In today’s Journal * Quote of the Day * Novel Wrapped * The Sale Continues * Of Interest * The Numbers Quote of the Day “You have to write the book that wants to be written. And if the book will be too difficult for grown-ups, then you write it for children.” Madeleine L’Engle Novel Wrapped Blackwell Ops 19: Soleada Garcia: Trying Times wrapped early yesterday afternoon with a little over 3600 words. This morning I’ll create the cover and the promo doc. I’ll start on Blackwell Ops 20 in the next day or two. As soon as I get … Read more

In today’s Journal * Quotes of the Day * Welcome * The Writing * Of Interest * The Numbers Quotes of the Day “Artificial light at night confuses insects’ internal navigation senses, with video revealing they attempt to face away from the source; study overturns long-held belief flying insects are attracted to lights.” from FIU News Okay, so you can officially ignore all those dead moths in the upturned light fixture on your floor lamp. Apparently, they either backed into the light or aren’t actually there. 🙂 “Life is not a spectator sport. If you’re going to spend your whole … Read more

In today’s Journal * Reading Order Matters * Two More Notes on WITD * Of Interest * The Numbers Reading Order Matters I believe the Solana “Soleada” Garcia subseries of Blackwell Ops might be the best subseries of novels I’ve ever written. Even better than the Wes Crowley saga, and in my opinion, that’s going some. The subseries is so good, in fact, that I’m thinking of publishing an omnibus collection of those novels after the entire thing is finished. Most of my series read chronologically from Book 1 through to whenever the series ends. The two exceptions are the … Read more

In today’s Journal * Quote of the Day * Thought of the Day * Writing Into the Dark, Part 2 * Of Interest * The Numbers Quote of the Day “It’s that old thing again. The ‘kill you darlings’ crowd constantly spout, ‘Remember, a writer is the worst judge of his own work.’ But only if you think it’s good. If you think it sucks, suddenly they forget that wisdom.” Me, in a response to a comment on the stupid advice to “kill your darlings” Thought of the Day Bob B. mentioned a word that Mark Twain used to describe … Read more

In today’s Journal * Quotes of the Day * Flash Sale Reminder * The Bradbury Challenge Writers Reporting * What Is Writing Into the Dark? * Of Interest * The Numbers Quotes of the Day “The writing might be fine, good depth fine pacing and so on. But something about the story has no emotion, no reason for the reader to care. Clearly the topic is important to the writer, but the writer forgot about the reader. … if you are passionate about the story, your character is passionate, then chances are the reader will stick with you if you … Read more

In today’s Journal * Quotes of the Day * Critical Mind * A Reminder * Of Interest * The Numbers Quotes of the Day “It’s no use going back to yesterday, because I was a different person then.” Lewis Carroll “It occur-ed to me that this CV [critical voice] is really a failure to have compassion on yourself, to cut yourself a little slack and give yourself a little grace.” GK in an email from last night “Have no fear of perfection—you’ll never reach it.” Salvador Dalí Critical Mind A few days ago I mentioned in a post that I … Read more

In today’s Journal * Quotes of the Day * A New Story * Another Great Comment * Of Interest * The Numbers Quotes of the Day “First sentences are doors to worlds.” Ursula Le Guin “I would like to invite in a new New Year practice for my writing, and for yours: Let’s make the month of January our time to actively reflect on our writing goals and intentions.” Julie Christine Johnson in “Writing with Inentionality” Or, I dunno, how about you just write? “Amateurs sit and wait for inspiration, the rest of us just get up and go to … Read more

In today’s Journal * A Great Point * The Two Types of Fiction Writers * Of Interest * The Numbers A Great Point In a comment on yesterday’s post, Bob B wrote, quoting me, “Don’t make stuff up.” Then he wrote, “So, when into-the-dark writers say they sit in a room and make stuff up, what they really mean is they sit in a room and write down what their characters do? More writers, including DWS, should be more clear and say that, in my humble opinion.” I thought that was a great point. Here’s my response, much expanded for … Read more

In today’s Journal * Quotes of the Day * Welcome * When the Story Slows Down * I Talk to My Characters * Of Interest * The Numbers Quotes of the Day “Any real commitment to doing things different, whether adding new behaviors and subtracting old habits, requires a transformation of inner vision.” Matt Perryman in Meaningful Particularshttps://mattpmn.substack.com/ “Have no fear of perfection—you’ll never reach it.” Salvador Dalí Welcome Welcome to Max C and any other new readers or subscribers 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 * Critical Mind Emails * Update on Blackwell Ops * Of Interest * The Numbers Quote of the Day “Have no fear of perfection—you’ll never reach it.” Salvador Dalí Critical Mind Emails First, read that quote of the day again. And again. Sear it into your brain pan. Now take a deep, calming breath and read this: From time to time, I receive emails asking questions about critical mind. The underlying question is ALWAYS how to stop it, or break it, or break away from it, or run it off. Also, in … Read more