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:
Beverly Stowe McClure, Lisa Buie-Collard, Erika Beebe, and me: Fundy Blue!
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.
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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:
Whose perspective do you like to write from best, the hero (protagonist) or the villain (antagonist)? And why?
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Happy IWSG Day, Everyone!
I don't know about you, but I'm so ready for spring!
We're in the middle of a deep freeze,
and I wish spring would hurry up and get here.
My Grandmother MacDonald always warned me not to wish my life away,
but here I am ignoring her again.
Only nine or ten weeks to go!
So Done with This!
Out My Front Door
Aurora, Colorado, USA
Out My Front Door
Aurora, Colorado, USA
Winter 2016
© M. Louise (MacBeath) Barbour/Fundy Blue
All Rights Reserved
I'll be interested in reading fellow members' answers to this month's IWSG question.All Rights Reserved
So Ready for This!
Along Piney Creek
Aurora, Colorado, USA
Along Piney Creek
Aurora, Colorado, USA
Spring 2017
© M. Louise (MacBeath) Barbour/Fundy Blue
All Rights Reserved
All Rights Reserved
Right now we're supposed to be in Honolulu, Hawaii,
but instead we are at home hanging out near the fireplace.
All our traveling in the past several years caught up with us,
and we had a pile of put-off-things to take care of.
We realized that life would be a whole lot calmer and less stressful,
if we hit pause and took care of things now instead of being even more crunched later.
I find myself going back and forth between feeling blue and feeling relieved.
Out with White and in with Green!
Along Piney Creek
Aurora, Colorado, USA
Along Piney Creek
Aurora, Colorado, USA
Spring 2017
© M. Louise (MacBeath) Barbour/Fundy Blue
All Rights Reserved
All Rights Reserved
I typically write non-fiction, and the work I'm focusing on currently is a memoir
with my father and myself as the main characters.
I consider us both flawed protagonists.
The longer I live, the more I see the world in shades of grey
and less in black and white.
I also have a novel in the works; and again,
I'm writing from the perspective of a flawed protagonist.
I'm fascinated by the internal struggle
between the light and the dark in a protagonist,
about the overcoming or the failure and why.
Longing for May Skies
Along Piney Creek
Aurora, Colorado, USA
Spring 2017
© M. Louise (MacBeath) Barbour/Fundy Blue
All Rights Reserved
While we're taking making decisions and taking care of responsibilities
(not bad, just complicated),
I'm working on two other beneficial outcomes,
closing in on achieving several long-term health goals
and clearing my mind so I can work my way out of a quandary
I've encountered in writing my memoir.
Accomplishing these is worth the sacrifice of a trip to Honolulu.
At least I hope so!
A Favorite Pool in Spring
Along Piney Creek
Aurora, Colorado, USA
Spring 2017
© M. Louise (MacBeath) Barbour/Fundy Blue
All Rights Reserved
Happy Writing in March!
I'm looking forward to visiting around!
The Conservatory
Bellagio
Las Vegas, Nevada, USA
February 7, 2018
Photo by Terry Barbour
© M. Louise (MacBeath) Barbour/Fundy Blue
All Rights Reserved
Sorry it's not Hawaii, but take care of what you need to now.
ReplyDeleteWorking on a novel as well? Very cool!
Thanks for co-hosting. You rock!
Hey, Alex! I'm happy to do it! Have a fun time!
DeleteAAHH!! That last photo, Monet reflections. Down here, decisions as well, and I am hoping they will all end up to an easier life. Renovations and alterations, the builder, draftsperson and plumber are all well on the way. Friday will see the real start with some VERY tall cupboards being demolished. ( Did I ever mention I am short).. And I am so thankful I do not need to write from either perspective. Enjoy those last winter flourishes. Spring must surely be on the way, as we are thinking Autumn has dipped its toes into the pool. Cool nights and early mornings have begun.
ReplyDeleteHi, Jean! The photo made me think of Monet too! I'm all for an easier life, so I hope the renovations go well. No, you never mentioned that you are short. I am too, and I'm always climbing up on things. We can have snow well into May, and it has been cold! Sending you and Hugh a big hug! Take care!
DeleteLove the snow photo!
ReplyDeleteI hope you do get to Hawaii soon, but staying put to take care of things sounds restful.
Protagonist, totally.
Thanks, Sandi! I'm sure we'll go somewhere great sometime this year. It's mentally restful for sure! Have a good one!
DeleteLove that last photo of you! Happy Year of the Pig!
ReplyDeleteThanks, Debra! Happy year of the pig back at you. It's always fun to visit the Bellagio's conservatory. Chinese New Year has become a big event in Vegas.. Have a great day!
DeleteHappy IWSG Day! Thanks for Co-Hosting. Blessings✨
ReplyDeleteThanks you, Ann! Wishing you blessings today, too!
DeleteHere in the south of France, spring has arrived early, in mid February! Sunny days, up to 20°C...it's not like that every year though. To think that you still have snow is strange. Love that last picture of you and so glad to meet another non-fiction writer!
ReplyDeleteHi, Margaretha! Yay, another non-fiction writer! It's nice to meet you too. I read your post in which you said that you were considering workshops that included wine, walking, journaling, and horse meditation. That sounds like an awesome idea! Have a good one!
DeleteLovely spring photos :)
ReplyDeleteSpring keeps teasing us here in the UK, but at the moment it's just rain... :(
Rain, rain go away! I'm such a blue sky person. I hope spring stops teasing you soon, Angela!
DeleteHi,
ReplyDeleteI am so so happy that the snow is by you instead of me. I don't like snow at all! I smiled at your wording, flawed protagonists. I like the way your terminology. I write fiction and non-fiction too and my character driven stories have flawed protagonists.
Thank you so much for being a co-host.
All the best.
Shalom aleichem,
Pat G @ EverythingMustChange
Hi, Pat! Thanks for visiting on IWSG Day! It's always a pleasure and fun to be a co-host. Wishing you writing success and satisfaction in the coming month!
DeleteMichigan weighing in on the weather- Oh, yeah. I hear you!! But your photos were wonderfully uplifting, reminding that spring is ahead. Like you, I'm all about the flaws. Characters, like their authors are rarely perfect. Thanks, for co-hosting this month. Hoping all goes smooth with the trip plan!
ReplyDeleteThanks, Nancy! Personally I find perfect a little boring. My mother railed against being considered a "goodie two shoes" all her life. She started smoking in protest, admitting to me when I was a teenager that that was not the smartest move. LOL Happy writing in March!
DeleteI am with you! Where is spring? I'm in Kansas City and we've had the arctic dump out here too. I love all your pictures. Congrats on your work in progress. Flawed characters are so real to readers :) Happy IWSG Day :)
ReplyDeleteThanks for your kind comment, Erika! I know how it can be in Kansas City in the winter! I certainly hope things warm up for us both soon. Have a good one!
DeleteSometimes you need to just stay home and get some things done.
ReplyDeleteLook at all that snow. That much would've shut down our town for a week.
Hi, Diane! We can get slammed by snow in Colorado, but then the sun comes out, and it all disappears. Thanks goodness! Have a great Friday and weekend!
DeleteThanks so much for co-hosting! Yes, I can relate to just being home and getting clutter (whether physical or mental) taken care of. I like your take on who you write from. I too, see more of the world in gray and not black and white. We are a complicated bunch of humans for sure!
ReplyDeleteHi, Lisa! It's always a pleasure and fun to co-host! It's the complications that make people so fascinating and why everyone has a story. Happy writing this month!
DeleteWe've had a late cold snap here where I live in the Texas Hill Country. Things were already starting to bloom and bud out, even the peach trees (too soon) and wham, three days with the mornings in the 20s. It's suppose to start warming up today. I'm ready!
ReplyDeleteHi, Bish! Sorry to hear about the freeze hitting your peach trees ~ Fresh, ripe peaches must be one of the most glorious things on this Earth! I spent parts of my childhood in apple growing country, so I know all about blossom anxiety. I hear that the Texas Hill Country is beautiful. I'd love to see it one day. All the best to you!
DeleteLovely photos! We're in the middle of a deep freeze up here in central Maine. It keeps snowing and then we'll have a warm day and tons will melt, just making a mess. Then - yup, you guessed it - it snows again. #sigh I'm ready for warmer weather. Thanks so much for co-hosting!
ReplyDeleteFrom the sounds of all the comments I'm receiving, the whole country has been in a deep freeze! I have two sisters living in the vicinity of Digby, Nova Scotia, and I know how they've been slammed with winter weather too. It's always a treat to co-host, Sheri! All the best to you!
DeleteUgh we're in the middle of a deep freeze here in Ohio too. Come ON Spring! Beautiful pictures, by the way. I can't wait until the world looks like that again!
ReplyDeleteThanks, Megan, and thanks for visiting today! It's always fun to interact with fellow IWSG members on OUR Day! Take care!
DeleteWe're also in the middle of a deep freeze. I'm hoping by the end of March we'll feel some warmth. Beautiful pics. Thank you for co-hosting!!!
ReplyDeleteThanks, Cathrina! I always get a kick out of co-hosting! Wishing you a happy month of writing as you wait for warmth.
DeleteWe've had so much coldness, snowy and icy weather here in MO that I'm quite tired of it. I thing the entire US has suffered this winter. Love your photos!!!
ReplyDeleteThanks, Teresa! Just posting spring photos lifted my spirits! Yes, based on all the comments I'm getting, it's been quite a winter in the US and Canada. I'm thankful I'm in Colorado and not with the rest of my siblings in Alberta and Nova Scotia. I hope you are out of cold, snow, and ice very soon!
DeleteYour photos brought a little bit of spring into this cold, snowy winter. Thanks for co-hosting this month.
ReplyDeleteThanks, Diane! That was my intent in posting them. I always enjoy co-hosting. It's a way to give back to Alex and the IWSG. All the best to you!
DeleteI think it's okay to long for a change of seasons, if we can look forward and still somehow find a little good in the moment where we're at. I long for blue sky days on rainy ones, but I try to see the beauty in the rain, too.
ReplyDeleteAn excellent point, Tyrean! Most of the time I actually like snow. It's beautiful, and I find it purifying. Sometimes it grinds me down though, especially when I have to go out on bad roads or when it just keeps coming and coming and coming. Thanks for visiting!
DeleteIt's another rainy day here in Los Angeles. It's seems kind of weird to talk about rain and L.A. in the same sentence since a year or so again the former CA governor Jerry Brown said that L.A. may never see rain again and remain in a state of continuous drought. Next I'm looking forward to a big snow like you've pictured. That would be very entertaining to watch the pandemonium that would likely ensue.
ReplyDeleteLike you I'm thinking more in terms of memoir. I agree that our lives are nuanced with shades of grey.
Arlee Bird
Tossing It Out
Hi, Arlee! A long time ago, I lived in Garden Grove. I remember how the rain could fall in torrents and flood the streets. We used to worry about the Prado Dam failing. One of my favorite field trips ever at Cal State Fullerton was when our hydrology class went to examine the Prado Dam. I'm glad that you're experiencing some drought relief and that Governor Moonbeam was wrong. (No disrespect to Governor Brown; I actually liked him). A memoir is not easy to write, but it certainly helps me sort out patterns and meaning in my life. Wishing you some sunny skies between the rains!
DeleteSometimes hitting pause is exactly what you need to do. :)
ReplyDeleteHi, Madeline! Thanks for visiting. Today pause is feeling really good! Good luck with your writing in March!
DeleteI'm with you, the sun can't come soon enough! Thanks for co-hosting this month.
ReplyDeleteThanks, S.E.! It's always a pleasure to co-host! It's a way to give back to Alex and the IWSG. Wishing you success in your writing this month!
DeleteGlad you hit the pause button, but couldn't you have chosen a different time to pause--foregoing a trip to Hawaii??? I do appreciate how much of a relief getting those things done will give you--perhaps more so than relaxing in Hawaii. You can't relax with other things on your mind. I'm working on a memoir now and struggling with continuing also. We should compare notes. Stay warm.
ReplyDeleteJQ Rose
Hi, JQ! It was hard to hit pause right now, but it was worth it. I admit I have flashes of regret several times a day, but then a minute or two later I'm breathing out a sigh of relief. My head felt like a busy squash ball court, but now the balls are decreasing. I would love to compare notes in the near future. We're slammed here through the 21st. How about after that? Have a good one!
DeleteThat picture definitely tells the story. Yikes! Keep that fireplace going.
ReplyDeleteHi, Jacqui! Our fireplace is on right now, and has been most of the day. Have a great Friday and an even better weekend!
DeleteThanks for co-hosting, Fundy! I totally agree about the world looking more gray and less black and white as I age.
ReplyDeleteThanks, Jennifer! Co-hosting is always fun to do!
DeleteBeing an adult can be complicated but at least you're moving forward. Sorry about Hawaii. :-)
ReplyDeleteAnna from elements of emaginette
Thanks, Anna! Hawaii isn't going anywhere ~ I hope!
DeleteAt least you're getting things done, right? It means your vacation sacrifice isn't in vain.
ReplyDeleteI can't wait for the weather to warm up either. I'd be good if it rose to the 60s and stayed there for a while.
Yes, Loni, I'm getting things done, and each day that goes by my decision seems more worth it. I'm ready for the 60s too! Have a good one!
DeleteThanks for co-hosting, my dear. What a sacrifice, giving up a trip to Hawaii. I hope you reschedule your vacation and reward yourself for your dedication to your goals. Blessings.
ReplyDeleteThanks, Judy! That Hawaiian vacation will get rescheduled, and I'll enjoy it much more then. I hope you enjoyed IWSG Day. Happy writing in March!
DeleteI feel you on wishing winter was over. Woke up to more of that white junk today too. Meanwhile, my friends in Europe are experiencing 75 degree days. I haven't been to Hawaii yet. It's a dream trip of mine, so I'm not sure I could put that off, but you gotta do what you gotta do, right? Hope you are able to get your affairs squared so you can stop worrying about them. Have a great day, friend!
ReplyDeleteThanks, Theresa! Traveling to Hawaii was my big dream growing up. Fortunately my dream came true in spades, even if I was 35 before I got there. I absolutely know I will go back. I do hope that you get to visit Hawaii. It is magical!
DeleteI'm with you on being ready for spring.
ReplyDeleteSpring is such a hopeful, beautiful word! Have a good one, Patricia!
DeleteIt's beautiful where you live even with the snow. Hope you see spring soon.
ReplyDeleteHi, Susan! Some of the most beautiful days in my life have been in the winter in Colorado. The brilliant white snow and deep blue skies are a dazzling contrast. Some of my most amazing days have been here too ~ Like when we had a blizzard that shut the whole state down, and I watched in amazement as the snow climbed up over the top of my kitchen window and onto the roof. LOL Enjoy Friday and the weekend even more.
DeleteSorry you couldn't go to Hawaii. I'm also waiting for warmer weather--even in the 40's this weekend. Thanks for co-hosting.
ReplyDeleteThanks, Natalie! It's always fun to co-host. 40s sounds good after zero and below. Take care!
DeleteLove your pictures. I'm in MN, and so wishing that Spring were here. It's tough to give up a trip to Hawaii, especially during this winter. I hope you get the things done that are on your list!
ReplyDeleteThanks for co-hosting IWSG this month!
Thanks, Mary! I'm making progress working through that list, and it feels good, let me tell you! I always get a kick out of co-hosting! Have a good one!
DeleteI completely agree about shades of gray in our characters and in ourselves. It is not always clear whether a person or character is a protagonist or antagonist. In real life, we often alternate the roles. Thanks for co-hosting today.
ReplyDeleteThanks, Lee! It's always a pleasure to co-host. I see it as an opportunity to give back to Alex and the IWSG. Some of the most memorable characters in literature and in life are an unclear blend of protagonist and antagonist. Happy writing in March!
DeleteWe have snow too. Ugh. Please, hurry up, spring!!
ReplyDeleteSoon! Soon! I'll know things are looking positive when I see my first robin, my favorite harbinger of spring. Thanks for visiting, Jennifer!
DeleteI hear you about putting life on hold once in a while. It is the reason why we still house sit every few months or so, while living on the road. We'd rather travel, but stuff piles up that way.
ReplyDeleteA fireplace and cold weather would have me writing. Instead, I'm living and traveling in my van, trying to catch up with internet life and chores after ignoring those for a while. But, no complaints - it's 85 out today here in Phoenix, AZ.
I met some campers from Colorado this morning who were very happy to be here and not there. That scene outside your window is horrifying. Let spring (and its flowers) arrive! Thank you for co-hosting this month!
Thanks, Liesbet! I'm glad that you are warm in Phoenix! We spent December in Surprise, Arizona, and it was chilly! We drove to Bullhead City from Surprise in and out of a snowstorm. I couldn't believe it! LOL Stuff sure does pile up when you travel a lot. We've thought about house sitting or pet sitting, but we haven't done it so far. Thanks for visiting and travel safe!
DeleteLovely pictures! Thanks for co-hosting! @mirymom1 from
ReplyDeleteBalancing Act
Thanks, Samantha! It's always fun to co-host! I'm glad that you enjoyed the photos! Take care!
DeleteHope you get to Hawaii and some sun. I can understand wanting winter to go after so much cold, but spring will come and we'll start around again. At least I hope so.
ReplyDeleteHope you will find spring around asap dearest Louise :)
ReplyDeletei wish i could send some of sunshine and blooms to your surroundings my friend!
i think March is month after which spring is definitely in your area by the Grace of Lord!
Sorry for delayed trip to Hawaii which is irresistibly tempting i must say but what is nice about is to sort out "due jobs" and finish them specially your work on memoir which will be a wonderful gift for readers i am so very sure about it :)
how can i praise enough your skills of photography Louise dear which is REMARKABLY beautiful !
i am so at peace to know that you are much concerned about your health issues which is satisfactory !
I am impressed with your answer to the interesting question dear Louise!
"flawed protagonists" yes nothing is perfect here in this weird world nor it can be because life demands all the shades one has time to time
wishing you an early happy spring and happy successful writing my friend!
Hugs!
Thanks you for your wonderful comment, Baili! You lift my spirits all the time! I went through a rough go of it healthwise some years back with eight hospitalizations, so I am thrilled to be much healthier. It's taken a lot of effort to be where I am now, and I am so much better! I'm so glad that you enjoyed my photographs. I always get so much pleasure out of seeing yours! Sending you a big hug, my special friend!
DeleteOh how can i forget to adore your sweet delightful face with such a lovely smile :)
ReplyDeletejust like a happy serene fairy !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Thanks, Baili!You're a sweetheart!
DeleteI'm VERY ready for spring!
ReplyDeleteThat seems to be something many people are feeling, Patsy! Thanks for visiting! Have a good one!
DeleteYour pictures are so restful! Thank you for posting.
ReplyDeleteThanks, Liza! I've walked in the open space along Piney Creek hundreds of times. It always soothes my restless soul.
DeleteSo you aren't the energizer travel bunny? Have to stop? Geez, there goes your rep lol
ReplyDeleteGetting things done and health is important though. Don't want to have so many things pile up that you take a year off of going anywhere to get them done.
The energizer travel bunny is just changing her batteries, Pat! There has never been a year in my life where I didn't go somewhere. I told Terry that when we plow through all this stuff we have to go somewhere awesome. "We'll see," he always answers. Argh! Alex said somewhere yesterday that you haven't missed a day of writing in over a year. You constantly amaze me! Have a good one!
DeleteI enjoyed reading your comments about your snowy life and memoir. I'm in the progress of writing about my life, too. Our lives are very different. I live on a sailboat in tropical Mexico. Thank you for co-hosting IWSG March blog hop.
ReplyDeleteThanks, Lynn! A sailboat in tropical Mexico sounds pretty good right now, as I am still hunkered down near the fireplace. I come from Nova Scotia originally. Many magnificent sailing vessels of all sizes originated there. I admire the courage of people who travel from port to port on a sailboat. I would never have the guts to do that! I'm sure that your life stories are fascinating!
DeleteYour photos are incredibly inspirational. They lift my spirits just looking at them ;-) You mentioned a quandary in writing your memoir. Until it became a trend, I'd never considered a (private) memoir being released until the person had passed. That way, instead of fearing judgment, you'd already be smiling down from heaven ;-)
ReplyDeleteWrite fearlessly! And once in a while jot down an itinerary for Hawaii ;-)
Your comment has lifted my spirits, Diedre! My quandary is all about how deep do I go, and you're right, I have to be fearless. Thank you!
DeleteLove the photos - I think we'd like to stroll through the meadows alongside Piney Creek :)
ReplyDeleteThanks so much for hosting this month. It's been a difficult week for me, and it's nice to come back to the sanity of IWSG!!
I'm sorry to hear that it has been a difficult week for you, Jemima. I hope that things are looking up. I really enjoy co-hosting for the IWSG! It's my chance to give back to Alex and the IWSG. The members are inspiring and uplifting. Strolling along Piney Creek is always a joy. I have walked its banks in my area hundreds of times. It never fails to delight me! All the best to you!
DeleteWinter is getting me down here in Michigan too. We're in the teens, and the snow around here is weeks old and getting dirty. January, February, and March are dead to me outsidewise, so I spend my time dreaming about April.
ReplyDeleteHawaii would be nice, but sometimes it's better to rest and take care of things at home.
I'm relieved to be home, Ken, even if we've been down to zero and dipped below. I always dreamed of traveling, traveling, traveling, and in the past few years Terry and I have been on many wonderful trips. It never occurred to me that I'd actually enjoy being home scrubbing baseboards and attending tax seminars ~ but I am, among other mundane things. Take care!
DeleteThanks for your kind comment, Debs! With every item crossed off my list, I feel lighter and brighter! Have a good one!
ReplyDeleteI have some skis in storage that are begging me to take them to Colorado! Come to Savannah, the azaleas are blooming, having taken over color from the camellias that are now shedding their petals.
ReplyDeletewww.thepulpitandthepen.com
Azaleas blooming are glorious, Sage! Lucky you to enjoy them! We've had some good snow in the mountains. My brother-in-law in Breckenridge is getting mighty tired of clearing his driveway over and over and over. All the best to you!
Deleteyep, I'm ready for warm spring air and gentle rain, not torrents in buckets.
ReplyDeleteNot all stories need to have a specific hero and villain. I write a lot of gray characters in not so pristine settings. Its a lot more fun for me write.
DeleteHi, Dolorah! Happy Saturday morning! I so agree! Happy writing in March!
Being in Australia, I'm in the opposite position and I'm sooooo ready for some cold weather for a change. Wanna swap? ;)
ReplyDeleteSure! LOL! I hope you cool down soon!
DeleteYou've got a lot of snow girl! Wow! I think Spring will be arriving soon here. I saw my first chipmunk today! LOL! Sorry about your trip being canceled, but I think you're getting a lot done! A novel? Good for you! How exciting! Love the picture of you Louise! Big Hugs!
ReplyDeleteThanks for your uplifting comment, Stacy! Supposedly we're getting a snowstorm tomorrow with the probability of blizzard conditions. I was wandering the open space today, and it just feels too warm. We shall see! Have a good one! Big hugs back at you!
DeleteSorry you didn’t go to Hawaii, but it sounds like you’re accomplishing a lot by being at home. Hope it starts thawing out soon. What wonderful photos! Thanks for co-hosting the IWSG!
ReplyDeleteJulie
Thanks for co-hosting this month.
ReplyDeleteIt feels like Spring has arrived where I live, but I know better. We could get hit with a snow storm as late as April.
Sorry you didn't go to Hawaii but glad to hear you feel justified in your decision and are writing through it.