The Journal: Yesterday and Thoughts on Burnout

In today’s Journal * Quote of the Day * Topic: Yesterday and Thoughts on Burnout * Today * Of Interest * The Numbers Quote of the Day “I may never become a millionaire through my writing, but it makes me richer every time I put fingers to keyboard.” Adela Crandell Durkee Topic: Yesterday and Thoughts on Burnout No writing yesterday as it turned out. I did a few chores, went to the grocery and the post office, and on my return my little girl cat wanted me to spend some time with her. So I did. Writing fiction is important, … Read more

The Journal: Writing Sales Copy (Book Descriptions)

In today’s Journal * Topic: Some Stuff on Writing Sales Copy * Today * Of Interest * The Numbers Topic: Some Stuff on Writing Sales Copy To clarify, when I say “sales copy,” I’m talking about the book description that goes on the cover of your print book and/or that accompanies your cover on Amazon, B&N, Kobo, Smashwords and anyplace else where your book is for sale. A few days ago, a mentoring student and I talked in some depth about sales copy for her new novel. Later, she sent me two options to look over. I made very few … Read more

The Journal: The Ornery Little Comma

In today’s Journal * Quote of the Day * Topic: The Ornery Little Comma * Today * Of Interest * The Numbers Quote of the Day “The euphoria of self-publishing has worn off. … eBook Publishing, in general, seems to have stabilized.” Emily Harstone for AuthorsPublish. This is good news for those of us for whom writing and self-publishing is part of a business plan instead of a get-rich-quick scheme to make a quick buck. Topic: The Ornery Little Comma Note: I wrote this topic to fill a rotation slot in the PWW blog later this month, but I thought … Read more

The Journal: A Note From My Mother, and Naysayers

In today’s Journal * Quote of the Day * Sorry… but * Topic: A Note From My Mother * Bonus Topic: Don’t Listen to the Naysayers (and Don’t Be One) * Today * Of Interest * The Numbers Quote of the Day “Importance is the worst thing you can put on any kind of creativity. As soon as you think it’s important, you’re dead.” Jerry Seinfeld Topic: A Note From My Mother if I had one with me as I appear before you again, would read, “Please excuse Harvey’s recent absence. But just so you know, he is untenable so … Read more

The Journal: Production

In today’s Journal * Yesterday I raved * Topic: Production * Today * Of Interest * The Numbers Yesterday I raved about Kris Rusch’s post on licensing in Patreon. I recommended signing up for her Patreon account. As a result (go figure), today she made that post public. I still recommend subscribing to her Patreon account. Again, it’s only $5 per month for all her Patreon content. But you get to read Business Musings: Die Hard (Licensing) today. See “Of Interest.” Great post. You might want to read it a couple of times. Topic: Production An email from another writer … Read more

The Journal: Kris Rusch, A New WIP, and Today

In today’s Journal * Quote of the Day * Topic: Kris Rusch’s Patreon Page * Smashwords is patening new technology * Today * I’ve also had a few questions * Of Interest * The Numbers Quote of the Day Via my friend Bob Calverley, “Bad books on writing tell you to ‘WRITE WHAT YOU KNOW’, a solemn and totally false adage that is the reason there exist so many mediocre novels about English professors contemplating adultery.” Joe Haldeman, author of The Forever War and Vietnam vet Topic: Kris Rusch’s Patreon Page Because of the way the world is today, I’ll … Read more

The Journal: Learning Never Stops

In today’s Journal * Quote of the Day * Topic: The Learning Never Stops * Today * A Note in Passing * Of Interest * The Numbers Quote of the Day “The key to all story endings is to give the audience what it wants, but not the way it expects.” William Goldman Topic: The Learning Never Stops Seriously. And if you pursue knowledge of any particular topic, then mull over that knowledge, realizations come quickly and often. This will be a thought-process post. A little insight into what goes on in my head during pretty much every waking moment. … Read more

The Journal: Today, and All That Entails

In today’s Journal * Today * Of Interest * The Numbers Today I’m posting this primarily to get the “Of Interest” items out to you. I’m not sure yet what the day will hold. Some learning, certainly, almost certainly more work on licensing projects and maybe on my shared world bibles. And a couple of new story ideas (and a couple of older ones) have been nagging me over the past few days. Decisions, decisions. And then there are things I want. Like I want to set or re-set some new goals. I’ve been wanting to start writing at least … Read more

The Journal: Quotes of the Day and Where Did It All Go?

In today’s Journal * Quotes of the Day * It’s December 1—2019! * Today * Of Interest * The Numbers Quotes of the Day “Mail your first draft. Publish your first draft. That book you’ve rewritten 15 times? Go back to the first draft. Publish that one. Because that’s your authentic voice. That’s the one you haven’t interfered with at all.” Kristine Kathryn Rusch at the 20BooksTo50K conference “Behavior presents as it does for a reason. It’s more than complex. It’s the way a life goes.” Mauro Altamura, an extra on the set of the Netflix original, The Irishman, a … Read more

The Journal: Licensing and Everything Else

In today’s Journal * Quote of the Day * Topic: Licensing and Everything Else * Today * Of Interest * The Numbers Quote of the Day “I’m thankful there are people out there who read what I write and who like what I make. I’m very lucky, and I know it.” Neil Gaiman Topic: Licensing and Everything Else DWS has said many times that licensing is a process, one that takes time. It has occurred to me that how long it takes from concept to actual production seems even longer when compared to the ability of today’s writers to write … Read more