The Passive Voice

The Journal: SpaceRons, and Author Angst

In today’s Journal * Quote of the Day * The Novel Wrapped * Author Angst * SpaceRons * Of Interest * The Numbers Quote of the Day “We have have been discussing how writers, editors, commentators, and academics have embraced rising calls for censorship and speech controls…” Jonathan Turley Well, my short novel wrapped yesterday at a little over 28,000 words. I was fine with that. Honestly, this one felt more like a really long short story than a novella or novel. (grin) That makes an even dozen novels this year so far, including novels 5-10 of the SF FOH … Read more

The Journal: Unknowingly Trying?

In today’s Journal * Quotes of the Day * Topic: Unknowingly Trying? * Of Interest * The Numbers Quotes of the Day “That’s the beauty of copyright. It’s divisible. … Authors will be well served to think about protecting the rights in their characters when signing publishing contracts and licensing agreements.” IP Attorney Kathryn Goldman “The two books stalled and stalled and stalled. Each time I thought I had found a way to tell the story that I wanted to tell, I would hit another wall—or the same wall. And usually, that was because I was unknowingly trying to do … Read more

The Journal: David Farland and a Royal Model O Typewriter

In today’s Journal * Quote of the Day * David Farland * Royal Model O * Of Interest * The Numbers Quote of the Day “[E]ventually the character’s story demands to be told in full.” David Farland If you get David Farland’s newsletter, you recently received one titled “Writing Your Series, Part 3.” But if you go to Farland’s Writing Tips blog, it doesn’t seem to be up yet. Actually, it is. So are Parts 1 through 6. But they were originally written in 2014. So to see the entire series of posts on “Writing Your Series,” visit https://mystorydoctor.com/?s=Writing+your+series. There … Read more

The Journal: On “Making” Good or Great Writers

In today’s Journal * Quote of the Day * On “Making” Good or Great Writers * An Observation on “Pressure” * Of Interest * The Numbers Quote of the Day “All things are difficult before they are easy.” Thomas Fuller On “Making” Good or Great Writers In today’s “Of Interest” I’ve included a “Reader Friday” from the KillZone, primarily because it’s based on a Stephen King quote. Here’s my response (expanded): I think the key word in this passage is “make” and King’s repetition of that. This quote runs alongside his thought that writing can’t be taught, but it can … Read more

The Journal: Computers and Programs and Novels, Oh My

In today’s Journal * Quote of the Day * Computers and programs and novels, oh my * Don’t ever write this * Of Interest * The Numbers Quote of the Day “The upsides of a few Twitter likes and a small honorarium that won’t cover rent are hard to weigh against the risk of harassment that can destroy your mental health, career, or even life.” Lincoln Michel Computers and Programs and Novels, Oh My Sometimes it seems like there are always ten more things to do. Before I moved over to the writing ‘puter yesterday, I decided on a whim … Read more

The Journal: Another Brief Note on Focusing Down

In today’s Journal * Another Brief Note on Focusing Down * The Novel * Of Interest * The Numbers Topic: Another Brief Note on Focusing Down Okay, and some story ideas, and a bit on dialogue. Focusing down means making readers lean into the story, or lean into it more closely. It means focusing their attention “down” or more tightly on a detail. You can’t do that with a chase scene. But you can do that with the tires squealing and a wheel cover spinning off and clanging down the side of the road. If it sends people scattering when … Read more

The Journal: Gems About Writing

In today’s Journal * Quotes of the Day * Dean Wesley Smith * John Gilstrap * Confidence Matters * Of Interest * The Numbers Quotes of the Day “In this line of work, every moment we live and every person we interact with is a moment of research. More times than not, I find that the really good stuff comes less from studying books than it does from passive listening and watching. It doesn’t take work so much as it takes paying attention.” John Gilstrap “Want to write about quilting? Go where quilters go and then shut up and listen.” … Read more

The Journal: Whalin’s 10 Publishing Myths

In today’s Journal * Quotes of the Day * Whalin’s 10 Publishing Myths (a review) * Of Interest * The Numbers Quotes of the Day “A Lisbon, Portugal court just ruled that rather than the ‘official’ 17,000 COVID deaths reported by the health ministries, only 152 actually died of COVID.” Russell Blake Now there’s a current story idea if I ever saw one. “Experience the place through your characters’ eyes [ears, nose, etc. and] … Speak to the senses.” Erika Liodice I recommend Blake’s post on the push to vaccinate children too, especially now that the president seems to be … Read more

The Journal: Mentorships Updated

In today’s Journal * Quotes of the Day * Mentorships Updated * Of Interest * The Numbers Quotes of the Day “First forget inspiration. Habit is more dependable. Habit will sustain you whether you’re inspired or not. Habit will help you finish and polish your stories. Inspiration won’t. Habit is persistence in practice.” Octavia Butler on inspiration “I tell the students that there comes a time when you want to either burn it or flush it. But if you keep going, you know, that’s what makes you a writer instead of an ‘I wish I was a writer.” Octavia Butler … Read more

The Journal: Marketing and Promotion

In today’s Journal * Quote of the Day * Thanks * Topic: Marketing and Promotion * There’s also a link * Of Interest * The Numbers Quote of the Day “I believe it was Shakespeare, or possibly Howard Cosell, who first observed that marriage is very much like a birthday candle, in that ‘the flames of passion burn brightest when the wick of intimacy is first ignited by the disposable butane lighter of physical attraction, but sooner or later the heat of familiarity causes the wax of boredom to drip all over the vanilla frosting of novelty and the shredded … Read more