In today’s Journal
* Quote of the Day
* I’m time-limited today, but in a good way
* Today
* Of Interest
* The Numbers
Quote of the Day
“This is what Stephen King would write like if Stephen King could really write.” A review from an anonymous (and clueless) reviewer of a Richard Bachman novel
Not a lot to write about today, or much time. I started the day with a session with a new mentoring student, one I think I’m going to enjoy a great deal.
The guy seems honest to a fault and forthright and one who reads what’s there. I like that. It’s refreshing. I love exchanging information and even sparring with a respectful, honest opponent or partner.
I’m not tentative about sharing what I know with him, not frightened he might take my response in a direction I didn’t intend. He isn’t afraid to ask hard questions, or to ask them again if my explanation misses the mark of his intent.
I appreciate that kind of honesty and trust. And that’s what it is. I trust him to ask what he wants to ask and tell me if my response doesn’t cause a little light to turn on. And he trusts me to keep trying until it does.
This is exactly why I offered a free week of mentoring awhile back. For the sheer exhiliration of teaching and watching someone learn and for learning myself. For the sheer sake of an honest exchange of knowledge and ideas.
Later this morning I’ll have to break away from my routine to meet with another mentoring student, one who lives close enough so we can meet every few weeks.
I enjoy that too. It’s great to be around another writer who’s serious about her work, who is always moving forward and striving to learn new things while simultaneously teaching me (she doesn’t even know).
And I’ve been wrestling with myself lately. The knowledge I’ve gleaned over the years is worth something. It has monetary value.
On the other hand, it’s important that I pay it forward, sharing my knowledge gratis. And it’s important to me that I share my knowledge in a one-on-one or one-on-a-few basis, not only “in general” in my Journal or other venues.
I’ve also thoroughly enjoyed mentoring four avid, eager students on my process: Writing Into the Dark. But Process is different than Technique. Process is how you get there. Technique is what you do when you get there.
So now, I’m thinking about making the same or a similar offer of free limited mentoring on what I see as the more important specific writing techniques.
If this is something that interests you, please email me at harveystanbrough@gmail.com. Be sure to include some background (who you are in your life [age, gender, children, general schedule, etc.]) and of course which technique you would like to learn.
If enough writers are interested and want to learn, I’ll set things up and we’ll do it. Again, this will be free.
Consider, you have nothing to lose but a little time and some possibly bad habits, and you have everything to gain.
Today, I finally turned to the novel at 7 after grabbing a quick breakfast, etc. My intention is to write on the novel until I have to break away to go meet my student (so around 9). Today’s numbers below reflect what I got done. If I write more later today, that will carry over into tomorrow’s numbers. They all end up in the same place. (grin)
I added almost two full chapters in a little over 2300 words in an hour and forty minutes (all written into the dark, and all absolutely squeaky clean), then came here to file this. More than likely I’ll add to the story after I get back. I hope you’re having a successful writing day too.
Talk with you again soon.
Of Interest
See “New Pop-Up Coming” at https://www.deanwesleysmith.com/new-pop-up-coming/.
See “Gotta Have Thick Skin” at https://killzoneblog.com/2020/03/gotta-have-thick-skin.html. FWIW.
See “To Self-Publish or Not to Self-Publish: That is the Question” at https://www.thepassivevoice.com/to-self-publish-or-not-to-self-publish-that-is-the-question/.
See “I Wore the Juice” at https://www.thepassivevoice.com/i-wore-the-juice/.
See “Can studying books that don’t quite work make you a better writer?” at https://prowriterswriting.com/can-studying-books-that-dont-quite-work-make-you-a-better-writer/.
See “Writing Confidently In A Genre With Perceived Stigma” at https://www.thecreativepenn.com/2020/03/11/writing-confidently-in-a-genre-with-stigma/. FWIW.
See “An Ax Murder and Q-Tips: A True Story From My Files” at https://leelofland.com/an-ax-murder-and-q-tips-a-true-story-from-my-files/. FWIW.
See “Self-Control Is Just Empathy With Your Future Self” at https://getpocket.com/explore/item/self-control-is-just-empathy-with-your-future-self. Possible story ideas.
See “Known Alias: How Stephen King Was Outed as Richard Bachman” at https://getpocket.com/explore/item/known-alias-how-stephen-king-was-outed-as-richard-bachman.
The Numbers
Fiction words today…………………… 2365
Nonfiction words today…………… 750 (Journal)
Writing of The Othgygnrkthers (tentative title, novel)
Day 1…… 3863 words. Total words to date…… 3863
Day 2…… 2408 words. Total words to date…… 6261
Day 3…… 3116 words. Total words to date…… 9377
Day 4…… 3051 words. Total words to date…… 12428
Day 5…… 3285 words. Total words to date…… 15713
Day 6…… 2486 words. Total words to date…… 18199
Day 7…… 2365 words. Total words to date…… 20564
Total fiction words for the month……… 26504
Total fiction words for the year………… 163199
Total nonfiction words for the month… 12080
Total nonfiction words for the year…… 66560
Total words for the year (fiction and this blog)…… 229759
Calendar Year 2020 Novels to Date…………………… 3
Calendar Year 2020 Novellas to Date……………… X
Calendar Year 2020 Short Stories to Date… 6
Novels (since Oct 19, 2014)…………………………………… 48
Novellas (since Nov 1, 2015)………………………………… 8
Short stories (since Apr 15, 2014)………………… 202
Short story collections……………………………………………… 31