#IWSG – Story Ideas

June 4, 2026 by Roland Clarke

As in previous months, I’ve been concentrating on one writing project, so I haven’t posted anything here since May’s Insecure Writer’s Support Group post, Feedback. Well, not since yesterday’s apologetic Not #IWSG keyboard delay, which explains that I’ve been struggling with my keyboard as well as my health, which is why I am posting this a day late.

Also, we are selling our trailer home and moving in with my wife’s second son towards the end of June, which has consumed some of our time. When I create space, my writing has focused on revising my North Wales police procedural, Fates Maelstrom. My answer to this month’s question will touch on its origin.

For those following my Ukraine saga, Freedom Flights, that project remains on hold, except I keep abreast of the ongoing war daily.

Slava Ukraini

Heroiam slava!

Every month, IWSG announces a question that members can answer in their IWSG posts. These questions may prompt you to share advice, insight, a personal experience, or a 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!

June 3 question – Do most of your story ideas come from one place (the news, dreams, etc.) or do they hit from all over the place?

Mine hit from all over the place.

My current writing project is part of the Snowdon Shadows Mysteries, so I’ll start there. The clue is in the series title, as Snowdon is in North Wales. There are four books in the series, and all but one were inspired whilst living there. The main character, detective Sparkle Anwyl, appeared as a secondary character in the first draft of what was originally the first book, Fates Maelstrom, set on Dartmoor in the West of England. The plot grew from a conversation with a friend about police confusion when identical twins commit crimes.

Sparkle & Kama
Graphics by Jonathan Temples –
http://jonathantemples.co.uk/

I developed Sparkle through various short stories prompted by numerous suggestions, including some WEP/IWSG Challenges. As I assembled the stories, a linking plotline emerged, becoming Fevered Fuse, which chronologically is Book 1. Therefore, Fates Maelstrom is chronologically Book 2, so I’m writing a new outline to guide my current revision process. The inspiration for Book 3, Seeking A Knife, was research I did for my Blogging from A to Z Challenge 2015 theme of ‘The War of 1812’. Book 4, Ruined Retreat, arose from a retiree murder mystery suggestion from a neighbour in our residential park in North Wales.

The Norwegian Viking ship Draken Harald Harfrage sailing off Greenland – http://www.drakenexpeditionamerica.com

I wrote the first draft of my Alternative History novel, Eagle Passage, after I asked, “What would have happened if Leif Eriksson had settled Vinland permanently in 1000 AD?” In fact, I initially answered the question in an entry for an IWSG Anthology competition, though it wasn’t among the winning entries.

However, my World War II story Feathered Fire, appeared in the 2020 IWSG Anthology (No. 5), Voyagers: The Third Ghost and did lead to my present-day Ukraine saga, Freedom Flights. That IWSG Anthology competition theme inspired me to research Slavic mythology and World War II’s Night Witches.

Ideas for earlier writings were not just prompts but events, such as The Tevis Cup, the ‘Ultimate Horsemanship Challenge’, which became the spark for Tortuous Terrain, the sequel to Spiral of Hooves. My health has also inspired a few stories, including The Last Leaf, a fantasy novella whose main character suffers like me from MS, Multiple Sclerosis.

The awesome co-hosts for the June 3 posting of the IWSG areVictoria Marie Lees, Sarah Foster, Natalie Aguirre, andC. Lee McKenzie!

Finally, don’t forget to visit other writers via the IWSG site for their invaluable insights on writing:

Insecure Writer’s Support Group

Let’s rock the neurotic writing world!

Our Twitter handle is @TheIWSG, and our hashtag is #IWSG.

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!

Not #IWSG keyboard delay

June 3, 2026 by Roland Clarke

I’m posting this in case I miss the Insecure Writer’s Support Group Monthly post deadline. Today’s excuse is that I’ve been struggling with my keyboard for over a month, on top of the ongoing health problems.

The problem is that my keyboard either doesn’t type keys or insists on typing multiple versions of the letter or number. The multiple versions are easier to edit. My solution has been to use dictation software. Initially, I was using Word’s built-in dictate add-on. Now I’m using the pro version of Wispr Flow, which I highly recommend.

If you’re after software dictation, Wispr Flow will give you a free month of Pro if you use a reference link from me. Send me a message with your email, and I’ll send you the link.

As I said above, my health is an additional problem, especially when I have problems speaking. Wispr Flow mistypes when I swallow my words, and carers can’t understand what I need.

I will post my proper reply to this month’s IWSG question as soon as I finish dictating and editing it.

The awesome co-hosts for the June 3 posting of the IWSG are Victoria Marie Lees, Sarah Foster, Natalie Aguirre, and C. Lee McKenzie!

Finally, don’t forget to visit other writers via the IWSG site for their invaluable insights on writing:

Insecure Writer’s Support Group

Let’s rock the neurotic writing world!

Our Twitter handle is @TheIWSG, and our hashtag is #IWSG.

#IWSG – Feedback

May 6, 2026 by Roland Clarke

As my regular followers must have noticed, I haven’t posted anything since April’s Insecure Writer’s Support Group post, Apology.

Fortunately, my health has improved, so I have been writing.

My writing has focused on revising my North Wales police procedural Fates Maelstrom. My answer to this month’s question makes my decision to focus my time here clearer.

For those following my Ukraine saga, Freedom Flights, that project is on hold, except I keep abreast of the ongoing war daily.

Slava Ukraini

Heroiam slava!

Remember, the question is optional!

May 6 question – What was the most inspiring feedback you received from readers, including agents, editors, and beta readers?

Although I’ve had some invaluable feedback during my writing career, I’m going to focus here on my Snowdon Shadows Mysteries, set in North Wales.

Last year, I finished Draft 8 of Fevered Fuse, which chronologically is Book 1. When my beta readers read Draft 3 in 2020, comments like ‘Overall, congratulations! You have a really fun character, location and story. It will be such a super fun book to read’, and more specific ones, inspired me to hone that draft over the next five years with a professional editor’s help.

However, Draft 8 garnered a mixed response from writer friends and the first rejection from a publisher. Confused, I stopped submitting the manuscript and began revising Fates Maelstrom, chronologically Book 2 of the Snowdon Shadows Mysteries. When I sent the first three revised chapters of ‘Fates Maelstrom’ to one of my original beta readers, her response encouraged me to focus on that book.

“…I’m enjoying those first three chapters—I feel so far like this is much more put together than FF [Fevered Fuse] was when I first saw it… So, I guess my feeling so far is that the series is worth going on with….”

I’ve finished revising the first fourteen chapters, but after reading a writing article, I realised my original Scrivener outline would lead me astray. Fortunately, I have a synopsis with updates added, plus extensive notes on the new potline. So, I’m writing a new outline to guide my revision process.

I did start posting the opening six chapters of Fevered Fuse, if anyone is interested in seeing where I might have gone wrong. The comments there make me realise FF still has a future, someday.

The awesome co-hosts for the May 6 posting of the IWSG are Jenni Enzor, Jemima Pett, Jamie of Uniquely Maladjusted but Fun, and Kim Lajevardi!

Finally, don’t forget to visit other writers via the IWSG site for their invaluable insights on writing:

Insecure Writer’s Support Group

Let’s rock the neurotic writing world!

Our Twitter handle is @TheIWSG, and our hashtag is #IWSG.

#IWSG – Apology

April 1, 2026 by Roland Clarke

As my regular followers must have noticed, I haven’t posted anything since March’s Insecure Writer’s Support Group post, Space Lunch.

Not only have my eye problems continued, but I’ve had severe head congestion, mainly in my sinuses and throat, creating terrible phlegm. This has made it hard to do anything except emergency work.

It’s been impossible to write or even clear my emails. Although I’ve made writing plans in my head, I’m unsure when I’ll post the next episode of my Ukraine saga, Freedom Flights.

Slava Ukraini

Heroiam slava!

Until the next complete post, I’ll just hand over to the IWSG information and pass on the optional question.

Remember, the question is optional!

April 1 question – If you have a playlist (or could put one together) that either gets you in the groove to write or fits with one of your books, what is it? What type of music or what songs?

The awesome co-hosts for the April 1 posting of the IWSG are Melissa Maygrove, Cathrina Constantine, Kate Larkinsdale, and Rebecca Douglass!

Finally, don’t forget to visit other writers via the IWSG site for their invaluable insights on writing:

Insecure Writer’s Support Group

Let’s rock the neurotic writing world!

Our Twitter handle is @TheIWSG, and our hashtag is #IWSG.

#IWSG – Rereading

February 4, 2026 by Roland Clarke

Although I knew February’s Insecure Writer’s Support Group post was approaching, I’ve been having eye problems, which have made it hard to clear my writing desk. So, I’ve delayed the next episode of my Ukraine saga, Freedom Flights.

Slava Ukraini

Heroiam slava!

Since my January IWSG post, I’ve been posting Fevered Fuse, the first of my Snowdon Shadows novels featuring Sparkle Anwyl, in serial form. Links to each post can be found via my updated Snowdon Shadows page on the left-hand sidebar.

Remember, the question is optional!

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?

After my number one reader, Rebecca Douglass, gave the opening three chapters of ‘Fates Maelstrom’ her seal of approval, I continued to revise what was originally the first of the Snowdon Shadows series, until various Sparkle Anwyl shorts evolved into ‘Fevered Fuse’, now chronologically first.

As a result, I reread the other draft books in the series to see whether they matched the openers. A worthwhile exercise, especially as they don’t follow events in the first two books. Otherwise, my reaction was a mixture of surprise at how my writing had changed, surprise at some of my plot twists, and uneasiness over how much needed reworking. One common element, even in the draft of ‘Fates Maelstrom’ I’m revising, is Sparkle’s relationships with romantic partners.

In ‘Fevered Fuse’, someone emerges who should be in every sequel but isn’t. Yet I created that special someone in a short story after drafting those other novels, and since I’ve made them a central character alongside Sparkle. Instead, there will be rivals for Sparkle’s affection, demanding I change the plot in the other books to retain their role

Last year, I also reread drafts of other novels. It was interesting, as there were a few of them that I regretted abandoning, when another idea dragged me in a new direction. Some were written for NaNoWriMo; others were developed as sequels to earlier drafts. The aim was not just to see if my writing had improved, as I still don’t feel it has. But ultimately, I needed to decide which novel to focus on, given my age and health. Today, bedbound with a fractured leg, aching back, stomach pains, and multiple sclerosis & CLL, any time feels precious.

Hilda Donahue and Tuff Stuff climb Cougar Rock at Tevis. Photo by Gore/Baylor Photography
https://eventingnation.com/hilda-donahue-tackles-the-tevis-cup/

Although my decision is made – Fates Maelstrom – there were two close contenders. ‘Tortuous Terrain’, the US-based sequel to my only published novel, Spiral of Hooves, but, despite the plotline, the lack of sales and mixed reviews for Spiral of Hooves deterred me.

The other was my Alternative History, Eagle Crossing, which grew out of the question, “What would have happened if Leif Eriksson had settled Vinland permanently in 1000 AD?”, spawning a short story, then the draft novel and its related Viking Age history from 1000-2020. Maybe another short story is possible.

From longships to airships: The Norwegian Viking ship Draken Harald Hårfagre sailing outside Greenland – http://www.drakenexpeditionamerica.com/ (L) & https://aeroscraft.com/ (R).

Until then, North Wales and Ukraine will rule my writing.

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

Finally, don’t forget to visit other writers via the IWSG site for their invaluable insights on writing:

Insecure Writer’s Support Group

Let’s rock the neurotic writing world!

Our Twitter handle is @TheIWSG, and our hashtag is #IWSG.

#IWSG – Retrospect

January 7, 2026 by Roland Clarke

Although I knew January’s Insecure Writer’s Support Group post was moving closer, I needed to give this month’s question more thought. That meant reassessing my writing intentions.

Although I’ve stopped submitting my Snowdon Shadows police procedural, Fevered Fuse, to publishers, I haven’t abandoned it. Too much went into it, from my time and inspiration to my editor’s input over the years, and to the beta readers’ and other readers’ encouragement.

Although Substack was an option, I must increase my Substack followers before I post any of ‘Fevered Fuse’ there. Otherwise, I could release it in serial form to Sparkle Anwyl’s fans, but only after another novel featuring the quirky lesbian detective is finished. Another option is to submit the shorts covering Sparkle’s early cases, which are the origin of ‘Fevered Fuse’.

Three draft Snowdon Shadows novels exist: Fates Maelstrom, Seeking a Knife, and Ruined Retreat, offering years of work.

Naturally, my heart is still in Wales, although I remain 100% behind the brave people of Ukraine.

As for my Ukraine saga, Freedom Flights, our Ninja Captain was correct in saying, “I know you are passionate about Ukraine. Keep after that story. Don’t let people forget”. The people of Ukraine are why I keep writing. I’m still attempting to write enough episodes to cover two earlier months every current month. Except in December, I only covered events that took place between June 1^st and early July 2025. I will eventually post the second part of the July episode.

Slava Ukraini

Heroiam slava!

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?

For a few hours, I was unsure which unfinished opus needed to come out of the vault, after I ignored it in 2025. However, I spent New Year’s Day working on ‘Fates Maelstrom’ after my number one reader, Rebecca Douglass, gave the opening three chapters her seal of approval. One day of writing became four, as I was convinced this had to be completed… well, draft six became my 2026 priority, alongside Freedom Flights.

I started ‘Fates Maelstrom’ back in 2012 as a psychological mystery set on Dartmoor in Southwest England. However, when the plot was relocated to North Wales, I added a new character – Welsh detective, Sparkle Anwyl. This was planned as the first of the Snowdon Shadows series, until various Sparkle shorts evolved into ‘Fevered Fuse’. So, Fates Maelstrom v6 is set after the Fevered Fuse events and features some of the same characters, like Kama, which creates interesting backstory challenges. Also, the plotlines have developed since v5, and the POVs, which were 3^rd person, are now just Sparkle’s 1st-person POV.

The crucial issue is allocating writing time over 2026. My intention is to commit to writing per month, Freedom Flights for three weeks, and Fates Maelstrom for one week.

Please note that the Snowdon Shadows page on this site is not totally up to date… yet.

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

Finally, don’t forget to visit other writers via the IWSG site for their invaluable insights on writing:

Insecure Writer’s Support Group

Let’s rock the neurotic writing world!

Our Twitter handle is @TheIWSG, and our hashtag is #IWSG.

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