The Journal, Monday, December 10

Hey Folks, I had an interesting question re the new Gutenberg “blocks” that WordPress shoved upon us recently. The long and short of it is this: If your website is hosted on WordPress.COM, you have to pay extra to be able to add plugins to your website. That’s one of the things I don’t like about WordPress.com. It’s “free,” and then they nickle and dime you to death. Same with a lot of the other so-called free providers. ALSO and more importantly, if your site is hosted on any of those, be absolutely certain to read the terms of service. … Read more

The Journal, Sunday, December 9

Hey Folks, YAY! (grin) Reading “Of Interest” items can be SO valuable in SO many ways! In reading The Passive Guy’s recent post about troubles with his website, I stumbled across a post that mentions a new WordPress plugin called “Classic Editor,” which apparently enables WordPress users to go back to posting without those ugly, time-consuming “blocks” (Gutenberg). I also found “Disable Gutenberg.” I installed that one. Then I clicked Add a New Post and voila! my old posting screen was restored in full. I can’t say enough what wonderful news this is. If you like “blocks” for some things … Read more

The Journal, Saturday, December 8

Hey Folks, Not a lot to report today. My son visited and left yesterday to attend a funeral in NM, and today my two sisters-in-law will arrive shortly for a visit. I wrote for awhile this morning.As has been the case throughout this very twisted mystery/police procedural novel, I did a lot of cycling and added some new words. It wasn’t a great day, but good enough considering it’s a Saturday. I also feel as if I’m approaching the end game of this one and maybe dragging my feet a little. Talk with you again soon. Of Interest See “How … Read more

The Journal, Friday, December 7

Hey Folks, An odd start to the morning. I opened my email to find one person had unsubscribed. In the very next email, the subscriber (a regular donor) wrote “Man, The last two issues are worth an extra $ or so! Thanks.” So I emailed him back to say thanks and ask him what I had done right. (grin) I wish I had the kind of attitude that would enable me to email the one who unsubscribed and ask her what I did wrong. When I look up her subscriber account later and see the reason, I hope it’s simply … Read more

The Journal, Thursday, December 6

Hey Folks, Tomorrow is Pearl Harbor Day, though I think, sadly, it’s no longer taught in schools. Here’s a quote for the day: The carrier Enterprise sailed into Pearl Harbor the day after the attack. Surveying the wreckage from the bridge, Adm. William Halsey could not hide his anger. “When this war is over the Japanese language will be spoken only in hell.” For an excellent article about that fateful day, see https://nationalinterest.org/feature/why-japan-failed-pearl-harbor-18638. *** Wow. Remember I released Book 2 of the Nick Spalding series, Transitions, back in November? One of my donors, a voracious reader, sent me an email … Read more

The Journal, Wednesday, December 5

Hey Folks, Topic: A Realization or Epiphany Dangerous as it sounds, sometimes I feel as if I’ve been through it all as a writer. “Dangerous” because such a feeling is the surest way to stop learning and reach a plateau. Which is to say it’s the surest way to death as a writer. When we reach a plateau, a flattening-out of the attempt to keep learning, little things we’ve learned but haven’t yet tried tend to sift down through the holes and cracks in our knowledge. Without having practiced them, we forget them and have to be reminded. That’s the … Read more

The Journal, Tuesday, December 4

Hey Folks, I think, having gone to bed early last night and risen early again this morning, I’m finally over whatever funk has mastered me during the past few days. Today should be a good one. *** Paraphrasing Dean Wesley Smith from “Of Interest” today, “We need to make our writing process like our reading process. When you’re reading and you reach the end of a chapter, do you put the book down and try to figure out where the story’s going next? Or do you just keep reading to entertain yourself. Do the same thing with your writing.” From … Read more

The Journal, Monday, December 3

Hey Folks, Another good quote: “I am what I am. To look for reasons is beside the point.” — Joan Didion And another one from Chandler: “I have a sense of exile from thought, a nostalgia of the quiet room and balanced mind. I am a writer, and there comes a time when that which I write has to belong to me, has to be written alone and in silence, with no one looking over my shoulder, no one telling me a better way to write it. It doesn’t have to be great writing, it doesn’t even have to be … Read more

The Journal, Sunday, December 2

Hey Folks, This morning (to my delight) I was pleased to note James Scott Bell mentioned yours truly in the Kill Zone blog (in “Of Interest”). The article is all about Heinlein’s Rules (Heinlein’s Business Habits for Writers). Of course, I replied. Couldn’t help myself. (grin) Not a lot else to talk about this morning. It’s Sunday, and the outside temperature is perfect. It’s in the mid-40s, so cold enough to stand-up your nerve endings and make you feel very much alive, but not so cold that a grave, by comparison, might feel warm. Yet another quote: “Had my books … Read more

The Journal, Saturday, December 1

Hey Folks, Well, I’m a little under the weather today. Blah. New Quote of the Day: “Like all great travellers, I have seen more than I remember, and remember more than I have seen.” ~ Benjamin Disraeli Isn’t that what we, as fictionists, do? Remember more than we’ve seen? *** Topic: He Knew Anytime I see that phrase in a book (or “she knew” or “they knew”) it jerks me straight out of the story. It ruins the story for me and shatters any suspension of disbelief. That phrase is a direct result of the author’s voice coming through the … Read more