Phillip McCollum

The Daily Journal, Monday, May 13

In today’s Journal Welcome to Helen B Quotes of the Day When I came to work Topic: On “Quality” Writing Daily diary Of Interest The numbers Welcome to Helen B and a few others who recently joined us here at the Journal. I hope you will find it helpful. *** Quotes of the Day “I never had success as a goal. I had this drive to to write the stories that came to me.” Danielle Steel “Some of my ideas will start off as mundane, but as I write them they become magical—and I can never predict it.” Danielle Steel … Read more

The Daily Journal, Tuesday, March 19

In today’s Journal ▪ Dean Wesley Smith ▪ Mea culpa ▪ Catching up ▪ Daily diary ▪ Of Interest (a boatload of links) ▪ The numbers If you missed it, do yourself a valuable favor and watch the half-hour video at https://selfpublishingadviceconference.com/how-to-write-a-novel/. Dean basically presents a masters class on writing fiction. I recommend you take notes. I did, and I also watched and listened to the video twice. It is incredible. I added this in several categories to my Writers Resources page. And for one of the most excellent and shortest posts I’ve ever seen, see “A Reminder” at https://phillipmccollum.com/a-reminder/. … Read more

The Daily Journal, Monday, March 11

In today’s Journal ▪ Daily diary ▪ Of Interest ▪ The numbers Rolled out at 2 and found some amazing stuff for “Of Interest.” If you write fiction and have the means, consider signing up for Dean’s Anthology Workshop for next year. I’m a little stuck on the WIP. Somewhere along the way I lost interest in it. I’ve done this enough to know that means somewhere along the way the story veered in a wrong direction. So at 4 when I opened the file, I scrolled up to the top and started reading. I’m not even cycling. Just reading. … Read more

The Daily Journal, Monday, February 25

In today’s Journal ▪ Update on PWW ▪ Thanks in spades ▪ The Hovel, Part 2 ▪ My special offer stands ▪ Daily diary (and pictures!) ▪ Of Interest ▪ The numbers I received notice this morning that we have our first new subscriber who isn’t also a contributor at Professional Writers Writing. Woohoo! If you haven’t subscribed yet, I hope you will. And I hope you’ll tell all your writer friends. I think PWW is really going to be a big deal, a go-to source for writing information, advice and inspiration. *** Thanks for all the comments recently on … 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, Tuesday, January 29

Hey Folks, A rather troubling topic today, one of those things for which, before you pick it up, you should pull on a pair of latex gloves. And so much in “Of Interest” that I almost want to apologize. A thought struck me last night. Things are looking good so far for the challenge. I’m almost certain to finish this one before February 4, putting me ahead of schedule once again and keeping spare days in the safe. *** Topic: Crap, This Is All About Racism and (Other Forms of) Prejudice Racism, bias and prejudice, whether intentional or subconscious, run … Read more

The Daily Journal, Monday, January 28

Hey Folks, Some amazing stuff in “Of Interest” today, and maybe a topic on a new writing exercise you can try. But first to the novel. I rolled out a little late this morning, and I’m anxious to get to it. (grin) Though I did take a brief side-trip to share an excerpt from it on Facebook this morning. Topic A New Excercise to Try A few years ago, when I first became convinced one of the most important components of a story is the opening, I designed an exercise for myself. I wasn’t in the middle of a novel … Read more

The Daily Journal, Wednesday, January 23

Hey Folks, NOTE: You’ll get this one late by a couple of hours. Tomorrow it will be back at its normal time. Rolled out at 3 this morning after a good night’s sleep. To the Hovel shortly afterward where I visited some sites that are new to me and did the “Of Interest” thing. One of those new sites is of former traditionally published, now indie-published, romance writer Terry Odell. I didn’t find anything there today for “Of Interest” but that doesn’t mean you won’t find something there that rings your personal bell. Check it out at https://terryodell.com/. Or go … Read more

The Daily Journal, Monday, January 21

Hey Folks, Update: I talked with Mark Alpert via email. He did not take down his post at the Kill Zone blog. According to Alpert, unspecified others at TKZ took it down because it was “too political.” I can understand that, given that the stated purpose of the blog is to provide “Insider perspectives from top thriller and mystery writers.” But I still don’t like censorship. Oddly, I lost a long-time (over a year) subscriber yesterday too. I believe she left because of my response. Possibly I wrote too much re the Alpert column. I can’t apologize for that. This … Read more

The Daily Journal, Friday, January 18

Hey Folks, I guess my inner child is more interested in finishing my WIP today (a Stern Talbot PI mystery) than I am. (grin) The mind controls the inner clock, and despite a relatively late night (for me), I came wide awake and rolled out at 1 a.m. this morning. This is a perfect example of the 2 year old subconscious mind standing at your bedside, tugging at your hand, and stage-whispering (so as not to wake up the person in the other side of the bed) “C’mon! Let’s go play!” I suspect, as he has all along, my 2 … Read more