the writing life

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, Sunday, July 21

In today’s Journal * Quotes of the Day * Topic: How to Learn to Write * Daily diary * Of Interest * The numbers Quotes of the Day “A lot of novelists start late—Conrad, Pirandello, even Mark Twain. When you’re young, chess is all right, and music and poetry. But novel-writing is something else. It has to be learned, but it can’t be taught. This bunkum and stinkum of college creative writing courses! The academics don’t know that the only thing you can do for someone who wants to write is to buy him a typewriter.” (Thanks to Bob Beckley … Read more

The Daily Journal, Saturday, July 20

In today’s Journal * Quotes of the Day * Topic: My Typical Early Morning * Daily diary * Of Interest (a lot today) * The numbers Quotes of the Day “The subjective opinions of a certain group of people at a certain moment in time say nothing about the value of your work.” JA Konrath “My advice to authors is to do a POD print book directly with Amazon for Amazon and directly with Ingram Spark for bookstores.” Lee Foster (This agrees with advice from Reedsy in yesterday’s “Of Interest.” “Caroline [Todd] practically leapt out of her chair and slapped … 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, Thursday, July 18

In today’s Journal * Update * Topic: On Writing “Fast” * Daily diary * Of Interest * The numbers Update I got most of what I wanted to tranfer to Mona done yesterday (files, URLs, etc.). I say “most” because I’m sure other things will crop up later. This is a major mind-shift for me too, just because I won’t have to think as much about things I used to have to think about. Like pricing, genre placement, and distribution. Like classes on business and negotiations. I’ll keep my hand in the publishing side only as the prep guy. I’ll … Read more

The Daily Journal, Wednesday, July 17

In today’s Journal * Quote of the Day * Update * Topic: Be Very Careful… * Daily diary * Of Interest * The numbers Quote of the Day “If I write a novel in 15 or 20 days, how does that directly affect the guy who is on his fifth rewite seven years into one novel? “Writing is no different than any other religion. To those who spend all their time trying to convince ‘fast’ writers we’re doing it wrong: We understand that you’re going to heaven and we aren’t ’cause you’re doing it ‘right’ and we aren’t. “The ting … Read more

The Daily Journal, Tuesday, July 16

In today’s Journal * Update * Topic: A Tale of Two Businesses * Don’t miss * Daily diary * Of Interest * The numbers Update Light day yesterday. I watched/listened to one of the Pop-Ups I received through a Kickstarter reward (writing stuff). I also decided to invest in a second set of speakers for my computers. I’ll keep one set in the Hovel for those times when I’m studying writers’ stuff and one in the house for when my wife and I are listening to publishing and marketing and licensing stuff. Topic: A Tale of Two Businesses First and … Read more

The Daily Journal, Monday, July 15

In today’s Journal * Quote of the Day * Topic: 12 Ways to Make a Critique Group Work * Update * Daily diary * Of Interest * The numbers Quote of the Day “I don’t think in terms of genres. I think in terms of story.” David Gerrold Topic: 12 Ways to Make a Critique Group Work Versions of this article have been posted on my writer site in August 2013 and September 2017. Everyone here knows I don’t participate in critique groups. Nor do I recommend doing so. After all, I constantly battle to keep my own conscious, critical … 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