Wednesday, August 7, 2019

Dog Days of Summer


So dogs get their own days in summer? One might think cats would be offended, but cats think they own every day, so probably not. So since it is too hot to walk the dog on their days or even mow the lawn, what is it you can do? Writing? Yeah. Wait on that a few seconds. Blasphemy. I know. There are a few other things first.


You can keep those entries coming and make sure yours is all polished and ready to win. Less than a month left to get it in. Are you entering? Have you entered?

The 2019 Annual IWSG Anthology Contest is now open for submissions!

Guidelines and rules: 

Word count: 3500-5000

Genre: Middle Grade Historical – Adventure/Fantasy

Theme: Voyagers

Submissions accepted: May 1 - September 4, 2019  

Need some clarification on the genre?
Middle grade – suitable for 9 – 14 year-old children.
Historical – it must have historical aspects and be set in a time before 2000 or earlier. It just needs to be set in the past. Adventure/fantasy – the subgenre can be either adventure OR fantasy. The fantasy genre is acceptable as there are many ancient cultures and times that believed in supernatural occurrences.


It also never hurts to polish those pitches and have them ready to go. You just never know who may be watching.


Or prepare yourself for posting your entry for RED WHEELBARROW between August 21 - 23.

Or you could just answer the optional question. If you answer it would that mean it isn't optional? Probably not. Would that be two questions? I guess that makes three. Right. Here it is.

Has your writing ever taken you by surprise? For example, a positive and belated response to a submission you'd forgotten about or an ending you never saw coming?

And if you want one more thing, you could check out the going ons of the IWSG Instagram account. Or you could going on about my use of going ons. Did it twice. Whoopsy!


Are we done yet? Not quite. Where have you to go? It's too hot. Oh, you still want to write? Well then I better finish up. For our final task, please welcome Juneta Key to the IWSG admin team.

Juneta Key writes SPECULATIVE FICTION, and loves fantasy and all its subgenres, the paranormal, mythological and space opera. In 2019, she entered into a partnership with another Indie author as co-owner of Stormdance Publications, to create fun, quality themed anthologies, especially about grumpy old gods. She’s one of seven founders of the Storytime Quarterly Blog Hop founded in 2015. 

Also let's give a round of thanks to the awesome co-hosts for this month's posting. Renee Scattergood, Sadira Stone, Jacqui Murray, Tamara Narayan, and LG Keltner!

Do you plan to participate in any of the above? Has your writing ever taken you by surprise? Enjoying the heat? Getting any writing done? Tired of my questions?

20 comments:

nashvillecats2 said...

Writing certainly took me by surprise, Love all the features you've mentioned. Motivation plays a huge part in writing must get my act together if I want to reach my goal.
Enjoy your day.

Yvonne.

Leigh Caron said...

I always thought my writing was a whim. After decades of writing different venues, I guess I can call myself a writer. I do plan on participating in the Red Wheelbarrow.

Alex J. Cavanaugh said...

We are rocking it. Welcome, Juneta!

Hilary Melton-Butcher said...

Hi Pat - dog days indeed ... the dog is saying 'for goodness sake take pity on me ... it's far too hot' and 'I'm not finding your cat ... if she disappears in this heat to cooler climes - good for her' ... as for you: well we know what you do - escape inside and draft ... enjoy the summer and yes I'm going to be writing with the Red Wheelbarrow ... cheers Hilary

L. Diane Wolfe said...

Dog days of a hot summer!

Debra Renée Byrd said...

What do dog days even entail!? lol

Elizabeth Seckman said...

My grandma used to say that dog days were called that because the rate of rabies would go up and because the water sources start to run dry and the waters are stagnant in August. I should google that and see if she was right.

Natalie Aguirre said...

I'm glad it's cooling off here enough to walk my dog more. We both need the exercise!

cleemckenzie said...

The hardest days for me to write are summer ones. I itch to be outside, hot or not! Hey, I just made a rhyme. Must be having a good tyme. Oops!

Pat Hatt said...

Nashville - motivate away and write day by day.

Em-Musing - Decades count.

Alex - a lot a rocking indeed.

Hilary - yeah, poor dogs need the shade. Cats may too.

Diane - hot for sure. ugg.

Debra - wish I knew haha

Elizabeth - guess you answered that question...or at least your grandma did.

Natalie - cooling off and a walk with the pup is a win.

Lee - Soon enough you'll be able to put away that itch, for it will snow, ain't that a umm hitch.

Beverly Stowe McClure said...

We're melting here. Poor Happy can't come into the house. The creeps that dumped him never taught him manners. The hot days of summer are living up to their name. 106 today.

Juneta key said...

Its been a hot summer here in Florida even in the am which is not normal and late night I have been here eight years and this is the hottest it has been. Still, it's not a Texas hot.

Sandra Ulbrich Almazan said...

The IWSG sure has a lot going on!

Powdered Toast Man said...

I needed that random nonsense. Makes it fun and playful. Now I don't really remember what the post was about.

dolorah said...

Got my Red Wheelbarrow entry done, but I'm afraid MG is just not my genre at all.

Susan Gourley/Kelley said...

Welcome to Juneta. It's to hot to do much but write and read. I have been walking a few days per week so I'm not entirely escaping the heat.

Jemi Fraser said...

So much going on!
Juneta will be a great addition!
Not sure my MG story will be ready - summer has been nuts but we'll see :)

Michael Di Gesu said...

Hey Pat,

I can honestly say I am OVER THE HEAT~ Since I've been in Florida for nine months, and most of them HOT, I would truly enjoy an arctic breeze!

Thanks for some of your alternative suggestions. Yes, writing isn't always the answer... lol, but for me it should be. I did a lot of reading over the summer which I truly enjoyed, but now it's time to get back to writing for the fall.

I have a few ideas mulling around in my head for the anthology, I just hope I can get them into a fantastic story....

Enjoy the rest of your summer!

Fundy Blue said...

Hey, Pat! Where you're at! I made it to sentence two in this post and knew it had to be written by you! Thanks for compiling all the writing information in one place! I'm finally making the rounds ~ Finally home too!

Roland Clarke said...

IWSG keeps inspiring this insecure writer to struggle on. The first draft of my anthology entry is written - now comes the dreaded editing and perhaps beta readers. And I have a red wheelbarrow to polish for next week.