Month: October 2019

The Journal, Wednesday, October 16

In today’s Journal * Quote of the Day * Yesterday (for those interested) * For anyone enrolled * Today * Of Interest * The Numbers Quote of the Day “Psychological and emotional challenges are always interesting.” Laura Benedict in “Afflicted” at the Kill Zone blog. For those interested in my writing process, I thought I’d share something brand new, at least to me. This has never happened to me before. I knew something didn’t feel right about my WIP, but I couldn’t quite put my finger on it. Frankly, it was driving me crazy. I thought it might just be … Read more

The Journal, Tuesday, October 15

In today’s Journal * I caught my breath * Yesterday * Of Interest * The Numbers I caught my breath when “Intellectual Property: The Big Picture for Authors” popped into my inbox this morning. (First item in “Of Interest” below.) Could this be a post about (gasp) licensing? And one that’s not from Kris Rusch or Dean Smith? It is. Not only that, it’s posted on Jane Friedman’s site and was written by literary agent Ethan Ellenberg. What? Yeah, I could hardly believe it either. But it’s a great overview, entry-level article. If you read nothing else today, read this … Read more

The Journal, Monday, October 14

In today’s Journal * Well, my mind * Topic: In Defense of Being a Prolific Writer * Today * Of Interest * The Numbers Well, my mind is apparently going. (grin) Spurred-on by a series of comments I read elsewhere, I wrote a really long essay a week or so ago. It was too long for a single topic, so I decided to break it into a few separate topics. You saw the first one on October 7 (“POV: Point of View”) and the second on October 8 (“Stick to Your Guns”). The third came on October 9 (“Pro, Hobbyist, … Read more

The Journal, Saturday, October 12

In today’s Journal * Today is mostly * In other ridiculously stupid news * Topic: I Am Constantly Amazed (Amused?) * To give you at least something worthwhile * Of Interest * The Numbers Today is mostly an unbelievably ridicule-ous day. I hope you find the following as jaw dropping and have-to-laugh-to-keep-from-crying funny as I did. First, my apology for recommending the Glimmer Train link in “Of Interest” yesterday. Had I read it first (I didn’t) instead of simply trusting my source, I wouldn’t have posted it. There is more to the world than doom and gloom, and even if … Read more

The Journal, Friday, October 11

In today’s Journal * Hard to believe * Since I’ve gone on * Of Interest * The Numbers Hard to believe a third of October is already in the books. Now that my latest procedure is done (successfully) I plan to finish my WIP this month. Should be a piece of cake. For any long-time followers out there who might be wondering, this is the longest calendar time it’s ever taken me to write a novel (or novella). (I started my WIP on June 2.) It’s also the longest string of non–fiction-writing days I’ve had for the past six years. … Read more

The Journal, Thursday, October 10

In today’s Journal * Nothing * Of Interest * The Numbers Nothing today other than the “Of Interest” section below. It’s the only reason I posted today. (grin) I’ll be out much of the day, then watch the baseball game in the early evening. Talk with you again soon. Of Interest See “Some Things Made Clear” at https://www.deanwesleysmith.com/some-things-made-clear/. See “Publishing Your Book Is Changing on IngramSpark” at https://www.thebookdesigner.com/2019/10/publishing-your-book-is-changing-on-ingramspark/. See “Favorite MS Word Keyboard Shortcuts” at https://www.thepassivevoice.com/ms-word-keyboard-shortcuts/. See “Business Musings: Creating Content, Using Licenses, Making Something New (Rethinking The Writing Business Part 13)” at https://kriswrites.com/2019/10/09/business-musings-creating-content-using-licenses-making-something-new-rethinking-the-writing-business-part-13/. The Numbers Fiction words today…………………… 0 … Read more

The Journal, Wednesday, October 9

In today’s Journal * Quote of the Day * I’m very excited * Topic: Pro, Hobbyist, or …? * Today * Of Interest * The Numbers Quote of the Day Finn (Thanks, Finn!), a reader of this Journal, wrote, “How do I get better if I don’t allow myself to critique my own work?” For writers, how’s that for a quote of the day? First, it’s a really great question, one we all ask at least ourselves from time to time. My response was simple: That question itself comes from the critical mind. If you’re going back and critiquing (critical … Read more

The Journal, Tuesday, October 8

In today’s Journal * Silly Quote of the Day * Topic: Stick to Your Guns * Today * Of Interest * A couple of notes * The Numbers Silly Quote of the Day “No, you don’t need to outline, but you really need to stop and ask yourself questions before you write one word:” PJ Parrish in “What’s Your Point? Figuring Out What Goes Into Each Chapter” at https://killzoneblog.com/2019/10/whats-your-point-figuring-outwhat-goes-into-each-chapter.html. Really? “You don’t need to outline, but [you need to outline.]” Seriously? Committed much? (grin) Topic: Stick to Your Guns In my book Punctuation for Writers, there’s a whole section on … Read more

The Journal, Monday, October 7

In today’s Journal * Quote of the Day * First * Topic: POV (Point Of View) * Today * Of Interest * The Numbers Quote of the Day (a lesson I haven’t learned well enough yet)       First, let me just say out loud that I strongly agree with Sean Monaghan’s post “There Are Lots of Ways to Write” over on PWW today. That being said, I’ve tried and dismissed the advice that is most often batted back and forth in writing groups and conferences and (I’ve heard) on “boards,” whatever those are. Personally, I can’t follow that … Read more

The Journal, Friday, October 4

In today’s Journal * Quote of the Day * Yesterday * Licensing Stuff * Today * Of Interest * The Numbers Quote of the Day “A story has no beginning or end: arbitrarily one chooses the moment of experience from which to look back or from which to look ahead.” Graham Greene Yesterday we just got out of the house for most of the day. We enjoyed lunch and shopping and then got the oil changed on my pickup over in Sierra Vista. It even got a bath in one of those car wash places that grabs your tires and … Read more