Wednesday, December 5, 2018

IWSG: Wednesday, December 5, 2018 ~ A Writer's Survival Kit






It's the first Wednesday of the month,
the day that members of the
Insecure Writer's Support Group
share their writing struggles
and writing successes
and offer their encouragement
and support to fellow writers.






To visit the IWSG website, click here.

To become a member of the IWSG, click here.

Our wonderful co-hosts who are volunteering today,
along with IWSG founder Alex Cavanaugh are:
J. H. Moncrieff,  Tonja Drecker,  Patsy Collins, and Chrys Fey.  

I hope you have a chance to visit today's hosts and thank them for co-hosting.
I'm sure they would appreciate a visit and an encouraging comment.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Every month the IWSG that members can answer with advice, insight,
a personal experience, or a story in their IWSG posts.

Or, the question can inspire members
if they aren't sure what to write about on IWSG Day.

Remember the question is optional.
This month's featured question is:

What are five objects we'd find in your writing space?
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Happy IWSG Day, Everyone!
I hope each of you is enjoying the holiday season wherever it finds you!

Terry and I have arrived in Surprise, Arizona,
and my brother Roy and sister-in-law Sue flew in last night.
We are anticipating a fun-filled and active week
of hiking, swimming, and pickleball,
with lots of cards and games and conversation.

Needless to say, I am already wrecked from Late Night #1.



My Current Writing Space
Surprise, Arizona, USA
December 5, 2018
© M. Louise (MacBeath) Barbour/Fundy Blue
All Rights Reserved



December's IWSG question, What are five objects we'd find in your writing space?,
depends on where I am.
I wish I could list all these wonderful objects and talismans
that inspire me to great heights and productivity in writing,
but mostly I operate at survival level.
Certain pedestrian objects are always with me, 
so I can work in any place and at any time.

This has been a year of traveling for me, and I write on any surface I can;
but, guaranteed, there will be a cup of coffee not far from my right hand.

When traveling, even on a one-night trip with a small bag,
I always take a power strip and an extension cord.
That way I can be sure of enough plug-ins to power
my computer, iPhone, and other technology.
Access to the internet ~ that's sometimes impossible to bring about,
but I am prepared.  

Next, I always travel with a folder of reference materials,
because I am working on a memoir; and, because I am an optimist,
I always have more notes and materials than I can get to.



My Folder of Reference Materials
Surprise, Arizona, USA
December 5, 2018
© M. Louise (MacBeath) Barbour/Fundy Blue
All Rights Reserved




Fourth, I have a wireless mouse right now, 
because my mouse pad on my computer no longer works.
I don't think Santa is going to bring me a new computer
to replace my poor, banged up, memory-challenged Mac,
but maybe in the spring ... .

And last, I have a pair of red magnifying glasses,
because, unfortunately, my eyes are getting older every day.


The Unvarnished Truth
Coffee, Wireless Mouse, Magnifying Glasses,
and a Teacher's Bad Habit ~
Eating While Working
Surprise, Arizona, USA
December 5, 2018
© M. Louise (MacBeath) Barbour/Fundy Blue
All Rights Reserved



So there you have it:  my writing survival kit,
my traveling office.
I have no excuses for not writing.

Oh yes, it's always nice to have a carrot dangling in front of me.
My writing reward today is a glass of wine, a piece of dark chocolate,
and a swim in a lovely, warm pool.

Happy Holidays and happy writing this December!

I'll be making my IWSG rounds in the late evening today.
Have fun, Everyone! 



Pure Bliss
A Swimming Pool at Sun City Grand
Surprise, Arizona, USA
© M. Louise (MacBeath) Barbour/Fundy Blue
All Rights Reserved