In today’s Journal
* One More Post on the Bradbury Challenge
* My First Story
* Come On In
* Of Interest
One More Post on the Bradbury Challenge
This is to follow up on two earlier posts. If you haven’t read those, I recommend you read them now:
First see “A New Personal Challenge” at https://hestanbrough.com/a-new-personal-challenge/ and then “Fears About the Challenge” at https://hestanbrough.com/fears-about-the-challenge/.
So why one more post on the challenge? Mostly for fun. I really had to laugh. After my second post (above) I received a few comments and several emails yesterday and this morning asking how I could possibly know the exact fears the conscious, critical mind handed to several different folks.
Well, I knew because my own critical mind tried to BS me into believing those same fears. Which just goes to show you we all are subject to the same unreasoning fears. That’s why I’m able to talk straight with you and help you overcome them.
My First Story
Awhile back I started a story (or novel or something) titled “Hortencia Alvarez.” The character still intrigued me when I came up with this challenge, so I still wanted to write about her, but I didn’t want to use anything I’d written before.
So yesterday I wrote the first part “The Writing of Hortencia Alvarez,” a metaphysical short story featuring both the writer of the story and the characters. I don’t think I’ve ever written a story like this before in which the writer is also a character. Great fun. I recommend trying it for yourself.
Although the story didn’t wrap as quickly and cleanly as I would have liked, it still feels really great to have taken that first step and be on the streak path again. I can only barely wait to see what will unfold from here.
Come On In
Several writers are enrolled in the challenge now, and there’s plenty of room for more. It’s a great way to push yourself or give yourself a gentle nudge without it costing you anything.
And of course, anyone can jump in at any time. Every Monday, I’ll report the names of the writers, the title of the story, a link to buy or read the story (if available) and the word count for the story.
Participants can report any time after they finish a story. Send me the story title, the final word count, and the buy link or viewing link if you have one.
If you happen to finish more than one story in a week, send me that information on both or all of them.
Talk with you again soon.
Of Interest
See “Kickstarter Campaign” at https://deanwesleysmith.com/kickstarter-campaign/. Posting this mostly because it has info about Kickstarter campaigns.
See “Scientists develop ‘cosmic concrete’ to construct habitats on Mars” at https://interestingengineering.com/innovation/cosmic-concrete-construct-habitats-mars. I did something similar (but on Luna) in my novel In the Siberian Fields.
The Numbers
The Journal…………………………………… 480 words
Writing of “The Writing of Hortencia Alvarez” (short story)
Day 1…… 2164 words. Total words to date…… 2164
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
Total fiction words for March……… 5501
Total fiction words for 2023………… 58325
Total nonfiction words for March… 14620
Total nonfiction words for the year…… 55950
Total words for the year (fiction and this blog)…… 114275
Calendar Year 2023 Novels to Date…………………… 1
Calendar Year 2023 Novellas to Date……………… 0
Calendar Year 2023 Short Stories to Date… 0
Novels (since Oct 19, 2014)…………………………………… 72
Novellas (since Nov 1, 2015)………………………………… 9
Short stories (since Apr 15, 2014)………………… 217
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 My Best Advice for Fiction Writers at https://hestanbrough.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/12/My-Best-Advice-for-Fiction-Writers.pdf.