In today’s Journal
* Quotes of the Day
* I started writing
* Decisions, decisions…
* The Numbers
Quotes of the Day
“Traditional publishing and selling physical books are, in the 21st century, narrow-margin operations without a lot of room for error or financial difficulties.” The Passive Guy
“[E]ven fools can often recognize a death spiral.” The Passive Guy, talking about the book business, but easily relatable to other endeavors as well
“Leonard, we know you’re great, we just don’t know if you’re any good.” CBS Records President and CEO Walter Yetnikoff to Leonard Cohen, as reported by Joe Hartlaub in TKZ
Well, I started writing the new novel, the one I thought I would write “around” the short story that would comprise a scene somewhere in the middle.
I was excited about it, and it was going well, but—I killed it. The short story worked very well, but I remembered how difficult it was to write Book 3 of the Wes Crowley series “to” Book 4, which was already written. I don’t want to go down that path again.
Anyway, I wrote the 2064 words, so I’ll count them in my monthly and annual totals below, but if I ever finish the story, at least as a novel, it won’t be anytime soon. More than likely I’ll write a series of short stories in the same vein and combine them in a collection sometime in the future.
This is not a big deal. As I wrote yesterday, “further stories in the FOH series will be there, waiting.” I’ll begin writing those again today.
Because I’m far too candid for my own good, I wanted to let you know I’m still assessing the actual worth of the Journal against my health and the time required to put the Journal together almost every day. (Please, no comments either here or via email. I won’t respond.)
As I see it, I have three options: continuing as-is but on a more relaxed schedule, going to a membership model, or shutting down entirely.
For the time being, of course, the Journal will continue as-is, albeit probably on a more relaxed schedule.
If I move the Journal to a membership model, only members will continue to receive every edition of the Journal as well as other rewards. Donors at any level, my first readers, and a few others will be grandfathered in.
And if I choose the last option, well, then that will be that. I will, of course, discontinue the few automatic donations I receive each month. (Again, please, no comments. Thank you.)
Talk with you again soon.
Of Interest
See “Nil by Mouth” at https://www.thepassivevoice.com/nil-by-mouth/. Not about writing, but beautifully written.
See “Prison Cooking: Cake in the Crotch – A Dessert to Die For!” at https://leelofland.com/prison-cooking-cake-in-the-crotch-a-dessert-to-die-for-2/.
See “BookExpo, Bookstores, and Libraries” at https://www.thepassivevoice.com/bookexpo-bookstores-and-libraries/. Be sure to see PG’s take.
See “Creating Rooting Interest Early” at https://mystorydoctor.com/creating-rooting-interest-early/.
See “Fridays…” at https://www.deanwesleysmith.com/fridays/. Not about writing, but interesting especially if you like marbles.
See “We Know You’re Great…” at https://killzoneblog.com/2021/01/we-know-youre-great.html.
The Numbers
The Journal…………………………………… 600 words
Writing of The Journey Home: Part 6 (novel)
Day 1…… 1628 words. Total words to date…… 1628
Writing of The Vignette Novel (tentative title)
Day 1…… 2064 words. Total words to date…… 2064 (killed)
Total fiction words for January……… 64731
Total fiction words for the year………… 64731
Total nonfiction words for December… 16780
Total nonfiction words for the year…… 16780
Total words for the year (fiction and this blog)…… 81511
Calendar Year 2021 Novels to Date…………………… 1
Calendar Year 2021 Novellas to Date……………… X
Calendar Year 2021 Short Stories to Date… 1
Novels (since Oct 19, 2014)…………………………………… 55
Novellas (since Nov 1, 2015)………………………………… 8
Short stories (since Apr 15, 2014)………………… 215
Short story collections……………………………………………… 31