My Name Ain’t Nobody

In today’s Journal

* Quote of the Day
* Only Three Days Left
* My Name Ain’t Nobody (guest post)
* Of Interest
* The Numbers

Quote of the Day

“Thus far I’ve doubled my royalties since last year. And it’s all because I made a plan and stuck with it. ” Vin Zandri (see Of Interest)

Only Three Days Left

before I switch over to The New Daily Journal. Those who choose to remain free subscribers after May 31st will still receive the Journal, but only occasionally.

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Beginning on July 1, the rate will increase to $5 per month or $60 per annum. (Stripe’s minumum monthly subscription rate.) Of course, current paid subscribers will be grandfathered-in.

My Name Ain’t Nobody

guest post by Dan Baldwin

I recently heard a young writer (young in terms of writing experience) complain that “nobody knows me, so I’ll never make it as a published writer.”
That last bit about making it may be true; success depends on many factors. But being a nobody isn’t one of them unless the writer decides to make it so.

At one time nobody had ever heard of Mark Twain, Hemingway, Harper Lee, Jack Kerouac, Isaac Asimov, or Stephen King. Each of us as writers start from the same starting line of public awareness.

Awareness requires the writer to accomplish five basic tasks.

Task number one is to write a good story. That’s easy in the sense that writing is a joy; it’s the easiest job in the world.

Writing does require discipline. That’s right, to enjoy — and I mean to really enjoy — the fun of writing, you have to have a daily schedule and you have to stick to it.

Writing well is a skill that develops over time and it’s a skill that improves with age. The more you write, the better writer you become.

Task number two is to share the wealth. The worst judge of a writer’s work [good or bad] is the writer. Whether or not a story is successful depends on the readers, on the market.

It’s important for the writer to forget any qualms about being good or successful or recognized. Publish! Put the work on the market, forget about it, and move on to the next story.

Task number three is to become your own force multiplier. A force multiplier is something that increases the power of a single person, unit, or army.

A writer’s force multiplier is his ability to produce more work. One-hit-wonders occur, but that’s no way to earn a living, support a lifestyle, or become known as a successful writer.

Once a reader finds your story — and some will — they will want more. It’s the writer’s job to make sure that reader’s desire for more is fulfilled. If he can’t find more of your work, he’ll move on to someone who is more disciplined and who produces sequels, prequels, and a continual stream of new works.

Task number four is to play the long game. That’s just the way it is. Publishing today is easier, faster, and more profitable for the author than at any time in history, but the writer seeking the fast buck and fame will be disappointed.

I can write a novel and have it published around the world within 30-45 days of handing the manuscript over to my designer/formatter. That’s fast. But my thinking is never focused on weeks or months. I think in terms of years. And I mean five years-down-the-road thinking.

Task number five is to call your own shots. Several factors are involved. As noted, you must write to a schedule. study writing, publishing, marketing, and something completely removed from writing (to keep your mind stimulated).

Learn the ins and outs of publishing. The publishing world is still in turmoil over the indie publishing revolution. As hustler Tony Curtis said in Operation Petticoat, “In confusion, there is profit.” Thanks to this confusion, writers have more options than ever. Use them to your advantage.

Learn all you can about contracts and copyrights, covers and formatting, promotion and marketing. This effort takes time and that’s all part of playing the long game.

Remember, each of us starts from the same place of anonymity at the literary starting line. How far you go after the starter’s gun depends solely on you.

Thanks, Dan! Great post.

Talk with you again soon.

Of Interest

Make a Plan Seems to go hand-in-hand with today’s guest post

Map Shows Local Versions of The Boogeyman From Around the World Handy for some writers. Mexico also has the chupacabra (goat sucker).

What Is the Citizenship of a Baby Born on an International Flight?

The Numbers

The Journal……………………………… 800

Writing of When the Owl Calls (novel)

Day 1…… 1884 words. To date…… 1884
Day 2…… 3699 words. To date…… 5583
Day 3…… 2086 words. To date…… 7669
Day 4…… 3167 words. To date…… 10836
Day 5…… 4011 words. To date…… 14847
Day 6…… 1724 words. To date…… 16571

Fiction for May…………………….….… 33801
Fiction for 2024…………………………. 337586
Fiction since October 1………………… 640643
Nonfiction for May……………………… 27190
Nonfiction for 2024…………………… 181530
2024 consumable words……………… 519116

2024 Novels to Date……………………… 8
2024 Novellas to Date…………………… 0
2024 Short Stories to Date……………… 1
Novels (since Oct 19, 2014)……………… 90
Novellas (since Nov 1, 2015)…………… 9
Short stories (since Apr 15, 2014)……… 239
Short story collections…………………… 29

Disclaimer: I am a prolific professional fiction writer. On this blog I teach Writing Into the Dark and adherence to Heinlein’s Rules. Unreasoning fear and the myths of writing are lies, and they will slow your progress as a writer or stop you cold. I will never teach the myths on this blog.

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