In Today’s Journal * Writing Nonfiction to Instruct and Entertain * Of Interest Writing Nonfiction to Instruct and Entertain A few days ago I mentioned receiving an email from Andrew S that served as a partial catalyst for this series of posts. This post addresses Andrew’s request for advice on how to write “short, pithy, quality articles.” In his email, he also wrote that he sometimes still struggles with tag lines for dialogue. Tag lines really are inconsequential. Beyond including them only when they’re absolutely necessary to avoid reader confusion, the writer should show them no more concern than the … Read more

In Today’s Journal * My Quote of the Day * A Flash Autobiography, Part 2 * Right Now, Today * Of Interest My Quote of the Day “There is a certain dignity in owning one’s afflictions and abiding them in silence. To proclaim suffering is to lessen the benefit.” A Flash Autobiography, Part 2 The Transition into Writing and TNDJ After I met Dean Wesley Smith sometime between 1995 and 2004, the conference gigs continued. I was still writing poetry and song lyrics and essays, and I was also teaching as an adjunct instructor in three different programs at the … Read more

In Today’s Journal * My Quote of the Day * A Flash Autobiography, Part 1 * Of Interest My Quote of the Day “After I forced my way through the birth canal, I decided that was more than enough work. Everything I’ve done since then has been sheer pleasure. Why would I ever retire?” A Flash Autobiography, Part 1 I intended to knock this out in a single post, but the essay grew to almost 2000 words. That’s too much, so instead I’m breaking it into two segments: Part 1, The Prelude and Practice; and Part 2, The Transition into … Read more

In Today’s Journal * Quotes of the Day * Catalysts, and What’s Coming * Of Interest * The Numbers Quotes of the Day “No one cares if you write – So you’d better.” Anne Lamott “Almost everything will work again if you unplug it for a few minutes, including you.” Anne Lamott Thanks to Dave T for the quotes of the day. Catalysts, and What’s Coming This post and the next few were predicated by two emails from two writer friends: Dave and Andrew. I received the first email a couple of weeks ago from Dave, and something he wrote in … Read more

In Today’s Journal * The Bradbury Challenge Report * The Value of a Challenge * A New Short Story * My Own Writing * Of Interest * The Numbers The Bradbury Challenge Report Participating in any challenge is a great way to have fun and grow as a writer. The requirement is to write at least one short story per week, then let me know the title, word count, and genre per the format below. During the past week, the following writers wrote these new stories: Erin Donoho (No report this week) Vanessa V. Kilmer “Flip Phone Fantasies” 3027 Syfy … Read more

In Today’s Journal * Quotes of the Day * About Writing Historical Fiction: Response * Of Interest * The Numbers Quotes of the Day “Fiction is so much fun and I find more truth in fiction than a lot of history.” Robert Calverley “Everybody else is working to change, persuade, tempt and control them. The best readers come to fiction to be free of all that noise.” Philip Roth About Writing Historical Fiction: Response Note: Because I’ve been an instructor for so long, when I receive an email I often (and sometimes wrongly) leap to the conclusion that the writer … Read more

In Today’s Journal * About Writing Historical Fiction * Of Interest * The Numbers About Writing Historical Fiction A guest post by Robert Calverley Note: What follows is an email I received from Bob Calverley, who suggested it might make a good guest post. I agreed because fiction writers in any genre can learn from fiction writers in any other genre. Many aspects of the fiction writing craft are applicable across genres. I hope you’ll glean some gems from this. In tomorrow’s issue of TNDJ I’ll post my response. I used to live in the Upper Peninsula of Michigan so … Read more

In Today’s Journal * My Quote of the Day * Extra Words Matter * The Bradbury Challenge Report * A New Short Story * An Annoyance from a Lazy Dumba—uh, Person * How Find Me Lost Me * Next Up * Of Interest * The Numbers My Quote of the Day “Treading water in pursuit of perfection is always a regrettable waste of time and the best possible way to ensure literary death by drowning.” Harvey Extra Words Matter (or Humorous and Wrong-Headed Quote of the Day) “Should men EVER be allowed in women’s locker rooms with other girls?” taken … Read more

In Today’s Journal * Quote of the Day * Touching Base * Of Interest * The Numbers Quote of the Day “You’ve got to learn your instrument. Then you practice, practice, practice. And then when you finally get up there on the bandstand, forget all that and just wail.” Jazz saxophonist Charlie Parker Touching Base I have to admit, not publishing TNDJ every day seems weird. On the other hand, I’m getting a lot of other things done. I’ve often said I sometimes wish I could go back to the beginning, when I was just learning (finally, in my early … Read more

In Today’s Journal * Quote of the Day * The Bradbury Challenge Report * The Collector * I’m Not Completely Gone * A New Short Story * Of Interest * The Numbers Quote of the Day “Never give up on something you can’t go a day without thinking about.” Jenn Windrow The Bradbury Challenge Report Participating in any challenge is a great way to have fun and grow as a writer. The requirement is to write at least one short story per week, then let me know the title, word count, and genre per the format below. During the past … Read more