In Today’s Journal * The Bradbury Challenge: Expanded! * The Stephen King Challenge Resurrected * The Power of a Streak * Of Interest * The Numbers The Bradbury Challenge: Expanded! The Bradbury Challenge is easily the longest-running challenge I’ve ever issued in TNDJ. Back in the day, Ray Bradbury advised writers who want to learn to write fiction to write at least one short story per week for a year because nobody can write 52 ‘bad’ short stories in a row. Truedat. Now, the whole point of the Challenge is to have fun and grow as a writer. But not … Read more

In Today’s Journal * Will WITD Work For…? * Guest Posts Welcome * I’m Having Fun Again Too * Of Interest * The Numbers Will WITD Work For…? A new subscriber to TNDJ (Thanks, Matt M!) is also reading through Writing Better Fiction. He wondered whether that non-technique of writing into the dark would also work for nonfiction. The answer is Yes. Mostly. Depends on what sort of nonfiction you’re writing. If you’re writing service repair or owner’s manuals or other tech manuals, no, WITD probably doesn’t apply. The subject matter is too technical. It has to be too precise. … Read more

In Today’s Journal * A New Short Story * Bradbury Reminder * On Traditional Publishing Agreements (guest post) * Of Interest * The Numbers A New Short Story “Silence, Ah Silence” went live yesterday at 10 a.m. on my Stanbrough Writes Substack. A bi-directional crazy story. Go check it out. It’s free. If you enjoy the story, please click Like. Comments are welcome too. Both help with my Substack algorithms. Then tell Everyone else. Bradbury Reminder Today is Saturday. Just a reminder to get your Bradbury Challenge story info in to me before the Journal goes live on Monday. Remember, if you … Read more

In Today’s Journal * I Get Emails * Hard to Believe * Genre Envy, Part 1 * Of Interest * The Numbers I Get Emails Yesterday, writer friend Patrick D sent me a link to an interview with Peter Bradvold, a successful writer of westerns (see Of Interest). In the email, Patrick wrote that Mr. Brandvold’s “method aligns closely” with mine and “he only writes what he finds ‘fun’.” Patrick also wrote “But one thing I noticed about him, about you, and many other WITD writers, is that you have already internalized story structure, found inspiration in particular writers (in … Read more

In Today’s Journal * The Nick Spalding Saga * Re “Best Sites for Writers” * Getting Back Into the Swing * Of Interest * The Numbers The Nick Spalding Saga I published The Nick Spalding Saga yesterday to Amazon and D2D, then uploaded it to my discount store. It’s $17.99 everywhere else but $15.99 on my store. However, as I’ll announce to Your Morning Serial readers next week (after they get a taste of Nightfall, the first book), you can also get the Saga for only $9.99 with a coupon. NOW, all of that said, if I were you I … Read more

In Today’s Journal * More Musings on Serialization * Update * Of Interest * The Numbers More Musings on Serialization This is a process post, a thinking-aloud post, that goes to marketing. Again, thanks to those who took a moment to leave a comment or email me about my serialized novels. I still hope a few others will step up, but we’ll see. As I mentioned yesterday re the frequency of installments, one person mentioned that maybe I shouldn’t post serial installments every day. She suggested posting an installment once a week. Later yesterday, another writer suggested posting once a … Read more

In Today’s Journal * Quote of the Day * Musings on Serialization * A Cautionary Tale * Of Interest * The Numbers Quote of the Day “It turns out that posting on Substack is easy and serves as additional motivation to get stories written.” George Hays Musings on Serialization Thanks to those who took a moment to leave a comment or email me about my serialized novels. I hope a few others will step up, but we’ll see. Re frequency of installments, one person mentioned that maybe I shouldn’t post serial installments every day. She suggested posting an installment once … Read more

In Today’s Journal * The Bradbury Challenge * Draft2Digital Indie Advantage * TNDJ Archives Are Still Available * Is the Experiment Over? * Of Interest * The Numbers The Bradbury Challenge The whole point of the Challenge is to have fun and grow as a writer. There is no cost. The only requirement is to write at least one short story per week. Feel free to jump in at any time. During the past week, in addition to whatever other fiction they’re writing, the following writers reported these new stories: Erin Donoho “Aftermath” 1700 psychological suspense Loyd Jenkins “Dream of … Read more

In Today’s Journal * A New Short Story * Bradbury Reminder * The Whirlwind Winds Down * Of Interest * The Numbers A New Short Story “Marisa” went live yesterday at 10 a.m. on my Stanbrough Writes Substack. This one’s kind’a sort’a horror-ish maybe. Go check it out. It’s free. If you enjoy the story, please click Like. Comments are welcome too. Both help with my Substack algorithms. Then tell Everyone else. Bradbury Reminder Today is Saturday. Just a reminder to get your Bradbury Challenge story info in to me before the Journal goes live on Monday. Remember, if you … Read more

In Today’s Journal * Some Stuff on Description * Of Interest * The Numbers Some Stuff on Description Coming to you live from Roswell NM this morning. I wasn’t going to write a post this morning, but two factors came together perfectly: One, I have some time to kill, and two, this morning’s installment on Your Morning Serial lends itself to a post on description. You can view that installment here. Even if you haven’t read the preceding installments, the first major scene of this installment pretty much stands alone for purposes of description. (That’s one more reason to go … Read more