Kristine Kathryn Rusch

The Journal, Thursday, July 26

Hey Folks, A few decades ago I started writing aphorisms and definitions, more as a mental exercise than anything else. Be forewarned: Of the definitions, some are serious, some are attempts at humor (ala Ambrose Bierce) and all are cynical. Which, if any, you perceive as humorous will depend on your own life and experiences. So today, here are a few random thoughts, definitions and aphorisms. Except where noted, these are original to me. If any of them spur story ideas, please feel free: From a poster I saw on Facebook — “The past is in your head. The future … Read more

The Journal, Thursday, July 19

Hey Folks, Another long post, but I think a good one. I’m going to try an experiment. I started this Journal almost 4 years ago to keep track of my own writing, both fiction and nonfiction. I also did that in part to let others see what is possible if they can only get themselves to the keyboard. But sometimes (even often, at times) it backfired. Instead of motivating others, sometimes seeing my numbers actually depressed them. They looked at my numbers as if I was daring them to do the same, or to surpass me. That was never the … Read more

The Journal, Wednesday, July 18

Hey Folks, Today’s post is long. It’s all about professional resources… I went through my links yesterday, deleted any authors’ websites that are about nothing but the author, new releases, etc. I’m keeping only those that offer some insight for other writers. And I’ll be rearranging those today to make them easier to find. One person responded to my call for resources yesterday. (Thanks, Gnondpom.) The ones that were already listed in my Writers Resources or that I’ve added are preceded below by an asterisk (to let you know you can find them on my site later). The others are … Read more

The Journal, Tuesday, July 17

Hey Folks, Oops. Well, I didn’t get this out yesterday. Not used to the new time yet, I guess. So I wrote most of what’s below yesterday, but I’ll count it today. A request — if anyone knows of any writer’s blogs (or group blogs, like Kill Zone, or organizational blogs) where professionals hand out anything of value to other writers (regardless of genre), please let me know. You can comment below or email me privately at harveystanbrough.com. Kill Zone still has a few authors who post valid posts now and then, but it seems to be devolving. Of course, … Read more

The Journal, Thursday, July 12

Hey Folks, Just a reminder that I’m still handing out free books to anyone who would like to read and write a review. To see what’s available, visit http://harveystanbrough.com/ and select from among the novel tabs. Then email me at harveystanbrough@gmail.com. If you prefer short fiction, you may also choose from among the 5- or 10-story collections under the Short Fiction tab. Another day of editing today, and then probably on through the weekend. Then I should have two more edits coming in before too long. It’s that time of year. But I hope to get back to my own … Read more

The Journal, Wednesday, July 11

Hey Folks, Just in case it wasn’t obvious to anyone out there, my previous Journal entry was a sarcasm-laden spoof. Upright is not a matter of degree. Neither, at least for me, is it a perpetual state. But like a goal, it’s something I strive for. There’s a fine line between encouraging false hope and preying on those who fall for it, and encouraging writers to believe in themselves and their own abilities. Anyone who promises to solve all your problems and make you a success (for a fee in real life or free in politics) is probably a scammer. … Read more

The Journal, Thursday, July 5

Hey Folks, Very long post today, but bear with me. I think you’ll be glad you did. I have a real treat for you today, via my friend, writer Christopher Ridge. Chris brought to my attention a presentation by Ray Bradbury to participants in a university writing program. You can find the link in “Of Interest.” The video is almost an hour long, but it’s Ray Bradbury, for goodness’ sake. Who can’t listen to Ray Bradbury for an hour? On writing? Of course, I was hooked at the name. Anyone who knows anything about me knows Ray Bradbury is one … Read more

The Journal, Friday, June 29

Hey Folks, Only two days left before my new daily word count goal officially begins, today and tomorrow. I’m not even going to begin the “streak” portion of it until after I have the minor surgery to replace my pacemaker. Until then, the plan is to write as much as I can, tempered by the copyedit I’m currently doing. If you couldn’t tell, I’m excited about this. (grin) Meeting the new daily goal will be difficult while I have other professional things to do. So it’s exciting in that way. And when I don’t have other professional things going on, … Read more

The Journal, Friday, June 22

Hey Folks, Even when Dean Wesley Smith doesn’t write specifically about writing in his posts, I often glean something of value. His short post today is about a practice poker tournament. At the end, he turns it into a brief analogy about writing. That spurred my own thought process. Topic: Practice Is Important Part I — Rationale and a Harsh Truth About Hovering As it is in all art, practice in writing is important. Without practice, the writing craft and the writing itself goes stale. And as it is in all art, practice in writing is fun, if uncomfortable. Many … Read more

The Journal, Thursday, June 7

Hey Folks, Well, it’s Thursday. That means I have a half-day. My wife and I decided we’d take one day off per week from walking, and we decided Thursday would be that day. That way I can start writing early and go straight through (with short breaks) instead of using an hour of that time for a walk. *** Still adjusting my way of doing things. I was determined to get up early this morning. But with the sun coming up earlier and going down later, it’s more difficult to go to bed earlier. And since we got rid of … Read more