The Journal: How to Learn Fiction-Writing Techniques

In today’s Journal * Quote of the Day * Topic: How to Learn Fiction-Writing Techniques * Today * Of Interest * The Numbers Quote of the Day “[W]hat the character notices and how s/he notices something are reflections of who s/he is.” Michaele Lockhart Topic: How to Learn Fiction-Writing Techniques This topic arose from an email I received a few days ago. What appears below is my expanded response. If you want to learn new fiction-writing techniques and improve your craft, 1. Take in-person or online video or audio courses from knowledgeable sources. By knowledgeable sources, I mean folks with … Read more

The Journal: The New World of Publishing

In today’s Journal * Quote of the Day * Topic: The New World of Publishing * Today * Of Interest * The Numbers Quote of the Day “Doing has always been a binary choice; to do or not do. … Revel when you can in the celestial creative mind.” Robert J. Sadler Topic: The New World of Publishing Yeah, I know. Digital publishing and ebooks have been around awhile now. But every now and then I’m reminded why I still love this new world of publishing. An attentive reader who is also a successful professional writer pointed out that my … Read more

The Journal: On Routines

In today’s Journal * Quotes of the Day * Topic: On Routines * Today * Of Interest * The Numbers Quotes of the Day “I do the best I can with every thing I write. … I just don’t care what others think about the final product and I have fun, and those two things keep critical voice at bay for me.” Dean Wesley Smith “If you set a goal of 500 or 1,000 words and you keep it every day, you feel as if you have accomplished something.” Amanda Patterson in a post for Writers Write Topic: On Routines … Read more

The Journal: A Ton More on Critical Voice

In today’s Journal * Quotes of the Day * Thanks and a request * Today * Of Interest * The Numbers Quotes of the Day “[T]he fun is that you can do anything you want because no one cares and it’s just fun and entertainment. The writers who really, really embrace that are often the most successful because not only do they not know where they are going (or care), their readers don’t know and love the ride.” Dean Wesley Smith in a comment to another writer “[F]ear does kill fun. No doubt about that, except on roller coasters, when … Read more

The Journal: How to Push Back the Critical Voice

In today’s Journal * Quotes of the Day * Topic: How to Push Back the Critical Voice * Today * Of Interest * The Numbers Quotes of the Day “I would rather dance barefoot on a bed of nails than outline a novel. I know some writers find outlining essential. To me, outlining feels artificial, as if I’m moving characters around like chess pieces. I’m a terrible chess player. Not so good at checkers, either.” Dean Koontz on Twitter (courtesy Phillip McCollum) “[W]riters must look at writing like they look at reading other writer’s works. They must go to story … Read more

The Journal: I Don’t Mean to Sound Harsh But

In today’s Journal * Quotes of the Day * Over on Pro Writers Writing * Wanting to share, Subscriber Finn wrote * Had a very enjoyable visit * Topic: I Don’t Mean to Sound Harsh But * Today * Of Interest * The Numbers Quotes of the Day “I think it actually helps with the creativity to know that I don’t have time to think. Whatever comes out, that’s it. And that tends to be some of the best stuff and some of the most authentic stuff.” Sean Petrie of the Typewriter Rodeo “[Rewriting is] a belief in process rather … Read more

The Journal: Busting Some Myths for a New Writer

In today’s Journal * The topic for today and why I’m here * Topic: Busting Some Myths for a New Writer * Today * Of Interest * The Numbers The topic for today (and a few more) were recommended to me in an email from a writer (RG) who joined our Journal family fairly recently. Some parts of the topic will be old hat to some of you, but I encourage you to read it anyway. You never know what particular phrase will strike a chord. I hadn’t planned to write a Journal entry at all today, but I appreciate … Read more

The Journal: Quotes, Finished, and I Don’t Share

In today’s Journal * Quotes of the Day * I don’t share * Today * Of Interest * The Numbers Quotes of the Day “I specialize in murders of quiet, domestic interest.” Agatha Christie “[I like] a story without ritual murder etc. or pulp. Straightforward murders and mob executions are OK.” Reader, in an email to me a few years ago I don’t share personal opinions that are not about writing very often. I almost did today, but decided (probably wisely) against it. I was going to comment on a truly stupid post I found on The Passive Guy’s website … Read more

The Journal: Almost Crickets and Copyright

In today’s Journal * Quote of the Day * Almost Crickets * Today * Of Interest * The Numbers Quote of the Day “First reason is that fiction writers just don’t need it much at all. Fiction writers can’t seem to find the time or energy to learn copyright, what they do need to learn.” Dean Wesley Smith on why he stopped writing the trademark book Buy and start getting through the NOLO Press Copyright Handbook by Stephen Fishman. Trust me. If you’re a writer, you need it. Almost crickets out there today in the cyber-world with regard to items … Read more

The Journal: Humans Are Weird

In today’s Journal * Quotes of the Day * In the Great News Department * Got Writing Chops? * Topic: Humans Are Weird * Today * Of Interest * The Numbers Quotes of the Day “Habits can get me to the keyboard, but they can also keep me away from it. When the habit becomes an ‘I can’t,’ then it’s time to re-evaluate the habit.” Kristine Kathryn Rusch “It is only when the latecomers [would-be writers] make the decision to be punctual [write] that they change. It must be a conscious decision; if they merely make a woolly attempt to … Read more