The Insecure Writer’s Support Group Blog Post for June 2026

Welcome to June and almost summer as well as the sixth month of the year, which means we’re halfway through 2026. So far the first half of the year has been so-so, with sales lower than usual, but I’m hoping that will improve. I need to do more promoting, I guess, but that is my weak spot.

I finished the A to Z challenge in April, met several new bloggers, whom I hope will continue to follow my blog as I follow theirs. In addition, I’ve written two new books so far this year, one romance suspense, the other cozy mystery with a lot of rom-com in it. I seemed to have crossed over the line between the two genres. We’ll see what happens with sales. I’m hoping to write two more before the end of the year, but I have a month long holiday planned for August which will cut into my writing schedule this year. Hoping to write only in the morning and enjoy the rest of the warm summer days. Winter seemed especially long this time around.

This month’s question: Do most of your story ideas come from one place (the news, dreams, etc.) or do they hit from all over the place?

My stories come from all over, but world events and the news do give me lots of ideas. In some situations, my stories are reactions to current events. My characters can be very opinionated at times, and at others, they can be more open-minded than many of the people around me. My ideas tend to be influenced by current events and the reams of misinformation and disinformation that abounds on the Internet, so I walk a thin line.

I would say that my holidays also give me story ideas. I’ve been known to set my tales in places that I’ve visited, such as Scandinavia, The British Isles, the Carribbean Islands, and Mexico, as well as here in Canada, adding details from my own experiences and the things I learn while I’m there. My stories also come from a sense of national pride since I’m setting most of my latest books in Canada and adding in its beauty and culture.

The third source for story ideas has to be my overactive imagination and the ideas that manifest themselves in my dreams. I may not recall the entire dream, but something will stick with me, and I’ll feel the need to let the idea play out. As all of my books are character driven, a lot of the time I don’t know where I’m going with a story until I get there. That’s the joys of being a pantser. Even you can be surprised in the end.

Check the link to see how others have answered this month’s question. https://www.insecurewriterssupportgroup.com/p/iwsg-sign-up.html