IWSG June 2026 Where Do stories Come From?

 Welcome readers, writers, authors, and bloggers!

We're glad you're here! It's the First Wednesday of the month; when we celebrate IWSG Day in the form of a blog hop featuring members and guests of the Insecure Writer's Support Group. Founded by author Alex Cavanaugh (Thank you, Captain!) and fostered by like-minded associates, IWSG is a comfortable place to share views and literary news as we record our journeys. Check out the December newsletter here.

The awesome co-hosts for this month’s posting of the IWSG are:   Victoria Marie Lees, Sarah Foster, Natalie Aguirre, and C. Lee McKenzie!

 

 Today’s entirely 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?

You’d think I’d have a patented answer for this question by now, since it is one of the most commonly asked questions a writer ever gets. Back in the early days of swing-singing – before I could even spell my own name – the answer was easy: I reported the news as I’d heard or discerned it from all over the cul-de-sac (the neighbor’s chagrin notwithstanding) at the top of my lungs each morning at sunrise from the vantage point of my backyard swing. I use the word “News” lightly here, as in those days the word referred to something you could believe in. Whether you wanted to hear it or not was mostly up to you (neighbor’s remorse, notwithstanding)

What I truly admire is how authors manage to weave stories around news events that might otherwise have faded away if not for the riveting narratives that became sensational movies, such as Murder on the Orient Express (Agatha Christie) and Hidden Figures (Margot Lee Shetterly).

Did I mention that the story I spoke of last month (Tortilla Bandits) was based on a true story? We just decided not to file a Police report ;-)  

I’ve just finished reading my fifth book of the year (so far). How’s your reading list doing?

Fun Fact: In Brazilian prisons, reading a book can reduce a prisoner’s sentence by four days!

That’s it for me, for now. See Ya all out there!

 

Happy Writing

 

IWSG May 2026 Inspiring Feedback

 

Welcome readers, writers, authors, and bloggers!

We're glad you're here! It's the First Wednesday of the month; when we celebrate IWSG Day in the form of a blog hop featuring members and guests of the Insecure Writer's Support Group. Founded by author Alex Cavanaugh (Thank you, Captain!) and fostered by like-minded associates, IWSG is a comfortable place to share views and literary news as we record our journeys. Check out our newsletter for May here.

Our awesome cohosts for this month are:

Jenni Enzor, Jemima Pett, Jamie of Uniquely Maladjusted but Fun, and Kim Lajevardi!

And today’s entirely optional question is:

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

In terms of literary feedback, it doesn’t matter if we’re talking 14 or 44 different “types” assigned to any given Book Review because any one of them can literally launch or tank a career and crush the heart of the author who bravely dared to present their work in the first place. Being as how I’m mostly terrified to know, I don’t typically read reviews of my own work. However, the reviews I read under the heading Craft and Criticism at Literary Hub have me wanting to rush right out and buy every book reviewed in the article!

While the reviews were not all Unicorns and Pink Cadillacs, there were at least enough complimentary comments to remind the authors, all of us, really, that readers are as independent as we are and therefore (hopefully) inclined toward objectivity.

Nevertheless, I nearly starved to death fretting about the ten copies of a manuscript I passed around at a school bus yard years ago. Was this a mistake? Did they hate it? Why was it taking so long? Did bus drivers even read YA stories?

As it turned out, a couple of weeks without food or sleep didn’t kill me 😉 And would you believe seven out of ten readers asked when the sequel would be finished?!

Then there was that disagreement over a word I’d used in the title of a short story for children. The editor absolutely was not ever going to allow the title (Tortilla Capers) to be what I had planned. Instead, she suggested one much better! I smile every time I run across the story I wrote called Tortilla Bandits 😊

Can’t wait to see what you have to say – See ya soon!

 

 

IWSG April 2026 National Poetry Month

 

Welcome readers, writers, authors, and bloggers!

We're glad you're here! It's the First Wednesday of the month, when we celebrate IWSG Day as a blog hop featuring members and guests of the Insecure Writer's Support Group. Founded by author Alex Cavanaugh (Thank you, Captain!) and fostered by like-minded associates, IWSG is a comfortable place to share views and literary news as we record our journeys. Check out the April newsletter here.

The awesome co-hosts for this month’s posting of the IWSG are:  Melissa Maygrove, Cathrina Constantine, Kate Larkinsdale, and Rebecca Douglass!

 Today’s entirely optional 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?

Happy April, everyone! I love music.  I think it narrates the feelings of our souls, even as we sometimes tap our pen to paper, waiting for words to drip out.  Since we’re all about writing here, it’s a good time to remember it’s National Poetry Month. Do you write poetry or have a favorite poet? 

I have two favorite poets. My first favorite is Robert Frost. Do you know he’s the only poet to date to win four (4!) Pulitzer prizes? I can’t even tell you how many times I’ve read “Stopping by the Woods on a Snowy Evening.”

My other favorite poet is Sinclair Lewis, and his poem “The Road Not Taken.” Do you know he’s the first person to ever refuse a Pulitzer prize? The award was for his novel Arrowsmith, which Lewis didn’t feel quite met the criteria, which was at that time work that “best represents the wholesome atmosphere of American Life.”  Nonetheless, the “powers that were” declared that his award would stand in perpetuity. And so it has.

My two favorite poets, walking in the woods and such, always call to mind songs by John Denver, or Bad Company (Seagull), or James Taylor.  I was listening to Chris Rea this afternoon.

Happy writing in April!

IWSG March 2026 Elements of a successful book launch

 

Welcome readers, writers, authors, and bloggers!

We're glad you're here! It's the First Wednesday of the month, when we celebrate IWSG Day in the form of a blog hop featuring members and guests of the Insecure Writer's Support Group. Founded by author Alex Cavanaugh (Thank you, Captain!) and fostered by like-minded associates, IWSG is a comfortable place to share views and literary news as we record our journeys. Check out the December newsletter here.

The awesome co-hosts for this month’s posting of the IWSG are:  PJ Colando, Ronel Janse van Vuuren, and Natalie Aguirre! 

 

 Today’s entirely optional 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?

One of the topics I hear the most laments about is getting mailing lists out early. Depending on the length of the campaign, sending out additional reminders might not be a bad idea. You know I’m hoping for feedback on my thoughts, right?

Defining target audience, timing of launch, and venue. I learned a lot my first time out, basically stumbling around 😉

Beyond the immensely helpful blog mentions by faithful friends with more time on their hands than you do (in the middle of a book launch), why not make it an event to remember? Even a small group of ten people all dressed in red T-shirts (as nondescript as possible) is bound to draw a few curious passers-by. Especially if you throw in a couple dozen cupcakes and a few rounds of Musical Chairs. By the time my meager group of mini readers sauntered away with personalized (signed) copies of Beanie’s Backyard, few would realize that it was they who had turned milling around near the Food Court outside of a bookstore at the Mall into a book event!

Such fun that was! As I watched the kids, moms, and grandparents walking away, a thought occurred to me, as it all too often does, what if they don’t like the book? What if they don’t even read it?  

Hoping to calm my worries, I decided to research how to know the things I’m so unsure of. Now I’m unsure of that as well 😉

Here’s what I found:

While many believe you have only to read the first 50 pages of a book to decide if you want to finish it, Page 69, I’m told, is where you’ll find the heart of the book. By page 69, the author has established a storyline, introduced characters you won’t mind hanging out with for a while, and basically found his/her voice as a lead narrator of their latest literary masterpiece.

See you all out there!

Happy Writing

 

IWSG December 2025

 

Welcome readers, writers, authors, and bloggers!

We're glad you're here! It's the First Wednesday of the month; when we celebrate IWSG Day in the form of a blog hop featuring members and guests of the Insecure Writer's Support Group. Founded by author Alex Cavanaugh (Thank you, Captain!) and fostered by like-minded associates, IWSG is a comfortable place to share views and literary news as we record our journeys. Check out our monthly newsletter here.

The awesome co-hosts for this month’s posting of the IWSG are:  Tara Tyler, Ronel Janse van Vuuren, Pat Garcia, Liza, and Natalie Aguirre!

 Today’s entirely optional question: As a writer, what is the coolest/best gift you ever received?   

Gosh, I’ve received so many cool writer gifts over the years it’s hard to recall who gave what. Ranging from thoughtful to frightful to humorous, each and every gift touched me in a special way as welcome reminders that someone thought enough of me to gift me with it.  I loved the waterproof pencil and notepad that stuck to the wall of my shower; if only I could see without my glasses 😊 I’ve revisited my books “On Writing”, “Bird by Bird”, “Essentials of English”, and “Elements of Style’, on numerous occasions. I was dismayed when the last bit of wick in my John Steinbeck candle burned out, but then I received a new candle called “Smells like she’s writing a Bestseller”.  Last year my daughter gave me a small Christmas tree decorated with tiny replicas of books I’ve written as well as a few I loved as a child. I vowed to put the “Writing tree” out on display every year (while I wear my tiny book-replica earrings) from then on 😉

I’ll be around to see what your favorite writer/writing gift is – or was. Does anyone have Scrabble Magnets for the fridge in case inspiration strikes (or wans, I guess) while you’re having coffee?

Happy Writing and a very Merry Christmas to all!

 

IWSG October 2025 Favorites

 

Welcome readers, writers, authors, and bloggers!

We're glad you're here! It's the First Wednesday of the month; when we celebrate IWSG Day in the form of a blog hop featuring members and guests of the Insecure Writer's Support Group. Founded by author Alex Cavanaugh (Thank you, Captain!) and fostered by like-minded associates, IWSG is a comfortable place to share views and literary news as we record our journeys. Check out our monthly newsletter here.

The awesome co-hosts for this month’s posting of the IWSG are: Beth Camp, Crystal Collier, and Cathrina Constantine!

 Today’s entirely optional question: What is the most favorite thing you have written, published or not? And why?      

Great question! And an easy one as well, since one book in particular has been on my mind like a jumping bean; “Me! Pick me!” and in my heart with love everlasting for the little guy for and about whom it was written. The little guy is eighteen now, and while he’s still as curious as he was at two, his Nana doesn’t share every new discovery ;-)

I love everything I’ve written. Not for the purpose of selling them, though some actually have. Sold, that is. I’ve given away more poems than I can count. I dearly love the act of writing. From start to eventual finish, it’s being on my own adventure where all my favorite characters are invited to accompany me. Writing Beanie’s Backyard was my way of chronologically savoring adventures that I was fortunate to accompany him on ;-)

I’m looking forward to your thoughts on favorites.

Happy Writing!

 

IWSG August 2025

“Think. Check. Submit.”  Or not?

 

Welcome readers, writers, authors, and bloggers!

We're glad you're here! It's the First Wednesday of the month; when we celebrate IWSG Day in the form of a blog hop featuring members and guests of the Insecure Writer's Support Group. Founded by author Alex Cavanaugh (Thank you, Captain!) and fostered by like-minded associates, IWSG is a comfortable place to share views and literary news as we record our journeys. Check out our monthly newsletter here.

The awesome co-hosts for this month’s posting of the IWSG are:    Ronel Janse van Vuuren, Natalie Aguirre, Sarah - The Faux Fountain Pen, and Olga Godim!

 Today’s entirely optional question:  What is the most unethical practice in the publishing industry?

This is an incredibly good question! I’m just dismayed to report that there are more “shady” practices than we should ever have to acknowledge. After absorbing so many warnings, and articles depicting examples of fraud and deception I was reaching for the Tums and starting to question my own (inadvertent though they may be) actions in the industry. Have I given everyone the credit they deserve? Was I careful with my research and accurate in my reporting?

In a word, my answer is Integrity. Or rather, the lack thereof. That alone can result in most of the trickery we see going on in the industry today. Here are a few reasons why I think so.

 

"Genius Borrows nobly." ~ Ralph Waldo Emerson

Happy writing!

 

IWSG May 2025 Becoming an Elephant

 

Welcome, readers, writers, authors, and bloggers!

We're glad you're here! It's the First Wednesday of the month; when we celebrate IWSG Day in the form of a blog hop featuring members and guests of the Insecure Writer's Support Group. Founded by author Alex Cavanaugh (Thank you, Captain!) and fostered by like-minded associates, IWSG is a comfortable place to share views and literary news as we record our journeys. Check out our monthly newsletter here.

The awesome co-hosts for the May 7 posting of the IWSG are Feather Stone, Janet Alcorn, Rebecca Douglass, Jemima Pett, and Pat Garcia!

 Today’s entirely 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, and how do you manage them?

By listing all the common (been there, done that) fears, this question really gets to the heart of what’s left of the matter when comes to the final little shadow of fear that looms in the corner of my peripheral conscientiousness like the old White Elephant that everyone considered an attainable treasure until it appeared in “the room” unannounced. I call it relevance, and it’s what I’m afraid of losing. It’s also the elephant that no one wants to talk about.  How do I even know I ever had it? Here are a few thoughts…

 “Relevance to me is about being creative and doing things you believe in, whether that’s music or acting or painting a picture, or whatever it is.

~ Larry Mullen Jr.

Yeah, I agree with that idea. Until or unless losing relevance is a deal-breaker. Do I then stop writing? Ride dejectedly off into the sunset, dropping useless words behind me in the sun-scorched sand?

“The concept that an artist would be revered by popular culture is an immediate dismissal of his relevance as an artist.”  ~ Thomas Kinkade

If that sounds harsh, there’s this:

 “The most striking fault in work by young or beginning novelists, submitted for criticism -- is irrelevance – due either to infatuation or indecision. To direct such an author’s attention to the imperative of relevance is certainly the most useful – and possibly the only – help that can be given.” ~ Elizabeth Bowen

Oof!   Let’s read on,

“Relevance is kind of a weird thing. If one does topical material, it makes sense to want to be relevant. But if someone talks about donut sprinkles, it’s not quite as important.  Unless the US Supreme Court makes a decision outlawing donut sprinkles.” ~ Brian Regan

Perhaps I’d best quit while I’m smiling ;-)

Wishing everyone a wonderfully productive month of May!

 

IWSG March 2025

 

Welcome readers, writers, authors, and bloggers!

We're glad you're here! It's the first Wednesday of the month, and we celebrate IWSG Day in the form of a blog hop featuring members and guests of the Insecure Writer's Support Group. Founded by author Alex Cavanaugh (Thank you, Captain!) and fostered by like-minded associates, IWSG is a comfortable place to share views and literary news as we record our journeys. Check out our monthly newsletter here.

The awesome co-hosts for this month’s posting of the IWSG are:   Joylene Nowell Butler, Louise Barbour, and Tyrean Martinson!

 Today’s entirely optional question: If for one day you could be any one or thing in the world, what would it be? Describe, tell why, and talk about any themes or values are inspired by this.

I’d be the keeper of the hand-painted chalet where a silly wooden bird carefully marked our every moment, popping out of the door to remind us on the hour of every hour that passes every day that the treasure of each second should count and not be tossed away. Except for that fateful day, the family cat had her way and made off with one of the gently swaying pendulum weights, stilling the steady tick-toc and forever silencing the ever-cheerful bird.  However, in none of the handful of stories I’ve created about this event over the years, does the cat ever abscond with the weight like it did. No sir-ee. In one story the cat falls into the aquarium, in another story the dog tries to get involved, alerting Grandma to the devious endeavor going on, whereby cat and dog both are unceremoniously escorted out the back door. That ending still makes me smile;-) While no one ever admitted it, I think we all missed that silly wooden bird.

Then again, perhaps I’d be the sturdy tree by the river that heard all about our secrets, shared our tears, and triumphs, the one that allowed us to climb, and preserved our carvings as sacred etchings of our youth.  I’d be the tree that shaded us from the harsher hues of life even when our hearts rained, the constant friend that whispered, “It’ll be alright,” through skinned-up knees and grass stains. And it was. It just always was alright.

Okay. Your turn! Can’t wait to see what everyone has to say in response – or not, to the optional question.

Happy Writing!

IWSG February 5th 2025

 

Welcome readers, writers, authors, and bloggers!

We're glad you're here! It's the First Wednesday of the month; when we celebrate IWSG Day in the form of a blog hop featuring members and guests of the Insecure Writer's Support Group. Founded by author Alex Cavanaugh (Thank you, Captain!) and fostered by like-minded associates, IWSG is a comfortable place to share views and literary news as we record our journeys. Check out the December newsletter here.

The awesome co-hosts for this month’s posting of the IWSG are:   Joylene Nowell Butler, Louise Barbour, and Tyrean Martinson!

 Today’s entirely optional question: Is there a story or a book you’ve written that you wish you could go back and change?

Hmm…I wish I had more illustrations of all the adventures Beanie had in his Backyard. However, as the inspiration for Beanie turns 18 years old today, I have to say I wouldn’t – couldn’t change a thing ;-)

 I didn’t meet my favorite illustrator until I wrote about a well-meaning kleptomaniac canine named Wilson, who charms an Ostrich in a hardware store parking lot into joining him as he playfully terrorizes the entire small town of Sawdust.

Of course, by the time I finished describing how easily love blossomed between a couple of teenage kids as they tried to keep the discovery of an old wooden chest full of American coins and keys unearthed by the tides on a beach in Mexico a secret, I knew I had the most outstanding title ever! Maybe even a choice between TWO of the most outstanding titles ever! And I didn’t use either one. Yeah, I’m kind of kicking the dirt over it – but the story is still fantastic (naturally, I think so, right?), and I’d wanted the title to be as well.

I anticipate at least a few changes as I fine-tooth several short stories I’d like to use in an upcoming collection of Stories for Children. I think I’ll let someone else choose a title ;-)

Must get back to planning the event of the year (?) I’m not so sure I didn’t skip my 18^th birthday.

Have a wonderful February, everyone!

Happy Writing!

 

 

IWSG January 2025 She Led the Way

 

Welcome readers, writers, authors, and bloggers!

Happy New Year!

We're glad you're here! It's the First Wednesday of the month; when we celebrate IWSG Day in the form of a blog hop featuring members and guests of the Insecure Writer's Support Group. Founded by author Alex Cavanaugh (Thank you, Captain!) and fostered by like-minded associates, IWSG is a comfortable place to share views and literary news as we record our journeys. Check out the monthly newsletter here.

The awesome co-hosts for this month’s posting of the IWSG are:     Rebecca Douglass, Beth Camp, Liza @ Middle Passages, and Natalie @ Literary Rambles!

 Today’s entirely optional question: Describe someone you admired when you were a child. Did your opinion of that person change when you grew up?

When I was growing up, most kids had grandmothers; most of whom were widows who lived their remaining years with the families of the children they had raised. Most grandmothers cooked and cleaned, took care of laundry, and maybe tended a small garden out back while collecting a monthly stipend from the government for their husband’s military services.

My grandma was different in that her own two daughters had long been raised and gone as she worked full-time at a local grocery store where she stocked shelves and ran a cash register while raising two grandkids. By the time she was Lead Cashier, she had to soak her aching feet every evening. She didn’t have to have her hair done at the Beauty Parlor every Monday, but it was a treat she awarded herself after long work weeks and very busy Sundays when she took care of things a “good man would do if there was any to be had.”  Instead, she built the fence that encompassed our yard herself, serviced the evaporative cooler every year, painted the house, and changed the oil in her pride and joy; a light-blue Chevy Corvair.

Between arranging canned goods “just so” on store shelves all week and maybe rotating tires on the weekend, I imagined the little pink pillow with the silk pillowcase she slept on felt pretty good.

Grandma never complained and said it wouldn’t do any good. “Arm yourself with solutions to problems you want addressed by someone else.” she’d say.

No. Grandma didn’t cook or clean. But she ruled the roost and kept the bills paid while her own Mother (Mamo) took care of the household chores and kept us kids fed and on time for school each day. Mamo had coffee, toast, and the morning paper ready for grandma to read each day before she went to work. Grandma read the evening paper every day as well, while she soaked her feet at night. She seemed to know something about everything, and was interested in any subject I ever brought up. If she didn’t have an answer, we’d find out together. She taught herself to read sheet music (whereas Mamo played by ear) and sometimes filled in on Sunday evening piano concerts. I was in junior high before I discovered Grandma was a closet poet, too.

In retrospect, all we had to do was follow along as she led the way.

Any changes that ever occurred in our relationship over the years could only ever have been in the intensity of the love, respect, admiration, and gratitude that remains ever-vibrant in my heart today, long after her passing.

In closing, I’m sharing a quote my grandma, and I thought was pretty spot-on ;-)

 

Patience is the ability to count down before you blast off