Month: September 2019

The Journal, Wednesday, September 4

In today’s Journal * Topic: A Perfect Storm * A couple of recommendations * The numbers Topic: A Perfect Storm Bear with me as I work my way through this. It has a point. I’m recording it here and publishing it only because some of you might find yourselves in a similar situation. The form of this post was predicated, in part, by Alison Holt’s excellent post at Pro Writers Writing. First, it would be easy, in this moment, to say I’ve had a good run but that run is over. I could easily lapse into full retirement, puttering around … Read more

The Journal, Monday, September 2

In today’s Journal * Topic: On Reader Taste * The numbers Topic: On Reader Taste Some of you will remember, awhile back I had a problem understanding “reader taste.” One reader will be absorbed into a story whereas another won’t care for it at all. He might not even finish reading it. I’ve been on both sides of the experience as a reader, but still I didn’t quite get it. Slowly, I came to understand. I still say it’s the writer’s responsibility to do all the things necessary to pull the reader into the story. Otherwise, why bother studying and … Read more