Dean Wesley Smith

The Journal, Tuesday, March 27

Hey Folks, Not a lot to report today, other than a good early day of writing. Between 4 and 8 with a few breaks I added a little over 3000 words to the novel. And the end is in sight. Given another hour, I’d finish it this morning, but I have to go to Tucson for the doc appointment. This will be a short novel. I should finish it tomorrow with what will probably be a light day of writing. When I sat down this morning, I wanted it to be a good writing day but I honestly didn’t have … Read more

The Journal, Monday, March 26

Hey Folks, Well, it’s Sunday as I write this, but I won’t post it until Monday, after I’ve written something. I only opened the boilerplate today to add the first bit in “Of Interest.” I’ll add others (if any) tomorrow before I post. Okay, now it’s Monday morning. The first thing I did was revise my “The Original Heinlein’s Rules” post (I added 450 words) and scheduled it for May 29 over on the big blog. When it pops up, I hope you’ll read it. It’s considerably different from when I posted it here back on March 9. Editing this … Read more

The Journal, Wednesday, March 21

Hey Folks, Out to the Hovel early but I didn’t turn to the novel right away. Instead I wrote a nonfiction piece that probably most of you will never see. Maybe more background for my next WIP, I don’t know. Then I worked on the current novel. After I had about 1600 words done, I headed out to check the PO at about 11, then back home. I boiled some eggs a couple days ago, and I had the bright idea that I’d make some deviled eggs as a surprise for my wife. So I decided to do that. The … Read more

The Journal, Tuesday, March 20

Hey Folks, Oh, if anyone wants to visit my site to see the changes in the menu that I mentioned yesterday, visit http://HarveyStanbrough.com. Sorry I didn’t include the link yesterday. And thanks to my friend Robert (by the way, that’s pronounced ro-BEAR as he is an honorary Acadian), for the gentle reminder. (grin) I still have a little work to do in that regard. A few fixes to target pages to make them more negotiable. But no rush on that. I learned yesterday that I have a new copyedit coming in, so I’ll be splitting my time between earning money … Read more

The Journal, Wednesday, March 14

Hey Folks, Well, I got a late start this morning. Just kind of a blah day. I almost called this a day off, after which I would have spent the day doing nothing. I finally made it to the novel at around 9:30. In the first session, I got right at 1000 words. About a third of that was to finish correcting the problem held over from yesterday. So the novel’s tracking right along again now. Then up to the house for a break and to write this stuff. *** One of my short story collections is part of a … Read more

The Journal, Tuesday, March 13

Hey Folks, For the past three years, I’ve considered taking Dean’s Anthology Workshop. It’s live, on the Oregon Coast. It’s $650 plus hotel expenses, plus travel. So not cheap (at least for me). But I’m still considering it. Now, though, a recent attendee — and one who has attended the thing SIX times — has decided to blog about the experience. In a series of blog posts, best-selling dark fantasy author (and now editor) Ron Collins is going to dissect Dean’s Anthology Workshop. If you’ve ever even thought about taking that workshop (on the coast) this will be an important … Read more

The Journal, Monday, March 12

Hey Folks, Headed out to the Hovel again. Started by cycling back through the stuff I wrote yesterday, then moved into new stuff. All in all, around 800 new words in the first session. Up to the house to eat breakfast and get some laundry started. I put an announcement on Facebook, too, that StoneThread Publishing’s been busy of late. In addition to the latest Stern Talbot P.I. book, we also just published A WonderFull Life, a memoir. It’s by my wife. The Amazon link is https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07BDFXJ4Q. The universal link is https://www.books2read.com/u/3nOarR. Just in case. Of course, your best bet … Read more

The Journal, Sunday, March 11

Hey Folks, Out to the Hovel a little early today, this being Sunday. I spent some waking-up time just playing Spider, then started on the novel at around 3:15. An hour later, I had my first 1000 words of the day. Took a very brief break, basically standing up and stretching a bit, then back at it. I’ll do one more session, then up to the house for a few minutes. Had a couple more good sessions and got a little over 3000 words by 10. Up to the house for a break. My wife’s working on the annual plague … Read more

The Journal, Friday, March 9

Hey Folks, Well, one more day on Pulp 6, which is now called Stern Talbot, PI: The Case of the Troubled Actress. That’s the cover over on the left. I read it aloud over the past two days to my wife, and during that process I heard some fat that needed to be trimmed. So I’m going to make another pass at it, strictly to trim anything that’s unnecessary. I don’t usually do this, but it’s all part of the learning process. I’ll still be reading over it in creative mind, but anytime my subconscious tugs on me with that … Read more

The Journal, Thursday, March 8

Hey Folks, No writing today. In fact, over yesterday and today, when my wife is home after work, I’m reading my latest novel to her aloud. Amazing some of the little things I’m finding and correcting as I go. For goodness’ sake, READ YOUR WORK ALOUD. I’m also formatting and proofing my wife’s recently finsihed memoir of her childhood, titled A WonderFull Life. Great fun, and well into our 33rd year of wedded bliss, I’m learning things I didn’t know. (grin) *** I chatted via email with my friend Robert Sadler earlier today, and the matter of Heinlein’s Rules came … Read more