Topic

The Journal: Cover Design and Publishing

In today’s Journal * Topic: Cover Design and Publishing * Of Interest Topic: Cover Design and Publishing A writer emailed to ask about cover design. He’s starting from scratch. As I told him, it’s a massive question with several facets. First, you’ll need cover art. Via Dean Wesley Smith, for fiction it’s better to use illustrations than actual photographs. (Perusing the covers of best-selling novels at Amazon or in other venues bears this out.) You can find and download either kind of image at any of several places. My favorite paid sites are Deposit Photos, CanStock Photos, and BigStock Photos. … Read more

The Journal: The Series Bible

In today’s Journal * A great deal of good information * Topic: The Series Bible (and the Reverse Outline) * Of Interest There is a great deal of good information in today’s “Of Interest.” I strongly recommend you get your beverage of choice and settle in to read. You might even want to try a few of the things they recommend in the different articles as you go. Topic: The Series Bible (and the Reverse Outline) One of my favorites in “Of Interest” today is James Scott Bell’s post on the creation and use of a series bible. As some … Read more

The Journal: Believe in Yourself, Part 3

In today’s Journal * Quotes of the Day * Read the Contract * Topic: Cycling (What It Is, How to Do It) * Maybe I Should Write a Book * Of Interest Quotes of the Day “READ THE DAMN CONTRACT BEFORE YOU SIGN IT! READ THE DAMN CONTRACT BEFORE YOU SIGN IT! READ THE DAMN CONTRACT BEFORE YOU SIGN IT! READ THE DAMN CONTRACT BEFORE YOU SIGN IT! READ THE DAMN CONTRACT BEFORE YOU SIGN IT!” The Passive Guy (an attorney well-versed in copyright law) “An author who has spent hours and days and weeks and months writing a book … Read more

The Journal: Believe in Yourself, Part 2

In today’s Journal * Quote of the Day * I almost went back * Topic: Believe in Yourself, Part 2 * Of Interest Quote of the Day “The devaluation of music and what it’s now deemed to be worth is laughable to me. My single costs 99 cents. That’s what a [single] cost in 1960. On my phone, I can get an app for 99 cents that makes fart noises — the same price as the thing I create and speak to the world with. Some would say the fart app is more important. It’s an awkward time. Creative brains … Read more

The Journal: Believe in Yourself

In today’s Journal * Quotes of the Day * Topic: Believe in Yourself * Of Interest Quotes of the Day [I]f you are really writing from your creative voice, it just ain’t possible to control it or steer it.” Dean Wesley Smith “[S]ince I never go into the writing with any idea what I am doing, I have been surprised every day what has appeared. And not questioning anything, just going for the ride and having fun.” Dean Wesley Smith “A year from now you will wish you had started today.” Karen Lamb Topic: Believe in Yourself In “Of Interest” … Read more

The Journal: Truly Stupid Advice and “Deep POV”

In today’s Journal * Quotes of the Day * Altered Brain Chemistry * Truly Stupid Advice * Topic: Deep POV * Of Interest Quotes of the Day “[J]ournalists need to be overt and candid advocates for social justice, and it’s hard to do that under the constraints of objectivity.” Stanford journalism professor Ted Glasser (As a writer, I personally see censorship as a bad thing. Your opinion might vary.) Altered Brain Chemistry From a dear friend whom I believe would not mind me sharing: “By now, you’re probably aware that the one change in your life—giving up nicotine in all … Read more

The Journal: Characterization: Just Don’t

In today’s Journal * Quote of the Day * Some Quick Math * Topic: Characterization: Just Don’t * Of Interest * The Numbers Quote of the Day “It’s not a race. This writing business is one event where everybody who crosses the finish line wins. And then we get to start all over again. You just can’t beat that.” Dan Baldwin Wow. I did some quick math yesterday just out of curiosity. Remember I offered to send you the rough Journal archives in PDF documents from 2014 through 2021? I went back and added those up. Granted, they’re the rough … Read more

The Journal: Writing Fiction

In today’s Journal * I Fibbed * Topic: Writing Fiction * A Quick Look Back * Of Interest * The Numbers Welp, I fibbed. I said I wouldn’t be back until tomorrow, but here I am. I wanted to do a self-motivating recap of 2021, and I wanted to announce my first writing project for the new year. And it seemed silly to wait until tomorrow to do either of those. Also, it seemed wrong not to post on the first day of a new year. So here I am, wishing you the best year of writing you’ve ever had. … Read more

The Journal: On Daily Word-Count Goals

In today’s Journal * Sympathy * Thanks, I needed that * Topic: On Daily Word-Count Goals * A Final Word on Goals for This Year * The Journal Archives * Of Interest * The Numbers First, my heartfelt sympathy for the family, friends and fans of Coach John Madden, who passed away unexpectedly yesterday morning at the age of 85. I was fortunate that I got to witness much of his career as a coach and then as a coach in the broadcast booth. Coach Madden will be sorely missed. My sincere thanks to reader Larry P who emailed me … Read more

The Journal: Reader Taste—The Final Take

In today’s Journal * Quotes of the Day * Topic: Reader Taste—The Final Take * Of Interest * The Numbers Quotes of the Day “[T]he big money, I think, for long term is probably in self publishing.” New York Times bestselling author Kat Martin “I think after Christmas would be better for publication: I am hardly a Christmas present.” Oscar Wilde Topic: Reader Taste—The Final Take (and a question for you) In an email regarding my recent post on reader taste vs. writer skill, my young friend wrote, “… what if one reader doesn’t like a book but another reader … Read more