KillZone Blog

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: In Case You Missed It

In today’s Journal * In Case You Missed It * Of Interest * The Numbers Since I’m posting much less frequently now, I’ve retitled the “Of Interest” section to “In Case You Missed It.” Seems more appropriate. Not much to talk about right now. Hope you’re all well. I’m posting this primarily to pass along what’s in the section below. Talk with you again when I can. In Case You Missed It See “Let The Critics Out To Play, A Guide For Unruly Writers” at https://prowriterswriting.com/let-the-critics-out-to-play-a-guide-for-unruly-writers. See “Switching Gears” at https://mystorydoctor.com/david-farlands-writing-tips-switching-gears/. For the record, I personally use (and advocate) a … 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: Of Interest

In today’s Journal * Today * Off for a Few Days * Of Interest * The Numbers Some good stuff in “Of Interest” today. This morning I received the final bit of feedback from my first readers on Book 2 of the Othgygnrk Invasion series, which will release on July 1. I’ll make those changes today, then finish the copyedit I’m working on. Listen, I’ll probably be off here for a few days. I have a feeling nobody’s reading this recently anyway, and I don’t blame you. I need to regroup a little, focus on some things I’m putting together … 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

The Journal: Satellites and a Poem

In today’s Journal * Quote of the Day * Satellites * Stone Libraries and the stories they tell * Yesterday and Today * Of Interest * The Numbers Quote of the Day “Mrs. PG gave up bookstore signings a long time before she went indie. Too much time and effort for too little return.” The Passive Guy Each time I go camping, I try to spot satellites in the night sky. Sometimes I see one or two, sometimes none. This morning, at 4 a.m. on my way to the Hovel, I glanced up and spotted one traveling from southwest to … Read more

The Journal: Thanks

In today’s Journal * Quote of the Day * What Bradbury said * Yesterday * Today * Of Interest * The Numbers Quote of the Day “You see, all my characters write the book. I don’t write the book. All these characters come to me and say, ‘Listen to me.’ And then I listen to them and I put it down, and the book gets written. That’s how I write, you see. All these lovers surround me, and they love life and they tell me about it.” Ray Bradbury on the writing of Fahrenheit 451. Yes! What Bradbury said. Yes! … Read more

The Journal: What Readers Want

In today’s Journal * Quote of the Day * Yesterday * Topic: A Few Extra Thoughts on What Readers Want * Today * Of Interest * The Numbers Quote of the Day “What lies behind us and what lies before us are tiny matters compared to what lies within us.” Ralph Waldo Emerson (via The Passive Voice) Yesterday I attended class. I was one of the smart ones who backed one of Deans’s Kickstarters for $5. And the Kickstarter funded and then reached two or three stretch goals. I feel a little bit like a pirate. For a lousy $5 … Read more