Dean Wesley Smith

The Journal, Thursday, September 19

In today’s Journal * Quote of the Day * Topic: Why I’m Here, Doing What I Do * The Numbers Quote of the Day I just saw this in a comment (by someone other than me) on one of Dean’s posts. It was too good not to pass along in light of comments I’ve received here recently: “It’s not rocket science. Why don’t people listen to you? What possible nefarious agenda could you have?” Cora Exactly. Topic: Why I’m Here, Doing What I Do How other writers write doesn’t matter to Dean Wesley Smith and it doesn’t matter to me. … Read more

The Journal, Wednesday, September 18

In today’s Journal * Quote of the Day * I didn’t plan * The numbers Quote of the Day “The first principle is that you must not fool yourself — and you are the easiest person to fool.”  Richard Feynman I didn’t plan to be back today with a Journal entry, but a comment on yesterday’s post… well, it’s as if I wrote “blue” and the commenter read “xvhbzrr.” It doesn’t really matter except that it also vividly illustrates exactly the attitude I was talking about in yesterday’s post. You can read the comment that prompted my response at https://hestanbrough.com/the-journal-tuesday-september-17/#comments. Here’s my … Read more

The Journal, Friday, September 13

In today’s Journal * I had this * A special bonus * Topic: On Word Choice and Distractions in Fiction * Related to today’s topic * The numbers I had this short post all set to go out yesterday, then got busy and forgot to post it. And shock of shocks, the world didn’t end. (grin) I guess it’s all right that I’m not hitting it every day after all. As a special bonus for those who are hanging-in with the Journal, please be sure to check the comments on Dean’s “Dumbest New Myth In Writing” at https://www.deanwesleysmith.com/dumbest-new-myth-in-writing/#comments. A ton … Read more

The Journal, Wednesday, September 11

In today’s Journal * First, a moment * Public Service Announcement of the Day * Topic: An Important Post for Writers * For yet another * I think everyone out there knows * The numbers First, a moment to remember those who lost their lives in a selfish, shameful, cowardly act perpetrated by a few “unspeakable bastards” (as one columnist put it) 18 years ago today. I will personally never forget that day Neither will I ever forget the brave men who lost their lives needlessly in Benghazi on the same date 11 years later. Nor will I personally ever … Read more

The Journal, Tuesday, September 10

In today’s Journal * Persistence pays off * Topic: I Do Rattle On * For something beautiful * The numbers Persistence pays off in blog-watching. Neil Gaiman is back with “A Long Catch Up…” at http://journal.neilgaiman.com/2019/09/a-long-catch-up-and-go-and-see-amanda.html. Also check out Dean’s site for a great opportunity. I also suggest checking out today’s PWW post at https://prowriterswriting.com/witd-a-new-question. My advice re WITD or don’t WITD? Don’t get wrapped around the wheel. Just write. Try to do so in a way that the writing is fun. Topic: I Do Rattle On Over on PWW today, I ended a comment with an implied apology for … Read more

The Journal, Monday, September 9

In today’s Journal * Quote of the Day * From Kristine Kathryn Rusch * Daily diary * The numbers Quote of the Day “I went for years not finishing anything. Because, of course, when you finish something you can be judged… I had poems which were re-written so many times I suspect it was just a way of avoiding sending them out.” Erica Jong So how many times do you have to hear it? From how many “names”? Get over the fear, realize there are no bad consequences for writing and finishing a story or novel, and Just Do It. … Read more

The Journal, Saturday, September 7

In today’s Journal * Today, I thought * Topic: Switching Your Site from HTTP to HTTPS * If you haven’t * The numbers Today, I thought I’d pass along something useful I learned from the newsletter I mentioned in yesterday’s Journal. Nate Hoffelder mentioned that when you switch your URL from the unsecured http to a secured https, there’s a final step that many writers don’t realize. Topic: Switching Your Site from HTTP to HTTPS After you’ve bought a security certificate through your webhost and changed your URL (in Settings) from http to https, you still have some work to … Read more

The Journal, Wednesday, September 4

In today’s Journal * Topic: A Perfect Storm * A couple of recommendations * The numbers Topic: A Perfect Storm Bear with me as I work my way through this. It has a point. I’m recording it here and publishing it only because some of you might find yourselves in a similar situation. The form of this post was predicated, in part, by Alison Holt’s excellent post at Pro Writers Writing. First, it would be easy, in this moment, to say I’ve had a good run but that run is over. I could easily lapse into full retirement, puttering around … Read more

The Journal, Saturday, August 31

In today’s Journal * Topic: Some Rambling Thoughts * I planned to be gone… Topic: Some Rambling Thoughts I’m still on vacation, which I find a little odd and frankly a little unnerving. I’ve been writing very little nonfiction (all of it here) and very little to no fiction. I want to get back to the latter. I’ll get back to the former too with some regularity, but I probably won’t post “items of interest” other than occasionally in the body of the post, as I have in this one. I think for me getting back to writing fiction regularly … Read more

The Journal, Wednesday, August 28

In today’s Journal * On vacation * Topic: What Is “Sexual” Violence? * I’m not sure I added * Of Interest * The numbers After I sent the previous edition of the Journal, I realized I was exhausted. Yesterday for the first time in a few years, I didn’t write anything at all. No Journal entry, no other nonfiction. I haven’t even added anything to the novel (to speak of). I told my wife (grinning), “Y’know, I think I’m gonna take a few vacation days.” She thought that was a good idea. So that’s what I’m doing. Yesterday I headed … Read more