Daily Journal

In Today’s Journal * The Stages of Any Story, Part 1 * How I Start and Write a Blackwell Ops Novel * I’m a Little Excited * I’m Pretty Well Aware * The Numbers The Stages of Any Story, Part 1 This is the first of two posts in which I’ll talk about the stages of any story. Today, because I’m deep in the Blackwell Ops world and writing the 42nd novel in that series, I’ll focus down on that as kind of an example. There are probably gems for you in these two posts, so read them with an … Read more

In Today’s Journal * Some Ways to Get Story Ideas * Six Days Left on the Easter Sale * About Your Morning Serial * Of Interest * The Numbers Some Ways to Get Story Ideas A writer friend (Thanks, BJ) emailed me to ask about where to get story ideas when you want to write but you’re stuck for an idea. First, if you’re ‘stuck’ when you ‘want to write,’ you’re probably making the story too important. This might easily happen when you have limited time to write, so you feel pressured to write while you can. The answer to … Read more

In Today’s Journal * Quote of the Day * The Bradbury Challenge * Looking to Write a Short Story? * Blackwell Ops 41: León Garras * Of Interest * The Numbers Quote of the Day “We are entertainers. And good characters are not whiners. (How long do you want to be around a whiner in real life?)” Dean Wesley Smith 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 … Read more

In Today’s Journal * A Little More on Dialect * Your Morning Serial Is an Early Hit * A Little Challenge Advice * The Writing * Of Interest * The Numbers A Little More on Dialect Yeah, that old thing again. If you missed my recent posts about dialect, key ‘dialect’ into the Search box in the sidebar at the Journal website or check the Substack TNDJ archive. In Chapter 25 of the current novel, León Garras calls his contact to let her know he’s on the island. And the moment she opened her mouth, I realized she’s French. So … Read more

In Today’s Journal * Quote of the Day * A New Short Story * Bradbury Reminder * Novel Didn’t Wrap * Guest Posts Welcome * Of Interest * The Numbers Quote of the Day “Tension is how the conflict is laid out, with each step along the way raising the temperature.” Sarah Hamer A New Short Story “Incident on a Georgia Bridge” went live yesterday at 10 a.m. on my Stanbrough Writes Substack. 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 … Read more

In Today’s Journal * Today * Of Interest * The Numbers Today is a rough anniversary for me. Two years ago today I lost someone very special. Most of us have lost people who are necessary to our wellbeing, so I won’t burden you with details. My friend and persona, Gervasio Arrancado, put the seed of the thing into a short story. You can read it here if you want to. I’m posting today only to pass along the items in Of Interest. Today also I expect the novel to wrap. Talk with you again soon. Of Interest 8 Ideas … Read more

In Today’s Journal * Your Morning Serial Live! * Readers Comment * Of Interest * The Numbers Your Morning Serial LIVE! Just in case you’ve been otherwise occupied the past few days and don’t know, you can read the novel I’m currently writing—Blackwell Ops 41: León Garras—beginning today at 5 a.m. (Arizona time). Just click Your Morning Serial. Today’s installment includes Chapters 1–3 in around 4500 words. Chapters 4–6 will go live on Saturday, April 12, also at 5 a.m. After that three more chapters will go live every other day until the novel wraps. I decided to start this … Read more

In Today’s Journal * My Quote of the Day * I Devote Entirely Too Much Time… * On Writing Fiction * Of Interest * The Numbers My Quote of the Day “If you want to grow new plants you have to plant new seeds.” Harvey I Devote Entirely Too Much Time to Writing Fiction Yesterday the title for this segment crossed my mind. And it’s probably true. I’m a very organized guy, but I’m also single-minded when it comes to writing fiction. I live to experience my characters’ lives. Especially when the story’s unfolding easily and the words are flowing, … Read more

In Today’s Journal * Quote of the Day * Serious Note 1 * Tongue-in-Cheek Note 2 * An Easter Sale * Update on Novel Serialization * Of Interest * The Numbers Quote of the Day “Failure will never stand in the way of success if you learn from it.” Hank Aaron Serious Note 1 In Dean’s post (see Of Interest), as a stretch goal for his Poker Boy Kickstarter he’s offering a “focus bundle to learn characterization.” Characterization is important. As you know, I do not advocate doing character sketches or otherwise ‘trying to learn’ (thinking about) characters in advance. … Read more

In Today’s Journal * Quote of the Day * The Bradbury Challenge * A Note from Dave Taylor * Yesterday * Of Interest * The Numbers Quote of the Day “The faster I write the better my output. If I am going slow, I’m in trouble. It means I am pushing the words instead of being pulled by them.” Raymond Chandler (Thanks to Patrick D for the quote.) 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 … Read more