Publishing Changes IWSG, Graduation Segregation, and Bans

https://www.insecurewriterssupportgroup.com/p/iwsg-sign-up.html
My apologies to IWSG Substack bloggers.https://uniquelymaladjustedbutfun.blogspot.com/2026/07/iwsg.html(Posted prior to the rule rewrite.)



I wish it was easier to get representation for diverse books. 

And there's no writers guild for indie authors who are putting in the TIME but haven't hit the requirements in sales.

 https://authorsguild.org/membership/faq/
Okay, maybe there is. I just want to be able to have health insurance come January. AFFORDABLE health insurance. With affordable prescriptions. 

😔

It's exhausting fighting to live. Sorry. 

Here's a writing punctuation meme instead:

Here's why indie can be equal to Big 5:

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In June, my Facebook feed filled with posts of graduation 👨‍🎓 ceremonies. Several posts were by friends of mine who don't know each other, but had a family member (child, nephew, cousin, etc) who graduated from the same high school as I did.

The graduation robes this year were a combination of the school colors, blue and white. 

The new blue& white robes!

My senior year, back in the late '90s, there was a BIG DEAL. First, in homeroom, we were all given a survey asking if we wanted a blue or white robe for graduation. I didn't know there was a choice. White gets dirty so easily, and I'm ridiculously pale (though I had been trying to get a tan, because it was the '90s and people still did stupid crap like lay in the sun for hours with SPF 4 tanning oil on), so I picked blue.

Weeks later, I was issued a white robe. 

🤔

The boys got blue, the girls got white. Period.

Me at graduation--
in all white

One girl (who, frankly, I'm shocked isn't a major politician today) refused the segregation and graduated wearing fluorescent green. 

We were friends. Not close, but friendly enough, so I'm kind of surprised I didn't know about the protest in advance.

As I scrolled on Facebook in June 2026, I saw young people who graduated from high my high school. The robe featured both colors. No segregation. And it seems that the solution didn't harm anyone. Didn't change the celebration of commencement. 

Why the hell did it take so long to sew two different colors of fabric together? 

See what happens when logic rules instead of hate? 

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There are currently three bills in the US Congress calling for book bans. (Including medical textbooks in college libraries. Should a doctor learn anatomy?)

And three bills that counter those with the statement that literacy matters and school libraries should be funded. 

Not politically aiming for any message here. Just discussing with fellow writers that books are in danger. Classic books, non-fiction textbooks, new books, maybe your own books. If you decide you have feelings about the topic of books, and have Congressional Representatives, you may desire to research this yourself and contact them. 

I know my WIP would be banned. I'm insecure about bothering to pitch it to agents right now because all three of the proposed bans would aim at my book. It has diverse characters, and a teen girl gets pregnant by her teen boyfriend. So MY BOOK would absolutely be banned. How do I put that in a query letter? "Here's a YA that'll be nearly impossible to sell because it's guaranteed to be banned." 

I'm mentioning this not for political reasons, but as an author who is absolutely targeted by these bills. And the other WIPs? They all meet that criteria. Heck, I have a chunk of a YA story on this blog (April 2021) that would be banned. So I feel I have a duty to mention that there are 6 bills (3 for bans, 3 opposed) in the US Congress debate right now. Care or don't, that's up to you. But the bills aren't headline news, and writers ought to know, even if you don't do anything with the information. 

PA Medicaid

https://www.facebook.com/share/1UYhrBYMVT/

Hoping not to lose my insurance.

Throwback 90s Memory Box

I was cleaning the closet. In a memory box storage bin were a few treasures I'll share here. 

Poetry Hall of Fame

Best Poems of 1996 win

Who's Who American High School Student 

My final report card from high school 

Caricature of me

The day I reached my goal of 600 hours volunteering at the hospital 🏥 

My college essay 

Camera Roll and Saved Images RANDOMNESS

Sleepy Cat winery cheese platter.
CAT BUTT and 2 grapes 🍇 left
😹

Words to replace WTF

Interesting Food Facts
Not as fun as that episode of "Adam Ruins Everything" but similar points

Wordle birthday week

I won the Wordle badge

I don't think convinced felons belong in office, especially those convicted of fraud or sexual crimes. Wait... sex crimes aren't felonies? Well, maybe THAT needs fixing too.

There exist people with expertise in these areas. They weren't consulted. They were fired. When people with no damn clue are put in charge, it doesn't matter how much money is spent, it turns to shit! This is why we do environmental surveys and stuff first. Test things. This is why smart people get paid. But hey, the goal was to funnel money, not fix anything. SWAMP.

 

Leftward Progressive

https://www.pewresearch.org/politics/quiz/political-typology/

I found this Pew Research survey. They broke down the current political climate of the US into not two or three groups, but nine political typology groups.

I scored as a Leftward Progressive. The description feels accurate for me. I do want government to be something that serves all people, and is especially devoted to helping those who need extra support (impoverished, disabled, cast-outs from the hatred of others). Not sure that I view myself as "younger," as my health puts me decades older than my planetary time, but whatever. 

Not sure why the flag drawing has only 22 stars. 🇺🇸 I support statehood (and, more importantly, REPRESENTATION, for everywhere the US taxes, like Puerto Rico and Washington DC), so that'd be MORE stars, not less. 🤔

Anyone else take this? 

The Force be with my Coffee

 What I'm drinking:

Star Wars Mandalorian and Grogu coffee. (The drawing looks more like Yoda to me. Baby Yoda has bigger eyes. 🥹 And is more adorable, imho.)

This special edition coffee from Bones is good. It's very much like one of my favorites:

Coconut Caramel Crunch Flavor is more affordable (free shipping on Amazon Prime, no shipping at the grocery store). 

But

It's special edition so I tried it. No regrets.

But will I buy another box? No.

I prefer the Kauai. 

(Yes, I know the arguments that coffee from Hawaii can be problematic because the state is running out of fresh water because corporations suck and environmental regulations are as gone as the East Wing of the White House.) 

Book Bans or Protections

 

Please SUPPORT 

The Books Save Lives Act (HR 8235)

The Right to Read Act (HR 6440)

The Fight Book Bans Act (HR 7691) 

Diverse books are important and should be in school libraries. 

Federal Funding must be given to increase LITERACY, as it is the building block of all civilized cultures. Libraries should be extremely well funded! 

OPPOSE HR 7661 until the language of the bill is more clearly defined. While children shouldn't be sexualized, the wording excludes everything, including biology and health textbooks. It is a hate weapon against some children rather than a shield of protection against pedophiles. 

HR 8705 and HR 2616 are equally problematic as they target elimination of all books where race and gender are mentioned, thus banning most history books and causing prejudice rather than promoting equality and harmony. 

Books are too important. And getting real reading material into the hands of children has never mattered more than it does in this digital age. We must do better!