In Today’s Journal * Different Choice, Different Story * Why I Recommend Establishing… * Of Interest * The Numbers Different Choice, Different Story I’ve mentioned before something we all know of ourselves: every choice we make leads to a different future. It leads to our personal story unfolding in a different way. It’s the same with your characters. Every choice your POV character and other characters (your creative subconscious) make leads to their story unfolding in a different way. To see a real-life example, click “As of today, we are no longer enemies” (video). It’s an amazing story. As you … Read more

In Today’s Journal * Why Special Edition? * Reminder: True Pulp Extra Rewards * Of Interest * The Numbers Why Special Edition? I don’t have much for you today, but I wanted to pass along a post from Johnny B. Truant and a reminder. First, my (sincere) apology for passing along what you’ll see in the full title of the post. Hell, even I found it offensive. If you’re wondering, the word the author used didn’t bother me. What bothered me was that there was absolutely no reason to use it. The use was strictly gratuitous. Especially in today’s society, … Read more

In Today’s Journal * Quote of the Day * Being the Recorder, Being the Presenter * The Numbers Quote of the Day “Thanks for extending the Opening Line Challenge to your subscribers, Harvey. I can’t wait to see what you—and they—come up with. I’m hoping it will lead to a number of new entries in my “Great Opening Lines” website. Dr. Mardy Grothe Being the Recorder, Being the Presenter I encourage anyone reading this to ask any question or questions re writing or publishing. If I feel your question and my response might benefit other writers, chances are good I’ll … Read more

In Today’s Journal * Quote of the Day * The Bradbury Challenge * Please Don’t Be a Snot * Of Interest * The Numbers Quote of the Day “Here’s a challenge for you. In a future short story, write a killer opening line that includes the words ‘credo’ or ‘creed’.” Dr. Mardy Grothe, in a comment. You all know how much I love a challenge, so I thought I’d toss this out to you too. Enjoy! To get in the right mood and feed your creative subconscious, maybe read over Dr. Mardy’s Quotes of the Week from yesterday. Then run with … Read more

In Today’s Journal * On Genres and Subgenres * Re Thriller vs. Suspense Genres * Re Tension vs. Suspense * Of Interest * The Numbers On Genres and Subgenres A couple of days ago, writer Erin D noted that one of the links in a downloadable PDF I linked to over at HarveyStanbrough.com was broken. The article in which that link was listed is still valuable as an overview to genres and the audiences who enjoy them. To read the article, click Genre: A Novel’s Flavor. Note that this article is from 2019. The link to the Romance genre in … Read more

In Today’s Journal * Quote of the Day * A New Short Story * All About Yer Uncle Harv * Of Interest * The Numbers Quote of the Day “You will understand that my plays are not constructed plays: they grow naturally. If you ‘construct’ a play: that is, if you plan your play beforehand, and then carry out your plan, you will find yourself in the position of a person putting together a jig-saw puzzle, absorbed and intensely interested in an operation which, to the spectator, is unbearably dull. “The scenes must be born alive. If they are not … Read more

In Today’s Journal * Doing the Work * A Very Special Offer * Of Interest * The Numbers Doing the Work Yesterday I wrapped up the Echoes of Ellison collection. I finished cycling and formatting (it even has an interactive table of contents) and created a cover, so it’s ready to publish. I decided not to write an extra short story for it (so no “Special Edition,” at least for now). Since I’m making it available as a bonus for the True Pulp Kickstarter (I even shared the promo below with my co-contributors) I’ll hold off publishing it wide until … Read more

In Today’s Journal * Quote of the Day * A Very Special Project * Of Interest * The Numbers Quote of the Day “I would never advise a beginner to rewrite. He can learn more by starting a brand-new story and doing his best on it.” Robert A. Heinlein from a letter Heinlein wrote to Sprague de Camp in 1952, after de Camp asked for clarification on Heinlein’s “rule 3”, quoted in Robert A. Heinlein: In Dialogue With His Century Volume 2 by William H. Patterson A Very Special Project Yesterday and probably through today I’m doing something I’ve never … Read more

In Today’s Journal * Direct from Robert Heinlein * What About Having Fun? * The Novel Wrapped * Of Interest * The Numbers Direct from Robert Heinlein I was unaware of the following until writer Eli Jones left a comment on “The Big Question on Heinlein’s Rules.” I am richer for having read his comment. Here it is in its entirety: “There’s a letter Heinlein wrote to Sprague de Camp in 1952, after de Camp asked for clarification on Heinlein’s ‘rule 3.’ Heinlein mentions how if he does any rewriting it’s only ‘cutting surplusage’ and then writes: ‘I would never … Read more

In Today’s Journal * The Big Question on Heinlein’s Rules * Of Interest * The Numbers The Big Question on Heinlein’s Rules First, my sincere thanks to writer Jay Logan for being brave enough and trusting me enough to ask me, in a comment, the following question. No telling how many writers Jay helped by putting this comment and question out there. It’s the big, overall question I most often hear about Heinlein’s Rules (and about writing into the dark), and it’s one that I once asked of Dean Wesley Smith myself: “Isn’t it true that Heinlein’s Rules and writing … Read more