CrimeReads

The Journal: Practice in Writing

In today’s Journal * Quotes of the Day * A Question for You * Topic: Practice in Writing * The Numbers Quotes of the Day “Start writing, no matter what. The water does not flow until the faucet is turned on.” Louis L’Amour “Fiction writing can be learned, if one studies diligently and keeps practicing.” James Scott Bell “I don’t know how to tell if my writing’s any good while I’m writing it.” Greer Macallister A Question for You Given today’s topic. I have a question, and I’m serious. One of the most clichéd sentences in the writing profession is … Read more

The Journal: A Very Short Topic

In today’s Journal * Quotes of the Day * Yesterday * Today * Topic: A Very Short Topic * Of Interest * The Numbers Quotes of the Day “Learning to let go should be learned before learning to get. Life should be touched, not strangled. You’ve got to relax, let it happen at times, and at others move forward with it.” Ray Bradbury “Eventually, everyone will be quarantined to their houses with no sports to watch… and in nine months a boom of babies will be born… and we will call them Coronials.” Creative Talent Agency (via The Passive Voice) … Read more

The Journal: Think

In today’s Journal * Quote of the Day * Yesterday * Topic: Think * Today * Of Interest * The Numbers Quote of the Day “Nothing will stop you from being creative so effectively as the fear of making a mistake.” John Cleese (from KillZone blog a day or two ago) Yesterday, I got up early to give myself more time on the novel, but that didn’t really work out. I was tired much of the day, and I wasn’t thinking quite right. Lesson learned. Maybe. I got just over 3600 words (see Day 3). At the end of the … Read more

The Journal: Wilhelm’s Law and Other Misunderstandings

In today’s Journal * WMG Publishing Offer * Topic: Wilhelm’s Law and Other Misunderstandings * Yesterday * Today * Of Interest * The Numbers WMG Publishing Offer WMG Publishing has decided to repeat their 50% off sale on everything they have on Teachable for 48 hours beginning last night at midnight. Everything. Lectures, workshops, pop-ups, lifetime subscriptions… everything. I can’t urge you strongly enough to take advantage of this offer. To do so, visit https://wmg-publishing-workshops-and-lectures.teachable.com/, click “See All Courses,” and use the code SpringTraining2020 at checkout. You can buy more than one, but you have to get them one at … Read more

The Journal: A Rare Treat

In today’s Journal * The numbers for yesterday * A Rare Treat * Today * Of Interest * The Numbers The numbers for yesterday are below. I missed my short story for this week and stopped short on the novel, and that’s fine. I’m not worried about it. To see why, please read on. (grin) A Rare Treat But not rare enough. We no longer have to wonder when our first rattlesnake of the season will visit. I was sitting in the Hovel about three feet from the door (that’s significant), writing on the novel again when I decided I … Read more

The Journal: The Value of an Opening

In today’s Journal * Quotes of the Day * Affinity * Yesterday * Today * Topic: The Value of an Opening * Today redux * Of Interest * The Numbers Quotes of the Day “Reacher has remained a loner and a drifter, which allows Child the freedom to put his protagonist in virtually any role and in any setting and still continue the series.” Rick Pullen in an interview with Lee Child (see “Of Interest” below) “Advice to Writers: Ignore all advice because you’ve got to imagine here’s your book and that book is going to be competing with several … Read more

The Journal: On Having “Enough” Inventory, Supporting Readers, and Other Things

In today’s Journal * Quotes of the Day * Yesterday * Topic: On Having “Enough” Inventory, Supporting Readers, and Other Things * Today * Of Interest * The Numbers Quotes of the Day “But the truth is, that pushing yourself often yields great results. If you push yourself and fail, at the very least you’ve exercised your writing muscles.” David Farland I expected yesterday to be a really big day, but it wasn’t. I diverted my efforts to helping my wife clear the yard of piles and piles of saltbush and mesquite tree trimmings. We transported four pickup-bed loads to … Read more

The Journal: Special Limited Time Discount

In today’s Journal * Quote of the Day * Special Limited Time Discount * In the spirit * Writing with Depth and Advanced Depth * Yesterday and Today * Of Interest * The Numbers Quote of the Day “Literature is a textually transmitted disease, normally contracted in childhood.” Jane Yolen (via The Passive Voice) Special Limited Time Discount In the spirit of helping readers pass the time and helping writers learn something new, I’ve just discounted all of my titles—nonfiction books, novels, novellas, short stories, and short story collections—by 50% at Smashwords. This sale ends on March 31, 2020. To … Read more

The Journal: You Want to Read This

In today’s Journal * Quote of the Day * Yesterday * A great mentoring student * Topic: How Specifically to Write Into the Dark * My mentoring student also asked * Because I know * Today * Of Interest * The Numbers Quote of the Day “To move past obstacles you need to move. The hardest obstacles to do that with are the ones you create yourself.” Colin Mobey Yesterday, as promised, I read over the 3000 words I’d written on The Others. It was gibberish. I threw it out. I kept only the idea. Sometime today I’ll write a … Read more

The Journal: A Matter of Mindset

In today’s Journal * Topic: A Matter of Mindset * Today * Of Interest * The Numbers Topic: A Matter of Mindset You might consider this a little tough love. In this business, and it IS a business, your mindset is all-important. If you want to be a writer, you have to write. It really is that simple and, for some, that difficult. Please remember that I’m not talking from some magical ivory tower here. I’ve been where all other writers have been before or are now. Some writers outline. Been there, done that. Some writers research, research, research. Until … Read more