Daily Journal

In Today’s Journal * The Bradbury Challenge * Draft2Digital Indie Advantage * TNDJ Archives Are Still Available * Is the Experiment Over? * Of Interest * The Numbers The Bradbury Challenge The whole point of the Challenge is to have fun and grow as a writer. There is no cost. The only requirement is to write at least one short story per week. Feel free to jump in at any time. During the past week, in addition to whatever other fiction they’re writing, the following writers reported these new stories: Erin Donoho “Aftermath” 1700 psychological suspense Loyd Jenkins “Dream of … Read more

In Today’s Journal * A New Short Story * Bradbury Reminder * The Whirlwind Winds Down * Of Interest * The Numbers A New Short Story “Marisa” went live yesterday at 10 a.m. on my Stanbrough Writes Substack. This one’s kind’a sort’a horror-ish maybe. Go check it out. It’s free. If you enjoy the story, please click Like. Comments are welcome too. Both help with my Substack algorithms. Then tell Everyone else. Bradbury Reminder Today is Saturday. Just a reminder to get your Bradbury Challenge story info in to me before the Journal goes live on Monday. Remember, if you … Read more

In Today’s Journal * Some Stuff on Description * Of Interest * The Numbers Some Stuff on Description Coming to you live from Roswell NM this morning. I wasn’t going to write a post this morning, but two factors came together perfectly: One, I have some time to kill, and two, this morning’s installment on Your Morning Serial lends itself to a post on description. You can view that installment here. Even if you haven’t read the preceding installments, the first major scene of this installment pretty much stands alone for purposes of description. (That’s one more reason to go … Read more

In Today’s Journal * Quote of the Day * Away from the Hovel * Of Interest * The Numbers Quote of the Day “If we could dare to write as ill as we can, we should write better than we do.” Essayist William Hazlitt (1778–1830) Meaning of the Quote (according to AI) Hazlitt’s quote suggests that overthinking, trying too hard to be “good,” or striving for a perfect and literary style can stifle a writer’s authentic voice. By allowing themselves to write with less self-consciousness—or as “ill as we can”—they might produce something more honest, fresh, and ultimately more effective. … Read more

In Today’s Journal * The Darling Members Club * The Bradbury Challenge * And Now…. * Of Interest * The Numbers The Darling Members Club Like a few of you, I’m subscribed to Your Morning Serial, mostly so I can verify that each edition actually posts. But I’m also enjoying reading over my previous work each morning at 5 a.m. when it appears in my inbox. However, reading over previous work can get interesting, and interesting isn’t always a good thing. As I was reading yesterday’s post I found what I believe is a major glitch. I’ll even tell you … Read more

In Today’s Journal * Quote of the Day * My Quote of the Day * The whole point * Of Interest * The Numbers Quote of the Day “Every character in the world exists in all of us.” Steven Van Zandt, musician (E Street Band) and actor (The Sopranos, etc.) See Of Interest. My Quote of the Day “This whole discussion draws close to supporting the ridiculous notion that writing fiction is some sort of an elevated calling, like the priesthood. It isn’t. “Why do I write? (Shrug.) Why does a carpenter build? Why does a mechanic repair engines? “I … Read more

In Today’s Journal * Quote of the Day * A New Short Story * Bradbury Reminder * Help a Brother (and Yourself) Out * Of Interest * The Numbers Quote of the Day “There’s a hell of a distance between wise-cracking and wit. Wit has truth in it; wise-cracking is simply calisthenics with words.” Dorothy Parker A New Short Story “What Mothers Do” went live yesterday at 10 a.m. on my Stanbrough Writes Substack. Go check it out. It’s free. This story is quiet and soft and borders on magic realism. It might also be the opening for my next … Read more

In Today’s Journal * Quote of the Day * An Ounce of Description * If You’d Like an Example * Of Interest * The Numbers Quote of the Day “The art of writing pulp is the art of writing sentences that do more than one thing at a time.” Raymond Chandler An Ounce of Description Recently, as part of an enticement for a Kickstarter, a writer offered a special stretch goal that consisted of four short stories by two writers. As part of the promotion for one of the stories (or maybe of the collection itself, I forget), he mentioned … Read more

In Today’s Journal * My Quote of the Day * The Best-Kept Secret in Indie Publishing * A Sampler of Definitions * Of Interest * The Numbers My Quote of the Day “Far too many take up fiction writing because they believe it’s some sort of elevated ‘calling.’ Frankly, if you need a reason to write fiction beyond just telling a good story, you probably aren’t a fiction writer.” Yer Uncle Harv The Best-Kept Secret in Indie Publishing I suspect the best-kept secret in indie publishing is Draft2Digital’s The Indie Advantage newsletter. It’s free, and offers “Tools & Tips to … Read more

In Today’s Journal * DWS Adult Back to School Sale * The Writing * Of Interest * The Numbers I wasn’t going to post anything today, but I had to pass this along. DWS Adult Back to School Sale Dean Wesley Smith and Kristine Kathryn Rusch are offering everything on Teachable for 60% off for the next few days and 50% off after that until Labor Day. Especially if you’re just starting out as a fiction writer (Stage 1 through Stage 2) I strongly recommend taking advantage of this sale. They don’t have them very often. I most strongly personally … Read more