KillZone Blog

The Journal: Writer Seeks Actual Publisher

In today’s Journal * Topic: Writer Seeks Actual Publisher * Wimped out a little * The Numbers Topic: Writer Seeks Actual Publisher A couple days ago I posted about numbers, and yesterday I posted about priorities. Who knew I was building up to posting about Heinlein’s Rule 4: “You must publish” (in today’s parlance)? I just read another post about organizing, or rather the consequences of the lack of organization. And I was moved to leave a brief comment. I wrote “For me, at least, that’s why Heinlein’s Rule 4 is so easy to fall off of.” (Yeah, I know. … Read more

The Journal: A Thought on Priorities and Writing

In today’s Journal * Quote of the Day * Topic: A Thought on Priorities and Writing * Another Note on Numbers * A decent day yesterday * The Numbers Quote of the Day “You don’t need more time, you need more focus.” FS Blog Topic: A Thought on Priorities and Writing When I was a child in New Mexico, I heard a Realtor’s spot on the local radio station: “There will always be more people, but there will never be more land.” The Realtor in question most often dealt in large tracts of land: farms, ranches and the like. And … Read more

The Journal: Writing “Fast”

In today’s Journal * Quotes of the Day * Topic: Writing “Fast” * A dismal day * The Numbers Quotes of the Day “Professional writers think of stories or novels as just one continuous thing they write, never making one or another more important.” Dean Wesley Smith “I usually write a play in six days. A novel takes a month.” William Saroyan Topic: Writing “Fast” Again today I saw a writer trying to define “fast,” as in “Are you a ‘fast’ writer?” To me, this is like defining heat and cold or light and dark. Really, there is no such … Read more

The Journal: Yes, That’s What Happens

In today’s Journal * Quote of the Day * I’m writing this * Yes. That’s what happens * On an oddly related note * Today I’ll finish cycling and write * The Numbers Quote of the Day “My story began to develop and grow in unexpected ways, much like a baby who resembles neither parent at first but occasionally, even eerily, flashes a crooked smile or gives you that soulful gaze that makes you know you are staring at your spiritual twin.” Sunday Taylor I’m writing this on Thursday morning. I finished the recast of Book 4 by around 7 … Read more

The Journal: MOM (Moaning Over Misery)

In today’s Journal * Quote of the Day * A Lot Slower Yesterday * In a continuation of my MOM * The Numbers Quote of the Day “Being a writer does not make you an editor. And being an editor definitely does not make you a writer.” me A Lot Slower Yesterday Well, my progress on my recast novel was a lot slower day yesterday. I ran into the part of Book 4 that I kept, the thread that had nothing to do with the death that caused me to recast the novel. A cautionary note: If I had it … Read more

The Journal: Creating a Series Bible

In today’s Journal * Quotes of the Day * Welcome * Topic: Creating a Series Bible * After taking the day before * The Numbers Quotes of the Day On a character seeing a shattered mug on the floor of the kitchen or bedroom: “How it wound up on the floor isn’t important (yet). What is important is that I’ve created conflict just by showing the shattered mug.” Sue Coletta “A funny thing happens while creating a story bible. Scene ideas flood the creative mind.” Sue Coletta Welcome to my new UK subscriber and to others who have recently subscribed. … Read more

The Journal: A Question on Writing Setting

In today’s Journal * Quote of the Day * Topic: A Question on Writing Setting * The Numbers Quote of the Day “The settings you create, the characters you bring to life, the stories you imagine into existence—those are important! Most readers don’t care if you can do stylistic handsprings. What they want is story that grabs them, holds them, and moves them.” David Farland Topic: A Question on Writing Setting A writer (not a Journal reader, I think) wrote to ask me about writing setting. I thought my response would make a good topic for the Journal. He wrote … Read more

The Journal: On Comma Use

In today’s Journal * Quotes of the Day * A writer friend in South Africa * A great new information site * Topic: On Comma Use * The Numbers Quotes of the Day “B&N’s new CEO, James Daunt, is designing the company’s phoenix-like rise from its ashes on the direct involvement of on-the-ground booksellers in the decisions on what books individual stores should stock. You know, the way booksellers used to do it before the superstores ran them out of business.” John Gilstrap “[A]s the [book] business fluctuates and expands and contracts, the one constant to all of it … … Read more

The Journal: A Light Discourse on Punctuation

In today’s Journal * Quotes of the Day * Topic: A Light Discourse on Punctuation * A couple of fairly slow days * The Numbers Quotes of the Day This is one of the greatest quotes on creativity I’ve ever encountered. It goes to the very heart of writing: “Recognizing that people’s reactions don’t belong to you is the only sane way to create. If people enjoy what you’ve created, terrific. If people ignore what you’ve created, too bad. If people misunderstand what you’ve created, don’t sweat it. And what if people absolutely hate what you’ve created? What if people … Read more

The Journal: Adapted from Peter de Vries

In today’s Journal * Quote of the Day * Free lecture on inspiration * My son and his beautiful girl Cathy * The Numbers Quote of the Day “[T]he next time a traditionally-published author or agent talks about Amazon ruining the book business, some might be tempted to say that the New York book business deserves to be ruined.” The Passive Guy From AuthorsPublish.com, “You are invited to attend a free lecture and Q&A session with New York Times Bestselling Author Emily Colin. She’ll be giving a talk on “Taming the Wild Beast: Making Inspiration Work for You. “The lecture … Read more