Dean Wesley Smith

The Daily Journal, Monday, August 26

In today’s Journal * Quote of the Day * Announcement: Priorities and Time Management * Daily Diary * Of Interest * The numbers Quote of the Day “Writing advice? Put your writerly faith in Heinlein’s Rules, in yourself, and most importantly, in your characters. The characters, not you, are living the story. Instead of attempting to control them from an authorial ivory tower, roll off the parapet into the trenches of the story and run through it with them. Have fun! Record what happens and what the characters say and do. They will lead you through to the end, and … Read more

The Daily Journal, Friday, August 23

In today’s Journal * Quotes of the Day * Happy much-belated 90th birthday, and welcome * Topic: How Long It Takes to Write a Novel * Daily Diary * Of Interest * The numbers Quotes of the Day “I don’t get writers’ block— …however, I do have lots of bad writing days. [But a] bad writing day is a million times better than a no-writing day.” Stephanie Feldman (short story writer and novelist) “Taylor Swift says she will be rerecording her early work. If she does this the right way, she will probably destroy the market value of the Big … Read more

The Daily Journal, Thursday, August 22

In today’s Journal * I kind of like * Daily Diary * Of Interest * The numbers I kind of like this new schedule, posting the Journal early and reporting fiction the following day. I don’t know that I’ll keep it, but I suspect I will. For one thing it takes the pressure off. I can write fiction at any time of day or night, and I’m not limited by needing to get the Journal out at a particular time. I had a fairly good day yesterday with a few thousand words (see below), especially after not writing fiction at … Read more

The Daily Journal, Wednesday, August 21

In today’s Journal * Not sure * Tooting my own horn * Topic: Helping Reedsy Out * Daily diary * Of Interest * The numbers Not sure what today will hold. Tomorrow (Thursday) I’ll be in Tucson all day for various medical appointments. Just stuff I have to check out. No biggie. Yesterday, I mentioned a new cover and then forgot to insert it into the post. That’s it on the right. I’ve gotten into the habit of publishing the Journal early. So I don’t forget to post the cover again, I’m going to publish early again today. I also … Read more

The Daily Journal, Tuesday, August 13

In today’s Journal * Topic: More on (My) Priorities * More Mentoring Options Now Available * Daily diary * Of Interest * The numbers Topic: More on (My) Priorities Yesterday I talked about priorities. My own priorities lately are shifting. I recently realized, for a few months now my number one priority has been this Journal. (If you don’t believe that, look back over how many topics I’ve written in the past few months.) Writing fiction slipped to being my second priority. At about the same time, writing fiction also got tangled up with learning about licensing, and to a … Read more

The Daily Journal, Saturday, August 10

In today’s Journal * I’m on the road today * Topic: Just Write the Scene * Of Interest * The daily diary and the rest I’m on the road today, and actually tomorrow, though I’ve pre-posted a topic for tomorrow to give you something to look at. (grin) The “live” Journal will return on Monday, August 12, in the usual format. For now, I hope you’ll enjoy this blast from the past from my post archives at HarveyStanbrough.com. Topic: Just Write the Scene Some time back, I posted that if you’re writing and you get bogged down, you should just … Read more

The Daily Journal, Thursday, August 8

In today’s Journal * As some of you look to me * Daily diary * Of Interest * The numbers As some of you look to me for writing advice, I owe you an explanation regarding my recent lack of focus on fiction writing. I’m going through an unusual life roll at the moment. Or you could look at it as a series of small, overlapping life rolls. This one is unusual because it consists of various events, some good and some less-than-good, that are converging at the moment. Two are medical. Neither is life-threatening like the one last year … Read more

The Daily Journal, Wednesday, August 7

In today’s Journal * Last Saturday * Topic: I Rescind My Topic Statement * Daily diary * Of Interest * The numbers Last Saturday, August 3rd, I wrote about flash fiction. A respondent from Japan and I have been exchanging comments on that post. In one of them he metioned “100 Word Story” at http://www.100wordstory.org/. Interesting website. That put me in mind of 55 Story, a book I bought a long time ago that started me writing flash fiction. You can find the current edition here. If you’re interested in writing flash fiction, I recommend the following (though all of … Read more

The Daily Journal, Monday, August 5

In today’s Journal * Topic: Which Brass Ring to Grab? * Daily diary * Of Interest * The numbers Topic: Which Brass Ring to Grab? An Allegory When you decide to learn the craft of writing (or any other craft, really), it’s like being set at the edge of a wilderness that’s steeped in a forbidding haze. To either side are a million other aspirants, all wanting the same thing, all eager to become Real Writers. From either side, you hear a million advisers say to their charges, “The journey might take years. But if you want to excel at … Read more

The Daily Journal, Saturday, August 3

In today’s Journal * Thought of the Day * Topic: The Art of Writing Flash Fiction * Daily diary * Of Interest * The numbers Thought of the Day “[S]cience fiction should be less about predicting the future than observing the present.” A purported belief of Ursula K. Le Guin in New Documentary Focuses on Ursula K. Le Guin. Topic: The Art of Writing Flash Fiction Although you can find The Art of Writing Flash Fiction at both Amazon, Smashwords, and other major ebook outlets, today I thought I’d present it for you here free. I’ve written flash fiction for … Read more