In today’s Journal
* All About “Of Interest”
* Of Interest
* My Own Writing
* The Numbers
All About “Of Interest”
Soon I’ll be back with Part 1 of a 3 or 4 or more part series with the working title “Writing Technique (or Not): A Graphic Illustration.”
But for today, I found three items for “Of Interest” that were so important I didn’t want them competing for your attention with a usual Journal entry.
Here they are, and I’ll talk with you again soon:
Of Interest
First up, Atticus, a writing and formatting tool that rivals (and beats) the much-acclaimed Vellum. See “12 Atticus Templates For Easy Book Formatting” at https://www.thepassivevoice.com/12-atticus-templates-for-easy-book-formatting/.
In the linked article, The Passive Guy says he’s going to test this and then post the results. I clicked through to the OP from The Book Designer, then through again to Atticus and signed up for the program.
As advertised, it cost $147. The point by point comparison with Vellum was impressive, as is the promise that all upgrades, new templates, etc. are free for life. The only downside (for me) is that it requires Chrome OS. But you only have to download and install Chrome. You don’t have to use it later. Downloading and installing Chrome, which I probably will never use again, took all of maybe a full minute.
Second, an installment from the ever knowledgeable Kristine Kathryn Rusch. See “How Writers Fail Part 11: They Want To” at https://www.thepassivevoice.com/how-writers-fail-part-11-they-want-to/. Well worth the time to read at least the except on The Passive Voice (as I did) even if you’re allergic to political sniping and don’t click through to the full article.
As she notes in the opening, the title is harsh because the topic is harsh. But it’s also very much true. Like Ms. Rusch, I’ve talked with probably dozens of would-be writers like this over the years.
Finally, a question that’s actually easy to answer although very few accept the answer as fact. After all, nothing can be that easy—but it is. See “What Actually Makes You a Better Writer?” at https://www.thepassivevoice.com/what-actually-makes-you-a-better-writer/.
As with any craft or art form, what makes you better at it is practice. Not hovering over one work in an attempt to perfect it—practice.
Of course, it is wise to learn from other successful writers and from successful professionals in different fields. And it’s fine to read, think, and talk about writing. You can even argue endlessly with yourself over whether to write “under,” “beneath” or “below” the porch, but in the end, only consistently putting new words on the page will make you a better writer.
My Own Writing
Thanks to those of you who were concerned at the lack of movement in the numbers below. Nothing is stalled. I’m in a bit of a holding pattern at present as I help my wife get over a bad fall (nothing broken) and fret over my little cat daughter.
Rather than going to work each day in the Hovel, I’ve been staying closer in the house, and with other matters on my mind, I’m less able at the moment to switch off everything else and turn my attention to the fiction. But the stories will still be waiting when I’m able to resume them.
The Numbers
The Journal…………………………………… 430 words
Writing of “Hortencia Alvarez” (shrug—I dunno)
Day 1…… 1089 words. Total words to date…… 1089
Writing of Wes Crowley: Deputy US Marshal 2 (WCG9SF4)
Day 1…… 3231 words. Total words to date…… 3231
Day 2…… 2990 words. Total words to date…… 6221
Day 3…… 1805 words. Total words to date…… 8026
Day 4…… 2025 words. Total words to date…… 10051
Total fiction words for February……… 1089
Total fiction words for 2023………… 47962
Total nonfiction words for February… 13640
Total nonfiction words for the year…… 33990
Total words for the year (fiction and this blog)…… 81952
Calendar Year 2023 Novels to Date…………………… 1
Calendar Year 2023 Novellas to Date……………… 0
Calendar Year 2023 Short Stories to Date… 0
Novels (since Oct 19, 2014)…………………………………… 72
Novellas (since Nov 1, 2015)………………………………… 8
Short stories (since Apr 15, 2014)………………… 217
Short story collections……………………………………………… 31
Disclaimer: Because It Makes Sense, I preach trusting your characters to tell the story that they, not you, are living. Duh. See My Best Advice for Fiction Writers at https://hestanbrough.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/12/My-Best-Advice-for-Fiction-Writers.pdf.