the writing life

The Journal, Wednesday, May 30

Hey Folks, Had a great walk this morning. Fourth day in a row. My wife agrees that we should walk every day that we can and then we’ll take a day “off” only when the weather won’t permit us to walk. But it doesn’t rain here much, so…. Then again, we aren’t going all that far yet either. Only a mile or so. Later we’ll have to leave a little earlier on days when she has to go to work, but we’ll figure that out. There’s about a 1/4 mile dirt road from the highway to our house. I can’t … Read more

The Journal, Tuesday, May 29

Hey Folks, Hmmm. I was confused for a few minutes this morning, but I finally figured it out. I erroneously titled yesterday’s post “Sunday, May 27” even though I wrote and posted it on Monday, May 28. Oh well. I had planned to get back to writing fiction today, but I have more admin stuff to take care of so probably not. And I’m in no rush. Anyway, here’s the second part of the topic I posted yesterday. If you didn’t see the first part. I strongly recommend you go back and read it. Then I’ll probably spend the balance … Read more

The Journal, Sunday, May 27

Hey Folks, Well, summer is here. Not only temperature-wise but with the earlier sunrises. I like that. With the advent of earlier sunrises, my wife and I can get back to walking in the early morning. We walk for time at the beginning. About 12 minutes out, then whatever time it takes to get back. Later, as I get in better shape and my weight starts to readjust a bit, we’ll increase the time out. I’ve written a lengthy two-part topic on Ebook Distribution. A comment I ran across on another blog set me off. I think I have a … Read more

The Journal, Saturday, May 26

Hey Folks, Still thinking of how to handle the two main websites, HarveyStanbrough.com and HEStanbrough.com. For a moment, I even thought I might leave both sites as they are and add a twice-monthly post for readers to HarveyStanbrough.com. And keep up the weekly Pro Writers posts. But that’s a lot of work. And I already do a lot of work. (grin) I also thought, very briefly, of moving this Journal back over there. Been there, done that. And it didn’t work well, especially given that this is a semi-daily blog. Right now, I have weekly Pro Writers blog posts scheduled … Read more

The Journal, Thursday, May 24

Hey Folks, Only four days left on the Special Time of Great Forgetting Offer at https://www.deanwesleysmith.com/long-day/ (and scroll down to the second bold headline). I want to do this so badly I can barely stand it. Unfortunately, I’ve taken so many workshops there aren’t 4 left (currently) that I want to take. My loss. This is a great value and a great investment in yourself and your writing. $900 worth of training for $500. Check it out. *** Out to the Hovel late at 8:30. I spent some time looking through some of the stuff I started when I was … Read more

The Journal, Wednesday, May 23

Hey Folks, Happy birthday to my dad. He would have been 90 years old today. Taking the day “off” today for professional training. (grin) Yesterday I completed the “Cliffhangers” classic workshop. Mostly I learned that I already know cliffhangers (and I thought I did). That’s all right. The validation from a guy who has over three decades in the business and over 200 novels is more than worth the money. And besides, I DID pick up a few things I didn’t know and hadn’t considered. That felt like a bonus. If you believe a cliffhanger is only a physical thing, … Read more

The Journal, Tuesday, May 22

Hey Folks, Rolled out at 3:30 this morning and went straight to an online workshop. Finished that (6 weeks’ worth) around 9:15. Then I started my daily rounds of the Internet and putting this edition of the Journal together. Finally out to the Hovel at 10:30. I started cycling through the novel again from about the midway point, touching only the intermissions. I took a break around 11:20, then again around 12:15. In the final session I wrote very little and only changed a few names, mostly with a global search. Today actually felt more like work than fun. But … Read more

The Journal, Monday, May 21

Hey Folks, Well, I almost posted this Journal yesterday, but only for the “Of Interest” section. And it isn’t time-sensitive, so I waited until today. Had a great visit on Saturday and part of Sunday with my son Roy, Dana, Brandon, Lucas, and Joey (aka Fred, a linoleum salesman from Cincinnatti). Thanks for dropping by, guys. Rolled out at 3 this morning. The little girl and I were outside by 3:30, but an old owl screeched from somewhere closeby at a little before 4, so I ushered her back inside. There are several good items in “Of Interest” today. Chief … Read more

The Journal, Saturday, May 19

Hey Folks, Well, the European Union’s General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) takes effect on May 25, 2018. It affects me because I have a few subscribers who live in EU nations. There are half a boatload of requirements. I’m not going to worry about it too much, because everyone who reads this or my Pro Writers blog opted in to receive it. So if you reside in the European Union and you would prefer not to receive this Journal or my ProWriters Blog, please either let me know or click the Unsubscribe button at the bottom of this email. Thanks. … Read more

The Journal, Friday, May 18

Hey Folks, Rolled out a little after 3 this morning. I read until around 5, mostly on the Internet, mostly the stuff in “Of Interest” below, then wrote this edition of the Journal. I think I could finish the novel this morning, but I’m going to leave it until Monday. I don’t want to risk leaving a paltry, ragged edge today of maybe less than a thousand words and then have to come back and finish on Monday. I suspect I have another 3,000 to 5,000 words to the end. So given the choice, I’d rather leave the whole thing … Read more