Facebook

06 November 2019

Writing Update & Googling Weird and Wonderful Stuff | IWSG


The Insecure Writer's Support Group (IWSG) is a place to share and encourage, where writers can express their doubts and concerns without appearing foolish or weak. It's a great place to mingle with like minded people each month during IWSG day.

Every month there's an optional question which may prompt folks to share advice, insights, a personal experience or story. Some folks answer the question in their IWSG blog post or let it inspire them if they're struggling with what to say.

This month's optional question is:

"What's the strangest thing you've ever googled in researching a story?"
Check out how people have answered this month's question, as well as the other insecurities and writing topics they may have shared by visiting the IWSG sign-up list here. You can find out how I answered the question below.

* * *



Before I dive into this month's question, a bit of a blog and a writing update.

Let's start with the blog.

[Scratches her head and tries to figure out what to say.]

[Head hurting because she scratched it too much, she changes tack.]

Okay, let's start with the writing update. Things have been busy on the writing front. Crazy busy, but also good busy. Crazy is good, right?

I finished book #4 in my cozy mystery series and sent it to beta readers last month. {Cue all the insecurities that come with sharing your work.} I'm hoping to publish it next month if all goes well with the final revisions and my editor. And now NaNoWriMo is upon us and I'm working on book #5. Plus, I've been putting some energy into marketing my prequel novella through newsletter swaps and group promos with the aim of drawing in new readers for my series. And trying to get more reviews for my back list through BookSprout.

Which brings us back to the blogging update.

[Pauses to drink some coffee, then takes a deep breath.]

I've been terrible at blogging lately. And not just posting regularly here on this blog, but also visiting my blogging buddies. I need to do better. I almost didn't post today, but I knew that if I didn't, I'd be missing out on connecting with the wonderful folks I've met in the writing and blogging community.

Okay, enough about that. Let's talk my weird and wonderful (and slightly scary) google search history. Over the past few months, I've searched for various ways to kill people, how to get away with murder, and what knife and gunshot wounds look like. I've also researched various diseases to give to my characters. Odd how my job is to take all of that horrifying stuff and work it into a lighthearted cozy mystery. You wouldn't really think "cozy" and "murder" go together, but somehow they do.

On the weird side of things, my current work in progress features pub trivia contests so I've been googling for weird facts. Did you know that it's illegal to duel with water pistols in Massachusetts? Or that Oscar the Grouch used to be orange?

I'll do my best to visit folks and comment, but it may take me a few days as I need to get some serious NaNoWriMo words written as I'll be distracted for a good chunk of the month while I'm visiting family.

What weird and wonderful things do you google?

Thanks for stopping by our blog - we love it when people come visit! We're also on Facebook - pop by and say hi!


Get a FREE copy of Robbery at the Roller Derby by signing up for my newsletter HERE.

Or you can buy a copy for 99c/99p at your favorite retailer HERE

Also available in paperback and large print.

This prequel novella is set around twelve years before Murder at the Marina and tells the story of Mollie's roller derby days and how she and Scooter met. Find out more at ellenjacobsonauthor.com

31 comments:

  1. That's awesome about your next book!
    I know someone who has a blog full of those weird facts and state laws! Let me know if you want his blog address.

    ReplyDelete
  2. I love weird trivia! Oscar the Grouch used to be orange?! :o

    Good luck with NaNo! I'm there, too. :)

    ReplyDelete
  3. I will lag in the blogging at times too. I always tell myself that the words come first. They must be written, or what are we blogging for? I think people understand when we get busy and kind of fall off the face of the blogging earth for a bit and cheer when we make it back.

    I can;t wait to read the new story!

    ReplyDelete
  4. Newsletter swaps! Now you've given me ideas.

    Keep hitting the words.

    ReplyDelete
  5. So much writing going on! Bravo! I'm with Diane, one of the reasons I love being a part of this blogging community is all the ideas that come up. Thanks for sharing yours.

    ReplyDelete
  6. I'm not a writer, but I do google stuff and often. Usually it's words that I don't know the meaning of. I love google for that.

    Have a fabulous day, Ellen. ♥

    ReplyDelete
  7. Good job getting #4 finished! I hear you on the blogging side of things. I was away for some time, and I was amazed when I finally came back and the community is still strong. :)

    ReplyDelete
  8. Book #4 in the hopper and book #5 getting on the pages! You rock! Yeah, the social media thing is tough. It's supposed to be fun and then it's a time-sucking chore. I'm backing off for the rest of the year and taking December off completely after IWSG. I have got to get my focus on my WsIP or I'm never going to publish.

    ReplyDelete
  9. I'm totally with you on the slow down in blogging. Life just has a way of bogging things down.

    ReplyDelete
  10. Congrats on your new book. I think it's okay to slow down on blogging but you'd be sorry if you lost the connections. They are the most personal ones I have.

    ReplyDelete
  11. If you're doing NANO, you're one busy writer. Good luck on your word count.

    Hope your book launch goes smoothly. Congratulations.

    ReplyDelete
  12. Darn, and I had a water pistol duel scheduled for tomorrow! Guess I'll have to back out ;)
    Good luck with NaNo! This is the most successful one I've ever had so far. Hope it continues.

    ReplyDelete
  13. You always crack me up. Thanks for the laugh and visit when you can. ;-)

    Anna from elements of emaginette

    ReplyDelete
  14. Congrats on new book. I signed up for your newsletter. Happy IWSG Day!

    ReplyDelete
  15. How many folks did you help by telling us it's illegal to duel with water pistols? Ha Ha. Love your mix of horror and humor. Cheers.
    Lynn La Vita @ Writers Supporting Writers

    ReplyDelete
  16. I almost didn't post this month too, but like you it was knowing I'd be missing out on such a great community.
    Now contemplating how much damage you can do with a water pistol...

    ReplyDelete
  17. I had no idea Oscar used to be orange. Must have been before my kids started watching 40+ years ago. Happy to hear you finished #4. Looking forward to reading it.

    ReplyDelete
  18. Congrats on finishing #4, and good luck with the NaNo and book #5. (You go, girl!)

    ReplyDelete
  19. I'm just thrilled you're writing! Best wishes on much success. ~grin~ Be well, my dear.

    ReplyDelete
  20. I hope you clear your browsing history every so often. It'd look awful odd if something unexpected happened and the authorities had to confiscate your computer and saw where you've been on the world wide web.

    Yes, I miss your comments on the blog but you are still the top commenter by 12 so you are good for at least another 12 blogs before someone else takes your commenting place!

    But seriously I'm glad you are writing. Actually I can't believe how prolific you are. (BTW - I'm 2/3 the way through DITD. Love it so far!).

    ReplyDelete
  21. I’m in the same boat (as it were) about not keeping up with the blogging or visiting lately. Maybe we can both reform ourselves. And maybe I should learn more about newsletter swaps :)

    ReplyDelete
  22. The Sesame Street books i have show Oscar as orange, they were published the year it came out. People think i am crazy when i ask why his color changed.

    Anyway, i hope you are having fun writing, and if you catch up on reading, great! If not, there is always January when the holidays are over.

    ReplyDelete
  23. All I can tell is that I think you’re doing great, Ellen! You are focusing on the right things: writing books and marketing. You seriously get heaps done in a month, let alone a year!! I’m sure you’re not missing Simon! :-)

    ReplyDelete
  24. Wow. You are busy on the writing front! As to blogging lameness...as you can tell by how late I'm commenting on this, I have complete understand. Am already excited for your next book!

    ReplyDelete
  25. Oh, best wishes on your new book and the NaNo challenge. ~hugs~ I've fallen behind thanks to battling over medical bills. Oh, well. I've been lucky until now about proper payment and my health remains pretty darn good, so I shouldn't complain. And I will catch up, too. :) Happy Writing!

    ReplyDelete
  26. I'm a late - mid-November - visitor, so blame NaNoWriMo and it's rabbit-ignoring runs. At least, it means Book 1 of my series - as opposed to 2 or 4 - might get finished. Or not.

    ReplyDelete
  27. Hello Friends i am so glad to write this article today to tell the world how Dr Oso cured my HPV virus that have been in body since five years ago, ever since then my life has been in complete,i have used so many drugs that was prescribed to me by several doctors,but it didn't cure my HPV VIRUS neither did it reduce the pain, i was checking for solution on the internet then miraculously came across Dr Oso the powerful herbalist that cure HPV INFECTION,then i contacted his email, i explained everything to him and he prepared a herbal cure and send it to me that was how i got cured from HPV disease totally after receiving his herbal medicine, so my friends why waiting and be suffering with this HPV virus when there is someone like Dr Oso that can cure any disease HIV/ CANCER/ HEPATITIS C ,HERPES VIRUS,ALS . you can contact his via: drosohaberhome@gmail.com or whatapp +2348162084839 

    ReplyDelete
  28. Your website is really cool and this is a great inspiring article. XIAO.




    토토사이트
    토토
    안전놀이터

    ReplyDelete
  29. This kind of content was surprisingly great. It did give me more learning. CIAO




    스포츠토토
    토토사이트
    안전놀이터

    ReplyDelete
  30. Very informative and trustworthy blog that was really helpful. I will bookmark your site for future use.



    카지노사이트
    카지노사이트홈
    카지노

    ReplyDelete
  31. This is my first time pay a quick visit at here and i am truly happy to read all at alone place.




    카지노사이트
    바카라사이트
    온라인카지노사이트

    ReplyDelete

We LOVE when people leave comments. It's so much more fun hearing what you have to say. If you have a blog, make sure you leave a link and I'll be sure to pop on by.

Note: Only a member of this blog may post a comment.