It’s time once again for my monthly post for The Insecure Writer’s Support Group (IWSG). If you’re a twittering writer looking to virtually connect with other nervous keyboard junkies, join. Connect. Insecure together is far superior to insecure alone. Our awesome co-hosts today are Sarah – The Faux Fountain Pen Jacqui Murray, Chemist Ken, Victoria Marie Lees, Natalie Aguirre, and JQ Rose!
The optional question this month is – Everyone has a favorite genre or genres to write. But what about your reading preferences? Do you read widely or only within the genre(s) you create stories for? What motivates your reading choice?
I definitely read widely. Contemporary, fantasy, sci fi, thrillers, etc… In truth, though, I think I go through little obsessions. When I find an author or niche that I adore, I will inhale books from that corner of the publishing world for a while, grow tired, and then find another corner to fixate on. Even though I’m currently enthralled with a small YA fantasy fixation (Wicked Saints, The Thief, etc…) I had a major obsession over Seanan McGuire’s stuff last spring into summer. Middegame is what started it, but Every Heart a Doorway continued it. I am a reader first and foremost.
I’m motivated to the greatest degree by strong/interesting characters, but the overall intersection of the plot arc(s) and emotional arc(s) make the story hit me hard. I need to feel growth or change. If I feel the world and the moment, the author has me. 🙂
Time for news nuggets and a song to round out my Wednesday.
My first story today has the potential to reveal a mysterious sea monster. Please let it be a sea monster. Please. Ignore the hypothesis of a washed-up basking shark. It’s a sea monster, I just know it. https://www.mirror.co.uk/news/weird-news/mystery-23-foot-sea-beast-23597327
The title of the next article says it all. I bow down to the ogre-faced spider and it’s hearing. Science rocks! https://www.sciencenews.org/article/ogre-faced-spider-hearing-catch-insects-prey-air-sound-sight
Here’s a taste of Kansas to end things. Grew to love them from watching Supernatural. Have a great rest of your week, and I’ll see in seven. https://youtu.be/P5ZJui3aPoQ
kimlajevardi 
This is great, Kim! I totally agree. Story is about change. It is about the intersection of the internal and the external arcs. I need to feel that growth or change, too. All best to you!
Thank you! All the best to you as well.
A YA fantasy was the latest release from DLP.
Always loved Kansas. Did you know that song is from the movie soundtrack to Heroes featuring Henry Winkler and Sally Field?
I didn’t know it was part of that soundtrack. I heard it for the first time while watching Supernatural. Fell in love hard with a handful of Kansas songs from that show.
It’s all in captivating story, isn’t it?
Maybe that’s one of Sigmund and the Sea Monsters?
It is. Any writer who captivated me gets an automatic look at all subsequent books.
If he is part of Sigmund and the Sea Monsters, I vote we call him Siggy.