Hey Folks,
Probably my best day of writing fiction ever. (grin)
Today we have an absolute must-read as the first item in “Of Interest.” Read it a few times, even. Be sure you understand it. Especially you younger writers who have the potential for a long-term (20+ years).
Plus there’s a lot more in “Of Interest” and a short topic today. Today is a built-in short day for me (ends around noon) so I’m in the Hovel early today.
Topic: Writing in Challenges and What’s Truly “Special”
Be sure to see Dean’s new challenge (the second item in “Of Interest”). Absolutely excellent.
My own current challenge to write 10 novels in 150 days ends (at the latest) on June 4. Dean’s first challenge (or the first third of his overall challenge) ends on June 14.
That’s close enough. I might jump into the second part of his challenge with him. And who knows? Maybe even the third. (grin)
I’d love to see some of you jump into this too. But caution:
If you’re an outliner or one who feels you “must” rewrite, etc. don’t even try this. If you want to try this, there are only two requirements, but those are essential:
1. To complete a challenge like this, you have to be confident that your stories are good.
The 20/60/20 rule applies: 20% of readers will flat love your novel; 60% will like it; and 20% will not like it. Nature of the beast and reader taste.
2. You have to release the desire for perfection. It doesn’t exist in writing.
You have to be confident that you’ve written your best story at your current level in one clean pass, and that you haven’t placed any special significance on the story itself.
THAT you write is special. After all, it’s your chosen profession (or hobby). But WHAT you write is not special, nor is it for you to judge. (See the 20/60/20 rule above.)
Individual stories (short and novels) are not special gems. They’re simply your product. They’re what you turn out as a result of what you do. (Again, see the 20/60/20 rule above.)
For more on this, and another take, see Dean Wesley Smith’s “Special Stories” at https://www.deanwesleysmith.com/special-stories/. Be sure to read the comments too.
Good luck!
***
Rolled out a little before 2, in the Hovel a little after. To get my fingers working, I checked for items for “Of Interest” and wrote the stuff above.
Now to the novel at 3:30. By 4:20, I had around 900 words and took a break up at the house.
Back to the novel at 4:45 for another session and another 1000 words, then to the house around 6 for a slightly longer break.
Back to the Hovel at 7, got tied up chasing more “Of Interest” items, and returned to the novel at 7:30. After that, I wrote off and on, folded laundry and put it away, wrote some more.
Okay, a GREAT day today. (grin) What a way to end the month!
Talk with you again tomorrow.
Of Interest
See “Business Musings: The Growing Importance of Intellectual Property (Planning For 2019 Part 6)” at https://kriswrites.com/2019/01/30/business-musings-the-growing-importance-of-intellectual-property-planning-for-2019-part-6/.
See “Making a Challenge Sane (Sort of)” at https://www.deanwesleysmith.com/making-a-challenge-sane-sort-of/.
See “Cover Mockups – No Hassle and No Cost” at
https://terryodell.com/cover-mockups-no-hassle-and-no-cost/.
See “Meet Your 2019 MurderCon Instructors!” at https://www.leelofland.com/meet-your-2019-murdercon-instructors/.
See “9 Common Types of Fantasy Characters (With Examples)” at https://blog.reedsy.com/fantasy-characters/.
See “What is Urban Fantasy? A Guide for Readers and Writers” at https://blog.reedsy.com/what-is-urban-fantasy/.
See “How to Start a Publishing Company in 2019” at https://blog.reedsy.com/how-to-start-a-publishing-company/.
You can also download my free “Quick Guide to Self-Publishing & FAQs” by clicking http://harveystanbrough.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/03/Quick-Guide-to-Self-Publishing-FAQs.pdf.
You can also download my free “A Fact Sheet Toward Efficiency in Epublishing” by clicking http://harveystanbrough.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/03/A-Fact-Sheet-Toward-Efficiency-in-Epublishing.pdf.
Fiction Words: 6304
Nonfiction Words: 590 (Journal)
So total words for the day: 6894
Writing of Blackwell Ops: Charles Claymore Task (novel)
Day 10… 3860 words. Total words to date…… 29117
Day 11… 4218 words. Total words to date…… 33335
Day 12… 1660 words. Total words to date…… 34995
Day 13… 4117 words. Total words to date…… 39112
Day 14… 6304 words. Total words to date…… 45416
Total fiction words for the month……… 83403
Total fiction words for the year………… 83403
Total nonfiction words for the month… 25410
Total nonfiction words for the year…… 25410
Total words for the year (fiction and this blog)…… 108813
Calendar Year 2019 Novels to Date………………………… 1
Calenday Year 2019 Novellas to Date…………………… X
Calendar Year 2019 Short Stories to Date……… X
Novels (since Oct 19, 2014)………………………………………… 38
Novellas (since Nov 1, 2015)……………………………………… 7
Short stories (since Apr 15, 2014)……………………… 193
Short story collections…………………………………………………… 31