In today’s Journal * The Inexorable Rule of Writing Fiction * On the Other Hand * How-To Books for Suckers * A Simple Test * Of Interest * The Numbers The Inexorable Rule of Writing Fiction 1. If you want to be a fiction writer, you must write fiction. That’s it. That is the only inexorable, inviolate rule. That rule alone will knock out of the ring probably 95% of all those contenders who say they want to write fiction. If you’re still IN the ring, then you only have to decide whether you want to write AUTHENTIC fiction—what actually … Read more

In today’s Journal * No Fiction, and Non-Fiction * Marketing * Of Interest * The Numbers No Fiction, and Non-Fiction I didn’t write much fiction yesterday, so nothing to report. And I’ve removed “Thunder Road” from the numbers because it was annoying me. It might have fizzled. Which is fine. So instead I spent most of the day working up some things for the Journal, the first of which is below. I also played a bit with some earlier fiction fragments but nothing serious. Then I took off the last couple of hours of my normal workday. Remember, I’m resetting … Read more

In today’s Journal * Note * The Bradbury Challenge Writers Reporting * Had a Great Visit * The Writing * Of Interest * The Numbers Note Yesterday I mentioned I was rejoining the Bradbury Challenge. The Challenge was integral in getting me started writing regularly back in 2014. In that streak, I wrote at least one story for 70 or 72 consecutive weeks before I finally, and intentionally (for some stupid reason), broke my streak. And I admit, as I wrote my story for this week yesterday, I experienced a little “pressure” on more than one occasion. Each time I … Read more

In today’s Journal * Quote of the Day * Finger Wagging at the Guy in the Mirror * Of Interest * The Numbers Quote of the Day “When we strive to become better than we are, everything around us becomes better too.” Paulo Coelho, from “The Alchemist” Finger Wagging at the Guy in the Mirror This is about personal challenges. I regularly challenge other writers to challenge themselves only because I know the value of challenges to a fiction writer’s success. When I first started writing fiction in earnest back in early 2014, I set a solid daily word count … Read more

In today’s Journal * Quote of the Day * A New Short Story * Special Sale! * Today, and the Challenges * The Numbers Quote of the Day “When we strive to become better than we are, everything around us becomes better too.” Paulo Coelho, from “The Alchemist” A New Short Story “Ariana’s Determination” went live yesterday on my Stanbrough Writes Substack. Go check it out. If you enjoy it, tell Everyone. If you don’t, shhh! (grin) SPECIAL  SALE! If you enjoy thrilling action tales of professional assassins with a healthy dose of psychological suspense and even romance, you’ll love … Read more

In today’s Journal * Quote of the Day * A Reminder * Back in the Hovel * Writing Software * Another Reminder * Of Interest * The Numbers Quote of the Day “Without goals, training has no direction.” Natalie Coughlin Training is practice. In writing fiction, practice is putting new words on the page. A Reminder Only a week or so left until the two challenges begin: Those who join either challenge will write at least 1000 or at least 2250 words of new publishable fiction per day and win prizes along the way. There is no cost. Just think: … Read more

In today’s Journal * Quote of the Day * The Novel Wrapped * Working from the Back Porch * Oh, the Quote of the Day * Of Interest * The Numbers Quote of the Day “Publish your words!” Vin Zandri The Novel Wrapped No, really. It wrapped. I did another spell check and sent it off to Russ (my excellent first reader). It’s already back, so I’m going to tend to that today. I’m usually a little sad when a novel wraps, even knowing I’ll be writing another one soon. But I’m actually glad this one wrapped when it did, … Read more