A Writing Frenzy and More

In today’s Journal

* Quote of the Day
* A New Story
* I Also Released
* Of Interest?
* Vin Zandri and I
* More Thoughts on Scrapping a Manuscript
* A Writing Frenzy
* The Numbers

Quotes of the Day

“This will remain the land of the free so long as it is the home of the brave.” Elmer Davis

Happy (Thoughtful) Veterans Day — or as Marines used to refer to it, Marine Corps Ball Recovery Day.

A New Story

“A Matter of Survival” published yesterday on my Stanbrough Writes substack.

If you would like to subscribe, click the link above 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!

I Also Released

Chapters 5, 6, and 7 of Rose Padilla yesterday on my Writing in Public substack.

Of Interest?

Just wondering, would any of you prefer that I bring the Of Interest section back to the Journal?

If so, please either leave a comment or email me. If I do bring it back, I’ll add it only when I think the article I link to is very important.

Vin Zandri and I

NY Times and USA Today bestselling author Vin Zandri and I are at it again.

Yesterday Vin had me on the show again, and from what I could tell on my side of the camera, it was a success.

It was at least a lot of fun. I even gave a guided tour (sort of) of the Hovel. To check it out, follow this link to The Writer’s Life.

More Thoughts on Scrapping a Manuscript

Yesterday I talked about tossing out a manuscript that isn’t working. Then, if you like the idea, you can recast it fresh. New start, new opening, new everything. I only had to do that but a few times, but when I’ve had to, I have zero problem with it.

Why? Because to a professional writer, words are only tools. Like nails to a carpenter. If you get a box of bad ones, you throw them out and open a new box.

Now Vin Zandri’s offered his take on the same topic. I encourage you to watch and listen to Vin’s video on “Scrapping a Manuscript and Mickey Spillane”.

A Writing Frenzy

I’m currently, and happily, in a writing frenzy.

I mentioned above that I’ve only had to toss out a manuscript because it wasn’t working and start it over from scratch only a few times.

I’ve never been happier that I did so than I am with the current novel. It’s racing along like I hoped it would do the first time.

It’s running so fast and so well that when I’m “through” for the day at 4 p.m. I don’t want to stop and go to the house. I want to keep writing, keep letting it run. My only solace is knowing it will run again the next day. What a blast!

I’m also in a publishing frenzy. With novels currently scheduled for release on November 13, 20, 27, and December 4, when I finish this one I’ll schedule it for release on December 11.

I’m writing a new novel about every ten to fourteen days and releasing one every week. So soon I’ll catch up with myself and begin releasing them as I finish them.

It will be interesting to see when the finish date (the day I get the mss back from my first reader) and the release date are one and the same.

And of course, I wish the same for you. And if you want me to, I’ll help you get there.

I’m not offering a paid course or mentorship. Per the WIBBOW rule, I don’t have time for that.

But I’ll keep publishing this Journal, and I’ll keep responding to emails and any questions you ask. Quiet the Critical Voice is still free and yours for the asking. You only have to email me.

Probably aside from you, nobody else cares as much about your success as a fiction writer as I do. So let me have your questions, concerns and doubts. Chances are, I’ve had them myself from time to time and found a way to overcome them. And I’m more than willing to share HOW to overcome them. You only have to ask.

Talk with you again soon.

The Numbers

The Journal……………………………… 710

Writing of Rose Padilla (WCG10SF5)

Day 1…… 4086 words. To date…… 4086
Day 2…… 3609 words. To date…… 7695

Fiction for November…………………… 25203
Fiction for 2023………………………… 343847
Fiction since August 1………………… 229287
Nonfiction for November……………… 9270
Nonfiction for the year……………… 237160
Annual consumable words………… 577500

2023 Novels to Date……………………… 7
2023 Novellas to Date…………………… 0
2023 Short Stories to Date……………… 7
Novels (since Oct 19, 2014)…………… 78
Novellas (since Nov 1, 2015)…………… 9
Short stories (since Apr 15, 2014)…… 235
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.