Wednesday, December 3, 2025

Insecure Writer’s Support Group, Low Water Release, December Movie Preview


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. I 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 December 3 posting of the IWSG are Tara Tyler, Ronel Janse van Vuuren, Pat Garcia, Liza, and Natalie Aguirre!

December 3 question - As a writer, what was one of the coolest/best gifts you ever received?

I really can’t think of any writing-related gifts. However, many, many years ago my wife got me an iPod. It only held three hundred songs or so, but just the ability to hold that many was awesome. It led to me finally getting an iPhone and holding even more music. And I picked that gift because music is such an important part of my inspiration and I listen to it when writing.

We have reopened the option for In-Person IWSG Writing Groups! Check it out here. Toi Thomas’ group is the first to join!

New Release!


Low Water by Jennifer Lane


Two lives marked by trauma. One chance to rediscover hope.
In the sun-drenched Lowcountry of South Carolina, a swim coach haunted by tragedy and a psychologist devoted to healing cross paths just as their lives unravel.
He once believed Olympic-sized dreams and awful dad jokes could get him through anything, but waves of grief threaten to pull him under. She has built a career navigating others through pain, yet she struggles to confront her own.
When their worlds collide, Cognitive Processing Therapy for PTSD forces the question: is it possible to dive into the past without drowning? Neither expects the other to become a lifeline. But with connection and courage, they search for a way forward—one stroke at a time.
Striving, tender, and surprisingly funny, this is a story about resilience and learning that the best way out of the deep end is together.


Find it on Amazon or check out the Universal Book Link

December Movie Preview

Here are the theatrical releases for December. Descriptions courtesy of the IMDB. Snark provided by me.


12 –


Lone Samurai
Director: Josh C. Waller
Stars: Shogen, Yayan Ruhian, Rama Ramadhan
A shipwrecked 13th century samurai considers ritual suicide until captured by cannibals on a seemingly deserted island. His will to live awakens.
I knew a cannibal who ate a clown. He thought it tasted funny.


19 –


Avatar: Fire and Ash
Director: James Cameron
Stars: Sam Worthington, Zoe Saldana, Kate Winslet, Stephen Lang, Sigorney Weaver
Jake and Neytiri's family grapples with grief after Neteyam's death, encountering a new, aggressive Na'vi tribe, the Ash People, who are led by the fiery Varang, as the conflict on Pandora escalates and a new moral focus emerges.
We’ve had earth, water, and fire – so is the last Avatar the Last Airbender?


25 –


Anaconda
Director: Tom Gormica
Stars: Jack Black, Paul Rudd, Hans Bauer
A group of friends are going through a mid-life crisis. They decide to remake a favorite movie from their youth but encounter unexpected events when they enter the jungle.
No Ice Cube? No Jon Voight’s terrible accent? No J-Lo’s butt? Pass!


Merry Christmas everyone! Christ is the reason for the season. I will be mostly offline the rest of the month as there are so many events and gatherings to attend. May you all be blessed and I will see you in January for the next IWSG post.

40 comments:

  1. Merry Christmas!
    Music is a great gift -- I have so many story playlists, because music is so inspiring <3

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  2. Hi Alex - yes have a blessed Christmas season. Music and others' writings, art inspire. Low Water looks interesting - cheers to you and yours - Hilary

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  3. Music is a gift that keeps giving all year long.I have two playlists and never tire of hearing them. Love the clown joke. And yes...Jesus IS the reason for this season.

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  4. I'm kind of looking forward to Anaconda. The first one took itself far too seriously. Congratulations to Jennifer Lane! The only thing I miss my iPhone for is the music situation. Trying to figure that out, because I'm not enjoying my current option and I need music.

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  5. Gooood Morning, Alex! I LOVE that your wife got you an iPod - Tim did that for me. I still have the old one. I agree, it was cool that it could hold music and that is a nice gift.

    Best writing gift ... Tim bought me a laptop for writing and that we still have as well.

    Regarding the monster on my post. Gambler is a good name as he does gamble in a way. His real name is Oogie Boogie from the movie, The Nightmare Before Christmas.

    Happy December to you and Mrs. Alex!

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  6. Let's face it, iPods were a miracle when they first came out. :) I probably had a 100 songs on mine.

    Merry Christmas! May God continue to bless you in the best of ways.

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  7. iPods were amazing! I guess a Kindle would be my best writing-related gift (since reading is so important to writing).

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  8. The iPod was a great gift because music is so much a part of your life. Congrats to Jennifer on her new release! And Happy Holidays, Alex!

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  9. I thought you might pick Mini Alex as a gift. I remember seeing him on his various adventures in far flung locations. Music is essential. Although I can't listen while actually writing, I love making playlists for each book to share and to use during revisions.

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  10. Music has definitely carried me through many, many a scene as well. In fact, I've been singing Christmas carols in my head NONSTOP for the last couple weeks (thank you, choir) and it's been fabulous! Such a great mood-lifter.

    Yay for Jennifer Lane!

    Enjoy your time away, and merry Christmas!

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  11. I loved my iPod too! I'm still reveling in old-school music devices by listening to a waterproof MP3 player when I swim laps. ;-) I loved the first Avatar but feel less excited by sequels. Thank you for featuring Low Water today, Alex! I used that "tastes funny" dad joke for eating a clownfish in the book, ha ha.

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  12. Leigh, amen!

    Shannon, sorry about that.

    Ivy, been a long time since I saw that movie so didn't remember the character.

    Teresa, same to you!

    Nick, I didn't even think about Mini-Alex!

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  13. Hi Alex - Merry Christmas to you too! That sounds like a great gift - I don't listen to music when I write, but I do when I cook and so does my fella. He has great playlists and when we put the wooden spoon down we dance around a bit most nights.

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  14. Thats a lovely gift!
    God I've been uneer rocks, ig. I didn’t realize Avatar was coming out this month.
    Happy xmas!

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  15. I am usually a quiet writer but you have reminded me that when I do listen to music it often inspires me.

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  16. Ha ha ha on both your Lone Samurai and Anaconda comments! Too funny! :)

    Wishing you a very Merry Christmas, Alex, and a wonderful new year!

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  17. Happy Wednesday! I hope you had a wonderful Thanksgiving and now comes the countdown until Christmas. Remember to slow down to experience the joy of the holidays. I will def see the new Avatar.

    I don't consider myself a writer but, I have received the gift of friendship from other writers (you and Pat H).

    Peace, light and music....

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  18. Merry Christmas, Captain! This post was especially funny - thanks for the giggles. "Low Water" sounds really good! I imagine I'll see at least one - if not all - of the films you highlighted.

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  19. Avatar sounds interesting. Have a very Merry Christmas!

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  20. Merry Christmas, Alex! Enjoy your time off! I love your wife's gift. I don't listen to music that much when I'm writing, but it does help when I get stuck. I need to turn to it more often. Congrats to Jennifer on her new book!

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  21. I remember my first iPad, which was exciting.

    Can't wait for the next Avatar.

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  22. Merry Christmas, Alex! I hope you have a blessed season.

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  23. Merry Christmas! Yes, Jesus is reason for the season. Music is my inspiration too. Have a blessed crossover into 2026.
    Shalom shalom

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  24. You prompted my recall of one of my husband's favorite Christmas gifts from me - an iPod. It made his gym workouts more pleasant for years, until it wore out. Merry Christmas - enjoy every moment, as the gift that it is!

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  25. Merry Christmas! None of those movies inspire me to watch me. :/

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  26. Another December has arrived! Here's to a beautiful Christmas and many more IWSG successes. Hats off to Toi for restarting the Writing Groups.

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  27. Music is always a wonderful gift. And so are digital gadgets. Together - perfect.

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  28. Music is so important for my mood and reflections for a day. It sounds like that ipod started you down a great musical road. Happy Holidays!

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  29. I never had an iPod, but I still have a cheap knock-off MP3 player onto which I used to put all the library audio books. I seldom listen to music when writing, as I'm too easily distracted, and apparently my brain is *either* listening to music *or* writing.

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  30. Happy IWSG Day! Thanks for sharing about the in-person meeting and the Low Water release. I always enjoy your snarky movie tags. I don't think I'll be seeing any of the movies unless they are streaming while I'm sick in bed, but I'm sure they will find their audiences. Merry Christmas!

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  31. Hi, Alex! What a perfect gift for you! Over the years I've learned how important music is to you, and thanks to you, I've learned about some interesting musicians and groups I didn't know. Thank You! There is no way I'm going to watch a movie with the title "Anaconda!" 😂

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  32. Music is important indeed. Nice to be able to stick hundreds on things now. Hard pass on those movies.

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  33. It's amazing how much digital devices can store now. A couple years ago a friend gave me a USB drive onto which he downloaded a number of music files. I haven't counted, but their must be over 3000 songs on it. One file I noticed has 583 songs on it and there must be 30 or more files on the drive. It's been plugged into my van system since I got it so I think of my friend every day. Good thing because he died the month after he gave me that drive.

    Lee

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  34. Merry Christmas! I think the only writing related gifts I've gotten are journals.

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  35. I enjoy writing and listening to the music of Andrea Bocelli, the world-famous blind tenor and André Rieu, the famous Dutch violinist and conductor of the Johann Strauss Orchestra.

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  36. Thank you for another year of IWSG! An iPod... now where did I put mine - oh, I know, it's on the little portable loudspeaker and sitting on my bookshelf. When did I last play it... maybe when I first moved in here 5 years ago. There are things on there I hadn't heard since I last played it :) Happy Christmas and New Year - and count me in to co-host whenever you need me.
    Jemima @ jemimapett.com

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  37. Movies just no longer seem to appeal to me. I guess I got old? None of those interest me at all. Sigh. Have a great time off. I hope you enjoy your holidays.

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  38. I remember my first IPod. I had a gray classic. I was amazed at the time.

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