IWSG Day and Scarborough Photos (England Part 1 of 4)

First
Wednesday
of
the
month
is
Insecure Writer's Support Group Day!

Insecure Writer's Support Group

A database resource site and support group for writers and authors. Featuring weekly guests and tips, a monthly blogfest gathering, a Facebook group, a book club, and thousands of links – all to benefit writers! #IWSG

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Purpose:To share and encourage. Writers can express doubts and concerns without fear of appearing foolish or weak. Those who have been through the fire can offer assistance and guidance. It’s a safe haven for insecure writers of all kinds!
Posting:The first Wednesday of every month is officiallyInsecure Writer’s Support Groupday. Post your thoughts on your own blog. Talk about your doubts and the fears you have conquered. Discuss your struggles and triumphs. Offer a word of encouragement for others who are struggling. Visit others in the group and connect with your fellow writer - aim for a dozen new people each time - and return comments. This group is all about connecting!

Be sure to link to this page and display the badge in your post. And please be sure your avatar links back to your blog!Our Twitter handle is @TheIWSG and hashtag is #IWSG.   
 

The awesome co-hosts for the August 3 posting of the IWSG are Tara Tyler, Lisa Buie Collard, Loni Townsend, and Lee Lowery!


Every month, we announce a question that members can answer in their IWSG post. These questions may prompt you to share advice, insight, a personal experience or story. Include your answer to the question in your IWSG post or let it inspire your post if you are struggling with something to say.

Remember, the question is optional!

August 3 question - When you set out to write a story, do you try to be more original or do you try to give readers what they want?

You ready?
Let’s rock the neurotic writing world!

 


I'm not sure how to answer the question as I confess to not thinking of readers or the wider world when crafting a story.

I go along with what the characters have decided to do, and I have enough trouble trying to raise the stakes for them and have it all mean something under an overarching theme without worrying about originality or reception or what a possible reader one year from now might think of it all!

I can tell when something sounds "off", of course, and I think that comes from Diana Gabaldon's advice for writers:
"Read.
Write.
Don't stop."

While we're on the subject of advice, I've long loved this Joanna Bourne quote:
"Whenever I see the 'write what you know' advice, I have this picture of nice Professor Tolkien interviewing an ork.

"So tell me, Urlurk Orklag ... did you always want to grow up to be a souless servant of evil?"

In other news, I have a new photo series coming up!

We were in England back in April, and visited Scarborough over Easter!

Lindel Tower, from the year 1300!





York Minster

The house in which Guy Fawkes was born





At Scarborough train station, stained glass inspired by the poems of Wilfred Owen







Scarborough!























Breakfast for dinner at the market hall







Pirates!



Lobsters!

TARDIS!



Tide times!



Notes on history, in a phonebox!







A pub in a house Richard III once stayed at

I chanced upon this sign for a Titanic exhibition and was so glad I'd seen it!

Our hotel



Breakfast!

Easter morning!

Bagpipes

William Strata Smith, father of English geology

Queen Victoria







Mini-putt on the deck of a pirate ship





Inside the Richard III pub







At the Titanic exhibit!



























Trying to lift a fisherman's boot





Donkey ride!





At the arcade with Peppa Pig



A house with a blue plaque but I can't zoom in far enough to read it!





Charles Dickens gave a reading here!



A cosy pub





Old Scarborough

I had to look up "smoked water"



St Martin on the Hill

What's your favourite bit of writing advice?

Comments

Jeff said…
I've always wanted to go to the Scarborough fail, to pick up some parsley, sage, rosemary, and thyme... (Sorry). Enjoyed your photos and chuckled over your Tolkien answer.
Loni Townsend said…
Great pictures and quotes! I grinned at the Joanna Bourne one.

I'm a lot like you, where I follow the characters around without worrying much about anything beyond the story. Can't control what people think, so might as well enjoy the journey with the people in your head.
Hi Deniz - I've never been to Scarborough ... but obviously lots going on in the city - while the beach is well known and long! It looks like the Market is a great place to visit ...

Also you all had fun by the look of it - educational too with the Titanic exhibition - cheers Hilary
Cool shots. England is such an awesome country.
cleemckenzie said…
Your Scarborough pictures are great!
Anstice Brown said…
I'm the same, I never really think about readers until I've finished writing.

I only live a couple of hours away from Scarborough so we went there often as a kid. I love it. There used to be a brilliant haunted house attraction on the seafront that scared the living daylights out of me! Great photos, by the way.
Deniz Bevan said…
Thanks so much, all!
We went past the haunted house but didn't go in -- something to save for next time!