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 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 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 - November 2024

 

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 November newsletter here.

The awesome co-hosts for this month’s posting of the IWSG are:  Diedre Knight, Lisa Buie Collard , Kim Lajevardi, and JQ Rose!

 Today’s entirely optional question: What creative activity do you engage in when you’re not writing?

If I’m not writing, I’m thinking about writing. I read a lot, too. And sometimes reading takes me places that I just have to write about. I like to think I’m perfecting the art of Literary Excavation for no Particular Reason. Some folks call that rabbiting. Or, fishing without a pole…Others refer to what I end up writing as Case Studies, unsolicited as they may be ;-) I like to think that research, for whatever reason, is a creative activity. Do you agree? No worries if you don’t. I’m still going to do it anyway ;-) I do it not just for my own edification or enhancement. I do it because it’s fun – and challenging. For example, here are a couple of poetry exercises I hope to try by the end of this week (I’ll share later, if I do):

Concrete Poetry: A poem written in a shape representing what it’s about, such as a poem about rain written to form the shape of a raindrop with words.

Or,

Erasure Poetry:  A poem built from the words left in an existing document, such as a newspaper article or a page of a novel, after the poet has blacked out parts of it.  (A friend of mine calls this a Kidnapping Note – ha!)

So, what creative activity do you get into when you’re not writing? I know we have a few musicians. Are there any budding Picassos out there?

Can’t wait to read what you’re up to J

Happy Writing!

IWSG Sept 2023 12th Anniversary!

 

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 September newsletter here.

Our awesome co-hosts this month are:   Sonia Dogra, J Lenni Dorner, Pat Garcia, Sarah - The Faux Fountain Pen, and Meka James!

Happy 12th anniversary, IWSG! I haven’t been around quite that long, but that doesn’t curb my enthusiasm ;-) Cyber hugs all around!

The optional question(s) for this month is: When did you discover the Insecure Writer’s Support Group, how do you connect, and how has it helped you?

My first IWSG post was on May 4, 2016. I talked in somewhat over-flowing prose about stalking my mail carrier for a response to a submission. I shared a quote by Malcolm Forbes about how failure is success if we learn from it. Then I unabashedly wrapped up with a transcribed embrace for all of us: “The surest thing you’ll ever know is when words still flow unfettered…”

As far as I can tell, July 6, 2016, was the very first official Optional Question of the Month. The question was: What’s the best thing someone has ever said about your writing?

My answer was that someone said I paint beautiful word pictures.  The compliment came from an author I deeply loved as a friend and respected as a mentor.  She’s gone now, but her words remain embedded in my heart, indelible proof that someone – and not just anyone – believed in me. I can’t adequately describe how heartening that was. Is. She might as well have been the one jogging behind me the first time I rode my bike without training wheels. The one who let go, knowing I’d be alright.

Encouragement instills confidence, which has everything to do with success. Members of IWSG already know these are just a couple of the many nouns we pass around like reassuring hugs. Inspiration is another. Join us and see for yourself!

I'm on the road today, dear friends. So I'll be just a little behind schedule on my visits ;-)

IWSG August 2023 Conflict and Tenses

 

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 from the viewpoint of our writing desks as we record our journeys. Check out the August newsletter here.

Our awesome co-hosts this month are:  Kate Larkinsdale, Diane Burton, Janet Alcorn, and Shannon Lawrence! Feel free to hop around and say hello to everyone!

The Optional question for this month is: 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?

Absolutely. I’ve yet to meet a writer who hasn’t gone back at least once along the way to revise, rewrite or completely remove something that just didn’t feel right.  Providing it hasn’t already gone to publication, I have and will always rewrite or delete anything I don’t feel comfortable with or about. To quote one of our members, Arlee at Tossing it Out, “The story belongs to the author, the book belongs to the readers.” I think it’s a good thing to keep in mind. Timely proofreading is also important.

My current WIP is one that had been in my “Someday, maybe” drawer for quite a while. To be honest, the exile was deflating, yet necessary. I’m attempting to gain back some of the lost momentum while struggling to keep the tenses straight. Anyone else ever encountered this?

I did run across a few tips I plan to try in an article at nownovel.com  For now, I’m open to suggestions ;-)

Happy Writing!

 

IWSG July 2023 One Tomato, Two Tomatoes,

 

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 from our perspective writing desks as we record our journeys. Check out the July newsletter here.

Our awesome co-hosts this month are:  PJ Colando, Kim Lajevardi, Gwen Gardner, Pat Garcia, and Natalie Aguirre!  Feel free to hop around and say hello to everyone!

The optional question for this month is: 99% of my story ideas come from dreams. Where do yours predominantly come from?

I'm reminded of a quote (I'll paraphrase for brevity) by Orson Scott:

"Everybody walks past a thousand story ideas every day,"

A few cool and unusual things happened on my way to a job fair a few weeks ago; I received a great compliment and a strange prompt. There was also a promise of rain. Thankfully, the praise came first, or I might have disregarded the prompt to describe my own funeral from the attendees' point of view. This is going to be so much fun!

I wrote the first 300 words in a parking lot! Later, it took me longer to decipher my own handwriting than it did to write those words in my excited state ;-) But the seed was planted and already growing. *In my defense, Agatha Christie also had terrible handwriting and had to dictate much of her work ;-)

The compliment was also just the encouragement I needed to revisit, revise, and at last release a story (I've left blowing in the wind) to the capable hands of an editor, who by now must think I've given up and torched the manuscript. Not so. I've just been…distracted.

So, what do you do when focusing is easier said than done? Has anyone heard of the "Pomodoro Technique"? Setting specified writing sessions – or Pomodoro, which is Italian for tomato -  sounds like something that just might work for me. One tomato, two tomatoes, three tomatoes, four…It all adds up.

Hemingway's tip for keeping the creativity flowing between sessions was to stop right in the middle of a scene you can't wait to get back to. That way, your next session is already in progress, and you're not facing the dreaded blank what-do-I-write-now page.

Fun Fact:

Author Roald Dahl was a taste-tester for Cadbury Chocolate.

 

"Hold the vision, trust the process.”

IWSG Jan 2023 Ready, Set, Steadfast!

 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 all of the members 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 from our perspective writing desks as we record our journeys. Check out the January newsletter here

Our awesome co-hosts this month are:   Jemima Pett, Debs Carey, Kim Lajevardi, Sarah Foster, Natalie Aguirre, and T. Powell Coltrin!   Feel free to hop around and say hello to everyone!

The optional question for this month is: Do you have a word of the year? Is there one word that sums up what you need to work on or change in the coming year? For instance, in 2021 my word of the year was Finish. I was determined to finish my first draft by the end of the year. In 2022, my word of the year was Ease. I want to get my process, systems, finances, and routines where life flows with ease and less chaos. What is your word for 2023? 

What a great question! The first word that came to mind even as I read the question was “Finish.” But I’ve already used it. The term “Satori” has been on my mind for months on end. It roughly translates to “sudden enlightenment”. This time next year, I’d like to be able to tell you I had it this year;-) Therefore, my word for 2023 is Steadfast because that’s what I’ll need to be in order to achieve at least a couple of the goals I’ve set. Ready, Set, Go!

In honor of Trivia Day, here are a few literary fun facts:

Charles Dickens actively practiced hypnosis, most notably on his wife (mother of their ten children) whenever she got one of her frequent headaches. However, he himself refused to be put into a trance.

Regrettably, Stephen King doesn’t remember writing “Cujo”. Fortunately, Mr. King has since parted ways with the memory-thieving genie in a bottle ;-)

No one could have guessed that Mary Shelley’s “Frankenstein” would one day inspire the invention of the defibrillator. Much less that old Dick Tracy comics would inspire the future invention of the SmartWatch.

Early episodes of Star Trek introduced gadgets that most of us now find impossible to live without, like the cell phone -  with Facetime.

Can you imagine not only writing an epic, timeless novel but also being around to realize it also changed the world?

Happy writing!

 

IWSG December 2022 Roses in December

 

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 all of the members 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 from our perspective writing desks as we record our journeys. Check out the December newsletter here

Our awesome co-hosts this month are:  Joylene Nowell Butler, Chemist Ken, Natalie Aguirre, Nancy Gideon, and Cathrina Constantine!   Feel free to hop around and say hello to everyone!

The optional question for this month is: It's holiday time! Are the holidays a time to catch up or fall behind on writer goals?

December is such a busy month I try not to have any writing goals – per se. But naturally, there are lists to make, misplace, and find the day before Christmas when they are no longer useful. There are holiday cards – and letters! Does anyone write those lengthy chronicles of everything that happened in your neck of the woods for the last year? I receive one every year and thoroughly enjoy reading about life on the outskirts of Saskatchewan. My one and only response was promptly returned, stamped ADDRESS UNKNOWN. Hmm… [Dear Sam, bless your heart, if by some wrinkle in time (get it?) you’re reading this, keep the letters coming and call me. The number is still the same.] But, honestly,

“How did it get so late so soon?” ~ Dr. Seuss

While there’s no shortage of inspiration this time of year, it helps to have an empty First Thing (next year) basket handy for ideas you can’t yet get to ;-) So far, there’s only one message in my basket:

 

 

Have you ever gone caroling? Do you decorate much for the holidays?

 

Merry Christmas, everyone!

 

IWSG July 2022 Choice Worlds

 

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 all of the members of the Insecure Writer's Support Group. Founded by author Alex Cavanaugh (Thank you, Captain!) and fostered by like-minded associates, IWSG is a place to share the fabulous views and exciting news that occurs along our fascinating writing journeys. Check out the July newsletter here.  Perusing the many tips and resources offered here is definitely worthwhile and highly rewarding, so pull up a comfy chair, or better yet -  join us!

Our awesome co-hosts for this month's posting of the IWSG are:  J Lenni Dorner, Janet Alcorn, PJ Colando, Jenni Enzor, and Diane Burton!

This month’s optional question is:  If you could live in any book world which one would you choose?

Only one? My first choice (operative word being “world”) would be “Camino Island” by John Grisham. I’d want to be a part of the compelling storyline; peopled with authentic characters I wouldn’t mind knowing, in an ideal coastal setting featuring a charming avantgarde with a dream job. What’s not to like? When the story ended, as they’ve a tendency to do, I’d stay on in a room with a breathtaking view of unyielding storms propelled upon the mainland by an indifferent sea. I’d hang around long enough to watch sea turtles hatch on the beach, along with a couple hundred other spectators.

Before long, I’d have to return to the Sonoran Desert where a 3-day old character named Quinn Quicksilver appeared swaddled in a blanket at dawn one day on a desolate stretch of Arizona highway. Quinn’s story doesn’t involve living in a world so much as an epic journey through one in route to an uncertain future while in search of his unknown past. Who doesn’t enjoy a good adventure now and again?

Can’t wait to read other responses to this month’s optional question!

Until again, be happy, write well!