IWSG: 15 years of supporting each other

It is the first Wednesday of the month, and time for the Insecure Writers' Support Group post. This month is special, because it marks 15 years of the IWSG. I haven't been here the whole 15 years--only about 11 of them. (See my first IWSG post in November 2015 if you are wondering). Reading over my first post, I realize that my insecurities haven't changed, nor has my work pattern and general speed of production. I'm so grateful to this group for the support, the beta reads, the fun interactions, and more for all these years!

This is the badge we were using when I joined in 2015.

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!

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 writer - aim for a dozen new people each time - and return comments. This group is all about connecting! Be sure to link to this 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 September 2 posting of the IWSG are Kate Larkinsdale, SE White, JS Pailly, Olga Godim, and Natalie Aguirre!  

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.
September 2 question - Do you have a favorite character archetype you tend to gravitate toward in your writing?  

 

I'm not sure about the question, but in any case I want to start with the anniversary stuff. We are being encouraged today to share links to our books, and to buy books from our fellow writers. I love the idea, and though I am out hiking right now, I WILL get back to those who visit me, and I will buy a handful of books from those who share links! 

 

I'm sharing the link to my Buy Me A Coffee Store.  You can find all my ebooks there, including the short-story collections that don't get much attention here or elsewhere. I am especially trying to push this store because it's mine. The profits got to me. BMAC takes a 5% cut to cover costs (they handle the money end), and the rest is mine. That's pretty much exactly the opposite of how it works at Amazon, let alone the places I don't list with directly (for those, I lose a cut to the store and to D2D both.

 

I wrote about my writing a couple of weeks ago (see post), and don't have much to add. This is my season for hiking and adventuring, not for writing, though I'm chipping away at edits on Logged Off. I think I've reached the point where I'm polishing prose, not making significant changes. And the cover is... almost ready?

 

As for character archetypes... I think I have always been drawn to those who don't conform, don't match expectations, and are feisty beyond the norm. My novels have mostly had female protagonist (all but Halitor the Hero, but my short fiction is more evenly divided, including some for whom gender isn't even a thing. It's one reason I love to mess with short fiction--I can experiment in ways that I might not be able to sustain for 80,000 words.

 

Okay, enough about me! Leave me your thoughts, your comments on archetypes, and, if you've read any of my books, which is your favorite!

 

Oh--and here's the gratuitous photo content:

Sea urchins and a sea cucumber (I think--feel free to correct me; I mix up the cucumbers and sea slugs).

 

☕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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