A Quick Survey, a New Story, and a Visit

In today’s Journal

* Quotes of the Day
* A Quick Survey
* A New Story
* The Writing and a Visit
* Reminder
* Of Interest
* The Numbers

Quotes of the Day

“In my writing, I can go where I can’t go in real life. … When I sit down to write, the characters take the reins. It’s the healthiest form of possession I can think of….” Anonymous

Note: The above quote is from an email I received a few days ago. I wanted to share with you part of the wisdom the writer passed along.

“Studying the lyrics of songs is an excellent exercise in creative writing.” Reavis Wortham (“Distilled Thoughts” in Of Interest)

“Some people you don’t have to satirize, you just quote ’em.” Tom Paxton

A Quick Survey

If any of you discovered the Journal via my posts on Twitter (X) please take a few seconds to drop me a line at harveystanbrough@gmail.com to let me know that. Thanks.

A New Story

“Jimmy the Dope” published yesterday on my Stanbrough Writes Substack.

If you would like to subscribe, click the link and then the Subscribe button at the end of the story. You’ll receive a new short story every Friday, and it’s free.

Below the Subscribe button, there are other short stories you can read in most genres. Enjoy!

The Writing and a Visit

Not a great day of writing, but not bad. Made my goal of 3000 words. Without the goal pushing me a bit I would have stopped at around 2400. (grin)

My youngest son and his girlfriend arrived late last night and will visit all day today and Sunday morning. I’ll probably write in the early hours of this morning after I file the Journal, then go up to the house around 8, but that will all be bonus. If I get no writing done at all, I won’t be disappointed.

Reminder

You in the Bradbury Challenge, remember to get your data in for your writing for the week. Today is Saturday, so get it to me by tomorrow at midnight.

Talk with you again soon.

Of Interest

Distilled Thoughts

Writing Lessons from Singer-Songwriters

The Numbers

The Journal……………………………… 350

Writing of Blackwell Ops 12: Nick Soldata (novel)

Day 1…… 3683 words. To date…… 3683
Day 2…… 3186 words. To date…… 6869

Fiction for October…………………… 38909
Fiction for 2023………………………… 256451
Fiction since August 1………………… 141904
Nonfiction for October……………… 12750
Nonfiction for the year……………… 211090
Annual consumable words………… 467481

2023 Novels to Date……………………… 5
2023 Novellas to Date…………………… 0
2023 Short Stories to Date……………… 6
Novels (since Oct 19, 2014)…………… 76
Novellas (since Nov 1, 2015)…………… 9
Short stories (since Apr 15, 2014)…… 234
Short story collections…………………… 31

Disclaimer: I am a prolific professional fiction writer. On this blog I teach Writing Into the Dark and adherence to Heinlein’s Rules. Unreasoning fear and the myths of writing will slow your progress as a writer or stop you cold. I will never teach the myths on this blog.

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