IWSG: June 2026 Version

 Welcome to the first Wednesday blogging group, IWSG. Thank you to our founder, Alex J. Cavanaugh, and all the IWSG admins. Find the list of participating blogs here and prepare to share all your insecurities and advice with the rest of us.

First apologies for missing last month. I was buried under Pennwriters Conference Work. On the good side, we had an amazing, wonderful conference with nearly 200 in attendance. Our Keynote speakers inspired and dazzled and at the same time were so approachable and generous with their time. Chuck Wendig is as entertaining in person as he is on his blog, Terrible Minds. Visit it if you have a chance. He has some strong opinions on AI. If you love horror and thrillers, you will really enjoy his book. Maria V. Snyder, one of Pennwriters own, has had a long career in both traditional and more recently, self-publishing. I have many of her fantasy novels on my shelves. Pennwriters' president, Dan Arndt, gifted me and my friend and coordinator partner, Leslie Tobin Smeltz, with the gift of handmade wizards. We were very grateful.

This month's 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?

I've never had a story idea from a dream. I can't even tell you where they come from. I only know that I have more ideas than I have time to write. I wish I could write faster but I'll keep plodding along.

I am submitting my most recent novel to a publisher I pitched to at the conference. Here's hoping. I'm busy on book #2 of that series.

I found Greenland 2 disappointing. I didn't see the Mandolorian and Grogu in the theater, but I plan to see it sometime. I have some series recommendations from my children, but I haven't gotten into any of them. I did hear Enola Holmes 3 is coming July 1st. The creator of the series, Nancy Springer, is a long-time Pennwriter and I consider her a friend.

In the meantime, I caught up on my crocheting and am back to a walking/jogging routine. The finally warmer weather inspires me. I have a new jigsaw puzzle spread out on my puzzle table. Life is good.

Where do your story ideas come from? What projects are keeping you busy?

IWSG: July 2026

 

Hello writerly friends. The year is half over already! Yikes. I want to thank the founder of IWSG, Alex J. Cavanaugh and all the admins who make this group the best place to share and work through your insecurities. Find the entire list here.

This month's optional question:

Is there a genre you haven't tried writing in yet that you really want to try? If so, do you plan on trying it?

Excellent question. I really, really intend to dabble in poetry. I have a book and so many scraps of paper. But it never seems like I have to time to really put my mind to it. I will. Someday, I will.

My writing time now is all going toward the second draft of my current WIP. The name of the series and the books revealed themselves also. Not sure about the series name.

I've been good on my exercising. 10,000 steps on most days except when it rains, which unfortunately, is pretty often. I don't mind the heat dome, but rain keeps me inside. 

I'm also promoting the Chocolatetown Bookfest coming in October. It's the first year I've managed to secure a spot. Registration opens and fills up within two hours. It's crazy. 

I'm also busy planning the 2026 Pennwriters Annual Conference. We're extremely excited to have Chuck Wendig and Maria V. Snyder as our keynotes. We'll be in Lancaster, PA, next May. This month, we'll be settling the menu and collecting workshop proposals.

I enjoyed Dept Q on Netflix. The Accountant 2 was okay. Lots of funny stuff mixed in with the brutality. The Old Guard do is coming soon. I hope it's as good as the first one.

What genre do you want to try out? Are you okay in the summer heat? If it's summer where you are, that is. Anything entertaining you on the small or big screen?

IWSG: October 2024

 

Hello all and happy fall. Time for our monthly blog hop. Thank you to the admins of the Insecure Writers Support Group who keep this show running. And a special thanks to our founder, Alex J. Cavanuagh, who saw the need for writers to share their woes, experiences, and expertise.

Today's optional question:

Ghost stories fit right in during this month. What's your favorite classic ghostly tale? Tell us about it and why it sends chills up your spine.

I don't think I have a favorite ghost story. I'm not into ghost tales. One of my favorite uses of ghosts in a movie is The Lord of the Rings when Aragon called on the ghosts who had betrayed his ancestors and they fought beside him to save Gondor. They were cooler in the book, but the movie did a pretty good job.

“Monsters are real, and ghosts are real too. They live inside us, and sometimes, they win.” - Stephen King

This month is my blog's anniversary. I shared my first blog in 2008. The blog-o-sphere was a much busier place then and I blogged three times a week. I don't know how I kept that up and still had time to write. In the years since, three bloggers I felt close to passed away. It was an odd sadness when I had never spoken to those people in person. More bloggers have just stopped blogging. I haven't. Yet. And there are enough friends still active to keep me here.

On the other hand, there are some blogs that thrive and grow. One of those is Terrible Minds by Chuck Wendig. He does a lot of promo for his own successful books but also for other writers. He also blogs about a lot of things important to writers. Here is his opinion on the NaNoWriMo fiasco. And then his take on Generative AI. I read most of his content.

Finally, some new stuff on TV. I'm watching the Rings of Power on Amazon. It moves so slow sometimes and has so many story lines, but it keeps me interested. I'm going to catch up on the new season of Tulsa King on Paramount, and The Old Man on Hulu. I guess I'm feeling my age that I'm enjoying shows where the main characters are old folks.

I hope whereever you live, you're getting some sunshine today. We're on our 11th straight day of clouds, drizzle, and endless rain. I know we need rain and some people like rain, but I would be happy in the desert. And I have relatives in the south who are fortunately all safe, but I feel for all those who were in the path of the recent hurricane.

"Keep your face always toward the sunshine and shadows will fall behind you." Walt Whitman

Do you enjoy ghost stories? How long have you been blogging? Is there a good informative blog you follow faithfully? Did the recent storms impact you?