The October IWSG post is all about ghost stories this time around.

It's October, and all the spooks and haunts are starting to appear in my neighborhood. This is probably the scariest October I can remember due to the pending election, but that's all I'm going to say about that. Being the first Wednesday of the month, it is time for the Insecure Writer's Support Group post. If you've never heard of this before, you can go HERE to sign up. With that out of the way, let's talk about what exactly the Insecure Writer's Support Group is.

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 y'all post?: The first Wednesday of every month is officially Insecure Writer’s Support Group day. This is when you should post your thoughts on your own blog. Some ideas of what you could talk about include doubts and fears that you have conquered. You could also discuss your struggles and triumphs. Or you could offer a word of encouragement for others who are struggling.

How does this make your online presence grow?: Well, you should visit others in the group and connect with your fellow writers. A good rule of thumb is to aim for a dozen new people each time. When you return comments, you'll find that others follow the breadcrumbs back to your blog. That's it in a nutshell. 

The Twitter (X) handle is @TheIWSG and the hashtag you should use is #IWSG.

The awesome co-hosts for the October 2 posting of the IWSG are Nancy Gideon, Jennifer Lane, Jacqui Murray, and Natalie Aguirre!

Now, 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. You should 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!

October 2nd question - Ghost stories fit right in during this month. What's your favorite classic ghostly tale? Tell us about it and why it sends chills up your spine.

My favorite classic ghostly tale is probably A Christmas Carol. It doesn't scare me so much, but it is just a really good story that pretty much everyone has heard about. I think that Dickens really nailed it when he came to spinning a yarn, and the different versions of ghosts opened my mind to the possibilities that ghosts could be something other than scary. As a bonus, I want to say that my favorite scary story is The Monkey's Paw. This is a short story that involves a person making some pretty scary wishes on an old mummified paw from a monkey. But the way that the wishes come true are horrible beyond imagining. It was really the first time that I realized that maybe we shouldn't crave wishes, because whatever entity that could grant them might be really malevolent.

And that's it. Thanks for visiting.