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#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!

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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

Screenshot recording from cell phone, <-How to create a personal signature link to sharein commentsand thealternative.

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

Join Insecure Writer’s Support Group Newsletter

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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SW1_V Wells

Space Wizards Anthology Interviews: Vanessa Wells

Meet Space Wizards author, Vanessa Wells

Today, we meet Vanessa Wells, author of The Inexplicable Temporal Trials of Julian Hale in the Space Wizards short story anthology.

Author interview

1. Which author (living or dead) would you most like to have dinner with?

Mark Twain. And his wife. I don’t want to meet him unless she comes too.

2. If you had the opportunity to live on a colony on Mars, would you go? Why/why not?

Depends on who is in charge of the colony… trusting someone with oxygen is a different level of trust.

3. Do you have any pets?

A cat named after the embodiment of death in Greek myth: Thantos.

4. Do you have any pet hates?

My cat does all the hating.

5. Are you a hoarder collector of anything?

Is it too cliché to say books and stories?

6. Do you prefer to write with no distractions or do you need something to help with creativity?

My playlists are EPIC.

7. What is your full-time job? How does that colour your writing?

I’m a telecom engineer. I tend to add systems into my writing because I am always thinking in them.

8. How do you know when a story is finished?

When someone demands you stop changing it and let it be published, because time and space are actual things.

9. What’s one thing you’ve learnt about writing that you wish you’d known earlier?

You can’t replace anything with talent. Talent lives in its own dimension and is wholly cut off from craft, from study, from experience. And you can use craft, study and experience to make a fair approximation of talent.

10. When did you first realise you wanted to write stories instead of just read them?

3-ish

11. Which fictional world would you happily live in – even if it was dangerous?

Star Trek – but you won’t catch me anywhere near the Enterprise and I will absolutely not wear red.

12. Do you hide foreshadowing or breadcrumbs in your writing?

*Evil writer laughter*

13. You have the choice to go back to when you are young. Do you start writing earlier in life? Why/why not?

I started reading and writing at three. Before that, I made my parents watch plays that I put on with my stuffed animals playing all the parts.

14. What first drew you to contribute to Space Wizards?

Vanessa Finaughty, of course.

15. Did the space element or the magic element come first for you?

The space element.

16. If your story were adapted for screen, what kind of adaptation would suit it best?

Anime.

17. Which spell would you absolutely misuse?

The one that lets me avoid the crowds when shopping.

18. Which everyday object would become dangerous if enchanted?

My cat? But any object would, really.

19. If magic suddenly became real tomorrow, what would you do first?

Safety testing.

20. If your story were a cocktail, what would it be called?

A Julian with a Twist.

21. Be honest: wizard hat – yes or no?

Absolutely not. Have you seen my hair?

22. Star Trek or Star Wars and why?

Both.

23. Are you a Firefly fan? Why/why not?

Nobody needs a reason to be a Firefly fan. There is only the question of why not?

Buy Space Wizards from Barnes & Noble, Apple, Kobo, Google Play Books and PubShare.

Prepare to be spellbound by this (mostly) light-hearted short story anthology offering a blend of science fiction and fantasy with one common theme: wizards and outer space. Imagine a galaxy in which magic is fused with machine, luxury space cruises run by cyborgs are the norm and familiars are a little… different.

Join the adventures of a powerful space wizard during wartime, a young wizard-in-training with her griffon familiar, and a time-travelling biker wizard who accidentally ends up in the future – well, sort of. Let’s not forget the caustic robot familiar cat, a faulty 3D printer causing magical havoc, spells gone wrong, space pirates, and a junior contract analyst who experiences a series of inexplicable, extremely inconvenient events as a result of a strange cube his team recovered as space debris.

That’s not all! A quantum conjuring that violates the laws of thermodynamics – check. A wizard in a Wild West-type setting – check. An ancient maths book that might hold the key to immortality – check. An adrenaline junkie smuggler and a daring rescue – check. Add an intergalactic circus with a shifty shifter, a bioship giving birth under dire circumstances and a moulting wyrmling with the potential to explode planets, and you have an anthology that is sure to enchant you until the last word and beyond.

Vanessa Wells is an author, telecommunications executive, and educator living in East Texas. She has written multiple fantasy and science fiction works, including the Seventeen Stones Trilogy, the Topeka Texas Chronicles, and the AREA 52 series.

Drawing on more than two decades in the telecommunications industry, Vanessa specializes in outside plant engineering, permitting, right-of-way issues, and network development. She is the creator of the Wells Method training program and writes extensively about the history, economics, and infrastructure that connect modern society.

Her current non-fiction work, Copper & Glass, explores the people and technologies behind the evolution of the telecommunications network.

When she isn’t writing, she’s usually reading, drinking tea, or chasing plot bunnies through the woods of East Texas.

Published books

Website

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Game of Thrones Broke the Reader’s Promise

(For me) Yet I still ended up reluctantly loving it.

Epic Storytelling. It stays in the mind and heart long after the story is over.

**Spoiler Alert:**

  • *Before you read, be aware that this article contains spoilers for the Game of Thrones HBO series and Star Wars: A New Jedi Order book series. *More spoiler alerts ahead!*

When a beloved series breaks the reader’s promise.

Have you ever refused to read a highly recommended series because you knew something happened in the story you would hate and would find upsetting?

I was that way about George R. R. Martin’s Game of Thrones series. I refused to read the series or watch the HBO TV version series.

What kept me away from it? I was told he killed off beloved characters. That no character was safe. I knew I would hate it.

Why? I read to escape, not be upset.

Past experience had already tainted me, so I was wary.

*Spoiler Alert: Star Wars New Jedi Order novel, Vector Prime, by R.A. Salvatore


I was devastated when R. A. Salvatore let Chewbacca die in the first New Jedi Order novel, Vector Prime. I cried for a week. Yes, literally, I’d tear up at the drop of a hat.

It was unexpected. It hit me hard, breaking an unspoken promise to the readers of a beloved series. I admit it was powerful. I still hated it and didn’t like it.

It was a couple of years before I could attempt to read the second book in that Star Wars series. I never loved that series, but I will always love Star Wars. Still have not forgiven Salvatore for the betrayal.

I have now read more than half of the books in the NJO series, but I still have not finished them.

Photo by Artur Tumasjan on Unsplash

When HBO announced it was ending Game of Thrones, I found myself caught up in the anticipation from others who loved watching it. So, I sat down and started watching it from the beginning.

What happened? I binged watched until I caught up. Yeah, I was hooked. Maybe knowing going in that no character was safe allowed me to appreciate the epic storylines more.

I also love stuff with dragons.

Epic Storytelling. It stays in the mind and heart long after the story is over.

Game of Thrones season 6 E5

*note: I have not read the book series yet*

Genius Story Craft!

This is one of my all-time favorite scenes. This made the entire series for me in some ways, with a few others epic moments.

GOT Beloved character Hodor

(*big spoiler alert)

Hodor is a mentally challenged character who spoke only one word throughout the entire series, Hodor. A big hulk of a man who acts as Bran Stark’s legs, who is a Warg (seer) and a cripple.

In season 6, episode 5, Hodor is holding the great wall door to the Northern lands closed keeping the undead trapped inside trying to give his comrades time to escape certain death.

Bran is looking back, knowing, they are saying goodbye to their beloved and faithful Hodor for the last time.

If you are a Lord of the Rings fan you may love this scene to. This was a Samwise-like-character, in devotion and loyalty— BUT he dies. Oddly that did not take away from the storyteling at all.

It is a powerful moment when Hodor’s story comes together connecting events, the past and the present, in season six. Bran remembers the day that Hodor became the man he had known all his life.

The scene starts with the undead chasing them as they try to escape through the tunnels of the great northern wall. Bran is unconscious and Hodor is carrying him.

Bran is dreaming at first. The memory starts with him remembering Hodor as a teenage boy 12–14 years old playing a game with the other kids at WinterFell, healthy and robust.

In the middle of the game, Hodor falls to the ground seizing and yelling, “hold the door, hold the door”, relentlessly, until the words blur, becoming, “Hodor, Hodor, Hodor.”

This is happening during the middle of all the action and it works. It is that memory link that makes this scene even more powerful.

What a clever way of revealing backstory in an action moment without slowing or taking away from the pace of that scene.

This scene made this character one of the most rememberable and beloved heroes of the entire series.

Hodo = Hold the Door (Watch the scene clip below on YouTube. This is a shorter version 2 mins.

The characters in the series are epic in their own storylines. Everyone with a powerful individual story that connects and intersects bringing the series to its eight-season conclusion.

The Characters of GOT

*This is not a complete list but some of the most memorable for me.*

The bastard Stark, Jon Snow, who is sent to the Black Crows to hold the wall against the monsters of the North, monsters no one had seen for a hundred years. A powerful story in itself of service, loyalty, and rebirth.

The Stark’s youngest daughter, Arya, who wanted to be a warrior, not a princess. A long and mystic journey that will make her the ultimate hero.

The Stark’s oldest daughter, Sansa, sent to court to form an alliance by marrying the abusive son of the reigning house over all the lands, the House Reyne of Castamere. Lots of highs, lows, and betrayal.

The Dragon Queen who frees the oppressed and deals justice. Fire cannot burn her. The genius here is the way these great qualities lead to her destruction.

The beloved ward raised by the Starks, Theon Greyjoy, who betrays the Stark’s leading to his torture by a psychopath and an impossible climb to redemption.

Tyrion The IMP, the dwarf, youngest son of the reigning house of the lands. A good man always trying to prove himself to his family who never truly accepts him. Yet this little flawed man will find moments of greatness.

The incestuous twins of the reining house whose secrets and machinations will destroy them. (An intriguing play on the popular cheerleader and arrogant jock, or at least, I could see glimmers of that or other familiar and similar comparisons.) Despite that, these characters also moved me.

This is only a few of the main characters we watch throughout. I am going to have to watch the whole series again because there is so much awesome story craft that made this epic.

Yes, I want to write like that, in that, I want to move the emotions, enthrall and pull readers in, entertain and help them escape into another world. Some parts of this saga are pure storytelling genius.

I am sorry I resisted reading for so long… well, actually still have not read, but resisted watching for same reasons. (I hear the book series tale diverges a bit from the TV series and the tie-ins. I was also told the TV series was better. I have not read the books to offer an opinion.)

However, if you have not watched GOT, if you are reluctant as I was, just know that no character is safe going in.

The payoff is still well worth watching. Note: This is an opinion piece. I know the feelings I want to experience in fantasy series. I’m a voracious reader and watcher of series. I want to be hooked, and it’s that aspect of GOT that kept me watching. Plus, although different from my expectations—I FELT happy and satisfied by the end. And blown away by scenes I normally would have hated.

Photo by K. Mitch Hodge on Unsplash

I love story craft. Game of Thrones is a prime example of epic storytelling. I created a free list of story points to look for when creating a story. 🙂 I would like all my stories to be epic and memorable. I personally cannot read enough stuff like that. Anyway, you can get the list through the form below.

Here are my tip list to help improve your short stories.

Join WRITERS TALK: 
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7 TIPS FOR YOUR BOOK LAUNCH

When launching a book, I always remind myself that the work doesn’t end when the manuscript is finished. In fact, that’s when a new phase begins—one full of excitement and hard work. There are some basic steps to keep in mind that can make the process smoother and more successful. Here’s what I’ve learned about launching your first book.


1. Know Your Audience
Before you even start thinking about a launch date, you need to understand who you’re writing for. Who are your readers? Knowing your target audience helps you decide everything from your book cover to your marketing strategy. Whether you’re writing for fans of romance, fantasy, or paranormal, identifying your audience early will shape the way you promote your book.


2. Set Your Date & Plan Ahead
Choose a launch date well in advance. I recommend giving yourself 2–3 months of prep time. A well-executed launch takes more than just announcing the release. It requires a lead-up, the right activities on the day, and post-launch follow-ups. The more time you have to prepare, the better!


3. Build Your Author Platform
This is the time to really show up online. Create or update your author website, social media profiles, and email list. I know it’s tempting to focus only on the writing, but your platform is just as important. Engage with potential readers, share updates, and build a community around your work.


4. Don’t Forget Goodreads
If you’re not already on Goodreads, it’s time to get there. Goodreads is a powerful tool for authors. It allows you to connect directly with readers, join relevant groups, and even host giveaways to get early reviews. The site has a built-in audience of book lovers who want to discover new books, so getting your book listed and engaging with readers there is essential.


5. Get Reviews Early
Speaking of reviews, start collecting them as early as possible. Reach out to book bloggers, readers, and influencers within your genre. Advanced reviews can help boost your book’s visibility on platforms like Amazon and Goodreads. The more reviews you have, the more likely it is that new readers will take a chance on your book.


6. Create a Launch Plan
A clear launch plan is crucial. Break down your timeline into pre-launch, launch day, and post-launch phases. Use a mix of social media posts, email newsletters, virtual book tours, giveaways, and even paid ads to spread the word. If you want to use paid ads, they can definitely help you, but you don’t have to go that route. There are other ways to get the word out that might be more affordable, though they may require a bit more work on your part.


7. Celebrate the Launch
Launch day is finally here—don’t forget to celebrate! Host a virtual party, run a special promotion, or do giveaways to keep the momentum going. Show your excitement and thank your readers for their support. They’ll appreciate the personal touch, and it helps to build long-term connections with your audience.


Launching your first book can feel overwhelming, but with these basics in place, you’ll be prepared. Focus on building connections, planning ahead, and using platforms like Goodreads to help get your book in front of the right readers. It’s all part of the journey, and before you know it, your book will be out in the world!

What plans are you making for your book launch?

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#IWSG SEPT 3RD, TO AI OR NOT TO AI

Insecure Writer’s Support Group

Sign Up And Become a Member

Our Twitter handle Our Twitter handle is @TheIWSG and hashtag is #IWSG.
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. Sign Up HERE.

The awesome co-hosts for the September 3 posting of the IWSG are Kim Lajevardi, Natalie Aguirre, Nancy Gideon, and Diedre Knight!

September 3 question – What are your thoughts on using AI, such as GPChat, Raptor, and others with your writing? Would you use it for research, story bible, or creating outlines\beats?

AI=Artificial Intelligence

I’m a bit on the fence, but dabbling with it to learn about AI. I’m finding out it can have some uses and be quite fun. There are many AI tools out there. You can use it for headlines, outlines, story beats, analyze your scenes for weakness, theme…

I had it analyze one of my scenes and I was surprised at what it saw in my scene. It made me feel good about my writing. Will I keep using it? For Outlines and Analyzes, maybe. The writing NO.

First, I had fun naming my ChatGPT “Inky” and talked to him conversation style. Yes I enjoyed personifying my Chat just like I named and personified my MUSE (Raven) and inner EDITOR (Hook).

I gave Inky my plot points. A one sentence logline and three sentence summary of novel. I also upload a story bible doc with a lot of my world building and story development beats to give Inky an idea of what I wanted the novel/series to be about, and the richness of the world I had already built.

I am analyzing my story scene by scene for editing purposes for a complete rewrite, as my story changed a little and I learned new elements I wanted to expand and add in.

I originally did a short form 150 word scene outline on Medium as experiment (82 episodes) to tell myself the story. I wrote another expanded zero draft of the first novel once that was done.

I uploaded my full scene. I told Inky this is my Opening Scene. I ask him to analyze it for scene purpose, pertinent facts, character emotional arc, tie-ins and connections for overall plot and structure in this scene.

Below is what I got. Now this is work I have been doing for the the last two years on my novel series, Ghostwalker: The Katje Storm Chronicles.

Example: My Scene (c) Juneta Key
Some spoiler info in presentation

Scene Title: Katje’s Apartment Over the Garage

Beat Type: Opening Image / Ordinary World

🎯 Purpose of the Scene

– Establish Katje’s current reality: post-separation, low on resources, emotionally bruised but standing.
– Set emotional tone: betrayal, resilience, and the simmering edge of change.
– Show contrast between her mundane world and the paranormal storm about to hit.
– Hint at the strain between her and the Easley family and the power imbalance (money, control).
– Introduce Macy Stanton as a warm, stabilizing presence—and potential magical figure.
– Lay the emotional groundwork for the inciting incident.

📘 Pertinent Facts

– Katje now lives in a small apartment above The Raven’s Root, a New Age shop.
– Macy Stanton owns the shop and is a maternal, intuitive figure who gently looks after Katje.
– Katje and Shamus are separated—he cheated with his exotic personal assistant.
– He has closed her bank account and canceled credit cards out of spite.
– Shamus’s twin sister calls to inform Katje she’s disinvited from Sunday family dinners—framing her as the villain.
– Katje is getting dressed to attend dinner with Shamus to discuss the divorce—he still lives in Haven House.

💔 Character Emotional Arc

– Katje begins in quiet exhaustion, emotionally bruised.
– She shifts from weary to resolved—angry, betrayed, but determined to walk into that dinner like a queen in silk and stilettos.
– She wants to show Shamus exactly what he lost.
– Still clings to some dignity, but her hurt bleeds through in little bursts (wallet not fitting, hair sticks memory).
– Her confidence is wobbly, but this is the first hint she’s not going to stay broken.

🧵 Tie-Ins and Connections

– The black silk dress and opal hair sticks subtly foreshadow her transformation—she’s still tethered to her past but reclaiming power.
– Macy’s character will grow in significance later—her early warmth signals a deeper connection to Katje’s future.
– Katje’s isolation from the Easley family sets up themes of found family and identity reclamation.
– This moment is echoed later when she dresses for herself, not for anyone else—mirroring her arc from betrayed wife to empowered Ghostwalker.

🗝️ Plot & Structure

– Beat Type: Opening Image (Ordinary World)
– Status Quo: Post-betrayal limbo, emotional and financial isolation.
– Foreshadowing: Shamus’s control issues, Macy’s deeper magical ties, emotional stakes that will explode after dinner.
– Sets Up: The emotional fuel for the inciting incident in Scene 1

AI TOOLS
I use or have tried most of theses tools.
These are tools that can aid the writer not replace the writer.

Ecosystem Integration Productive Tools
e.g. Research, Marketing Focus, human-like writing, Task & Note Taking… All around tool

ChatGPT
Google Gemini
Microsoft Co=Pilot
Claude
Perplexity AI
Jasper

Grammer, Spelling, Readability (I use these

ProWritingAid
AutoCrit
Grammerly
Hemmingway

Editing, Proofing, Structure for Fiction & Non-Fiction
(a bit more advanced)

AutoCrit
Fictionary

SEO Optimize Headlines for Articles and Blog Posts

Co-Schedule
Capitalize My Title
TitleCaseConverter
Headline Capitalization

Social Media Management

HooteSuite
Loomly
Buffer
SocialBee
HubSpot

Predictive Analytics
(Helps with data driven decisions)

HooteSuite Insights
Predikt
Google Analytics
Zoho Social

It’s crucial to use AI ethically to avoid any negative impact on the readers or society as a whole. ~Megan Stewart

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