Professional Writer Series

The Journal: Passion vs. the Critical Mind

In today’s Journal * Lest anyone misunderstand * I’m learning how to walk * The novel is writing itself * Of Interest * The Numbers Lest anyone misunderstand my recent post about passion, my intention was not to dissuade anyone from writing. My intention was to describe my own passion and to suggest you follow yours, whatever it may be. Nothing wrong with that. However, I also rail here regularly about the (evil) power of the conscious, critical mind and various ways it can stop you from writing. So let me add this to my previous post on passion: If … Read more

The Journal: Silliness and Dystopia

In today’s Journal * Quote of the Day * Happy Thanksgiving * Ridiculous “Are You Kidding Me?” Joke of the Day * Today will be an abbreviated writing day * Of Interest * The Numbers Quote of the Day “It is difficult to free fools from the chains they revere.” Voltaire Happy Thanksgiving. I hope you and yours will enjoy a thoughtful, peaceful Thanksgiving day. Ridiculous “Are You Kidding Me?” Joke of the Day Disclaimer: I’m not offering an opinion here—political, philosophical or otherwise—only food for thought. Today over on TKZ you’ll find “True Crime Thursday – How Not to … Read more

The Journal: Take Your Time

In today’s Journal * Quotes of the Day * Topic: Take Your Time * “That” and other words of interest * Great writing day * Of Interest * The Numbers Quotes of the Day “Inspiration exists, but it has to find you working.” Pablo Picasso “My goal is to live my life in such a way that when I die, someone can say, she cared.” Mary Kay Ash (thanks to Sam T. for the tip) “In 1977, I wrote my autobiography. Since I was dealing with my favorite subject, I wrote at length and I ended with 640,000 words.” Isaac … Read more

The Journal: Find Your Passion

In today’s Journal * Quotes of the Day * Farewell and welcome * Topic: Find Your Passion * Goal talk * Of Interest * The Numbers Quotes of the Day “When you’re too focused on making money you lose touch with the person you want to be.” Anonymous from an article I read “Staying home for the entire year was sort of a vacation for me, and I had more time to write.” Kay DiBianca Farewell to subscriber “canyonwhispers” and welcome to Ellen in the Phillipines. Glad to have you with us. If I can ever help in any way … Read more

The Journal: Maybe A Valuable Lesson on Writing Series Novels

In today’s Journal * Maybe A Valuable Lesson on Writing Series Novels * On Writing * My own writing * Of Interest * The Numbers Maybe A Valuable Lesson on Writing Series Novels In fact, this might be a good lesson for writing short stories in series too, if you’re into that. I haven’t published The Ark yet. I’m waiting for all the input to get back from my first readers. But I discovered a valuable lesson on writing series novels yesterday. Around 23,000 words into the first sequel (The Journey Home: Part 1), one of my characters thought it … Read more

The Journal: One Writer’s Process

In today’s Journal * Quote of the Day * Topic: One Writer’s Process * Yesterday, I stopped writing * Of Interest * The Numbers Quote of the Day “In Greek tragedy, they fall from great heights. In noir, they fall from the curb.” Dennis Lehane (via The Passive Voice) Topic: One Writer’s Process A few days ago, bestselling thriller writer and author John Gilstrap talked in the KillZone blog about his process. It was very informative. Dean Wesley Smith often also talks about his process, or his day, mostly to keep his blog streak alive. On John’s post, I was … Read more

The Journal: A Note About Consistency

In today’s Journal * Quotes of the Day * Today (a forewarning regarding content) * Yesterday * Topic: A Note About Consistency * A Personal Note (this is the content I warned you about) * Of Interest * The Numbers Quotes of the Day “Repetition does not transform a lie into a truth.” Franklin D. Roosevelt “No writer I know thinks they write enough on any given day or week or month or year. It is a broken record almost every writer repeats over and over and over and over and over.” Dean Wesley Smith “Characters are not created by … Read more

The Journal: One Reverse Outline Template

In today’s Journal * Quotes of the Day * In response to John Gilstrap * Yesterday * Topic: One Reverse Outline Template * Of Interest * The Numbers Quotes of the Day “It’s easier to fool people than to convince them that they have been fooled.” Mark Twain “If I’ve started a story in the wrong spot, I generally won’t realize it until I’m around page fifty or so.” John Gilstrap “I do not romanticize the act of writing. I don’t talk about the anguish I suffer in creating. I do not have a fear of the blank page, writer’s … Read more

The Journal: The Journey Home: Part 1

In today’s Journal * The Journey Home: Part 1 * I have great first readers, and about genres * Another thing about The Journey Home: Part 1 * Update on the Journal * Of Interest * The Numbers The Journey Home: Part 1 Well, I sat down yesterday morning and started my next novel, The Journey Home: Part 1. It will be the second book in The Ark series. It will feature the main characters from the first book, but I have a feeling a different POV character will take charge not too far in. With around 800 crewpeople aboard … Read more

The Journal: Quotes and The Ark

In today’s Journal * Quotes of the Day * One more note on The Ark * My internet connection * Early feedback on The Ark * Of Interest * The Numbers Quotes of the Day “Many great projects go through a stage early on where they don’t seem very impressive, even to their creators. You have to push through this stage to reach the great work that lies beyond.” Paul Graham (thanks to Phillip M. for the tip) “Keep away from people who try to belittle your ambitions. Small people always do that, but the really great make you feel … Read more