#IWSG Semptember 2nd, Archetype Characters

The Insecure Writer’s Support Group A database resource site and support group for writers and authors. Featuring weekly guests and tips, a monthly blogfest gathering, a Facebook group, and thousands of links–all to benefit writers!  #IWSGWebsite / Facebook Group / Twitter /  Reedsy Discount / Past Issues

Posting: The first Wednesday of every month is Officially Insecure Writer’s Support Group day.

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

Let’s rock the neurotic writing world!
Our Twitter handle is @TheIWSG and hashtag is #IWSG.

The Awesome

co-hosts for

September 2 posting of the IWSG are Kate Larkinsdale, SE White, JS Pailly, Olga Godim, and Natalie Aguirre!  

The Question

September 2 question – Do you have a favorite character archetype you tend to gravitate toward in your

My Answer:

I tend to gravitate toward the Magician archetype, often mixed with the Outsider or Seeker. I love characters who have unusual abilities or knowledge and don’t quite fit neatly into the world around them.

They’re often standing at the edge of something they don’t completely understand yet—magic, another world, an unexpected inheritance, or even themselves. I like watching them cross that boundary and discover what happens next.

Of course, I also have a weakness for Tricksters. Give me a character who creates a little chaos, makes me laugh, and turns everything sideways, and I’m probably going to find a place for them in the story.

Maybe my real favorite archetype is the Magician who went exploring and accidentally brought the Trickster home. 😆

(IWSG DAY is Wednesday September 2nd, 2026)

The IWSG newsletter arrives on the last Wednesday of every month. That means IWSG Day—the first Wednesday of the following month—is right around the corner.

IWSG Day is our opportunity to share, encourage, and connect with other writers. Posting on your blog is only the beginning. The visits and conversations are what turn our monthly blog hop into a community.

What Can You Write About?

On IWSG Day, you can blog about:

• A writing struggle or fear
• A challenge you have overcome
• A recent victory or milestone
• Something you have learned
• Advice or encouragement for other writers
• Whatever is happening in your writing life

Every month, IWSG also provides an optional question for anyone who isn’t sure what to blog about. You can:

• Answer the question directly
• Use it to inspire a related topic
• Write about something else entirely

The question is optional. It is simply there to help you get started.

Why Are Blog Visits Important?

Writing can be a solitary experience. A thoughtful visit reminds another writer that someone understands what they are going through.

By visiting other IWSG blogs, you can:

• Offer encouragement when someone needs it
• Share an experience that may help another writer
• Discover new writers and books
• Learn from other members
• Begin conversations
• Build friendships

Without the visits and conversations, IWSG Day becomes a collection of individual posts rather than a support group.

Make It Easy to Return Your Visit

When you leave a comment, include your website or blog link as a courtesy. You can link your name, profile, or avatar to your blog. If the comment form allows it, you can also include your link with your comment.

Juneta Key <- example signature link to share

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This makes it easy for the blogger to:

• Find your IWSG post
• Reply to your comment
• Visit your blog
• Continue the conversation
• Get to know you

Before IWSG Day, check your profile or avatar to make sure it leads visitors to the correct website.

Why Should You Return Comments?

When someone takes the time to visit your blog and comment, it is polite to visit their blog in return.

Returning a visit:

• Acknowledges the time they gave you
• Shows interest in their writing journey
• Keeps the conversation going
• Helps you get to know other members
• Builds relationships over time

Not everyone you visit will respond or visit your blog in return. Several will. If you continue visiting from month to month, others may begin to recognize your name and start visiting you too.

Friendships and communities are rarely built through one interaction. They grow when people continue showing up for each other.

Of course, life happens. Illness, work, caregiving, deadlines, and family responsibilities sometimes get in the way. This isn’t about keeping score. It is about making an effort when we can.

How Many Blogs Should You Visit?

You do not have to visit everyone on the IWSG list in one day.

You can:

• Visit the monthly co-hosts
• Return the comments left on your post
• Visit writers you already know
• Choose a few unfamiliar names from the list
• Revisit someone you enjoyed meeting last month
• Spread your visits across several days

IWSG encourages members to aim for a dozen new blogs each month, but visit as many as you reasonably can. A few thoughtful comments are more meaningful than many hurried ones.

Join the Conversation

On the next IWSG Day:

• Publish your post.
• Visit the co-hosts.
• Return the comments you receive.
• Make sure others can find your blog.
• Visit as many members as you can.
• Leave thoughtful encouragement.
• Introduce yourself to someone new.

IWSG Day begins with a post, but the community is built through the visits, comments, conversations, and friendships that follow.

 Using Transitions in Fiction By Juneta Key

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Juneta Key is a speculative fiction author and one of the IWSG administrators, and co-owner of StormDance Publications. She writes magical adventures filled with humor, wonder, and emotional consequences.

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