Month: September 2019

The Journal, Monday, September 30

In today’s Journal * Today, I hope * Unfortunately * Of Interest * The Numbers Today I hope to read my novel/novella and recognize what it is. I say “recognize” because this will be a subconscious reading and recognition (or not). Either way, I won’t evoke the conscious mind to “decide” what to do next. Not my job. If you don’t understand the difference, email me and I’ll try to explain further. Awhile back I wrote and published (right here in a series of topics first) what I commonly call The Critical Voice Book: Quiet the Critical Voice (and Write … Read more

The Journal, Sunday, September 29

In today’s Journal * I was certain * Topic: Preparation (Learning) Breeds Confidence * Thanks for your concerns * On the personal writing front * Of Interest * The numbers I was certain earlier this month that I’d be finished with the novel before the month was out. Looks like it’ll be October. Unless I can write another 30,000 words or so today and tomorrow. (grin) Still, it’s just not a big deal. It comes as it comes and I have a lot of other stuff I’m doing. (See the update in “On the personal writing front” below.) Here’s the … Read more

The Journal, Saturday, September 28

In today’s Journal * Nothing today * Topic: What I Missed * Oh, the rough night? * Of Interest * The numbers Nothing today other than the topic below and whatever’s in Of Interest. Had a rough night last night. Topic: What I Missed There are two key parts to this topic: preparation and confidence in one’s self and one’s abilities. Naturally, the former fuels the latter. If you are appropriately prepared, you have more confidence in what you do. More confidence that you will be successful. Preparation is key. Anyone who’s ever taken an exam in school understands that … Read more

The Journal, Friday, September 27

In today’s Journal * Topic: On Licensing * Yesterday, Today and Tomorrow * The numbers Topic: On Licensing Yesterday, I talked with my wife about separating our professional income from licensing my IP from our personal income from a variety of sources (my social security, my USMC retirement, her day job, and so on). In any business, this is necessary. She mentioned that we currently have two registered LLCs: StoneThreadPublishing.com (hereafter referred to as STP) and HarveyStanbrough.com (hereafter referred to as HS.com). And she argued that income derived from STP is professional income, but income derived from HS.com (mentoring, teaching, … Read more

The Journal, Wednesday, September 25

In today’s Journal * I haven’t featured * Rambling * The numbers I haven’t featured Lee Lofland for awhile in this Journal despite regularly receiving his posts in my inbox. Lee is a retired detective with about a million years’ experience. I feel fortunate to have his inadvertent input for my crime and detective novels. His most recent offering, “Shooting Fish in a Barrel: Repeat Offenders,” is worth a look. See https://www.leelofland.com/shooting-fish-in-a-barrel-repeat-offenders/. *** Goodreads ticks me off. There, I said it. I’ve had an account with them for several years, but when I tried to log in today they said … Read more

The Journal, Tuesday, September 24

In today’s Journal * Quotes of the Day * Today’s Journal is mostly * Topic: Have Faith * Still mostly on hiatus * The numbers Quotes of the Day Via The Passive Voice, “It all began with Adam. He was the first man to tell a joke–or a lie. How lucky Adam was. He knew when he said a good thing, nobody had said it before. Adam was not alone in the Garden of Eden, however, and does not deserve all the credit; much is due to Eve, the first woman, and Satan, the first consultant.” Mark Twain “The cure … Read more

The Journal, Friday, September 20

In today’s Journal * A few words of advice * I recommend * The numbers A few words of advice for those who are sticking to their guns re traditional publishing — I recommend you subscribe to the Authors Publish Magazine newsletter. It’s free, and at least once each week they do a write-up on markets that are open to submissions in various genres, both literary and commercial. I had toyed with the idea of sending one of my novels the tradpub route. However,I have learned how to do everything myself; as a result I retain all net royalties plus … Read more

The Journal, Thursday, September 19

In today’s Journal * Quote of the Day * Topic: Why I’m Here, Doing What I Do * The Numbers Quote of the Day I just saw this in a comment (by someone other than me) on one of Dean’s posts. It was too good not to pass along in light of comments I’ve received here recently: “It’s not rocket science. Why don’t people listen to you? What possible nefarious agenda could you have?” Cora Exactly. Topic: Why I’m Here, Doing What I Do How other writers write doesn’t matter to Dean Wesley Smith and it doesn’t matter to me. … Read more

The Journal, Wednesday, September 18

In today’s Journal * Quote of the Day * I didn’t plan * The numbers Quote of the Day “The first principle is that you must not fool yourself — and you are the easiest person to fool.”  Richard Feynman I didn’t plan to be back today with a Journal entry, but a comment on yesterday’s post… well, it’s as if I wrote “blue” and the commenter read “xvhbzrr.” It doesn’t really matter except that it also vividly illustrates exactly the attitude I was talking about in yesterday’s post. You can read the comment that prompted my response at https://hestanbrough.com/the-journal-tuesday-september-17/#comments. Here’s my … Read more

The Journal, Tuesday, September 17

In today’s Journal * Quote of the Day * I experienced a major epiphany * The numbers Quote of the Day Again via The Passive Voice, “No insect hangs its nest on threads as frail as those which will sustain the weight of human vanity.” Edith Wharton This is the sort of thought that strikes me every time I hear a fiction writer refer to what he does as “hard work.” Such an appellation is nothing more than an attempt on two fronts to validate what the fiction writer does for a living. On the first front, maybe saying writing … Read more