In Today’s Journal * One More Note… * A New Nonfiction Book? Nah… * Meanwhile, the Novel * Of Interest * The Numbers One More Note… on POV self-description and on the POV character speaking directly to the reader through narration. This is another note I sent a mentorship student yesterday. Like anyone else, I realize different things at different times, or update previous realizations later, or find another way to explain. In this particular story, the POV character is awakened by knocking on the door of his apartment, in which he also has a roommate: The POV character (or … Read more

In Today’s Journal * Flip-Flop * Professional Critiques * Of Interest * The Numbers Flip-Flop I didn’t plan to do this but I’m flip-flopping on my mentorship offer. I recently offered mentorships to all comers, but I’m rescinding that offer and closing down the mentorships again. Those currently in a mentorship can continue as long as they want, but I’m not taking on any new mentorship students. Why? Because as I was answering one student’s questions yesterday, it dawned on me that I really miss teaching live seminars and mentoring students one-on-one in person. Teaching live is interactive. In a … Read more

In Today’s Journal * My Quote of the Day * I Had Another Thought re POV Character Description * Another Thought on Scams, and Not Scams * Yesterday * Of Interest * The Numbers My Quote of the Day “The nasally lilt of his voice reminds me of Truman Capote combined with an ancient, whiskey-soaked barfly: whiny, but with the sound of heavy iron chains being dragged over gravel.” POV character Jack Striker in BO-53 I Had Another Thought re POV character description in a first-person narrative: Third-person limited omniscient (or full omniscient) narrative is by far the easier way … Read more

In Today’s Journal * My Quote of the Day * What’s Common to Different Genres and… * Mentorship Slots Open * Of Interest * The Numbers What’s Common to Different Genres and to Different Methods of Delivery (or Presentation) You want to read this. A young writer who was on my mentorship waiting list mentioned recently that she was going to switch from writing fiction (meaning short stories and novels) to writing screenplays. Of course, that’s fine. But as I told her, screenplays are still fiction. The only difference is the mode of delivery (or presentation). Now, I don’t mentor … Read more

In Today’s Journal * On POV Character Description * I’m Back in College * Of Interest * The Numbers On POV Character Description A writer friend recently asked a craft question: A lot of my short stories are in first person. It doesn’t feel natural to describe “myself” in the story. Setting, yes. The main character? Not so much. Any ideas for getting that into the story unobtrusively? A lot of the time it feels forced to include a description. I believe most writers struggle with this. I certainly have. And it isn’t always practical (or always a good idea) … Read more

In Today’s Journal * The TNDJ Challenges Report * As I Recently Told a Writer Friend * No Writing Yesterday * Of Interest * The Numbers The TNDJ Challenges Report The whole point of these challenges is to have fun and grow as a writer. There is no cost. Feel free to jump in at any time. Participating in any challenge is a way to drive yourself to the computer or legal pad and write fiction. It’s also a great way to build and maintain a streak. As if writing more and better fiction isn’t enough, I even offer prizes. … Read more

In Today’s Journal * A Day Off * On What Is “Customary” in Critiques * Of Interest * The Numbers A Day Off I know. A what? A day off? But yesterday, after I floated TNDJ in your general direction and constructed a cover and a promo doc and (what the hell) went ahead and published B0-52 (I can always upload a new document after I get feedback)…. I took a day off. Mona bought us a wood chipper, but we had to drive to Sierra Vista to pick it up. While we were there, we also dropped in at … Read more

In Today’s Journal * My Quote of the Day * Another Quote of the Day * A New Short Story * Your Morning Serial * The Novel Wrapped * It Isn’t Complicated or Complex * Of Interest * The Numbers My Quote of the Day “I’m a lucky guy. I trust the characters, and they always lead me through to the end. For my part, I always simply bear in mind that the characters, not I, are actually living the story so it isn’t mine to change. All I have to do is write what happens (as it happens) and … Read more

In Today’s Journal * Would You Like to Write TNDJ? * The Novel * Of Interest * The Numbers Would You Like to Write TNDJ? Not write ‘for it,’ but write TNDJ itself? Would you like to share your process and what you learn as you write with subscribers? If so, here’s your chance. It remains true that the best way to learn a topic is to teach it to others. I’ve been fortunate to see lots of little glimmers over the years. Glimmers of that ‘little light’ blinking on in the minds of other fiction writers. And all of … Read more

In Today’s Journal * Quote of the Day * In Case I Forget? * Another Minor Change, This Time in My Schedule * The Numbers * Of Interest * The Numbers Quote of the Day “At every moment, we always have a choice, even if it feels as if we don’t. Sometimes that choice may simply be to think a more positive thought.” Tina Turner In Case I Forget? For me, one day is pretty much like the next, filled with the excitement of running through a story with my characters, trying to keep up. So yesterday I wrote ‘in … Read more