IWSG - August 2026

  

Click here to find out more and to see a list of other IWSG blogs.

Purpose: 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 awesome co-hosts for the Aug 5th posting of the IWSG are

 Shannon Lawrence, Diedre Knight, Liza, and Pat Garcia!

Optional Question: As a writer/author what is something you regret? Or something that you wish you'd done differently in your writing process?

You mean that time I uploaded the wrong book's interior on Amazon because I was rushing as the preorder deadline quickly approached? And I didn't know until a reader contacted me?

Then when I asked Zon to notify people that the problem had been corrected, the Amazon support person told me they would only sent that notification for "catastrophic failure." I challenged them back and asked how the wrong book inside wasn't a catastrophic event.

They sent the notification, but the reader reported that it still took a week for the change to appear in her kindle.

Insecure Writers Support Group - July 2026

  

Click here to find out more and to see a list of other IWSG blogs.

Purpose: 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 awesome co-hosts for the Jul 1st posting of the IWSG are

 Rebecca Douglass, Ronel Janse van Vuuren, Cathrina Constantine, and Jacqui Murray!

Optional Question: Is there anything you'd like to see changed, added, and/or rearranged
about the book publishing industry?

There are so many aspects about the publishing question. While I'm indie now, I was first trad published, but I remember how long everything took. There's a lot more work I have to do myself now and making sure I have the right team (editor, for example) is important. But it's also great to know I can decide who I want to work with.

How about you? What's your experience been?

IWSG - June 2026

 

Click here to find out more and to see a list of other IWSG blogs.

Purpose: 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 awesome co-hosts for the Jun 3rd posting of the IWSG are

Victoria Marie Lees, Sarah Foster, Natalie Aguirre, and C. Lee McKenzie!

Optional 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 comes from all over. I'm a discovery writer, so while I may know some of what I want to happen, other things are revealed to me as I tell myself the story.

There's something so fun about writing away and... boom! Oh, they knew each other in high school. I can work with that.

My first book started with a dream.

For another, one night, I was driving home from a late city council meeting not long after having LAZIK. The glow it created around lights got me thinking about what if there was something in the light. That morphed into a mirror and the idea of an alternate dimension. That turned into a portal fantasy. Which just got a new cover. 

What about you? Where do your ideas come from?

Insecure Writer's Support Group - May 2026

 

Click here to find out more and to see a list of other IWSG blogs.

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

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

That I made them cry. Does that make me mean? I tend to write about hard things people experience in life, and if I do it right, the reader goes through that with them. I guess that's why I don't do romcom. I'm serious and if I'm ever funny, it's almost by accident. 🤷🏻It does happen sometimes.

I have a special folder where I put emails I've received. It's called Bummer Day. On a day when I'm feeling wear or beat-up by this writing life I've chosen, I can go to it to see what people have said. It uplifts me.

What about you? What inspiring feedback have you received?

Insecure Writer's Support Group - April 2026

 

Click here to find out more and to see a list of other IWSG blogs.

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

Optional question:

April 1 question - 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?

I often like music that matches the characters. So, for example, while I'm not normally a metal fan (my sons are and taught me how broad a genre it really is), I would listen to Power Metal groups as I was writing a couple of characters in my Safe Harbors series. One of the characters doesn't survive the modern-day pirate attack on a cruise, so it's kind of bittersweet.

Or if I'm writing action, I like epic soundtrack music. Usually I prefer music without words when I'm drafting, but not always.

What about you?

Are you a "only in silence" writer?

Or do you have tunes that put you in the mood?

IWSG - February 2026

Today, I'm at writing conference cruise in the Caribbean.  

Click here to find out more and to see a list of other IWSG blogs.

Purpose: 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 awesome co-hosts for the February 4th posting of the IWSG are
 J Lenni Dorner, Victoria Marie Lees, and Sandra Cox!

Optional 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?

Simple answer for me: Yes! Since I link my series and have connections between characters, I've found it very useful to listen to the books again. Fortunately, I've invested from the very beginning in audiobooks, so it's easy. And it's been so useful because there's a lot I've forgotten.

And I've rewritten a few because I've grown as an author. Contrary to what they tell you, I sold my first book to a publisher, and they had me cut out some scenes from the shipwrecked middle. But there were reviews wishing I'd shown some of that removed stuff, so when I got my rights back, I tweaked the book to reflect how I'd grown as a writer and added them back in. 

I've also expanded a couple of novellas into full-length novels.

What about you?
Do you find it cringe when you read your earlier works?

IWSG - December 2025

   

Click here to find out more and to see a list of other IWSG blogs.

Purpose: 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 awesome co-hosts for the December 3rd posting of the IWSG are
 Tara Tyler, Ronel Janse van Vuuren, Pat Garcia, Liza, and Natalie Aguirre!

For a while now, I've struggled with the whole promotion thing of being an author. I loathe being in sales. All the pushing to sell without being in your face about it stole the joy that made me want to write in the first place. Everything you create turns into a "product" you feel obligated to sell.

It turned into burnout a couple of years ago, and I stepped back from writing. But I love it. After a few weeks, I stepped into writing but hardly any promoting (none paid) and was able to write again. I stopped worrying about algorithms and ad dashboards and chasing ways to make a buck.

And the writing became a gift again.

Then last December, I nearly died. For the first couple of months of 2025, as I healed from the pneumonia and subsequent surgery, I made a decision. I would finish every series I've begun.

I’m happy to say I’m about halfway there. This year, I published the final three books in my Lilac City series.

⋯⋯❈⋯⋯

Twickenham was already done, but last year (before I got sick) I started a Christmas novella I intend to complete this year. It's so close to being done!

⋯⋯❈⋯⋯

My REKD series is done, though I'm still publishing shorter stories in that world.

⋯⋯❈⋯⋯

I have one more book to finish in the Safe Harbors series (it's partly done).

⋯⋯❈⋯⋯

Wildstone is only kind of done, since I have future plans for a series of short stories set in this world. I also I plan (if I live long enough) to write a cozy mystery trilogy in that world.

⋯⋯❈⋯⋯

I pulled a book that was meant to be part of its own series (that never happened), rewrote it to fit in my Huckleberry Falls series, and now I only have one more book to complete this series.

⋯⋯❈⋯⋯

Under my fantasy pen name of Rae Kinsley, I have the first of my portal fantasies out. The second book is written but they have duo plotlines, and only one is good in the second book. Once that's fixed, I can complete this duology.

Hopefully, by this time next year, I can report that they are all done.

Anyway, if you’re feeling burned out or overwhelmed,

I hope you find a way back to the part of writing that feeds you.

Because it should be joy first.

Always.

P.S. I'll be in Hawaii when this posts.
I like their philosophy. 😏

IWSG - November 2025

  

Click here to find out more and to see a list of other IWSG blogs.

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

November 5th 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 began writing only because I wanted to write my personal history and didn't want it to be a cure for insomnia for my descendants. lol So, I thought I'd try to see if I could even write something of any length. I'd heard about NaNoWriMo but too late for that year, so I did my own in January. And wrote 80,000 words.

And I was hooked! One of my sons kept pushing me to see about selling it to a publisher, but I resisted for a long time. I did eventually sell it (after 20 rewrites), and it's still one of my bestsellling books. 

I never have gotten back to my personal history. 

 

IWSG - September 2025

 

 

Click here to find out more and to see a list of other IWSG blogs.

Purpose: 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 awesome co-hosts for the September 3 posting of the IWSG are
Kim Lajevardi, Natalie Aguirre, Nancy Gideon, and Diedre Knight!

September 3 question - What are your thoughts on using AI, such as ChatGPT, Raptor, and others with your writing? Would you use it for research, story bible, or creating outlines\beats?

I've lived a long time and seen a lot of changes in technology. And change is rarely easy.

I see AI tools much like the shift from manual typewriters to electric ones, or from the abacus to calculators that now outpace early computers. AI is still simply a tool.

It's helpful for speeding up certain tasks like research, organizing a story bible, or sketching out beats and outlines. And just like with my internet searches pre-AI, I still have the responsibility to verify the information and sources.

What's important (in my humble opinion) is to avoid the temptation to let AI do all the work. As with anything, it's critical that we continue to think for ourselves. Human creativity is the heart of storytelling and still rests with us.

Do you see AI more as a calculator (an assistant that helps with the details),

as a co-pilot that shares more of the journey,

or something to completely avoid?

IWSG - August 2025

 

 

Click here to find out more and to see a list of other IWSG blogs.

Purpose: 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 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!

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

The first thing that comes to mind is plagiarism. It hit an author friend of mine as I detailed here. That case was particularly heartbreaking because the plagiarizer also stole a real-life event from a wounded veteran to add to another book she stole.

Rachel did sue, and she won her case, but it was incredibly stressful and expensive. It's not like she will recoup the cost, but I'm glad she persevered. I wish it would put the fear of God into other people doing this. Sadly, it hasn't.

But there are other unethical practices I've seen like predatory traditional publishers and review bombing to destroy an author, just to name two.

Fortunately, I've had wonderful experiences personally, so I'm grateful for the helpful authors and publishers out there who do it right.

What about you? Have you run into any of the ugly sides of publishing?

 

IWSG - June 2025

 

Click here to find out more and to see a list of other IWSG blogs.

Purpose: 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 awesome co-hosts for the June 4 posting of the IWSG are

PJ Colando, Pat Garcia, Kim Lajevardi, Melisa Maygrove, and Jean Davis! 

The optional question for June is:  What were some books that impacted you as a child or young adult?

 I was a voracious reader as a child (still am). But my options weren't always great since I was also a Navy brat and we moved every few years. When we lived in Sacramento, our house was on the other side of a creek across from a city park that had a branch library. Summers, I spent a lot of time there and fell in love with Charlotte's Web. My 4th grade teacher even wrote in a memory book that she would never forget how many times I read that book.

But my dad was stationed in the Philippines for a couple of years. That was when I discovered series called Judy Bolton mystery series by Margaret Sutton. I liked Nancy Drew too, but she never seemed to grow as a person. Judy did. They're historical fiction now. lol

What were your fave books when you were young?

IWSG - May 2025

 

Click here to find out more and to see a list of other IWSG blogs.

Purpose: 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 awesome co-hosts for the May 7 posting of the IWSG are

Feather Stone, Janet Alcorn, Rebecca Douglass, Jemima Pett, and Pat Garcia!! 

The optional question for May is:  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?

The imposter syndrome is something most creatives suffer from. I remember when we were in Atlanta for a work conference and went on a Gone with the Wind tour. We visited the apartment where she wrote the Pulitzer Prize winning book. She was terrified to show it to anyone and would hide the page when friends came to visit, sometimes in odd places such as under cushions.

When it hits me periodically, I have a couple of things I can fall back on. One is my Bummer Day file. It's where I store emails I've received from readers who have loved my books. The other is Ira Glass's take on creativity. I've been doing this for a while now, but it doesn't mean I don't still want to grow as an author, so the video below still applies.

What about you? What is your greatest fear as a writer?

IWSG - April 2025

 

Click here to find out more and to see a list of other IWSG blogs.

Purpose: 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 awesome co-hosts for the April 2 posting of the IWSG are

Jennifer Lane, L Diane Wolfe, Jenni Dorner, and Natalie Aguirre! 

The optional question for April is: What fantasy character would you like to fight, go on a quest with, or have a beer/glass of wine with?

Easy one for me. I would share a meal with Hagrid! Though I would cook. 😁

As is mentioned in my bio, I'm a huge Harry Potter fan. During the craziness following the release of Half Blood Prince, I was invited to be a moderator at the Leaky Cauldron's forum, The Leaky Lounge. Jo Rowling warned readers that Deathly Hallows would be a blood bath because in real war it's not just the secondary characters who die.

I was worried for Hagrid. And so relieved when he made it through.

What about you? Who would you like to interact with?

IWSG - March 2025

  

Click here to find out more and to see a list of other IWSG blogs.

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

The optional question didn't resonate with me this month, so I guess I'll talk about my angst. 

I'm a finisher. I'm most comfortable when I start something and see it through to completion before starting another project. As an author, I have learned to work on a couple of different projects at once (focusing on one while dabbling on the other).

But I've struggled with burnout the last couple of years and have found myself bouncing between projects and even genres. Toward the end of 2024, I finally pulled myself together and finished two books. The second one I was in the midst of published even as I was admitted to the hospital!

So that kind of put a stop to everything for a few months as I recovered from being SO sick and the subsequent surgery. 

I am writing again, on one of those projects I started and then set aside. But I'm getting a little switchy as I look at the list of partially written books. Seriously, I need to get faster at this!

Are you able to juggle more than one project at a time?

IWSG - September 2024

  

Click here to find out more and to see a list of other IWSG blogs.

Purpose: 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 awesome co-hosts for the September 4 September 4 posting of the IWSG
are Beth Camp, Jean Davis, Yvonne Ventresca, and PJ Colando!

Question: Since it's back to school time, let's talk English class. What's a writing rule you learned in school that messed you up as a writer?

Haha Putting two spaces after a period. It took me forever to break that habit. But I did! And back in the olden days, the teachers actually had a special ruler so they could make sure you had the two spaces. Dang but this ages me. lol

 

Insecure Writers Support Group - February 2024

 

 Click here to find out more and to see a list of other IWSG blogs.

Purpose: 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 awesome co-hosts for the February 7 posting of the IWSG are Janet Alcorn, SE White, Victoria Marie Lees, and Cathrina Constantine!

Optional Question: What turns you off when visiting an author's website/blog? Lack of information? A drone of negativity? Little mention of author's books? Constant mention of books?

I think information about what the blog or author website is about is important to me. It shouldn't be confusing to navigate around, meaning too busy. An author website should be about the author and their books. That's usually why I visit one. Something I often like to find is a reading order list if the author has a series (or several).

Since I like to revisit some of my favorite books/series, I've even been known to copy the reading order list and save it in a word file for future reference.

Since I'm in the process of setting up my own shop, I've made sure to create reading order lists. This can be especially important when one series links to another.

What about you? Do you ever get too little or too much information and are bugged by it?

IWSG - December 2023

 Click here to find out more and to see a list of other IWSG blogs.

Purpose: 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 awesome co-hosts for the December 6 posting of the IWSG are C. Lee McKenzie, JQ Rose, Jennifer Lane, and Jacqui Murray! 

Optional Question: Book reviews are for the readers. When you leave a book reviews do you review for the Reader or the Author? Is it about what you liked and enjoyed about your reading experience, or do you critique the author?

Reading is such a subjective experience. When I review books, I do so as a reader and talk about how the book made me feel. I'm all about the feels!

But while I may absolutely love a book, my best friend is bored stupid with it.

Example 1: Mockingjay (the third in The Hunger Games series). Ugh. I loathed it! And many people did too. But just as many people loved it.

Example 2: Audiobook for my award-winning book Torn Canvas. The guy who did it was my dream narrator. When he reads the story, it sounds just like it did in my head as I wrote it.

One reviewer panned his performance because it was "melodramatic." Another reviewer dissed it because they said he was "monotone."

Melodramatic.

Monotone.

The same book but an opposite reader experience. Neither is invalid. Readers experience what they experience. But, because I understand this, if I cannot give a book at least three stars, I won't review it. This is simply my personal philosophy.

I recognize that I may have had a "melodramatic" or "monotone" experience with a particular book, but that doesn't mean the next person who reads or listens to it won't have a 5-star experience. But if I trash it, they may pass it up and miss out.

Author Beth Revis wrote a humorous blog post that puts it in perspective and helps wounded authors recover from hurtful reviews. And there are always bad reviews no matter who the author is as Beth cites in her post.

I know some authors don't review books. What's your personal preference?

IWSG September 2023

   Click here to find out more and to see a list of other IWSG blogs.

Purpose: 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!

Co-hosts for the September 6th are

Sonia Dogra, J Lenni Dorner, Pat Garcia, Sarah - The Faux Fountain Pen, and Meka James

Question: The IWSG celebrates 12 years today! When did you discover the IWSG, how do you connect, and how has it helped you? 

Wow. Twelve years! It's crazy how fast the time has flown.

I found IWSG because I followed Alex. Back in those days, blogs were really hot, and it was easy to spend hours every day visiting fellow authors. I don't miss the time suck, but I do miss the connections I made. I've only managed to hang onto a few.

As for how IWSG has helped me, it's all about misery loves company. lol At least in part. It's nice to know, when I'm wallowing in my insecurities, that I'm not alone.

But even more important to me is how it gives me an opportunity to step outside of myself to offer encouragement and support to others. And this wonderful community does the same for me.

The following is a video about the creative process by Ira Glass that I found twelve years ago on a blog. It seems fitting to share it again as it still applies.

Happy 12th Birthday IWSG

IWSG - August 2023

   

Click here to find out more and to see a list of other IWSG blogs.

Purpose: 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!

Co-hosts for the August 2nd are

Kate Larkinsdale, Diane Burton, Janet Alcorn, and Shannon Lawrence!

Question: Have you ever written something that afterwards you felt conflicted about? If so, did you let it stay how it was, take it out, or rewrite it?

I'm actually in the process of writing something I've been conflicted about. I'm a Navy brat and I've lived or visited many different country, especially in Asia. Some of my best friends and college roommates were from different cultures or races from mine. On military bases, people were assigned housing by whoever was next on the list.

So, growing up, it was normal for me to be surrounded by diversity even when diversity might not have been the norm in many places in the US. And still isn't. Since my world has been diverse, my books are full of diverse characters. And the only comments I've received from readers about it has been positive.

I've had plans for a particular book for years. I even set up some expectations for this couple in the previous book in the series.

The only thing that has given me pause has been the rather adamant statement of some groups that author should not write about races or cultures that aren't their own. And this would be the first book to have two love interests who aren't at least part white.

But, following that train of thought, I should never write from a male's point of view. 

I posed the question to my editor, and she said I should continue to write the story because there's not enough diversity in books. I love these two characters and want to do them right. So, I'm pressing on.

Have you ever felt conflicted?

IWSG - June 7th

   

Click here to find out more and to see a list of other IWSG blogs.

Purpose: 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!

Co-hosts for the June 1st are

Patrcia Josephine, Diedre Knight, Olga Godim, J. Lenni Dorner, and Cathrina Constantine!

Question: If you ever did stop writing, what would you replace it with?

The optional question is actually an easy one for me. I love making videos and working on images, so I would love to take a Photoshop class and maybe one on After Effects to animate images. I've made a few YouTube videos to listen to while I write. (Not that I'd quit writing. Just do it for fun.)

What about you? Do you see a life after writing?