The Passive Voice

The Journal: A Quick Note on Semicolons

In today’s Journal * A new first reader * Topic: A Quick Note on Semicolons * The Numbers I’m pleased to report I’ve added one new first reader, Tim W. in Virginia. Welcome aboard, Tim. And thanks! I’m still looking to add more female first readers. If you’re interested (male or female), email me at harveystanbrough@gmail.com. I like to get feedback from both a male and a female reader when possible. As politically incorrect as it is to say so, it’s been my experience that they have different sensibilities; therefore, different things pop out at them as they read. I … Read more

The Journal: On Comma Use

In today’s Journal * Quotes of the Day * A writer friend in South Africa * A great new information site * Topic: On Comma Use * The Numbers Quotes of the Day “B&N’s new CEO, James Daunt, is designing the company’s phoenix-like rise from its ashes on the direct involvement of on-the-ground booksellers in the decisions on what books individual stores should stock. You know, the way booksellers used to do it before the superstores ran them out of business.” John Gilstrap “[A]s the [book] business fluctuates and expands and contracts, the one constant to all of it … … Read more

The Journal: Setting a “Floor” Goal

In today’s Journal * Quotes of the Day * Setting a “Floor” Goal * Be sure to see * After the novel sputtered * Remember that you * The Numbers Quotes of the Day “No tears in the writer, no tears in the reader. No surprise in the writer, no surprise in the reader.” Robert Frost “Despite the number of writing skills we’ve mastered, if we’re not excited about the story we’re telling, it’s going to show.” Lori Freeland Topic: Setting a “Floor” Goal After reading Dean Wesley Smith’s post on the personal goals he set for himself for 2021 … Read more

The Journal: Adapted from Peter de Vries

In today’s Journal * Quote of the Day * Free lecture on inspiration * My son and his beautiful girl Cathy * The Numbers Quote of the Day “[T]he next time a traditionally-published author or agent talks about Amazon ruining the book business, some might be tempted to say that the New York book business deserves to be ruined.” The Passive Guy From AuthorsPublish.com, “You are invited to attend a free lecture and Q&A session with New York Times Bestselling Author Emily Colin. She’ll be giving a talk on “Taming the Wild Beast: Making Inspiration Work for You. “The lecture … Read more

The Journal: Setting Goals for 2021

In today’s Journal * Quotes of the Day * Topic: Setting Goals for 2021 * The Journey Home: Part 2 is finished * The Numbers Quotes of the Day “Aim to write the best that you can every day, and write above that.” Joe Hartlaub “Thinking is the great enemy of perfection.” Constantine the Great, Roman Emperor Topic: Setting Goals for 2021 First (again) to get us all on the same page, there is difference between Goals and Dreams. Both are achievable, but Goals are within your direct control. Dreams are not. In many of the “setting goals” posts I’ve … Read more

The Journal: Coming Soon: The Long-Awaited (Yeah, Right) Goals Post

In today’s Journal * Quote of the Day * Topic: Coming Soon: The Long-Awaited (Yeah, Right) Goals Post * An Open Note to Loyd J. * A Strange Phenomenon * Note to my first readers * The Numbers Quote of the Day “The last nine months have felt like one long never-ending sentence without commas or periods.” Margo T Krasne Topic: Coming Soon: The Long-Awaited (Yeah, Right) Goals Post I’m not pulling any punches here. This time of year, posts on setting goals abound. But when I’ve read some of those recently, I felt as if I was transported back … Read more

The Journal: I Was Astonished: A Little More on Goals

In today’s Journal * Quotes of the Day * I Was Astonished: A Little More on Goals * Another fairly good day * The Numbers Quotes of the Day “What’s the worst thing that could happen if it doesn’t work?” Elaine Viets I Was Astonished: A Little More on Goals As read the other comments on Terry Odell’s post from yesterday, I was astonished. I kind’a felt like I’d been dipped in a tank of piranhas in baloney underwear. Or I’d gone wading in a Louisiana bayou filled to the banks with swamp donkeys. I finally left this comment of … Read more

The Journal: On Goals vs. Dreams, a Preface

In today’s Journal * Quotes of the Day * On Goals vs. Dreams, a Preface * A good-enough day * The Numbers Quotes of the Day “I’ve never quite understood why, when someone doesn’t like you for whatever reason, they don’t just leave you the hell alone.” Wes Crowley, laughing and shaking his head On Goals vs. Dreams, a Preface Soon I’ll be writing a post on setting goals for 2021. I’ll address my own goals and hope the post will help as you set yours. In the meantime, Terry Odell’s post (linked to in todays “Of Interest”) has a … Read more

The Journal: Keep Coming Back

In today’s Journal * Quotes of the Day * Chatting on the phone * Keep Coming Back * The Numbers Quotes of the Day “Is PG the only person who is tired of the phrase, raise awareness? At the moment, PG’s awareness seems to be sheltering in place.” The Passive Guy Yup. Mine too. I’ve never been a big phone person. I’ve always considered the telephone a necessary evil. It’s something I carry around (usually) “just in case”) but it’s also an intrusive nuisance. However, there are a few people whose phone calls I happily anticipate and welcome when they … Read more

The Journal: On Blatant Censorship

In today’s Journal * Quote of the Day * I’m posting today mostly * That there was a glitch * The Numbers Quote of the Day “PG suggests that a more widely recognized term for deplatforming is political censorship. What punched PG’s deplatforming button was not the criticism of Mr. Peterson’s ideas and writings, but rather the verbal lobbying directed to [Penguin Random House] to pressure the company to cease publication of Mr. Jordan’s writings.” The Passive Guy I’m posting today mostly to get “Of Interest” out to you, and mostly the first item in that section. I hope you … Read more