It's the first Wednesday of the month,
the day that members of the
Insecure Writer's Support Group
share their writing struggles
and writing successes
and offer their encouragement
and support to fellow writers.
To visit the IWSG website, click here.
To become a member of the IWSG, click here.
Our wonderful co-hosts who are volunteering today,
along with IWSG Founder Alex J. Cavanaugh are Janet Alcorn,
along with IWSG Founder Alex J. Cavanaugh are Janet Alcorn,
I hope you have a chance to visit today's hosts and thank them for co-hosting.
I'm sure they would appreciate a visit and an encouraging comment.
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Every month the IWSG announces a question that members can answer
with advice, insight, a personal experience, or a story in their IWSG posts.
Or, the question can inspire members
if they aren't sure what to write about on IWSG Day.
Remember the question is optional.
This month's featured question is:
How long have you been blogging? (Or on Facebook/Twitter/Instagram?) What do you like about it and how has it changed?
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Happy April, Everyone!
I hope you are enjoying the beginning of a new season that arrived with the equinox.
Spring has sprung or summer is done.
Regardless, I wish you happiness and creativeness.
Meanwhile, everything's coming up roses for me!
Oh, Terry! You Shouldn't Have!
March 27, 2024
© M. Louise (MacBeath) Barbour/Fundy Blue All Rights Reserved
Just kidding ~ Terry didn't envelop me in roses!
I just have a rosy outlook,
which feels wonderful after the challenges I've faced since April 10, 2021.
I seem to have turned a big corner healthwise and so has Terry,
incrementalism is easing my stress and helping me accomplish personal goals,
and I'm working on my memoir on a regular schedule again.
Gorgeous Roses!
Fontainebleau Las Vegas
The Strip, Las Vegas, Nevada, United States
March 27, 2024
© M. Louise (MacBeath) Barbour/Fundy Blue All Rights Reserved
All the Pretty Roses!
Fontainebleau Las Vegas
The Strip, Las Vegas, Nevada, United States
March 27, 2024
© M. Louise (MacBeath) Barbour/Fundy Blue All Rights Reserved
This genre has sustained me throughout my retirement.
I launched my blog "Standing Into Danger on August 14, 2012,
and, no matter what happened throughout the years since,
I have blogged regularly and published 760 posts, not counting this one.
Whenever I was discouraged about my "real" writing,
I would remind myself that blogging was writing too,
and I was doing it! I was a writer.
Fontainebleau Las Vegas
March 27, 2024
© M. Louise (MacBeath) Barbour/Fundy Blue All Rights Reserved
(We won't mention my defunct "Mrs. Barbour's Wonderful World of Science blog,
which published one post on Asian and African elephants and then shut down.
My school district had encouraged its elementary teachers
to start classroom blogs, particularly to engage young boys.
Well, I went for it, circa 2010, publishing photos I had taken
at Sairung Elephant Camp outside Khao Lak, Thailand.
And then, I discovered to my chagrin, that my highly engaged third grade boys
had figured out how to enlarge the photos I had embedded in my post ~
large enough to see the outline of the breasts of a woman
riding an elephant while wearing a sheer blouse.
Blog terminated immediately, photo deleted immediately ~ lol!)
Feeding the Asian Elephant That I Rode
Sairung Elephant Camp
Outside of Khao Lak, Thailand United States
December 14, 2008
© M. Louise (MacBeath) Barbour/Fundy Blue All Rights Reserved
First, over the years it has honed my writing skills, for which I am grateful.
Next, posting about my family's time in the North became the basis for my memoir.
Then, blogging allowed me to showcase my photography,
which I love pursuing almost as much as writing.
Finally, and most importantly, I treasure the friendships I've built over the years.
It's the friendships, the relationships, I've made that have kept me blogging.
I have special friends all around the world, both in the IWSG and outside it.
Some, like Pat Hatt, I've met in person, and I hope to meet more!
I've found understanding, encouragement, and support.
Often my online friends get me more than my offline friends.
Terry and I with Pat
Smith's Cove, Nova Scotia, Canada
July 28, 2023
© M. Louise (MacBeath) Barbour/Fundy Blue. All Rights Reserved
The biggest change I have seen is that the number of people blogging has decreased.
It is a time-consuming undertaking, and our lives have gotten busier and busier,
so I understand why some people have stopped blogging.
I worry that it will die out as a form of communication in future years.
But, then again, maybe not, because friendship is a powerful motivator.
Fontainebleau Las Vegas
March 27, 2024
© M. Louise (MacBeath) Barbour/Fundy Blue All Rights Reserved
Have a creative and fulfilling April!
Enjoy IWSG Day! And a big thank you to the co-hosts!
Till next time ~
Fundy Blue
Fundy Blue
https://selkiegrey4.blogspot.com
My next post will be soon!🤞