Daily Journal

In today’s Journal * To Sell More Books, Stop Selling Books * Guest Posts * Of Interest * The Numbers To Sell More Books, Stop Selling Books guest post by Matt Perryman Matt Perryman graciously offered the following as a guest post a few days before it goes live on his own Substack. Visit Matt’s Meaningful Particulars substack at https://mattpmn.substack.com. I encourage you to visit and consider subscribing. The other day while browsing a reasonably popular writing blog, I read a post about creating an email newsletter. The post was full of horrible advice. The nuts ‘n bolts stuff was … Read more

In today’s Journal * Quote of the Day * First Livestream Delayed * Speaking of Writing Fiction * Of Interest * The Numbers Quote of the Day “The publishers and the printers are making more money than you are, and you’re the writer. They vacation in the Hamptons while you struggle to pay the rent. Tell me that makes sense.” Vincent Zandri on traditional publishing First Livestream Delayed I was playing around with my internal camera’s video settings and didn’t like what I saw on the screen. Then I realized it was “broadcasting” at only 720p. I’ll never hit studio … Read more

In today’s Journal * Quotes of the Day * Thanks * Bradbury Challenge Writers Reporting * Writing Crappy First Drafts… * Of Interest * The Numbers Quotes of the Day “Well begun is half done.” Aristotle “Be careful about reading health books. You may die of a misprint.” Mark Twain Thanks to everyone who subscribed to my new YouTube channel at https://www.youtube.com/@HarveyStanbrough and-or to the StanbroughWrites substack at https://stanbroughwrites.substack[dot]com/. I appreciate your support and I will do my best not to disappoint you. Bradbury Challenge Writers Reporting You can still join in the challenge at any time. There’s no cost … Read more

In today’s Journal * Quote of the Day * Re Cormac McCarthy * YouTube * Dean’s Caution About Writing Fiction Sales Copy * Random Thoughts on Stereotypes * Of Interest * The Numbers Quote of the Day “Government is never populated by saints, angels, or true prophets…. [S]uch people would be suited to run a society from the top down, treating each individual equally and fairly.” The Passive Guy Re Cormac McCarthy From My Friend Gary V.: “Whether you love or hate Cormac McCarthy, Harold Bloom’s critique of Blood Meridian (4 yrs. ago) is the best book critique I’ve read.” … Read more

In today’s Journal * Quotes of the Day * Dean’s Offer * A New YouTube Channel * Some History * Reading Order * Paperback Book Sale * Thoughts on “Time to Give Back” and Censorship * Of Interest * The Numbers Quotes of the Day “I’m not essential to the process or to the story structure, characters, etc. of my characters’ stories and novels. I’m only a life-support system for my fingertips, the use of which my characters have leased from me by agreement that I get to read their stories first. My job is only to observe and report … Read more

In today’s Journal * Quotes of the Day * A Special Offer re Marketing * Maybe a New YouTube Channel * Sensitive Writing Guide (Um, No) * Paperback Book Sale * Of Interest * The Numbers Quotes of the Day “They said I was splitting hairs and losing my objectivity. I reminded them that I was a postmodernist who didn’t believe in objectivity.” Rosaria Champagne Butterfield “Hatred and anger are the greatest poison to the happiness of a good mind.” Adam Smith, 18th century economist A Special Offer re Marketing One writer reminded me via email yesterday that Dean Wesley … Read more

In today’s Journal * Quotes of the Day * Marketing and Advertising * YouTube and Plots * Of Interest * The Numbers Quotes of the Day “Cormac McCarthy, maybe the greatest American novelist of my time, has passed away at 89. He was full of years and created a fine body of work, but I still mourn his passing.” Stephen King (Thanks, Gary V.) “Marketing, y’gotta have a plan. Advertising, y’gotta have money.” Vincent Zandri “Time is a great teacher, but unfortunately, it kills all its students.” Hector Berlioz Marketing and Advertising First, welcome to Ken and any others who … Read more

In today’s Journal * Quotes of the Day * Time to Give Back * Of Interest * The Numbers Time to Give Back I know this is much later than usual, but I dedided I didn’t want to hold it until tomorrow. First, please watch and listen to bestselling writer Vin Zandri’s short video, “Production.” You will find it at https://www.youtube[dot]com/watch?v=IvcJjRVo9Gw. I plan to email Vin to ask whether he might write up a guest post for the Journal on marketing or advertising, lending us his expertise on the topic. (Vin, if you’re reading this, save me the email and … Read more

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 … Read more

In today’s Journal * Quotes of the Day * A New Page * Of Interest * The Numbers Quotes of the Day “[Gesturing] is about thinking and communication, and is a sophisticated aid to both.” staff writer for The Economist in a review of Susan Goldin-Meadow’s book Thinking With Your Hands “I tend to take a really long time to write. My last book took 14 years, not because I wanted it to, that’s just what happened.” Daniel Mason, author of four novels Sorry, but why bother? A New Page My youngest son visited yesterday and part of today. As … Read more