What author would you pick to be your beta reader if you could have anyone?

Yay! There's only four months left in 2020. This year has been the longest one in my living memory. At least we have the Insecure Writer's Support Group to share together online. Haven't heard about it? Well let me fix that right now. This is a copy/paste from their sign-up page which can be found right HERE.

Purpose: 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!

Posting: The first Wednesday of every month is officially Insecure Writer’s Support Group day. Post your thoughts on your own blog. Talk about your doubts and the fears you have conquered. Discuss your struggles and triumphs. Offer a word of encouragement for others who are struggling. Visit others in the group and connect with your fellow writer - aim for a dozen new people each time - and return comments. This group is all about connecting! Be sure to link to this page and display the badge in your post. And please be sure your avatar links back to your blog! Otherwise, when you leave a comment, people can't find you to comment back.

Let’s rock the neurotic writing world!

Our Twitter handle is @TheIWSG and hashtag is #IWSG.

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!

September 2 question - If you could choose one author, living or dead, to be your beta partner, who would it be and why?

I'm going to stretch the traditional view of what we consider an "author" and name movie director, Guillermo del Toro Gomez. If you aren't familiar with his absolutely brilliant work, Guillermo is a Mexican filmmaker, author, actor, and former special effects makeup artist. He has won Oscars for both Best Director and Best Picture. He has been my favorite director for about twenty years.

With Chuck Hogan, he co-authored The Strain trilogy of novels, which were adapted for a terrible television series (you can't win 'em all). His work has been characterized by a strong connection to fairy tales and horror, with an effort to infuse visual or poetic beauty into the grotesque. He's also had a lifelong fascination with monsters, which he considers symbols of great power.

I think del Toro just resonates with me. I write weird and unsettling stories that make people have gut reactions of "gross" or "this is just too out there." My writings are influenced by Lovecraftian-type things, and del Toro loves those kinds of strange and weird tales too. You see it in his films like Hellboy, Pan's Labyrinth, and Shape of Water.

As a beta partner for my writing, I think that del Toro would be perfect. That he'd give me the kind of criticisms that I desire in order to hit my target audience (which honestly is probably similar to those who love del Toro's work). Anyone (for example) who feels that they'd love a del Toro production of Lovecraft's "Into the Mountains of Madness" would probably get something out of my work as well.

Now I'm off to see what authors other people have chosen. Thanks for visiting.