The Insecure Writers Support Group and AI is Using Your Books Without Permission

It’s time for another edition of The Insecure Writer’s Support Group, founded by Ninja Captain, Alex J. Cavanaugh.

And for the first time ever – I am co-hosting along with Jennifer Lane, Jenni Enzor, and Natalie Aguirre.

The question for today: What fantasy character would you like to fight, go on a quest with, or have a beer/glass of wine with?

I’d just want to hang out with Pippin from LOTR all day! He is all about the fun, naïve and innocent but with a good heart. Think of all the trouble we could get into!

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I have taken on the management of the IWSG Facebook group. We are trying some new things, such as First Line and Marketing Hint.
If you are part of the Facebook group, please get involved and let us know what you think.

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Several of Dancing Lemur Press’ titles are being used without permission to train AI. All authors should check for their titles and complain if they find them being used.

To check - The Atlantic

To complain - Action Network

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And since I am all about the food boards…

I made a meal food board (with two kinds of sliders, pork chops, mini-corn dogs, deviled eggs, and more) for game night followed by that snack board.

All the dips were homemade. Fresh fruit and veggies. I am so enjoying making food boards!

What character would you hang out with and are your books being used without your permission?

The Insecure Writers Support Group and Writing Prompts – Plus Charcuterie!

It’s time for another edition of The Insecure Writer’s Support Group, founded by Ninja Captain, Alex J. Cavanaugh.

The question for today: If for one day you could be anyone or *thing* in the world, what would it be? Describe, tell why, and any themes, goals, or values they/it inspire in you.

I can’t think of anyone/anything specific other than being able to fly. Either as Pegasus or like an angel with my own set of wings. Part of the reason I like rollercoasters is it feels like one is flying. (Especially on Mantra at Sea World, Orlando.) There is a freedom found only in flying.

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I have taken over the IWSG Facebook duties as Michelle has stepped down. We are starting several new prompts, including a writing prompt. Monday, we asked for one-word suggestions. If you have one, please go leave a comment HERE.

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And finally, I got to use my new Charcuterie tray and prep table last Friday! (Birthday gifts from my wonderful husband.) The meats and cheeses are in a tray because that tray is in another tray that’s filled with ice. (To keep the meats and cheeses cold.) Silly little umbrella is to mark the vegan ones. (The guys do NOT want to eat those.) And the two cards displaying items on the board are from the D&D recipe card deck the guys got me for my birthday. 

 

Who/what would you be for a day?
Anyone else into Charcuterie boards?

The Insecure Writers Support Group and Surgery

It’s time for another edition of The Insecure Writer’s Support Group, founded by Ninja Captain, Alex J. Cavanaugh.

The question for today: Is there a story or book you've written you want to/wish you could go back and change?

I’d love to re-edit and condense my five-book series, The Circle of Friends. And reclassify them as New Adult/Adult Romance. They began as YA – first one begins when the main character is a senior in high school – but as the series moves on, the characters move into adult territory. I have done some minor editing, but I’d love to do a total big edit some time. I still have a lot of fans for this series, so hopefully the edits would attract more fans and not offend my current ones.

My two non-fiction books and my In Darkness series? Not at the moment – they are some of the best things I’ve ever written! (And big hugs to my friend Tisha – I gave her a copy of In Darkness for Christmas and she is LOVING the stories.)

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In other news – I had carpal tunnel surgery in January. (One reason you haven’t seen me around much.) My first surgery and stitches. Ever! (I have always majored in the minor injuries although there have been a couple times I probably should’ve gotten stitches in my foot.)

It was a weird experience. First day, my whole arm was numb ALL DAY. (At one point, I felt something next to me and realized my arm had rolled off my lap. I just stared at it and though, “That’s not my arm!”) A few days later the main bandages came off. Yes, that will be a lovely scar. Then the stitches came out and it was a new set of paranoia as I worried I would tear open the cut. (They put butterfly bandages on it and tell you they can come off in 4 days. HA! They FELL off the next morning. Thank goodness we had some butterfly bandages on hand.) Still healing and I can’t put any pressure on the palm for at least another week.

This has led me to a new appreciation for what we need both hands (and our dominate hand) for: opening plastic baggies, cutting with scissors, combing hair, driving, showering, getting dressed, etc. My husband has done a great job of taking care of me (he won’t let me scoop the litterbox – darn!) and I am slowly getting back to normal.

What stories would you edit? Anyone else ever undergo carpal tunnel surgery?

Added bonus – we saw the Space-X launch from Florida last night on our way to Spanish class! We didn’t know what it was at first, so it was a little weird. Kinda cool – I’ve never seen a rocket launch before.

The Insecure Writers Support Group

It’s time for another edition of The Insecure Writer’s Support Group, founded by Ninja Captain, Alex J. Cavanaugh.

The question for today: Describe someone you admired when you were a child. Did your opinion of that person change when you grew up?

If we are referring to authors, then there is an author I admired when younger but not so much now. Still a great writer, but as I matured, I realized our values didn’t line up. There were elements in the books that I’d missed when young and naïve that I prefer not to read about now. Sad, but there are other great authors that I can still enjoy.

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Hope everyone had a wonderful Christmas. You may have seen this on Facebook, but we were trying to go light with the gifts this year. As you can see from the carnage, we failed. (Several gifts are behind the coffee table, some out in the kitchen, and several big items out of sight, so it’s worse than it looks. And there are only two of us.)
The cats had a great Christmas—that toy in the photo held their interest for hours. Both of them! Needless to say, they slept well that afternoon.


Was there someone you admired? Has your opinion of them changed? How was your Christmas?