IWSG: My Writing Goals, Happy Fourth of July

IWSG Blog Hop---the first Wednesday of every Month.

Hello and welcome to the Insecure Writer's Support Group Blog Hop!

What is the Insecure Writer's Support Group?

Founded by author Alex J. Cavanaugh, the Insecure Writer’s Support Group offers support for writers and authors alike. It provides an online database, articles and tips, a monthly blog posting, a Facebook and Instagram group, Twitter, and a monthly newsletter. 

Alex explains the group's purpose is "to share and encourage. Writers can express doubts and concerns without fear of appearing foolish or weak. Those who have been through the fire can offer assistance and guidance. It’s a safe haven for insecure writers of all kinds!" You're invited to become a member of this supportive group.

The group blogs the first Wednesday of every month.  The list of bloggers is always available so you can hop around to the author blogs filled with humor, advice, and thought-provoking topics on writing and publishing. You can find the list of participants at Alex's IWSG page. 

July 3 question 

What are your ultimate writing goals, and how have they changed over time (if at all)?

What a coincidence that the topic of this month's question is something I have been churning over and over in my mind. What AM I going to do now in my writing career? 

I began by writing non-fiction articles for newspapers, magazines, and e-magazines in 1996. I loved writing about people and places. Researching, visiting new places and interviewing interesting people fueled my creative yearnings to write. After 15 years of non-fiction articles, I decided to try writing fiction. Afterall, when I was in second grade, I made up some pretty good stories and it was fun.

After my latest mystery was published by BWL Publishing in December, I felt insecure about my next step. Honestly, in this world of terrorism and school shootings, do people want to read a murder mystery? How about more romance? Frankly, I was sick of the same story of  the hero and heroine overcoming conflicts to finally be together.

I have always encouraged people to write their life stories and have taught many workshops on it. Perhaps it's time for me to actually do it. I have started a memoir covering the first year we were in business. The process is enjoyable and allows me to wallow in nostalgia. I enjoyed looking at my life colored now by the 40 years between actually buying the business and the present. New perspectives on people's actions so many years ago and examinations of my responses to them are eye-opening to me. 

So, my ultimate goal is to complete the memoir for my family. I haven't determined if I want to share it publicly, although I do believe the story has an inspiring message for readers.  And some of the people in my story are not pictured in a good light. Memoirs are based on honesty, but I don't want to ruin anyone's reputation. Even if I change the names, residents in the area will still know who I am writing about. Since the persons I am writing about are deceased, they can't object or deny my version of the story. But their families can.

Writing nowadays includes marketing. I plan to continue marketing my published novels, and  I will be chasing down people for reviews. As far as more novels or non-fiction articles? At this moment, I'm not interested. However, those short story ideas are always swirling in my head. !!

How about you? Are you changing your writing goals? 

Do you have plans to celebrate the Fourth of July?

Please leave a comment below. Thank you.

Happy Fourth of July, USA!

 

Celebrate the Fourth of July, Travelogue: 2014 Rose Bowl Parade

Happy Independence Day-Fourth of July! 

Today I am re-blogging a popular post on the J.Q. Rose blog, The Rose Parade Travelogue was originally published in January 2014. 

What is more American than apple pie? The traditional New Year's Day Rose Bowl Parade  in Pasadena, California. In 2014 the parade celebrated is 125th year. Sit back and enjoy the parade!!

Dreams Come True was the theme of the 2014 Rose Parade. That theme certainly fit our situation because it was our dream to actually attend the parade one day. Finally, in June, my hubby announced he was ordering the airline tickets to Pasadena, California, and to the Rose Parade! This trip was even better than we had ever imagined. The people, places, and even the weather, was delightful. I only wish I could share all 1000 pictures with you, but, um, no, I won't. Only 900?? LOL!

The Rose Parade celebrated 125 years in 2014. This unique parade did not begin as the elaborate high tech- jaw-dropping extravaganza we now know. Instead this new year tradition began in 1890 by Pasadena's Valley Hunt Club. According to the Rose Parade Guide, "the members wanted to promote the "Mediterranean of the West" so they invited their former East Coast neighbors to watch games such as chariot races, foot races, polo, and tug-of-war under the California sun.

"The abundance of flowers, even in the midst of winter, prompted the club to add another showcase for Pasadena's charm: a parade to precede the competition, where entrants would decorate their carriages with hundreds of blooms".

The tradition of floral be-decked entries into the Tournament of Roses Parade continues, but now on a much larger scale. Flowers and natural materials from all over the world cover every inch of the floats. No paint allowed. Only nature's true colors add the excitement and texture to the elaborate designs.

We visited the float building areas and watched the organized chaos of this huge operation mostly done by volunteers. The tedious process of gluing on each petal or seed, yes tiny seeds, boggled my mind. 

Teen volunteers gluing on flower petals to the opening Rose Parade float. All generations work together to decorate the floats. Kids through senior citizens offer their skills.

These folks are tearing up straw flowers.

The volunteer brushes on glue, then sprinkles the petals in the box all over the gluey section.

Three locations offered views of the decorators in action. I was worried the floats would not be ready by step-off time at 8 a.m. on Wednesday, January 1. When we visited the sites on Monday morning, a lot of the seeds and grasses were glued on, but the delicate flowers had to wait till the last minute to be fresh for the parade judges. So, the volunteers work all day and all night. Such dedication. By the way, the floats were all done in time!

Okay, get ready. The parade is about to begin!

The United States Air Force Thunderbirds zoomed down the parade route thrilling parade viewers.

Opening banner to kick off the parade. This is the float the teens were working on in the picture above. Finished it too!!

A salute to a famous dreamer, Henry Ford. Behind is a rendition of the Spirit of St. Louis honoring dreamer Charles Lindbergh. 

City of Glendale Let's Be Neighbors. The float is based on a real bear who kept coming down into Glendale and raiding the trash cans.

The marauding bear earned the name of Meatball because he always ate the meatballs.
He wouldn't stay in the mountains, so they had to move him to a preserve. 
I wonder if they serve him meatballs there.

So Close, Yet Safari Away

TheK9s4Cops dedicated its float to the heroic K9 law enforcement units across America and to those who serve and protect our communities. This non-profit organization donates highly trained dogs to agencies who otherwise could not afford them.

A salute to the WWII Women Airforce Service Pilots (WASP) 
For more information go to the Girls Succeed blog 

These cute kitties are riding the RFD-TV float, You Make My Dreams Come True. Can you find the calico on the float below?

RFD-TV float

Gorgeous, elegant float. Of course, it's Beverly Hills. 

Sea World Park's Sea of Surprises

Adorable candy train

These 3 aliens surprised parade viewers by driving out of the space ship and traveling along the parade route. This was a first in parade history!

Wonderful Indonesia--This float got my vote for the most dazzling and exotic float.

Photos never can give the viewer the complete picture of this amazing design.

Monster truck--Had to take a lot of pictures of this monster truck for the grandkids! Made me giggle.

Trader Joes, a grocery store in CA, Relish Your Dreams. It's relish dish with cheeses and olives, etc.
A pickle followed along behind it. So clever.

Butterflies fluttered among the colorful flowers.

The dogs have stolen the dog catcher's truck in this animated float. One of the most humorous floats

Yep, he's running after them. What do you think? Can he catch them??

Have no doubt. Your dreams can come true too.

Thanks for visiting. Do you have a dream that came true? If so, please leave a comment saying yes. If you wish to share the dream with us, please do.