The Passive Voice

The Journal: In Memory of Casey

In today’s Journal * In memory of Casey * Bestselling Author Russell Blake * I got a very brief start * Of Interest * The Numbers In Memory of Casey As most of you probably know, it’s difficult to lose a little friend who’s been with you awhile. Forgive me the lack of talk about writing today. As this really is my only outlet, I want to devote part of this space to that special little guy. Casey, our little Chihuahua-mix pup, passed yesterday at around 15 years old. He was probably a couple of years old when we got … Read more

The Journal: The Becoming A Writer Mentorships

In today’s Journal * Topic: The Becoming A Writer Mentorships * Of Interest * The Numbers Topic: The Becoming A Writer Mentorships First, an update: The mentorships came together more quickly than I expected. They went live this morning. But I decided to post some of my working notes on the Becoming A Writer mentorships because they make for a good topic. There are many more topics in the actual mentorships than are shown here. You can view the complete mentorships by clicking https://harveystanbrough.com/mentorships/ (it costs nothing to look) and then choosing one link or the other. I’m glad it’s … Read more

The Journal: The Novel Wrapped, But

In today’s Journal * The Novel Wrapped, But * Of Interest * The Numbers Well, the first Wes Crowley gap novel, Assignment: Brownsville, wrapped as a short novel at 36,000 words. Per usual, I ran a spell check and sent it off to my first readers. The thing is (as I keep saying), every novel writes differently. No more than maybe five minutes after I sent this one out to my first readers I experienced the overpowering urge to pull it back and add a chapter (late in the story) in which the POV switches to the bad guy down … Read more

The Journal: A New Phishing Scam

In today’s Journal * A New Phishing Scam * A strange day * Of Interest * The Numbers A New Phishing Scam A couple of days ago I received a “media enquiry” from Rick Davis. He said he was on the editorial staff of True Life Magazine. He wrote “One of your social media followers nominated you for an interview with our magazine and we would like to publish you in our next issue. “We work with artists, models, musicians, entrepreneurs, influencers and people making an impact. We are very selective when choosing talent for publishing and we believe your … Read more

The Journal: Punctuation for Writers

In today’s Journal * Quotes of the Day * In the second item * Topic: Punctuation for Writers * Of Interest * The Numbers Quotes of the Day “A word to the wise is not sufficient if it doesn’t make any sense.” James Thurber “It starts with this: put your desk in the corner, and every time you sit down there to write, remind yourself why it isn’t in the middle of the room. Life isn’t a support system for art. It’s the other way around.” Stephen King In the second item listed in “Of Interest” today, the writer wrote … Read more

The Journal: Mentorships, and Just for Fun

In today’s Journal * Quotes of the Day * The first quote of the day * I used to teach * Just for Fun * Of Interest * The Numbers Quotes of the Day “Two to three years writing one novel. What the hell? What is she doing the rest of the time? Actually playing the harp? Because real writers write.” Kristine Kathryn Rusch “Amateurs sit and wait for inspiration, the rest of us just get up and go to work.” Stephen King The first quote of the day is from the first post listed in “Of Interest.” I also … Read more

The Journal: You Can’t Sell an Idea

In today’s Journal * Quotes of the Day * Be sure to read * Topic: You Can’t Sell an Idea * Of Interest * The Numbers Quotes of the Day “Waiting rarely makes things easier. Most of the time, waiting makes things harder. The right time is now.” Farnam Street Brain Food “The kiss originated when the first male reptile licked the first female reptile, implying in a subtle, complimentary way that she was as succulent as the small reptile he had for dinner the night before.” F. Scott Fitzgerald “I’ve had a sign over my typewriter for over 25 … Read more

The Journal: Focusing Down

In today’s Journal * Quotes of the Day * Topic: Focusing Down * The current novel * Of Interest * The Numbers Quotes of the Day “There is no Idea Dump, no Story Central, no Island of the Buried Bestsellers; good story ideas seem to come quite literally from nowhere, sailing at you right out of the empty sky: two previously unrelated ideas come together and make something new under the sun. Your job isn’t to find these ideas but to recognize them when they show up.” Stephen King on where to get ideas “[Q]uite quickly this technique of the … Read more

The Journal: A Cat Picture

In today’s Journal * Quotes of the Day * A Little More on Censorship * A Breath of Fresh Air (and Cat Shoulders) * Of Interest * The Numbers Quotes of the Day “Sometimes you have to go on when you don’t feel like it, and sometimes you’re doing good work when it feels like all you’re managing is to shovel sh*t from a sitting position.” Stephen King “I wish that future novelists would reject the pressure to write for the betterment of society. Art is not media. … We need characters in novels to be bree to range into … Read more

The Journal: On Censorship and Cancel Culture

In today’s Journal * Quotes of the Day * Topic: On Censorship and Cancel Culture * Patreon * Of Interest * The Numbers Quotes of the Day “The job boils down to two things: paying attention to how the real people around you behave and then telling the truth about what you see.” Stephen King “Authors are now being successfully pressured to remove lines from published books that are deemed objectionable by some readers. … The point of cancel campaigns is to create a chilling effect for academics, writers, editors, and others.” Jonathan Turley, author of the first item listed … Read more