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.

The IWSG asks what it's like for each of us to reread our old written works.

Is love in the air for February? 2026 just seems to feel different for many reasons, and maybe love is there for some. Anyone seeing Wuthering Heights? However, I do think that (overall) I dislike February because it feels like my March mortgage payment rolls around a lot faster. That being said, it's also a new month and being the first Wednesday, 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 February 4th  posting of the IWSG are J Lenni Dorner, Victoria Marie Lees, and Sandra Cox!

Now, 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.

February 4th question - Many writers have written about the experience of rereading their work years later. Have you reread any of your early works? What was that experience like for you?

I was pleasantly surprised when I reread some works that I'd written a few years earlier. I also noticed that there were mistakes that leapt out at me that seemed invisible at the time. I think it's a strange phenomenon to get so used to a thing that you can no longer see the mistakes and must rely on someone else to point them out. 

Thanks for visiting and see you next month :). 

Is there anything in my writing plans for 2026 that I couldn't get done in 2025?

Happy New Year everyone. Now that it is officially January of 2026, I guess it's time to post for the Insecure Writer's Support Group. To those who just stumble across this page randomly, the IWSG was started by Speculative Fiction author Alex Cavanaugh many years ago. It is still going, and you can sign-up to participate HERE if you'd like.

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 (I actually never realized how appearing weak was so undesirable to so many people). Those who have been through the fire can offer assistance and guidance. It’s a safe haven for insecure writers of all kinds.

When does everyone post?: 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.

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

The awesome co-hosts for the January 7 posting of the IWSG are Shannon Lawrence, Olga Godim, Jean Davis, and Jacqui Murray!

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, but it is always optional.

January 7th question - Is there anything in your writing plans for 2026 that you are going to do that you couldn't get done in 2025?

If anything, I think that I might enter some more short story contests in 2026. Obviously, I couldn't enter them in 2025 because they are contests for this year. But as I've gotten older, I appreciate the format of the short story more and more. I feel like it is a lost art, and a writer can convey a lot in just a few pages. It also forces you to tighten up your prose, which I feel is always useful.

Thanks for visiting, and I'll see you in February. 

In my last IWSG post for 2025 I lay out all the weird assumptions I made about what being a writer was like.

Hello everyone. This is going to be my last post for the year of 2025, and I wish you all well. But before bowing out before the major holidays, I wanted to drop my final Insecure Writer's Support Group post for the year. If you haven't heard of the Insecure Writer's Support Group, it is a monthly blogfest that was started by Alex Cavanaugh many years ago, and it's still going. You can sign up for it HERE.

What is the purpose of the IWSG?: It's to share and encourage others. The IWSG is a place where 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. 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.

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

The awesome co-hosts for the November 5th posting of the IWSG are Jennifer Lane, Jenni Enzor, Renee Scattergood, Rebecca Douglass, Lynn Bradshaw, and Melissa Maygrove!

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.

November 5 question - When you began writing, what did you imagine your life as a writer would be like? Were you right, or has this experience presented you with some surprises along the way?

I had all kinds of weird ideas to be honest. Here's a breakdown:

I thought landing an agent would be easy for some reason.

I thought that writing the book was 90% of the process, but then I discovered that it's only 10% of the process lol.

I thought that I'd never get sick of my own writing. This was completely wrong as rereading and rereading the same things I've written (to look for errors or inconsistencies) started to make my eyes glaze over.

I thought because I got "A's" in my English courses and was a fantastic speller, that I wouldn't make spelling errors. For example, there's no way I would confuse the words "bare" and "bear." Only idiots do that, right? Well, I guess I'm an idiot then, because I made those self-same mistakes in my written works.

I thought that (for every single book) someone else did the blurb on the back of the book. That's definitely not true (although there are those that do have this privilege).

I didn't know that word count was so important.

I was oblivious to marketing. I thought people just "found" books the same as I "found" books in a bookstore and that there would be all of these eager readers.

I thought that writing a book was a rare thing. It isn't. Everyone (and their dog too) is writing a book. The rare thing (it turns out) is readers. For every twenty people writing a book, there's probably one part-time reader out there.

I discovered that men as a gender have almost completely abandoned literature. That was a real wakeup call.

So...to answer the question...I guess I imagined my life as a writer as having to deal with none of the above. I would have been ensconced in a narcissistic bubble of privilege doing a rare thing and celebrated for my talent. This just isn't how any of it works. I quickly came to understand and appreciate writing in a different way. I should be grateful for the stories that have entertained me all of my life, and that if I truly love writing...my role should be to read what others have written because people are so desperate for good readers. It's like an attention thing. Give it a go, and if you aren't someone who has "whatever it is that warrants attention" then maybe you should try your hand at showering your attention on someone else. Making someone else's life better, whether or not they even know what you did, has its own rewards.

Happy Holidays and have a fanciful New Year! I do hope that 2026 is a better year. That's all I'm going to say about that.

What is your favorite writing piece in this lonesome October?

It's October, and I imagine that quite a few of you are writing scary stories to celebrate Halloween. Out here where I live, Halloween is a huge deal, second only to Christmas. As for myself, I've decided to enter an online short story contest that has cash prizes for a scary story with romantic elements. I'm going with one set in the 1930's and involving the Lovecraft mythology in a small seaside town in Massachusetts.

Because it is the first Wednesday of October, it is time for those of us who blog to come together once more for the Insecure Writer's Support group. It's basically the only thing I've been blogging about this year. If you are interested in joining up yourself, you can do so by going HERE and signing up. And now that I've explained that I'll tell you a bit about what it is all about (all details are taken from the IWSG registration page).

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 was designed to be 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. Some ideas of what you might talk about include doubts and fears that you've conquered. Discuss your struggles and triumphs. Offer a word of encouragement for others who are struggling.

While doing all that, you should endeavor to visit others in the group and connect with your fellow writers and return comments. This group is all about connecting. And lastly, be sure to link to this page and display the badge in your post and check 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 October 1st posting of the IWSG are Beth Camp, Crystal Collier, and Cathrina Constantine!

Every month, the IWSG announces a question that members can answer in their IWSG post but answering it is always optional (I choose to answer it).

October 1 question - What is the most favorite thing you have written, published or not? And why?

I think that the most favorite thing I've written is the sourcebook for my D&D world in which I run my Dungeons & Dragons games. I spent a lot of time on it, and the finished product looks really great. We use it every week when I'm running a game, and I get compliments about how smooth the mechanics in it are and how much fun it is to play characters in the "Wynwrayth system." I used LULU to make the books, and they are hardcover and full color. So, they look gorgeous. And each comes with a "friends and foes" section that has stats for former characters people played so that if anyone decides to run a game in my world, they could use former characters as either heroes or villains. 

Let's talk about vanity publishing in the August Insecure Writer's Support Group.

Happy August to everyone. Out here in Salt Lake City, Utah, it has been extremely dry for a very long time. I saw on the weather report yesterday that we had 5% humidity (that's low even for Utah), and of course there are wildfires everywhere to match the August heat. Living in the desert isn't for the timid. I sometimes wonder what it would be like to live someplace wetter and cooler. Anyway, being August, it's time for the IWSG (Insecure Writer's Support Group) post. Sign-up for it HERE if you are interested, and I'll recap some of the details you can expect from the group below:

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 (Pride isn't one of the seven deadly sins for nothing). Those who have been through the fire can offer assistance and guidance. It’s a safe haven for insecure writers of all kinds.

When does the IWSG post?: It's on the first Wednesday of every month.

What content should you post? Good question. You should post your thoughts on your own blog. Other ideas include talking about your doubts and the fears you have conquered or discussing your struggles and your triumphs. While doing all that, you could offer a word of encouragement for others who are struggling. The IWSG is also a good place to practice your networking. So, I'd advise that you visit others in the group and connect with your fellow writers. A dozen or so new people each time would be sufficient. Engage and comment. 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 August 6 posting of the IWSG are Ronel Janse van Vuuren, Natalie Aguirre, Sarah - The Faux Fountain Pen, and Olga Godim!

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. The question is optional though.

August 6 question - What is the most unethical practice in the publishing industry?

So, my answer might be anti-capitalist. However, I think that vanity publishing is the most unethical thing. A vanity publisher is a company that provides self-publishing services to authors for a fee. While they offer services like editing, design, and marketing, the truth is that the services are expensive, and they are done as cheaply as possible. Editing is probably just a complete lie. I bet many don't actually have an editor (or a person qualified to edit). In reality it's probably a person in Thailand who barely reads English and who eliminates a couple of commas in 400 pages and calls that edited and done with an Ai communication designed to flatter you. And then they probably charge $4,000 for that. Marketing is probably them just putting up a picture of your cover on their own homepage. That probably costs another $4,000. And the design of your book before Ai was probably just some type font on a clip art picture. After Ai...you can bet it's all done with Ai. And not screened either so if a human or a character on the picture has a third eyeball or a missing limb it will not be corrected. It needs to be done in under thirty seconds so that they can charge you $4,000 for the experience.

Vanity publishers are there for one reason...to prey upon your own vanity at wanting to not be invisible. They are there to make you feel special (even though you aren't really unless you call being just another sucker "special). It's basically a pig-butchering scam of another color. But it comes from the same kind of place. It's unfortunate that it ensnares so many people. Older folks who have accrued some savings and who believe in their hearts that there is an audience out there just salivating to hear their story are particularly vulnerable. I think the whole business model is unethical. But again, this goes against capitalism that says a business has a right to exist if there are people wanting the service. I mean...I think that crystal readings and tarot cards and astrology are a scam too. But it's a multi-billion dollar business. I also think crypto is a scam. And NFT's...they are a scam too. Multi-level marketing is a scam. Geezzz... there really are scams everywhere.

Personally, I think my generation (Gen X) is the last generation of people who read in big numbers. I'm not saying that there aren't new readers in younger generations, but they will heavily skew along the sexes to female with a few male readers sprinkled in there. There will still be breakout stars here and there (as there should be), and the invention of genres like romantasy. But no one knows why or how that happens. There isn't a formula you can follow, especially in a world where there is no central authority anymore regarding books. Everyone is reading something different as we all do not circulate around a water cooler anymore to talk about literature. We are fractured and disparate and in our own subreddits online or listening to podcasts or looking at doggy influencers on Instagram. And honestly, I think the most important thing a person can do who wants their book to be read is to make it available in Audio. I recently came across a sobering statistic...over a third of the country now is functionally illiterate (in America) in adulthood and it is only rising. I know professors in college who tell me, "Mike...my students can't read or write. I've never seen anything like this." I'm not sure why this is happening but it is, and Ai is only going to make this problem worse as it will do things for a student so they don't actually have to learn. 

So how do you get a book in the hands of someone who can't read? You make it an audiobook. That's my writing advice to you if you want your book read. Make it available in audio as we are entering a phase of the United States where grift and scams are king and no one can read.

Thanks for visiting :).

Would you explore a different genre with your writing? Let us know with the Independence Day 2025 IWSG post.

Happy 4th of July, and below is my Insecure Writer's Support Group post. If you are interested in participating, please go HERE and sign-up. Now that I've got that out of they way, here's a little more regarding the IWSG:

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. So, that is when you post your thoughts on your own blog. You might want to talk about your doubts and the fears you have conquered. Or, you could discuss your struggles and triumphs. While your at it, you could offer a word of encouragement for others who may be struggling, and who stumbled across your blog. 

To get the most out of the IWSG, you should plan to visit others in the group and connect with your fellow writers. As there are a lot, you should aim for a dozen new people each time. Returning comments is the best way to grow your following. This group is all about connecting.

What advice do you have? Be sure to link to the IWSG 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 follow the online breadcrumbs back to your website.

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

The awesome co-hosts for the July 2nd posting of the IWSG are Rebecca Douglass, Natalie Aguirre, Cathrina Constantine, and Louise Barbour!

Now, every month, the IWSG announces a question that members can answer in their post. These questions may prompt you to share advice, insight, a personal experience or story. You are to 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 please remember that the question is optional.

July 2 question - Is there a genre you haven't tried writing in yet that you really want to try? If so, do you plan on trying it?

Yes. I'd like to give fanfiction a try. In other words, I'd like to play in someone else's sandbox rather than one that I make up. Obviously, this can't be traditionally published but I'm letting go of the whole idea of making money at my writing. The following are the intellectual properties that I'd like to write fanfiction for: Dungeons & Dragons Forgotten Realms setting, the Alien universe with xenomorphs and colonial marines, the Lovecraft universe with their Great Old Ones, the Hellraiser universe with the Cenobites and the Lament configuration box, and the Jurassic Park universe (I think a James Bond-esque spy thriller with raptors and T-Rexes would be awesome).

Anyway, stories set in all of those universes could be a ton of fun to write.

Just in time for summer of 2025 is my list of the books I read as a child that made me what I am today.

Father's Day is just around the corner, and the summer is heating up. That must mean that it's time to do the June 2025 Insecure Writer's Support Group. If you haven't heard of the IWSG, you can read about it HERE on the official blog.

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've 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. So, that's when you post your thoughts on your own blog. You could talk about your doubts and the fears you've conquered. You could discuss your struggles and triumphs, or you could offer a word of encouragement for others who are struggling. To get the most out of the IWSG, you should visit others in the group and connect with your fellow writers. Some people go for a dozen new faces each time, and just like any other social media, if you return comments you'll get comments back. Some advice: 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 handle for the IWSG is @TheIWSG and hashtag is #IWSG.

The awesome co-hosts for the June 4 posting of the IWSG are PJ Colando, Pat Garcia, Kim Lajevardi, Melisa Maygrove, and Jean Davis!

Every month, the IWSG announces a question that members can answer in their post, but it is optional. That's what I'm doing this month. 

June 4th question - What were some books that impacted you as a child or young adult?

I'm going to skip the little Golden books and dive straight into the books that I really enjoyed that got me reading. They are 1) The Prydain Chronicles by Lloyd Alexander, 2) Mary MacLeod's version of the King Arthur stories of Malory's LeMorte de Arthur, 3) The Magicians of Caprona by Diane Wynn Jones, 4) The Belgariad by David Eddings, 5) Roger Zelazny's The Chronicles of Amber, 6) The Secret Garden by Frances Hodgson Burnett, 7) The Count of Monte Cristo by Alexandre Dumas, 8) The Three Musketeers by Alexandre Dumas, 9) The Lord of the Rings by J.R.R. Tolkien, 10) The Chronicles of Narnia by C.S. Lewis, 11) The Colored Fairy Books by Andrew Lang, 12) anything Dungeons & Dragons (books and modules and adventures).

Now that I look at this list I think...damn...no wonder I turned out the way I did: always a daydreamer. These were/are great stories by the way. I think I just leapt from magical book to magical book.

In the May 2025 IWSG we all talk about our greatest writing fear.

How is everyone's May 2025 going? Here in Utah, it's been raining, which is great, because we don't get a lot of rain most of the rest of the year. And with Mother's Day approaching, it's time for me to start up the sprinklers and plant things in the dirt. It's also time for me to segway to talking about the Insecure Writer's Support Group, and our monthly post. If you've never heard of this blogfest, it was started by Alex Cavanaugh to provide a group to share ideas about writing. If this sounds interesting to you, you can sign up for it HERE.

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've 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. So, that's when you post your thoughts on your own blog. You could talk about your doubts and the fears you've conquered. You could discuss your struggles and triumphs, or you could offer a word of encouragement for others who are struggling. To get the most out of the IWSG, you should visit others in the group and connect with your fellow writers. Some people go for a dozen new faces each time, and just like any other social media, if you return comments you'll get comments back. It's a kind of "As Above, So Below" thing. Some advice: 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 7 posting of the IWSG are Feather Stone, Janet Alcorn, Rebecca Douglass, Jemima Pett, and Pat Garcia!

This month, I'm answering the question that's on the IWSG website. But you don't have to do that. I just find it easier because I've been doing this off and on for probably a decade now if not longer. 

May 7 question - Some common fears writers share are rejection, failure, success, and lack of talent or ability. What are your greatest fears as a writer? How do you manage them?

I think that my greatest fear I had as a writer has already come to pass: that writing could just be done by a computer. Now, a lot of people can rightfully say that ChatGPT (for example) is a bad writer. And it kind of is. It uses way too many emdashes in its fiction writing, and it leans heavily on bad dangling participles, gerunds, and weak verbs. It also uses the incorrect preposition from time to time. However, I'm actually really impressed with it.

I'm not one of those people that has a "knee-jerk" reaction to offensive things and just shut them down. I examine them carefully to see what's going on there. Some people who saw ChatGPT write something instantly hated it. They declared it would never replace a human, insulted it as plagiarizing (which it arguably does), and that it is a terrible writer. And then (of course) they walked away from it. I'm not like that. I play around with it all of the time, and if you will take my word for it...it's learning. It's getting better and better, and the kind of prose that it's able to produce is really starting to impress me. It's actually improving at such a rate that it depresses me for the future of writing.

The same goes for ai art. I'm just going to say that it's really starting to impress me as well. It's creating pictures that would take me a week or more to paint in just a minute. So, I guess my fear is this: I wanted to think that I have something special that can't be duplicated. That's a nice thought, but it's categorically wrong, and that's a bit unsettling. I do believe that there's a sliding scale of course. I'm a mediocre writer, but there are some (maybe that someone is you) who are truly great writers. Maybe you are the next George R.R. Martin, Truman Capote, Margaret Atwood, or J.K. Rowling (the equivalent of Mozart in music, no?) If so...I seriously cannot wait to read your books. There's nothing like sinking your teeth into truly great writing and stories. But for the rest of us who can't quite reach those stratospheric heights even on our best days, I think a.i. is going to make us irrelevant.

However, maybe there's a silver lining. With irrelevance does come a kind of freedom. If you know that you'll never make a living at writing, but you still truly like to write, you could always say "to hell with the money" and write whatever you want. I'm doing this by writing fan fiction that I post on websites that use all of the Dungeons & Dragons intellectual property stuff. I use their monsters, their spells, etc. and just make up characters to go through stories. I'm not selling anything, and I'm having fun. So maybe the future for people who like to write when you know you can't sell anything is to embrace your creativity and just write fanfiction. You ever felt like writing a story in the Star Wars universe? Go ahead and do it. Why the hell not. Throw it up on some website that hosts free stories and start collecting fan mail. It's actually pretty fun.

It's April Fools not quite as the IWSG post lands one day late in 2025.

With the arrival of April, my akebono cherry tree is in full bloom. Additionally, it is also time for the April 2025 edition of The Insecure Writer's Support Group. This is a monthly blogfest that has been going for more than a decade. It was started by Alex Cavanaugh, but I think it has kind of taken on a life of its own. If you are interested in participating, you can go HERE to sign up. Here's a rundown of what you can expect as a member of this elite writing club:

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, and 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. Ideas for what to write about are 1) talk about your doubts and the fears you have conquered, 2) discuss your struggles and triumphs, and 3) offer a word of encouragement for others who are struggling. To get the most out of your participation, you should plan to visit others in the group and connect with them. A good rule of thumb is to aim for a dozen new people each time and to return comments. This group is all about connecting. Be sure to link to their page and display their 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. Makes sense, right?

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

The awesome co-hosts for the April 2nd posting of the IWSG are Jennifer Lane, L Diane Wolfe, Jenni Enzor, and Natalie Aguirre!

Every month a question gets announced that members can answer in their IWSG post. This is what I tend to do, as long ago I ran out of ideas on what to write about that concerned the nature of writing itself. These questions are a prompt for you to share advice, an insight, or a personal experience or story. But remember, the question is optional. Now here's the April 2nd question:

"What fantasy character would you like to fight, go on a quest with, or have a beer/glass of wine with?"

So, just to be clear we are talking me and my current physical abilities. Hmm. I definitely would not want to fight anyone or have a glass of wine with anyone. But a quest sounds kind of fun, as long as it wasn't too dangerous, and I was with an expert. I think I choose Indiana Jones (the 1980's version). I bet if I went on an adventure with him, even a small part, I'd see some stuff that I will never forget. But I'd want to tap out before the face melting or heart pulling episodes. Who am I kidding? I wouldn't want the bug scene either that was in Temple of Doom. But hey, that feast in Pankot palace was kind of wild.

Thanks for visiting, and see you next month.

An Insecure Writer's Support Group post and a goodbye to Patrick Dilloway

Hello. It's already March and being the first week of the month, it's time for the Insecure Writer's Support Group post. If you don't know much about this blogfest, it was started over a decade ago by Alex Cavanaugh, a talented author of science fiction and a player of guitars. If you are interested in participating, you can go HERE to sign up. But let me tell you a little about it first.

What is the purpose of the IWSG?: It is to share and encourage. Through the connections you build with other writers participating in this blogfest, you can express doubts and concerns without fear of appearing foolish or weak. Those who have been through the fire can offer assistance and guidance.

When do y'all post?: Participants post on the first Wednesday of every month. This is officially Insecure Writer’s Support Group Day. Ideas for content are 1) your myriad thoughts about writing, 2) your doubts and fears about writing, 3) your struggles and triumphs about writing, and 4) your words of encouragement to others who may be struggling.

Just like most social media, you can build your following on your blog by visiting others in the group and connecting with them that way. Think of it as reciprocity.  You want to make sure that your blog is running well so that they can follow your comment back to your blog and discover you.

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

The awesome co-hosts for the March 5th posting of the IWSG are Ronel Janse Van Vuuren, Pat Garcia, and Liza @ Middle Passages!

Every month, the IWSG announces a question that members can answer on their blogs. These questions may prompt you to share advice, insight, a personal experience or story. However, the question is optional. You can always write about something else, as long as it is about writing.

Here is the March 5th question: If for one day you could be anyone or *thing* in the world, what would it be? Describe, tell why, and any themes, goals, or values they/it inspire in you.

I think that I wouldn't need a whole day. Just an hour. I'd want to hop into the head of someone like Timothee Chalamet or Tom Holland just to see what it is like to walk in their shoes. I'd want to see how people behave around them from their point of view. It must be fascinating. I wouldn't want to stay long in that body though because I just feel like it would be uncomfortable and very disconcerting. I think an hour would be just right.

With that out of the way, I want to take a moment and say "Rest in Peace" to Patrick Dilloway. I came to know Patrick through blogging, and I (along with many others) discovered that he passed away from cancer in January. I had no idea he was even sick, so that should tell you that I really wasn't close to him at all. However, I did read several of his books, and he was a pretty decent writer (and I did meet him once when he came through Salt Lake City). There really isn't any obituary to read of him online, but you can google "Patrick Floyd Dilloway" and see a simple notification from a crematorium that obviously saw him to his final resting place. The reason for this (I think) is because obituaries need to be written by someone. I bet Patrick didn't have anyone in his family who was a writer like himself. I know that when my mom passed several years ago, I wrote her obituary, and many people who read it said it was one of the best that they had ever seen. That was a nice compliment. It's too bad that not everyone gets a well-written obituary. Most of us just pass and the world doesn't seem to care or register that a person was ever there. And writing an obituary is either a task that no one really wants to do, or people are just incapable of doing it.

So goodbye, Grumpy Bulldog (his online moniker). You were a cantankerous person. But I think that I shall miss seeing your comments.

The Insecure Writer's Support Group wants to know if I've written anything that I'd care to revisit.

Happy February. It's that time of the month again...time to air all our thoughts and fears about writing (or to pass on some advice). Who knows? Maybe February 2025 has got some love in store for us all. Before I get around to answering the Insecure Writer's Support Group monthly question, I need to tell you what it 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. 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.

Where do I sign up?: You can go HERE and sign up.

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

The awesome co-hosts for the February 5 posting of the IWSG are Joylene Nowell Butler, Louise Barbour, and Tyrean Martinson!

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.

February 5 question - Is there a story or book you've written you want to/wish you could go back and change?

No, but I haven't written all that many books. I also have a lot more fun reading what other people have written. For example, the third book of the Rebecca Yaros trilogy just came out, so I can finally start that series and see what the hype is all about (I try not to start series that aren't finished anymore because I was burned so badly with George R.R. Martin).

And now onto the state of my blog. I think I'm going to pull back from my regular posting schedule and just post once a month for the IWSG. The state of the world doesn't seem good, and I don't think I'm the kind of writer to post fun things while the house is burning down. Checking in once a month sounds about right.

It's time for the January 2025 Insecure Writer's Support Group post.

Well, whether I wanted it or not, 2025 is now here. It's been a little while since last I wrote, but I'm back at least for the foreseeable future. I hope that all of you had a nice holiday season. I'm just glad that mandatory "put yourself into debt for people who don't really appreciate you" month is now gone for another year. Here in Salt Lake City, we've had days in the 60's, which seems strange for January. There's no snow on the ground, but there's some in the mountains. I feel like things are changing, and not for the better. That probably goes for writing too, but I'm still glad that there is a market for good books. I recently saw that Rebecca Yarros and Sarah J. Maas topped the charts in 2024, and people are very enthusiastic about their writing. I tried to read Maas' books, but they weren't for me. However, the one I tried to read was the most stunning book I've seen in a while. Gold leaf, beautiful end pages, sewn binding, the font was incredible...this thing was a work of art. I felt bad that the story didn't resonate with me. I haven't gotten to Rebecca Yarros yet, but the first two books of her trilogy are on my shelf. That's for my reading pleasure in 2025.

Being the second Wednesday in January, it feels a bit strange to be posting for the Insecure Writer's Support Group. But I get why it was put off a week. These last fourteen days or so have been strange having a day off in the middle of the week. If this is your first introduction to the Insecure Writer's Support Group, it is a monthly blog fest that writer Alex Cavanaugh started many years ago. I've participated in it for a little over a decade myself. I think it's just fun to connect with people who also like to write. Here's a little more about the IWSG and if you are interested, you can sign up HERE.

What is the purpose of the IWSG?: It is to share and encourage other writers. We writers are a very critical lot, and it can be difficult to put something we hold close to the chest out there into the world for other people to tear down. Anyone whose been in a Facebook argument can attest to this. The people online can in many ways, be even crueler than the bullies in a common schoolyard. So think of the IWSG as your support group and safe haven.

When do y'all post?: The first Wednesday of every month is officially Insecure Writer’s Support Group day, but as what happened with New Years of 2025, this is subject to being moved around as needed (very rarely). 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. 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.

Battlecry of the IWSG: "Let’s rock the neurotic writing world!"

The X (formerly known as Twitter) handle is @TheIWSG and hashtag is #IWSG. Has anyone thought of moving to Bluesky? I know Pat Dilloway originally asked me if I was interested, and I said "no" at the time. I'm swiftly beginning to think that X is a garbage dump of terrible. I may soon open a Bluesky account.

The awesome co-hosts for the January 8th posting of the IWSG are Rebecca Douglass, Beth Camp, Liza @ Middle Passages, and Natalie @ Literary Rambles!

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.

But remember, the question is optional (I'm answering the question but you don't have to).

January 8th 2025 question: Describe someone you admired when you were a child. Did your opinion of that person change when you grew up?

I'm going to switch this question up a little bit and answer this differently. When I was a child, I admired institutions. I dreamed of going to an Ivy League school. I thought the office of the presidency had a kind of thing about it that just demanded your respect. I remember standing in front of the Supreme Court in Washington DC and snapping a picture of the statue of Justice, who is blind, and thinking of Martin Luther King saying that the arc of the moral universe is long but it bends toward justice. I admired actors like Michael J. Fox, and I legitimately believed that those people were better somehow. But, I was a fool. 

I learned that Ivy League schools don't really teach anything any better than a quality institution like the University of Texas at Austin. I learned that the presidency is just where rich people go when they desire more power than money, and it's a place where stupid people can ensconce themselves in the ultimate bullying position while being a felonious criminal. I learned that justice depends on what you can afford. I learned that actors are just people with interesting jobs and that many of them are just hedonists, satisfying every desire they can get their hands on until they kick the bucket.

I learned that nobody ever does the right thing, and I learned that common sense is not "common." I've learned that just because a person is an adult does not make them a good decision-maker, even though they may insist that they are. I've learned that a lot of people with privilege can't see their privilege and carry around a huge chip on their shoulders. I learned that nobody really cares about anyone else, and that most people will lose 80% of the people that they get to know through life due to atrophy and the fact that once people find their "one," they stop trying to keep up their other relationships. An example of this was when I witnessed a woman who had her grandma die (whom she lived with and knew very well) and she posted pics of her nails on Instagram an hour later while the corpse was still cooling. She wanted to know if anyone liked the shade she picked. This is the world we live in.

I've learned that there are actually a lot of limits to what money can buy...quality being number one. You can spend a ton of money on something and have it fall apart just like everything else. I've learned that expressing to someone else that you would like more of their time can be seen as "creepy" and "oh so cringe." Why? Because they never liked you all that much and maybe just were around you because you were their parent. None of what happens to people matters if it is outside your "family unit." I've learned that people value good looks and beauty a helluva lot more than I originally thought...in fact...it may be the most important thing in the world (which is really sad). That's why there's such a booming plastic surgery business, which in many cases will never give a person what they want, because what they want is unobtainable. You could say I've learned a lot, and that yes, there are many many people I used to admire that I no longer do as an adult. The list is so long it probably could fill a 2,000 page book. All that being said, I do admire one person: myself, for having sorted it all out and figuring it all out flaws and all. You should admire yourself too, even if it is only just a little bit. It's a good place to start because (I think) self awareness is rare these days. But if we all had just a little more of it, the world would be incredibly different. I'll call this idea of being self-aware "good trouble," and finish by saying that some of that good trouble might make it into your books and make the story way more believable
.

In which I spill the tea on the creative activity I work on (when I'm not writing) for the November 2024 IWSG.

This is my last post for the year. I hope that those of you who are working hard on your novels this month are proceeding nicely. As for the rest of you, may you have a holiday in which Mariah Carey doesn't scream too much "All I Want for Christmas" in your ears. I wouldn't wish that on anyone.

Today is post-election day aftermath. It is also the first Wednesday of November 2024, and this means it is time for our Insecure Writer's Support Group posts. If this is the first that you have heard of this blogging phenomenon, you can read and sign-up for it at this LINK.

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. So, on that day you should post your thoughts on your own blog. Some ideas for what those posts could entail are 1) you could talk about your doubts and the fears you have conquered, 2) you could discuss your struggles and triumphs, and 3) you could offer a word of encouragement for others who are struggling. Being a part of this blogfest means being involved. So, 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 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 Twitter) handle the Insecure Writer's Support Group uses is @TheIWSG and the hashtag is #IWSG.

The awesome co-hosts for the November 6 posting of the IWSG are Diedre Knight, Lisa Buie Collard , Kim Lajevardi, and JQ Rose!

Now, 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. If this is what you want to write about, 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 :)

November 6 question - What creative activity do you engage in when you're not writing?

When I'm not writing I write things for my homebrew setting in Dungeons & Dragons. Over the years, I've built a secondary ruleset that overlays the primary rules of 5e+, and these books contain all the flavor of my homebrew world. I've also digitized maps to make them available to display on 32-inch monitors, and I've come up with all sorts of spells, abilities, classes, and you name it. It's fun to just sit and watch tv and think over a new ability and write it down, revise it, and then think about what it might look like with someone playing it. I think that's where I get the most enjoyment: in the theorycrafting. It is my jam.

Thanks for visiting my blog this year. I will be back for the January 2025 edition of the IWSG. Hopefully (by then) things have settled down a bit politically in this country. But I'm honestly not counting on that.

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.