the writing life

The Journal: Ten Tips for Healthy Writing

In today’s Journal * Quotes of the Day * Topic: Ten Tips for Healthy Writing * Of Interest Quotes of the Day “In theory, there is no difference between theory and practice. But in practice, there is.” Benjamin Brewster Wow, does THAT ever pertain to writing! “‘To write’ is an active verb. Thinking is not writing. Writing is putting words on paper.” Roberta Jean Bryant’s first law of Writing from her book Anybody Can Write In writing, “practice” also is putting words on paper. Topic: Ten Tips for Healthy Writing In the first item in “Of Interest” today, Debbie Burke … Read more

The Journal: Writers Are the Worst

In today’s Journal * Topic: Writers Are the Worst * Of Interest Topic: Writers Are the Worst Well, the worst judges of their own work. (grin) We’ve all heard that a zillion times, and most of us have said it at one time or another, usually to another writer. It’s one of those truisms we bat around to show our contemporaries how smart we are. I’ve written on this topic recently, but it reared its head again yesterday in an email from a writer, Matt, who often inadvertently provides me with topics for this Journal with his emails. (Thanks, Matt.) … Read more

The Journal: Guest Posting?

In today’s Journal * Quote of the Day * I meant to make this brief * Atticus looks good * Topic: Want to Guest Post? * Of Interest Quote of the Day “If there are only one or two things you can add to your plate this year, make designing and maintaining an online ebook store one of them.” Kristine Kathryn Rusch I meant to make this a brief post again today, mostly because the stuff in the next couple of paragraphs seemed too important to wait for a day when I had more to say. But then I got … Read more

The Journal: Believe in Yourself, Part 2

In today’s Journal * Quote of the Day * I almost went back * Topic: Believe in Yourself, Part 2 * Of Interest Quote of the Day “The devaluation of music and what it’s now deemed to be worth is laughable to me. My single costs 99 cents. That’s what a [single] cost in 1960. On my phone, I can get an app for 99 cents that makes fart noises — the same price as the thing I create and speak to the world with. Some would say the fart app is more important. It’s an awkward time. Creative brains … Read more

The Journal: Believe in Yourself

In today’s Journal * Quotes of the Day * Topic: Believe in Yourself * Of Interest Quotes of the Day [I]f you are really writing from your creative voice, it just ain’t possible to control it or steer it.” Dean Wesley Smith “[S]ince I never go into the writing with any idea what I am doing, I have been surprised every day what has appeared. And not questioning anything, just going for the ride and having fun.” Dean Wesley Smith “A year from now you will wish you had started today.” Karen Lamb Topic: Believe in Yourself In “Of Interest” … Read more

The Journal: General Tidbits

In today’s Journal * Quote of the Day * The quote of the day… * This is the year you’ll finish your book * I was glancing over * If I May * Of Interest Quote of the Day “Publishers can’t publish without writers.” Dan Baldwin in “Son of Why Is This A Good Idea?” (see “Of Interest”) The quote of the day is a massive UmYup, a solid statement of fact, and one that is empowering for writers. From early school, we are taught that our creative subconscious (and ourselves and whatever we’ve learned) are inadequate to tell a … Read more

The Journal: Truly Stupid Advice and “Deep POV”

In today’s Journal * Quotes of the Day * Altered Brain Chemistry * Truly Stupid Advice * Topic: Deep POV * Of Interest Quotes of the Day “[J]ournalists need to be overt and candid advocates for social justice, and it’s hard to do that under the constraints of objectivity.” Stanford journalism professor Ted Glasser (As a writer, I personally see censorship as a bad thing. Your opinion might vary.) Altered Brain Chemistry From a dear friend whom I believe would not mind me sharing: “By now, you’re probably aware that the one change in your life—giving up nicotine in all … Read more

The Journal: Characterization: Just Don’t

In today’s Journal * Quote of the Day * Some Quick Math * Topic: Characterization: Just Don’t * Of Interest * The Numbers Quote of the Day “It’s not a race. This writing business is one event where everybody who crosses the finish line wins. And then we get to start all over again. You just can’t beat that.” Dan Baldwin Wow. I did some quick math yesterday just out of curiosity. Remember I offered to send you the rough Journal archives in PDF documents from 2014 through 2021? I went back and added those up. Granted, they’re the rough … Read more

The Journal: To Achieve Success

In today’s Journal * Quote of the Day * To Achieve Success * A Minor Change to the Journal * Of Interest * The Numbers Quote of the Day “If I were to tell you today that your project is a waste of time, would you abandon it? If so, perhaps it’s best that you did. … [T]o achieve results that spell success … requires enjoyment of the writing process in and of itself—to see that as the reward.” Jane Friedman To Achieve Success Jane’s take (see “Of Interest”) is spot on: To Achieve Success Requires Enjoyment of the Writing … Read more

A Slightly Belated Happy New Year

In today’s Journal * Quote of the Day * Happy New Year * If any of you enjoy history * I Hoped to Post Links * My Only Real Escape * Of Interest * The Numbers Quote of the Day “My subconscious mind always knows how to get from A to Z.” Novelist Robert J. Sadler Happy New Year More than one person has reminded me that even though I posted a Journal entry on New Year’s Day, I failed to say happy new year. I’d like to say I thought maybe that was implied, but maybe that isn’t true. … Read more