Atlas Obscura

The Journal: No Seriously, Nobody Cares

In today’s Journal * Quote of the Day * Topic: No Seriously, Nobody Cares * Today * Of Interest * The Numbers Quote of the Day “Nobody cares.” Dean Wesley Smith Topic: No, Seriously, Nobody Cares This morning, Kris Rusch wrote a kind of rambling Business Musings post titled, “Nobody Cares.” When it goes public in a few days, I’ll link to it in “Of Interest” so you can see it for yourself. I suspect it was rambling because she was tired from just having finished teaching a live workshop in Vegas. (I wanted badly to tell her she could … Read more

The Journal: Learning Never Stops

In today’s Journal * Quote of the Day * Topic: The Learning Never Stops * Today * A Note in Passing * Of Interest * The Numbers Quote of the Day “The key to all story endings is to give the audience what it wants, but not the way it expects.” William Goldman Topic: The Learning Never Stops Seriously. And if you pursue knowledge of any particular topic, then mull over that knowledge, realizations come quickly and often. This will be a thought-process post. A little insight into what goes on in my head during pretty much every waking moment. … Read more

The Daily Journal, Monday, August 19

In today’s Journal * Slow start today * Topic: Some Basic Tenets of Cover Design * Daily diary * Of Interest * The numbers Slow start today as I’m still worn out from the wonderful trek Dan and I had around southeast Arizona yesterday. Weird. We didn’t do a lot. Mostly we were driving, stopping now and then to take photos. But I could easily spend today doing nothing at all. I had hoped to find some new cover-pics, but no luck there. However, I did find a whole town full of cover-pic opportunities (Douglas, Arizona). I will revisit that … Read more

The Daily Journal, Tuesday, April 9

In today’s Journal ▪ Today I’ll start ▪ Topic: The New World of Publishing ▪ Daily diary ▪ Of Interest (a LOT of links) ▪ The numbers Today I’ll start that new novel. I’ve had four days away from fiction writing, and frankly, I’m jonesing for it. Or as my wife put it, “Honey, you’re getting grouchy.” (grin) I thought I’d start writing again yesterday, but I wasn’t ready. Instead I spent a lot of quiet time with Jim Glaser and thought about the recent visit with my old friend and did some other things to slowly move myself back … Read more

The Daily Journal, Thursday, March 28

In today’s Journal ▪ I can tell you right now ▪ I’ve also decided ▪ Update on Casey and the Coyote ▪ Daily diary ▪ Of Interest ▪ The numbers Well, I can tell you right now I’m probably not going to finish Book 5 in the Blackwell Ops series today. It’ll take at least one more good writing day and possibly two. Or three. No biggie. I can’t write the next one (in the series or otherwise) until I finish this one. (shrug) *** I’ve also decided I’m dropping the challenge. It just doesn’t mean as much to me … Read more

The Daily Journal, Monday, March 25

In today’s Journal ▪ If you don’t read anything else ▪ Topic: On Being a Hybrid Writer, Part 2 ▪ Daily diary ▪ Of Interest ▪ The numbers If you don’t read anything else all day, read “In Y.A., Where Is the Line…” at https://www.thepassivevoice.com/in-y-a-where-is-the-line-between-criticism-and-cancel-culture/. This sort of censorship crap makes me wonder what the hell is wrong with people. If you would ever succumb to this kind of censorship, I suggest you drop your pen, close your laptop, and go find something fun to do other than writing. And if you choose to keep writing, gird your loins: jerks … Read more

The Daily Journal, Friday, February 22

In today’s Journal ▪ MurderCon registration opening soon ▪ Daily diary and general rambling ▪ Of Interest ▪ The numbers Registration for MurderCon, presented by Writers’ Police Academy, opens this coming Sunday. For information, see https://www.writerspoliceacademy.com/classes-available/. *** Up at a little after 3 to a rainy, drizzly morning. And the rain’s supposed to turn to snow later. According to those who profess to know, we’re supposed to get 6″ before it’s all done. Not something we’re used to here, but it’s only weather. It will be 70 degrees here by the middle of next week. Of course, today many of … Read more

The Journal, Wednesday, October 31

Hey Folks, Man, October flew by. Already. There are a LOT of interesting if a little spooky articles in “Of Interest” today. Don’t miss it. You might want to get your favorite beverage ready before you settle in to read. (grin) Happy All Hallows Eve, everybody. Enjoy. And please be safe. If you actually eat all that extra candy you bought… well, you know. (grin) We live on a side road on the edge of a very small and very socially/religiously segmented (cliqueish) town. And we aren’t part of the primary societal/religious segment, so we don’t get trick or treaters. … Read more

The Journal, Tuesday, August 14

Hey Folks, The following is about professional (or aspiring professional) writers, which I’m beginning to believe are born, not made. They are driven. Their overall number-one priority, the one thing to which they always return, is writing. Now, some write part-time because that’s what they enjoy doing. Some write a memoir to leave for their family. Some simply enjoy attending writer conferences or writers group meetings and immersing themselves in the life for awhile. Maybe they enjoy talking about writing. Maybe they enjoy rubbing shoulders with writers and agents and publishers. And all of that’s fine. Nothing wrong with it. … Read more

The Journal, Thursday, August 9

Hey Folks, Long post today. Get a beverage. Settle in. Wow. Stayed up too late last night. It was a great night, with almost constant low-level rumbling thunder and distant flashes of lightning through the window. Not a lot of rain, but a great, soothing (and cool) light and sound show. But as a result I stayed up far too late, enjoying the breeze through the door. And as a result of that I got up late this morning. If I’m not careful, that late rising will throw off my whole day. *** Topic: Prejudice and Discrimination Anyone else ever … Read more