Beth Camp's Blog, page 2

IWSG: If I could be anyone . . .

As we march into Spring, the Insecure Writer's Support Group challenges writers to answer this question on the first Wednesday of March:March 5 question - If for one day you could be anyone or *thing* in the world, what would it be? Describe, tell why, and any themes, goals, or values they/it inspire in you.When I was a kid, I read as many books as I could check out of the library, falling into

Where do ideas for new stories . . .

 So, where do ideas for new stories come from? My historical fiction series began with a college class called The Economic History of Great Britain. Sounds pretty uninspiring, right? My first day, the room was quite crowded with about 70 students. I found a seat toward the back and by the door (my habit: Always sit as close as possible to the exit). The teacher marched in, looked

IWSG: Running like a rabbit . . .

I'm late. I'm late! Just like that rabbit in Alice in Wonderland, down the rabbit hole I go, working my way through a to-do list that's way too long! Including a special writers' Zoom meeting on Wednesday that I missed entirely. Sigh.For February 5, the Insecure Writer's Support Group challenges writers to answer this question: Is there a story or book you've written you want to/wish you could

2025: Time to set those goals!

I'm filled with enthusiasm and a sense of thankfulness over the great receiption of Unleashed Pursuit, just released last week, already with 3 reviews! But, now it's time to set goals for 2025 -- a mix of writing and personal commitments. Here's my preliminary list, including deadlines (aargh!):Complete the first rough draft of Honeymoon in Egypt, an art crimes mystery, currently at 30K.

IWSG: Someone to admire . . .

2025 begins with many challenges. We'll need courage to face some of them down. Right now, the television news are focused on those horrific fires in Los Angeles. I can't help remembering the time I worked in LA's downtown financial district and lived in a small apartment off Wilshire Boulevard. Now a minimum of 80K people are evacuating what looks like four fires. I'm grateful to be living now

IWSG: Beginnings and Endings . . .

First an update. November was fun. Yep. I wrote every day, just a little over 10K words on one of my current projects, Honeymoon in Egypt, an art crimes mystery now at 32K, and met my goal for National Novel Writing Month. It was especially rewarding to simply draft, relish the details, develop the story, and not worry about editing. However, December begins with renewed focus on my other wip,

IWSG: What brings you joy?

This month's challenge from the Insecure Writer's Support Group (IWSG) asks writers to respond on their blogs to the November 6 question: What creative activity do you engage in when you're not writing?I've quilted for so long, I can't imagine not quilting. Making quilts for others -- family, friends, and comfort quilts for those who need them, is a perfect balance to writing. Playing with

October brings a new read . . .

These sunshine days are ending. Fall leaves turn trees into works of art, rich colors from brown to bright yellow, splashed with red. Been busy this month. Finished the first rough draft of Unleashed Pursuit, now at 62.5K, with many revisions ahead. A friend invited me to a poetry reading in November. What should I read? So I dug into back files to find a nearly forgotten travel memoir of that

WEP October: In My Pantry

 IN MY PANTRYImage by Benjamin Balazs from PixabayThree things you'll always find in my pantry are garlic salt, garlic bulbs, and granddad's handgun loaded with silver bullets.I don't trust the garlic salt by itself, but those garlicbulbs are too cumbersome to wear by themselves, even this time of year. I just don'tsee them hanging around my neck. So, I keep my garlic salt

IWSG October: I'd Rather Not be scared, Thank You.

 IWSG October 2 Question: October 2 question - Ghost stories fit right in during this month. What's your favorite classic ghostly tale? Tell us about it and why it sends chills up your spine.I'm not really sure I have a response to this month's question. Ghost stories have never appealed to me, and if I'm at the movies, and something horrific leaps off the screen, I just want to go home