In today’s Journal * I Got Nothin’ * The Numbers I Got Nothin’ I’ve been in a TNDJ flurry recently. Most of the last 10 years, really, since I first started The Journal. Click this link to find the free, searchable PDF archives. I love teaching, but I really miss teaching live seminars. I miss the instant feedback, the questions and comments, etc. I miss the opportunity to correct a misunderstanding or misinterpretation on the spot. Sometimes I miss it like air. That’s been on my mind a lot lately. But I also feel a little helpless to do anything … Read more

In today’s Journal * Yesterday I Scrolled (Sort of a Rant) * Of Interest * The Numbers NOTE: This is a special free edition of TNDJ. Frankly, I feel like the topic is too important to not share this post with everybody. Here we go… Yesterday I Scrolled through the KillZone blog looking to see whether anything has changed over there. It hasn’t. Almost every post is still riddled with the widely held (and parroted) myths of fiction writing. And really, why shouldn’t they be? I believe at least one writer there doesn’t give a whit about you or your … Read more

In today’s Journal * On Writing “Fast” and Quality (Revisited) * Of Interest * The Numbers NOTE: Occasionally I will repost something I’ve posted before. This is one of those. This new version is also available free as a PDF download at Gifts & Archives.  This will serve as a reminder for some, but it will be new to others. I’m sharing this post with everybody. On Writing “Fast” and Quality Bestselling author Vin Zandri will tell you he writes no more words per day than will enable him to maintain quality. I couldn’t agree more. Papa Hemingway was famous … Read more

In today’s Journal * The Bradbury Challenge Writers Reporting * Writers Ask * Of Interest * The Numbers The Bradbury Challenge Writers Reporting To take part, write at least one short story per week, then submit the story title, word count, and genre to me each week for publication in the Journal on Monday. The whole point is to have fun and grow as a writer. You can join or rejoin the challenge at any time. There’s no cost. You can even do it on your own, without reporting numbers to me or anyone else. During the past week, in … Read more

In today’s Journal * A New Short Story * Two Reminders * Advice from an Old Guy * Of Interest * The Numbers A New Short Story “Pancho & Lefty: An Alternate Ending” went live yesterday on my Stanbrough Writes Substack. Go check it out. See if you can spot the fatal omission. As I wrote in yesterday’s edition of TNDJ, some of the better hooks I’ve ever written are in that story. It also illustrates one way to divide a short story into “chapters.” If you enjoy it, tell Everyone. If you don’t, shhh! (grin) Two Reminders The Challenge—You … Read more

In today’s Journal * Storytelling at Depth 7: Notes on Process * Of Interest * The Numbers Note: I decided to share this one with everybody. Most of my subscribers are already good with it. Storytelling at Depth 7: Notes on Process This will be only a refresher or reminder for many of you. So you know where I’m coming from, I’m an adherent of Heinlien’s Rules: I write. I finish what I write. I don’t rewrite in any case. I publish what I write. I leave the work up so readers can buy it. But neither do I worry … Read more