Daily Journal

In today’s Journal * Introduction * A Moustache Hair Delivered This Post * Of Interest * The Numbers Introduction I have no way of knowing whether you’ve noticed, but sometimes events conspire and line up just right. Turns out I finished a novel on Friday, and then my bride (she prefers to remain anonymous, so we’ll call her “Mona”) returned home on yesterday after a week or so away visiting with her sisters in California. Hence this post on Sunday. One sister flew out here from Indiana. We’ll call her “Dory.” She visited with us for a few days before … Read more

In today’s Journal * Quote of the Day * Genre Schmanre * Limited Time Book Giveaway * Writing Better Fiction * The Mentorships * Of Interest * The Numbers Quote of the Day “The country’s first utility-scale quantum computer is slated to be built on the site of a former steel mill in Chicago’s South Side.” Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson, according to “Quantum Leap in Chicago,” an article in the July 26 edition of the 1440 Daily Digest, a newsletter. For some reason, that first sentence sent a chilling sense of forboding up along my spine. Several story ideas sprang … Read more

In today’s Journal * BettyPam vs. the Individual Person * An Early Reminder * Of Interest * The Numbers BettyPam vs. the Individual Person a guest post by Dan Baldwin I am fortunate enough to write articles and features on interesting and often fascinating people and organizations. In some cases I am required to work with an executive-level person who must fact check the piece. Executives are busy people and many have a female executive secretary who works closely with her boss. She is sometimes the infamous gate keeper in terms of getting a meeting with the boss. In many … Read more

In today’s Journal * Quote of the Day * A Note on Openings * A Quick Note on Pacing * A Writer Shares * A Note on Mentorships and Scheduling * Of Interest * The Numbers Quote of the Day “For fiction to work–for it to feel right–countless tiny elements have to come together in a manner so seamless that readers are unaware that they are being manipulated.” John Gilstrap (see Of Interest) Part 3: A Note on Openings A good while back I mentioned taking your time as it pertains to writing openings, especially the “big” one at the … Read more

In today’s Journal * The Bradbury Challenge Writers Reporting * Mentioning Other Authors * The Numbers The Bradbury Challenge Writers Reporting To take part, write at least one short story per week, then submit the story title, word count, and genre to me each week for publication in the Journal on Monday. The whole point is to have fun and grow as a writer. You can join or rejoin the challenge at any time. There’s no cost. You can even do it on your own, without reporting numbers to me or anyone else. During the past week, in addition to … Read more

In today’s Journal * Quote of the Day * Yesterday, and YouTube * The New Daily Journal * Zoom * Alternatives * Of Interest * The Numbers Quote of the Day ‘Are you an original or a copy?” Dr. Mardy Grothe (title of his current Quotes of the Week) Yesterday, and YouTube Yesterday I mentioned possibly offering live seminars or workshops via Zoom or some other interactive platform. One writer wondered in an email why I don’t do something similar on my YouTube channel. Good question. To me YouTube seems more a venue for one-way, regularly scheduled (say weekly or … Read more

In today’s Journal * A New Short Story * Zoom Workshops? * Bradbury Challenge Reminder * Correction on The Numbers * Of Interest * The Numbers A New Short Story “The Odd Task” went live yesterday on my Stanbrough Writes Substack. Go check it out. If you enjoy it, tell Everyone. If you don’t, shhh! (grin) Zoom Workshops? One writer, responding to my reminiscence and complaint in yesterday’s post regarding how much I miss teaching live seminars, suggested “if I’m serious,” I might consider teaching workshops or seminars remotely on Zoom. First, yeah, I’m serious about missing the live interaction … Read more

In today’s Journal * I Got Nothin’ * The Numbers I Got Nothin’ I’ve been in a TNDJ flurry recently. Most of the last 10 years, really, since I first started The Journal. Click this link to find the free, searchable PDF archives. I love teaching, but I really miss teaching live seminars. I miss the instant feedback, the questions and comments, etc. I miss the opportunity to correct a misunderstanding or misinterpretation on the spot. Sometimes I miss it like air. That’s been on my mind a lot lately. But I also feel a little helpless to do anything … Read more