Daily Journal

In today’s Journal * Quotes of the Day * The Bradbury Challenge Writers Reporting * Correction * 2023 in Review * Of Interest * The Numbers Quotes of the Day “Words are, of course, the most powerful drug used by mankind.” Rudyard Kipling “All my important decisions are made for me by my subconscious. My frontal lobes are just kidding themselves that they decide anything at all. All they do is think up reasons for the decisions that are already made.” Rex Stout, in Life magazine (Dec. 10, 1965) “New Year’s Day. Now is the accepted time to make your … Read more

In today’s Journal * Adios, 2023 * They’re Doing It Again * Audio Lectures Adios * Reminder * Of Interest * The Numbers Adios, 2023 I have most of my “year in review” post written. I had planned to post that today. But my year, like yours, won’t end until well after this edition of the Journal is published. And I write fiction AFTER I publish the Journal each day. Duh. So if I published my year in review today, it would be my year-minus-one-day in review. An’ ‘at just ain’t right. So you’ll see the year in review post … Read more

In today’s Journal * Quote of the Day * This Morning * I Love This Age of Publishing * Genres and Sub-Genrea Redux * A New Story * The Writing * Of Interest * The Numbers Quote of the Day “I agree. Its THAT you write that is important, not what. I’m currently writing a very personal project, a family history (it will be a series given the amount of info I have on both sides), which I put off for a long time since I worried it would interfere with my ‘real’ projects. … Now that I’m knee deep … Read more

In today’s Journal * POV and POV Indicators * The Writing * Of Interest * The Numbers POV and POV Indicators I had a very interesting email discussion with my first reader yesterday, whose input is always invaluable, about POV indicators. Russ made some very good catches as he read the novel. This is why I recommend strongly either finding a good first reader or reading your work aloud before you publish it. A good first reader is one who only reads and notes what pops out at him or her, not one who tries to tell you how s/he … Read more

In today’s Journal * Quote of the Day * The Writing * Of Interest * The Numbers Quote of the Day “Give a man a fire and he’s warm for a day, but set fire to him and he’s warm for the rest of his life.” Terry Pratchett The Writing The novel wrapped with another 3700 words. It also proved to be a Blackwell Ops novel instead of the genesis story for a new series. You can see the cover and the description at StoneThread Publishing. Most of my Blackwell Ops novels seem to wrap at around 35000 words. This … Read more

In today’s Journal * Quotes of the Day * A Rare Advertisement * The Writing * Of Interest * The Numbers Quotes of the Day “You write something and it can cause you to take pause. Or at the very least, you need to catch your breath and get some air because it’s then you realize you are not in control of your art. Something very spooky and invisible is. You’re just the conduit.” Vin Zandri “There’s no such thing as writer’s block. That was invented by people in California who couldn’t write.” Terry Pratchett Ridiculous, inane, stupid statement of … Read more

In today’s Journal * Quotes of the Day * Welcome * Remain Vigilant * Fan Fiction Writer or Reader? * The Writing * Of Interest * The Numbers Quotes of the Day “Stephen King writes on Christmas because why not? If we eat and sleep and brush our teeth how is this different?” George Kordonis (So good I decided to repeat it.) “As usual, personal conversations from those at the tables filled the air. The din was so thick you could almost walk across it. But you would have to take care not to stumble over a chuckle or be … Read more

In today’s Journal * Quote of the Day * Merry Christmas * Welcome * Bradbury Challenge Writers Reporting * Fan Fiction Writer? * The Writing * Of Interest * The Numbers Quote of the Day “Stephen King writes on Christmas because why not? If we eat and sleep and brush our teeth how is this different?” George Kordonis Merry Christmas Good morning, everyone. I’m up a little early this morning so I can write fiction before the day’s festivities begin. Wishing you all a very merry Christmas day. Welcome Welcome to WS, Edward and any other new readers or subscribers … Read more

In today’s Journal * Correction * Reminder * Goals for the New Year * The Writing * Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays * Of Interest * The Numbers Correction Typos happen. But not with names. Ugh. For some reason, I see Dr. Mardy Grothe‘s name in my head with an extra E shoved in between the O and the T. And that’s how I wrote it (several times) in yesterday’s Journal. That despite the fact I own several of his books and have followed his weekly quotes for several years. Sigh. Sorry, Mardy. You are hereby authorized to spell my … Read more

In today’s Journal * Quotes of the Day * Dr. Mardy Groethe * Welcome * Don’t Be Bullied * A New Story * The Writing * Of Interest * The Numbers Quotes of the Day “No sense in dwelling on missed targets. We press on.” Frank Theodat on missing a daily goal “The importance of a great opening goes beyond its ability to keep the reader just turning the pages. A great opening is a book’s soul in miniature.” P.J. Parrish as reported by Dr. Mardy Groethe Dr. Mardy Groethe in addition to many other things, is among the world’s … Read more