Daily Journal

In today’s Journal * An Essential Dialogue Tip * An Essential Narrative Tip * A Minor Digression and a Sale * The Numbers An Essential Dialogue Tip When a tag line or brief descriptive narrative is necessary to let the reader know which character is speaking, always, always, ALWAYS put it ahead of the dialogue, not after the dialogue. This is especially true when more than two characters are involved in a scene. Putting the tag line or descriptive narrative after the dialogue is a kind of reverse construction, and reverse constructions are almost always detrimental to a reading experience. … Read more

In today’s Journal * New Short Story * November Is Coming * What Is a First Reader? * Wow! Great Response! * The Writing * The Numbers New Short Story “Brain Food” went live yesterday at 10 a.m. on my Stanbrough Writes Substack. Go check it out. I think of this one as being a kind of magic realism that happens in the reader’s mind rather than on the page. As always, if you enjoy it, please tell Everyone. If you don’t, shhh! (grin) November Is Coming Hey guys, November is fast approaching and it’s a 30-day month. Several of … Read more

In today’s Journal * My New Adjusted Goal * Want to Collaborate? * Of Interest * The Numbers About My New Adjusted Goal On October 12, I posted a new adjusted goal for the year. At the beginning of the year, I’d planned to write 24 novels. That’s basically it. Since I typically turn out a novel in 14 or 15 days, that was not an ‘easy’ goal, but it was do-able. It would require me to experience very few non-writing days, forced or voluntary. But as of October 12, with only 14 novels published this calendar year and only … Read more

In today’s Journal * Quote of the Day * Writers Write * The Writing * Oh, and Another Source for Story Ideas * Of Interest * The Numbers Quote of the Day “Oh, I do not have multiple personality disorder. I’m a fiction writer. I have a lot of inner children, and sometimes they come out to play.” Me, to an imaginary psychiatrist Writers Write Note: The two excerpts below are from private emails from writers who are subscribed to TNDJ. The first is a testament to WITD, in a way, specifically to “writing fast,” which basically means writing what … Read more

In today’s Journal * Yesterday, and Spell Checking * Verisimilitude * Of Interest * The Numbers Yesterday, and Spell Checking After I filed TNDJ, I started the day yesterday by spell checking the complete (thus far) 2024 Journal Archives. I was surprised. The process took about 15 minutes or a little longer. Of course, I caught glimpses here and there of what I’d written. MAN there’s a lot of knowledge in those posts, from January 2, 2024 all the way through to October 23, 2024. This year’s archive alone is already 297,869 words in 914 pages. And that’s not including … Read more

In today’s Journal * Quote of the Day * Three Great Resources for Writers * An Interesting Writing Day * Please Think Long and Hard * Of Interest * The Numbers Quote of the Day “The strength of fiction is series and hooking readers into a series.” Dave Chesson (the Kindlepreneur) in an interview (see Of Interest) Three Great Resources for Writers All writers are different, so I’m not gonna talk about these. I just want to mention them and provide the links. You can explore each of them on your own: Alliance of Independent Authors (ALLI) Selfpublishingadvice.org/ratings​​ (Also from … Read more

In today’s Journal * The Bradbury Challenge Writers Reporting * Typos Happen * Once in a Blue Moon * Of Interest * The Numbers The Bradbury Challenge Writers Reporting I really wish more of you guys would jump into this. C’mon, show us what you’ve got. The whole point 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. (I’m no longer keeping track of your longer fiction. Too erratic.) During the past week, in addition to whatever other fiction they’re writing, the following … Read more

In today’s Journal * Ten Years Ago Yesterday * Every Decision Leads to a New Future * Of Interest * The Numbers Ten Years Ago Yesterday On October 19, 2014, I started writing what would become my first novel, Leaving Amarillo. I also published the first official edition of the Journal on that date. The novel wrapped with 40,610 words on November 10, 2014 (23 days). Although it was my first novel, it ended up being the fourth of the twenty-two books that comprise The Wes Crowley Saga. So yesterday was kind of a major anniversary for me. And yet … Read more

In today’s Journal * A New Short Story * Bradbury Reminder * Given the Ability to Split My Soul * The Numbers A New Short Story “Blue Bell and the Roses”went live yesterday at 10 a.m. on my Stanbrough Writes Substack. It’s a great story (strictly my opinion as a reader). Go check it out. As always, if you enjoy it, please tell Everyone. If you don’t, shhh! (grin) Bradbury Reminder Today is Saturday. Just a reminder to get your story info in to me before the Journal goes live on Monday. Remember, if you finish a story earlier in … Read more

In today’s Journal * Quote of the Day * You Have Achieved Great Things * Of Interest * The Numbers You Have Achieved Great Things So is this an inspirational message or a butt-chewing? That depends strictly on your perception. I have my own opinion, but I’m only the writer. Whatever it is, it’s a long one, so settle in. I’m one of those annoying people. I’m one of those who, if I’ve done a thing before, I know I can do it again. Shrug. Call me crazy. And thanks to Jim G for reminding me of this yesterday. And … Read more