The Yawning Chasms Along the Way

In today’s Journal * Quotes of the Day * The Yawning Chasms Along the Way * And Then There’s Plottr * Dean’s In-Person Classes * Of Interest Quotes of the Day “I’ve discovered Plottr. Without going into detail, it is the best tool I’ve used so far. Loving the timeline feature and templates for a variety of genres. It gives me writing prompts in the places I usually flounder, as well as a host of other nice features.” Cecilia Marie Pulliam “Mama says ‘Stupid is as stupid does’.” Forrest Gump The Yawning Chasms Along the Way If you don’t see … Read more

Spreading the Word, and Memes

In today’s Journal * Quote of the Day * Spreading the Word * Memes * Of Interest Quote of the Day (maybe even the year) “You don’t have to wait to be confident. Just do it and eventually the confidence will follow.” Carrie Fisher What excellent advice! Spreading the Word In reply to my comment on Garry Rodgers’ TKZ post yesterday, Garry wrote, “I checked your math and it works. BTW, WTF do you do in your spare time?” I couldn’t pass up an invitation like that: “In my spare time I do things I enjoy, of course. Like writing. … Read more

Tossing Around Some Numbers

In today’s Journal * Quote of the Day * Topic: Tossing Around Some Numbers * Of Interest Quote of the Day “Knowledge is proud that he has learned so much; Wisdom is humble that he knows no more.” William Cowper Topic: Tossing Around Some Numbers I wasn’t going to post a Journal entry today, but a conversation with a student this morning spurred some thoughts. The fiction-writing myths are deeply ingrained in our society. They’re inadvertently taught in junior high, high school, and college English and Literature classes by teachers and professors who are only teaching what they themselves were … Read more

Every Novel Writes Differently

In today’s Journal * Quotes of the Day * Every Novel Writes Differently * PS: * Of Interest Quotes of the Day From the Give Me a Break Department: “Can you become sick through social media? New research says it might be possible, as vulnerable people fall prey to mass psychogenic illnesses via the internet.” Kite & Key staff (I’m guessing mask mandates will come next.) “When you come to a fork in the road, take it.” Yogi Berra Topic: Every Novel Writes Differently The title is a maxim I first heard from Dean Wesley Smith. Now, as I write … Read more

Yesterday, and Why Again

In today’s Journal * Quote of the Day * Oops. * Yesterday * Why Again * Of Interest Quote of the Day “When writing, it’s often just as important knowing what not to say, as it is knowing what to include… but … it’s easier to perceive when expressed through the eyes of my fictional characters” [emphasis added]. Vincent Berg at Writer’s Nook Well, the eyes, ears, nose, and taste and touch sensors. Oops. First, a quick apology. My post of the 18th (“If You REALLY Want to Write Into the Dark”) posted again yesterday, on the 19th. I suspect … Read more

If You Really WANT to Write Into the Dark

In today’s Journal * Topic: If You Really WANT to Write Into the Dark * Of Interest Topic: If You Really WANT to Write Into the Dark If you Really WANT to let go of all the BS and just write into the dark, please read this post. I’m not saying anything new, but I’m saying it in a new way that some of you might “get” even if you didn’t before. (Note: If you DON’T want to WITD, I’m not trying to convince you. Feel free to skip down to “Of Interest” or come back tomorrow.) Of all the … Read more

The Reverse Outline Shines Again

In today’s Journal * Quote of the Day * Topic: The Reverse Outline Shines Again * Sigh… More Controversy * Of Interest Quote of the Day “October 1st… Climb back on. That’s what I will be doing.” Dean Wesley Smith “I finally get it now. There really is no danger of over-describing. If it’s coming from the [POV] characters instead of my own brain, it makes sense for the story because it’s what they’re feeling, sensing, experiencing.” Chynna Pace, mentoring student Topic: The Reverse Outline Shines Again I can’t forcefully enough express the importance and usefulness of the reverse outline. … Read more

The Journal: Unknowingly Trying?

In today’s Journal * Quotes of the Day * Topic: Unknowingly Trying? * Of Interest * The Numbers Quotes of the Day “That’s the beauty of copyright. It’s divisible. … Authors will be well served to think about protecting the rights in their characters when signing publishing contracts and licensing agreements.” IP Attorney Kathryn Goldman “The two books stalled and stalled and stalled. Each time I thought I had found a way to tell the story that I wanted to tell, I would hit another wall—or the same wall. And usually, that was because I was unknowingly trying to do … Read more