Month: April 2019

The Daily Journal, Wednesday, April 10

In today’s Journal ▪ It’s so good ▪ I’ve been thinking (oh-oh) ▪ Writing flash fiction ▪ Pro Writers Writing ▪ Topic: How I Learn to Write ▪ Daily diary ▪ Of Interest (a LOT of links) ▪ The numbers Was my break really only four days long? When the floodgates opened again, it seemed as if it had been four weeks. It feels very good to be writing again. *** I’ve been thinking a lot lately about my 10-novel western series, The Wes Crowley Saga. I wrote it out of order. I wrote what ended up being books 4, … Read more

The Daily Journal, Tuesday, April 9

In today’s Journal ▪ Today I’ll start ▪ Topic: The New World of Publishing ▪ Daily diary ▪ Of Interest (a LOT of links) ▪ The numbers Today I’ll start that new novel. I’ve had four days away from fiction writing, and frankly, I’m jonesing for it. Or as my wife put it, “Honey, you’re getting grouchy.” (grin) I thought I’d start writing again yesterday, but I wasn’t ready. Instead I spent a lot of quiet time with Jim Glaser and thought about the recent visit with my old friend and did some other things to slowly move myself back … Read more

The Daily Journal, Monday, April 8

In today’s Journal ▪ Today I’ll start ▪ Tutoring slot open ▪ Topic: Who a Story Is About ▪ Daily diary ▪ Of Interest ▪ The numbers Today, sometime or other, I’ll start a new novel. Maybe. The visit with my old friend went really well, interrupted somewhat by the sobering news about Jim Glaser’s passing. This morning, I watched/listened to a few of Jim’s performances as a way to spend some time with him. It was enjoyable. *** I heard from another possible tutoring student that s/he decided to pass at the moment (until s/he decides what specifically s/he … Read more

The Daily Journal, Sunday, April 7

In today’s Journal ▪ I regret to report ▪ Day 3 of my days off ▪ Topic: Who a Story Is About ▪ Daily diary ▪ Of Interest ▪ The numbers I regret to report a massive sadness. This morning, my wife told me she saw on Facebook that my dear friend and mentor Jim Glaser passed away last night. Jim and I occasionally talked about both music and writing. I will miss his insights, and him, a great deal. For those of you who knew his music or the harmonies of Tompall and the Glaser Brothers (Tompall, Chuck and … Read more

The Daily Journal, Saturday, April 6

In today’s Journal ▪ Day 2 of my days off ▪ Topic: What Writing Into the Dark Really Is ▪ Daily diary ▪ Of Interest ▪ The numbers It’s Day 2 of my days off. Had a great 3-hour visit last night and will do touristy things today. In the meantime, don’t skip today’s topic: *** Topic: What Writing Into the Dark Really Is Especially if you think you already know what WITD is, please don’t skip this topic. If you do know, you will have lost only a few minutes. If you don’t, this might open up a whole … Read more

The Daily Journal, Friday, April 5

In today’s Journal ▪ Day One of my days off ▪ Topic: Writing Action Scenes ▪ Daily diary ▪ Of Interest ▪ The numbers Well, today will be Day One of my days off. I’ll still visit with you each morning, but I plan not to begin a new fiction project until the visit with my friend is over. My first four years in the USMC were akin to many other people’s college time. It was a time during which I mostly grew up, had parties, learned a ton of new stuff, and made lifelong friends. The guy who’s coming … Read more

The Daily Journal, Thursday, April 4

In today’s Journal ▪ A little trivia ▪ Topic: Writing Action Scenes ▪ Daily diary ▪ Of Interest ▪ The numbers According to a promo email I received yesterday, Motorolo made the first cellular phone call 46 years ago yesterday. Feelin’ old yet? (grin) *** Topic: Writing Action Scenes I’ve wanted to write a post on this for awhile now, and it’s finally time. This post results directly from a high-action scene, a fight scene, I wrote yesterday. It was probably the best high-action scene I’ve ever written. It isn’t so much a “how-to” as a “how-I-do-it” essay. All of … Read more

The Daily Journal, Wednesday, April 3

In today’s Journal ▪ Dean’s “Great Challenge” ▪ My tutoring is still open ▪ Topic: Priorities ▪ Daily diary ▪ Of Interest (a lot of good links) ▪ The numbers Dean’s “Great Challenge” is still open for sign-ups. Frankly, I’m surprised. On the surface, the cost appears a little steep, but it’s basically free tutoring from Dean Wesley Smith. You can use your $600 for credit toward anything you want, and if you make at least 52 short stories in a row (one per week for a year) you get a lifetime subscription of your choice. If I was still … Read more

The Daily Journal, Tuesday, April 2

In today’s Journal ▪ Inexpensive classes available ▪ Daily diary ▪ Of Interest ▪ The numbers There are some inexpensive online classes available in police procedure and other topics (offered by RWA but not all about Romance). If you decide to take any of these classes, offered in Lee Loffland’s post from yesterday, please let the rest of us know what you think of them. For info see https://rwakissofdeath.org/coffin. For a list of upcoming RWA Kiss of Death classes see https://rwakissofdeath.org/coffin-classes. *** Wow. Rolled out late this morning. I couldn’t see the clock and thought it was around 2 or … Read more

The Daily Journal, Monday, April 1

In today’s Journal ▪ It’s April 1 ▪ An opportunity to reset goals ▪ Some valuable lessons on structure ▪ Daily diary ▪ Of Interest ▪ The numbers It’s April 1. Let me just say up front, nothing in this edition of the Journal is an April Fool’s joke. (grin) I’ll be getting back to my WIP today. Also today, Blackwell Ops 3: Marie Arceneaux releases to the public. It’s available at https://books2read.com/u/3LGY00. I’m also in a new bundle, ECLECTICA, from BundleRabbit. Nineteen short stories and short story collections, featuring my own collection S, F, & H. For details, visit … Read more