The Passive Voice

The Journal: Maybe A Valuable Lesson on Writing Series Novels

In today’s Journal * Maybe A Valuable Lesson on Writing Series Novels * On Writing * My own writing * Of Interest * The Numbers Maybe A Valuable Lesson on Writing Series Novels In fact, this might be a good lesson for writing short stories in series too, if you’re into that. I haven’t published The Ark yet. I’m waiting for all the input to get back from my first readers. But I discovered a valuable lesson on writing series novels yesterday. Around 23,000 words into the first sequel (The Journey Home: Part 1), one of my characters thought it … Read more

The Journal: One Writer’s Process

In today’s Journal * Quote of the Day * Topic: One Writer’s Process * Yesterday, I stopped writing * Of Interest * The Numbers Quote of the Day “In Greek tragedy, they fall from great heights. In noir, they fall from the curb.” Dennis Lehane (via The Passive Voice) Topic: One Writer’s Process A few days ago, bestselling thriller writer and author John Gilstrap talked in the KillZone blog about his process. It was very informative. Dean Wesley Smith often also talks about his process, or his day, mostly to keep his blog streak alive. On John’s post, I was … Read more

The Journal: Challenges

In today’s Journal * Quotes of the Day * Challenges * Later today * My own writing * Of Interest * The Numbers Quotes of the Day “The private detective of fiction is a fantastic creation who acts and speaks like a real man. He can be completely realistic in every sense but one, that one sense being that in life as we know it such a man would not be a private detective.” Raymond Chandler “The surest sign that intelligent life exists elsewhere in the universe is that it has never tried to contact us.” Bill Watterson “Light travels … Read more

The Journal: A Note About Consistency

In today’s Journal * Quotes of the Day * Today (a forewarning regarding content) * Yesterday * Topic: A Note About Consistency * A Personal Note (this is the content I warned you about) * Of Interest * The Numbers Quotes of the Day “Repetition does not transform a lie into a truth.” Franklin D. Roosevelt “No writer I know thinks they write enough on any given day or week or month or year. It is a broken record almost every writer repeats over and over and over and over and over.” Dean Wesley Smith “Characters are not created by … Read more

The Journal: One Reverse Outline Template

In today’s Journal * Quotes of the Day * In response to John Gilstrap * Yesterday * Topic: One Reverse Outline Template * Of Interest * The Numbers Quotes of the Day “It’s easier to fool people than to convince them that they have been fooled.” Mark Twain “If I’ve started a story in the wrong spot, I generally won’t realize it until I’m around page fifty or so.” John Gilstrap “I do not romanticize the act of writing. I don’t talk about the anguish I suffer in creating. I do not have a fear of the blank page, writer’s … Read more

The Journal: The Journey Home: Part 1

In today’s Journal * The Journey Home: Part 1 * I have great first readers, and about genres * Another thing about The Journey Home: Part 1 * Update on the Journal * Of Interest * The Numbers The Journey Home: Part 1 Well, I sat down yesterday morning and started my next novel, The Journey Home: Part 1. It will be the second book in The Ark series. It will feature the main characters from the first book, but I have a feeling a different POV character will take charge not too far in. With around 800 crewpeople aboard … Read more

The Journal: Quotes and The Ark

In today’s Journal * Quotes of the Day * One more note on The Ark * My internet connection * Early feedback on The Ark * Of Interest * The Numbers Quotes of the Day “Many great projects go through a stage early on where they don’t seem very impressive, even to their creators. You have to push through this stage to reach the great work that lies beyond.” Paul Graham (thanks to Phillip M. for the tip) “Keep away from people who try to belittle your ambitions. Small people always do that, but the really great make you feel … Read more

The Journal: A Diary of Days and an Epiphany That Might Help

In today’s Journal * Quote of the Day * Topic: A Diary of Days and an Epiphany That Might Help * Why I’m telling you all of this * Of Interest * The Numbers Quote of the Day “And that’s why I don’t outline and plot novels in advance. My characters and their stories don’t like to be forced into submission.” me Topic: A Diary of Days and an Epiphany That Might Help You know the slump I was in? Totally my fault. It had nothing to do with CovID-19 or the political season or me quitting cigars, though mostly … Read more

The Journal: A Change to the Journal

In today’s Journal * Yesterday’s Journal * You’ll notice I’ve switched * Authors in My Novels * The writing slowed again today, but * Of Interest * The Numbers The Journal that went live on Nov 12 I actually posted on Nov 11. Not sure why it didn’t go out until the 12th. Anyway, I thought it was an important one. Frankly, I’m surprised I got such a small response on that one. (Thanks, Patrick.) I thought everyone would find it useful if not illuminating. Mark it up to reader taste, I suppose. Who knew reader taste worked for writing … Read more

The Journal: The Essential Elements of a Story

In today’s Journal * Quote of the Day * Topic: The Essential Elements of a Story * Hit another minor snag * Of Interest * The Numbers Quote of the Day “The greatest threat to freedom is the absence of criticism.” Wole Soyinka (the first African writer to win the Nobel Prize in Literature) How very apt. Thanks to PG for the quote. Topic: The Essential Elements of a Story Disclaimers 1. In the following, when you see “story,” know that the advice applies to a short story, novella, or novel. A short story is about one event. A novella … Read more