Topic

The Journal, Saturday, September 7

In today’s Journal * Today, I thought * Topic: Switching Your Site from HTTP to HTTPS * If you haven’t * The numbers Today, I thought I’d pass along something useful I learned from the newsletter I mentioned in yesterday’s Journal. Nate Hoffelder mentioned that when you switch your URL from the unsecured http to a secured https, there’s a final step that many writers don’t realize. Topic: Switching Your Site from HTTP to HTTPS After you’ve bought a security certificate through your webhost and changed your URL (in Settings) from http to https, you still have some work to … Read more

The Journal, Friday, September 6

In today’s Journal * Today I’m investing some time * Topic: Read the Terms of Service (TOS) *If you’re an independent writer/publisher * The numbers Today I’m investing some time reading or reviewing terms of service for various platforms I use personally. It sounds boring, but if your copyright matters to you at all, I recommend you do the same. What prompted this post? In a recent newsletter, Nate Hoffelder (The Digital Reader) recommended using WordPress.com (not the same as WordPress.org). Read on…. Topic: Read the Terms of Service (TOS) First, everything you write, including blog posts, is automatically protected … Read more

The Journal, Wednesday, September 4

In today’s Journal * Topic: A Perfect Storm * A couple of recommendations * The numbers Topic: A Perfect Storm Bear with me as I work my way through this. It has a point. I’m recording it here and publishing it only because some of you might find yourselves in a similar situation. The form of this post was predicated, in part, by Alison Holt’s excellent post at Pro Writers Writing. First, it would be easy, in this moment, to say I’ve had a good run but that run is over. I could easily lapse into full retirement, puttering around … Read more

The Journal, Monday, September 2

In today’s Journal * Topic: On Reader Taste * The numbers Topic: On Reader Taste Some of you will remember, awhile back I had a problem understanding “reader taste.” One reader will be absorbed into a story whereas another won’t care for it at all. He might not even finish reading it. I’ve been on both sides of the experience as a reader, but still I didn’t quite get it. Slowly, I came to understand. I still say it’s the writer’s responsibility to do all the things necessary to pull the reader into the story. Otherwise, why bother studying and … Read more

The Journal, Wednesday, August 28

In today’s Journal * On vacation * Topic: What Is “Sexual” Violence? * I’m not sure I added * Of Interest * The numbers After I sent the previous edition of the Journal, I realized I was exhausted. Yesterday for the first time in a few years, I didn’t write anything at all. No Journal entry, no other nonfiction. I haven’t even added anything to the novel (to speak of). I told my wife (grinning), “Y’know, I think I’m gonna take a few vacation days.” She thought that was a good idea. So that’s what I’m doing. Yesterday I headed … Read more

The Daily Journal, Monday, August 26

In today’s Journal * Quote of the Day * Announcement: Priorities and Time Management * Daily Diary * Of Interest * The numbers Quote of the Day “Writing advice? Put your writerly faith in Heinlein’s Rules, in yourself, and most importantly, in your characters. The characters, not you, are living the story. Instead of attempting to control them from an authorial ivory tower, roll off the parapet into the trenches of the story and run through it with them. Have fun! Record what happens and what the characters say and do. They will lead you through to the end, and … Read more

The Daily Journal, Sunday, August 25

In today’s Journal * Quote of the Day * Miracle * Topic: The Short Story as a Marketing Tool * Daily Diary * Of Interest * The numbers Quote of the Day “You and I as artists inhabit one dimension of reality—the material dimension. … Creativity has its origin in a different sphere—the plane of potentiality. Our job is to tune in to that sphere. And to trust it.” Steven Pressfield Harvey’s corollary: “Especially after we start writing the story.” *** Well, in a very small way in my tiny world, a miracle happened. When I came to the Hovel … Read more

The Daily Journal, Friday, August 23

In today’s Journal * Quotes of the Day * Happy much-belated 90th birthday, and welcome * Topic: How Long It Takes to Write a Novel * Daily Diary * Of Interest * The numbers Quotes of the Day “I don’t get writers’ block— …however, I do have lots of bad writing days. [But a] bad writing day is a million times better than a no-writing day.” Stephanie Feldman (short story writer and novelist) “Taylor Swift says she will be rerecording her early work. If she does this the right way, she will probably destroy the market value of the Big … Read more

The Daily Journal, Thursday, August 22

In today’s Journal * I kind of like * Daily Diary * Of Interest * The numbers I kind of like this new schedule, posting the Journal early and reporting fiction the following day. I don’t know that I’ll keep it, but I suspect I will. For one thing it takes the pressure off. I can write fiction at any time of day or night, and I’m not limited by needing to get the Journal out at a particular time. I had a fairly good day yesterday with a few thousand words (see below), especially after not writing fiction at … Read more

The Daily Journal, Wednesday, August 21

In today’s Journal * Not sure * Tooting my own horn * Topic: Helping Reedsy Out * Daily diary * Of Interest * The numbers Not sure what today will hold. Tomorrow (Thursday) I’ll be in Tucson all day for various medical appointments. Just stuff I have to check out. No biggie. Yesterday, I mentioned a new cover and then forgot to insert it into the post. That’s it on the right. I’ve gotten into the habit of publishing the Journal early. So I don’t forget to post the cover again, I’m going to publish early again today. I also … Read more