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 January 4 posting of the IWSG are Jemima Pett, Debs Carey, Kim Lajevardi, Sarah Foster, Natalie Aguirre, and T. Powell Coltrin!
January 4 question - Do you have a word of the year? Is there one word that sums up what you need to work on or change in the coming year? For instance, in 2021 my word of the year was Finish. I was determined to finish my first draft by the end of the year. In 2022, my word of the year is Ease. I want to get my process, systems, finances, and routines where life flows with ease and less chaos. What is your word for 2023? Why?
After this past year – heck the past three years – my word is faith. Faith in my God, in Truth, and in myself.
#IWSGPit is coming!
9:00 am - 8:00 pm Eastern Standard Time
Create a Twitter-length pitch for your completed and polished manuscript and leave room for genre, age, and the hashtag. On January 25, 2023, Tweet your pitch. If your pitch receives a favorite/heart from a publisher/agent check their submission guidelines and send your requested query.
Many writers have seen their books published from a Twitter pitch - it’s a quick and easy way to put your manuscript in front of publishers and agents.
Get the full details here.
Here are the January selections for the IWSG Goodreads Book Club
Fractions of Existence (Existence #1) by J Lenni Dorner
The Emotional Craft of Fiction by Donald Maass
We need IWSG co-hosts for the next three months! Leave a comment or shoot me an email if you can help in February, March, or April.
Reviews
Avatar: The Way of Water
We return to Pandora many years later. Jake and Neytiri’s family is threatened when the Sky People return and they must hide with a water clan of Na’vi.
Yes, it’s over three hours long. No, you won’t even notice. You’ll be so enthralled by what you are watching.
The first Avatar was groundbreaking with its special effects and ten-plus years later, this one does the same. The underwater scenes are beyond stunning. As are most scenes in the film.
It’s a simple story, told in detail. It’s full and rich, with incredible creatures and characters you care about. You’ll be surprised by who plays some of them as well.
Cameron pays tribute to his own Titanic at the end. And that final battle is almost a third of the movie!
Do not skimp – see it in 3D.
Highly recommended!
Wednesday
Wednesday Adams is sent to Nevermore Academy where she deals with monsters, mysteries, and an annoying perky roommate.
This is the best series this year!
The girl who plays Wednesday nails it – perfectly. Her delivery, her expression, how she speaks, it’s all just prefect. Plus her dialogue and attitude are hilarious.
The entire cast is well fleshed-out, with no agenda, just real people with real issues. (Well, as real as werewolves and the like can get.)
The story spans eight episodes and it’s just the right length.
Highly recommended!
Puss in Boots
Puss has used eight of his nine lives and sets out to find the mythical Last Wish.
Voice actors include Antonio Banderas, Salma Hayek, Harvey Guillen, Florence Pugh, and Ray Winstone.
Did you like the first Puss in Boots? Then you will enjoy this one.
A solid cast and humorous adventure story pack in some fun entertainment. The film is often just silly but that’s its charm. The characters have heart though and ultimately they are all looking for the same thing – a family.
The animation is really good and what you’d expect for this offshoot of the Shrek franchise.
Recommended
January Movie Preview
Here are the theatrical releases for January. Descriptions courtesy of the IMDB. Snark provided by me.
4 -
A Man Called Otto
Director: Marc Forster
Stars: Tom Hanks, John Higgins, Tony Bingham
Otto is a grump who's given up on life following the loss of his wife and wants to end it all. When a young family moves in nearby, he meets his match in quick-witted Marisol, leading to a friendship that will turn his world around.
I wonder if tacocat is also a grump...
12 -
Operation Fortune: Ruse de guerre
Director: Guy Ritchie
Stars: Jason Statham, Hugh Grant, Aubrey Plaza, Cary Elwes
Special agent Orson Fortune and his team of operatives recruit one of Hollywood's biggest movie stars to help them on an undercover mission when the sale of a deadly new weapons technology threatens to disrupt the world order.
Statham stars in a new action thriller that will eventually come down to him just punching people.
What is your word for 2023? Participating in #IWSGPit? (If you’re a published author, please let your publisher or agent know about it!) Seen either movie or Wednesday? Seeing any movies this month? And can you co-host the IWSG?
Hope everyone enjoyed the holiday! I will be back Monday with a guest and some other fun stuff.
Hope everyone enjoyed the holiday! I will be back Monday with a guest and some other fun stuff.
