In today’s Journal
* Quote of the Day
* An Intensive Learning Month
* Book Covers
* Of Interest
* The Numbers
Quote of the Day
“In 1792, while Gustav III was attending a masquerade ball, he was shot and killed by someone who didn’t like him.” PG
Well, it looks as if October 2020 will be my intensive learning month. (grin)
The instructor of the Affinity Publisher for Beginners course also offers a couple of FREE courses on Affinity Photo. I’ve already signed up. To read about those, see
* 10 Steps to Amazing Photos at https://courses.affinityrevolution.com/p/10-steps-to-amazing-photos. This will also provide an intro to the instructor of the Affinity Publisher for Beginners course I mentioned in previous posts.
* Magically Remove Shadows at https://courses.affinityrevolution.com/p/magically-remove-shadows-in-affinity-photo
There’s also a full Affinity Photo for Beginners course (different instructor) available for only $25 at https://courses.affinityrevolution.com/p/affinity-photo-for-beginners. (I’ve signed up and am taking this one next.)
The same instructors also offer a course for Affinity Designer. If that’s your interest, you can read about it at https://courses.affinityrevolution.com/p/affinity-designer-for-beginners. Just sayin’.
A regular reader of the Journal and long-time friend emailed to ask me to create a cover for his upcoming release.
I know what I’m doing with cover design and I enjoy the alternative creative outlet, so that part isn’t a problem. But I have so many other irons in the fire — learning two new major programs, organizing and evaluating my IP, the secret major project I’ve mentioned here recently, and eventually getting back to actually writing — that I almost refused the job outright. Primarily because although I used to create covers for others with some regularity, I don’t do that anymore.
I also used to design websites for others, but I definitely don’t do that anymore.
However, because I designed the cover for my friend’s first novel (and I know a LOT more now than I did then), and because of that friendship, and because he plans to toss me roughly half a boatload of money for the finished product, I decided to make an exception. Or at least give it a shot.
So I’ll add that to the list.
One caveat — It’s all practice, so I’m being “paid” in that way if no other. So if my friend isn’t pleased with the process at any point before I’m finished and changes his mind, I’ll either prorate the fee or I won’t charge a fee at all.
Because that’s how businesses should be run.
So if anyone else out there would like me to design a book cover for them (full spread paper and ebook covers), email me at harveystanbrough@gmail.com. You should know up front I’ll want to read your story or novel first, so be prepared to send it.
Talk with you later.
Of Interest
See “How to design book covers for any genre ” at https://99designs.com/blog/tips/book-cover-design-by-genre/. Even though I’ve been designing book covers for years, I bookmarked this one and will be referring back to it from time to time.
See “Listening to Your Inner Voice” at https://killzoneblog.com/2020/10/listening-to-your-inner-voice.html.
For some fun, see “Is American Fiction Too Provincial?” at https://www.thepassivevoice.com/is-american-fiction-too-provincial/. See PG’s tongue-in-cheek take. He was on his stride.
The Numbers
The Journal…………………………………… 520 words
Writing of “Turnaround” (short story, probably)
Day 1…… 1092 words. Total words to date…… 1092
Day 2…… 1287 words. Total words to date…… 2379
Day 3…… XXXX words. Total words to date…… XXXX
Total fiction words for the month……… 1287
Total fiction words for the year………… 336481
Total nonfiction words for the month… 7900
Total nonfiction words for the year…… 158290
Total words for the year (fiction and this blog)…… 494771
Calendar Year 2020 Novels to Date…………………… 5
Calendar Year 2020 Novellas to Date……………… X
Calendar Year 2020 Short Stories to Date… 12
Novels (since Oct 19, 2014)…………………………………… 50
Novellas (since Nov 1, 2015)………………………………… 8
Short stories (since Apr 15, 2014)………………… 213
Short story collections……………………………………………… 31