Topic

The Journal: The Question Rules

In today’s Journal * Quotes of the Day * Fairly good day * Topic: The Question Rules * Followup * Of Interest * The Numbers Quotes of the Day I’ve talked here before about having a specific skill in mind when you sit down to write, for example pacing or dialogue or whatever. That’s how you practice and improve. Today’s topic will help you practice a particular technique. HS “Deliberate practice is what turns amateurs into professionals. … Deliberate practice means practicing with a clear awareness of the specific components of a skill we’re aiming to improve.” Farnam Street I … Read more

The Journal: Point of View

In today’s Journal * A lighter day * Topic: Whose Point of View Is It? * Of Interest * The Numbers Had a lighter day yesterday. I wanted to break 30,000 words but didn’t quite get there. I found a glitch I had to work out. This series has a cast of dozens of main characters, so I get confused with some of the names and assignments every now and then. (grin) When that happens, it’s better to slow down and work out glitches when I find them than to wait and hope for the best. But the story’s still … Read more

The Journal: Willie Nelson wrote a song

In today’s Journal * Quote of the Day * Short announcement * Willie Nelson wrote a song * Topic: A Few Myths About Writing Into the Dark * Of Interest * The Numbers Quote of the Day “If we take man as he is, we make him worse, but if we take him as he should be, we make him capable of becoming what he can be.” Viktor Frankl quoting Goethe A short announcement—Dean posted today that the surveys for the Return of the Fey Kickstarter should go out this week. So if you donated anything to that, you should … Read more

The Journal: On Writing “Fast”

In today’s Journal * Yesterday * An Epiphany from a Friend * Topic: On Writing “Fast” * Of Interest * The Numbers Well, yesterday morning I started writing Terra 2. But it still has to do with the future of humanity, so Terra 2 will be Book 10 in the FOH series. The covers going forward will be different, of course, depicting some view of the planet, but that’s all to worry about in the future. This book won’t go ‘live’ until July 15. (I’m releasing one novel every two weeks from now through then.) An Epiphany from a Friend … Read more

The Journal: Recognizing the Critical Voice

In today’s Journal * Quotes of the Day * I expect the novel will wrap today * Topic: Recognizing the Critical Voice * Of Interest * The Numbers I had a pretty good day of writing yesterday once I pried my head out of my butt and realized what was screwing me up: the conscious, critical mind. It’s always the conscious, critical mind. Always. Every time. As an added bonus, I think the novel’s going to wrap today. All that was required was that I stop worrying about it. Can’t believe I made such a rookie mistake. (grin) I even … Read more

The Journal: Do Poets Outline?

In today’s Journal * Topic: Do Poets Outline? * A great day of writing * Of Interest * The Numbers Topic: Do Poets Outline? The short answer will probably be a snort and “No.” But of course there are some very long poems out there too. I’ve personally written some very long poems. For me, the answer was still no. This question came up because a long-time writer, personal friend, and fellow adherent of Heinlein’s Rules and writing into the dark is as stymied as I regarding why some folks depend on outlines. In addition to novels, like me, my … Read more

The Journal: Statement by the ALA

In today’s Journal * Oof. The novel * Topic: Freedom to Read Statement * The Numbers Well, no Journal yesterday (my novel and I were arguing) and not much of one today. Sorry about that. Oof. This novel’s being difficult. This one is writing harder than any since way back in the Wes Crowley series when I wrote Book 3 as a bridge between Books 2 and 4. That one was difficult for a reason, though. I had to merge two timelines. Honestly, I’m not sure why this one’s being difficult. Anyway, I haven’t hit my daily word count goal … Read more

The Journal: I’m a Fortunate Guy

In today’s Journal * Quotes of the Day * Topic: I’m a Fortunate Guy * If you haven’t pulled the trigger * The Numbers Quotes of the Day “You can’t use up creativity. The more you use, the more you have.” Maya Angelou “In writing, the critical voice always makes the wrong decision. Readers don’t read safe, easy, dull books. Just like no one watches the perfectly behaved child walking beside their parent and doing nothing. Nope, people watch with laughter or shock or stunned amazement or horror the out-of-control funny child. Your book needs to be that child, not … Read more

The Journal: All Caught Up

In today’s Journal * Quotes of the Day * All Caught Up * Topic: The Pulp Writers * Turns out I’m lazy * The Numbers Quotes of the Day “I write for the joy of writing. It is the air I breathe and the joy of my life.” Charlene Iverson “There is in writing the constant joy of sudden discovery, of happy accident.” H.L. Mencken “In Sarasota, Florida, Stephen King reminded me of the joy of just writing every day.” Neil Gaiman All Caught Up I went ahead and published Book 8 of the FOH series too, early this morning. … Read more

The Journal: Post 5 on Heinlein’s Rules

In today’s Journal * Quote of the Day * A friend brought a truism home * Topic: Post 5 on Heinlein’s Rules * The Journey Home: Part 8 is finished * The Numbers Quote of the Day “Nine months later, I’d written and published 500,000 words and learned more from that process than I could have imagined.” Cat Sole in the AuthorsPublish article linked to below on writing FanFic (I suspect she was able to write so much so quickly because since it was fanfic it was easy to think of it as unimporant… just sayin’) A friend brought a … Read more