In Today’s Journal * Quote of the Day * A Lesson from My Readjustment * On Wattpad * TNDJ Contests Reminder * Of Interest * The Numbers Quote of the Day “Practice, which some regard as a chore, should be approached as just about the most pleasant recreation ever devised.” Babe Didrikson Zaharias A Lesson from My Readjustment My readjustment’s working out, sort of. The other day, I mentioned I still wanted to write seven more novels this year. But I also want to write at least an opening for any idea that occurs to me while I’m writing the … Read more

In Today’s Journal * That Silly Post * Building Up * Storm Warning * A New Short Story * Of Interest * The Numbers That Silly Post Wow. That recent silly post on tag line verbs got more comments and emails than I’ve had in a while. Who knew updating and running an old evergreen post would cause such a reaction? Thanks to everyone who commented or emailed. Thanks also to those who noticed and pointed out that I included “quipped” in both the good list and the bad list. I’ve removed that word from the good list and left it … Read more

In Today’s Journal * Resetting Goals * Reaching a New Writing Plateau * Another Writer Sent Me This * Of Interest * The Numbers Resetting Goals Now that I’m writing a new novel, it’s time to look at my annual goals again. Back in October 2024 when I started putting out a novel every two weeks (that streak lasted through 21 novels in 42 weeks before I fell off it with Blackwell Ops 47) I set my sights on writing 22 novels during 2025. Although at that novel-every-two-weeks pace 26 novels should be possible in a 52-week year, I figured … Read more

In Today’s Journal * Blackwell Ops 47 * Blog Posts Are Letters * These Are Not Tag Line Verbs * Of Interest * The Numbers Blackwell Ops 47 Blackwell Ops 47: Sam Granger | Special Duty is live and available for preorder ($5.99) at Amazon and all the vendors supplied by Draft2Digital. If you’d rather not wait, you may also buy it now from my online discount store for only $5. Blog Posts Are Letters Some would probably be happier if I cut back the number of TNDJ issues I post each week. But this stuff isn’t fiction. It’s about … Read more

In Today’s Journal * Quote of the Day * Mastery of Craft, and Plagiarism vs. Writing Your Own Version * Of Interest * The Numbers Quote of the Day “Soul is when you take a song and make it a part of you—a part that’s so true, so real, people think it must have happened to you.” Ray Charles That is the definition of good fiction writing. H Mastery of Craft, and Plagiarism vs. Writing Your Own Version You noticed (I hope) there was no TNDJ on Sunday. That’s because I really didn’t have anything to pass along other than … Read more

In Today’s Journal * Quote of the Day * The TNDJ Challenges Report * Anybody Can Write * My Dedicated Writing ‘Puter * Of Interest * The Numbers Quote of the Day “That actually came to 2 short stories and I’m at the tail end of a novelette. Lots of fun. It also erased almost all of my critical mind because I am forced to get a lot more words on the page which leaves no time to second guess myself.” Chris Ridge re this week in the Run With Harvey Challenge The TNDJ Challenges Report The whole point of … Read more

In Today’s Journal * Quote of the Day * A New Short Story * TNDJ Contests Reminder * The Novel Wrapped! * Of Interest * The Numbers Quote of the Day “If you always do what interests you, at least one person is pleased.” Katharine Hepburn A New Short Story “Aspen Delaney” went live yesterday at 10 a.m. on my Stanbrough Writes Substack. Go check it out. It’s free. This is another short story set in the Blackwell Ops world. It’s kind of proof that Romance genre can exist within a Thriller novel. If you enjoy the story, please click … Read more

In Today’s Journal * Discover and Reveal Your Innermost Demons * Of Interest * The Numbers Discover and Reveal Your Innermost Demons Hey, I’ve got another challenge for you. This isn’t something you will report to me. I don’t want to know. This is intimate, just for you, and strictly between you and yourself. And as always, it’s something you should do only if you want to pick it up. Various masters have advised over the years to write what frightens you (at least S. King and Bradbury). One famous writer (I forget who, but maybe also Bradbury) advocated making … Read more

In Today’s Journal * Quote of the Day * On Focus in Pacing * The Numbers Quote of the Day “I just this moment finished the latest novel, a political thriller based on certain events in Dallas a few decades ago. As you know… whew! Time to take a long break to rest up, recuperate and build energy for the next one. I probably won’t start until after lunch.” Dan Baldwin, in a typical email to me at around 8 a.m. one morning, poking fun at those who have to take a long break after finishing a novel (grin) On … Read more

In Today’s Journal * My Quote of the Day * Are Characters Real, or Are They Only Reflections? * Of Interest * The Numbers My Quote of the Day “As the writer, you’re an observer of the story, not an influencer.” Harvey Are Characters Real, or Are They Only Reflections? Questions are always welcome via email (harveystanbrough@gmail.com) or in comments on posts. A writer friend emailed me. Here’s our exchange: Writer I want to believe the characters I write about are real. … My issue is that I can see myself or pieces of myself in pretty much all of … Read more