The Passive Voice

The Daily Journal, Sunday, August 4

In today’s Journal * If you want to read in graphic detail * Show of hands * Topic: On Critique (and Other) Groups and the Stages of Writing * Daily diary * Of Interest * The numbers If you want to read in graphic detail why the myths of writing don’t work and why most writers who cling to those myths eventually fade away, see “When Writers Hit The Wall” at https://killzoneblog.com/2019/08/when-writers-hit-the-wall.html. For my take, see my comment on that post. Now back to our regularly scheduled programming. (grin) *** Show of Hands How many of you are licensing photos … Read more

The Daily Journal, Saturday, August 3

In today’s Journal * Thought of the Day * Topic: The Art of Writing Flash Fiction * Daily diary * Of Interest * The numbers Thought of the Day “[S]cience fiction should be less about predicting the future than observing the present.” A purported belief of Ursula K. Le Guin in New Documentary Focuses on Ursula K. Le Guin. Topic: The Art of Writing Flash Fiction Although you can find The Art of Writing Flash Fiction at both Amazon, Smashwords, and other major ebook outlets, today I thought I’d present it for you here free. I’ve written flash fiction for … Read more

The Daily Journal, Tuesday, July 30

In today’s Journal * I almost * Topic: A Good Problem to Have (and More on My Process) * Daily diary * Of Interest * The numbers I almost gave you another two-fer of topics today. At the last moment, I decided to save one for tomorrow. I think the recent surge of topics is a result of my having been away from fiction writing for so long. I think my subconscious wants so much to play that it keeps coming up with topics, which I then write on the spot and post here. (grin) So today, “A Good Problem … Read more

The Daily Journal, Saturday, July 27

In today’s Journal * Because * Quotes of the Day * Topic: A Recommendation * Daily diary * Of Interest * The numbers Because (according to MailChimp) so few of you click-through to items in “Of Interest,” I’m putting this early in the body of this post: See “Day Job Thinking” at https://www.deanwesleysmith.com/day-job-thinking/. This is a great, extremely important post. Please read it carefully, maybe a couple of times. By the way, I’m not complaining about the click-throughs. I like to believe you aren’t clicking through on “Of Interest” items because you’re already checking them on your own. But I … Read more

The Daily Journal, Wednesday, July 24

In today’s Journal * Quotes of the Day * Topic: Start An Inventory. Start It Now. * Daily diary * Of Interest * The numbers Quotes of the Day “The more you reason the less you create.” Raymond Chandler “The faster I write the better my output. If I’m going slow, I’m in trouble. It means I’m pushing the words instead of being pulled by them.” Raymond Chandler “[R]eaders don’t really care who published a book, but mostly just care about the story….” Laura Benedict “I’m not a young man. I’m old, tired and full of no coffee.” ― Raymond … Read more

The Daily Journal, Monday, July 22

In today’s Journal * Quote of the Day * Some Thoughts on Me Writing Fiction * Topic: As You Consider Publishing Audio Books * Patronage * Daily diary * Of Interest * The numbers Quote of the Day “You must write.” Robert A. Heinlein in Business Habits for Writers Some Thoughts on Me Writing Fiction I almost named this section “Life Rolls” or “Placing the Blame” or something dramatic like that. I can’t even call it “Why I’m Not Writing Fiction” because that wouldn’t be accurate either. And I can’t bring myself to call it whining, though that’s probably all … Read more

The Daily Journal, Friday, July 19

In today’s Journal * Ridiculous Quote of the Day * Update * Daily diary * Of Interest * The numbers Ridiculous Quote of the Day Via the Kill Zone blog, “Writing a book is a horrible, exhausting struggle, like a long bout of some painful illness. One would never undertake such a thing if one were not driven on by some demon whom one can neither resist or understand.” – George Orwell LOL. Poor guy. Did nobody ever tell him writing is an elective process? He should’ve found something fun to do. (grin) Update First, today’s “Of Interest” is a … Read more

The Daily Journal, Sunday, July 14

In today’s Journal * Quotes of the Day * According to my friend Phillip McCollum * The Journal is on a diet * Update: We’ve learned tons * Daily diary * Of Interest * The numbers Quotes of the Day “If it weren’t for received ideas, the publishing industry wouldn’t have any ideas at all.” Donald E. Westlake “The most frightening monsters are the ones who do not look like monsters at all, not until it is too late.” Kali Wallace *** According to my friend Phillip McCollum, it’s now possible to use Apple’s proprietary publishing program Vellum on a … Read more

The Daily Journal, Saturday, July 13

In today’s Journal * Quote of the Day * More on Licensing * According to Reedsy * Ebook aggregator PublishDrive * Daily diary * Of Interest * The numbers Quote of the Day “From my close observation of writers… they fall into two groups: 1) those who bleed copiously and visibly at any bad review, and 2) those who bleed copiously and secretly at any bad review. Isaac Asimov Which is why I generally don’t read reviews at all and recommend against it. What a reader thinks of your book is none of your business. *** Kris Rusch has just … Read more

The Daily Journal, Friday, July 12

In today’s Journal * Quotes of the Day * The second quote of the day * Update: My publisher and I * European ebook aggregators * Daily diary * Of Interest * The numbers Quotes of the Day “PG says there is nothing like a collection of first-world complaints to make you realize that life in modern America is a totally hellish experience. Lovecraftian to the max.” The Passive Guy “Left to myself, I’d be like you. I have a horror story and a gritty urban general fiction in me right now. BUT. I spent 15 years trying to be … Read more