Daily Journal

In Today’s Journal * Quote of the Day * A Very Special Project * Of Interest * The Numbers Quote of the Day “I would never advise a beginner to rewrite. He can learn more by starting a brand-new story and doing his best on it.” Robert A. Heinlein from a letter Heinlein wrote to Sprague de Camp in 1952, after de Camp asked for clarification on Heinlein’s “rule 3”, quoted in Robert A. Heinlein: In Dialogue With His Century Volume 2 by William H. Patterson A Very Special Project Yesterday and probably through today I’m doing something I’ve never … Read more

In Today’s Journal * Direct from Robert Heinlein * What About Having Fun? * The Novel Wrapped * Of Interest * The Numbers Direct from Robert Heinlein I was unaware of the following until writer Eli Jones left a comment on “The Big Question on Heinlein’s Rules.” I am richer for having read his comment. Here it is in its entirety: “There’s a letter Heinlein wrote to Sprague de Camp in 1952, after de Camp asked for clarification on Heinlein’s ‘rule 3.’ Heinlein mentions how if he does any rewriting it’s only ‘cutting surplusage’ and then writes: ‘I would never … Read more

In Today’s Journal * The Big Question on Heinlein’s Rules * Of Interest * The Numbers The Big Question on Heinlein’s Rules First, my sincere thanks to writer Jay Logan for being brave enough and trusting me enough to ask me, in a comment, the following question. No telling how many writers Jay helped by putting this comment and question out there. It’s the big, overall question I most often hear about Heinlein’s Rules (and about writing into the dark), and it’s one that I once asked of Dean Wesley Smith myself: “Isn’t it true that Heinlein’s Rules and writing … Read more

In Today’s Journal * The Bradbury Challenge * Heinlein’s Rules series, 5 * Of Interest * The Numbers The Bradbury Challenge During the past week, in addition to whatever other fiction they’re writing, the following writers reported these new stories: Erin Donoho “A Different Perspective” 2000 psychological realism Vanessa V. Kilmer “Trigger” 3751 Alternative Christopher Ridge “Room 12” 1320 noir Dave Taylor “The Old Man’s Cemetery Visit” 2,461 paranormal mystery This is Dave’s 52nd consecutive week with at least one short story. 🙂 Congratulations to these writers. Heinlein’s Rules series, 5 Q: With regard to Heinlein’s Rule 5, “Leave it … Read more

In Today’s Journal * What About Rewriting? Heinlein’s Rules series, 4 * Of Interest * The Numbers What About Rewriting? Heinlein’s Rules series, 4 A lot of this one is about the most controversial of Heinlein’s Rules: Rule 3. Q: Okay, my next question is about Rule #3: Refrain from rewriting except to editorial order. So, if a story is good enough to be accepted by a publisher, and they give you feedback on what needs to be changed, you should make those changes (within reason). But you shouldn’t do revisions on your own. Q (cont.): I agree with the … Read more

In Today’s Journal * Quote of the Day * A New Short Story * Bradbury Reminder * Echoes of Hemingway Anthology * For Readers of TNDJ: Re True Pulp * Quiet the Critical Voice and Write Fiction! * The Writing * Of Interest * The Numbers Quote of the Day “Too many people opt out and never discover their own abilities because they fear failure. They don’t understand commitment.” Pat Summitt A New Short Story “Twelve Stories in a Bus Station” went live Friday at 10 a.m. on my Stanbrough Writes Substack. Go check it out. It’s free. If you … Read more

In Today’s Journal * Quote of the Day * What If My Story Stinks? Heinlein’s Rules Series, 3 * Of Interest * The Numbers Quote of the Day “It isn’t up to the painter to define the symbols. The public who look at the picture must interpret the symbols as they understand them.” Pablo Picasso What If My Story Stinks? Heinlein’s Rules Series, 3 Today the topic is mostly about Rule 4: You must put it on the market. Q: I want to dive right in to some of my questions about the rules, starting with #4: You must put … Read more

In Today’s Journal * I Get Comments * Of Interest * The Numbers I Get Comments I felt a need to address this topic again. I’m doing so only because it might get through to one more writer. This will be the last time for a good long while. Big Philly wrote in a comment: “Dean [Wesley Smith] helped me become a better writer. So did the other guy. You take some from here, you take some from there. It’s our work, so we get to choose how we crank it out” (emphasis added). Here’s my response, expanded for a … Read more

In Today’s Journal * Quote of the Day * Heinlein’s Rules Series, 2 * Of Interest * The Numbers Quote of the Day “You do not have to be prolific as I am, but you do have to produce product….” Dean Wesley Smith Heinlein’s Rules Series, 2 Actually, more introductory stuff today, with some specifics on Heinlein’s Rules mixed in. Q: To provide context, how long have you been using this process, how many books/stories have you been able to write, and what kind of success have you achieved? Harvey: I first discovered Heinlein’s Rules and a technique called Writing … Read more

In Today’s Journal * Quote of the Day * On WITD and Being Prolific * Heinlein’s Rules Series, 1 * The Numbers Quote of the Day “You do not have to be prolific as I am, but you do have to produce product….” Dean Wesley Smith On WITD and Being Prolific Writing into the dark and being prolific go hand in hand, and they work in concert. But it is not easier for me to WITD because I’ve been writing fiction for a long time or because I’m prolific. Rather, I have been writing for a long time and am … Read more