In today’s Journal
* A Gap-Filling Diary of Days
* Topic: Feedback
* Today
* Of Interest
* The Numbers
A Gap-Filling Diary of Days
I thought it might be useful to make notes on these few days when I’m not publishing the Journal
January 2 — Got a lot done in moving offices in preparation for transitioning StoneThread Publishing to a licensing company. And wow, am I ever excited! As always, tasks that are necessary but peripheral to the actual writing fill me with a strong desire to get back to the basics:
* Learn more (learning the craft is ongoing)
* Write more (telling more stories is both my job and my joy)
* Publish on a regular schedule
If you do those three things, you will be successful.
I’m also thinking more about StoneThread Publishing and the future, both near-term and farther out. (This is in addition to my writing goals because everything else is based on production).
My wife’s transition from working away from home to taking over as the publisher and business manager of StoneThread is drawing nearer. From there, the sky’s virtually the limit.
January 3 — In addition to finishing moving the offices, I’m expecting a visit from one of my sons and his family. So probably no fiction writing again today. However, I’m planning for that too. I’d like to be more than 3000 words farther along on the WIP before Sunday morning dawns when my short story challenge begins.
A Very Brief Topic on Feedback
A couple days ago I had a question from a writer. I’m paraphrasing here:
On reading reviews: “You and Dean have mentioned that you got better over time. How do you know you got better? How I can get better if I don’t know where my weaknesses are?”
My initial response was, “Let me ask you a question: What weaknesses? You’re just writing a story, and you’re the worst judge of your own work. We all are. Do the best you can at the moment, then publish it. I had one story (“Old Suits”) that I thought was pure crap. I thought it had a lot of weakenesses. But I published it anyway. A few days later, I heard from a reader that it was one of the best short stories she’d ever read. She even compared it with Hemingway. As you continue to learn between stories and then apply what you learn as you write, your storytelling will improve.”
I thought that was pretty good advice, but in another venue, Dean addressed the topic of writers needing feedback:
“You are a writer, a storyteller. You get your feedback from accomplishing and telling a story, doing the best job you can, [and] continuing to learn. Getting it out on the market IS your feedback.”
So plan. Publish something regularly (once a month, every two months, etc.) and let that sense of accomplishment, that you have succeeded at what’s within your control, be your feedback. Your mindset should be, “I’m learning and writing and publishing; therefore I’m improving.”
In other words, don’t base your self-worth as a writer on what other people do (buy or not buy your books) or think (reviews). All of that is out of your control. Keep everything within your control: learning, writing, improving, publishing, doing covers, etc.
Well, look at that. Today is still January 3, and I did get some writing done as it turned out, though I ran a little short on time. See Day 3 below.
I spent part of the day today browsing Dave Farland’s website. I applied and was invited to join his Apex group, which I later declined after browsing his site.
That being said, I suspect the Apex group (I mentioned it here in “Of Interest” on December 31) might be a really great value if you’re a young writer just starting out. I say that in all seriousness, especially if you still buy into some of the myths of writing or feel that outlining, revising, etc. is a better way for you. If that’s the case, I recommend you check it out.
If you are beyond the myths, and especially if you believe in the sanctity of Heinlein’s Rules (as written) and practice writing into the dark, I doubt Farland’s group will do much for you. But look for yourself (click the link above). Seriously.
Talk with you again soon.
Of Interest
See “The Opening Promise” at https://mystorydoctor.com/the-opening-promise/.
See “Beset by Genre Identity?” at https://prowriterswriting.com/beset-by-genre-identity/.
The Numbers
Fiction words (see specific numbers below)
Nonfiction words today…………… 730 (Journal)
Writing of The Cazadores Lounge and Lonely Place (novel, formerly Nagiditch)
Day 1…… 3044 words. Total words to date…… 3044
Day 2…… 3189 words. Total words to date…… 6233
Day 3…… 2145 words. Total words to date…… 8378
Total fiction words for the month……… 5334
Total fiction words for the year………… 5334
Total nonfiction words for the month… 3430
Total nonfiction words for the year…… 3430
Total words for the year (fiction and this blog)…… 8764
Calendar Year 2020 Novels to Date…………………… X
Calendar Year 2020 Novellas to Date……………… X
Calendar Year 2020 Short Stories to Date… X
Novels (since Oct 19, 2014)…………………………………… 45
Novellas (since Nov 1, 2015)………………………………… 8
Short stories (since Apr 15, 2014)………………… 197
Short story collections……………………………………………… 31