In today’s Journal
* Bradbury Challenge Writers Reporting
* Support Each Other
* Of Interest
* The Numbers
Bradbury Challenge Writers Reporting
You can still join in the challenge at any time. There’s no cost of course, and it’s a great way to have some fun, increase your inventory, and jumpstart your writing. It’s also a great way to get more practice pushing down the critical voice.
During the past week, in addition to whatever other fiction they’re writing, the following writers reported their progress:
- Erin Donoho “The Choice” 1500 words HIstorical Fiction
- Balázs Jámbor “A Knight’s Tale” 2200 words Fantasy
- Loyd Jenkins “First Job” 2630 words Urban Fantasy/Horror
- George Kordonis, “Flower Thief” 2271 words Urban Fantasy
- Alexander Nakul “What Сosmic Eyes saw” 1782 words Horror
- Chynna Pace “Toy Store Murders” 3181 words Mystery
- Christopher Ridge “The Neighbor” 3000 words Humorous Crime
- Karen Riggs “Purple is the Color” 7481 words Horror
Congratulations to all those hanging in there. And again, it’s never too late to start.
Support Each Other
It’s important that you support each other. Do blog tours together or for each other, mention other writers’ books in your stories. If your character is reading in the story, why not have him or her read a story by one of your fellow writers?
I’ve done this, thus far, for many writers. Some are past favorites I’ve never met (Hemingway, Block, Tolkein, King, et al). Others are writers among my Journal audience. A few have done the same thing for me.
You’d be surprised how many readers will search for a book title or author name just to see whether it’s real. I do that often as a reader. And all too often I am disappointed to learn the book and author dosn’t exist at all.
But why? I’ve never understood why a novelist or short story writer would mention a fake book title or fake author name in their work. Why not support your friends and colleagues and acquaintances? It costs you nothing and it might prove extremely helpfut to the other writer.
Along those lines, once upon a time I was invited to particpate in an anthology. I wrote a story specifically in the genre called for in the anthology and submitted it. The anthology editor got back to me the same day. He eagerly accepted the story.
Then he asked how many followers I have on social media, etc.
I said I didn’t have a clue. I’m a writer, not a marketing expert.
So “with regret” (his words), the editor reversed his decision and rejected my story. His stated reason was that the inclusion of my story wouldn’t be “fair” to the other authors whose work would be included in the anthology because I don’t have as many social media followers as they do.
To me, that makes no sense. The presence of my story (considering the glowing initial comments of the editor, would have elevated the anthology a bit. And the other authors in the anthology would have gleaned at least some new readers (my readers) had my story been included.
Granted, my readership would possibly have skyrocketed as their readers discovered my work, but how would that have hurt any of the other writers?
As this same editor has said many times, “A rising tide lifts all boats.” I guess the saying pertains only to yachts and pleasure cruisers, not us little guys fussing around in bass boats.
Talk with you again soon.
Of Interest
See “Newsletters Part III: Welcome Sequence How To” at https://killzoneblog.com/2023/06/newsletters-part-iii-welcome-sequence-how-to.html.
See “More Licensing Expo” at https://deanwesleysmith.com/more-licensing-expo/. Note: This is not part of the Licensing Transition class. This is separate and must be paid for separately.
The Numbers
The Journal…………………………………… 600
Writing of Rose Padilla (WCG10SF5)
Day 1…… 4283 words. Total words to date…… 4283
Day 2…… 3963 words. Total words to date…… 8246
Day 3…… 1463 words. Total words to date…… 9709
Day 4…… 2445 words. Total words to date……12154
Total fiction words for June……… 12154
Total fiction words for 2023………… 110022
Total nonfiction words for June… 8430
Total nonfiction words for the year…… 117850
Total words for the year (fiction and this blog)…… 227872
Calendar Year 2023 Novels to Date…………………… 2
Calendar Year 2023 Novellas to Date……………… 0
Calendar Year 2023 Short Stories to Date………… 4
Novels (since Oct 19, 2014)…………………………………… 73
Novellas (since Nov 1, 2015)………………………………… 9
Short stories (since Apr 15, 2014)……………………… 221
Short story collections……………………………………………… 31
I.M. An angel, my angel, left this earth on April 11, 2023 just before 10 a.m. My life and my world will never be the same.
Disclaimer: I am a prolific professional fiction writer. On this blog I teach Writing Into the Dark, adherence to Heinlein’s Rules, and that following the myths of fiction writing will slow your progress as a writer or stop you cold. I will never teach the myths on this blog.