Wednesday, June 6, 2018

IWSG, Solo and Annihilation Movie Reviews, IWSG Anthology Contest, Movie Trivia Answers, Retro Images, Write With Fey, and More!

It’s time for another group posting of the Insecure Writer’s Support Group! Time to release our fears to the world – or offer encouragement to those who are feeling neurotic. If you’d like to join us, click on the tab above and sign up. We post the first Wednesday of every month. I encourage everyone to visit at least a dozen new blogs and leave a comment. Your words might be the encouragement someone needs.

The awesome co-hosts for the June 6 posting of the IWSG are Beverly Stowe McClure, Tyrean Martinson, Tonja Drecker, and Ellen @ The Cynical Sailor!

Please note - the July posting will be on July 3, a Tuesday, due to the US Fourth of July holiday.

Today’s optional question:
What's harder for you to come up with, book titles or character names?

Definitely titles! Characters are easy. Thirty minutes brainstorming simple alien sounding names and I’m done.
But titles? Forget it. My publisher had to name two of my books.
And people wonder why I don’t name my chapter titles…

Announcing the IWSG Anthology Contest genre and dates!

Young adult romance is the genre.
The theme will be revealed on September 5, along with the judges and other details.
Our previous anthologies were Parallels: Felix Was Here, Hero Lost: The Mysteries of Death and Life, and Tick Tock: A Stitch in Crime.
Your short story might be included in the fourth anthology!

The next #IWSGPit is Thursday, July 19, 2018, 8:00 am - 8:00 pm Eastern Standard Time
Over a thousand agents and publishers have been invited to tune in that day.
Polish your story and your Twitter pitch and be ready!


Movie Reviews

Solo
I caught it opening night and to my surprise, it was more enjoyable than expected. Solo takes place ten years before Rogue One and A New Hope and follows Solo’s quest to get his own ship.
The beginning seemed a bit off. It was similar in tone to Rogue One but not in a good way and perhaps a bit generic. However, by the train heist scene, it all started to change. I started to care about the characters and the action picked up. (Perhaps that is where director Ron Howard took over.) The movie grew on me from that point.
It was fun to see everything fall into place – Chewbacca, Lando, the Millennium Falcon, the rebellion… Of course, this meant less suspense wince you knew the key characters survived and how it would end. (As opposed to Rogue One where you didn’t know the fate of the characters, only the final outcome.)
It is a fun adventure ride. A science fiction Western like Firefly, although not on the same level as Firefly and Serenity. And not as memorable, either. It might end up being the first Star Wars failure. But the cast does their part well and gives you everything they can. It was a fun movie.
If you’re a Star Wars fan, it’s worth it to see this film on the big screen. Recommended.

Annihilation
Came out earlier this year – rental.
I give it credit for being very unique. If you need all the answers in a film, this one will frustrate you. Much is left to interpretation, including the conclusion. And I don’t think there are any wrong answers.
It starts with a feeling of unease that never lets up. It has a similar odd tone as the movie 2001, plus many what-the-heck moments.
I wasn’t invested in the main character (either in the movie or my attempt to read the book) despite the brief flashbacks filling in her past. Or maybe it was because of those?
However, it’s a fascinating and intriguing piece of science fiction. I wouldn’t watch it again, but I was hooked on the eerie and unique storyline. It’s a really distinctive take on alien invasion.
Be warned it is rated R and there are some very disturbing and gory scenes. However, they won’t be what you’d normally expect.
I’d recommend it to someone looking for something really different in science fiction.

Ninja News

My buddy Jeremy Hawkins has started a new business.
He’s offering mini 8x10 files from non-copy-written images from films, ads, etc. [prior 1931] but instead of selling prints, the customer gets the file .pdf/jpeg. Then they can print the images for themselves.
He’s done all the work finding these images and cleaning them up. Now, Jeremy has thousands of them!
Images are just $3.00 each.
Jeremy has gone through a rough year, mentally and emotionally, and is struggling. Please check out his Being Retro shop on Etsy and pick out a cool image that speaks to you.

The next Strangely Funny anthology was released.
It features a story by CD Gallant-King - The New Job.
Pick it up on Amazon







Released this week:
Write with Fey: 10 Sparks to Guide You from Idea to Publication by Chrys Fey
Catch the sparks you need to write, edit, publish, and market your book!
Write with Fey: 10 Sparks to Guide You from Idea to Publication offers an abundance of data in one handy book. From writing your novel to prepping for publication and beyond, you’ll find sparks on every page, including 100 bonus marketing tips. You’ll also discover how to write specific scenes and characters, adding depth to your work.
Find it at Amazon US, Amazon CA, Amazon UK, Barnes and Noble, Kobo, and iTunes
GIVEAWAY! Open to all from June 4th 2018 – July 6th 2018. Click HERE to enter.

The WEP – (Write...Edit...Publish) team, consisting of those much-loved bloggers, Denise Covey, Yolanda Renée, Nilanjana Bose and Olga Godim, are open for submissions for their June 1 challenge – UNRAVELED YARN.
We’re not necessarily talking knitting and crochet, but if that's what you want, fine! A yarn is a long and rambling, often improbable, story. But we’re not talking long and improbable - a crisp and convincing flash or non-fiction, or poem, or photo essay, whatever genre you choose, is what we’re after.
Serenity, meet Disaster. A lie found out, the unpicking of a tall tale. A crime taking an unexpected turn. A bad-hair day. An ordinary walk spiraling into a crisis. A romantic encounter ending in chaos. Take your pick with the unpicking!
The Top Three entries receive prizes!
Give us your yarn! Let your imagination unravel!


Movie Trivia Answers

The trivia was about R-rated films that made a ton of money.


1 – This is the second-highest grossing superhero film behind Deadpool. (At the moment.) Logan
2 – When he said ‘I’ll be back,’ he wasn’t kidding and the movie made over half a billion dollars. Terminator 2: Judgement Day
3 – Based on a book, this is the highest-ever grossing horror film. It
4 – This is the highest-grossing R film based on faith. The Passion of the Christ
5 – Director Quentin Tarantino’s highest-grossing movie. Django Unchained
6 – This Oscar winner is the highest-grossing war film. Saving Private Ryan
7 – George Miller’s highest-grossing movie. Mad Max: Fury Road


What’s easier for you – titles or names? Excited about the anthology contest and #IWSGPit? Did you catch Solo? Picking up some books or trying your hand at WEP? And did you get the trivia right?
Be sure to explore Jeremy’s Being Retro shop on Etsy and hopefully buy an image. You’ll make his day!

128 comments:

Elephant's Child said...

Another anthology? My greedy reading self is delighted.
Congrats to all those with new releases.

Arlee Bird said...

Wow! You and I are opposite on which is easier, names or titles. I explain my perspective in my post which will appear in a few hours while you are sleeping (and me too).

I wish Jeremy well. He needs some good stuff coming his way.

Arlee Bird
Tossing It Out

J.H. Moncrieff said...

Character names are easiest for me. I still struggle with titles, but I love to let my readers name the books for me.

Congrats on another month filled with exciting IWSG news!

Lynda R Young as Elle Cardy said...

I enjoyed Solo because it wasn't terrible... that seems to be the criteria for movies these days. If it doesn't suck, then it's good. Sigh.

Empty Nest Insider said...

I agree with Lynda that this hasn't been a great year for movies. Glad you were pleasantly surprised with Solo!

It's incredible how many wonderful things are popping up with the IWSG! Did you ever imagine how many books and projects would have evolved from the IWSG when you created it in 2011?

Congrats to everyone on their new releases!

Suzanne Furness said...

Yeah titles can be slippery things to nail! I always think other folks come up with perfect ones. I'm considering changing mine at the moment for my current ms.

nashvillecats2 said...

My Alex such alot going on, thanks for all the updates and will look out for details of the anthology.

Yvonne.

Nilanjana Bose said...


I actually have a poem titled 'the title is the hardest part'...so... :)

Sorry to hear about Jeremy, I missed his presence too (and Heather's) at the A-Z this year, though his badge work was as wonderful as ever. Best wishes to him for the new venture.

Thank you for the mention of WEP.

Erika Beebe said...

Titles are definitely not my thing either. Solo sounds sort of disappointing but my son really wants to see it so we will go in a couple of weeks :)

Shady Del Knight said...

Hi, Alex!

Thanks for the film reviews, good buddy. Ron Howard has had more hits than misses, but he sometimes disappoints me with his predictable, hackneyed film making style. Titles seem to come to me more easily than character names. I'm happy to see that my Florida friend Chrys has a new one out.

Enjoy the rest of your week, good buddy Alex!

The Cynical Sailor said...

Thanks for the review of Solo. Given that it hasn't done as well in the box office as other Star Wars films, I wasn't sure if I should see it on the big screen. Sounds like it might be worth it.

Truedessa said...

Good Morning Alex,

I have not yet seen Solo, maybe this weekend. I have seen Jeremy’s new business venture, I wish him well. There are some interesting prints, all you do is pick up a frame and you have a unique gift.

Another anthology, I really need to stop dragging my feet and enter one of these.

I always have trouble with names for poems, I can only imagine how difficult it would be for a book .

Wishing you a fun IWSG day!

Are you still writing?

Cathrina Constantine said...

We've been wanting to see Solo, but have heard many bad reviews. After reading your review, I think we might go and see it. Thanks Alex.

I'm the same as you, book titles stump me, but I have fun picking character names.

Have a great week.

Jennifer Hawes said...

So many Star Wars movies! I'm excited for Incredibles 2 and Jurassic World this month!! Titles are hard to come up with. We want them just right. I usually don't sweat the book titles though. They come to me when I least expect it and make total sense. Naming characters is such a breeze compared to naming books!

Alex J. Cavanaugh said...

Elephant's Child, that's good!

Lee, yes he does.

JH, clever.

Lynda, yeah...

Julie, I never did!

Erika, it wasn't disappointing. It just won't stick with you.

Ellen, it's worth it.

Truedessa, yes you do!

Cathrina, just go and enjoy.

Lynn La Vita said...

Golly, after sweating over writing a gripping story, there's something unfair about struggling to write a catchy title. Plus the whole marketing side...

I'm pleased to say my June IWSG blog hop post went live while most of us were asleep. I *finally* figured out how to set the WP UTC clock.

I wish Jeremy the best of luck in his new business venture. I checked out is collection on etsy.com. Wow, what a fascinating collection.

Madeline Mora-Summonte said...

When I struggle with titles, my husband and I brainstorm until we come up with something that works.

I've been on the fence about watching Annihilation. I'll keep it on the list for now. :)

Elizabeth Spann Craig said...

The answers to the trivia make so much sense when I see them! But I can never come up with them on my own somehow.

I'm having a much harder time with titles this far in to the series...especially punning ones.

Hart Johnson said...

I am total opposite on the character title thing. Titles I arrive at with word play on my main ideas and it's a kick.

I really want to see Solo. Love the idea there is a train heist. I am also curious to see Emelia Clarke's performance. This seems a better fit for her than some she's played aside from Game of Thrones.

Bish Denham said...

Titles may be a bit more difficult for me, even though many of my stories ideas have come from titles I made up. (I have lists of titles...) As for names, I do a lot of research to get the right one and that can take time but is not necessarily difficult.

I don't seem to be a movie goer these days as none them get me excited. Congratulations to Chrys!

Joanne said...

Have not seen Solo but based on your review, I will. I'm bad at names - all of my bad boys are Nick...that's a fave name. Not very creative.
Congrats to new books for authors - I'm sure Chris Fey's is quite resourceful.
And stay cool......that's all I'm doing lately. TX is crazy and it's early in the season.

Crystal Collier said...

I was surprised, pleasantly so by Solo. In fact, I was a little sad it got so much bad press because it was VERY good. In fact, it was my favorite Star Wars movie since Disney took over.

Cheese to you!

Susan Flett Swiderski said...

I haven't heard many good things about the movie "Solo," but after reading your review, maybe we'll give it a shot, after all. We watched "Deadpool 2" this past weekend, and it was as funny as we expected. My gal pal and I saw "Book Club" yesterday, and we laughed until we cried. So did the other women in the audience. For older women, this has got to be one of the funniest movies ever. Not sure how younger women and men would feel about it.

Michael Di Gesu said...

Hi, Alex,

Exciting things coming up this summer! Definitely excited about the next IWSG Pitch. I missed the last one. I'd really like to submit to the next anthology. I seem to always be out of sorts when calling for submissions. Maybe this time? Let's hope I can get over this next hurdle.

Haven't had much time for movies, so I may not see any this summer.

Congrats to Chrys and CD on their books. All the best to Jeremy in his new business venture. It is offering something I never have seen before and that's a good thing.

Not sure if I can subbing to the next WEP. It would have to be something wonderful for me to submit. They'll be excepting something great since I won the last prompt... the pressure! LOL

Hope all is well! Thanks for the comment at my blog. It means a lot....

Susanne Matthews said...

Thanks for the reviews. As far as naming chapters go, no thanks.

Tamara Narayan said...

I find it interesting that you wrote about your "attempt" to read Annihilation. I had a similar experience. About half way through I got bored and stopped. Perhaps I'll check out the film.

Lisa said...

Might catch Solo. Your review was the most interesting yet on it. Went to J's site and fav'd it, saved it, so when I need something I can go right to it. I think I missed an anthology! Have to go and check. Am checking out the other links too. Thanks!

Pat Garcia said...

Hi,
I am happy to see another anthology release coming up. I don't have any experience writing young adult romance, but maybe I'll try this time. Who knows?
Shalom aleichem,
Pat G @ EverythingMustChange

Natalie Aguirre said...

I can so relate to the difficulty with titles. My current manuscript is called New Story till I find it's name. Lucky you to have help from your publisher. I love all the titles of your books. They fit so well together.

Unknown said...

I'm struggling with a title right now--I hate coming up with titles!

Having next month's IWSG on the 3rd is a good idea. Marking it on my calendar!

Christine Rains said...

I usually get help with titles too. The stories are so big in my head, that I can't squish them down to a few words! Congrats to all the writers with new releases. I haven't gotten to see a new movie recently. Unless you count Show Dogs... which I don't. Only a good riffing can save that movie!

Nick Wilford said...

Glad I'm not alone in my title angst. And character titles are definitely out!

Nick Wilford said...

Glad I'm not alone in my title angst. And character titles are definitely out!

Cherie Reich said...

Solo looks like a fun movie, but I'll probably wait to see it. Right now I'm just waiting for June 22nd to come so I can see Jurassic World 2. :)

Angela Wooldridge said...

Thanks for the heads up on Solo, looks like it's one to just sit back & enjoy the ride

Chemist Ken said...

I saw both Deadpool and Solo on the same weekend. Talk about sensory overload! Solo was pretty good, but I'm beginning to feel like I've seen it all before. I wonder how much longer the Star Wars franchise can keep going.

Carol Kilgore said...

Congrats to those with new books! We had planned to see Solo but passed at the last minute. I think it'll keep for On Demand.

Sadira Stone said...

Busy times at IWSG! Thanks for all you do for all of us. I write romance, but will pass on the YA anthology. After a career teaching high school, I'm done with teenagers. I wish them well, but don't want to read about them anymore. Good luck to all submitting for this one.

Alex J. Cavanaugh said...

Lynn, awesome!

Madeline, watch something happy afterwards.

Hart, she's really good in the film.

Joanne, we're warm but pleasant. I'm sure the humidity will hit soon though.

Crystal, I don't know why it's getting slammed so hard.

Susan, glad you saw Deadpool 2.

Michael, I hope you do submit to the anthology this year.

Tamara, I was so bored with the book. The movie is much better although still a slow pace.

Pat, give it a try!

Natalie, thanks!

Christine, I'll let you know when it appears on RiffTrax then.

Ken, they have two more movies planned...

Rhonda, my thoughts as well.

Loni Townsend said...

My husband and I are looking for a time when we can go watch Solo. We did opt to go watch Deadpool 2 first.

Patricia Stoltey said...

I'm set for a month of writing and reading (and gardening too) so don't plan to spend a lot of time on social media. However, there are some must visit blogs, and yours is one. I added Solo to my Netflix queue so I suspect I'll watch it someday.

S.A. Larsenッ said...

Thanks for the reminder of next month's posting. I totally would have spaced that.

I love creating titles and character names! I find both give me focus as to where the manuscript is headed. OR it will tell me that parts of my plot don't fit, etc... I only realized I do this while I was writing up my post for today.

That #IWSGPIT is going to be epic! If you need me to spread the word just let me know.

Tonja Drecker said...

Good think you have a great publisher! I don't name my chapters either to avoid frustration (they never sound just right). Can't wait to see all the pitches for #IWSGPit! And YA Romance...hmmm. We'll see.

L. Diane Wolfe said...

I liked Solo. I'll have to take a look at Jeremy's store later.

T. Powell Coltrin said...

Lots of great author news. Not really a romance writer so I don't know about the new contest.

I will be watching Solo for sure.

Teresa C.

Sandra Cox said...

I have been known to pluck a title then write a story around it:) Unfortunately, not so with my current WIP. I had my title from the git go, sure no one else would have used it. Wrong. So I've gone second string with my title and not completely confident in it. We'll see.

Chrys Fey said...

So much happening with the IWSG again. Yay!!!

Thank you for the shout-out! I realized I sent you too much (what I was sending everyone else). I'm glad you could shorten it. I hope it wasn't a bother.

Donna K. Weaver said...

We enjoyed Solo. It was a fun summer popcorn movie. I hear it's not done well, moneywise, so the way it set things up for a possible sequel doesn't seem likely.

dolorah said...

Yay, the next anthology!! I never name my chapters either.

Rawknrobyn.blogspot.com said...

Go, Jeremy! He's an incredible talent, and a very nice man.

Rachna Chhabria said...
This comment has been removed by the author.
Rachna Chhabria said...

Hi Alex, I've always liked your book titles, I was under the impression that you had come up with these amazing titles.

I'm excited for both the IWSG Anthology Contest as well as #IWSGPit

Btw, I love chapter titles and three of my MG books have them.

Alex J. Cavanaugh said...

Patricia, thank you!

Sheri, that would be great.

Chrys, no worries. I included what I could.

Donna, it's sad but this will be the first Star Wars bomb.

Rachna, just the first and fourth ones.

John Wiswell said...

Annihilation is a strong contender for Best Bear of 2018.

Gwen Gardner said...

I’d be lost coming up with sci-fi character names. Go you! For me, I’d rather come up with a title.

Julie Flanders said...

I'm with Gwen - sci-fi character names would give me a panic attack LOL. Thanks for the July 3 reminder. Hard to believe July 4 is right around the corner already.

Mark said...

I saw Solo and was also pleasantly surprised:) It's not groundbreaking, but it was good fun.

cleemckenzie said...

Today, the movie trivia caught my eye. Logan was one of my all-time favorite movies. And Mad Max: Fury Road I saw twice.--very uncharacteristic os me.

Anonymous said...

Titles are harder for me to figure out. I've even asked for help and inspiration in order to finally name a story.

Thanks for your comment on my blog the other day about my bro's funeral, Alex. Made me feel better.

Anonymous said...

I think I've said this before, but I feel like you and my hubby would be great friends. You share the same interests. He also enjoyed Solo for what it was and felt the same way about Annilhation.

That clown that Jeremy did is fantastic...and super creepy, which is what makes it fantastic. Best of luck, Jeremy and I hope things are looking brighter for you soon.

Elsie

Juneta key said...

Loved the Solo movie. Congrat to all the new releases and new business.

Anonymous said...

I'm the opposite. Titles come easily for me. I love to design a cover for all my projects. I wished this inspired me to [ahem] finish writing them. But naming the characters can be a time-sucking challenge. Looking forward to details on the upcoming anthology, although it's out of my genre.

J.L. Campbell said...

Lots of things coming up. Your publisher named your book? It's really not your strong suit. :D I like the sound of Jeremy's business.

Mary Aalgaard said...

I'm excited to check out Jeremy's retro movie posters! As you read on my blog, titles are way easier for me. I agonize over the character names!
Thanks for all you do.

Andrew Leon said...

I'll get around to Annihilation at some point.

Sandra Hoover said...

Lots of exciting news this month! Thanks, Alex. Congrats to all with new releases. I can't remember the last movie I saw...I spend my time working, writing or reading. I really need to get out to the theatre - some of these movies sound good!

Alex J. Cavanaugh said...

Gwen, I could teach you!

Mark, that's the perfect way to describe it.

Lee, we also went to see it twice and that's a rare film that gets me into the theater more than once.

Patricia, I'm glad.

Elsie, he and I should meet some day.

Joy, they came up with several names and I picked one. Then we used one of the other names for book three.

Sandra, I make up for all those you don't see...

LD Masterson said...

Character names are easy for me. Titles, not so much.

I'm having a little trouble going to see Solo. I love Star Wars films in general but I adored Harrison Ford in that role and I'm not sure I could accept someone else. We old ladies get very set in our ways.

L.G. Keltner said...

I'm glad to know I'm not alone in struggling with titles.

Good luck to Jeremy! He's talented and deserves all the success in the world.

I'm looking forward to finding out what the anthology theme will be. I'm sure it'll be another great one!

J E Oneil said...

Another anthology. How fun :) I'm probably going to skip Solo unless it shows up on Netflix, although Donald Glover seems perfect for the role of Lando.

Pat Hatt said...

Great stuff happening with iwsg indeed. Solo never really appealed to me, as you nailed it, you know what can and can't happen. Why I rarely like prequels with established characters. Or prequels period.

Nailed the trivia too at our zoo.

The cat and Pat both have WEP entries. Go yarn.

Pat Hatt said...

Except Saving Private Ryan, whoops.

C.D. Gallant-King said...

Thanks for the plug!

I really want to see Solo. It's just such a pain to get to the movies these days.

Young Adult Romance, huh? I COULD do that. That's not to say I SHOULD do that...

Rhonda Albom said...

Should I ever get back to my book, it will be the title. I was using a writing software that had a name generation feature based categories I would select. Congrats to Jeremy, I love the idea of his new business. The movie trivia answers surprised me, especially IT.

Jemi Fraser said...

I like the new anthology genre - might be fun to try another short story! :)
I'm glad Solo isn't a disaster - I was worried!

diedre Knight said...

Hi Alex!

Character naming is easy for me. I prefer to see how the story unfolds before giving it a title. Kind of like naming a puppy Tinkerbell and watching it grow into a moose. CHAPTER titles? Is that still a practice? Say it ain't so...please.
Ack! I didn't get a single trivia question right!
Enjoyed your movie reviews - as always ;-)

Hilary Melton-Butcher said...

Hi Alex - Solo is on locally ... but don't think I'll get to see it - at some stage a repeat. I'm into a WEP entry ... what is another matter - perhaps they do take away stories down at the store?! Thanks for all the shout outs for books and fellow bloggers, and the movie 'data' ... and yes Jeremy - I must over to look through ... cheers Hilary

Alex J. Cavanaugh said...

LD, I didn't think I'd like a different actor, but he grew on me.

Pat, no surprise the can wrote about yarn.

CD, you're welcome! And you should do that.

Jemi, not a disaster. Just won't change the world.

Diedre, it's not a practice in my world!

Diane Burton said...

I'm looking forward to seeing Solo. Annihilation doesn't sound like my kind of sci-fi. Love your movie reviews. Have a good month!

kimlajevardi.com said...

I'm definitely looking forward to IWSGPit! I'm not sure if I'll see Solo in theaters. My son didn't like it as much as you did. His review has made me think about waiting to catch it on Amazon or Redbox.

Toi Thomas said...

Looking forward to the next anthology contest.
Haven't seen Solo yet; hope I don't miss it in the theater.
I'm so happy about Chrys Fey's new release. Been waiting for it.
Had no clue about the Tarantino film.
Another great post.

Unknown said...

I like what you said about Solo because that's what I keep hearing. They certainly lowered expectations with the last movie.

Susan Gourley/Kelley said...

I knew two of the trivia. Good score for me. Checking out Jeremy's Esty. Wish I had something to pitch during the Twitter Pitch.

kaykuala said...

Hank finds titles more of a challenge than characters even for a poem. Mindful that good titles (especially for books) will cause readers to grab these readily. Otherwise strange titles can be a put-off

Thanks for the good words on Solo, Will look up for it

Hank

H. R. Sinclair said...

I can't believe it's been a year already and time for a new anthology!

I heard Solo was better than expected.

Botanist said...

I can't say I struggle with either titles or names, but they sometimes take a while to emerge from the mist, and they have to feel right. I can cope with a working title for a while, but until I have character names settled I struggle to write anything involving them.

The Happy Whisk said...

Didn't catch SOLO yet. I'm not into Star Wars all that much, but we'll probably go see it. We were going to during Tim's staycation but the time got away from us.

Heather Erickson said...

This month I have read some great ideas for both Titles and Character names. Definitely one of my favorite IWSG questions so far.

Liz A. said...

I'm terrible at titles. Names too, really. But I think titles are harder.

I did see Solo. I know, shocker. I might have to try the WEP. I can think of many stories the kiddos have told over the years that would qualify.

Alex J. Cavanaugh said...

Kim, it won't kill you to wait.

Toi, might want to see it soon.

Heather, that's good to hear!

Liz, good for you!

Raimey Gallant said...

Yes! Book titles are so much harder. I also think, okay, so I don't need the final title right now. I just need the title that will grab agent/publisher attention. Happy IWSG day!

Helena said...

Coming up with titles can drive me nuts, yet when I look back on my choices they seem natural, as if the title had been born at the same time as my story. But ALWAYS authors should Google their titles to see if there's competition. I've been surprised when I go on Amazon Books and twenty (or more) books with virtually the same title pops up.

Fundy Blue said...

I'm still hoping to catch "Solo." I'll pass on "Annihilation" though. I can't handle disturbing and gory scenes. Congratulations to CD, Chrys, and the "Unraveled Yarn" gals, and good luck to your buddy Jeremy. Young adult romance ~ sounds intriguing. I hope that you are having a great day! thanks for all you do for us!

Patsy said...

Usually book titles just come to me, but I'm struggling to find something just right for the short story collection I'm currently putting together.

Misha Gerrick said...

I also find titles difficult, so I usually leave them until last, right before I publish.

Heather M. Gardner said...

And I thought I had a lot of news in my blog post!

HI ALEX!

We finally finished our Marvel marathon...all 17 films...then watched Black Panther (excellent) and then Infinity Wars! It was amazing. I mean, I used a lot of tissues, but amazing! I love they way they weaved it all together. The next one should be epic!

Congrats on everyone's good news!

Heather

Unknown said...

Titles for me too! Hubs and I loved Solo, a great summer action flick. Thought Donald Glover stole every scene he was in. And yay for another anthology; you guys do such a good job putting them together.

Charles Gramlich said...

I'm not really a big Star Wars fan but I will probably check out Solo.

Michelle Wallace said...

I struggle with character names. My characters remain Mrs. B, Mr. X and Miss Y for a very long time.

Notes Along the Way with Mary Montague Sikes said...

Thank you for all the fantastic support you give your writer friends, Alex. Jeremy's new business sounds like a really good idea!

Alex J. Cavanaugh said...

Helena, I did a search for all four of my books.

Heather, that's awesome you made a marathon out of it. How long did it take?

Thanks, Jamie.

Tony Laplume said...

Names and titles are by far my favorite things about writing. I might flip-flop on titles sometimes, but it's always a blast thinking them up.

Tyrean Martinson said...

I'm with you. Titles are tough. However, I can't say that all of my character names just come to me like that, either.
Nice reviews of both movies. I used a "shimmer" idea in a short story a few years ago - it was interesting to see it in the trailer for Annihilation and definitely makes me a bit more curious.

Olga Godim said...

"Solo" sounds like a good movie. I need to go see it while it is in theaters.

Roland Clarke said...

Titles come easier for me - or maybe the Muse that inspires the initial idea. She doesn't come up with names - that's down to research.

Karen Baldwin said...

Whenever I go back to the States, I go to the movies. Your reviews help in choosing which movie to see.

Sandra Cox said...

I wonder how long it will take the sticky note to fall off my brain about posting July 3? :)

susanbruck.com said...

Wow! I forgot about chapter titles. I'm adding those to my fantasy novel now, because I had a critique and the editor said it was hard to keep track of the changes of time and place. But--ugh!

And thanks for the movie reviews!

Jennifer Lane said...

I agree with you that book titles are killers sometimes.

Not sure why I don't have much desire to see Solo. But I did just see A Quiet Place and I loved it!

Whoops, I forgot to post this month.

Denise Covey said...

Hi Alex! It' great that Chrys Fey has gathered all her writing tips into one book. She's a very helpful blogger. Also thanks for the promo for WEP. Have a good month!

mail4rosey said...

My son has been wanting to see Solo. Teachers at work say it's better than they thought. We may go see it afterall (and the new Incredibles movie will prolly be on our list as well because it is summer vacation now, woohoo!). :)

Alex J. Cavanaugh said...

Tyrean, it is an interesting film.

Leigh, that's good to know.

Sandra, I'll remind you every week until then!

Susan, that would be a great way to show that.

Jennifer, now that's a great movie!

Rosey, that's the perfect description - better than you thought.

M Pax said...

Titles are hard for me, too. If I don't start with one, I often struggle over them for months. I'll wait until Solo is out on DVD. Will have to check out Annihilation.

Karen Lange said...

Hope June is treating you well. Have a great weekend!

E.M.A.Timar said...

I still haven't seen Solo and with the lack of stellar reviews, I am starting to wonder if I will catch it in the theaters. Now I have seen Annihilation and I think your review is on point. Unfortunately, I am a character-centric consumer of both books and movies so I had trouble connecting with the movie. The upcoming pitch session sounds exciting. I will be sure to share it on social media. Maybe I will even be ready to participate the next time it comes around.
P.S. Sorry for being late on my IWSG comment, got sick on Wednesday and finally out of zombie-mode.

Magic Love Crow said...

Alex, your posts are always filled with so much information! Thank you! Thank you for the reviews and Congrats to everyone on their new releases! All the best to your friend Jeremy! Love the trivia! Take Care Alex!

Liesbet said...

Solo sounds like a fascinating movie. Too bad about the “known path” of all the characters, I guess. But, based on the success of all these “extra” movies, the producers can go on forever, and develop a prequel story for all of them.

I would love to make the next pitch party. This time is the first time, it might be feasible. If I get my act together, and be somewhere “stable” for a while.

I hear you about titles, Alex! Names seem to be less complicated. And, shorter for sure. :-)

Victoria Marie Lees said...

My daughter and husband LOVED the Solo movie. It's amazing how producers and writers can expand these famous Star War movies and characters. Laterally, it can go on forever.

I don't have much trouble with names either, Alex. But then, I'm writing contemporary. I created a Rwandan name once for a skit at college in French class. Arusha Naturenut, because she was an explorer of national parks. Yes, Rwanda has national parks. All best to you, sir.

Beth Camp said...

Thanks for highlighting Chrys Feys' contest and her romantic suspense books now on sale. And thank you for including much other useful information -- and visiting me!

Carrie-Anne said...

I'll let writing friends know about the next anthology contest! I can't wait to see what the theme is.

DMS said...

I think character names are easier to come up with than titles.

Great to hear about the anthology contest. Chris Fey's latest sounds very helpful!

~Jess

Caitlin Coppola said...

Excited for this year's anthology genre! Yeah, I liked Solo more than I thought I would ;) Lots of fun things to look forward to!

LynNerdKelley said...

Character names are much easier than book titles. Going to check out Jeremy's shop right now. Thanks, Alex!

Birgit said...

Congrats to Robyn, Sandra and everyone with their new books and very nice of you to show them here as you always do. I will check out Jeremy’s shop and hope he is slowly doing a little better. As for the trivia..let’s see...1. Starman 2. Ex Machina 3. Empire Strikes Back 4. Underworld?? 5. Metropolis 6. No clue:) 7. No clue:) 8. War Games 9. Star Trek-First Contact(my fav) 10. Aliens. I am happy that Face Off started again.

Mina Burrows said...

I think characters are easier than book titles for sure.

The IWSG anthology contest sounds exciting! YA...yay!

I saw Solo and enjoyed it too.

Looking forward to next months #IWSGpit too.

Alex J. Cavanaugh said...

EMA, appreciate you sharing #IWSGPit!

Liesbet, I hope you can join us.

Beth, I try to get to as many IWSG participants as possible.

XmasDolly said...

Ahhhh huhhhh now I see what you were really doing on my birthday! ~hehehe~ Just teasing you... I bet you are always here every day of the year aren't you. It's your bag as they use to say. Well, we're getting some changes around here. The people across the street sold their house last month & the people next door sold theirs. Now the people 2 doors down are the ones that bought the house next door, but I think they did because the house is where my backyard is and this LOOOOOOONG GARAGE is next to my house and the guy is a mechanic. Ohhhhhhhhhhhhhhh Lordie! I can imagine what this is going to look like. The house two doors down they park their cars on their front lawn & the owner is the mechanic & he rents rooms out to his friends & 2 of which are the owners of the house on the otherside of me. I think you get the picture now. Do you have a house for sale by you? I think I need to move & my brother is selling his house in Justice & moving to his summer home in Michigan. Hmmmm maybe I need to change my deodorant. ~hehehe~ Will you be my brother now??? BIG HUGS.... SORRY SO LONG... Just a bit lonely I guess & you're my favorite peoples to talk too! HAVE A GREAT DAY MY FRIEND! hugs BIG HEY To the beautiful wife & gorgeous kiddies...

Deniz Bevan said...

Funny you mentioned chapter titles. I've always wanted to be an author that names her chapters. But it would take forever! I'd want to get song quotes or poem quotes, I'd want to have hidden meanings, I'd want the table of contents to have a balance and flow, I'd want to set up a mystery... I could spend as much time on those as the novel itself. So, yeah, better that I don't even start [g]