Correction, and Dean Wesley Smith

In today’s Journal

* Quotes of the Day
* Correction
* Dean Wesley Smith
* The Writing
* Of Interest

Quotes of the Day

“There is no exception to the rule that every rule has an exception.” James Thurber

“I distrust plot for two reasons: first, because our lives are largely plotless, even when you add in all our reasonable precautions and careful planning; and second, because I believe plotting and the spontaneity of real creation aren’t compatible.” Stephen King

“Creative life is absurdly short. I want to cram in as much as I can.” Stephen King

Correction

Or rather an addition. One more Bradbury Challenge writer turned in his entry in plenty of time, but because I was working from two different forms, I failed to include his info in yesterday’s post.

I corrected that oversight yesterday in the actual Journal (https://hestanbrough.com), but once a post is sent via Substack you can’t correct it and send again. Here’s the omitted entry:

Tony DeCastro, “Goode’s Field Road,” 6000 words

We have nine writers openly participating in the challenge now. I hope others are participating in the shadows without bothering to report their numbers.

Dean Wesley Smith

posted his first numbers in the Dean Challenge on his website in the sidebar of today’s post (see “Of Interest”). You can read about and buy into his challenge or his half-challenge at https://deanwesleysmith.com/challenge-starts/.

I told him in a comment a few days ago I would be shadowing him, so just for grins, for the same two days I posted 2180 (Journal) + 1457 (short-short story) = 3637. So I edged him for his first posting of  3050 words.

But I’m more interested in fiction numbers. He’s posting “consumable words,” meaning fiction and nonfiction (blog). I keep track of that on my productivity spreadsheet and here in the Journal, but for me that’s more of a month by month comparison.

The Writing

Having rested Sunday afternoon, I took off all of Monday and rested then too. Today I’ll get back to the writing. I hope to report some really good fiction numbers tomorrow and every day thereafter.

Talk with you again soon.

Of Interest

See “Lifetime Subscription to Everything!” at https://deanwesleysmith.com/lifetime-subscription-to-everything/. Yes, you read that right. And the half-price sale is still running.

See “Mystery Cover Trends…” at https://killzoneblog.com/2023/04/mystery-cover-trendsthe-bold-and-the-beautiful.html.

See “Yes, I Know How Hard It Is” at https://www.thepassivevoice.com/yes-i-know-how-hard-it-is/. See PG’s apt take.

The Numbers

The Journal…………………………………… 390

Writing of Wes Crowley: Deputy US Marshal 2 (WCG9SF4)

Day 1…… 3231 words. Total words to date…… 3231
Day 2…… 2990 words. Total words to date…… 6221
Day 3…… 1805 words. Total words to date…… 8026
Day 4…… 2025 words. Total words to date…… 10051
Day 5…… 1451 words. Total words to date…… 11502
Day 6…… 1886 words. Total words to date…… 13388
Day 7…… 2002 words. Total words to date…… 15390
Day 8…… 1060 words. Total words to date…… 16450

Total fiction words for April……… 1457
Total fiction words for 2023………… 67645
Total nonfiction words for April… 3110
Total nonfiction words for the year…… 65370
Total words for the year (fiction and this blog)…… 133015

Calendar Year 2023 Novels to Date…………………… 1
Calendar Year 2023 Novellas to Date……………… 0
Calendar Year 2023 Short Stories to Date… 3
Novels (since Oct 19, 2014)…………………………………… 72
Novellas (since Nov 1, 2015)………………………………… 9
Short stories (since Apr 15, 2014)………………… 220
Short story collections……………………………………………… 31

Disclaimer: Because It Makes Sense, I preach trusting your characters to tell the story that they, not you, are living. See https://hestanbrough.com/the-daily-journal-archives-gifts-dvds/ for free stuff on writing.