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The Journal: How to Push Back the Critical Voice

In today’s Journal * Quotes of the Day * Topic: How to Push Back the Critical Voice * Today * Of Interest * The Numbers Quotes of the Day “I would rather dance barefoot on a bed of nails than outline a novel. I know some writers find outlining essential. To me, outlining feels artificial, as if I’m moving characters around like chess pieces. I’m a terrible chess player. Not so good at checkers, either.” Dean Koontz on Twitter (courtesy Phillip McCollum) “[W]riters must look at writing like they look at reading other writer’s works. They must go to story … Read more

The Journal: I Don’t Mean to Sound Harsh But

In today’s Journal * Quotes of the Day * Over on Pro Writers Writing * Wanting to share, Subscriber Finn wrote * Had a very enjoyable visit * Topic: I Don’t Mean to Sound Harsh But * Today * Of Interest * The Numbers Quotes of the Day “I think it actually helps with the creativity to know that I don’t have time to think. Whatever comes out, that’s it. And that tends to be some of the best stuff and some of the most authentic stuff.” Sean Petrie of the Typewriter Rodeo “[Rewriting is] a belief in process rather … Read more

The Journal: Busting Some Myths for a New Writer

In today’s Journal * The topic for today and why I’m here * Topic: Busting Some Myths for a New Writer * Today * Of Interest * The Numbers The topic for today (and a few more) were recommended to me in an email from a writer (RG) who joined our Journal family fairly recently. Some parts of the topic will be old hat to some of you, but I encourage you to read it anyway. You never know what particular phrase will strike a chord. I hadn’t planned to write a Journal entry at all today, but I appreciate … Read more

The Journal: Humans Are Weird

In today’s Journal * Quotes of the Day * In the Great News Department * Got Writing Chops? * Topic: Humans Are Weird * Today * Of Interest * The Numbers Quotes of the Day “Habits can get me to the keyboard, but they can also keep me away from it. When the habit becomes an ‘I can’t,’ then it’s time to re-evaluate the habit.” Kristine Kathryn Rusch “It is only when the latecomers [would-be writers] make the decision to be punctual [write] that they change. It must be a conscious decision; if they merely make a woolly attempt to … Read more

The Journal: Another Way to Think of Your Daily Word-Count Goal

In today’s Journal * Quote of the Day * Topic: Another Way to Think of Your Daily Word-Count Goal * Today * Of Interest * The Numbers Quote of the Day “[M]y editor and agent at the time felt strongly that a degree of ambiguity in the end made the story better. I never agreed, but it was my first book, and I was dizzy from the whole experience, so I said okay. I’ve regretted it for 25 years.” John Gilstrap Topic: Another Way to Think of Your Daily Word-Count Goal I happened on this while replying to Diane Darcy’s … Read more

The Journal: What Are You Writing?

In today’s Journal * Welcome * Topic: What Are You Writing? * Today * Of Interest * The Numbers Welcome to Patrick D. It’s good to have you aboard! I hope you find the Journal useful and informative. I hope my recent new subscribers will also browse my author site at HarveyStanbrough.com. . There you will find a ton of writer resources, including Free Downloads (check this first) Other Resources for Writers (links) My Audio Lecture Series on Writing My Books on Writing (links to StoneThreadPublishing.com) and soon a free short story of the week. In coming months, either my … Read more

The Journal: I’m All About Productivity

In today’s Journal * Quote of the Day * Well, I’ve been remiss * Topic: I’m All About Productivity * Today * Of Interest * The Numbers Quote of the Day “If, after that time, you feel stifled by your quota, don’t give it up. Just reduce the number to something easy. Like 250 words. Your ficus tree can write 250 words in a day. Don’t be shown up by your ficus tree.” James Scott Bell Well, I’ve been remiss recently, failing to welcome the few new folks who have joined us in the past couple of months: Ralph R, … Read more

The Journal: We All Have Days “Like That”

In today’s Journal * Quote of the Day * Topic: We All Have Days “Like That” * Today * Of Interest * The Numbers Quote of the Day “I just go again, keep writing, and it all smooths out.” Dean Wesley Smith “My philosophy is it’s none of my business what people say of me and think of me. I am what I am, and I do what I do. I expect nothing and accept everything. And it makes life so much easier.” Anthony Hopkins, via The Passive Voice Topic: We All Have Days “Like That” You know, those days … Read more

The Journal: If I Could Dictate

In today’s Journal * Quote of the Day * Topic: If I Could Dictate * Today * Of Interest * The Numbers Note: I had this post all ready to go yesterday, but forgot to hit Publish, so here it is today. I’ll publish another one later today (as an experiment) to see whether both of them post at 5 p.m. this afternoon. Quote of the Day “I tend to fly and finish a lot of words… I don’t like to stop.” Diane Darcy, USA Today bestselling romance novelist Topic: If I Could Dictate Diane Darcy brought up an interesting … Read more

The Journal: Sigh… Old Stuff Revisited

In today’s Journal * Quote of the Day * Yesterday * Topic: Sigh… Old Stuff Revisited * Today * Of Interest * The Numbers Quote of the Day “If your dreams do not scare you, they are not big enough.” Ellen Johnson Sirleaf, via David Farland Yesterday I had a good writing day (4253 words). I wrote a little over 3100 words on the novel plus a little over 1300 words on the short story. If I’m able to write on both again today, I should finish the short story. I might go back to posting the Journal later in … Read more