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.