Dean Wesley Smith

The Journal: Culling Sites and WITD

In today’s Journal * Cullilng sites * On WITD * Congratulations * Of Interest * The Numbers I’ve culled my own list of sites that I check daily (or to which I subscribe). My list is down to Dean (because he’s my friend), David Farland’s Writing Tips (subscribe at https://mystorydoctor.com/blog/), and The Passive Voice (for general interest). I still check Kill Zone blog too, but that usually takes only a second or two (long enough to read the title and the blogger’s name and move on). Only one or two bloggers on TKZ still provide worthwhile, original advice. And I … Read more

The Journal: Snippets and Priorities

In today’s Journal * Quote of the Day * Snippets and Priorities * Of Interest * The Numbers Quote of the Day “What they call you is one thing. What you answer to is something else.” Lucille Clifton (via The Passive Voice) Snippets and Priorities The following are snippets of what might have become topics or essays had I followed them through. I thought it might be fun to give you a glimpse at how my brain is working at the moment. Where a new mini-topic begins I use bold and italics. A few days ago I received an article … Read more

The Journal: Browsing for Information

In today’s Journal * Quote of the Day * I’m not back * Topic: Browsing for Information * Of Interest * The Numbers Quote of the Day “As a child I’d run into Wilde’s witticism ‘The only true talent is precociousness.’ I took my writing seriously, and it seemed to pay off.” Samuel R. Delany In the early part of the movie Twister, Bill keeps saying, “I’m not back.” It provides a quiet comedic undertone. Which is a little how I feel this morning. I’m not back. But I found a few things I hoped you would see and I … Read more

The Journal: Some Things Can’t Be Taught…

In today’s Journal * Quote of the Day * Topic: Some Things Can’t Be Taught… * Of Interest * The Numbers Quote of the Day “The great fun in my life has been getting up every morning and rushing to the typewriter because some new idea has hit me. The feeling I have every day is very much the same as it was when I was 12.” Ray Bradbury Topic: Some Things Can’t Be Taught… Ironically, I’ve come to realize the most important writing-related technique I’ve ever learned—Writing Into the Dark—can’t be taught. I really wish I could teach the … Read more

The Journal: Putting a Cap on It

In today’s Journal * Putting a Cap on It * Of Interest * The Numbers Putting a Cap on It By way of clarification, in this case “it” is the craziness. And by way of further clarification, “the craziness” is my own and society’s. And this essay, I guess. So my own craziness, society’s craziness, and what some of you probably will see as the craziness of this essay. Feel free to substitute the word “insanity” for “craziness” at any point. Pain is relative. Inconvenience, too, and distruption of the norm are relative. I think everyone knows that. What you … Read more

The Journal: Just FYI

In today’s Journal * Quotes of the Day * Nothing much * Of Interest * The Numbers Quotes of the Day “The first principle is that you must not fool yourself and you are the easiest person to fool.” Richard P. Feynman “It’s easier to fool people than it is to convince them that they have been fooled.” Mark Twain Nothing much to talk about today. I’m doing fine but still not doing much day by day other than reading and watching TV and urging all this mental fog to be over so I can get back to writing. I’m … Read more

The Journal: An Important Story Bundle

In today’s Journal * Quote of the Day * StoryBundle * Of Interest * The Numbers Quote of the Day “If you are constantly fighting and saying ‘I really want to be a writer,’ but you don’t ever sit down and write, maybe you don’t want it, because writers are people who write.” Dean Wesley Smith StoryBundle is offering four different bundles at the moment: African Spec Fic, Write Stuff 2020, Latinx Dark Fiction, and Young Adult Megabundle. I’ve recently purchased the first two on the list. I bought African Spec Fic because I’m getting more interested in speculative fiction … Read more

The Journal: What’s Going On

In today’s Journal * Quotes of the Day * What’s Going On * L. Ron Hubbard’s Writers of the Future * Of Interest * The Numbers Quotes of the Day “What a good thing Adam had. When he said a good thing he knew nobody had said it before.” Mark Twain “A metaphor, to be judicious, needs to support the tone of the scene or the tone of the action it is describing.” Jessi Rita Hoffman What’s Going On Reading Gaiman’s post from a day or two ago gave me the idea that I’m being a slacker. I set out … Read more

The Journal: Neil Gaiman

In today’s Journal * Quote of the Day * While I wasn’t paying attention * Of Interest * The Numbers Quote of the Day “When you’re all alone out there, on the end of the typewriter, with each new story a new appraisal by the world of whether you can still get it up or not, arrogance and self-esteem and deep breathing are all you have. It often looks like egomania. I assure you it’s the bold coverup of the absolutely terrified.” Harlan Ellison When I wasn’t paying attention, Neil Gaiman decided to post a few blog posts. I encourage … Read more

The Journal: Nothing Much

In today’s Journal * Yesterday * Today * Of Interest * The Numbers Yesterday I tried to write a little and quickly realized my mind is not yet allowing that. Which is frustrating, but fine. “What cannot be remedied must be endured” (Willie Nelson as the title character in the film, Barbarosa). Or in my case, What one flatly refuses to remedy, one must endure. Whatever. Nothing much to say today. I’m publishing this edition because of the items in “Of Interest” below. Enjoy. Even in this time of dense brain fog, I’m learning and improving my craft and reaching … Read more