the writing life

The Journal: An Excellent Opportunity

In today’s Journal * Quote of the Day * Topic: An Excellent Opportunity * Today * Of Interest * The Numbers Quote of the Day “I have always followed one bit of advice that echoes in my head, and it’s that as a writer … your number one job description is to communicate properly your idea. Being self-indulgent is for fine artists.” world-famous writer and cartoonist Bob Eckstein Topic: An Excellent Opportunity For anyone out there who wants to make money with your stories or the story bits that I call “internal IP” (settings, characters, items, gadgets, etc.), Dean Wesley … Read more

The Journal: More on Rejections

In today’s Journal * Quote of the Day * Definition of the Day * Today * Of Interest * The Numbers Quote of the Day “[K]eep rejections, print them off when electronic, for tax purposes. Just a friendly reminder.” Dean Wesley Smith Definition of the Day (for fun) I enjoy writing definitions. They’re usually snide, ironic, or otherwise sideways. So sue me. (grin) cliché … n. a word, phrase or clause that’s been around so long it’s built up an unusual, unnatural level of gravity, which in turn causes it to Suck. Perpetuation or repetition of a cliché has the … Read more

The Journal: On Rejection

In today’s Journal * Quote of the Day * Today * Of Interest * The Numbers Quote of the Day “Rejections are positive. … They are the best indicator in building a publishing career that you are doing a lot of things right. … My favorite rejection of all time was from Asimov’s Magazine back in 1982 or so. ‘Dear Dean, Sorry, we do not want to pioneer new roads into tastelessness. Signed George (Scithers).’ I sold that story to Damon Knight for his Clarion Awards anthology the very next month in early 1983.” Dean Wesley Smith One of my … Read more

The Journal: Requesting Your Recommendations

In today’s Journal * Quotes of the Day * Topic: Requesting Your Recommendations * Today * Of Interest * The Numbers Quotes of the Day “Readers don’t buy books, they buy stories by voices that resonate with them. The more distinct your voice, the more likely your signal stands out from the rest of the noise.” Russell Blake “We all think we live in an exceptional time, and this is the big show, and all else was preamble. Wrong. This is only our show, and we are tomorrow’s preamble, so lighten up and have fun with whatever you’re doing, and … Read more

The Journal: Yesterday and Thoughts on Burnout

In today’s Journal * Quote of the Day * Topic: Yesterday and Thoughts on Burnout * Today * Of Interest * The Numbers Quote of the Day “I may never become a millionaire through my writing, but it makes me richer every time I put fingers to keyboard.” Adela Crandell Durkee Topic: Yesterday and Thoughts on Burnout No writing yesterday as it turned out. I did a few chores, went to the grocery and the post office, and on my return my little girl cat wanted me to spend some time with her. So I did. Writing fiction is important, … Read more

The Journal: Writing Sales Copy (Book Descriptions)

In today’s Journal * Topic: Some Stuff on Writing Sales Copy * Today * Of Interest * The Numbers Topic: Some Stuff on Writing Sales Copy To clarify, when I say “sales copy,” I’m talking about the book description that goes on the cover of your print book and/or that accompanies your cover on Amazon, B&N, Kobo, Smashwords and anyplace else where your book is for sale. A few days ago, a mentoring student and I talked in some depth about sales copy for her new novel. Later, she sent me two options to look over. I made very few … Read more

The Journal: The Ornery Little Comma

In today’s Journal * Quote of the Day * Topic: The Ornery Little Comma * Today * Of Interest * The Numbers Quote of the Day “The euphoria of self-publishing has worn off. … eBook Publishing, in general, seems to have stabilized.” Emily Harstone for AuthorsPublish. This is good news for those of us for whom writing and self-publishing is part of a business plan instead of a get-rich-quick scheme to make a quick buck. Topic: The Ornery Little Comma Note: I wrote this topic to fill a rotation slot in the PWW blog later this month, but I thought … Read more

The Journal: A Note From My Mother, and Naysayers

In today’s Journal * Quote of the Day * Sorry… but * Topic: A Note From My Mother * Bonus Topic: Don’t Listen to the Naysayers (and Don’t Be One) * Today * Of Interest * The Numbers Quote of the Day “Importance is the worst thing you can put on any kind of creativity. As soon as you think it’s important, you’re dead.” Jerry Seinfeld Topic: A Note From My Mother if I had one with me as I appear before you again, would read, “Please excuse Harvey’s recent absence. But just so you know, he is untenable so … Read more

The Journal: Production

In today’s Journal * Yesterday I raved * Topic: Production * Today * Of Interest * The Numbers Yesterday I raved about Kris Rusch’s post on licensing in Patreon. I recommended signing up for her Patreon account. As a result (go figure), today she made that post public. I still recommend subscribing to her Patreon account. Again, it’s only $5 per month for all her Patreon content. But you get to read Business Musings: Die Hard (Licensing) today. See “Of Interest.” Great post. You might want to read it a couple of times. Topic: Production An email from another writer … Read more

The Journal: Kris Rusch, A New WIP, and Today

In today’s Journal * Quote of the Day * Topic: Kris Rusch’s Patreon Page * Smashwords is patening new technology * Today * I’ve also had a few questions * Of Interest * The Numbers Quote of the Day Via my friend Bob Calverley, “Bad books on writing tell you to ‘WRITE WHAT YOU KNOW’, a solemn and totally false adage that is the reason there exist so many mediocre novels about English professors contemplating adultery.” Joe Haldeman, author of The Forever War and Vietnam vet Topic: Kris Rusch’s Patreon Page Because of the way the world is today, I’ll … Read more