Time to write that novel you've been thinking about for--what, years? decades?--well, if you've been dreaming about such things. I have. Still am. What am I doing about it? Writing a blog post...
The Insecure Writer's Support Group
Join us on the first Wednesday of each month in Alex J. Cavanaugh's Insecure Writer's Support Group--a forum of writers who gather to talk about writing and the writer's life. For a complete list of participants visit Alex's Blog.
The co-hosts for the November 2 posting of the IWSG are Diedre Knight, Douglas Thomas Greening, Nick Wilford, and Diane Burton!
Battle of the Bands
Battle of the Bands is the blogging event started by Far Away Series and now hosted by StMcC Presents Battle of the Bands. This event happens each month on the 15th and on some there is also a Battle on the 1st of the month. My blog is one of those with a second Battle excepting over these summer months. The premise is simple: Listen to the songs presented below and then in the comments vote for your favorite and tell us why you liked it. Then visit the links listed near the bottom of this post for more Battle action.
Sing a Song of Writing
Here's a couple of contrasting views of writing for you to think about as you ponder your own writerly dreams of a career of sorts as a writer. Take a moment to listen to each and then vote on your favorite in the comment section.
Lloyd Cole "Writer's Retreat!" (2010)
Nano or No-no, you don't have to have writing aspirations to enjoy the music in this song Battle. Just listen and appreciate. Which song do you prefer? Hopefully you have an opinion of some kind. You don't have to know about music to have an opinion since it all comes down to your own personal taste.
Please vote on your favorite by letting us know your choice in the comment section and tell us why you prefer the version you chose. Then after you've finished here, please visit the other blogs listed below who may or may not be participating this time around. And if you've put up your own BOTB contest let us know that as well so we can vote on yours.
Here are some other places where you might find BOTB posts:
StMcC Presents Battle of the Bands
'MIKE'S RAMBLINGS'
'Curious as a Cathy'
Sound of One Hand Typing
Jingle, Jangle, Jungle
I'm afraid neither song appealed to me.
ReplyDeleteI've participated in NaNo in the past but not this year.
Alex, doesn't sound very musically open-minded.
DeleteNo vote to start things off.
Lee
Lee,
ReplyDeleteI'll give you my two cents in this battle. That's about all it's worth anyhow. lol I really like the vibe of the first song and giving my vote to Lloyd Cole. He's new-to-me, so thanks for the introduction.
I hope whatever has you preoccupied for the rest of the year is something good for your life. We surely have had our share of busyness this year. It's good to have that behind us. Now, I can reflect on the highlights from this year as I pulled together photo memories in my mid-week time slot.
Thanks for sharing another battle round. I hope November is a good for you. I can't believe we're in the 11th month of 2022. Have a bandtastic week, my friend!
Curious as a Cathy
Cathy, the rest of the year is filled with busy things that are essentially good though perhaps sometimes stressful. Nothing really bad on the horizon so far.
DeleteFirst vote goes to Lloyd Cole.
Lee
That's good to know. The holidays are a very busy time. I decided today to not do my mid-week posts after this month just to keep things from piling up too badly. See ya around the cyberblock, my friend!
DeleteThe Donovan song is about 4:33 seconds too long, I am afraid. Lloyd Cole sing a predictable little ditty and is pleasant on the ears if you like that 12 string (or mandolin, or ???) kind of sound... which I do. He's gettin' the vote this time. I hope you are allowing poll watchers on this, or Donovan will pack the ballot boxes using Yellow Mules.
ReplyDeleteSixgun McItchyfinger
6-Gun, I love this Donovan song, but it has been with me since high school and I liked it then as well.
DeleteAny song that's not somewhat predictable gets a bit too experimental for my taste. But predictable is a good way to describe Cole's tune.
Another vote for Lloyd Cole.
Lee
Brilliant way to accomplish two goals, Lee! I'd never heard either song, so thanks for the introduction ;-) Donovan, however, did not impress me. I enjoyed Lloyd Cole's "Writer's Retreat" - the upbeat tempo took the sting out of lyrics that describe so well the tug-of-war life of a writer. A vote for Lloyd Cole, please!
ReplyDeleteI do hope you are happily busy. Have a wonderful November ;-)
Diedre, I always try to combine BOTB & IWSG when it makes sense. Makes my work load more compact.
DeleteI agree that Cole hit the nail on the head pretty much.
A vote for Lloyd Cole.
Lee
What can I say but I like Donovan's song..mYbe because he smoked doobie before singing but it just sounds nice, calm and ethereal so he gets my vote. I hVe never been part of Nanos.
ReplyDeleteBirgit, looks like your vote arrived at the right time. Thank you.
DeleteFinally, a vote for Donovan.
Lee
LEE ~
ReplyDeleteI don't recall having heard of Lloyd Cole before, but he immediately struck me (at least in this song) as having a kind of Tom Petty-like sound. This was a pretty good song.
As I'm sure you likely recall, I've long-held the opinion that Donovan was just terribly overrated. I've never heard a single Donovan song that's come even remotely close to changing my mind, and 'Writer In The Sun' is no exception to that. What the heck was supposed to be so special about this guy? I'm completely mystified.
McItchyfinger wrote: >>... "The Donovan song is about 4:33 seconds too long"
Ha!-Ha! I couldn't have said it better, and wish I had said it first.
Anyway, obviously, mine is a BOTB bote for LLOYD COLE (or Tom Petty's musical doppelganger?)
~ D-FensDogG
STMcC Presents BATTLE OF THE BANDS
STMcC, Tom Petty was not the first thing that came to mind when I heard Cole's song, but now that you mention it I can hear it. I was thinking more along the lines of countryish Americana rock like the Jayhawks or Uncle Tupelo or the like. I enjoy his sound whatever he sounds like.
DeleteWhen I hear an opinion like yours about Donovan I am apt to think that you just probably don't like the style or you just haven't listened to the music closely enough. I like a lot of Donovan's music, but this song in particular is my favorite by him. I like the music and the lyrics. But that's me and you and I often have different tastes. Mine are also more eclectic I think.
A vote for Lloyd Cole.
lee
Um... I guess the second one.
ReplyDeleteL.Diane, that sounds like a somewhat reluctant vote.
DeleteThat would be for Donovan
Lee
What Stephen said. Lloyd Cole sounded a lot like Tom Petty, while Donovan's was about four and a half minutes too long. Another vote for Lloyd.
ReplyDeleteJohn H, I don't get this Donovan aversion. I always enjoyed most of his music.
DeleteA vote for Lloyd Cole.
Lee
>>... "I don't get this Donovan aversion."
Delete"...you just haven't listened to the music closely enough."
~ D-FensDogG
Going in, I thought I would be voting for Donovan, but in the end, it's Lloyd Cole for me.
ReplyDelete~Mary
Mary B, it's that kind of day I guess.
DeleteLloyd Cole.
Lee
A vote from my Cousin Tom on Facebook for...
ReplyDeleteLloyd Cole.
Lee
My vote is for Lloyd Cole. I love Donovan, but this song didn't do it for me. Also, Writer Retreat's lyrics were interesting.
ReplyDeleteAnon, whoever it is, cast a vote for...
DeleteLloyd Cole.
Lee
I write (unofficially) with NaNoWriMo. It's a discipline for me that I need.
ReplyDeleteTeresa
T. Powell Coltrin Writes @ https://journalingwoman.blogspot.com
Teresa, Nano makes for a good discipline for those who can allot the time for it. Or force themselves to.
DeleteLee
I always seem to have excuses, er you know, reasons, not to focus on writing. And an adjunct fear of failure, so no NaNoWriMo for me.
ReplyDeleteAs for the songs, of the two, the music behind the Lloyd Cole song worked for me, but I found the premise of the lyrics a little disturbing. The Donovan song just put me to sleep.
Douglas, I've spent a lifetime making excuses, not just for writing, but for a lot of things.
DeleteThe vote goes to Lloyd Cole.
Lee
I couldn't see the second video, so it's a Lloyd Cole vote by default, but I did like it. The comments indicate I may not have missed much with Donovan.
ReplyDeleteNick, I guess Donovan is just a matter of taste and his music apparently hasn't tasted too good to the ears of the majority of voters.
DeleteA "vote by default" for Lloyd Cole.
Lee
Sound wise, Lloyd Cole gets my vote. Not so sure about those lyrics, though...
ReplyDeleteLoni, the sound is most of the music.
DeleteA vote for Lloyd Cole.
Lee
My vote is for "Writer in the Sun" by Donovan. Never heard it before, but I love songs that sound like the acoustic blues.
ReplyDeleteDamyanti, thank you for your vote for...
DeleteDonovan.
Lee
Quite a while ago a friend tried to hook me on Lloyd Cole. It didn't take, and it still doesn't. He has placed himself above too many people and is too proud of that.
ReplyDeleteI am also not a great fan of Donovan, but he always wants to bring people into his world, not turn them away, so I vote .
It might just be a something about how close the election is. but it is pressing on me.
I am attempting to write stuff to make the world better, one piece at a time.
Craig, if we can make the world a better place then I think our best mission has been fulfilled.
DeletePrior to this BOTB I was not familiar with Lloyd Cole though I feel like I've heard this song before.
A vote for Donovan.
Lee
Donovan.
ReplyDeleteYeah, I had some real "excuses" the last few years when I barely committed myself to writing.
I'm trying this year.
"I write to give myself strength. I write to be the characters that I am not. I write to explore all the things I'm afraid of." —Joss Whedon
J Lenni Dorner (he/him 👨🏽 or 🧑🏽 they/them) ~ Reference& Speculative Fiction Author, OperationAwesome6 Debut Author Interviewer, and Co-host of the #AtoZchallenge
J, If not for our excuses we might not have much more to show for ourselves.llll
DeleteAnother vote for Donovan.
Lee
The Battle results are in:
ReplyDeleteArlee Bird
Tossing It Out Resutls