Cycling

The Journal, Wednesday, 9/27

Hey Folks, First, for any veterans out there, beginning on November 11, 2017, the online Exchange System (PX) is open to all veterans who served honorably regardless of length of service. Note that this is only the ONLINE exchange. Still, they lists tons of stuff, and it isn’t all high-ticket merchandise. Great discounts. To qualify, visit https://www.shopmyexchange.com/veterans. Again, you don’t have to have a current ID card, and you don’t have to have retired. *** Also too important to be shuffled down to the “Of Interest” section… Much as I (and other amateur photogs) like to think we can always … Read more

The Journal, Tuesday, 9/26

Hey Folks, Well, I expected this to be a nonwriting day, frankly. But the subconscious mind is an amazing thing. I knew I’d spend much of the day in Tucson today, so my characters woke me up early. I spent some time doing nothing, then moved to the novel at 4 a.m. Quick Update: I posted this at about 8 a.m. this morning. Been to Tucson, where we thought the doc would schedule me for surgery to replace my pacemaker. Found out I don’t expire (okay, my PM battery doesn’t expire) for about another year. So SCORE! (grin) This morning … Read more

The Journal, Monday, 9/25

Hey Folks, “Many would-be novelists never get around to writing a novel for the same reason nobody ever gets around to eating an elephant. “Wrong focus. To eat an elephant, you have to take one bite at a time. Focus on the bite. “It seems impossible to write a whole novel, but you can write a scene. So just write a scene. Then write another scene. Then write another one. Forget about writing a ‘novel.’ Lather, rinse, repeat.” I posted that to FB this morning, spurred by my 15 year old granddaughter’s complaint (via email) that her teacher had assigned … Read more

The Journal, Friday, 9/22

Hey Folks, Rolled out on time this morning, then spent an enjoyable hour or so talking via email with my young granddaughter, Taylor. By the way, just in time for my topic today (see below) DWS is finally back to busting myths with another Killing the Sacred Cows chapter. It’s in “Of Interest” today. Topic: Lying to Readers It’s annoying when Dean Wesley Smith is SO right on everything he says. Well, on most things. He does occasionally say he’s going to make me angry when he’s busting some idiotic myth, but that has yet to happen. But on the … Read more

The Journal, Wednesday, 9/20

Hey Folks, I had a copyediting job come in, so I decided I’ll work on that during the early morning hours. I seem to do most of my own writing in the late morning and early afternoon anyway. Worked on the copyedit (an excellent memoir) for a few hours, then to the repair shop to pick up my no-longer-busted lawnmower, then back here. I should have gone straight to the novel, but I didn’t. I played with creating a new meme that has a half-crazy pic of yours truly. I posted it to Facebook. That was fun. Now to fetch … Read more

The Journal, Tuesday, 9/19

Hey Folks, For awhile, occasionally I’ve included links to articles on Science Alert. Recently I’ve come to believe it’s more of a populist rag with sensational, click-bait headlines than a valid source of stimulating information. So I looked around. If you’re interested in space and science, try https://www.space.com/. If it looks interesting to you, you can sign up for any or all of three separate newsletters: Space.com newsletter, headlines about the space program, space tourism and more. LiveScience newsletter, the day’s science news covering space, animals, health, environment, technology and history. TechNewsDaily newsletter, technology news and information for non-geeks. If … Read more

The Journal, Sunday, 9/17

Hey Folks, Up a little earlier than usual this a.m. and was at the novel by 4. I did some cycling, then some writing into the dark, finishing a chapter and starting another chapter. And that was both “into the dark” and in the dark at my outside desk. Something peaceful about the only light in the universe being my computer screen. Maybe I need to write an SF novel next. (grin) It occurred to me this morning I might actually be writing two novels concurrently: a noir PI novel and a crime novel. Remember awhile back I mentioned this … Read more

The Journal, Tuesday, 9/12

Hey Folks, Okay, I mentioned a couple of times a workshop I’m taking with Dean. It ended this morning, so here’s my report. On the Online Workshops tab of his website, the title (if you want to read about it) is officially “Writing Mysteries.” If you’re interested, I encourage you to read the writeup there. First, I found that the actual workshop more than nailed the description on the website. This is an actual writing workshop. He teaches you how to write mysteries in the ten most popular subgenres. Plus there are extensive notes on writing Thrillers (used to be … Read more

The Journal, Monday, 9/11

Hey Folks, Well, have you guys heard me whine enough? The thing is, I’m either a writer or I’m not. For awhile now, I haven’t been. Not really. So I’ll see about cutting down on the whining, and instead go back to tending to business. I am somewhat heartened, because in the original essay in which Robert Heinlein laid out his Business Habits for Writers, he mentioned that he himself had violated his own rules on occasion. *** Today in “Of Interest” you’ll see that Dean’s going to offer his services as a first reader again in two challenges, short … Read more

The Journal, Wednesday, 9/6

Hey Folks, Now I know what the kids mean when they write OMG. Via The Passive Voice from yesterday, there was this wonderful gem: “What begins as a raindrop on our heads turns into a cloudburst of rain. If we deny its messages, it becomes a thunderstorm. Still not listening? Look out for a hurricane, a tornado and an accompanying tsunami.” Are you kidding me? Talk about mixing metaphors. And even mixing them WITHIN a metaphor. This is supposed to be a serious post about what might happen if we “fail or refuse to learn the lessons we are supposed … Read more