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!
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| 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:
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| Sea urchins and a sea cucumber (I think--feel free to correct me; I mix up the cucumbers and sea slugs). |
©Rebecca M. Douglass, 2026
As always, please ask permission to use any photos or text. Link-backs appreciated.
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Happy Anniversary and enjoy the hiking!
ReplyDeleteThanks! It was fantastic!
DeleteI'll definitely check out the Coffee Store. And never mix up your cucumbers and slugs!
ReplyDeleteGood advice!
DeleteI think I joined the IWSG about the same time you did. Enjoy your hike!
ReplyDeleteI feel like you’ve always been here :)
DeleteSuch a cool photo! It's a toss-up between Big Al and Seffi... I enjoyed spending time with both :-)
ReplyDelete:) I’ve been spending time with Seffi in my head while hiking. A new book is starting to take at least a vague form.
DeleteLook at that sea slug! Wow!
ReplyDeleteI've never written a no-conformist, but I love reading about them!
It was kind of an effort to distance myself from the character, for various reasons. That didn’t work :D
DeleteI've never given much thought to what sort of character types I'm drawn to in my writing. Like other things like theme and tropes, I let what happens happen and what people spot is all a giant accident. I kind like it like that. LOL
ReplyDeleteGood approach!
DeleteI share you love of short fiction. It does give us a lot of room to experiment, and I find writing short gives me ideas for longer work in the future. Also it gives me the time I need to hike! You understand that, I know.
ReplyDeleteLOL.
DeleteAlso, I'm terribly behind but will catch up with the current story as soon as I'm back with my own computer!
DeleteI'm not sure if I write about non-conformists, but I certainly am one. I'm glad we met here. I can't remember exactly when I first joined, but it was a long time ago, with a hiatus in between. I've enjoyed your insightful comments and advice along the way.
ReplyDeleteAww, thanks!
DeleteDon't eat either sea slugs or sea cucumbers unless they are the only options and you’re starving. You’ll understand when you read my review of The Siege of Krishnapur :)
ReplyDeleteKelp is supposed to be good, but no one suggested we eat the others. I’ll get to the review—I’m only sort of back to civilization and have only my phone for another day or two.
DeleteI like short fiction too. And novella is fast becoming my favorite format. Pity there are not many of them around, as most publishers still prefer novels.
ReplyDeleteI prefer reading longer works, but enjoy playing with short ones when writing.
Delete2015 was the year I joined this awesome group as well! https://pensivepenspost.blogspot.com/2015/08/but-for-blunder-of-disenchanted-farmer.html
ReplyDeleteJust the other day, right?
DeleteThat photo is amazing! I've never seen a sea cucumber in the wild. I'll take a look at your shop. I hope more authors can find a way to sell books without Amazon.
ReplyDeleteIt was pretty easy to set up.
DeleteA few of you I couldn't visit because I'm using a public computer and your web sites come up as unsecure. I'll drop by when I get home (whenever that may turn out to be).
ReplyDeleteI also enjoy short stories. If my daughter hadn't just gone to bed I could ask her whether it was a sea cucumber or a slug. She wants to be a marine biologist.
ReplyDeleteI admit I like writing them more than reading them, which is probably why I haven't really mastered the art of writing them.
DeleteHi, Rebecca, that's amazing you've maintained your writing pace over 11 years. I think I've been with IWSG about 13-14 years, and I've slowed way down. I probably would've stopped writing years ago without this awesome group. I used digital credit to purchase Death by Ice Cream on Amazon, but that's great you have a bookstore you've joined. Is Death by Ice Cream a YA series?
ReplyDeleteThanks, Jennifer! No, none of my books are YA--the mysteries are cozies, which is to say clean/non-violent murder mysteries. Since my protags are older--in the "Death by" series she's in her 40s, and the Maine series has a 72-y.o. lesbian protag--I tend to assume teens wouldn't be interested. That's not 100% true, of course, based on some sales at the local live events I've done this summer.
DeleteOh, that's awesome that you have your own site to sell your books on!
ReplyDeleteI was really quite easy to set up!
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