In today’s Journal * The Uncle Harv Show * The Bradbury Challenge Writers Reporting * Finished with the Website! * Of Interest * The Numbers The Uncle Harv Show Actually it isn’t my show. Soon, maybe. But Vin Zandri has allowed me some air time this coming Friday to talk a little about Writing Better Fiction. Looking forward to it. I only wish I could be live in his studio when it airs. The guy’s hangin’ out in Florence, Italy these days. (grin) Once I get the time firmed up, I’ll let you know in case you wanna drop by. … Read more

In today’s Journal * Reminder * If Anyone Here Uses Findaway * More Updates on StoneThread * Of Interest * The Numbers Reminder You rowdy Bradbury types, remember to get your info in to me before the Journal goes live tomorrow. You’re all doing SO well. And special congratulations to KC Riggs, coming into the home stretch and only one or two stories (and weeks) from having written a story a week for a full year! If Anyone Here Uses Findaway or if your thinking of using them, please read the posts in Of Interest. Or don’t. It’s your money. … Read more

In today’s Journal * A New Short Story * Update on Writing Better Fiction * An Update Re StoneThread * Of Interest * The Numbers A New Short Story “Little Bit: A Cautionary Tale of Love” went live yesterday on my Stanbrough Writes Substack. If you like emotional stories, you’ll want to read this one. This one is not magic realism, but it was written by my persona and good friend, Gervasio Arrancado. I could not have written it myself. To subscribe to Stanbrough Writes, click the link above and then the Subscribe button at the end of the story. … Read more

In today’s Journal * Thought of the Day * “Buy Now” Links * The Difference Between Direct Sales and Selling Elsewhere * Free Books at StoneThread Publishing * Of Interest * The Numbers Thought of the Day A friend and writer who’s an interim pastor and who struggles with critical voice handed me an excellent analogy. He wrote “My best sermons come when I set aside the critical mind. I can really tell the difference.” I responded, “In a sermon, God is your main character. You trust Him and let Him speak through you. You’re only a vessel, interpreting his … Read more

In today’s Journal * Quote of the Day * I Make Mistakes * More on Using Personas * One More Major Revision to Writing Better Fiction * Of Interest * The Numbers Quote of the Day “We cannot become what we need to be by remaining what we are.” Max Depree I Make Mistakes I know. News flash, huh? Who knew? But yesterday a reader and writer who bought the Soleada Garcia subseries of Blackwell Ops wrote to say he hadn’t received Blackwell Ops 20. I had sent him the series before 20 was published, and then I forgot. If … Read more

In today’s Journal * New Stories on Stanbrough Writes * Personas vs. Pen Names * My Chair Arrived: Review * Of Interest * The Numbers New Stories on Stanbrough Writes No writing yesterday, only a little cycling. My chair came in, so I had to build that, and we went grocery shopping and out to lunch, and I did some other stuff. I spent a few hours of admin time posting a dozen more short stories to my Stanbrough Writes substack. But as I was posting a “new” story, I seemed to remember that I’d posted it before. That’s a … Read more

In today’s Journal * Quote of the Day * A Hastily Offered Correction * “All Promo All the Time” * Clarified Ordering Instructions for Writing Better Fiction * Seeking Blurbs and Reviews * Of Interest * The Numbers Quote of the Day “A rising tide lifts all boats.” Attributed to John F. Kennedy in an October 1963 speech A Hastily Offered Correction In yesterday’s Journal, for some reason I reported the wrong title of my own book. The correct title is Blackwell Ops 20: Soleada Garcia: Into the Future. Not “Looking to” the Future. Not a major difference, but Soleada … Read more

In today’s Journal * Quotes of the Day * The Bradbury Challenge Writers Reporting * Writing Better Fiction * The Novel’s Dragging * In Other News * Of Interest * The Numbers Quotes of the Day “”You take people as far as they will go, not as far as you would like them to go.” Jeannette Rankin “I ended up selling a story which was written because of this challenge. I encourage anybody that may be thinking about doing this but may be afraid for various reasons to do themselves a favor and do it. Ray Bradbury is right. It … Read more

In today’s Journal * Quote of the Day * Reminder * Tools Are Important * Of Interest * The Numbers Quote of the Day “Committee: A cul-de-sac down which ideas are lured, and then quietly strangled.” Sir Barnett Cocks, New Scientist Magazine (as reported by Dr. Mardy Grothe in his newsletter) Reminder All you folks in the Bradbury Challenge get your story info in to me sometime before the Journal goes live tomorrow morning. The correct format is Title of Story 1234 Name of Genre Thanks. Tools Are Important Writing Surface For me, the ideal height for a writing surface … Read more

In today’s Journal * Quote of the Day * Thought of the Day * Correction (the Case of the Missing Photo) * A New Word for My Personal Dictionary * A New Story * I Love Comments * Of Interest * The Numbers Quote of the Day “Everything is habit-forming, so make sure what you do is what you want to be doing.” Wilt Chamberlain Thought of the Day When I read work that’s new to me, I don’t expect anything but to be entertained. That’s up to the writer. If s/he doesn’t pull me into the story, I stop … Read more