Mental Floss

The Journal: On Setting, Pseudonym, and Reparations

In today’s Journal * Writing Setting * Using Pseudonyms * On Reparations * Of Interest Writing Setting I received a question about writing setting: In describing the setting, how much is too much and how much is too little? First, you, the writer, describe nothing. You have a point of view (POV) character. He or she will describe the setting, albeit through your fingers. 1, Anything the POV character sees, hears, smells, tastes or feels, physically or emotionally, should make it onto the page. Nothing the POV character sees, hears, smells, tastes or feels, physically or emotionally, is too much. … Read more

The Journal: Characterization: Just Don’t

In today’s Journal * Quote of the Day * Some Quick Math * Topic: Characterization: Just Don’t * Of Interest * The Numbers Quote of the Day “It’s not a race. This writing business is one event where everybody who crosses the finish line wins. And then we get to start all over again. You just can’t beat that.” Dan Baldwin Wow. I did some quick math yesterday just out of curiosity. Remember I offered to send you the rough Journal archives in PDF documents from 2014 through 2021? I went back and added those up. Granted, they’re the rough … Read more

The Journal: To Achieve Success

In today’s Journal * Quote of the Day * To Achieve Success * A Minor Change to the Journal * Of Interest * The Numbers Quote of the Day “If I were to tell you today that your project is a waste of time, would you abandon it? If so, perhaps it’s best that you did. … [T]o achieve results that spell success … requires enjoyment of the writing process in and of itself—to see that as the reward.” Jane Friedman To Achieve Success Jane’s take (see “Of Interest”) is spot on: To Achieve Success Requires Enjoyment of the Writing … Read more

The Journal: Writing Fiction

In today’s Journal * I Fibbed * Topic: Writing Fiction * A Quick Look Back * Of Interest * The Numbers Welp, I fibbed. I said I wouldn’t be back until tomorrow, but here I am. I wanted to do a self-motivating recap of 2021, and I wanted to announce my first writing project for the new year. And it seemed silly to wait until tomorrow to do either of those. Also, it seemed wrong not to post on the first day of a new year. So here I am, wishing you the best year of writing you’ve ever had. … Read more

The Journal: Yesterday, and Computers

In today’s Journal * Yesterday, and Computers * Of Interest * The Numbers Yesterday, and Computers Well, I planned to spend the day yesterday reading Wes Crowley 1-12. I decided I didn’t need to create a separate reverse outline for each book—that would just be silly—but I will create a series bible as I go and maybe publish it as a “companion” book to the series. It will contain all the names, locations, physical descriptions of places and characters, etc. Don’t worry. I’m not going to offer to let anyone else write in the Wes Crowley world. For one thing, … Read more