the writing life

The Daily Journal, Monday, May 13

In today’s Journal Welcome to Helen B Quotes of the Day When I came to work Topic: On “Quality” Writing Daily diary Of Interest The numbers Welcome to Helen B and a few others who recently joined us here at the Journal. I hope you will find it helpful. *** Quotes of the Day “I never had success as a goal. I had this drive to to write the stories that came to me.” Danielle Steel “Some of my ideas will start off as mundane, but as I write them they become magical—and I can never predict it.” Danielle Steel … Read more

The Daily Journal, Sunday, May 12

In today’s Journal Happy belated Mother’s Day Quotes of the Day Topic: Verified — Yep, I’m a Hack Daily diary Of Interest The numbers To any moms out there, a heartfelt happy belated Mother’s Day. I know, it’s still Mother’s Day, but most of it will be over by the time many of you read this. I should have mentioned it in yesterday’s journal. *** Quotes of the Day “[T}he shift I felt when I finished my first novel. Once I knew I could do it, I knew that I could learn to be a better writer.” Shaunta Grimes* Also, … Read more

The Daily Journal, Saturday, May 11

In today’s Journal ▪ Today will be a fairly short day ▪ I’m not sure ▪ Topic: I’m a Hack ▪ Daily diary ▪ Of Interest ▪ The numbers Today will be a fairly short day since it’s Saturday. I’ll spend some time with the WIP, then some time with my wife. *** I’m not sure whether I’m actually writing right now (telling a new story, putting new words on the page) so much as taking some enjoyable time AWAY from actual writing. Or more succinctly, away from writing for publication. At least that’s how it feels. I AM writing, … Read more

The Daily Journal, Friday, May 10

In today’s Journal ▪ Kristine Kathryn Rusch (one more time) ▪ Bundle time again ▪ Mentoring still open ▪ Almost had a minor melt down ▪ Topic: Boxed Sets ▪ Daily diary ▪ Of Interest ▪ The numbers Kris added a second stretch goal and more rewards to her Kickstarter. Read about it at https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/403649867/the-diving-universe/posts/2503773. *** Yesterday I learned my Science Fantasy novel In the Siberian Fields (StoneThread Publishing, 2016) will be included in the forthcoming bundle, Gods Among the Stars. (grin) When that one goes live, my work will be available in 10 active bundles. Woohoo! To see the … Read more

The Daily Journal, Thursday, May 9

In today’s Journal ▪ Kristine Kathryn Rusch (again) ▪ Kristine Kathryn Rusch (yet again) ▪ Topic: Yesterday, I Shared ▪ Daily diary ▪ Of Interest ▪ The numbers Too important to be buried in “Of Interest.” If you read nothing else today, read “Business Musings: Patreon, Copyright, And Personal Choice” at https://kriswrites.com/2019/05/08/business-musings-patreon-copyright-and-personal-choice/. *** Kris’ Kickstarter has already funded and is well on its way to the first stretch goal (see Dean’s post in “Of Interest”). Frankly, I hesitated yesterday. I was going to fund it at the $50 level because I wanted the notes (in paper, so I could easily … Read more

The Daily Journal, Wednesday, May 8

In today’s Journal ▪ Kristine Kathryn Rusch ▪ I wrote a whole long ▪ Daily diary ▪ Of Interest ▪ The numbers Kristine Kathryn Rusch is conducting a Kickstarter with a goal of putting her (huge) Diving Universe novels in hardback. I mention this here because of the rewards offered at the $15 (ebook) and $50 (trade paperback) level. At those levels, in addition to The Renegat (latest DU novel) Kris offers “two large books of all the extra scenes and materials not used in the Diving novels, including a number of essays…[for] writers who want to see how writing … Read more

The Daily Journal, Tuesday, May 7

In today’s Journal ▪ Sign up for this! ▪ Rare Photos! ▪ Topic: To Share Something Interesting ▪ Daily diary ▪ Of Interest ▪ The numbers Penny Sansevieri of Author Marketing Experts is conducting a fee webinar on Marketing on May 16 at 11 a.m. It’s hosted in collaboration with Draft2Digital. Be sure to register. Penny will email a recording of the event to all registrants even if they can’t attend live. Sign up at https://www.amarketingexpert.com/marketing-basics-and-beyond-webinar-draft2digital. *** Recently unearthed! An actual photo of my creative voice! And to give him equal time, here’s a pic of my critical voice: Any … Read more

The Daily Journal, Monday, May 6

In today’s Journal ▪ Topic: How I Became… ▪ Daily diary ▪ Of Interest ▪ The numbers Topic: How I Became a Professional Fiction Writer Sometimes it’s difficult to remember that a scant 5 years ago I knew almost nothing about writing fiction. Oh, I knew (and taught) mechanics: grammar, punctuation, the use of sentences and fragments, and some of the finer nuances passive vs. active construction, past tense vs. present tense and so on. But about writing? I knew nada. I’d written bits and pieces off and on for most of my life (poems, essays, articles, a few stories). … Read more

The Daily Journal, Sunday, May 5

In today’s Journal ▪ Happy Cinco de Mayo! ▪ Some numbers ▪ What is a professional writer? ▪ Daily diary ▪ Of Interest ▪ The numbers Happy Cinco de Mayo! Though it isn’t really Mexican Independence Day. If you’d like to know what Cinco de Mayo really signifies, email me at harveystanbrough@gmail.com and I’ll forward you a cool email I received thsi morning from Kevin Tumlinson. *** For some reason, partly spurred-on by an email I wrote to a mentoring student, this morning I decided to see how much I’ve written in novels and novellas in the past 4 years … Read more

The Daily Journal, Saturday, May 4

In today’s Journal ▪ Delayed start ▪ I labeled one ▪ Topic: Letting It Fly ▪ Daily diary ▪ Of Interest ▪ The numbers Sometimes the way my brain works annoys me. I rolled out early this morning specifically so I could have fun (write) early, but I’m also a writing instructor. So my brain gave that mentoring role priority. I’m not complaining. I just think it’s an interesting curiosity. I took about an hour to respond to an email that should have taken a few minutes max. I mentally meandered around, eventually finding (I hope) the right words to … Read more