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 December 2 posting of the IWSG are Pat Garcia, Sylvia Ney, Liesbet @ Roaming About Cathrina Constantine, and Natalie Aguirre!
The Writer’s Digest nominations for 101 best websites is open! If you think the Insecure Writer’s Support Group is worthy, please go nominate it. We’d love to see it back on that list.
December 2 question - Are there months or times of the year that you are more productive with your writing than other months, and why?
I’m probably more productive in the winter months. Or anytime from October through February. Probably just a lot to do outside the other months. And I think better when it’s cold.
Which is why I am through editing CassaDark and am looking for critique partners! If you are familiar with the Cassa universe and like my style of space opera science fiction, please leave a comment. Willing to return the critique, of course! But I’d like to have it ready by early spring to send to my publisher. Thanks!
Prepare those pitches!
#IWSGPit is next month - January 20.
See the site for hashtags and details.
IWSG Goodreads Book Club
Our book club is changing things up!
We will have quarterly book selections now, giving us more time to read. We will also have one fiction book selection and one writing craft book selection. Members can read both or choose between them. Finally, we won’t be offering 5 optional discussion questions anymore. Instead, we will be utilizing the polls that our members enjoy, so there will be one poll question for the fiction book and one for the non-fiction book on Discussion Day.
Our December/January/February reads are…
Ghost Light by Joseph O'Connor, a book written in second person. Since many readers haven’t read a book in second person, and many writers haven’t written in second person, we figured this is a great chance to explore something new.
Preparing to Write Settings that Feel Like Characters by J Lenni Dorner. This will be our writing craft book, with a focus on settings.
Discussion Day for both books will be February 24, 2021!
JOIN US at IWSG Goodreads Book Club.
Jenn washes ashore on an island and soon realizes there is something that comes out of the water at night.
At just under ninety minutes, the film doesn’t overstay its welcome and is the perfect length. It builds in dread and suspense, providing some creepy scary moments.
Kiersey Clemons stars as Jenn and she pretty much carries the whole film. We watch her go from a scared, clueless young lady to a tough, resourceful, and brave woman. The creature effects are good and they show just enough to make it threatening and scary.
Despite the odd title, this is a solid creature-horror film.
Recommended!
Plunge by Liesbet Collaert
Tropical waters turn tumultuous in this travel memoir as a free-spirited woman jumps headfirst into a sailing adventure with a new man and his two dogs.
Find Plunge on Amazon Global, Amazon UK, and Goodreads
Liesbet Collaert is a bilingual freelance writer, translator, editor, and photographer from Belgium who has been writing and traveling her entire life.
Find Liesbet at Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, blog, and Amazon
Here are the upcoming theatrical releases for December! As always, descriptions courtesy of the IMDB. Snark provided by me.
4 –
Wander
After getting hired to probe a suspicious death in the small town of Wander, a mentally unstable private investigator becomes convinced the case is linked to the same 'conspiracy cover up' that caused the death of his daughter.
Director: April Mullen
Stars: Aaron Eckhart, Tommy Lee Jones, Katheryn Winnick, Heather Graham
Wander will make you wonder why more films don’t start with W.
11 –
The Very Excellent Mr. Dundee
Paul Hogan is reluctantly thrust back into the spotlight as he desperately attempts to restore his sullied reputation on the eve of being knighted.
Director: Dean Murphy
Stars: Paul Hogan, Luke Bracey, Mel Gibson, Chevy Chase, Luke Hemsworth
If you’re not sure this is a knife movie, Paul Hogan will be sure to clarify it for you at some point.
18 –
Breach
On the cusp of fatherhood, a junior mechanic aboard an interstellar ark to New Earth must outwit a malevolent cosmic terror intent on using the spaceship as a weapon.
Director: John Suits
Stars: Cody Kearsley, Bruce Willis, Rachel Nichols, Kassandra Clementi
The only real suspense is seeing if Bruce Willis is in more than five minutes of this film.
25 –
Wonder Woman 1984
Fast forward to the 1980s as Wonder Woman's next big screen adventure finds her facing two all-new foes: Max Lord and The Cheetah.
Director: Patty Jenkins
Stars: Gal Gadot, Pedro Pascal, Connie Nielsen, Robin Wright, Chris Pine
Looking forward to WW2020 where she spends two and a half hours kicking Covid’s butt!
This movie will also debut that day on HBO Max, so if your theaters are closed, you can watch it at home!
Merry Christmas, everyone! I will be back on January 6 for IWSG post day and the announcement of the IWSG 2020 Anthology Contest winners.