Topic

The Journal, Friday, February 16

Hey Folks, My apology in advance for the long post. I promise, it’s worthwhile. After I signed off yesterday I listened to a few more videos from the “Writing Thrillers” workshop. Good stuff. Today I’ll probably finish the workshop, then work on some new book pages for StoneThread Publishing. Eventually, each major book we publish will have its own page. The pages for the novels and short story collections (or most of them) are finished. I only need to add a few of those and then code a new page for each nonfiction book. But back to the workshop for … Read more

The Journal, Friday, February 9

Hey Folks, Well, another good “Of Interest” section today. Today will probably be another non-(fiction) writing day for me. I’ll work on the copyedit I started yesterday on my wife’s memoir, and then I’ll probably round out the day by reading. Still resting up fron January, I think. Topic: About Publishing and Publishers A young writer got in touch with me earlier today to ask my recommendation on publishing. She mentioned that she was “talking to a publishing company that is a subsidiary of Hay House.” I didn’t look up the company, but a little bell went off in my … Read more

The Journal, Thursday, December 28

Hey Folks, Well, those of you who’ve hung on through my madness will receive a double reward today, or at least that’s how this edition of the Journal is intended. In preparation for my own return to writing fiction, I decided to take today (and maybe the next couple of days) to do two things: First, I’m revisiting some of the lectures and workshops I’ve taken from Dean. After that, I’ll be prepping by setting goals and a schedule. More on that in coming days. My intention is to begin fresh on January 1. Because I have a couple of … Read more

The Journal, Friday, November 17

Hey Folks, Topic: On Describing Setting How much description in setting is “too much”? Here’s a rule of thumb: If the description is something you, the author, are adding, it’s too much; you’ll bore the reader to death. If it’s the POV character’s opinion of the setting that he absorbed through his own physical senses, it will be just right and the reader will be hooked. Every character (like every human) has a unique POV that is determined by his or her physical senses (including any limitations or enhancements of those senses) and filtered through his or her past experiences. … Read more

The Journal, Tuesday, 10/24

Hey Folks, One of my new favorite quotes: “Amateurs sit and wait for inspiration. The rest of us just get up and go to work.” ~ Stephen King Stephen King introduces the 1986 edition of The Running Man with an essay titled “The Importance of Being Bachman.” The essay is nothing short of a gem, and I encourage you to read it. I took the liberty of transcribing it into a Word document, then saved it as a PDF file and added it to my Free Stuff page on my website. Please go there and download it. Read it. If … Read more

The Journal, Monday, 10/9

Hey Folks, Well, we had a good visit with our youngest son and our oldest grandson. Also very much enjoyed watching the baseball games yesterday, especially Cleveland at New York. Even though Cleveland chose to put off sending New York home until today or until they make them travel back to Cleveland first. (grin) Today it’s back to writing. For anyone who cares about nominal personal nonsense, today is also my last day as a cigar smoker. I have three left, including the 1/3 that’s currently clenched between my teeth. I figured it’s only fair to my wife that I … Read more

The Journal, Saturday, 9/30

Hey Folks, Rolled out slightly after 3 this morning and went straight to email and then Facebook. As a result of one article in one of the several e-newsletters I receive each morning, I found a topic. My reading and then writing the topic below formed the start for the day. We have a trip planned to Sierra Vista a little later this morning. Between now and then, I hope to write a bit of fiction. Topic: Try And vs. Try To First, a disclaimer — When people are speaking in real life (or characters in dialogue in a fiction) … Read more

The Journal, Friday, 9/15

Hey Folks, Welp, I started the day closer to my usual time. I read a lot (see “Of Interest”) and then checked Dean’s site. Much of his post for today is a rehash of the previous couple of days, so it didn’t make “Of Interest,” but parts of it keyed something in me. So I wrote the topic for today. Actually, I also wrote the topic for tomorrow (I won’t count those words until tomorrow). I had so much fun with the latter, I decided to cross post that one to the main blog where it will appear on September … Read more

The Journal, Monday, 8/7

Hey Folks, A little under the weather today. Nothing serious, just blah. Not sure how much writing I’ll get done, if any. Feels like a day of doing zip. I added my most recent novel, a whodunit mystery, to the website. You can see it at http://harveystanbrough.com/the-implications/. Topic: Ebook Editors (actually, formatting programs) This stuff was going to go into “Of Interest” but it’s too important. Especially for those who are new to ebook publishing or thinking about ebook publishing. If you fit either of those categories, or if you are frustrated with your current formatting process or software, here … Read more

The Journal, Sunday, 7/23

Hey Folks, Well, my kitten is all right. I won’t go into details, but my wife and I considered putting off our trip (with nonrefundable hotel stays already paid for) to stay here with her. Thanks to my bride for considering doing that. (She brought the subject up.) I’m always torn when I (or we) leave. It’s better for Bit and the other two babies to stay here in familiar surroundings. But it’s always difficult on me, being away from her for any length of time. I’ve never been quite selfish enough to take her with me, but I’ve been … Read more