Month: September 2017

The Journal, Saturday, 9/30

Hey Folks, Rolled out slightly after 3 this morning and went straight to email and then Facebook. As a result of one article in one of the several e-newsletters I receive each morning, I found a topic. My reading and then writing the topic below formed the start for the day. We have a trip planned to Sierra Vista a little later this morning. Between now and then, I hope to write a bit of fiction. Topic: Try And vs. Try To First, a disclaimer — When people are speaking in real life (or characters in dialogue in a fiction) … Read more

The Journal, Friday, 9/29

Hey Folks, Looks like I updated my website to include a page dedicated to bundles just in time. A new bundle started today. I only have a short story in this one but still. (grin) Well, I signed up this morning to support the restart of Pulphouse Fiction Magazine. There are some really cool “rewards” for pledging to the Kickstarter campaign. I won’t tell you which one I pledged, but I do encourage you to at least go take a look at the various offerings. You can find those at https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/403649867/pulphouse-fiction-magazine. *** On a day when I could as easily … Read more

The Journal, Thursday, 9/28

Hey Folks, Well, I can recommend about 2/3 of James Scott Bell’s book on “dazzling dialogue.” I picked up a couple of things from it. If you buy it, I strongly recommend you don’t read the section on punctuation. Sorry to have to say, but the guy has no idea what he’s talking about in that regard. None. Much of what he writes in the last segment of that book (from the bit on punctuation to the end) is actually harmful. The section rekindled within me the desire to update Punctuation for Writers and publish a new edition. I’ll be … Read more

The Journal, Wednesday, 9/27

Hey Folks, First, for any veterans out there, beginning on November 11, 2017, the online Exchange System (PX) is open to all veterans who served honorably regardless of length of service. Note that this is only the ONLINE exchange. Still, they lists tons of stuff, and it isn’t all high-ticket merchandise. Great discounts. To qualify, visit https://www.shopmyexchange.com/veterans. Again, you don’t have to have a current ID card, and you don’t have to have retired. *** Also too important to be shuffled down to the “Of Interest” section… Much as I (and other amateur photogs) like to think we can always … Read more

The Journal, Tuesday, 9/26

Hey Folks, Well, I expected this to be a nonwriting day, frankly. But the subconscious mind is an amazing thing. I knew I’d spend much of the day in Tucson today, so my characters woke me up early. I spent some time doing nothing, then moved to the novel at 4 a.m. Quick Update: I posted this at about 8 a.m. this morning. Been to Tucson, where we thought the doc would schedule me for surgery to replace my pacemaker. Found out I don’t expire (okay, my PM battery doesn’t expire) for about another year. So SCORE! (grin) This morning … Read more

The Journal, Monday, 9/25

Hey Folks, “Many would-be novelists never get around to writing a novel for the same reason nobody ever gets around to eating an elephant. “Wrong focus. To eat an elephant, you have to take one bite at a time. Focus on the bite. “It seems impossible to write a whole novel, but you can write a scene. So just write a scene. Then write another scene. Then write another one. Forget about writing a ‘novel.’ Lather, rinse, repeat.” I posted that to FB this morning, spurred by my 15 year old granddaughter’s complaint (via email) that her teacher had assigned … Read more

The Journal, Sunday, 9/24

Hey Folks, Rolled out on time this morning, spent some time waking up, then hammered out around 1500 words by about 7:30. Some time off for family stuff now, and back to the novel later in the day. Around 10, back to the novel. Another break around 11, then some baseball and back to the novel. Turned out to be a pretty good day, especially for a Sunday. Back tomorrow. Of Interest More comments on Dean’s Sacred Cows post at http://www.deanwesleysmith.com/killing-the-sacred-cows-of-publishing-beta-readers-help-you/#comments. To see the new stuff, scroll down to K. Vale Nagle. Via The Passive Voice, see “7 Free Online … Read more

The Journal, Saturday, 9/23

Hey Folks, Rolled out a little late this morning even though I went to bed on time. Catching up, I guess. I actually wrote a little on the novel (after breakfast the usual early morning wandering around the Internet), but my wife’s ready to head for SV soon, so it’s a shower and a shave and be back in a bit. Well, “a bit” turned into about five hours. Then Internet to square away a botched order, etc. Finally back to the novel at 1:40. Back tomorrow. Of Interest I recommend reading the comments on “Beta Readers” at http://www.deanwesleysmith.com/killing-the-sacred-cows-of-publishing-beta-readers-help-you/#comments/. And … Read more

The Journal, Friday, 9/22

Hey Folks, Rolled out on time this morning, then spent an enjoyable hour or so talking via email with my young granddaughter, Taylor. By the way, just in time for my topic today (see below) DWS is finally back to busting myths with another Killing the Sacred Cows chapter. It’s in “Of Interest” today. Topic: Lying to Readers It’s annoying when Dean Wesley Smith is SO right on everything he says. Well, on most things. He does occasionally say he’s going to make me angry when he’s busting some idiotic myth, but that has yet to happen. But on the … Read more

The Journal, Thursday, 9/21

Hey Folks, Up a little late this morning. I’ll work on the edit for awhile, then on the yard for awhile, then maybe go play with the novel. Edited ’til about 8:20, then mowed the front (north) yard and around the north and east sides outside the fence. Back to the edit a little after 9 while I’m cooling down from doing actual work. (grin) Also running a couple loads of laundry. Worked on the edit until 10, and now off to fold laundry and put another load in the dryer. While that was working, I mowed a little more, … Read more