the writing life

The Daily Journal, Friday, May 3

In today’s Journal ▪ A roundup of story starters ▪ If you write short stories ▪ I’m still considering ▪ Daily diary ▪ Of Interest ▪ The numbers This morning I have a roundup of story starters for you. I’m even thinking about adding a page of these to the Daily Journal website (HEStanbrough.com). If I do they will be across different genres. Today, as I got these from CrimeReads.com articles, most of them are Mystery, Crime, Distopian fiction, etc. The idea is to read any articles that interest you. If your creative voice leaps at some of what you … Read more

The Daily Journal, Thursday, May 2

In today’s Journal ▪ Yesterday, I stayed… ▪ Topic Part 1: On What Beginning Writers Believe ▪ Topic Part 2: Business, Schmizzness ▪ Daily diary ▪ Of Interest ▪ The numbers Yesterday, I stayed on the computer long after I planned to leave. As a result, I didn’t give much thought to what fiction I’ll write next, so I definitely won’t start anything new today. I keep getting a feeling my next WIP will be something completely different. I’ll read Joe Lansdale’s article again sometime today. I like people who are up front and plain spoken, and the guy gives … Read more

The Daily Journal, Wednesday, May 1

In today’s Journal ▪ A productive day ▪ In the ongoing saga ▪ Another professional writer I follow ▪ Topic: Yes, Virginia, Writers Lie. ▪ Daily diary ▪ Of Interest ▪ The numbers I think I’m over the bug. I had a really productive day yesterday, both physically and otherwise. I swapped-out parts of my in-home office with parts of my Hovel to make the latter more comfortable and more of an office. There’s more to do, but a lot of it is done. I also did some major revamping of my main website (more to come). I hope you’ll … Read more

The Daily Journal, Tuesday, April 30

In today’s Journal ▪ Thanks for all the well-wishes ▪ Topic: I’m All Done with Patreon ▪ Note: An advertisment ▪ If you enjoy great thrillers ▪ Daily diary ▪ Of Interest ▪ The numbers As I begin the day, thank you for all the well-wishes. I appreciate it. I’m feeling a little better each day, though I’m still sleeping more than I care to. (grin) As I morph from ill to well, I’m also determined to catch up on some admin stuff. That includes “needing” to read through my last WIP, the final chapter or two I wrote as … Read more

The Daily Journal, Monday, April 29

In today’s Journal ▪ Quote of the Day ▪ My two year old says being sick sucks ▪ Note on Joe Lansdale’s essay ▪ Daily diary ▪ Of Interest ▪ The numbers Quote of the Day: “[N]ever fight what’s working.” Joe Lansdale *** Wow, April 29 already. Where does the time go? I’m one of those unfortunate souls for whom the ticking of the clock is a powerful catalyst. It’s been that way since I was about ten years old. When an hour passed, even when I’d accomplished something during that hour, it was still an hour I’d never get … Read more

The Daily Journal, Sunday, April 28

In today’s Journal ▪ Topic: Back Cover Blurbs ▪ Daily diary ▪ Of Interest ▪ The numbers Topic: Back Cover Blurbs Over at PWW today, Karen posed an excellent question that keeps a lot of writers up at night: How to create a back-cover blurb that will draw the reader’s interest yet will not “give away” too much (or any) of the book. DWS has written extensively on this topic, though only a bit here and there. I don’t believe he’s ever done even a lecture on the topic, though if he did I would immediately recommend it. Still, I’ve … Read more

The Daily Journal, Saturday, April 27

In today’s Journal ▪ Sometimes I just have to ▪ Topic: No, I Think I Won’t ▪ Daily diary ▪ Of Interest ▪ The numbers Sometimes I just have to go out of my way to prove myself a citizen of Moronville, ▪ which as you might know is a small town in the center of Moronshire Township, ▪ at the center of MoronsArUs County ▪ in the state of Moronopoly ▪ in the United Sort of Square Areas of Imbecilia ▪ in the Middle Hemisphere ▪ of Planet Urth, the Denizens of which believe themselves terribly influential despite the … Read more

The Daily Journal, Friday, April 26

In today’s Journal ▪ Quotes of the day ▪ PWW ▪ Most of the novels ▪ Topic: Balance ▪ Daily diary ▪ Of Interest ▪ The numbers Quotes of the Day: “The critical voice is about fear, and the creative voice is about joy.” Kristine Kathryn Rusch “[F]igure out how to keep your critical voice busy with important tasks that are not writing-related.” Kristine Kathryn Rusch *** For a moment, just before 9 a.m., I thought PWW didn’t go out via MailChimp as it should have this morning. Then at 9:02 it appeared in my in-box. I forgot I’d reset … Read more

The Daily Journal, Thursday, April 25

In today’s Journal ▪ Adios Robert ▪ Topic: Voice (and some stuff on dialect) ▪ Daily diary ▪ Of Interest ▪ The numbers Yesterday, my friend and I spent a full day and evening visiting, reminiscing, philosophizing, swapping lies and generally just shooting the bull. It was a great time. This morning, though, I got up a little late and Robert had already left. Robert, if you decide to go home via I-10, I hope you’ll give me a call so we can at least meet in Benson for lunch or a cup of coffee. Either way, thanks for the … Read more

The Daily Journal, Wednesday, April 24

In today’s Journal ▪ My friend Robert ▪ Sometime yesterday ▪ Daily diary ▪ Of Interest ▪ The numbers My friend Robert will be coming in early today, so we’re going to meet for breakfast. Then he’ll follow me to the house where we’ll spend the day visiting. It should be a great time. Late this afternoon, we’ll head out to the desert to take some sunset photos of saguaro cacti. Then he’ll leave in the morning for the rest of his trip. *** Sometime yesterday I did something (apparently) to my left shoulder. I don’t recall doing anything to … Read more