Rereading Earlier Works with the IWSG

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handle is @TheIWSG and hashtag is #IWSG.

The awesome co-hosts for the February 4 posting of the IWSG are J Lenni Dorner, Victoria Marie Lees, and Sandra Cox!

February 4 question - Many writers have written about the experience of rereading their work years later. Have you reread any of your early works? What was that experience like for you?

A few years ago, I pulled out an old handwritten notebook and started typing the story I had written in it. My debate was- do I keep it as is, or punch it up for modern times? It's a YA story, set in the 90's because that's when I wrote it. Half the plot dissolves to dust if a decade of tech is added to the story. Two major conflicts are resolved with the popularity of mobile phones and the existence of caller ID. (Actually, caller ID coming to my area was why I originally gave up on the story. Because, seriously, as soon as the MC knows the caller, the story moves to the closing resolution pretty quickly.) 

{Yes, kids, there was a time when we had to just answer phones with no idea who was on the other end. Or we used answering machines to screen calls, because unlike voicemail, you could hear the message as it was being left and opt to pick up the phone. And yes, that's why the old people leave you three-minute messages, because you might pick up... even though there are barely any answering machines left.}

Obviously, there are new workarounds since I started typing the story, new ways to mask numbers, or disposable phones. So I could go back to that story, again, now, and update everything. 

But it makes me curious what another five or ten years will offer, what other new plot points might deepen the story as technology changes everything again. She could spend three-quarters of the story thinking it's an AI bot calling her! (Laugh if you want, but I had a bot texting me this month and didn't know until last week that it wasn't a human. Because why would a bot text me at 1am? Why??? Because the programmer is an idiot and the bot isn't supposed to be doing that. 🙈🫢) 

Anyway, I have three other stories on my plate right now. And I spend wayyyy too much time on medical drama and whatnot, and not nearly enough on actual writing. 

(For friends and those who read last month's IWSG post-- Dad is back home. He's doing well. Heart surgery went great. My uncle had my dad all worried that there were five other procedures and problems, but no, my dad did not have the same issues as my uncle or their father. Dad's was a fairly routine fix, the surgery was less than six hours, and his hospital stay wasn't even a week.)

IWSG 2026 Writing Plans

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handle is @TheIWSG and hashtag is #IWSG.
The awesome co-hosts for the January 7 posting of the IWSG are Shannon Lawrence, Olga Godim, Jean Davis, and Jacqui Murray!
Every month, we announce a question that members can answer in their IWSG post. These questions may prompt you to share advice, insight, a personal experience or story. Include your answer to the question in your IWSG post or let it inspire your post if you are struggling with something to say. 
Remember, the question is optional! January 7 question - Is there anything in your writing plans for 2026 that you are going to do that you couldn't get done in 2025?

Last year was a dumpster fire. Actually, that fire has been burning for five years. 😥

"Writer" is my most defining personality trait. I wouldn't want to be alive if I couldn't write. If I didn't have stories and characters in my mind. I don't want to BE without that quality. 

So I don't know what it means that I've committed such little time to what matters most to my identity. I mean, yeah, my family matters most, I love my husband most. But what I love most about myself, when I feel connected to my soul, that's the "JamieWriter" part of myself. 

When my local writing group met weekly, I definitely made more time for writing. Time to feed my soul, to feel a purpose, to feel alive. And there's talk of possible monthly meetings again. Hopefully that'll motivate me to function again. 

On the other other darkside 🌑☁️😔

My dad is scheduled for heart surgery this week. And we're all scared out of our damn minds about his odds. So, utter chaos is waiting like an assassin in the shadows to totally fuck up everything. 

And I'm worried about the Chronic Kidney Disease diagnosis. Obvious by my recent GOODREADS reviews.

Define Indivisible

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Not aware of it leaving school. 

My issue has always been that either it holds no meaning, or it doesn't mean enough to teach the vocabulary before recitation. 

Seriously, it's the equivalent of getting a parrot to say it. Think the bird is patriotic? Think it gives a damn about politics? It's just mimicking a sound. And since the words of the Pledge aren't taught as vocabulary until years later, the children are just mimicking sounds. It means nothing to them. If the Pledge of Allegiance is actually important and meaningful, then teach ABOUT it first, teach what the words mean and why they matter. 

Because if the press ever starts interviewing most first graders on what it means, the answer is that it means they don't get in trouble for saying it wrong. But ask the definition of "allegiance," "republic," "indivisible," "liberty," and "justice" and 🤔😐 there will be a lot of blank stares. 

Not sure all adults could correctly answer, either. 

🍵🔥 Some reporter should go ask the president what the word "indivisible," as used in the Pledge of Allegiance, means. 

There's an answer just waiting to go viral.

Cookbook Book Review of The Stage 3 Kidney Disease Diet Cookbook for Seniors

The Stage 3 Kidney Disease Diet Cookbook for Seniors: Simple, Delicious Recipes and Easy Meal Plans with Detailed Nutritional Information to Control Your Kidney Health Without Stress 30-Day Meal Plan by Joe Kermann
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

This book was interesting in that it is different from other, similar ones. The book encourages "building a lifestyle that nurtures your health." It mentions that juggling multiple health conditions is difficult, but to stay positive and keep planning, and that optimism is the biggest key to this lifestyle.

I received my free review copy from Alessio Trapani. The copyright states that the publisher and author are not experts, and this is for entertainment purposes only. "The content emphasizes the importance," is a repeated phrase in Chapter 2. It suggests watching for hidden phosphorus additives, but doesn't especially suggest how, and likewise to "steer clear of phosphates and potassium chloride."

I was surprised by some of the recipe recommendations. Avocados and bananas (with high potassium) are listed as ingredients (even together in a smoothie). At least seven times, sweet potatoes, which are high in potassium, are used. There's an egg salad, which has protein. I haven't seen these ingredients used this way in any other stage 3 kidney disease books. But this book says it is "designed to offer clear, consistent guidance tailored to you."
I had not previously encountered the wording "half portion teaspoon," but I have been assured that it means half a teaspoon.
Recipes for stuffed peppers (capsicums) with canned black beans and quinoa are included three times, and once with spinach instead of beans.

I've never had, or heard of, millet before, so that could be interesting.

The Apple Cinnamon Chia Pudding sounds delicious and I look forward to trying it. And the carrot and ginger soup recipe is different from the one I normally use, so that should be fun to try. Quinoa and zucchini bites sound appetizing. And coconut rice pudding should be a great dessert that I wouldn't have thought of.

One last quote that I liked was "diet is a tool, not a restriction."

View all my reviews

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Book Party, goals, and #IWSG gift 🎁

 

Magnetic bookmarks 

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My name starts with J. I'm torn between two indie books! Jewels of Darterra is a novella by my friend (and cousin in law) J Lenni Dorner. Juliana Lopez is Fu*king Fire is a Latinx Romance by my friend Dori Aleman-Medina. 

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Every writer needs to set their own goals. 

If YOUR goal is to traditionally publish, then you don't need to understand what other people are doing self publishing. 

But that is NOT the goal for EVERY writer. 

Your characters will get better when you realize that not everyone has the same goal.

🤔 

Actually, it's also a big core idea in sociology and philosophy. So the mind really expands when the revelation is learned and accepted that not everyone has the same goal.

🤯

Apply it to politics and suddenly so many news items will click in the mind. We don't all share the same "Utopia" idea. 

Seriously, this is a life changing realization.

Utopias

For many, a utopia means no one is without. That everyone has their needs met. That all are, essentially, equal. 

But, for others, a utopia means only a few have their needs, and every want, met. And most others are crushed under them, suffering and scraping, survival the highest possible outcome. 

And this is the primary problem with Earth's current population. Two sides of this utopia coin can never peacefully coexist. 

And the second option is winning.

Medical care in America

 

Explain why it's okay to give medical care to humans in the United States:

Tourism.

I'll ignore the ignorant bs implied in the post, for now.

There's an event coming, the Olympics. 

Which has huge tourism dollars. 

But if people from other nations won't come because they could be denied care if injured, that event could be canceled or moved. A huge revenue loss for America. 

But, okay, instead of possibly spending a fraction of a percent on caring for people, lets toss several BILLIONS to fund putting lawyers and a judge at EVERY medical center in America. And if someone needs emergency medical attention, unconscious and bleeding out, we can pause life saving care to have a full court trial. FOR EVERY PATIENT 100% of the time. 

So if you have a heart attack, instead of saving your life, medical care can wait until after your hearing.

"But I'm an American."

PROVE IT.

Better be able to prove it even when you're unconscious and seconds from death... whoops, too long, ah well. Next! 

That's what MAGA wants. Full court trials before treatment for EVERY person seeking medical care anywhere in the United States. You can believe that only people with illegal status will suffer, but honestly EVERYONE who doesn't have a private personal physician on call 24/7 is going to suffer. Meaning the billionaires will be okay, but everyone else is screwed. But hey, at least we'll spend a few billion to hire lawyers and judges in places where there's barely money for a doctor and nurse. Excellent spending, as always, save 1 million dollars by spending 600 Billion. Great economic idea. 

🤦

That's my reply ^