Topic

The Journal: Fact or Fiction Indeed

In today’s Journal * Quote of the Day * Topic: Fact or Fiction Indeed * The Numbers Quote of the Day “The words are maps, and the map is not the territory. The map is static; the territory constantly flows. Words are always about the past or the unborn future, never about the living present. The present is ever to quick for them; by the time words are out, it is gone.” Polish scholar named Alfred Habdank Skarbek Korzybski (via The Passive Guy) Topic: Fact or Fiction Indeed In today’s “Of Interest” there’s a link to an article titled “Fact … Read more

The Journal: Quotes, Comments and an Email

In today’s Journal * Quote of the Day * Quotes of the Day by Ray Bradbury (and one from me) * Thanks * Topic: Email, the “writing zone,” and whose story is this, anyway? * Public Service Announcement * The Numbers Quote of the Day “By the end of the third day [at a writing retreat], I find myself waking up eager to write.” David Farland Quotes of the Day by Ray Bradbury “The great fun in my life has been getting up every morning and rushing to the typewriter because some new idea has hit me.” RB “My stories … Read more

The Journal: Practice in Writing

In today’s Journal * Quotes of the Day * A Question for You * Topic: Practice in Writing * The Numbers Quotes of the Day “Start writing, no matter what. The water does not flow until the faucet is turned on.” Louis L’Amour “Fiction writing can be learned, if one studies diligently and keeps practicing.” James Scott Bell “I don’t know how to tell if my writing’s any good while I’m writing it.” Greer Macallister A Question for You Given today’s topic. I have a question, and I’m serious. One of the most clichéd sentences in the writing profession is … Read more

The Journal: Character with a Problem, Part 3

In today’s Journal * Quotes of the Day * Topic: Character with a Problem, Part 3 * The Numbers Quotes of the Day “I write entirely to find out what I’m thinking, what I’m looking at, what I see and what it means. What I want and what I fear.” Joan Didion “The arrangement of the words matters, and the arrangement you want can be found in the picture in your mind. The picture dictates the arrangement. The picture tells you how to arrange the words and the arrangement of the words tells you, or tells me, what’s going on … Read more

The Journal: Character with a Problem, Part 2

In today’s Journal * Quotes of the Day * Ooh I was so tempted * Censorship * Pro Writers Writing * Topic: Character with a Problem, Part 2 * The Numbers Quotes of the Day “One of the things Dean Wesley Smith talks about is how he learns himself through teaching. I feel that this has been as much about me learning as anything. Putting down my thoughts about things I’ve learned over the years has helped to crystalize and solidify them for me.” Sean Monaghan in a comment on Pro Writers Writing “For those of you who have already … Read more

The Journal: Character with a Problem

In today’s Journal * Topic: Character with a Problem * Additional References * The Numbers Topic: Character with a Problem Yesterday, I received a complimentary email from a writer. In it, he initiated two topics, one intentional and one peripheral. The more important is the peripheral one, so I’ll talk about that today. Many times, I’ve said all you need to start a story is a character with a problem in a setting. In his email, the writer wrote, “I have no trouble with the setting part. That’s what comes to me first. (Like the painting that has given you … Read more

The Journal: Trust Your Process

In today’s Journal * Quotes of the Day * Topic: Trust Your Process * Only a little over * The Numbers Quotes of the Day “I have always read to be entertained, and have always written to return the favor.” John Gilstrap “I often tell people that I don’t want to think too hard about the creative process for fear of breaking a machine that I don’t know how to fix.” John Gilstrap “Remember always that the voice in your head is unique to you. Even a well-meaning teacher can ruin that voice if you’re not steadfast in your defense … Read more

The Journal: A New Nonfiction Book Is Coming

In today’s Journal * Quotes of the Day * Anyone can figure out * Are you one * Topic: A New Nonfiction Book Is Coming * I had a good day writing * The Numbers Quotes of the Day “One thing that apparently still has the power to infuriate people, though, is how many spaces should be used after a period at the end of an English sentence.” from an article sent to me by a friend via email “I’ve gotten lots of advice in my novel writing career. Some of it good. Much of it stupid. It just took … Read more

The Journal: A Mind-Control Technique

In today’s Journal * Topic: A Mind-Control Technique * Help Keep Me in Cigars * Be Wary * The Numbers Note: Today’s post is around twice as long as usual, but it’s very informative. Topic: A Mind-Control Technique (and Why to Use It) You’ve heard it here at least a few times: When you allow your POV character (not yourself) to describe a setting, it’s a good idea to let the character use all five of his or her physical senses: sight, smell, sound, touch, and taste. I also recommend letting the POV character use his emotional senses: dread, elation, … Read more

The Journal: Story Ideas

In today’s Journal * Quote of the Day * Topic: Story Ideas * A slow start * The Numbers Quote of the Day “A government of, by, and for the people requires that people talk to people, that we can agree to disagree but do so in civility. If we let the politicians and those who report dictate our discourse, then our course will be dictated.” Donna Brazile (thanks to the Passive Guy) Note: Beyond hinting at censorship, the Quote of the Day has nothing to do with writing. I included it only because it is so closely related to … Read more