the writing life

The Journal: Dropping by for a Visit

In today’s Journal * Quote of the Day * How are you? * Weather update * Well, I’m still writing, but * Of Interest * The Numbers Quote of the Day “Some days things don’t line up quite right. That’s why they make tomorrows.” Wes Crowley Yeah, I know that’s the same quote from the last time I posted, but I like that one. One of the best things Wes ever said. How’re ya’ll doing? I hope you’re doing better than I am. My brain’s still twisting in a wind of its own making (grin), with occasional heavy gusts from … Read more

The Journal: The Long Road Back

In today’s Journal * Quote of the Day * The Long Road Back * A dear friend * By the way * Of Interest * The Numbers Quote of the Day “Some days things don’t line up quite right. That’s why they make tomorrows.” Wes Crowley The Long Road Back Other writers routinely take off a month or two or more. For me, having averaged almost 3000 words of publishable fiction per day every day for several years, this time of not being productive has been excruciating. So in that way, it’s been a long road back. But I also … Read more

The Journal: Let’s Get It Right

In today’s Journal * IMPORTANT * Quote of the Day * Topic: Let’s Get It Right * In other news * Of Interest * The Numbers IMPORTANT: See “The Return of Boss Kickstarter” at https://www.deanwesleysmith.com/the-return-of-boss-kickstarter/. Dean and Kris are offering some astounding stretch goals, many of which you can receive for a paltry $5 donation. You can check it out and donate if you want to at http://kck.st/3jRjlBP. Quote of the Day “If you make [the details] right for the people who know, then the other people will get a lot more out of it.” Sam Eliot on the authenticity … Read more

The Journal: Nothing Much

In today’s Journal * Nothing much * Of Interest * The Numbers Nothing much to talk about today. I’m still here (waving) and hope to be back to “normal” soon. In the meantime, I wanted you to have the “Of Interest” items below in case you missed them. During this break, if you have any questions about writing or storytelling that you think I can help with, don’t hesitate to ask. Talk with you again when I can. Of Interest See “What Is Writer’s Burnout?” at https://writershelpingwriters.net/2020/08/what-is-writers-burnout/. Thanks to the Passive Guy. See “Scary Scam” at https://www.deanwesleysmith.com/scary-scam/. See “The Writer’s … Read more

The Journal: A Few Things

In today’s Journal * Quotes of the Day * On Construction and Pronoun Agreement * Ideas Again * Update on My Silliness * Of Interest * The Numbers Quotes of the Day “So, in the interests of survival, they trained themselves to be agreeing machines instead of thinking machines. All their minds had to do was to discover what other people were thinking, and then they thought that, too.” Kurt Vonnegut ​ “You can do many things by yourself. You have freedom to create things. I think that’s the fascination of computers.” Chang Yiming, founder of ByteDance and TikTok “Writing … Read more

The Journal: I’m Back

In today’s Journal * Quotes of the Day * Of Interest * The Numbers Quotes of the Day “If it sounds like writing, I rewrite it. Or, if proper usage gets in the way, it may have to go. I can’t allow what we learned in English composition to disrupt the sound and rhythm of the narrative.” [emphasis added] Elmore Leonard “Without translation, we would be living in provinces bordering on silence.” George Steiner (just beautifully written) I’m Back It’s been a struggle, and it isn’t over yet, but I’m over the hump. I won’t bore you with details, BUT: … Read more

The Journal: Why I Try to Teach Writing

In today’s Journal * Quotes of the Day * Topic: Why I Try to Teach Writing * Of Interest * The Numbers Quotes of the Day “Belief and reader absorption come in the details: An overturned tricycle in the gutter of an abandoned neighborhood can stand for everything.” Stephen King “The good parts of a book may be only something a writer is lucky enough to overhear or it may be the wreck of his whole damn life and one is as good as the other.” Ernest Hemingway Topic: Why I Try to Teach Writing Because doing things correctly matters. … Read more

The Journal: Quit but Keep Teaching?

In today’s Journal * Quotes of the Day * Topic: Quit but Keep Teaching? * Of Interest * The Numbers Quotes of the Day “You have heard the old chestnut that writers write, right? You wouldn’t say, ‘I’m a mountain climber’ without ever actually climbing a mountain, right?” Chuck Wendig “I am amazed, astounded, astonished at how often I see writers bitching about writing. I don’t mean bitching like, ‘Oh, shucks, I had a bad day,’ or, ‘Man, this story’s a lot harder to write than I anticipated.’ But… an endless stream of complaining about the very act of putting … Read more

The Journal: A Little More on Cycling

In today’s Journal * Quote of the Day * It Keeps on Tickin * Topic: A Little More on Cycling * About Dean Wesley Smith * Of Interest * The Numbers Quote of the Day “The good parts of a book may be only something a writer is lucky enough to overhear or it may be the wreck of his whole damn life and one is as good as the other.” Ernest Hemingway (via The Passive Voice) It Keeps on Ticking I came across an old Timex watch in my desk drawer a few days ago. On a lark, I … Read more

The Journal: The Difference Between Rewriting and Cycling

In today’s Journal * How weird is that? * Topic: The Difference Between Rewriting and Cycling * Of Interest * The Numbers How weird is that? Two Journal entries in two days. I’m still not writing fiction, but I’m getting closer. I have a couple of major projects in mind. Once I settle on one, I should be off and running again. But for now, this Journal entry is necessary. Not for me or a handful of others I know, but for some of you maybe. Topic: The Difference Between Rewriting and Cycling This is a followup to the topic … Read more