Melissa Maygrove

Today, I'm taking an honest look at some of the reasons people choose to self-publish.  Warning: The gloves are coming off. This is not IWSG. W riters need to encourage each other, but we also need to hold each other to a reasonable standard. If you're feeling insecure about your writing, you might want to bookmark this post and come back later. For the record, I support self-publishing —might even do it myself —but with that choice comes responsibility.  Still with me? Here we go...

I’m going to break one of my own blogging rules and address a topic that has the potential to be inciting and controversial—common sayings that are potentially offensive. Therefore, let me begin this post by making it clear that I am discussing the following phrases and terms with the sole intent of making people aware of their origins . I mean no disrespect.

Have you ever wondered what success sounds like?   If you listen, you can hear it in the joyful reply of a new college graduate shaking hands and getting her degree. Or in the satisfied chuckle of a husband driving home to tell his wife he got the job. You can't miss it in the squeal of a child who finally stacked all the blocks without knocking over the tower. You can also hear it in the voice of an author who , after working countless hours to get her first book written and published , gets to hold it in her hands and read from its pages. Today I'm delighted to post an audio excerpt from Strength , read by the author herself, Miss Carrie Butler.

This is the second edition of M. L. Swift's Progressive Book Club. (For more information, click here . For the linked list of participating blogs, click here .) This month's book is Save The Cat by the late Blake Snyder. Here's what the website says about the book:

Indite vs Indict Indite (archaic) means to compose or write. Indict means to formally charge with a crime; to accuse of wrongdoing.

Mark Koopmans is doing this green . . . blog O'hop thing. I'm not sure what it is, but I'm gonna give it a try. What does St. Paddy’s Day mean to you?   Wear green or you get pinched .   What are your family traditions on Paddy’s Day?   Run around like crazy chickens looking for some scrap of green to wear before leaving the house, and cry all the way to school if we don't find any.  

In the interest of varying blog content, I thought I’d post another recipe this month—my version of Bubble Pizza. It’s a dish the entire family loves and it’s easy to make. In fact, if you sauté the meat ahead of time, it can be a one-dish meal. What you’ll need: 2 cans of refrigerated dough (I like Pillsbury’s French or Italian bread) 1 jar pizza sauce 1 to 1 ½ lbs. ground beef ½ an onion, chopped Salt & pepper 1 to 2 Tbsp. sugar (optional) 2 to 3 cups shredded cheese of choice Skillet 13 x 9 casserole dish  Non-stick cooking spray How to prepare:

Gig vs Jig Gig (pronounced with a hard G) has many meanings. It can be a two-wheeled cart, an entertaining engagement, or a way to catch a fish or frogs (typically by spearing). Our band is playing a gig tomorrow night at the club . Jig , on the other hand, can be a fishing lure or a name for various types of equipment; but the definition that usually comes to mind is a lively dance. The old man got up and danced a jig when the fiddle started to play . Jam vs Jamb

A long time ago in a galaxy far, far away... Oops. Wrong script. Before you read any further, click on the arrow below to activate the Grooveshark audio gadget. Then keep reading. Trust me. It’ll enhance the experience. ;) Carrie's Debut by Melissa Maygrove on Grooveshark

This is my Insecure Writers Support Group post for March.   IWSG is the brainchild of Alex J. Cavanaugh. It's a monthly bloghop that offers a safe haven for writers to express their feelings and concerns without fear of appearing foolish or weak. It's also a venue for offering support, both in the form of comments and positive posts . Writers of all kinds are welcome.  We 'meet' the first Wednesday of every month. If you're interested in learning more, click on the link above. And don't be intimidated by the size of the group. We're not expected to visit everyone on the list.  ### Announcements first (and this is a biggie) . . .  

I know you wordsmiths are here for your GPM fix, but bear with me. I have an important announcement first.  Nick Wilford got the Overcoming Adversity anthology produced in record time. It's already available for purchase! I hope you'll get yourself a copy and tell all your friends about it, too. Not only is there some wonderful content in this book, the proceeds from its sale benefit Nick's son.