The Daily Journal, Wednesday, May 15

In today’s Journal Quote of the Day Well, without really planning to Topic: How to Quiet the Critical Voice (Intro) Daily diary Of Interest The numbers Quote of the Day From Jeff Goins’ newsletter: “You don’t have to want to be a writer. You just have to write.” *** Well, without really planning to, I guess I’ll take a shot at writing the critical-voice nonfiction book. As DWS has done before me (and as I did over on the big blog with Writing the Character-Driven Story), I plan to write the entire book a chapter at a time here in … Read more

The Daily Journal, Tuesday, May 14

In today’s Journal Quote of the Day In the past two days Topic: How to Write “Complicated Stories” into the Dark Daily diary Of Interest The numbers Quote of the Day From The Passive Guy: “Writing well means never having to say, ‘I guess you had to be there.’” Jef Mallett *** In the past two days, I came up with two topics that are so huge they want badly to be nonfiction books. One is How to Quiet the Critical Voice, and the other is Writing High-Action Scenes. Of course, the former probably won’t sell five copies. (grin) The … Read more

The Daily Journal, Monday, May 13

In today’s Journal Welcome to Helen B Quotes of the Day When I came to work Topic: On “Quality” Writing Daily diary Of Interest The numbers Welcome to Helen B and a few others who recently joined us here at the Journal. I hope you will find it helpful. *** Quotes of the Day “I never had success as a goal. I had this drive to to write the stories that came to me.” Danielle Steel “Some of my ideas will start off as mundane, but as I write them they become magical—and I can never predict it.” Danielle Steel … Read more

The Daily Journal, Sunday, May 12

In today’s Journal Happy belated Mother’s Day Quotes of the Day Topic: Verified — Yep, I’m a Hack Daily diary Of Interest The numbers To any moms out there, a heartfelt happy belated Mother’s Day. I know, it’s still Mother’s Day, but most of it will be over by the time many of you read this. I should have mentioned it in yesterday’s journal. *** Quotes of the Day “[T}he shift I felt when I finished my first novel. Once I knew I could do it, I knew that I could learn to be a better writer.” Shaunta Grimes* Also, … Read more

The Daily Journal, Saturday, May 11

In today’s Journal ▪ Today will be a fairly short day ▪ I’m not sure ▪ Topic: I’m a Hack ▪ Daily diary ▪ Of Interest ▪ The numbers Today will be a fairly short day since it’s Saturday. I’ll spend some time with the WIP, then some time with my wife. *** I’m not sure whether I’m actually writing right now (telling a new story, putting new words on the page) so much as taking some enjoyable time AWAY from actual writing. Or more succinctly, away from writing for publication. At least that’s how it feels. I AM writing, … Read more

The Daily Journal, Friday, May 10

In today’s Journal ▪ Kristine Kathryn Rusch (one more time) ▪ Bundle time again ▪ Mentoring still open ▪ Almost had a minor melt down ▪ Topic: Boxed Sets ▪ Daily diary ▪ Of Interest ▪ The numbers Kris added a second stretch goal and more rewards to her Kickstarter. Read about it at https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/403649867/the-diving-universe/posts/2503773. *** Yesterday I learned my Science Fantasy novel In the Siberian Fields (StoneThread Publishing, 2016) will be included in the forthcoming bundle, Gods Among the Stars. (grin) When that one goes live, my work will be available in 10 active bundles. Woohoo! To see the … Read more

The Daily Journal, Thursday, May 9

In today’s Journal ▪ Kristine Kathryn Rusch (again) ▪ Kristine Kathryn Rusch (yet again) ▪ Topic: Yesterday, I Shared ▪ Daily diary ▪ Of Interest ▪ The numbers Too important to be buried in “Of Interest.” If you read nothing else today, read “Business Musings: Patreon, Copyright, And Personal Choice” at https://kriswrites.com/2019/05/08/business-musings-patreon-copyright-and-personal-choice/. *** Kris’ Kickstarter has already funded and is well on its way to the first stretch goal (see Dean’s post in “Of Interest”). Frankly, I hesitated yesterday. I was going to fund it at the $50 level because I wanted the notes (in paper, so I could easily … Read more

The Daily Journal, Wednesday, May 8

In today’s Journal ▪ Kristine Kathryn Rusch ▪ I wrote a whole long ▪ Daily diary ▪ Of Interest ▪ The numbers Kristine Kathryn Rusch is conducting a Kickstarter with a goal of putting her (huge) Diving Universe novels in hardback. I mention this here because of the rewards offered at the $15 (ebook) and $50 (trade paperback) level. At those levels, in addition to The Renegat (latest DU novel) Kris offers “two large books of all the extra scenes and materials not used in the Diving novels, including a number of essays…[for] writers who want to see how writing … Read more

The Daily Journal, Tuesday, May 7

In today’s Journal ▪ Sign up for this! ▪ Rare Photos! ▪ Topic: To Share Something Interesting ▪ Daily diary ▪ Of Interest ▪ The numbers Penny Sansevieri of Author Marketing Experts is conducting a fee webinar on Marketing on May 16 at 11 a.m. It’s hosted in collaboration with Draft2Digital. Be sure to register. Penny will email a recording of the event to all registrants even if they can’t attend live. Sign up at https://www.amarketingexpert.com/marketing-basics-and-beyond-webinar-draft2digital. *** Recently unearthed! An actual photo of my creative voice! And to give him equal time, here’s a pic of my critical voice: Any … Read more

The Daily Journal, Monday, May 6

In today’s Journal ▪ Topic: How I Became… ▪ Daily diary ▪ Of Interest ▪ The numbers Topic: How I Became a Professional Fiction Writer Sometimes it’s difficult to remember that a scant 5 years ago I knew almost nothing about writing fiction. Oh, I knew (and taught) mechanics: grammar, punctuation, the use of sentences and fragments, and some of the finer nuances passive vs. active construction, past tense vs. present tense and so on. But about writing? I knew nada. I’d written bits and pieces off and on for most of my life (poems, essays, articles, a few stories). … Read more