In today’s Journal
* Note
* The Bradbury Challenge Writers Reporting
* Special Journal-Only Promo for Writing Fiction
* Promo Doc for Writing Fiction
* Of Interest
* The Numbers
Note
Yesterday under Numbers I added a line for “Additions to the nonfiction book” but I forgot to add the number. I corrected that omission in today’s Numbers.
Also, one more major change to the book. I retitled it. The title is now Writing Fiction.
I know. Haughty of me, isn’t it?
I don’t care.
All fiction is character-driven. Some of you probably don’t like me saying that, but it’s the truth. If anyone ever tells you fiction is “plot driven,” I suggest you spend a second with a blank stare on your face, and then ask them what drives the plot.
Folks, the plot is the result of the story, not something to be planned in advance. If you plan a story in advance, you’re no longer writing the characters’ authentic story.
You’re writing a story you’ve forced on formerly free people whom you’ve put in chains so you can bend them to your will according to your outline. Bad, bad writer.
If you’re ever in my neck of the woods, stop by and I’ll smack your knuckles with a ruler.
The Bradbury Challenge Writers Reporting
Rules of the Challenge
The challenge is to write at least one short story per week (or add to your novel), then submit the story title, word count, and genre to me each week for publication in the Journal on Monday.
You can join or rejoin the challenge at any time. There’s no cost. The whole point challenge is to have fun and grow as a writer. And you’re competing only with yourself.
During the past week, in addition to whatever other fiction they’re writing, the following writers reported their progress:
Short Fiction
- George Kordonis “The Martian From Malta”15643 Science Fiction
- Adam Kozak “Order of the Aconite” 2257 Fantasy
- Christopher Ridge “The Exterminator” 2800 horror
- K.C. Riggs “The Last Trip to Church for Auntie Precious” 2576 Folklore
Longer Fiction
- Alexander Nakul *Under the Lighthouse* 9903 Historical Fantasy (62056) Complete! Congrats!
Special Journal-Only Promo for Writing Fiction
As a special pre-publication promotion I’m offering the emailed PDF version of Writing Fiction only to readers of the Journal for only $9. Email me.
You save $5 over the eprice of those who order from me after publication (or $6 over those who order from Amazon or anyplace else).
As I mentioned in an earlier post, monthly donors to the Journal get the book free. But email me to let me know you want it.
You can see the regular prices for ebook and print editions in the promo doc below.
I’ll add your name to a list. Immediately after I apply my first reader’s input (late February or early March) I’ll email you the full, searchable, PDF file. You can download it and then print it (or not) to read.
You can see the cover at StoneThread Publishing.
Now, to help illuminate the updated TOC I published yesterday, here’s an excerpt from the promo doc I created for this book:
Promo Doc for Writing Fiction
This is the only book you will ever need on the craft of writing fiction. It is an ambitious, comprehensive guide to writing any form from short stories to novels and novel series.
In ten generous chapters, this prolific professional fiction writer discusses every applicable general topic on the craft of writing fiction:
- Definition of Character-Driven Fiction
- The Writer’s Role in the Story,
- Story Starters and Story Ideas (and where to get them),
- Writing the Opening,
- Writing the Cliffhanger and the Hook
- Writing Setting,
- Writing the Scene,
- Writing the Ending,
- Writing Into the Dark, and
- It’s All Up to You
Throughout, this book is replete with examples of how to write the various aspects of fiction listed above.
The final chapter is a reasoned explanation of the conscious, critical mind and the creative subconscious mind and their very different roles in writing fiction.
In seven appendices, the author adds invaluable information in the form of
- A Grammar Refresher,
- General Tips for Writing Fiction,
- Notes on Dialogue and Punctuation,
- An Example of POV and Timeline Indicators,
- Two Fiction Exercises,
- Rules of Writing from Masters, and his
- Personal Experience with Branding.
Note: This book also is available directly from the author in either of two formats:
- Ebook in PDF (you print or not) or in .mobi or .epub. Price: $14.00, or
- As a binder-ready paper book printed in duplex and delivered in a heavy plastic envelope. Price: $22, including shipping. (The paper edition is available only through the author.)
Internet Search Terms: Writing Instruction, The Craft of Fiction Writing, Short Story and Novel Writing
That’s it for today. I’ll spend the balance of the day doing mostly admin stuff (covers, etc.) so I can get those things out of the way and get back to writing fiction
Talk with you again soon.
Of Interest
Nada.
The Numbers
The Journal……………………………… 820
Additions to the nonfiction book 3000
Writing of
Day 1…… XXXX words. To date…… XXXXX
Fiction for February……………………. 40199
Fiction for 2024…………………………. 157803
Fiction since October 1………………… 460858
Nonfiction for February………………… 61000
Nonfiction for 2024……………………… 92960
2024 consumable words………………… 250763
2024 Novels to Date……………………… 4
2024 Novellas to Date…………………… 0
2024 Short Stories to Date……………… 1
Novels (since Oct 19, 2014)…………… 86
Novellas (since Nov 1, 2015)…………… 9
Short stories (since Apr 15, 2014)…… 239
Short story collections………………… 31
Disclaimer: I am a prolific professional fiction writer. On this blog I teach Writing Into the Dark and adherence to Heinlein’s Rules. Unreasoning fear and the myths of writing will slow your progress as a writer or stop you cold. I will never teach the myths on this blog.
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