In Today’s Journal * A Life Hack for Writing * About Comments * The Writing * Of Interest * The Numbers A Life Hack for Writing Short post today. I’m still planning a post—or maybe even a series of posts—soon on the importance of Pacing and how to do that. Some segments of that post (or posts of that series) will be next-level, down in the weeds stuff. So stay tuned. But for today my focus will be on fiction and doing what I can before the lights go out. After that I’ll type on battery power. And if the … Read more

In Today’s Journal * Quote of the Day * Please Use ‘Like,’ ‘Share,’ and ‘Leave a Comment’ * Jupiter * How to Learn Fiction-Writing Techniques * The Writing * Of Interest * The Numbers Quote of the Day “Today’s TNDJ forgetfulness topic hit home for me. Before I started doing any writing except for book reviews, my memory of the stories & books I had read was very good. I could easily write a review maybe five days after reading the book and reading another book. Now [that I’m writing], I must write the review when I finish reading the … Read more

In Today’s Journal * Correction * The Bradbury Challenge Writers Reporting * Blackwell Ops 30: John Quick Returns Is Live! * The Writing * The Stephen King (November) Challenge * A Note on Collaborations * The Numbers Correction This is a happy correction. Between me misreading the total on the spreadsheet (the type is so tiny) and adding a few words as a result of my first reader’s catches, the novel is 102 words longer than I reported yesterday. So instead of wrapping at 39703 words, Blackwell Ops 30: John Quick Returns, actually wrapped at 39805 words. A hundred and … Read more

In Today’s Journal * Happy Birthday, USMC * The Novel Wrapped * Forgetfulness—Blessing or Curse? * Of Interest * The Numbers Happy Birthday, USMC Later today I will pause briefly to raise a toast to my brothers and sisters in the Marine Corps and in the other armed forces, past and present. Today is the 249th anniversary of the birth of the United States Marine Corps in Tun Tavern (yep, a bar, go figure) in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. And to everyone else, really: May your days be vibrant, your evenings calm, your heart safe and warm at home. Semper Fi My … Read more

In Today’s Journal * Quote of the Day * A New Short Story * Reminder * Storytelling * The Writing * Of Interest * The Numbers Quote of the Day “I’m surprised and happy to see the DITW comment is from me. I’ll continue to share epiphanies when I have them, I’m happy to be useful.” Emilia Pulliainen, writer and subscriber The Quote of the Day is spot-on. Imagine how many other writers we would help lift up if we all shared the epiphanies that come to us as we’re writing fiction. Any time you share an epiphany with me … Read more

In Today’s Journal * No New Electricity * The Vote Is In (No, not that vote) * Of Interest * The Numbers No New Electricity Well, it didn’t happen yesterday. All of this started back in September. Yesterday, the electrician showed up with a HUGE electrical panel—and I mean about 3 feet by 3 feet—to hang on the wall. Unfortunately, he’d brought the wrong part to connect it to the new meter the electric company has to install after they run new lines to the house. So he rescheduled himself and the electric company and the inspector to arrive next … Read more

In Today’s Journal * An ‘Electric’ Note * A Deep Dive on Cycling * A Note on Story Flow and WITD * Of Interest * The Numbers An ‘Electric’ Note Today, finally (if it doesn’t rain) our electricity will be off for a few hours. So no internet. The good news is that when the outage is over, our house electricity will be upgraded and I’ll have a lot more power in the Hovel. The downside is that if you email me, I won’t be able to repy for awhile. A Deep Dive on Cycling A writer and new subscriber, … Read more

In Today’s Journal * Little or Nothing * In the Meantime * The Numbers Little or Nothing to talk about today. I’ll add to the novel this morning. I suspect it will wrap in the next day or two or maybe three. Probably like most of you, I’ll check election results now and then. After all, it’s only every two or four years. This afternoon I have a doc appointment (routine). I’ll deliver a test sample, undergo a very minor procedure, and and be back in the TNDJ saddle tomorrow morning. In the Meantime a couple of things…… 1. I’m … Read more

In Today’s Journal * Election Day 2024 * A Cover Blurb Speaks for Itself * The Writing * A Reminder * Of Interest * The Numbers Election Day 2024 I will not tell you whom to vote for. That is neither my place nor the place of anyone else. But it is incumbent upon us all to urge others to vote. You vote anyway, either by casting a ballot or by not casting a ballot. Please do the former, and make your voice heard. That is the single most important activity you can achieve today. A Cover Blurb Speaks for … Read more

In Today’s Journal * The Bradbury Challenge Writers Reporting * An Encounter With Critical Voice * “The Breath Formed” * Christopher Fried * The Numbers The Bradbury Challenge Writers Reporting I really wish more of you guys would jump into this. C’mon, show us what you’ve got. The whole point 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. (I’m no longer keeping track of your longer fiction. Too erratic.) During the past week, in addition to whatever other fiction they’re writing, the … Read more