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 J. Cavanaugh are
along with IWSG Founder Alex J. Cavanaugh are
Stop by their posts and thank them for hosting.
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Every month the IWSG announces a question that members can answer
with advice, insight, a personal experience, or a story in their IWSG posts.
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 optional question is:
What is the most favorite thing you have written, published or not? And why?
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Happy October, Everyone!
I hope all is well with each of you.
Tough question this month!
Tough in that it's hard to choose my most favorite thing I've ever written.
Was it my short story "Ugly Little Bastards"
that was published in "The Antigonish Review," a Canadian literary journal?
My research paper "A Bestiary for 'The Saga of Pliocene Exile'
by Julian May with Notes on the Pliocene Epoch"
for my Paleontology Certificate for the Denver of Museum and Science?
My short story "Dare Double Dare"
that was published in the IWSG anthology "Voyagers: The Third Ghost"?
My research paper "Reflections on Eternity" which compared Milton's "Paradise Lost" with Tolkien's "Silmarillion?"
There are so many things I've written that are favorites,
because I poured everything, heart, mind, and soul, into them as I wrote.
I Can't Believe It!
Copies of Voyager: The Third Ghost Arrive
Photo by Terry Barbour, May 1920
© M. Louise (MacBeath) Barbour/Fundy Blue All Rights Reserved
I have decided on one, and my choice surprised me.
It's a blog post titled "The Lansdowne Letters: The Pervert and the Sandwich Man."
Just reading it now made my heart beat faster and my throat close.
It's the story of my run in with a pedophile when I was eleven years old.
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Mom, Our Beloved Dachshund Gretchen, and the Five of Us
Not Long Before I Met the Pedophile
Late Spring, 1961
Landsdowne House, Ontario, Canada
© M. Louise (MacBeath) Barbour/Fundy Blue All Rights Reserved
Why on earth would this be my favorite?
Because I finally had the courage to write it.
Because this and a second event changed the person I was
and impacted my life for decades.
I'm still struggling with writing about the second event.
Together they made me the Gingerbread Girl.
It's part of the memoir I've been trying to write,
the memoir I've been struggling with forever.
Even this morning I woke up and thought,
"What if I just say "Screw it!"and let it all go.
Play "Royal Match" and "Words with Friends."
Kick back and enjoy the rest of my life.
Take up painting? 😂
But, I can't.
I've just got to slog on.
I'm looking forward to seeing how others respond to this month's question.
Have a healthy, happy, and creative October!
Take care!
Till next time ~
Fundy Blue
Standing Into Danger https://selkiegrey4.blogspot.com
Copyright ©2025 – All rights reserved.
My next post will be Friday, October 10th 🤞
Just so you know, I monitor my comments before publishing them. This means your comment won't appear immediately. I will not publish mean spirited or commercial comments.
Hi Louise, I am not a writer. There is something that I did years ago, though, and received high praise for from my work colleagues.
ReplyDeleteI need to explain...my mother tongue is English, and I was born, and live, in Montreal, Canada.
I am not a translator but I am able to help in this on occasion.
Anyway, I was asked to type a French correspondence that was given me by a colleague. It turned out that she had made a couple of spelling errors, which I automatically corrected.
My colleague said to everyone, "Linda's French is so good that she corrected my mistakes." It was a huge compliment and very much appreciated.
Well done, Linda! Thanks for sharing. We all are writers in some form. Enjoy the rest of your week!
DeleteI remember you telling us about that man. Hopefully he was caught before he traumatized even more kids.
ReplyDeleteHappy IWSG Day, Alex! My parents would have done something had I told them sooner, but I was mortified. I'm so glad Terry "caught" me. We're in Vegas. I was up late listening to my favorite Fremont Street band. Their Metallica Medley is still ringing in my head. 😂 It's hard to go sleep thinking "Exit light! Enter night." 😱😂 Have fun today!
Delete...Louise, I wish you an Outstanding October.
ReplyDeleteThanks, Tom! I hope you do too. I was thinking of you last night while I was watching a band on Fremont Street in Downtown Vegas. I was right in front of the amplifiers enjoying some Metallica covers and thought, "No way would Tom like this!" 😂. Enjoy your day!
DeleteAnonymously Esther O'Neill, East of the Sun, Thank-you for sharing your painful story Hope you never saw that man again.
ReplyDeleteThanks, Esther! I didn't, thank goodness. Have fun today!
DeleteI'm glad you had the courage to write that story. Keep slogging on, and you'll finish your memoir one day.
ReplyDeleteThanks, Natalie! I will! All the best to you!
DeleteEvents like that are so difficult to write but they free our soul when we do.
ReplyDeleteThanks for your thoughtful comment, Diane! Happy IWSG Day!
DeleteLol so thats the real reason you never get done. Too much words with friends.
ReplyDeleteGetting the strength to write it, sure can see why it is your favorite.
Hopefully you can slog on and get it done before taking up painting.
😂😂😂 I'm breaking the Royal Match curse! It was a compelling stress reliever during the chaos of living in the basement during our renovation, but now I'm back to real life ~ Vegas baby! 😂 Have a great day, Pat!
DeleteThat title alone has to put it in first place! Love it. And I also loved the family beach photo. Such a beautiful memory to have.
ReplyDeletehttps://cleemckenziebooks.substack.com/
Thanks, Lee! That family photo is one of my favorites from my childhood. Have a great day!
DeleteSome things we write resonate so deeply and can be cathartic.
ReplyDeleteYou are so right, Donna! I hope you are enjoying visiting around today!
DeleteIt takes a lot of courage to write about the hard stuff. Kudos to you for doing it. And oy—I haven’t play Words With Friends for a long time!
ReplyDeleteThanks, Rebecca! Writing is difficult, but rewarding, work. I'm down to four friends in WWF ~ It may be an irreducible number. 😂. Have a great day!
DeleteYour favorite story was difficult to read, especially compelling from the pov of an eleven-year-old. How do we protect young children from predators? Telling this story is one way. Thank you for your courage. I hope you continue to write what follows . . .
ReplyDeleteThank you, Beth, for your encouraging comment! I really appreciate it!
DeleteCourage. Very important. It's hard these days when it seems like the freedom to write what you believe can be challenged, and even writing your own experience can be challenged based on someone else's perceived interpretation of your intent. Thank you for putting yourself "out there."
ReplyDeleteThanks, Larry! We live in a crazy time for free speech! I hope that you keep us posted on your WIP!
DeleteGood for you for the courage to share and help others. It is exceptionally hard, I am sure, but well worth the undertaking. Happy IWSG day and happy October to you.
ReplyDeleteThank you, Anonymous! You've commented on my posts before. I wish I knew who you are, so I could return the favor! All the best to you!
DeleteI fall in love with most of my characters. It's hard to pick a favorite.
ReplyDeleteI get this, PJ! When writing you can't help but be invested in your characters. Happy creating in October!
DeleteHello Louise, I love the family photo you are sharing, it is beautiful and heartwarming! I also like the illustration. I wanted to say that over the years that I have gotten to know you, as far back from my old blog, Linda's Peaceful Place, which I had from 2012 to 2017, I have always appreciated your amazing talent for writing and for your ability for expressing yourself.
ReplyDeleteI have so enjoyed your blog over the years, as well as your friendship and kind comments that you leave on my blog, both at my old blog and now on my new blog.
Your positive attitude and your writing have always been wonderful, and you are a person whom I have always respected and liked.
Thank you so much for all you share, it is always a joy to read your writing!
Oh, Linda! You impacted my heart and made my day! Thank you so much for your kind comment and the encouragement! You're the best! ❤️❤️❤️
DeleteI could never write a memoir. It takes so much courage to open up to strangers. I respect everyone who does that, but I'd rather write fantasy with magic and talking squirrels than reality about my life. My metaphorical hat off to you, Fundy Blue.
ReplyDeleteThank you, Olga! I don't know why I'm driven to memoir, but it is what it is. Happy creating in October!
DeleteOMG - my heart is still pounding in anger for what happened to you. Luckily, you were a smart girl in realizing something was not right. Ick! What a sick and horrid man. My heart goes out to you. On the plus side, how sweet to see your pictures that bring happy times to mind.
ReplyDeleteHi, Dreaming! I'm sorry that I am so far behind. I've been traveling and part of the time I've been without my computer. Thank you for the kind words about my icky experience. I hope you are doing well! Happy weekend!
DeleteThat photo of you with the copies of Voyager is wonderful, Louise. As soon as you brought up the blog post, I remembered it. I read it again. It is an excellent piece of writing. I understand the struggling.. I'm a certified writing tutor. I don't know if this will help you, but I'd like to suggest free writing. Write and write and write whatever and if you don't know what to say then write that you don't know what to say, or if your feelings are so overwhelming that they're in the way, let them out on paper. Free writing might best be done with pen and paper instead of on the computer. Just a suggestion and my feelings certainly won't be hurt if it's not for you.
ReplyDeleteLove,
Janie
Hi, Janie! My apology for being so late replying to your thoughtful comment. I am going to take your advice. I've been trying to write in two voices (my father's and mine), and I've been trying to make it an historical, annotated document as well. It just hasn't been working. I'm going with my voice and less history.
DeleteOne word, one sentence at a time and eventually the book gets done :-)
ReplyDeleteRonel visiting for IWSG day Spring Cleaning: Composting Old Manuscripts
Thanks, Ronel! I'm sorry that I'm just replying now. I've been traveling. I hope that you are experiencing a happy and productive October!
DeleteI just love why/how you picked your favorite! I felt like I wrote a part of a memoir as I was doing our family history book. Now I need to flesh that out!
ReplyDeleteHi, Jeanie! I'm very late replying, and I'm sorry! You should flesh your history book out! I hope that October has been treating you well! Take care!
DeleteHappy October 🎃
ReplyDeleteHappy October, Adam! I hope all is well with you and that you are enjoying lots of Halloween fun with your family!
Delete"Ugly Little Bastards" is the best title ever! Thank you for sharing the link to your blog post representing your favorite writing. I admire the bravery in your words. I love witnessing trauma survivors healing through the power of sharing their stories.
ReplyDeleteThanks, Jennifer! I'm sorry that I'm so late replying. We've been traveling. I appreciate your understanding words about my blog post. Writing it did help ease my trauma. "Ugly Little Bastards" is a short story that takes place during an evening of squid jigging in an isolated cove in Newfoundland. It will always be a favorite of mine. Happy writing to you!
DeleteI, too, pour everything—heart, mind, and soul—into my writing, Louise. And as for your memoir, many times I thought the same thing. Who cares! Just enjoy life, Vic. Let it [my writing, my memoir] go. But I couldn't. I’m a writer. I stuck with it. And so will you. I can see you are a strong woman, a committed writer. Go for it! Let me know if I can help.
ReplyDeleteThanks, Vic! You pulled it off, and you are a huge inspiration! I will get there, because I'm stuck with being a writer too! If I need help, I'll come calling. Your offer is much appreciated! Happy October!
DeletePrecious friend Louise
ReplyDeleteUndoubtedly you are one of the finest writers I have ever read 👍🥰
You have very natural way to say things and it seems so effortless 🤗
I truly love how smoothly you can share your expressions in a very sublime manner 🥰👍
I know for a writer it can be difficult to pick favourites from her work because as you said everything you write takes whole of you 🥹
I have read your post about first traumatic event and it never left from my mind!
I bet such things happen to most of the females in different parts of the life but very less can find courage to express themselves. I am really inspired the way you bring it up. At this part of age I can realise that bad things that happen to people for which they themselves are not responsible must be said bravely and openly because it was not your fault. One who did bad must be ashamed and punished.
I am distracted again as it’s my favourite topic sorry.
Sending you much love and hugs ♥️♥️♥️
Hi, dearest Baili! Thanks for your compassion and understanding! Unfortunately we live in a world where a lot of bad things happen to girls and women. Sadly, sexual abuse happens to boys too. I will never understand sexual predators. Your favorite topic is so important! Thank you for sharing your thoughts. You amaze me with your writing, especially your poetry. I'm so glad that we've connected. You have impacted my life deeply! Much love and hugs to you! ❤️❤️❤️
DeleteI'm so late.... How exciting! There is nothing like getting your work published. Congratulation.
ReplyDeleteHi, Nicole! You're late??? 😂😂😂. Look at me!!! Thank for your kind words. Being published is the greatest feeling! All the best to you!
DeleteI'm with you on struggling to pick a "favorite". I would enjoy reading your research paper, "Reflections on Eternity." The blog post on running with a pedophile sounds horrific, but also something which needs light.
ReplyDeleteYou have so many great pieces of writing, Jeff! You are a memoirist at heart. My paper is stuffed somewhere. I was looking for it when I wrote this post. We still have a lot of unpacking to do. Have an awesome weekend, my friend!
DeleteLouise, you are brave to write about things that clearly cause you distress. A memoir is a wonderful outlet for healing. I am thinking of doing the same thing, though probably not to publish, but for healing purposes. PS I'm back on Blogger, that website was too much to handle. ♥♥♥
ReplyDeleteRain, it is wonderful to see you back! I have thought of you every single day. I think you are beyond brave, and I hope that you are slowly healing. I don't know if it is ever possible to completely heal from a traumatic experience like yours, but I think you can reach a place of acceptance and peace. I'm reaching that acceptance and peace about a lot of painful things in my past, and I am grateful for that. Sending you much love and big hugs!
Delete