I could use a bit of Star Wars power this month. If you’re in California you know what we might be up against this summer: water shortages, rolling electrical outages, and wildfires. What a perfect storm we could be heading into. Last summer we weren’t prepared for half of what Mother Nature hurled at us, so this time a lot of us are getting ready for the worst and hoping for the best.
I have my “Go Bag” by the front door. I’ve put irreplaceable items in storage. As you read this I’ll be on an evacuation drill with my community driving a back road that is the second route of escape in case of fire. (I may be late in visiting blogs this month.) There’s not much more I can do, so after this drill, I’m as ready as I can be. From now on, it’s a wait-and-see summer.
Fortunately, there are a lot of good writing events to look forward to
at
#IWSG!
First, here’s this month’s question. Remember, the question is optional!
Has any of your readers ever responded to your writing in a way that you didn’t expect? If so, did it surprise you?
The awesome co-hosts for today are
Erika Beebe,Pat Garcia,Tonja Drecker,Sadira Stone, and Cathrina Constantine!
I’m always surprised at what readers say about my books, and this is why writing is such an adventure. I have my own world view, and of course, it’s the right one. Then someone sees something in what I’ve created on paper and it’s not what I wrote at all. Really? Gee, there’s another way to see that event, or that character’s reaction–one I’ve never thought of? The writer-reader interaction is mind-expanding, and that’s one reason I keep doing this. This question is close to the issue of the REVIEWS and the different ways writers react to them.
Some say they don’t read their reviews, but I find that hard to believe. I learn from my reviews–negative and positive. And I’d prefer getting them to not. There’s no quicker way to bury a book than to ignore it, so I like to review for others and do as many as I can. Another thought occurred to me while writing this answer (sorry if I’m rambling–age factor) A few readers have been offended by my topics, but in my mind if a book isn’t at least a bit polarizing, I didn’t write something worth reading.
I’m eager to see how others respond to this one. I think it’s a great question.
I’ve gone into this topic a bit more on my EMAIL CONNECT this month. This link takes you to my home page. The signup field is there. If you’d like to join me, you’ll receive a short story with a touch of horror to spike your reading pleasure in May. It would be great to have you among my contacts.
And now for the Ta Da moments in this post
Do you write sweet romance? This is a chance to have one of your stories read by 7 noted writers/agents and published in an anthology.
The theme: First Love
Available NOW!
Discover dark matter’s secrets and visit the writers who are included in this anthology.
Stephanie Espinoza Villamor
CD Gallant-King
Kim Mannix
Steph Wolmarans
Tara Tyler
Deniz Bevan
Charles Kowalski
Olga Godim
Elizabeth Mueller
Mark Alpert
This Month’s Quote: “It’s like obituaries, when you die they finally give you good reviews.” Roger Maris
Stay safe during fire season! Having just left the coast, I am familiar with a “bug out” bag” for stuff you needed in case of a hurricane. Thankfully, such warnings generally allowed you a few days to prepare. Is you storage also safe from fire? After seeing what happened in Paradise, I wonder what’s safe.
The storage is another garage miles from where I live, but still that doesn’t mean it’s safe. I’m just planning the best I can and hoping it works. What more can a person do? I’m glad that the one thing we don’t have here–so far–is hurricanes.
I was shocked to see how prepared for fires you have to be with your go to bag and your boots. I’m really glad so many people are ready and practising but it is scary.
I have the Dark Matter Anthology and am enjoying the delicious array of stories. Good luck and stay safe.
This year will be quite the test for us here. Even the seasoned mountain people are taking this seriously. Glad you’re enjoying the anthology.
We live in Eastern Washington, and today, as I drove my husband home from the doctor, we noted the sky south seemed to reflect more than heat haze. I’m glad you are prepared with that go bag and hope this summer doesn’t repeat last summer’s dreadful fires. I think we need more than hope, though. Your community support and planning are reassuring. Re readers’ comments? I agree completely. We can learn much from both positive and negative comments. May your writing go well in the coming month.
Thank you, Beth. I think all of us here on the west coast are on alert these days.
You provide a good reminder about things I need to do to be prepared! I’m not there yet, but also don’t live where the odds are too bad. Still–the word is that anyplace in CA is at risk, so…
I don’t check my reviews regularly, but I do read them. Like you, I feel like I learn something–and anyway, I can’t help myself 🙂
You’re a very sensible person, Rebecca. It sounds as if you don’t panic or go overboard easily.
Having been on “set” mode for nearly a month last year, I know how nerve-wracking it can be. May all you have to do is unpack – soon.
I think of reviews as windmills. They may not work sometimes (for everyone) but you still know they’re standing.
Looking forward to your next release!
Thanks, Diedre. You understand how tense this being prepared is. I loved your windmill metaphor–so appropriate.
Hopefully this summer won’t be a bad as the last one. But it’s always good to be prepared.
And I love reading my reviews! The good and the bad. I don’t take any of them personally, but I do learn from them.
Yeah, not looking forward to the heat of summer. Hopefully it’ll be nicer than we expect. It could happen.
Writing certainly is an adventure. And the interaction with readers definitely is mind expanding.
I do worry about you folks in CA. I’ve got another writer bud out there and she too has her to go bag packed. She’s also ready with carriers for her critters.
Oh, I hope you don’t have to use your “Go Back” for anything but a fun excursion to one of the many wonderful sites in CA and beyond. I loved visiting your state. I wanted to meet for coffee, or something, but we spent an extra day with Joanna’s family, which was good, but it meant I couldn’t see you. We did a whirlwind trip, and it was so worth it! I’ll be back!
I haven’t published a book, yet, so I didn’t have an answer for this month’s question. I’m sure I’ll read every comment once I do have one out there. I agree, it’s surprising when someone has a different perspective on a topic or situation. I can’t wait to engage with readers!
Take care. I hope your summer is filled with good adventures, and not natural disasters!
I hope you stay safe and everything goes well with the drill!
It’s been a long time since I’ve read a review, mostly because it’s been so long since anyone’s written one! The thing is, I know my first book is pretty terrible, and I have a habit of spiraling into depression. It’s best for my own mind if I don’t read them.
I confess, I don’t read all of my comments. Especially the negative ones (which thankfully are few). I am too easily depressed.
May the Fourth be with you–this is the first year I discovered that. Love it!
Wow, actually practicing evacuation with your neighborhood, now that is some scary stuff. I really hope things are much better this summer than last, and all the preparedness just means you don’t need it this year.
May the fires stay away from you and the hurricanes stay away from me. I learn from my reviews, too, and use negative ones to try to improve.
I like your view of your writing as an adventure. I might subscribe to the same view myself. Always something new about the next corner, right?
I didn’t know ya had a newsletter! (Or did I?) Anywho, I signed up!
We’ve already had two fires in two weeks in my neck of California. Boo!
My mother lives in Florida and has had to evacuate several times for hurricanes. Not fun. But she won’t move. 🤷‍♀️
Readers who are offended by your topics can look for other books. There are only about 350 gazillion of them to choose from. As a reader, I do read reviews, and occasionally, some negative reviews will encourage me to buy a book (i.e., “too much focus on the food” – I love books with food descriptions; or “too many f-bombs” – that’s not an immediate deal killer for me). But even books I might find offensive have an audience somewhere.
I am all too familiar with your weather related anxieties. I spent too much time last season watching the flames licking at near by hills. We are going into winter now (yay) and have had more rain than usual (another yay) but those anxieties will return. Dammit. Good luck.
Every reader brings something of themselves to a book so of course reactions are different. And valuable.
Mother Nature can certainly get our hearts pumping! That’s a lot to prepare and think about Lee. I do love your reflections on reviews. I completely agree. Working in education like I do, you’re safe to think anyone can find offense in something you thought was safe to discuss. I wish you well 🙂
It’s sad that you have to be prepared for a natural disaster but great that you are in case you have to leave quickly. I really like how you describe writing as an adventure. I need to change to that description from “scary”, which is what I think when I’m insecure.
Oh no. Be careful, okay? All my life, I’ve been over prepared for whatever. If being prepared for the worst means the bad things won’t happen, then I’m willing to put out the extra effort. It’s best to practice for disasters. Hang in there.
Teresa
I hope all your preparation ends up being for nothing and you stay safe.
Me too! Thanks.
Californians have to be hardy folk to endure all the challenges nature throws at them. Good idea to be prepared for the worst. Whenever I take an umbrella with me, it never rains. So I hope your preparation will do the same as my umbrella does for me. Ha. I sense a bit of a rebel in your comment about causing a bit of “polarizing” moments for readers. Love that.
JQ Rose
Your umbrella story is very encouraging. I’m hoping this go back will be my umbrella and keep away the lightning and fires this summer.
I do have a bit of the rebel left in me from long ago. I’m not a sensitivity reader advocate, but I am sensitive to how other people experience life and I respect everyone’s culture.
I’ve been on evacuation alert three times over the years. Twice because of fires and once because of a flood. Let’s hope you don’t have to go and kudos to you for getting ready and planning ahead. Stay safe. 🙂
Anna from elements of emaginette
Then you know the stress, Anna. Let’s hope we both can avoid more of these nerve-wracking experiences…at least for a while. I need a break.
Hi,
I too learn from my reviews, but I don’t go on the amazon site to read them every day. I go on it once a month to see if my book is connecting with my readers.
I hope you don’t need that bag either.
Shalom aleichem,
Pat G @ EverythingMustChange
I can’t imagine watching reviews daily. I’d go bonkers. You’re very wise to keep tabs on things, but not to be excessive.
I really hope you don’t have a bad season of fires. Your state doesn’t need that mess on top of everything else – and you don’t need to lose your house!
Losing my home would be devasting. I’ve had friends who’ve experience that kind of loss, and it takes years to put your life back on any kind of smooth road.
For years I kept a bag at our back door during fire season. I know what you’re feeling. Hopefully this year mother nature will be kinder. I agree, negative and positive reviews are both valuable.
I guess we have to start treating that gal with more respect if we want her be nice to us.
Yikes! Scary times for you. I hope things improve and you never have to use that go bag!!
Me too. But I do feel a bit calmer with it by the door.
Hi, Cheryl-Lee!
Yessum, I remember the terrible conditions endured by California residents last summer. I hope this summer won’t be a repeat. I’ll be thinking about you, dear friend. You are wise to prepare for the worst by having your bags packed and knowing an alternate escape route in case a wildfire threatens.
If I were to answer the question of the month, I would say “yes.” People who don’t know me very well sometimes take me seriously when I use humor and satire.
I like the quote of the month by Roger Maris. It reminds me of what they said about Elvis Presley when he died. It was a great career move.
Take care of yourself and have a happy month, dear friend Cheryl-Lee!
How is it was can find humor in absolutely everything? We are such an interesting species. Thanks for the Presley info. Made me laugh.
Hi Lee – writing is a career isn’t it … all the ups and downs. I wish the Anthology all the best and congratulate the authors. As Alex says … I sincerely hope you don’t need that emergency bag, nor have the worry of the potential … stay safe and all the best – Hilary
I’m sure the anthology will be great. Thanks for the good wishes. I’m keeping all of them for when/if I need them.
I learn from both positive and negative reviews of my books.
Hope you never need that bag.
A wise author.