In Today’s Journal * Quote of the Day * WITD and Heinlein’s Rules Reminder * Of Interest * The Numbers Quote of the Day “A word after a word after a word is power.” Margaret Atwood WITD and Heinlein’s Rules Reminder Anyone who knows me knows I’m an avid proponent of Writing into the Dark. That basically means Trusting Yourself and what you’ve learned over the years (even if you aren’t aware you learned it) and Trusting your characters as their story unfolds. In other words, writing fiction can and should be fun. All you have to do is sit … Read more

In Today’s Journal * Quote of the Day * A Note to New Readers of TNDJ * The TNDJ Challenges Report * Of Interest * The Numbers Quote of the Day “Just remember, you can’t climb the ladder of success with your hands in your pockets.” Arnold Schwarzenegger A Note to New Readers of TNDJ Hey, guys and gals, if you don’t know, you can email me anytime to claim the PDF, fully searchable archives for TNDJ for the past four years. These are free. Now and then I go through a period where nobody’s asking me questions about writing. … Read more

In Today’s Journal * My Quote of the Day * A Day Off and a Fun Visit * Of Interest * The Numbers A Day Off and a Fun Visit I was blessed yesterday to have an enjoyable, fun visit with my youngest son on the approximate conjunction of his 40th birthday, the Marine Corps’ 250th birthday, and my own 73rd. For that reason I took off much of yesterday, at least during normal waking hours. We drove about an hour to visit a favorite antique shop, then visited the Sierra Vista mall, then ate lunch at Culvers before returning … Read more

In Today’s Journal * A New Short Story * In Other News * About the TNDJ Challenges * Of Interest * The Numbers A New Short Story “Exotic” went live yesterday at 10 a.m. on my Stanbrough Writes Substack. Go check it out. It’s free. I like the story all right, but then it’s one of mine. If you enjoy it too, please click Like. Comments are welcome too. Both help with my Substack algorithms. Then tell Everyone else. Gracias. In Other News If you’re following my serialized novel, The Rise of a Warrior, Chapter 6 posted yesterday also. You … Read more

In Today’s Journal * I Just Realized * Of Interest * The Numbers I Just Realized This could be titled “Write What You Want Them to See.” I was in the Marine Corps for 21 years. I’ve been out for 34 years. Just so you know, I don’t say that because I need or want to be thanked for my service. I honestly don’t. For one thing, the Eagle thanked me every two weeks with a paycheck. For another, shrug, everybody’s gotta be somewhere doing something, am I right? I only bring up that total of 43 years because yesterday … Read more

In Today’s Journal * Quote of the Day * Just Me * The Numbers Quote of the Day “I read the prologue of my novel Sword and Shield out loud last night and WOW. That was such a useful exercise! … Reading aloud definitely helps with those random awkward passages where I know what I wanted to say, but it didn’t really come out exactly right when I typed it.” A writer to me yesterday in an email Just Me A writer asked about my weird schedule. Since I had nothing else for you today, I thought I’d lay it … Read more

In Today’s Journal * Web Stuff * Of Interest * The Numbers Web Stuff Yesterday a writer asked about who I’d recommend for a website platform. I thought I’d share my extended response here: First, I recommend strongly AGAINST going with wordpress[dot]com or any of the other similar platforms. They are advertised as free, but they will nickel and dime you to death with necessary options. Some even assume ownership of your content. Second, I recommend strongly AGAINST going with any website builder or web hosting service that doesn’t allow you to retain all rights to what you post on … Read more

In Today’s Journal * My Quote of the Day * Two Great Questions * A Really Good Western * Of Interest * The Numbers My Quote of the Day “That woman passes out ultimatums like mints at a halitosis convention.” Sam Granger in Blackwell Ops 51 Two Great Questions My friend Christopher Ridge sent me two great questions via email. “Have you ever started a story and as you’re writing it you realize ‘I hate this? I hate this so bad!’ “I’ve finished every story I started this year and I don’t want to lose this one because of my … Read more

In Today’s Journal * My Quote of the Day * The TNDJ Challenges Report * Introducing Natalie Kutat, CPA * Of Interest * The Numbers My Quote of the Day It’s November 10, the 250th birthday of the United States Marine Corps. A toast…. May your days be vibrant, your evenings calm, your heart safe and warm at home. Semper Fi 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 … Read more

In Today’s Journal * My Quote of the Day * Doctor Mardy Does It Again * Ups and Downs * Of Interest * The Numbers 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?” Harvey Doctor Mardy Does It Again In his Quotes of the Week (see Of Interest), Doctor Mardy Grothe presents thoughts about retirement. He opens, appropriately for TNDJ, with a quote from Isaac Asimov. I won’t spoil it for you. … Read more