Topic

The Journal: A Matter of Authenticity

In today’s Journal * Topic: A Matter of Authenticity * Wow. I was looking over my files * Today * Of Interest * The Numbers Topic: A Matter of Authenticity Hey, folks, if you’re ever writing a Marine Corps character, officer or enlisted, use a 24-hour clock when you’re giving the time. For example, 3 a.m. is “0300” (not even oh-three-hundred) and 6 p.m. is 1800. Most people know that, right? It’s a matter of authenticity. And if you’re writing that Marine Corps character, NEVER add “hours” to the time. So 3 a.m. is zero-three-hundred (0300), not “0300 hours.” Adding … Read more

The Journal: On Reverse Outlines

In today’s Journal * Topic: On Reverse Outlines * Today * Of Interest * The Numbers Topic: On Reverse Outlines A patron wrote to ask me, in part, to explain reverse outlines in more detail. While I’m writing a novel, occasionally I have to fact-check something that happened earlier in the novel. That might be a place name (name of a town or building, etc.) or an aspect of a character description (eye color, hair color, what they’re wearing, etc.) or a timeline item (what time they left the bar, etc.) if correct timelines are important to the story. Using … Read more

The Journal: The Value of Challenges (and the Attendant Deadlines)

In today’s Journal * Quotes of the Day: A Masters Course * Topic: The Value of Challenges (and the Attendant Deadlines) * Today * Of Interest * The Numbers Quotes of the Day: A Masters Course These quotes are gleaned from Dean Wesley Smith’s inteview (in “Of Interest” below) with 6 Figure Authors. “At a certain level in this business, you quit listening to other people about your work. You become an artist. I wish writers would get to that spot sooner rather than later. You keep learning…, but don’t let other people mess with it.” Dean Wesley Smith “I’m … Read more

The Journal: Free Stuff

In today’s Journal * Topic: Free Stuff * Today * Of Interest * The Numbers Topic: Free Stuff Because I expect my production to really soar this year, from time to time I’ll be giving away a free novel or novella. I know not everyone reads this drivel every day, so I’ll try to remember to keep the giveaway in place for a week. When I give away anything, I’ll also try to remember to offer an advance glimpse at it with a description so you can gauge your interest. You can still get my latest, The Cazadores Lounge and … Read more

The Journal: No Seriously, Nobody Cares

In today’s Journal * Quote of the Day * Topic: No Seriously, Nobody Cares * Today * Of Interest * The Numbers Quote of the Day “Nobody cares.” Dean Wesley Smith Topic: No, Seriously, Nobody Cares This morning, Kris Rusch wrote a kind of rambling Business Musings post titled, “Nobody Cares.” When it goes public in a few days, I’ll link to it in “Of Interest” so you can see it for yourself. I suspect it was rambling because she was tired from just having finished teaching a live workshop in Vegas. (I wanted badly to tell her she could … Read more

The Journal: If You Want to See a Good Topic, and Kind of a Topic

In today’s Journal * Quote of the Day * If You Want to See a Good Topic * Topic: Kind of a Topic * Today * Of Interest * The Numbers Quote of the Day “If an indie author is publishing a book across a variety of different national borders via Amazon, even if the use of an image might pass muster under US law, the laws of other nations might give rise to claims for damages.” The Passive Guy If You Want to See a Good Topic I’m being lazy today. If you want to see a good topic, … Read more

The Journal: Fear, and What to Do About It

In today’s Journal * Quote of the Day * Topic: Fear, and What to Do About It * Today * Of Interest * The Numbers Quote of the Day “And of course, there’s the fear that I’ll never be able to write decently, much less prolifically, again.” New York Times and USA Today bestselling author Russell Blake in “Taking a Break” on 9 July 2019https://russellblake.com/taking-a-break/ Topic: Fear, and What to Do About It Notice the Quote of the Day above. If you go read the blog post, you’ll see that the conscious, critical mind has pretty much stilled Russell Blake, … Read more

The Journal: How to Learn Fiction-Writing Techniques

In today’s Journal * Quote of the Day * Topic: How to Learn Fiction-Writing Techniques * Today * Of Interest * The Numbers Quote of the Day “[W]hat the character notices and how s/he notices something are reflections of who s/he is.” Michaele Lockhart Topic: How to Learn Fiction-Writing Techniques This topic arose from an email I received a few days ago. What appears below is my expanded response. If you want to learn new fiction-writing techniques and improve your craft, 1. Take in-person or online video or audio courses from knowledgeable sources. By knowledgeable sources, I mean folks with … Read more

The Journal: The New World of Publishing

In today’s Journal * Quote of the Day * Topic: The New World of Publishing * Today * Of Interest * The Numbers Quote of the Day “Doing has always been a binary choice; to do or not do. … Revel when you can in the celestial creative mind.” Robert J. Sadler Topic: The New World of Publishing Yeah, I know. Digital publishing and ebooks have been around awhile now. But every now and then I’m reminded why I still love this new world of publishing. An attentive reader who is also a successful professional writer pointed out that my … Read more

The Journal: On Routines

In today’s Journal * Quotes of the Day * Topic: On Routines * Today * Of Interest * The Numbers Quotes of the Day “I do the best I can with every thing I write. … I just don’t care what others think about the final product and I have fun, and those two things keep critical voice at bay for me.” Dean Wesley Smith “If you set a goal of 500 or 1,000 words and you keep it every day, you feel as if you have accomplished something.” Amanda Patterson in a post for Writers Write Topic: On Routines … Read more