Insecure Writer’s Support Group Day and Writing/Marketing Scams

It’s time for another group posting of the Insecure Writer’s Support Group! Time to release our fears to the world – or offer encouragement to those who are feeling neurotic. If you’d like to join us, click on the tab above and sign up. We post the first Wednesday of every month. We encourage everyone to visit at least a dozen new blogs and leave a comment. Your words might be the encouragement someone needs.

The awesome co-hosts for the February 4 posting of the IWSG are J Lenni Dorner, Victoria Marie Lees, and Sandra Cox!

February 4 question - Many writers have written about the experience of rereading their work years later. Have you reread any of your early works? What was that experience like for you?

Marketing Scams

A lot of marketing scams are out there, eager to take advantage of unsuspecting people. Writers and authors need to become familiar with them and avoid their pitfalls:

From Tod Newman - When AI Becomes a Weapon: The Rise of Sophisticated Book Marketing Scams

Anne R. Allen has a couple recent articles -
Update on those Flattering AI Book Marketing Scams
New Scam Alert for Authors

From Rod Raglin - New sophisticated publishing scam targets struggling authors on Amazon

And from Writer Beware, their top writing scams of 2005. There are a lot!

Keep on top of the information and don’t get taken!

Are there any other scams or sites warning writers that we should know about?

Artificial Intelligence

2026 is going to be an interesting and challenging year for authors and publishers. There has been a huge shift in how creative writing is produced, and it’s due to Artificial Intelligence (AI)

AI is already having a serious impact on what people write, how they write it, and how readers react.

Pixabay

Proponents for AI say that it increases productivity and helps in overcoming writer’s block. They tout the fact that writers can delegate the “dishwashing” aspect of writing to AI. 

For example, AI can generate plot points or character names. It can make things like tone and style consistent throughout a manuscript—especially a lengthy one. Certainly, it can catch many of the grammar and punctuation mistakes, eliminating a lot of line edit issues. If you’re publishing online, it can create Keywords and SEO in a matter of seconds.

Opponents call into question the ethics of using AI because it is trained by models of work that have already been created by someone. If a writer asks for AI to generate a story based on their idea, and it kicks out a complete work, are they the creator, or is someone else who has helped train AI? 

Here is what one search asking that question produced: 

“…the human author is generally considered the author if they provide significant creative input, guidance, and substantially rewrite or arrange the AI's output…”

There are no descriptors that delineate what significant creative input, guidance, or substantial re-writing mean. 

Both proponents and opponents warn about the cost of a heavy reliance on AI. It can produce a flat, generic tone, it can generate false information, and it can lack uniqueness. 

Even though the industry says that AI is a “collaborative tool,” and not one meant to replace humans, one main concern that has been expressed is that as writers come to rely on AI, it may lead to lessening or ending the need for human writers.

But what about readers?

It seems that readers complain a lot about the lack of accuracy, authenticity, and especially the non-human feeling of AI-generated writing. The interesting thing is that while they complain about this non-human writing, people are reading it. 

Here's an interesting article about just that. The Irony of AI Complaints. 

The First Wedneday of the New Year!

Join Us!

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.

The awesome co-hosts for the January 7 posting of the IWSG are Shannon Lawrence, Olga Godim, Jean Davis, and Jacqui Murray!

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!

January 7 question - Is there anything in your writing plans for 2026 that you are going to do that you couldn’t get done in 2025?

Yep! I’ll see a new book published by Evernight Teen. I had hoped it would be released in 2025, but the publisher was busy, so I had to be patient. That’s okay. It’s something to look forward to this year.

Outside of that, I’ll just keep posting a short story on each Wednesday on Substack unless, of course, I can’t come up with something. Then I’ll punt!

Be sure to visit our co-hosts and other members to see what they have planned for this year! 

Happy 2026!