Daily Journal

In today’s Journal * Quotes of the Day * A Note on Pacing * Hmm. Writing in Public * Yesterday * Of Interest * The Numbers Quotes of the Day “I find ideas are the most ubiquitous things in human nature, besides the desire to procreate which starts as an idea anyway.” Michael Grant, POV character in the forthcoming Alibi: Lesson for Elsewhere by Robert J. Sadler “Ants are so much like human beings as to be an embarrassment. They farm fungi, raise aphids as livestock, launch armies into wars, use chemical sprays to alarm and confuse enemies, capture slaves. … Read more

In today’s Journal * Quote of the Day * Welcome * A New Story * Yesterday * A Rant: Faux Instructors * Passive Constructions * Of Interest * The Numbers Quote of the Day “You should go to your doctor and have your mouth sewn shut rather than hold forth to other writers on a topic you don’t know intimately.” Me, in a post about five years ago Welcome Welcome to Brien C and any other new subscribers or readers of the Journal. I hope you will find it useful. Get the Archives and other free downloads at the Journal … Read more

In today’s Journal * Quote of the Day * A Friend Is Writing in Public! * Recount, Promo, and a Cover * Of Interest * The Numbers Quote of the Day “I continue to be mystified by Chat GPT, because bullshitting vaguely plausible sounding answers based on no understanding of the question is something humans do exceedingly well, and will do free.” Falling Diphthong (username) in a reply on Askamanager.org Thanks to Gary for the tip. A Friend Is Writing in Public! Hey, if you’re a fan of those who have enough belief in themselves to write in public, you’re … Read more

In today’s Journal * Quotes of the Day * Finished the Novel * An Excellent Question * Time Travel for Writers * Of Interest * The Numbers Quotes of the Day “Only human beings, in an effort to soothe their collective insecurity, is haughty enough to put forth the assertion that they are ‘better than’ instead of ‘different from’.” Yer Uncle Harv “Being equal does not equate to being the same. And being unequal does not render either side less important.” Same source Finished the Novel Well, the novel wrapped yesterday at 3:20 p.m. Also, the real title of the … Read more

In today’s Journal * Quotes of the Day * I’ve Fallen Ahead * A Bittersweet Realization * Of Interest * The Numbers Quotes of the Day “Change is inevitable. Growth is optional.” John C. Maxwell “Dreaming is fine. But you have to put feet in your prayers.” Sylvia Ann Wilson Stanbrough, my paternal grandmother (1898 – 1966) I’ve Fallen Ahead and I’m only now beginning to understand what happened. So the following is in the interest of full disclosure. I started the Harvey Stanbrough Writing in Public (SWIP) substack in order to post “live” each day whatever I wrote that … Read more

In today’s Journal * Quotes of the Day * Welcome * Leave the Character in the Shower * Story Ideas from Pictures * Of Interest * The Numbers Quotes of the Day “Stephen King writes to feel ‘the exhilaration of leaving ordinary day-to-day life behind’.” from his newsletter announcing a new short story collection, You Like It Darker, coming May 21, 2024 You can order this in ebook, hardcover, unabridged CD or unabridged audio download at Simon & Schuster. Welcome Welcome to Jim M and any other new subscribers or readers of the Journal. I hope you will find it … Read more

In today’s Journal * Quotes of the Day * Welcome * On Personal Writing Challenges * When You Study Fiction, and on Critics * Bradbury Challenge Writers Reporting * The Numbers Quotes of the Day “Do the best you can until you know better. Then when you know better, do better.” Maya Angelou My corollary — Keep learning. Your best today must be better than your best yesterday. “The [Bradbury] challenge is the best practice for WITD for me. I can really give up attachment and let the characters and story go.” KC Riggs Welcome Welcome to Ann G. and … Read more

In today’s Journal * Quotes of the Day * Welcome * Happy Diwali * (Morbid?) Research * By Popular Request * The Numbers Quotes of the Day “A step backward, after making a wrong turn, is a step in the right direction.” Kurt Vonnegut “Proofread carefully to see if you any words out.” Dave Barry “The recast of an idea is how I do things when a manuscript isn’t working. I also switch from prose to screenplay and visa versa on ideas that don’t seem to work in one format and much of the time that helps a lot.” Matthew … Read more

In today’s Journal * Quote of the Day * A New Story * I Also Released * Of Interest? * Vin Zandri and I * More Thoughts on Scrapping a Manuscript * A Writing Frenzy * The Numbers Quotes of the Day “This will remain the land of the free so long as it is the home of the brave.” Elmer Davis Happy (Thoughtful) Veterans Day — or as Marines used to refer to it, Marine Corps Ball Recovery Day. A New Story “A Matter of Survival” published yesterday on my Stanbrough Writes substack. If you would like to subscribe, … Read more

In today’s Journal * Quote of the Day * Welcome * Great Start on the New Novel * A Great Question * A Recommendation for a WordPress Theme * The Numbers Quote of the Day “Publishing a volume of verse is like dropping a rose petal down the Grand Canyon and waiting for the echo.” Don Marquis Welcome Welcome to William P3 (grin) and any other new subscribers or readers of the Journal. I hope you will find it useful. Get the Archives and other free downloads at the Journal website. And I don’t do the ambush thing requiring an … Read more