In today’s Journal
* Final day to get
* As I browse the internet
* Yesterday
* Today
* Of Interest
* The Numbers
Final day to get ANYTHING on WMG Publishing’s (Dean Wesley Smith’s) Teachable account at 50% off. The sale closes at 5 p.m. today.
For my money, there is no better, more knowledgeable, or more honest writing instructor than Dean Wesley Smith. Some have said I clarify things that Dean muddles. That’s simply because different instructors can get through in different ways to different students.
But if it weren’t for Dean, I literally wouldn’t be where I am today. I probably wouldn’t even be writing fiction, much less writing this Journal or mentoring others.
If you haven’t looked at the WMG Publishing offering yet, I strongly recommend you do. Visit https://wmg-publishing-workshops-and-lectures.teachable.com/ and browse all the stuff there, then make your selection and use code SpringTraining2020 at checkout.
As I browse the internet each day looking for items for “Of Interest,” I am shocked and dismayed (and confused, frankly), that I constantly find writers bemoaning the fact that they’re “suffering” under “stay at home [um, and write?]” orders. Seriously? I swear, if I hear one more writer gripe about having to stay at home, I’m pretty sure my head will explode.
Yes, I am personally annoyed that there’s no place to go if I DO choose to go somewhere, but to continually gripe about suddenly being gifted with Time, the most precious commodity any of us have, is just insane. But then, like so many other things, maybe that’s just me.
Yesterday. Sigh. Nothing is truly plug ‘n play.
The new computer came with the free WPS Writer installed. What I wrote on Wednesday on the novel was on WPS Writer. I liked the program, and I had high hopes. I should’ve known better. You get what you pay for.
When I transferred the novel file back to the other computer, all the formatting was screwed up, and the free version of WPS Writer doesn’t offer a paragraph formatting tool. (And I don’t know whether the paid version does.) So I finally broke down and installed Office 365 on my writing ‘puter.
Then, of course, I had to set up Word all over again. The whole process, from downloading Office to setting it up so it was minimally useful, sucked away three and a half hours of my time. I started right after I posted yesterday’s Journal at around 5:30 a.m. and finally finished (I hoped) at 9 a.m.
But at least now I can write on the novel in a document that looks at least resonably like the original. We’ll see. Now for a short break, then to the novel to see what I can accomplish today.
So yesterday, I ended up writing just over 3000 words (see Day 5 below).
Today, now that this edition of the Journal is in the electronic pipeline, I’ll write some more. Now that my office and my Office are in place, I expect this will be my first big day in a while.
Talk with you again soon.
Of Interest
See “A Guest Blog from Stephen King—Yes, that Stephen King” at https://jerryjenkins.com/stephen-king-writing-advice/.
See “Instead of Setting a Goal, Try a Writing Dare” at https://www.janefriedman.com/stop-setting-goals-dare-to-make-the-most-of-your-writing-time/.
See “The Importance of Research: Post-Mortem Publishing Rights” at https://www.authorspublish.com/the-importance-of-research-post-mortem-publishing-rights/.
See “Bookshop, Hummingbird Sales Skyrocket” at https://www.thepassivevoice.com/bookshop-hummingbird-sales-skyrocket/.
See “Sell e-books and audiobooks from your own storefront!” at https://hummingbirddm.com/. Something I’m looking into, especially after reading the previous article. Be Sure to read the terms of service, etc!
See Sam Turner’s “See “Memoirs—Why Write a Memoir?” at https://prowriterswriting.com/memoirs-why-write-a-memoir.
The Numbers
Fiction words yesterday…………………… 3241
Nonfiction words today…………… 580 (Journal)
Writing of For the Good of the Galaxy (novel)
Day 1…… 2645 words. Total words to date…… 2645
Day 2…… 2573 words. Total words to date…… 5218
Day 3…… 3604 words. Total words to date…… 8822
Day 4…… 2958 words. Total words to date…… 11780
Day 5…… 3241 words. Total words to date…… 15021
Total fiction words for the month……… 15021
Total fiction words for the year………… 223003
Total nonfiction words for the month… 8980
Total nonfiction words for the year…… 90130
Total words for the year (fiction and this blog)…… 313133
Calendar Year 2020 Novels to Date…………………… 3
Calendar Year 2020 Novellas to Date……………… X
Calendar Year 2020 Short Stories to Date… 12
Novels (since Oct 19, 2014)…………………………………… 48
Novellas (since Nov 1, 2015)………………………………… 8
Short stories (since Apr 15, 2014)………………… 208
Short story collections……………………………………………… 31