking me forever) and later this summer, my adventures will take me to Georgia and then to dropping my daughters off at college and the airport (again, my oldest will travel abroad for school – regular life? adventure?). Life is full of adventures!
I hear what you say. You are going to have a lot of adventures this summer. I know you’ll enjoy them all.
That’s great that you had such a great adventure. You look so happy in the picture. And congrats on making the top 10 list.
I have to say that making that list was right up there with the Aegean!
Hi, Cheryl-Lee!
Happy July! I’m happy to see you, dear friend! It was fun reading the transcript of the post vacay feud that erupted between you and your The Muse (AKA The Nag). Looks like you had a wonderful time on the other side of the world. It was also interesting to read how some of your characters are infused with your personality traits. I agree with the Quote of the Month. The trick is to fashion a lifestyle that is so good that you aren’t constantly yearning to escape.
I wish you a safe and restful I-Day, dear friend Cheryl-Lee!
Happy Fourth of July to you! I’m slowly making my way over to your place. Vacations are wonderful, but the backlog? Not so much. Great to read your comment as always.
That sounds like an amazing vacation! Glad you enjoyed it. Determined is definitely a better description 🙂
It was perfect, and you have to be an expert on how great sailing is for the soul.
Determined is a much better word.
Glad you had fun on your adventure. Sometimes we just have to live a little.
Thanks, Alex. I do think that determined has the best connotation!