Daily Journal

The Journal: Benefits vs. Features

In today’s Journal * Quote of the Day * Benefits vs. Features: Notes on Marketing and on Writing * Of Interest Quote of the Day “There’s a responsibility in being a person. It’s more than just taking up space where air would be.” John Steinbeck in East of Eden This is easily one of the more important and apt quotes I’ve ever included here. Benefits vs. Features: Notes on Marketing and on Writing Matt Perryman, author of the recent guest post on marketing, also passed along a book recommendation: The Ultimate Marketing Plan by Dan Kennedy. I didn’t provide a … Read more

The Journal: Guest Post on Marketing

In today’s Journal * Guest Post on Marketing * Of Interest Guest Post on Marketing Note: The post below started life as a comment on yesterday’s post. But it was so well-done, I wanted to be sure everyone saw it. So I chose to use it here today as a guest post. Enjoy. And thanks, Matt. “Marketing and writing are vastly different skills. A person doesn’t have to be a writer before s/he can market and sell books.” Just getting caught up around here, and your remark here reminded me that one of the best marketers I know always drives … Read more

The Journal: Marketing vs. Writing

In today’s Journal * Marketing vs. Writing * Novella vs. Novel * Of Interest Marketing vs. Writing I received an email that read, in part, “I don’t trust people who teach ebook marketing but have zero ebooks under their belt.” I mention this just in case anyone else out there is thinking this way. Possibly the writer was referring to some of the marketing experts I recommended in the Journal recently. Regardless, this is a category mistake, and it isn’t even comparing apples and oranges. It’s comparing apples and fruit stands. Marketing and writing are vastly different skills. A person … Read more

The Journal: Quotes and Items of Interest

In today’s Journal * Quotes of the Day * Of Interest Quotes of the Day “I think the difference between a lie and a story is that a story utilizes the trappings and appearance of truth for the interest of the listener as well as of the teller. A story has in it neither gain nor loss. But a lie is a device for profit or escape. I suppose if that definition is strictly held to, then a writer of stories is a liar — if he is financially fortunate.” John Steinbeck in East of Eden “It would be absurd … Read more

The Journal: Direct Interaction with Readers

In today’s Journal * Quote of the Day * Topic: Direct Interaction with Readers * Of Interest Quote of the Day “If you’re in a spiritual group and ask what essential oils will help you get rid of a person, don’t block me when I answer ‘formaldehyde’. Sheesh.” Anonymous, forwarded from Facebook Topic: Direct Interaction with Readers A few days ago in a post on promoting your work, I recommended https://killzoneblog.com/2021/05/tkz-marketing-survey-part-2.html. In that post, one author suggested you should “Pick one [social media] platform to specialize in.” Yesterday, I received an interesting note and suggestion from Alexander Teut, a friend … Read more

The Journal: Welcome and the Archives

In today’s Journal * Quotes of the Day * Topic: Welcome and the Archives * Of Interest Quotes of the Day “For those who believe, no proof is necessary. For those who don’t believe, no proof is possible.” ― Stuart Chase The above works just as well for writing into the dark as it does for religion of any other stripe. “Her head was small and round and it held small round convictions.” John Steinbeck in East of Eden Topic: Welcome and the Archives Welcome to new subscribers. There have been a few over the past week or so, and … Read more

The Journal: Promotion — Read This Post

In today’s Journal * Quote of the Day * Topic: Promotion — Read This Post * Of Interest Quote of the Day “Adam [Croft]’s book, The Indie Author Mindset, https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07FZ3X349/ is a MUST-READ for any indie who intends to ‘make it’ in this biz.” Garry Rodgers Topic: Promotion — Read This Post From a promotion standpoint, this might be the most important post I’ve ever written for the Journal. I mention several invaluable resources below. But be forewarned: reading about the resources or even reading the actual resources themselves won’t help unless you actually do what they recommend. Good luck. … Read more

The Journal: On Setting, Pseudonym, and Reparations

In today’s Journal * Writing Setting * Using Pseudonyms * On Reparations * Of Interest Writing Setting I received a question about writing setting: In describing the setting, how much is too much and how much is too little? First, you, the writer, describe nothing. You have a point of view (POV) character. He or she will describe the setting, albeit through your fingers. 1, Anything the POV character sees, hears, smells, tastes or feels, physically or emotionally, should make it onto the page. Nothing the POV character sees, hears, smells, tastes or feels, physically or emotionally, is too much. … Read more

The Journal: Writers Are Ageless

In today’s Journal * Writers Are Ageless * Of Interest Today’s post is a guest blog, a repeat of Dan Baldwin’s most recent Writing Tip of the Week. It is posted in its entirety by permission of the author. Enjoy. Writers Are Ageless A young whippersnapper friend of mine seriously and politely asked, “What’s is it like being old?” I thought for half a second and said the following. “My friend, I am young enough to hike, climb, scramble, trip, fall, get up and camp all alone in some of the most spectacular country in the world. And I’m experienced … Read more

The Journal: Enough with “Pantser” — A Rant

In today’s Journal * Enough with “Pantser” — A Rant * Of Interest Enough with “Pantser” — A Rant Over at the Kill Zone blog today, James Scott Bell wrote that he’s often asked, “What do I do if I’m in the middle of my novel and there are so many things happening, so many characters running around, that I’m losing my way? [What do I do to get back on track?]” Well, if you’re asking me (and many have), shrug, I suggest you trust the characters enough to just write the next sentence. Then write the next sentence and … Read more