The Journal, Monday, 9/25

Hey Folks, “Many would-be novelists never get around to writing a novel for the same reason nobody ever gets around to eating an elephant. “Wrong focus. To eat an elephant, you have to take one bite at a time. Focus on the bite. “It seems impossible to write a whole novel, but you can write a scene. So just write a scene. Then write another scene. Then write another one. Forget about writing a ‘novel.’ Lather, rinse, repeat.” I posted that to FB this morning, spurred by my 15 year old granddaughter’s complaint (via email) that her teacher had assigned … Read more

The Journal, Sunday, 9/24

Hey Folks, Rolled out on time this morning, spent some time waking up, then hammered out around 1500 words by about 7:30. Some time off for family stuff now, and back to the novel later in the day. Around 10, back to the novel. Another break around 11, then some baseball and back to the novel. Turned out to be a pretty good day, especially for a Sunday. Back tomorrow. Of Interest More comments on Dean’s Sacred Cows post at http://www.deanwesleysmith.com/killing-the-sacred-cows-of-publishing-beta-readers-help-you/#comments. To see the new stuff, scroll down to K. Vale Nagle. Via The Passive Voice, see “7 Free Online … Read more

The Journal, Saturday, 9/23

Hey Folks, Rolled out a little late this morning even though I went to bed on time. Catching up, I guess. I actually wrote a little on the novel (after breakfast the usual early morning wandering around the Internet), but my wife’s ready to head for SV soon, so it’s a shower and a shave and be back in a bit. Well, “a bit” turned into about five hours. Then Internet to square away a botched order, etc. Finally back to the novel at 1:40. Back tomorrow. Of Interest I recommend reading the comments on “Beta Readers” at http://www.deanwesleysmith.com/killing-the-sacred-cows-of-publishing-beta-readers-help-you/#comments/. And … Read more

The Journal, Friday, 9/22

Hey Folks, Rolled out on time this morning, then spent an enjoyable hour or so talking via email with my young granddaughter, Taylor. By the way, just in time for my topic today (see below) DWS is finally back to busting myths with another Killing the Sacred Cows chapter. It’s in “Of Interest” today. Topic: Lying to Readers It’s annoying when Dean Wesley Smith is SO right on everything he says. Well, on most things. He does occasionally say he’s going to make me angry when he’s busting some idiotic myth, but that has yet to happen. But on the … Read more

The Journal, Thursday, 9/21

Hey Folks, Up a little late this morning. I’ll work on the edit for awhile, then on the yard for awhile, then maybe go play with the novel. Edited ’til about 8:20, then mowed the front (north) yard and around the north and east sides outside the fence. Back to the edit a little after 9 while I’m cooling down from doing actual work. (grin) Also running a couple loads of laundry. Worked on the edit until 10, and now off to fold laundry and put another load in the dryer. While that was working, I mowed a little more, … Read more

The Journal, Wednesday, 9/20

Hey Folks, I had a copyediting job come in, so I decided I’ll work on that during the early morning hours. I seem to do most of my own writing in the late morning and early afternoon anyway. Worked on the copyedit (an excellent memoir) for a few hours, then to the repair shop to pick up my no-longer-busted lawnmower, then back here. I should have gone straight to the novel, but I didn’t. I played with creating a new meme that has a half-crazy pic of yours truly. I posted it to Facebook. That was fun. Now to fetch … Read more

The Journal, Tuesday, 9/19

Hey Folks, For awhile, occasionally I’ve included links to articles on Science Alert. Recently I’ve come to believe it’s more of a populist rag with sensational, click-bait headlines than a valid source of stimulating information. So I looked around. If you’re interested in space and science, try https://www.space.com/. If it looks interesting to you, you can sign up for any or all of three separate newsletters: Space.com newsletter, headlines about the space program, space tourism and more. LiveScience newsletter, the day’s science news covering space, animals, health, environment, technology and history. TechNewsDaily newsletter, technology news and information for non-geeks. If … Read more

The Journal, Monday, 9/18

Hey Folks, Rolled out considerably early this morning, yet two hours later I’m still reading and toying with this thing. I even wrote a topic based on the article on Comic Sans typeface referenced in “Of Interest.” Then I remembered that a longer, more well-thought-out version will hit the big blog on October 3, so I’ll wait. Well, my eyes are a little fuzzy this morning for some reason. I’ve tried polarized (brown) shades, my regular grey-tinted glasses, and a cheap pair of flip-up blue blockers I bought on eBay. The last few days my eyes haven’t been bad, but … Read more

The Journal, Sunday, 9/17

Hey Folks, Up a little earlier than usual this a.m. and was at the novel by 4. I did some cycling, then some writing into the dark, finishing a chapter and starting another chapter. And that was both “into the dark” and in the dark at my outside desk. Something peaceful about the only light in the universe being my computer screen. Maybe I need to write an SF novel next. (grin) It occurred to me this morning I might actually be writing two novels concurrently: a noir PI novel and a crime novel. Remember awhile back I mentioned this … Read more

The Journal, Saturday, 9/16

Hey Folks, Even after a relatively late night, I rolled out at 3:30 this morning. Not sure how much I’ll get done in writing today since it’s Saturday. TOPIC: On Challenges, Part 2 Note: This follows on yesterday’s topic. If you haven’t read it, you can find it at http://hestanbrough.com/the-journal-friday-915/. At the beginning of the calendar year, I challenged myself to write 15 novels during the year. Later, after an intended novel fell short and ended as a novella, I adjusted the goal to 16 novels or novellas. That should have clued me I was in trouble. It didn’t. I … Read more