Wednesday, January 6, 2016

Insecure Writers Support Group--January, 2016


Good morning, everyone! If it's IWSG day then chances are, one of my darlings is home sick. Ding, ding, ding! Yes, she is! Big Bear is fighting off an ear infection (which started on New Year's Eve). Little Bear had a fever of 102 on, wait for it, Christmas Eve. But it's okay! We had a wonderful time over break, spent many days in the sun in short sleeves down in N.C. visiting relatives and ate way to many cookies. (Don't tell Monkey).

Note to self: Stay in bed and hide on Martin Luther King Jr. Day.

But enough bad news. I have some good news. The short story I submitted to the IWSG Anthology Contest made the cut. Yeah! (And to think I almost didn't even try.) Congrats to the other authors who will be included, especially L.G. Keltner on her top story!

Here's a question for you writers. I've been working on a historical novel that takes place right before the Civil War. It's going through another edit, but is very close to completion.

Many years ago my dad gave me some photo albums dating back to the 1860s containing portraits of our relatives. My husband thought it would be cool to use some of these ancestors' images for characters in the book. As I went through the album, it was amazing how well some of their faces matched my characters.

What do you think? Using old photos worked great for Ransom Riggs in his Mrs. Peregrine's Home For Peculiar Children series. (Not that my photos are peculiar.) I wonder if my living relatives would support the idea or be horrified. Hmm . . .

Anyway, thanks to Alex Cavanaugh for creating this group and putting together the anthology contest. I also want to thank everyone who left such supportive comments on my December ISWG blog. Now it's time to get hopping, starting with today's awesome co-hosts: L.G. Keltner, Denise Covey, Sheri Larsen, J.Q. Rose, Chemist Ken, and Michelle Wallace.

Happy 2016, y'all! 




40 comments:

  1. Congratulations on making the cut. You go! The photo idea sounds interesting. If there is no copyright infringement I would say use them if they suit your characters, if the face fits, so to speak, lol.

    Juneta @ Writer's Gambit

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  2. Congratulations on making the cut. You go! The photo idea sounds interesting. If there is no copyright infringement I would say use them if they suit your characters, if the face fits, so to speak, lol.

    Juneta @ Writer's Gambit

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  3. Congratulations on making the cut. You go! The photo idea sounds interesting. If there is no copyright infringement I would say use them if they suit your characters, if the face fits, so to speak, lol.

    Juneta @ Writer's Gambit

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  4. Congratulations on making the cut. You go! The photo idea sounds interesting. If there is no copyright infringement I would say use them if they suit your characters, if the face fits, so to speak, lol.

    Juneta @ Writer's Gambit

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  5. Congratulations on your story! I can't wait to read it! I think the idea of using old photos is an interesting one. Then again, I've always been fascinated with old photos.

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  6. I think that's a brilliant idea. They are your photos to use, so why not?
    Congratulations on making it into the anthology. Proof that when you doubt, do it anyway.

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  7. Yay for us! I think photos make any project more tangible and the more realistic it is in our minds, the more vivid it will be on the page.

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  8. Congratulations, Tamara. I loved your story. Keep at it! Your idea is brilliant. Generally, I use models, actors, (famous people) to be my characters. Studying their profiles, staring at their faces, helps me write compelling scenes. Your idea is even better than that. Your faces are related. That is very kewl. Happy New Year!

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  9. Congrats, Tamara.

    I use pictures of people to help with my characters, but that's an even better idea.

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  10. Congrats on making the cut! I didn't try this time. Too busy with so many other things:) I also have a bunch of old photos from WWII featuring my grandpa and would love to use them someday. I agree that Ransom Riggs incorporated his photos really well! If you can pull it off, go for it!

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  11. Ugh on all the sick!

    Yeh on the story! Congratulations! :)

    I don't know what the legalities would be on using the photos in the actual book. You could always just use them for yourself as inspiration. Good luck - it sounds fascinating.

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  12. Congrats on the story. Boo on having sick children and cool with the real photos. Our family only has one photograph from that time and the ancestor in it looked exactly like my father.

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  13. I think your ancestors would be thrilled to be included in your work.
    So sorry about the ear infection. Nasty stuff. Our two year old grandchildren have recently had tubes put in.
    Congrats on the anthology! I look forward to reading your story. Thanks for pit-stopping by:)

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  14. Congratulations on making the cut!!!! That is fabulous!

    I think the photo idea is genius! I would do it. :)

    Sorry your darlings are sick. I hope they feel better soon.

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  15. I think it's a wonderful idea, using old photo's as inspiration. I wish my family would allow me to do the same. I've asked for my grandmother's diary but I guess there are too many skeletons. :)
    Congratulations on placing in the Anthology - what an exciting beginning for the New Year!

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  16. Congratulation on your anthology contest winning. Excellent. All the best to you in the new year.

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  17. Congratulations on having your story accepted in the anthology! That is wonderful news!

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  18. I hope everyone gets well soon! Congrats on your story being accepted into the IWSG anthology! I really like the idea to use the old photos. The only thing would be to make sure you have the right to use them before publishing. :)

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  19. Congratulations on your IWSG victory! I think the old pictures would be really neat.

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  20. Congratulations on your story being accepted! I should think using only photos would be a great source of inspiration. I know old photos from my family, and the history behind them, is worthy of an epic historical novel. But oh... the research it would take! More than I think I am capable of.

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  21. Congratulations on your story being accepted! I should think using only photos would be a great source of inspiration. I know old photos from my family, and the history behind them, is worthy of an epic historical novel. But oh... the research it would take! More than I think I am capable of.

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  22. Congrats on your story. What an awesome way to start the New year. Being sick isn't fun for anyone involved. Sending healing vibes your way. Cheers!

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  23. Tamara, I came by to congratulate you on your inclusion in the Anthology! Can't wait to read all the winning stories!

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  24. Congratulations on getting into the anthology! Nicely done!!! And yes, what if you hadn't tried??? Great way to start the year. All the best to you in 2016!

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  25. I was fascinated by the pictures in Rigg's book. Hmm, that reminds me I should find the second book and see what happened.

    I do like old pictures in books. Fun to look at as long as they do not distract from the story. Bet your family would think it cool.

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  26. Yay for you getting into the anthology! I think the old pictures could really help your readers visualize the setting of your story.

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  27. The thing to do is ask your family about it. If they are ambivalent, then that's fine. The interesting thing is that your family literally has no say if you are the one who owns them as the very images are well past copyright, and the likenesses of living persons cannot be violated. Still, asking is always the polite way to go.

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  28. Congrats on getting into the IWSG anthology. There were so many great stories to choose from!

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  29. Good luck with your story. Old pictures can be fascinating.

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  30. Congratulations! I love the idea of using photos.

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  31. Congrats on having your story in the anthology! I'm looking so forward to that book coming out.

    If your relatives are cool with it, I think it's a brilliant idea to use the photos.

    Sick kiddos...I remember the days. May you have a happy, healthy month ahead of you!

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  32. Congrats on the IWSG Anthology success!
    Using those photos would add a wonderful touch of 'reality'.
    It would be really cool...I think...
    Thanks for visiting my blog and Happy New Year!
    Michelle@Writer In Transit
    January co-host.

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  33. Fabulous news about the IWSG anthology! It'll be a huge success; we're all so much looking forward to reading it. And I love the idea of using photos of your relatives... Yes, those pictures always add a depth in dimension, for me.

    Stopping by on behalf of the Lost & Found gang for a pre-hop "hi" :)
    Guilie @ Quiet Laughter

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  34. شركة نسر الرياض افضل شركة تنظيف بالرياض
    المنازل والفلل والشقق والسجاد والموكيت باستخدام افضل المنظفات وباجهزة التنظيف بالبخار فان كنت في حاجة الى شركة نظافة بالرياض يمكنك الاتصال بنا في اى وقت نصلك اينما كنت

    شركة تنظيف بالخرج


    ومن خدمات شركة نسر الرياض :
    1- مكافحة الحشرات فان كنت تعانى من انتشار الحشرات يمكنك الاستعانة بافضل شركة مكافحة الحشرات بالرياض
    للقضاء على كافة انواع الحشرات وتعد شركة نسر الرياض افضل شركة مكافحة حشرات شرق الرياض تقوم باعمال مكافحة الحشرات بالرياض باستخدام اقوى المبيدات الحشرية
    2- كشف تسربات المياه تقوم نسر الرياض شركة كشف تسربات المياه بالرياض بالكشف عن تسرب الماء للحفاظ على المبانى من الانهيار ,ولحل مشاكل ارتفاع فاتورة المياه والكهرباء لابد من التاكد من عدم موجود تسربات للمياه في منزلك نسر الرياض تقدم افضل خدمة كشف تسربات المياه شرق الرياض وتعد اهم شركة كشف تسربات المياه بالرياض وبالمملكة وتستخدم احدث الاجهزة الالكترونية للكشف عن التسربات بالذبذبات الالكترونيه
    3- عزل الاسطح تقوم نسر الرياض شركة عزل اسطح بالرياض
    باستخدام افضل مواد العزل المائي فنسر الرياض تتميز بجودة العمل واتقانه ويتم عمل اكثر من اختبار للتاكد من جودة طبقة العزل فنسر الرياض افضل شركة عزل اسطح بالرياض
    4- نقل الاثاث ونقل العفش شركة نسر الرياض افضل شركة نقل اثاث بالرياض

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  35. تقوم بنقل العفش والاثاث داخل وخارج الرياض والمملكة وتتوفر لدينا افضل سيارات نقل اثاث بالرياض مخصصة ومجهزة لنقل العفش
    شركة نقل اثاث بالخرج



    وتعد شركة نسر الرياض افضل شركة تنظيف منازل بالرياض تقدم افضل تنظيف للمنازل والبيوت بالرياض والمملكة باستخدام افضل الالات التنظيف واحسن المنظفات العالمية
    تقوم بتنظيف الخزانات من الاتربة والطفيليات باستخدام افضل مواد تنظيف خزانات بالرياض ومن خدمات التنظيف الاخرى التى تقدمها شركة نسر الرياض افضل شركة تنظيف خزانات بالرياض



    وطبقا لما ذكرته ويكيبديا بلدية الشمال هي إحدى بلديات مدينة الرياض في المملكة العربية السعودية
    الأحياء التابعة لهاعدل
    حي الربيع
    حي الندى حي الصحافة حي النرجس
    حي العارض حي النفل حي العقيق حي الوادي
    حي الغدير حي الياسمين
    حي الفلاح حي بنبان حي القيروان حي حطين حى الملقا

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I will do everything in my power to visit commenter's blogs unless I've been abducted by aliens or my children get sick. (If my children get abducted by aliens, I will be very busy, of course, catching up on my sleep.)