In today’s Journal * Setting Matters. And Detail Matters. * Of Interest * The Numbers Setting Matters. And Detail Matters. When you say or write a noun, you put a static picture in the listener’s or reader’s mind. That’s important to remember. It isn’t theory, it’s fact. (Then if you add an action verb, the picture moves. But in this lesson, forget the verb.) You want that picture to be there. It is what draws the reader into a scene. There’s a popular and widely misundertood belief that ANY description of setting you put into a scene MUST advance the … Read more

In today’s Journal * A New Podcast * End Matter Revised * Of Interest * The Numbers Correction In Numbers for the past couple of days, I reported writing 4,884,024 words since October 1. C’mon, even I ain’t that fast. My finger stuck on the 8. The correct number was 484,024. The number is correct today. A New Podcast Okay, on Sunday afternoon (March 17), I’ll go Live from the Hovel at 1 p.m. Arizona time with the first of what I expect will be a weekly podcast. I expect each will last a half-hour or less. You can join … Read more

In today’s Journal * Quotes of the Day * Yesterday * Appearance Postponed * Flash Sale * Of Interest * The Numbers Yesterday I put off the novel for one more day. Today, if the day goes to plan, will be mostlywriting. In addition to publishing (soon) the Blackwell Ops Soleada Garcia Subseries, I also wanted to re-order the original series to reflect the chronological sequence of the overall series. That meant “unpublishing” all 7 novels, renaming and redesigning all 7 covers, tweaking the title, metadata (front matter and end matter) in all 7 manuscripts, and resubmitting every manuscript as … Read more

In today’s Journal * Quotes of the Day * A Great Analogy * Of Interest * The Numbers A Great Analogy I was talking with a friend via email a few days ago. He’s both an interim pastor and a fiction writer. Like so many, he likes the idea of writing into the dark, but hasn’t quite been able to pull the trigger on it yet. During our conversation, he handed me maybe the best analogy I’ve ever heard. He wrote, “My best sermons come when I set aside the critical mind. I can really tell the difference.” Here’s my … Read more

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