CrimeReads

The Daily Journal, Sunday, July 14

In today’s Journal * Quotes of the Day * According to my friend Phillip McCollum * The Journal is on a diet * Update: We’ve learned tons * Daily diary * Of Interest * The numbers Quotes of the Day “If it weren’t for received ideas, the publishing industry wouldn’t have any ideas at all.” Donald E. Westlake “The most frightening monsters are the ones who do not look like monsters at all, not until it is too late.” Kali Wallace *** According to my friend Phillip McCollum, it’s now possible to use Apple’s proprietary publishing program Vellum on a … Read more

The Daily Journal, Wednesday, July 10

In today’s Journal * Two topics today * Topic: Add-On Software * Topic: Ebooks and Print Books—A Comparison (reprint) * Daily diary * Of Interest * The numbers In a rare occurrence, we have two topics to cover today. The first is a little shorter, but important. The second is a little longer, but still important. So get your favorite beverage and settle in. Here we go. Topic: Add-On Software Add-on software, to my mind, is just silly. Why would any writer want extra distractions? A reader of this Journal directed me to Aeon Timeline, a company that makes Visual … Read more

The Daily Journal, Sunday, July 7

In today’s Journal * Not a lot * Topic: How Long Should A Book Be? * Daily diary * Of Interest * The numbers Not a lot to write about today, so this will be short. I did write a take-off topic I thought you might find useful though. My son will leave for home this morning. It’s been a great visit. I’ll spend the balance of the day with my wife and/or watching and listening to (learning) some of the workshops I’ve invested in. Tomorrow I’ll get back to writing fiction. On the learning front, be sure to read … Read more

The Daily Journal, Tuesday, July 2

In today’s Journal * Quotes of the Day * Recap * Topic: On Writing Fiction * Daily diary * Of Interest * The numbers Quotes of the Day “It’s not Dostoevsky. It’s not going to tax your mental capacities. It’s not ahhrtt.” Judith Krantz on her writing “I’ve been absolutely dead earnest and I’ve told the story I had in hand as best as I possibly could.” Herman Wouk on his writing “I make no conscious effort to be tough, or hard-boiled, or grim, or any of the things I am usually called. I merely try to write as the … Read more

The Daily Journal, Thursday, May 30

In today’s Journal * A much better description * Well, I did it * Topic: Quieting the Critical Mind (Chapter 3 Extension) * Daily diary * Of Interest * The numbers In today’s “Of Interest,” Kris Rusch offers a much better description of the Licensing Expo (what it is, why it exists, why it matters) than I ever could. One more note on the whole learning-about-licensing thing: If you don’t want to (or can’t) part with the money for Dean’s learn-along, you can get at least some of the same stuff for less by signing up with Kris Rusch’s Patreon … Read more

The Daily Journal, Tuesday, May 21

In today’s Journal * From Kris Rusch * Topic: A Digression * Daily diary * Of Interest * The numbers From the Too Good to Pass Up department, see Kris Rusch’s “Good News” at https://kriswrites.com/2019/05/20/good-news/. *** Topic: A Digression Note: Chapter 4 of How to Quiet the Critical Voice will appear here tomorrow. I had it ready to go, but this has to take precedence. Wow. Especially considering that I’m smack in the midst of writing a nonfiction book on beating the critical voice, I had to talk about this. For an excellent example of someone who for right or … Read more

The Daily Journal, Sunday, May 19

In today’s Journal * My friend Dan * Weird how writers say * Topic: My Own Stages of Becoming a Fiction Writer * Daily diary * Of Interest * The numbers My friend Dan Baldwin will be dropping by today mid-morning or a little later. We’ll enjoy a couple of cigars and, no doubt, a lot of talk about writing. It’s always enjoyable visiting with Dan. I invariably learn something new or realize something I’d forgotten. So I’ll devote the first couple of hours this morning (after the Journal stuff) to the WIP, then post this early. *** As another … Read more

The Daily Journal, Thursday, May 9

In today’s Journal ▪ Kristine Kathryn Rusch (again) ▪ Kristine Kathryn Rusch (yet again) ▪ Topic: Yesterday, I Shared ▪ Daily diary ▪ Of Interest ▪ The numbers Too important to be buried in “Of Interest.” If you read nothing else today, read “Business Musings: Patreon, Copyright, And Personal Choice” at https://kriswrites.com/2019/05/08/business-musings-patreon-copyright-and-personal-choice/. *** Kris’ Kickstarter has already funded and is well on its way to the first stretch goal (see Dean’s post in “Of Interest”). Frankly, I hesitated yesterday. I was going to fund it at the $50 level because I wanted the notes (in paper, so I could easily … Read more

The Daily Journal, Friday, May 3

In today’s Journal ▪ A roundup of story starters ▪ If you write short stories ▪ I’m still considering ▪ Daily diary ▪ Of Interest ▪ The numbers This morning I have a roundup of story starters for you. I’m even thinking about adding a page of these to the Daily Journal website (HEStanbrough.com). If I do they will be across different genres. Today, as I got these from CrimeReads.com articles, most of them are Mystery, Crime, Distopian fiction, etc. The idea is to read any articles that interest you. If your creative voice leaps at some of what you … Read more

The Daily Journal, Tuesday, April 30

In today’s Journal ▪ Thanks for all the well-wishes ▪ Topic: I’m All Done with Patreon ▪ Note: An advertisment ▪ If you enjoy great thrillers ▪ Daily diary ▪ Of Interest ▪ The numbers As I begin the day, thank you for all the well-wishes. I appreciate it. I’m feeling a little better each day, though I’m still sleeping more than I care to. (grin) As I morph from ill to well, I’m also determined to catch up on some admin stuff. That includes “needing” to read through my last WIP, the final chapter or two I wrote as … Read more