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It’s the first Wednesday of the month, which means it’s time for my post for The Insecure Writer’s Support Group (IWSG). If you haven’t checked them out, click here.

Our awesome co-hosts this month are Tara Tyler, Ronel Janse van Vuuren, Pat Garcia, Liza, and Natalie Aguirre!

The optional question this month – As a writer, what was one of the coolest/best gifts you ever received? 

Books! I have received books at every conference I have attended, and I love books. I’m a reader first and foremost, so I love getting books. That was an easy one. Now, time for a fun news story.

This story has future Pixar movie written all over it. Drunken raccoons would be amazing on screen.

https://www.huffpost.com/entry/drunk-raccoon-virginia-convenience-store_n_692f72cae4b0b66e5652ba33

I leave you with a song. See you next month.

https://youtu.be/wIft-t-MQuE

Happy November! We are barreling toward 2026, and we had 70 degree weather in my neck of the woods. Overall, it was a good day. And now, it’s time to spend some time with the writers of IWSG.

The awesome co-hosts this month 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. 

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?

My exterior life is not specifically different, but I cannot say the same about my interior life. Years of developing my voice, my stamina, and my vision has helped me grow as both a writer and a human. Time for a little fun to offset my very grown-up answer to that question.

Who knew outdoor chairs were such a big target for thieves.

https://apnews.com/article/stolen-chairs-spain-restaurants-51556ca98953700f5a9c305b59b0fa5c

I leave you with a little music. See you next month.

https://youtu.be/YaEG2aWJnZ8

It is time once again for a post of The Insecure Writer’s Support Group (IWSG). We are a far-flung group of keyboard monkeys who share our thoughts on the first Wednesday of each month. If you haven’t yet checked out some of the participants, here’s your chance.

Today’s co-hosts are Natalie Aguirre, Nancy Gideon, Diedre Knight and me!

The optional September 3 question is what are your thoughts on using AI, such as GPChat, Raptor, and others with your writing? Would you use it for research, storybible, or creating outlines\beats?

I don’t use AI for any part of my writing process. I don’t want to donate my creative ideas to the millions of scraped ideas those products compile and then regurgitate. Creation is too valuable in human life to donate to a computerized filing cabinet.

Now that I’ve told Ai to get off my lawn, I’ll share an adorable news piece.

https://apnews.com/article/corgi-dogs-race-lithuania-vilnius-8a18653c6922b19e9bcf046ccfb20a2a

I leave you with a musical nugget. Enjoy it, and I’ll see you next month.

Time for the Insecure Writer’s Support Group (IWSG) post for August. The awesome co-hosts for the August 6th posting of the IWSG are Ronel Janse van Vuuren, Natalie Aguirre, Sarah – The Faux Fountain Pen, and Olga Godim!

The optional question this month is – What is the most unethical practice in the publishing industry?

I’m not sure this is the most unethical, but it is a current issue I abhor—AI theft of creative works. I think it is beyond reprehensible that AI companies have been allowed to train AI models on creator work and then use that to “create” their own work to replace creators. It is theft.

On a lighter note, a close encounter of the grizzly kind.

https://www.huffpost.com/entry/seattle-nhl-mascot-escapes-close-grizzly-encounter_n_68928526e4b0d3424bc41383

I leave you with a song. See you next month.

https://youtu.be/3y4L2EqTNh4

It’s time once again for the monthly posting of The Insecure Writer’s Support Group (IWSG). If you haven’t already checked them out, click the image above and take a virtual leap.

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

The optional question this month: 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, a speculative thriller, and I’m currently writing it. It marries my love of fantasy and thriller elements, and I’m having a fantastic time writing it. So, the moral of my story is to try the thing.

On a sillier note, here’s a funny little news story that caught my eye. Actually, this particular runaway zebra more than caught my eye with his frequency in my collective social feeds.

https://www.huffpost.com/entry/runaway-pet-zebra-finally-captured-after-a-week-on-the-lam_n_6846f834e4b0c07e51795d28

I’ll leave you with a touch of music. Enjoy, and I’ll see you next month.

Welcome to the June Insecure Writer’s Support Group. There is virtual coffee and donuts over there and a basket for tear-soaked pages over there. Smirk. If you haven’t visited before, take a ride on some other blogs by clicking the links of my fellow co-hosts’ blogs PJ Colando, Pat Garcia, Melisa Maygrove, and Jean Davis!

The optional June 4 question – What were some books that impacted you as a child or young adult?

Beginning when I was a child, Where the Red Fern Grows, all Judy Blume books, and The Hobbitt. Moving into my young adult years, I loved Dean Koontz, Marilyn French, and Stephen Donaldson.

That’s it for my IWSG post. Now, a little taste of my current read, playlist, and news.

What am I currently reading?

Girl One by Sara Flannery Murphy and yet another reread of Crooked Kingdom by Leigh Bardugo

A song from my current writing playlist:

Last but not least, a silly news story that left me giggling. He was hangry. Someone should have given him a Snickers.

https://apnews.com/article/thailand-wild-elephant-grocery-shop-4e6abf114e8b12e3fb5e3e1c74de2dc4

That’ll do it for me today. I’ll see you next month.

Welcome to yet another monthly post for The Insecure Writer’s Support Group (IWSG). Our awesome co-hosts this month are Feather Stone, Janet Alcorn, Rebecca Douglass, Jemima Pett, and Pat Garcia! 

This month’s optional 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? 

Since I spent years in the querying trenches and now I’m in the submission trenches, you’d think I would be inured to rejection. But alas. It’s not so much a fear anymore, but it remains my biggest insecurity. I’ve just learned how to use it as fuel.

Here’s another thing I use for fuel: music. Enjoy! I’ll see you next month.

I spent part of today beginning to plot a new series. Love, love, love this part of writing! Here’s a little musical hint.

Welcome to another post of The Insecure Writer’s Support Group (IWSG). We post the first Wednesday of every month. If you haven’t clicked on this link and perused the available blogs, what are you waiting for?

This month’s co-hosts are Jennifer Lane, L Diane Wolfe,Jenni Enzor, and Natalie Aguirre, and this month’s optional question is what fantasy character would you like to fight, go on a quest with, or have a beer/glass of wine with?

Oh, that’s an easy one. I’d love to visit Leigh Bardugo’s Grishaverse and spend some time with Kaz, Inez, Jesper, Wylan, Nina, and Matthias. I am a major fan of the world Bardugo created, but especially, the Six of Crows duology. I’m currently listening to the audiobook for the gazillionith time.

Thanks for the mind candy, IWSG! See y’all in thirty.

I’m going to be at Left Coast Crime this weekend, but I thought I’d pop in and share my badge from the Tucson Festival of Books which is also this weekend. Paper Worlds was a finalist this year. Great festival and contest. I went last year and was blown away.