Lee Lofland

The Daily Journal, Sunday, February 24

In today’s Journal ▪ Yesterday ▪ Smashwords’ 10th Annual Read an Ebook Week ▪ Topic: Presenting… The Hovel ▪ A Special Offer (I’m feeling generous) ▪ Daily diary ▪ Of Interest ▪ The numbers Yesterday was interesting. I didn’t make much headway in the story, but I did get covers created for Blackwell Ops 2 and 3, promo files done, and those books uploaded for pre-order at D2D, Amazon and Smashwords. So all in all, a good day. On the home front, the heater in the house spontaneously started working again. Seems I have the only heater on earth that … Read more

The Daily Journal, Saturday, February 23

In today’s Journal ▪ Topic: Paragraphing ▪ A Special Offer (I’m feeling generous) ▪ Daily diary ▪ Of Interest ▪ The numbers Topic: Paragraphing Despite what most of us heard in school, you don’t have to keep everything about a particular topic in one massive paragraph. Especially in fiction. And blog posts. In fiction, you should begin a new paragraph every time a different character speaks. Most everybody knows that. You should also begin a new paragraph when the scene or setting changes (even in the same setting, even a little). The primary benefit of shorter paragraphs (say up to … Read more

The Daily Journal, Friday, February 22

In today’s Journal ▪ MurderCon registration opening soon ▪ Daily diary and general rambling ▪ Of Interest ▪ The numbers Registration for MurderCon, presented by Writers’ Police Academy, opens this coming Sunday. For information, see https://www.writerspoliceacademy.com/classes-available/. *** Up at a little after 3 to a rainy, drizzly morning. And the rain’s supposed to turn to snow later. According to those who profess to know, we’re supposed to get 6″ before it’s all done. Not something we’re used to here, but it’s only weather. It will be 70 degrees here by the middle of next week. Of course, today many of … Read more

The Daily Journal, Saturday, February 16

In today’s Journal ▪ My guest post ▪ Update on Pro Writers Writing ▪ The daily diary ▪ Of Interest ▪ The numbers My guest post on crime writer Sue Coletta’s blog posted this morning. If you get time, stop by and take a look. And if you’re moved to do so, please leave a comment. It’ll help with her blog. The URL is in “Of Interest.” *** The Pro Writers Writing site continues to come along. I’m still dithering with Robert’s original logo design, primarily trying to make the overall header short enough that the “meat” below it doesn’t … Read more

The Daily Journal, Saturday, February 9

In today’s Journal ▪Topic: The Secret to Success… ▪ The daily diary ▪ Of Interest ▪ The numbers Probably another short edition of the Journal today. UPDATE: Nope. Long Journal entry, short writing day. (grin) Topic: The Secret to Success as a Writer (If You Define “Success” as Yearning to Get Back to the Story) Okay, that’s a crappy title. It’s too long and maybe too restrictive and it has nothing to do with money. At least directly. Bradbury and countless other luminaries have said if you write what you love, the money will come. I assume the corollary is … Read more

The Daily Journal, Thursday, February 7

Hey Folks, In today’s Journal ▪ Dean’s Kickstarter funded ▪ One more note on first readers ▪ The daily diary ▪ Of Interest ▪ The numbers Wow. Dean’s Kickstarter funded (for about an hour before one guy pulled out). But he’s honoring both stretch goals anyway. That’s the kind of guy he is. So everyone who pledged at any amount gets all the rewards he offered in the Kickstarter stretch goals. Very cool. This is just one more reason I try to support him in his endeavors. *** One commenter on yesterday’s post mentioned that some folks (especially readers of … Read more

The Daily Journal, Monday, February 4

Hey Folks, In today’s Journal ▪ An opportunity for a free writing webinar ▪ Topic: Ramblings on a Minor Crisis ▪ The daily diary ▪ A LOT in Of Interest ▪ The numbers According to the latest Reedsy newsletter, there’s a new live webinar this Wednesday (Bebruary 6) at 2 p.m. eastern time. Ann Leslie Tuttle, who “spent over 20 years as an editor at Harlequin, the world’s leading publisher of romance,” will present “What Makes the Perfect Romance.” For more information or to register, visit https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/what-makes-the-perfect-romance-registration-55070670859. Did I say it’s free? *** Topic: Ramblings on a Minor Crisis Yesterday … Read more

The Daily Journal, Saturday, February 2

Hey Folks, First, Welcome Aboard to my newest subscriber, whom I know (at the moment) only as Super Primitive. (grin) In today’s Journal ▪ Ramblings about setting up Hal 2 ▪ On the challenge ▪ The daily diary (more ramblings) ▪ Of Interest ▪ The numbers Well, I got my new 11″ computer in yesterday. It’s a refurbished, solid-state drive HP (so no noise or overheating) and it cost me a cool $109.00. (That isn’t a typo and the decimal is in the right place.) So instead of casting about for the next novel idea I spent most of the … Read more

The Daily Journal, Thursday, January 31

Hey Folks, Probably my best day of writing fiction ever. (grin) Today we have an absolute must-read as the first item in “Of Interest.” Read it a few times, even. Be sure you understand it. Especially you younger writers who have the potential for a long-term (20+ years). Plus there’s a lot more in “Of Interest” and a short topic today. Today is a built-in short day for me (ends around noon) so I’m in the Hovel early today. Topic: Writing in Challenges and What’s Truly “Special” Be sure to see Dean’s new challenge (the second item in “Of Interest”). … Read more

The Daily Journal, Sunday, January 27

Hey Folks, Be sure to click through and read the whole post. Some great “Of Interest” items, not to mention a topic and the other stuff. Yesterday, Scott Thrall commented that he hopes Dean keeps drinking the water in Vegas that’s making him go nuts with prizes for his KickStarter campaign. Apparently he drank another tall glass. Read about it in “Of Interest.” A great deal, not to be missed. *** Topic: Are You a Self-Saboteur? Have you ever sabotaged yourself? I don’t mean with the usual conscious mind stuff: doubting your abilities, feeling you’re a pretender, worrying about where … Read more