Daily Journal

In today’s Journal * Memory from a Writer’s Conference * Of Interest * The Numbers Memory from a Writer’s Conference Thanks to James Bell of The Kill Zone blog (see “Of Interest”) for serving as the catalyst for this memory There was a time when I was asked to speak at several writer’s conferences all over the nation and in Canada. At one of the larger conferences — I want to say it was in Tucson, Houston, or Oklahoma City but it might have been anywhere — I was hanging out in the lobby after a preentation. Everywhere around me, … Read more

In today’s Journal * Quotes of the Day * A Quick Survey * A New Story * The Writing and a Visit * Reminder * Of Interest * The Numbers Quotes of the Day “In my writing, I can go where I can’t go in real life. … When I sit down to write, the characters take the reins. It’s the healthiest form of possession I can think of….” Anonymous Note: The above quote is from an email I received a few days ago. I wanted to share with you part of the wisdom the writer passed along. “Studying the … Read more

In today’s Journal * Quotes of the Day * A Tip From Yer Uncle Harv * A Final Word (and Offer) on Blackwell Ops 11 * As a Publisher, Stick With What You Know * Of Interest * The Numbers Quotes of the Day “An audiobook requires a narrator. Absent a contract stating differently, the narrator has exclusive rights to the audio narration he/she has performed.” PG in a comment on a post linked in “Of Interest” “I write when I’m inspired, and I see to it that I’m inspired at nine o’clock every morning.” Peter DeVries DeVries apparently stole … Read more

In today’s Journal * Quotes of the Day * Welcome * The Writing * A Few Tips onCover Design * New Back Matter Novel Disclaimers * Of Interest * The Numbers Quotes of the Day “With the hell that exists all around us, how valuable are a few days of heaven?” Aliya, a significant character in Blackwell Ops 11: More Jeremy Stiles “Everything is habit-forming, so make sure what you do is what you want to be doing.” Wilt Chamberlain Hey George K, sound familiar? (grin) Having fun is the key. Welcome Welcome to Katherine and to any other new … Read more

In today’s Journal * Quotes of the Day * Welcome * My Final Word on Generative AI * Finished the Novel * Of Interest * The Numbers Quotes of the Day “If you want a happy ending, that depends, of course, on where you stop your story.” Orson Welles “You gain strength, courage, and confidence by every experience in which you really stop to look fear in the face.” Eleanor Roosevelt Welcome Welcome to Philip T and to any other new subscribers or readers of the Journal. I hope you will find it useful. Be sure to check out the … Read more

In today’s Journal * Quotes of the Day * From Yer Uncle Harv — Suspense * On Setting Goals and Being Prolific * Of Interest * The Numbers Quotes of the Day “No fathers or mothers think their own children ugly; and this self-deceit is even stronger with respect to the offspring of the mind.” Miguel de Cervantes “If you stuff yourself full of poems, essays, plays, stories, novels, films, comic strips, magazines, music, you automatically explode every morning like Old Faithful.” Ray Bradbury “The first step to being a writer is to hitch your unconscious mind to your writing … Read more

In today’s Journal * Quotes of the Day * From Yer Uncle Harv * Acting Out (guest post) * Bradbury Challenge Writers Reporting * Of Interest * The Numbers Quotes of the Day “We realize the importance of our voices only when we are silenced.” Malala Yousafzai, women and girl’s education activist “Lovers of print [paper books] are simply confusing the plate for the food. Douglas Adams From Yer Uncle Harv Point of View — Remember that the narrator can describe only what the POV character can see, hear, smell, taste, feel (physically or emotionally) and think. Yes, even if … Read more

In today’s Journal * Quotes of the Day * Reminder * The Value of Cycling * How Series Come About for WITD Writers * Of Interest * The Numbers Reminder You folks writing for the Bradbury Challenge, get your stories in to me before midnight tonight (Sunday). Shameless Someone-Else Promotion K.C. Riggs’ long-awaited sequel to The Widow’s Circle (trust me, this is not about ladies sitting around sewing quilts) is available now. Get yout copy of The Widow’s Circle: Going to Ground today! Hint: Like me, this excellent writer writes into the dark. (grin) The Value of Cycling Each morning … Read more

In today’s Journal * Reminder * A New Story * Update on Yesterday’s Kindle Vella Caution * Reader Attention Span * Of Interest * The Numbers Reminder You folks writing for the Bradbury Challenge, get your stories in before midnight tomorrow (Sunday). A New Story “Mr. Sloan and the Crone” published yesterday on my Stanbrough Writes Substack. I think it’s kind of a PI metaphysical romance thing, but I don’t know. I do know it contains a few typos, including a shift at one place from first to third person. (grin) Email me at harveystanbrough@gmail.com with any of those typos … Read more

In today’s Journal * Tips on Writing from Yer Uncle Harv * Welcome * Useful Comments * Caution on Kindle Vella * Of Interest * The Numbers Tips on Writing from Yer Uncle Harv If you want to follow the age-old (and wrong) advice to start in the middle of the action, do that. But then back up a little. What happened just before the action started? What is the setting? Who are the characters in the immediate vicinity? Write that through the POV character’s (not your) physical and emotional senses before the action. Then skip ahead to the white … Read more