Professional Writer Series

The Daily Journal, Wednesday, April 10

In today’s Journal ▪ It’s so good ▪ I’ve been thinking (oh-oh) ▪ Writing flash fiction ▪ Pro Writers Writing ▪ Topic: How I Learn to Write ▪ Daily diary ▪ Of Interest (a LOT of links) ▪ The numbers Was my break really only four days long? When the floodgates opened again, it seemed as if it had been four weeks. It feels very good to be writing again. *** I’ve been thinking a lot lately about my 10-novel western series, The Wes Crowley Saga. I wrote it out of order. I wrote what ended up being books 4, … Read more

The Daily Journal, Tuesday, April 9

In today’s Journal ▪ Today I’ll start ▪ Topic: The New World of Publishing ▪ Daily diary ▪ Of Interest (a LOT of links) ▪ The numbers Today I’ll start that new novel. I’ve had four days away from fiction writing, and frankly, I’m jonesing for it. Or as my wife put it, “Honey, you’re getting grouchy.” (grin) I thought I’d start writing again yesterday, but I wasn’t ready. Instead I spent a lot of quiet time with Jim Glaser and thought about the recent visit with my old friend and did some other things to slowly move myself back … Read more

The Daily Journal, Monday, April 8

In today’s Journal ▪ Today I’ll start ▪ Tutoring slot open ▪ Topic: Who a Story Is About ▪ Daily diary ▪ Of Interest ▪ The numbers Today, sometime or other, I’ll start a new novel. Maybe. The visit with my old friend went really well, interrupted somewhat by the sobering news about Jim Glaser’s passing. This morning, I watched/listened to a few of Jim’s performances as a way to spend some time with him. It was enjoyable. *** I heard from another possible tutoring student that s/he decided to pass at the moment (until s/he decides what specifically s/he … Read more

The Daily Journal, Sunday, April 7

In today’s Journal ▪ I regret to report ▪ Day 3 of my days off ▪ Topic: Who a Story Is About ▪ Daily diary ▪ Of Interest ▪ The numbers I regret to report a massive sadness. This morning, my wife told me she saw on Facebook that my dear friend and mentor Jim Glaser passed away last night. Jim and I occasionally talked about both music and writing. I will miss his insights, and him, a great deal. For those of you who knew his music or the harmonies of Tompall and the Glaser Brothers (Tompall, Chuck and … Read more

The Daily Journal, Saturday, April 6

In today’s Journal ▪ Day 2 of my days off ▪ Topic: What Writing Into the Dark Really Is ▪ Daily diary ▪ Of Interest ▪ The numbers It’s Day 2 of my days off. Had a great 3-hour visit last night and will do touristy things today. In the meantime, don’t skip today’s topic: *** Topic: What Writing Into the Dark Really Is Especially if you think you already know what WITD is, please don’t skip this topic. If you do know, you will have lost only a few minutes. If you don’t, this might open up a whole … Read more

The Daily Journal, Friday, April 5

In today’s Journal ▪ Day One of my days off ▪ Topic: Writing Action Scenes ▪ Daily diary ▪ Of Interest ▪ The numbers Well, today will be Day One of my days off. I’ll still visit with you each morning, but I plan not to begin a new fiction project until the visit with my friend is over. My first four years in the USMC were akin to many other people’s college time. It was a time during which I mostly grew up, had parties, learned a ton of new stuff, and made lifelong friends. The guy who’s coming … Read more

The Daily Journal, Wednesday, April 3

In today’s Journal ▪ Dean’s “Great Challenge” ▪ My tutoring is still open ▪ Topic: Priorities ▪ Daily diary ▪ Of Interest (a lot of good links) ▪ The numbers Dean’s “Great Challenge” is still open for sign-ups. Frankly, I’m surprised. On the surface, the cost appears a little steep, but it’s basically free tutoring from Dean Wesley Smith. You can use your $600 for credit toward anything you want, and if you make at least 52 short stories in a row (one per week for a year) you get a lifetime subscription of your choice. If I was still … Read more

The Daily Journal, Monday, April 1

In today’s Journal ▪ It’s April 1 ▪ An opportunity to reset goals ▪ Some valuable lessons on structure ▪ Daily diary ▪ Of Interest ▪ The numbers It’s April 1. Let me just say up front, nothing in this edition of the Journal is an April Fool’s joke. (grin) I’ll be getting back to my WIP today. Also today, Blackwell Ops 3: Marie Arceneaux releases to the public. It’s available at https://books2read.com/u/3LGY00. I’m also in a new bundle, ECLECTICA, from BundleRabbit. Nineteen short stories and short story collections, featuring my own collection S, F, & H. For details, visit … Read more

The Daily Journal, Sunday, March 31

In today’s Journal ▪ One potential taker… ▪ Topic: On (Not) Developing Characters ▪ Daily diary ▪ Of Interest ▪ The numbers I’ve had one potential taker on my offer to work with other writers as a tutor. I really look forward to working with this writer and hope s/he decides to go ahead. I’m thrilled to be able to share now the awakening that happened for me some 5 years ago. Finding Heinlein’s Rules and then the writing into the dark (or as Michaele L. calls it, “writing into the unknown”) technique was literally life-changing for me. I only … Read more

The Daily Journal, Saturday, March 30

In today’s Journal ▪ Yesterday ▪ On the novel ▪ Topic: On Writing Series… ▪ Daily diary ▪ Of Interest ▪ The numbers Yesterday I was thinking about going out into the desert behind my house for some target practice with my “new” 9mm. I realized the few rounds I fired at that old coyote the other day were the first ones I’d ever put through that piece. But instead, nagged by the constant PHP warning on all the websites I managed, I decided to look into upgrading the PHP version. (Don’t ask me. All I really know about it … Read more