Daily Journal

The Journal, Tuesday, October 9

Hey Folks, Well, again today we’re off to see the wizard (cardio-electrician). That will happen early this afternoon. Then on November 1, I’ll have a followup with the cardio-plumber who implanted a stent. After that, I suspect I’ll be allowed to relax back into the semi-annual checkup routine. As far as I know, today the tech will check the implanted device. Then someone will check the stitches on the incision and tell me what I can and can’t do for the next few weeks and on into the future. I’m actually looking forward to that part of the conversation. I … Read more

The Journal, Monday, October 8

Hey Folks, Well, I just start thinking I’m posting way too much stuff about my current situation when I get a kind email saying some of you appreciate it. Thanks, I needed that. (grin) Still, maybe it’s at least time to mix in some other things. It’s bitterly cold here this morning (at 43°) under a crystal clear sky full of stars. But no wind, so it isn’t all that bad. And I keep reminding myself, this year, for the first time ever (having been a desert rat most of my life), I actually looked forward to cooler weather. Still, … Read more

The Journal, Sunday, October 7

Hey Folks, Nothing to report. Absolutely nothing. The healing continues. Despite somewhat forced and mostly continual practice, I’m not getting any better at Doing Nothing. But I guess I’ll keep practicing for awhile yet. On the up side, my bath robe fits a little better every day. I’m also binge-watching episodes of The Sopranos and getting back in touch with some of my earlier characters. So sayeth the grouch. And if this brings a chuckle to your visage, Hey, good f’you. Talk with you again soon. Of Interest See James Scott Bell’s “Mastering the Four Modes of Fiction” at https://killzoneblog.com/2018/10/mastering-the-four-modes-of-fiction.html. … Read more

The Journal, Saturday, October 6

Hey Folks, A lot of items in “Of Interest” today, some older just in case you missed them. I have a new favorite quote, culled from Joe Hartlaub’s post at the Kill Zone blog: “Grandparents and grandchildren have a special relationship, given that they have a common enemy.” (grin) Isn’t that wonderful? The operation went well (Thursday), with a couple of post-op glitches, natch. But long story short, I’m on the mend. A few days of extreme caution so I don’t pull any wires loose and then a few weeks of sort-of caution as my body gets over the physical … Read more

The Journal, Wednesday, October 3

Hey Folks, Some pretty good stuff in “Of Interest” today. There won’t be a Journal tomorrow or probably the next day, so I wanted to get this one out. In my absence, you might check on the websites from which I regularly post “Of Interest” topics: I typically visit Dean’s site every morning at https://deanwesleysmith.com. I often scroll down also to read the comments. I usually visit the Kill Zone blog at https://killzoneblog.com as well. Even some of their First Page Critiques are worth reading, but keep your salt shaker handy. (Tequila is optional.) I also recommend stopping by Kris … Read more

The Journal, Tuesday, October 2

Hey Folks, Well, I was going to go back to writing sometime today, but I decided against it. I still have the upcoming procedure (Thursday) on my mind, so I’ve decided not to do much of anything between now and then but relax. It’s only a couple days until that happens, and then I’ll probably be down for a few days afterward. The Journal might be a little intermittent during the next several days too. Physically, I felt a lot better, more myself, both yesterday and the day before. As a result, naturally, yesterday I overdid things a bit. Duh. … Read more

The Journal, Monday, October 1

Hey Folks, Wow. For me, September both flew by and slowly slipped through my fingers. I allowed my WIP, the third novel in my Nick Spalding series, to languish on the back burner while I recuperated and worked on a copyedit for a gentleman. But as October dawns, everything’s wrapping up nicely. The symptoms of my cold are mostly gone and I’ve recovered fully from the initial medical stuff. Just in time for Part 2, really, but it shouldn’t be nearly as big a deal. For one thing, this time it’s an outpatient procedure in a surgery center (not a … Read more

The Journal, Sunday, September 30

Hey Folks, I can’t stand publishing scams, and it hurts me to see so many writers falling for them. Hence this post. Yesterday I did nothing at all except finish judging the contest. We got the results out in the mail. Today I will work on the copyedit for awhile, then take the rest of the day off. But this morning, I saw that one of my writer friends in Oklahoma posted a newsletter from Booklocker.com to a Facebook group we both belong to. That posting caused me to write a response and then the following. Topic: The Scams, They … Read more

The Journal, Friday, September 28

Hey Folks, I’ll be glad when things are back to normal. Or my version of normal. That should be a day or two after I get my new pacemaker. I remember from before that there are certain physical actions I can’t take for about a week after receiving the implanted device, like raising my arm on that side over my head, etc. But I don’t think that extends to using a keyboard. Anyway, the current problem isn’t physical, it’s mental. Well, compounded by the fact that my brain isn’t physically getting as ready a supply of oxygen as it usually … Read more

The Journal, Thursday, September 27

Hey Folks, Well, mostly editing today. In fact, all editing other than the brief time I spent online for items “Of Interest.” Some good ones today. I’ve also decided to re-enter the workforce by way of expanding my services to other writers. To that end, soon I’ll offer the following: ▪ First Chapter or Short Story Critique (fiction, up to 3000 words) — This consists of personalized instruction and recommendations on your specific scene and chapter openings, how to pull the reader into the story and keep him there, use of character names, and a great deal more. The cost … Read more