It’s time for some insecurity. You know, the scratching, twittering, and hair-pulling us writers normally keep for ourselves. This is when we share it. Sharing is caring after all. If you haven’t already done so, please click on the magical image above, and it will take you on an unstable, magic carpet ride to the land of sharing. You know you want to.
Our fantastic co-hosts today are: Erika Beebe, Sandra Hoover, Susan Gourley, and Lee Lowery!
The optional question this month is:
What pitfalls would you warn other writers to avoid on their publication journey?
Since I’m not published yet, my warning is focused on something to aid the burgeoning writer. Learn to take constructive criticism. I was just discussing this today with another writer friend. None of us is brilliant right from the start–we just aren’t–and if you can’t take feedback for whatever value it may or may not hold, you will not improve. The journey is as much a part of writing as publication is. So … take criticism for what it provides. That’s how you grow.
That’s all for my teacher/writer soap box. Time for some news.
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This first story shows images of an abandoned mansion in New York. At first, as I clicked through, I got the vibe of malevolent ghosts like in Stephen King’s Rose Red. But, as I read about the buyer who has a penchant for buying up properties and letting them decay, I got a whole other vibe. Perhaps, more of a portal-type story. Humans cannot see what is going on there, so the buyer purposely keeps them empty. So many possibilities as to why. Writers–on your marks, get set, go! 😉
http://www.hooch.net/an-abandoned-mansion-in-nyc-raises-questions/11/
Sewage water turned magical elixir. But, and this is important, it is not actually a magical elixir, people. The petition is funny, though.
The science article I have today is deceptively simple. A discovery that gut bacteria might be part of whether you lose weight or do not, even when adhering to strict diet and exercise regimes. The reason I say it is deceptively simple is that gut bacteria have also been found over the last few years to play small to large roles in diseases, even certain cancers. Science is breaking open more and more of what makes us tick, and weight is just one slice of that pie. I heart science!
https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2018/08/180801125029.htm
That’s it for me tonight. See you back here in seven.
kimlajevardi 
Learning to take criticism is essential – it helps you to prepare for rejection (if you choose traditional routes) and bad reviews.
That abandoned mansion is awesome. My literary lean would be towards the family who left their possessions. I love watching a house auction show here in the UK and sometimes those houses still have clothes in the cupboards and toiletries in the bathroom… weird, and very sad.
Agreed. House auctions would be interesting to watch. I’m still leaning toward portal, though. 🙂
So I wonder what kind of bacteria is good? And does vegetarianism help?
They listed two in the article, but they didn’t give details. I don’t know about vegetarianism.
Learn from the criticism or wither under its weight.
Some of the stuff in the mansion looked like it was worth something. Shame it’s just sitting there.
I like that quote.