the writing life

The Journal: Of Interest

In today’s Journal * Today * Off for a Few Days * Of Interest * The Numbers Some good stuff in “Of Interest” today. This morning I received the final bit of feedback from my first readers on Book 2 of the Othgygnrk Invasion series, which will release on July 1. I’ll make those changes today, then finish the copyedit I’m working on. Listen, I’ll probably be off here for a few days. I have a feeling nobody’s reading this recently anyway, and I don’t blame you. I need to regroup a little, focus on some things I’m putting together … Read more

The Journal: Nothing Much

In today’s Journal * Yesterday * Today * Of Interest * The Numbers Yesterday I tried to write a little and quickly realized my mind is not yet allowing that. Which is frustrating, but fine. “What cannot be remedied must be endured” (Willie Nelson as the title character in the film, Barbarosa). Or in my case, What one flatly refuses to remedy, one must endure. Whatever. Nothing much to say today. I’m publishing this edition because of the items in “Of Interest” below. Enjoy. Even in this time of dense brain fog, I’m learning and improving my craft and reaching … Read more

The Journal: Satellites and a Poem

In today’s Journal * Quote of the Day * Satellites * Stone Libraries and the stories they tell * Yesterday and Today * Of Interest * The Numbers Quote of the Day “Mrs. PG gave up bookstore signings a long time before she went indie. Too much time and effort for too little return.” The Passive Guy Each time I go camping, I try to spot satellites in the night sky. Sometimes I see one or two, sometimes none. This morning, at 4 a.m. on my way to the Hovel, I glanced up and spotted one traveling from southwest to … Read more

The Journal: Thanks

In today’s Journal * Quote of the Day * What Bradbury said * Yesterday * Today * Of Interest * The Numbers Quote of the Day “You see, all my characters write the book. I don’t write the book. All these characters come to me and say, ‘Listen to me.’ And then I listen to them and I put it down, and the book gets written. That’s how I write, you see. All these lovers surround me, and they love life and they tell me about it.” Ray Bradbury on the writing of Fahrenheit 451. Yes! What Bradbury said. Yes! … Read more

The Journal: What’s Going On

In today’s Journal * Quote of the Day * Yesterday and what’s going on * Today * Of Interest * The Numbers Quote of the Day “St. Augustine tells the story of a pirate captured by Alexander the Great. The Emperor angrily demanded of him, ‘How dare you molest the seas?’ To which the pirate replied, ‘How dare you molest the whole world? Because I do it with a small boat, I am called a pirate and a thief. You, with a great navy, molest the world and are called an emperor.’ St. Augustine thought the pirate’s answer was ‘elegant … Read more

The Journal: Almost Missed Today

In today’s Journal * Quote of the Day * Talkwalker vs. Google Alerts * The Blood on the Cobbles Bundle * Yesterday and Today * Of Interest * The Numbers Quote of the Day “What destroys your voice is rewriting. If you want to completely destroy your own creative voice, just keep doing three or four drafts.” Dean Wesley Smith Yesterday, I mentioned that I use Talkwalker Alerts. A few folks emailed to ask whether I use Google Alerts too. Yes, I do. And a similar alert (about the Blood on the Cobbles bundle) popped up on Google Alerts two … Read more

The Journal: A New Bundle

In today’s Journal * Quote of the Day * Talkwalker Alerts * Yesterday and Today * Of Interest * The Numbers Quote of the Day “Never try to outstubborn a cat.” Robert A. Heinlein (via his character, Lazarus Long) Wow. Yet again, I’m very glad I use Talkwalker Alerts. Otherwise I might never have known my work is now included in another bundle. BLOOD ON THE COBBLES includes work from several really good writers, including Rob Jeschonik, Russ Crossley and Kristine Kathryn Rusch. My novel Body Language is included. Fifteen tales of mystery and mayhem for $7.99. To check it … Read more

The Journal: What Readers Want

In today’s Journal * Quote of the Day * Yesterday * Topic: A Few Extra Thoughts on What Readers Want * Today * Of Interest * The Numbers Quote of the Day “What lies behind us and what lies before us are tiny matters compared to what lies within us.” Ralph Waldo Emerson (via The Passive Voice) Yesterday I attended class. I was one of the smart ones who backed one of Deans’s Kickstarters for $5. And the Kickstarter funded and then reached two or three stretch goals. I feel a little bit like a pirate. For a lousy $5 … Read more

The Journal: Dylan Thomas and Dorothy Parker

In today’s Journal * Quote of the Day * From David Farland * Today * Of Interest * The Numbers Quote of the Day “What lies behind us and what lies before us are tiny matters compared to what lies within us.” Ralph Waldo Emerson (via The Passive Voice) From David Farland, “I have a free writing workshop that I teach with award-winning authors Orson Scott Card and Tim Power, based upon our popular Writers of the Future Workshops. Find it online at https://www.writersofthefuture.com/register/online-workshop/.” I signed up for this workshop to see what it’s about. It feels to me like … Read more

The Journal: On Goals, and a Challenge

In today’s Journal * Quote of the Day * Yesterday and Today * Topic: On Goals, and a Challenge * More Shared World Stuff * Today * Of Interest * The Numbers Quote of the Day “Just when the caterpillar thought the world was over, it became a butterfly.” Unknown (via The Passive Voice Yesterday I submitted the clean final copy of For the Good of the Galaxy: The First Nine Days to Amazon and D2D. It’s still available for preorder until June 1 when it goes live. To take a look, visit https://stonethreadpublishing.com/ftgotg-the-first-nine-days/. Today I’ll begin reading over FTGOTG: … Read more