Professional Writer Series

The Journal: Working and Having Fun

In today’s Journal * Quotes of the Day * Yesterday * Topic: About Writing as “Work” * Of Interest * The Numbers Quotes of the Day “[P]eople pay good money to get on a rollercoaster to be stressed and thrilled and have fun. That’s writing every novel for me.” Dean Wesley Smith “I enjoy writing as well as having written. I enjoy finding my story as I go, figuring it out, and putting it down for myself, and no one else.” Joe R. Lansdale Yesterday quickly turned into a non-writing day as my wife and I (mostly my wife) filtered … Read more

The Journal: Catching Up

In today’s Journal * Quotes of the Day * Welp, I’m back * Of Interest * The Numbers Quotes of the Day “The writer who thinks the whole purpose of writing is suffering isn’t one I’m much interested in. The one that tells a story for the joy of telling it is the one I’m interested in.” Joe Lansdale “All I want is a story. If you want to send a message, call Western Union.” Samuel Goldwyn Writing this yesterday (Wednesday) about an hour and a half after I got back to get a jump on the Journal for tomorrow. … Read more

The Journal: The Origins of Rider Jones

In today’s Journal * The Origins of Rider Jones * Of Interest * The Numbers The Origins of Rider Jones Well, I hadn’t planned to write anything while I’m “off.” But it’s difficult to plan not to do something you do pretty much every day. And Dean exacerbated things. In his introduction to my short story, “Rider Jones and the Portal,” in the forthcoming (May 2021) Cave Creek anthology Bitter Mountain Moonlight, he wrote in part “Harvey Stanbrough is giving me a run at being a top productive writer in this modern world. And he might be as nimble across … Read more

The Journal: Pulp Speed Revisited

In today’s Journal * Quotes of the Day * Today * Pulp Speed Revisited * Of Interest * The Numbers Quotes of the Day “My novels are what is known as popular and sell very well, but I am not a critic’s favorite; indeed I am generally dismissed with a sneer as a bestseller and not reviewed at all.” Daphne du Maurier “Sometimes I wonder what the difference is between being cautious and being dead.” Sue Grafton “When fiction writing isn’t fun, you are doing something wrong. And that is usually a myth or critical voice….” Dean Wesley Smith “The … Read more

The Journal: Forgetfulness—Blessing or Curse?

In today’s Journal * Pulp Speed * Topic: Forgetfulness—Blessing or Curse? * The novel wrapped * Of Interest * The Numbers Pulp Speed There’s an item in “Of Interest” today on writing at what DWS terms “Pulp Speed.” I encourage you to read it, even if you’ve seen it before. It was one of the first few posts of Dean’s that I read, and I’ve read it again all three times he’s dusted it off and brought it forward. Writing at any pulp speed is the ultimate challenge for writers who just like to tell stories. Writers who, like me, … Read more

The Journal: “Info Dumps” vs. POV

In today’s Journal * Quotes of the Day * Microsoft Flight Simulator * Topic: “Info Dumps” vs. POV * Post Tags and Different Strokes * Another pretty good day * Of Interest * The Numbers Has anyone out there ever used (played) the Microsoft Flight Simulator? Apparently it’s a game, but an extremely realistic one. I’m not a gamer, but I’m thinking it would be a great tool or aid in writing. One of the magazines I subscribe to is Air & Space Smithsonian. The May 2021 issue contains an excellent article on the Flight Simulator. You can read it … Read more

The Journal: Poetry Techniques for the Fictionist

In today’s Journal * Quotes of the Day * A relatively short post * Poetry Techniques for the Fictionist * Toxic Productivity * Of Interest * The Numbers Quotes of the Day “Be careful to apply your poetic sensibilities to every line.” David Farland A relatively short post today to give you (and me) a break. The novel’s still racing right along. Poetry Techniques for the Fictionist I included the quote of the day to make a point: Apparently I’m not the only writer who believes learning and applying poetry techniques can enhance your fiction, or your nonfiction for that … Read more

The Journal: Questions 2: Dialogue Tags and Interruptions

In today’s Journal * Quotes of the Day * Another pretty good day * Topic: Questions 2: Dialogue Tags and Interruptions * Followup * Of Interest * The Numbers Quotes of the Day I’ve talked here before about having a specific skill in mind when you sit down to write, for example pacing or dialogue or whatever. That’s how you practice and improve. Today’s topic will give you two more techniques to practice. HS “Deliberate practice is what turns amateurs into professionals. … Deliberate practice means practicing with a clear awareness of the specific components of a skill we’re aiming … Read more

The Journal: The Question Rules

In today’s Journal * Quotes of the Day * Fairly good day * Topic: The Question Rules * Followup * Of Interest * The Numbers Quotes of the Day I’ve talked here before about having a specific skill in mind when you sit down to write, for example pacing or dialogue or whatever. That’s how you practice and improve. Today’s topic will help you practice a particular technique. HS “Deliberate practice is what turns amateurs into professionals. … Deliberate practice means practicing with a clear awareness of the specific components of a skill we’re aiming to improve.” Farnam Street I … Read more

The Journal: Standard Manuscript Format, Sort Of

In today’s Journal * Quotes of the Day * Standard Manuscript Format (certain silly rules) * Yesterday * Of Interest * The Numbers Quotes of the Day “If you don’t stand for something, you will fall for anything.” Peter Marshall et al down through the ages “It’s easy enough to stand for something if you don’t have a personal stake.” Wes Crowley So anyway, awhile back I posted a link in the Journal to the new “standard” manuscript format. It’s what writers are supposed to follow now when they submit manuscripts to magazines for consideration. The basic format itself is … Read more