David Farland

The Journal: Sigh. Mentorships

In today’s Journal * Mentorships * Of Interest * The Numbers Mentorships First, nothing I write below will affect my current mentoring relationship with my one student. I’ve updated my Mentorships again, and for the final time. Now I’ll just leave them up unless I decide to stop offering them at all. The changes are extensive. I kept the topic descriptions, but cancelled the option to “buy” specific topics. I typically give much more than I’m asked, so offering them as individual topics was self-defeating where my time is concerned. Now I share my knowledge, suited to the student’s own … Read more

The Journal: Rain

In today’s Journal * Quotes of the Day * Rain * I had a great deal of fun * Of Interest * The Numbers Quotes of the Day “Story is more important than style.” David Farland Another group of words that should be attached via sticky note to the edge of every writing computer everywhere. Right alongside “Story is more important than words.” To use a builder analogy, if words are nails and the writing computer is the hammer, Story is the Taj Mahal. “[L]ong before we dreamed of cities, I imagine we should probably have had a premonition, dreamed … Read more

The Journal: Some Cover Design Fundamentals

In today’s Journal * Yesterday * Topic: Some Cover Design Fundamentals * Of Interest * The Numbers Yesterday, which should have been a relaxing day off, was mostly a bust. We went to a couple of estate sales over in Sierra Vista. Neither had much that we were interested in, and the other attendees at one acted as if they’d never been around other humans before. Sheesh. We shopped in the commissary too, and found some of what we needed but not all. And then I chose and ate the wrong thing for lunch, making myself ill. It was just … Read more

The Journal: David Farland and a Royal Model O Typewriter

In today’s Journal * Quote of the Day * David Farland * Royal Model O * Of Interest * The Numbers Quote of the Day “[E]ventually the character’s story demands to be told in full.” David Farland If you get David Farland’s newsletter, you recently received one titled “Writing Your Series, Part 3.” But if you go to Farland’s Writing Tips blog, it doesn’t seem to be up yet. Actually, it is. So are Parts 1 through 6. But they were originally written in 2014. So to see the entire series of posts on “Writing Your Series,” visit https://mystorydoctor.com/?s=Writing+your+series. There … Read more

The Journal: The Becoming A Writer Mentorships

In today’s Journal * Topic: The Becoming A Writer Mentorships * Of Interest * The Numbers Topic: The Becoming A Writer Mentorships First, an update: The mentorships came together more quickly than I expected. They went live this morning. But I decided to post some of my working notes on the Becoming A Writer mentorships because they make for a good topic. There are many more topics in the actual mentorships than are shown here. You can view the complete mentorships by clicking https://harveystanbrough.com/mentorships/ (it costs nothing to look) and then choosing one link or the other. I’m glad it’s … Read more

The Journal: Quotes and Of Interest

In today’s Journal * Quotes of the Day * Not much * Of Interest * The Numbers Quotes of the Day “Pace is the speed at which your narrative unfolds. There is a kind of unspoken (hence undefended and unexamined) belief in publishing circles that the most commercially successful stories and novels are fast-paced. Like so many unexamined beliefs in the publishing business, this idea is largely bullshit. … I believe each story should be allowed to unfold at its own pace, and that pace is not always double time.” Stephen King (and bravo!) “Life minus x equals death. Solve … Read more

The Journal: Focusing Down

In today’s Journal * Quotes of the Day * Topic: Focusing Down * The current novel * Of Interest * The Numbers Quotes of the Day “There is no Idea Dump, no Story Central, no Island of the Buried Bestsellers; good story ideas seem to come quite literally from nowhere, sailing at you right out of the empty sky: two previously unrelated ideas come together and make something new under the sun. Your job isn’t to find these ideas but to recognize them when they show up.” Stephen King on where to get ideas “[Q]uite quickly this technique of the … Read more

The Journal: Character Descriptions

In today’s Journal * Wow. Lately * I’d be remiss * Topic: Character Descriptions * Yesterday, and Memorial Day * Of Interest * The Numbers Wow. Lately “Of Interest” seems a feast or famine prospect. Today it’s famine. I’d be remiss if I didn’t pass along the info on “David Farland’s Advanced Fantasy and SF Writing Workshop” (at https://mystorydoctor.com/david-farlands-advanced-fantasy-and-sf-writing-workshop/). I’d also be remiss if I didn’t remind you of my mentorships and recommend a comparison. But that’s up to you. Topic: Character Descriptions It’s difficult to point to a “good” book on characterization. Not because they aren’t out there, but … Read more

The Journal: More Good Input

In today’s Journal * Quotes of the Day * More good input * Thanks to Maggie King * Of Interest * The Numbers Quotes of the Day “I’ve never followed the tide of popular opinion in the way I write my novels. I’m not going to start now. … I just make an effort not to write anything into my stories that would hurt or show contempt for someone because they’re male or female.” Haruki Murakami “Our job is to give new meanings and special overtones to absolutely ordinary words.” Haruki Murakami “When I’m writing, I write every day. It’s … Read more

The Journal: Opportunities, and Misinformation

In today’s Journal * Quote of the Day * StreetLib * Misinformation * Listening to Dean * Mentorships Revised * The Reading * Of Interest * The Numbers Quote of the Day “Our lives are but specks of dust falling through the fingers of time. Like sands of the hourglass, so are the days of our lives.” Socrates Today’s Journal is filled with opportunities, and there’s a note to clear up some misinformation. Opportunity: StreetLib If you’re still looking for an aggregator or distributor for your books, you might check out StreetLib. I’ll be taking another look at them. StreetLib … Read more