#IWSG: Skip Amazon

 Today's the first Wednesday of the month and IWSG posting day. 

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 (and come on, we're all insecure in some way)!

Posting: 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 writers - aim for a dozen new people each time - and return comments. This group is all about connecting! 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 find you to comment back.

Let’s rock the neurotic writing world!

Our Twitter handle is @TheIWSG and hashtag is #IWSG.

The awesome co-hosts for the January 7 posting of the IWSG are J Lenni Dorner, Victoria Marie Lees, and Sandra Cox!

 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! 

 February 4 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'm not going to answer the question today, though I hope you will, in the comments. Instead, I have something that needs to be said. Is this about to be a political post? Why, yes, I believe it is. I believe that these are times that don't allow us to be silent on politics, though this is pretty focused.

But  here's a thing: I know a lot of you are trying to boycott Amazon. I'm trying to do likewise, struggling with the reality that I can stop buying there, but I can't stop selling there (though I'm ready to put in the effort to get my paperbacks out through D2D, a major step in reducing Amazon's grip). But know this: You don't have to buy books from Amazon. Your readers don't have to buy your books through Amazon. You have options.

If you want a physical book, ask your local bookstore to order it. Or--if the author is indie, as I am--consider buying directly from the writer! I have a page on this blog that shares the universal buy links for my books. I'm in the process of figuring out something better for paperbacks than "Send me an email and I'll send instructions." I had it all set up with PayPal, but they no longer support the system I used. If you're in the Seattle area, watch this space for events where I'll be selling live.

If you want an ebook, there are so many retailers out there, and since Kindles now use the same epub as other ereaders, you don't have to buy from Amazon. But here's a big secret: a lot of us indie authors have our own stores. I do. 

Check out my new Buy Me a Coffee Shop!  

Here's the really cool thing about buying (or selling) direct: the profit goes to the writer. If you buy a 99 cent ebook from Amazon, I get 32 to 35 cents. If you buy it from my store above, I'll make 94 cents. So dodging Amazon can also lead to doing a much better job of supporting your favorite author (that's me, right? :D).

 

So go ahead. Boycott Amazon. Just keep reading by discovering the joy of supporting indie bookstores and authors.   

 

Think outside the box with the Ninja Librarian!

Thus ends my sermon. 

 

As for the writing, I'm trying. I've been spinning my wheels for a couple of weeks, creating a proliferation of documents outlining the story as it is, the story as it should be, plans for how to edit the steaming pile of... I mean, the rough draft. Now I'm trying to start putting it together and doing the work that needs doing. Please hold my hand in this difficult time!

 

Also, a sunrise photo for inspiration.

 

☕Buy me a coffee--or get my ebooks

 

 ©Rebecca M. Douglass, 2026 

As always, please ask permission to use any photos or text. Link-backs appreciated.


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