Pro Writers Writing

The Journal: Stores, Distributors and Aggregators

In today’s Journal * Quote of the Day * Here Be Brave New Worlds * Topic: Stores, Distributors and Aggregators * Today * Of Interest * The Numbers Quote of the Day “Fiction is a lie, and good fiction is the truth inside the lie.” Stephen King in On Writing A new bundle just released: the Here Be Brave New Worlds bundle is now available at your favorite store. To read about it, visit https://bundlerabbit.com/b/here-be-brave-new-worlds. Thirteen novels by thirteen very good writers for only $4.99, including my SF novel The Consensus. To see all eight bundles my work is current … Read more

The Journal: Probably a Full 99%

In today’s Journal * Probably a full 99% * Yesterday * Today * Of Interest * The Numbers Probably a full 99% of the writers on Planet Earth right now are considering writing a novel about a plague or a pandemic. Unless you have a truly unique twist on it, I advise you to forget it. With all that’s going on, it’s too easy to involve the critical mind right now. If you’re determined to go ahead anyway, at least consider applying Kate Wilhelm’s Law. (See a great description of Wilhelm’s Law in the second paragraph at https://www.kboards.com/index.php?topic=220083.msg3074229#msg3074229.) Yesterday I … Read more

The Journal: A Rare Treat

In today’s Journal * The numbers for yesterday * A Rare Treat * Today * Of Interest * The Numbers The numbers for yesterday are below. I missed my short story for this week and stopped short on the novel, and that’s fine. I’m not worried about it. To see why, please read on. (grin) A Rare Treat But not rare enough. We no longer have to wonder when our first rattlesnake of the season will visit. I was sitting in the Hovel about three feet from the door (that’s significant), writing on the novel again when I decided I … Read more

The Journal: Back to The Othgygnrkthers

In today’s Journal * Quotes of the Day * Topic: Back to The Othgygnrkthers * Yesterday * Today * Of Interest * The Numbers Quotes of the Day “The world is visibly changing, and we have no idea what the outcome will be.” Kristine Kathryn Rusch “So release yourself from Outcome. Be unattached to Outcome, take a calming breath and just continue on.” My corollary Topic: Back to The Othgygnrkthers This will be another process topic, complete with a little waffling, so skip it if you want. Yesterday I said I was trashing the book. This morning, I thought Not … Read more

The Journal: Yes, It’s April Fool’s Day (Yawn)

In today’s Journal * Topic: Sigh… Despite the Date * Yesterday * Today * Of Interest * The Numbers Topic: Sigh… Despite the Date This is not an April Fool’s Day joke or hoax: As you know, this whole Journal thing is my way of “writing in public”: my progress and my process, right out where everyone can see it. I share my daily writing progress to illustrate how rapidly the numbers can grow. To that end, I encourage others to set daily, weekly, monthly and annual writing goals and then strive to reach them. Even if you fail, you … Read more

The Journal: Finished the Novel

In today’s Journal * Yesterday * Last Day of the Sale * Today * Of Interest * The Numbers Yesterday in several small sessions I wrote a little over 3100 words (see Day 21 below). Some of that was cycling to carry through the early few-sentence addition I made to the alien’s speech. So it seemed like a slow day, but it worked out all right. Also I’m pretty sure I’ll finish the thing today, which is good since today is the deadline. (grin) But the ending is in sight now, so I only have to write to it. Probably … Read more

The Journal: Another Brief Lesson on Trust

In today’s Journal * Yesterday * Topic: Another Brief Lesson on Trust * Today * Of Interest * The Numbers Yesterday I had a less-than-stellar day and finally stopped struggling and let myself drown at around 2700 words (see Day 20 below). As I wrote earlier, typical for me as I near the end-game of a novel. Topic: Another Brief Lesson on Trust Wow. A lot going on in the novel. Even as I approach the end, a little voice has been nagging me throughout about a “fatal flaw” way back in the basic premise of the story. I recognized … Read more

The Journal: One Way to Beat the Critical Mind

In today’s Journal * Quotes of the Day * Yesterday * Topic: One Way to beat the critical mind * Today * Of Interest * The Numbers Quotes of the Day “Most critical writing is drivel and half of it is dishonest. It is a short cut to oblivion, anyway. Thinking in terms of ideas destroys the power to think in terms of emotions and sensations.” Raymond Chandler “Preoccupation with style will not produce it. No amount of editing and polishing will have any appreciable effect on the flavor of how a man writes. It is a product of the … Read more

The Journal: Cave Creek and A Few Thoughts on Writing Into the Dark

In today’s Journal * I seldom write from a picture * Cave Creek Kickstarter update * Yesterday * Topic: A Few Thoughts on Writing Into the Dark * Today * Of Interest * The Numbers I seldom write from a picture, but in case anyone wondered, I wrote my recent short story, “Silence Is Better,” based on seeing a print I found at a garage sale. (Artist: Vivian Flasch) That’s a photo of it on the left. If you’d like to read the short story (some readers think it’s Hemingway-esque), email me at harveystanbrough@gmail.com and I’ll send it to you … Read more

The Journal: On Having “Enough” Inventory, Supporting Readers, and Other Things

In today’s Journal * Quotes of the Day * Yesterday * Topic: On Having “Enough” Inventory, Supporting Readers, and Other Things * Today * Of Interest * The Numbers Quotes of the Day “But the truth is, that pushing yourself often yields great results. If you push yourself and fail, at the very least you’ve exercised your writing muscles.” David Farland I expected yesterday to be a really big day, but it wasn’t. I diverted my efforts to helping my wife clear the yard of piles and piles of saltbush and mesquite tree trimmings. We transported four pickup-bed loads to … Read more