Professional Writer Series

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: A Rare Occasion of Looking Backward

In today’s Journal * Quote of the Day * Koontz not Kuntz * Topic: A Rare Occasion of Looking Backward * Today * Of Interest * The Numbers Quote of the Day “The whole idea is to put yourself in a position to be recognized for your work so opportunities increase. False humility or even laziness could prevent that.” Actor Bryan Cranston In yesterday’s post I misspelled Dean Koontz’ name as “Kuntz.” Senior moment. Mea culpa. I’ve corrected it. When you write as many words per day as I do, I guess you can expect to make a phonetic mistake … Read more

The Journal: The Value of an Opening

In today’s Journal * Quotes of the Day * Affinity * Yesterday * Today * Topic: The Value of an Opening * Today redux * Of Interest * The Numbers Quotes of the Day “Reacher has remained a loner and a drifter, which allows Child the freedom to put his protagonist in virtually any role and in any setting and still continue the series.” Rick Pullen in an interview with Lee Child (see “Of Interest” below) “Advice to Writers: Ignore all advice because you’ve got to imagine here’s your book and that book is going to be competing with several … 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: The Allure of Writing Short Fiction

In today’s Journal * Quote of the Day * Yesterday * Lately I’ve noticed a shift * Sales and stuff * Today * Of Interest * The Numbers Quote of the Day “The Renaissance took place in chaos and plague.” Shiva Ayyadurai via The Passive Voice Oof. Yesterday I had a small day on the novel (see Day 18 below) and I only have four days left to finish on time. I think I’ll make it, but if I don’t I’ll just go over by a day or two. (shrug) Overall a good day of writing fiction yesterday with a … Read more

The Journal: A Very Short Post

In today’s Journal * First, here’s the pic * Quotes of the Day * Quotes of the Day * Yesterday * Today * Of Interest * The Numbers First, here’s the pic I meant to include yesterday. This is a photograph of the print of the painting by Vivian Flasch on which I based the short story “Silence Is Better.” Quotes of the Day “I don’t mind if you don’t like my manners. They’re pretty bad. I grieve over them during the long winter evenings. But don’t waste your time trying to cross-examine me.” Raymond Chandler, The Big Sleep “Overhead … Read more