Phillip McCollum

The Journal: The Reverse Outline (RO) Revisited and Shared Worlds

In today’s Journal * Quote of the Day * From James Scott Bell * Yesterday * Topic: The Reverse Outline (RO) Revisited * Today * Of Interest * The Numbers Quote of the Day “Writing a novel is like driving a car at night. You can see only as far as your headlights, but you can make the whole trip that way.” E. L. Doctorow From James Scott Bell’s newsletter, ” how about some old-school pulp fiction… free! My favorite genre is crime/detective fiction from the golden era, 1920-1950. Here’s a treasure trove, including issues of the most famous pulp … Read more

The Journal: Take Two on Writing Sloppy

In today’s Journal * OMG Alert * Topic: Take Two on Writing Sloppy * Today * Of Interest * The Numbers Every now and then Dean mentions The Copyright Handbook by Stephen Fishman from NOLO. It’s an essential investment for a writer. At the moment, NOLO is having a 50% off sale on everything they offer, including The Copyright Handbook. Visit https://store.nolo.com/products/the-copyright-handbook-coha.html. Use the promo code BF50 when you order. Plus, at the moment the handbook is on sale for only $39.99. Which means if you use the code, you can get the book for only twenty bucks. Topic: Take … Read more

The Daily Journal, Friday, August 2

In today’s Journal * I’m in the middle * A fellow writer * Daily diary * Of Interest * The numbers I’m in the middle of a messy whirlwind: writing fiction and this blog; continuing to get my inventory under control; reading for pleasure and to learn more about writing; learning about copyright, trademark and licensing; learning where and how to obtain original cover art; and all the normal life and medical things that come with age. Not that I’m complaining. Fun stuff, most of it. *** A fellow writer sent me an interesting link. It might be one more … Read more

The Daily Journal, Monday, July 29

In today’s Journal * Your eyes * Topic: How to Get More Sales * Topic: Writing and Publishing * Daily diary * Of Interest * The numbers Your eyes do not deceive you. Today is a two-topic day. Both are essential. (Well, if I didn’t think so, I wouldn’t have written them. Duh) So let’s jump right in. Topic: How to Get More Sales I started to add “at Amazon” to the title of this topic, but it will help improve your sales in all venues. I’m taking a free Reedsy lessons-by-email course on Amazon algorithms. Not that I’ll try … Read more

The Daily Journal, Friday, July 26

In today’s Journal * Quotes of the Day * Someone unsubscribed (not a bad thing) * Topic: A Proposed Inventory for Short Fiction * Daily diary * Of Interest * The numbers Quotes of the Day “I like to hope that because stuff’s surprising me along the way, maybe it has the same surprise and spontaneity for readers. … It’s all about following it wherever it may lead.” Tana French (Thanks to Phillip McCollum for pointing me to this quote) “Is there a lesson here for self-pubbers? … to be a success, you have to publish well and often.” Kristy … Read more

The Daily Journal, Wednesday, July 24

In today’s Journal * Quotes of the Day * Topic: Start An Inventory. Start It Now. * Daily diary * Of Interest * The numbers Quotes of the Day “The more you reason the less you create.” Raymond Chandler “The faster I write the better my output. If I’m going slow, I’m in trouble. It means I’m pushing the words instead of being pulled by them.” Raymond Chandler “[R]eaders don’t really care who published a book, but mostly just care about the story….” Laura Benedict “I’m not a young man. I’m old, tired and full of no coffee.” ― Raymond … Read more

The Daily Journal, Monday, July 22

In today’s Journal * Quote of the Day * Some Thoughts on Me Writing Fiction * Topic: As You Consider Publishing Audio Books * Patronage * Daily diary * Of Interest * The numbers Quote of the Day “You must write.” Robert A. Heinlein in Business Habits for Writers Some Thoughts on Me Writing Fiction I almost named this section “Life Rolls” or “Placing the Blame” or something dramatic like that. I can’t even call it “Why I’m Not Writing Fiction” because that wouldn’t be accurate either. And I can’t bring myself to call it whining, though that’s probably all … Read more

The Daily Journal, Sunday, June 30

In today’s Journal * Recap * Topic: On Building Suspense and Creating Tension * The midpoint of the year * Daily diary * Of Interest * The numbers Yesterday I remembered I hadn’t updated my writer website at HarveyStanbrough.com. So I added In the Cantina at Noon and Change of Plans to the Westerns page, then created new book pages for each of those. Then I added Quiet the Critical Voice to the nonfiction books page. Sometime soon I probably should create a separate book page for each of those, but for the time being prospective readers can see the … Read more

The Daily Journal, Tuesday, June 4

In today’s Journal * Quote of the Day * I learned today * A value too good to pass up * In honor of a promise * Daily diary * Of Interest * The numbers Quote of the Day “Nothing stinks like a pile of unpublished writing.” Sylvia Plath Harvey’s addendum: “Yes. And ‘A writer is the worst judge of his own work’ is as valid for work you think is horrible as it is for work you think is good. So don’t prejudge for your readers. Follow Heinlein’s Rule 4, publish it and let the readers decide whether it … Read more

The Daily Journal, Sunday, May 19

In today’s Journal * My friend Dan * Weird how writers say * Topic: My Own Stages of Becoming a Fiction Writer * Daily diary * Of Interest * The numbers My friend Dan Baldwin will be dropping by today mid-morning or a little later. We’ll enjoy a couple of cigars and, no doubt, a lot of talk about writing. It’s always enjoyable visiting with Dan. I invariably learn something new or realize something I’d forgotten. So I’ll devote the first couple of hours this morning (after the Journal stuff) to the WIP, then post this early. *** As another … Read more