It's the fifteenth anniversary for the Insecure Writer's Support Group. Let's chat about character archetypes in writing.

I honestly cannot believe that the Insecure Writer's Support Group is on its fifteenth year. Like...what the hell? How did this much time go by? I guess the answer is one day at a time, however, it seems like only yesterday when this thing was starting. Way to go, Alex! Your ideas have a long runway.

Anyway, it's the end of summer 2026. It's been a really hot one where I live, and I've felt trapped in my house and at the mercy of expensive air conditioning. I remember loving summer when I was younger. But it never got this hot. At most, we experienced a few 90 degree days and got by with cold drinks and homemade ice cream. Now, all of the days are in the 90's and twenty-four of them were above 100 degrees. At least I don't live in Phoenix. That city doesn't make sense.

It's also time for the monthly Insecure Writer's Support Group. If you want to participate, go HERE and sign-up. Everyone is friendly and to my knowledge, no one bites.

What is the purpose of the IWSG?: It's 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 was designed to be a safe haven for insecure writers of all kinds.

When do you post?: We do so on the first Wednesday of every month. This is the official Insecure Writer’s Support Group day. You could talk about your doubts and the fears you've conquered, or you could discuss your struggles and triumphs. If you get the opportunity, offer a word of encouragement for others who are struggling, and visit others in the group so as to connect with your fellow writer - aim for a dozen new people each time - and return comments. 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.

The offical X (formerly Twitter) handle is @TheIWSG and hashtag is #IWSG.

The awesome co-hosts for the September 2nd posting of the IWSG are Kate Larkinsdale, SE White, JS Pailly, Olga Godim, and Natalie Aguirre!

Every month, the IWSG announces a question that members can answer in their post, and answering the question is optional in case you'd like to share something else.

September 2nd question - Do you have a favorite character archetype you tend to gravitate toward in your writing?

I'm a sucker for either the Hero or the Anti-Hero as protagonist. I like a story where someone overcomes obstacles to save the day, driven by courage and honor or by making a heel turn to something that is opposite their nature, but still results in a big win but with dubious consequences for the hero/anti-hero. 

Thanks for visiting, and have a great September.

In the August edition of the IWSG I discuss what I would have done differently.

It's August, and I hope all of you have found a way to stay cool this incredibly hot summer. I'm a little late with my Insecure Writer's Support Group post, but better late than never is what I always say.

In case you don't know, this blogfest takes place monthly, and it has a lot of participants. If you'd like to sign-up for it, go HERE and add your name to the list. There are lots of people you can get to know and network with who participate in the IWSG, and they have a lot of information regarding how to get published. The TL;DR version of what I just said is that it is worth your time. Here's a little more about the Insecure Writer's Support Group:

What is the Purpose of the IWSG?: It 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.

When do participants post?: It happens on the first Wednesday of every month. This is officially Insecure Writer’s Support Group day.

What can I talk about?: Basically, anything about writing. Some examples include posting your thoughts on writing, talk about your doubts and the fears, discuss your struggles and triumphs, and offer a word of encouragement for others who are struggling. Barring all of that, you just answer the monthly question like I do every month.

How do I maximize my experience with the IWSG?: You visit others in the group and connect with your fellow writers. You return comments and link to the IWSG sign-up page and display the badge in your post.

Do you have any tips/tricks/hacks?: Make certain that your avatar links back to your blog. Otherwise, when you leave a comment, people can't find you to comment back.

The X "formerly Twitter" handle is @TheIWSG and hashtag is #IWSG.

The awesome co-hosts for the August 5 posting of the IWSG are Shannon Lawrence, Diedre Knight, Liza, and Pat Garcia!

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.

But remember, the question is optional.

August 5 question - As a writer/author what is something you regret? Or something you wish you'd done differently in your writing process?

This is a tough question, because it requires a lot of self-analysis. I think if I had to do it again, I'd create a really detailed outline of exactly what all of my characters look like and what they're doing in the story. I found that when I was writing, I would forget what color a person's eyes were or I'd forget how they kind of looked. I guess my memory is not what it used to be. So...just anything that could help me to stay on track with things would be really useful.

Thanks for visiting. 

The IWSG has rolled around again just in time for America's 250th birthday.

Happy 250th Birthday America. It's also time for the July 2026 edition of the Insecure Writer's Support Group. This blogfest takes place monthly, and it has a lot of participants. If you'd like to sign-up for it, go HERE and add your name to the list. There are lots of people you can get to know and network with who participate in the IWSG, and they have a lot of information regarding how to get published. The TL;DR version of what I just said is that it is worth your time. Here's a little more about the Insecure Writer's Support Group:

What is the Purpose of the IWSG?: It 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.

When do participants post?: It happens on the first Wednesday of every month. This is officially Insecure Writer’s Support Group day.

What can I talk about?: Basically, anything about writing. Some examples include posting your thoughts on writing, talk about your doubts and the fears, discuss your struggles and triumphs, and offer a word of encouragement for others who are struggling. Barring all of that, you just answer the monthly question like I do every month.

How do I maximize my experience with the IWSG?: You visit others in the group and connect with your fellow writers. You return comments and link to the IWSG sign-up page and display the badge in your post.

Do you have any tips/tricks/hacks?: Make certain that your avatar links back to your blog. Otherwise, when you leave a comment, people can't find you to comment back.

The X "formerly Twitter" handle is @TheIWSG and hashtag is #IWSG.

The awesome co-hosts for the July 1 posting of the IWSG are Rebecca Douglass, Ronel Janse van Vuuren, Cathrina Constantine, and Jacqui Murray!

July 1 question - Is there anything you'd like to see changed, added, and/or rearranged about the book publishing industry?

Yes. I wish I could go back to the days before Ai was invented. I liked the fact that I didn't have to question whether or not a book was written by a real human or not. I don't like that people's writing was stolen without their permission to train these large language models. I also don't like that the art is getting to be such high quality that it's making it difficult for real artists to find work. It takes years and years and years of learning and practice to paint a human face and get it just right, and Ai just does it in fifteen seconds. That doesn't seem fair at all. So yeah...I'm anti-Ai. 

Anyway, thanks for visiting.

It's time for Pride month and the June 2026 Insecure Writer's Support Group post.

I seriously cannot believe that it is already June. I'm not prepared for the summer heat that is coming. Here in Utah, we are in an extreme drought, and I'm worried that a lot of things in my yard or going to end up dead. That, and the air conditioning bill is going to be bad I think.

At least with a new month, it's time for another Insecure Writer's Support Group post. If you've never heard of the Insecure Writer's Support Group, go and check it out over HERE. It's full of real people doing real writing (not Ai). At least I think that they are all real. It's getting more difficult to tell anymore. Did y'all see that interview on The New York Times where a reporter interviewed an Ai actress by the name of Tilly Norwood? That was the weirdest thing I've read.

Here's a little bit about the Insecure Writer's Support Group.

It'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.

The posting day is the first Wednesday of every month. This 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, or 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. 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.

The X (formerly Twitter) handle is @TheIWSG and hashtag is #IWSG.

The awesome co-hosts for the June 3 posting of the IWSG are Victoria Marie Lees, Sarah Foster, Natalie Aguirre, and C. Lee McKenzie!

And now for the June 3rd question.

Do most of your story ideas come from one place (the news, dreams, etc.) or do they hit from all over the place?

My story ideas come from one place: character development. I create a character which is usually more involved than most as I play D&D. I imagine stat points for the characters. I imagine abilities and skills, and then I think, why would they have these abilities? A story inevitably grows out of all that, and then I sometimes write it up. But not always these days.

I'll be honest: the fact that Ai is everywhere now has made me want to just stop drawing and writing. Why work for weeks on something when another person can just churn something out in a few hours? Now, I don't mean to be negative if writing is your dream. Lots of people still find success. Look at Alex Cavanaugh (who started the IWSG). He's an example of doing it right without Ai. But getting noticed in 2026 is probably harder than it ever has been before, and I wouldn't fault you for throwing in the towel. If you're someone who takes six months to write a book, then I'm proud of you. In that time though there are several "authors" (I use the word lightly) who have churned out a book a day with Ai. And even though people say they can tell what is Ai and what isn't, I'm gonna call B.S. on that because it's getting harder and harder for me to tell. I just assume everything is Ai now, and leave it up to someone to prove that it isn't. Anyway, thanks for visiting and happy Pride month.

The May 2026 IWSG is all about inspiring feedback from readers.

Yesterday was Cinco de Mayo. Hopefully, some of the places where you work offered some fun activity or potluck to make the day go by just a little faster. It's also the first full week of May, which means that it is time for all of us to put up our Insecure Writer's Support Group posts. If you'd like to sign-up yourself, go HERE.

What is the Purpose of the IWSG?: It 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.

When do you Post?: The first Wednesday of every month is officially Insecure Writer’s Support Group day. That's when you should post your thoughts on your own blog.

What should you Post?: You could talk about your doubts and the fears you've conquered. You could discuss your struggles and triumphs. You could offer a word of encouragement for others who are struggling. These are just a sample of the kinds of things that people regularly address when the IWSG rolls around every month.

To get the most out of the blogfest, you should 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.

The X (formerly known as Twitter) handle is @TheIWSG and hashtag is #IWSG.

The awesome co-hosts for the May 6 posting of the IWSG are Jenni Enzor, Jemima Pett, Jamie of Uniquely Maladjusted but Fun, and Kim Lajevardi!

Every month, the management of the IWSG announces a question that members can answer in their IWSG post, but it is always optional.

May 6 question - What was the most inspiring feedback you received from readers, including agents, editors, and beta readers?

Oh this is a tough one. I've received so many emails over the years, especially for stories that I post for free online on well-trafficked story sites. The most inspiring thing? Someone doing a fan-casting of characters in a story I wrote. But maybe the best thing was someone saying that I was "too good" for a particular website and that I needed to have an agent and a publisher. That was nice of them to say, and it spurred me on to write a few more chapters. I think that (as writers) it is easier to get our work in front of people than it ever has been. However, it is also more difficult than it ever has been to make any money off it. And as an aside...I sometimes wonder if money has any value anymore after I've paid $20.00 to DoorDash a burrito from Chipotle.

Anyway, thanks for visiting. 

For April Fools of 2026 let's make up a list of music that would really go well with my writing.

We made it to April of 2026, folks. Anyone else super ready for a non-April Fools Insecure Writer's Support Group post? I know I sure am. But if you don't know what this blogfest is, I shall tell you about it. The Insecure Writer's Support Group is a blogfest that rolls around on the first of every month, and it is comprised of writers who share their advice or express their doubts and concerns to the internet. It was started a long time ago by Alex Cavanaugh, and you can now sign-up for it HERE.

So...what kinds of things do you talk about on your posts? Well, there are a bunch of ideas on the website. But in a nutshell, you could post your own thoughts, talk about your fears that you've conquered, discuss your struggles and triumphs, or offer words of encouragement to those who are just starting out or who are struggling. Or you can just do what I do every month, and that is to answer the question that is posted on the IWSG site.

Do you have any advice about posting? Yup. Visit others in the group and connect with them. I'd aim for a dozen or so new people each time the blogfest rolls around. Make sure that you display the badge in your post and link back to the IWSG sign-up page. Also make sure your avatar links back to your blog. Otherwise, when you leave a comment, people may not be able to comment back. This thing is reciprocity in action, if that makes any sense.

The IWSG anthem is "Let’s rock the neurotic writing world!"

The X (formerly Twitter) handle is @TheIWSG and the hashtag is #IWSG.

The awesome co-hosts for the April 1st (April Fools) posting of the IWSG are Melissa Maygrove, Cathrina Constantine, Kate Larkinsdale, and Rebecca Douglass!

Now here is the April 1st question that I'm answering:

If you have a playlist (or could put one together) that either gets you in the groove to write or fits with one of your books, what is it? What type of music or what songs?

For me, that's easy. Lots of classical scores plus some Bear McCreary thrown in like "Wandering Day" and "Old Tom Bombadil." I'd want Daft Punk's "Outland" and maybe "Heartland" from Riverdance. I'd want "The Moldau" and some of my favorites from Gustav Holtz ("St Paul's Suite") or some old school tunes like "Bones in the Ocean" or "Jolly Sailor Bold." Give me John Williams too. I'd take the Jurassic Park suite and Duel of the Fates from the movie Phantom Menace. Bach's "Brandenburg Concertos" are always a winner for me. Don't leave out "the Bacchanale" from Samson and Delilah and "Queen of the Night" from Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart. I'd think I'd want the entire Indiana Jones soundtracks and the Lord of the Rings soundtracks. I'd probably listen to the modern Dune soundtrack as well. That one with Timothee Chalamet in it is a fascinating thing to listen to. Anyway, there you have it. Thanks for visiting.

Here's some advice for a book launch just in time for the March 2026 Insecure Writer's Support Group post.

Well, March is upon us. Over here in Utah, we are experiencing the driest winter we've ever had. I kinda wonder what will happen when the Winter Olympics comes here in about a decade. If there's no snow, do they just cancel the Olympics? Is that a thing? LOL. I guess we will find out.

Today is the first Wednesday of March. As a result, it is time for the Insecure Writer's Support Group. This is a monthly blogfest, and it's sign-up is on this page (if you'd like to join). So, what is the Insecure Writer's Support Group? Let's answer that question below.

What is the purpose of the IWSG?: It's 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.

When do y'all Post?: The first Wednesday of every month is officially Insecure Writer’s Support Group day. That's when you should post your thoughts on your own blog or talk about your doubts and the fears you have conquered. You can discuss your struggles and triumphs and offer a word of encouragement for others who are struggling. As part of the whole experience, you should visit others in the group and connect with your fellow writer - aim for a dozen new people each time - and return comments. 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.

The X (formerly Twitter) handle is @TheIWSG and hashtag is #IWSG.

The awesome co-hosts for the March 4 posting of the IWSG are PJ Colando, Ronel Janse van Vuuren, and Natalie Aguirre!

Every month, the IWSG announces 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!

March 4 question - What elements do you include in your book launch? Or what do you have in mind for your future book launch? Or what advice do you have to offer to others planning to launch a book?

I haven't actually done a book launch. However, I've been to a bunch. The thing that seems to strike me as common among them all is a dedicated launch team for promotion and a mix of digital and physical engagement. There should be a social media campaign, a book trailer (easier and easier to do with Ai), a media kit, email marketing, and Advanced Reader Copies (ARC's). If you're against using Ai then the book trailer is probably going to be more difficult to do. However, I would urge you not to take that position. Ai slop is everywhere and if you aren't on board, then you're more likely behind because of your choices. Ai needs full regulation to curb its usage. People just choosing to "opt out" because of "integrity" are winning the high ground. But that's all you're winning. It would be the same as people volunteering to throw money at the national debt. It does nothing. Either we are all forced to or it doesn't work.

Anyway, that's all the advice I have to give. Thanks for visiting.