In today’s Journal
* Quotes of the Day
* Today Is Election Day
* Another great day of writing
* Of Interest
* The Numbers
Quotes of the Day
“The cat sat on the mat is not the opening of a plot. The cat sat on the dog’s mat is.” John LeCarre
“The thing I like best about being a writer is the escape it provides.” Yer Uncle Harv
Today is election day. I know, old news. But if you live in the United States, this is probably the most important election day of your life.
Today the citizenry and the electoral college will determine the future direction of our nation: either to remain a constitutional democratic-republic or to move farther and faster toward socialism. It really is all up to you.
As a Marine, my job was (and is) to support and defend the constitution, which in part guarantees your right to vote. As a citizen of this nation, my privelege and responsibility is to exercise that right.
As soon as my local polling place opens, I’ll go cast my vote.
Note that this is not a political post. I’m not suggesting how you should vote. That’s none of my business. But if you haven’t exercised your right and responsibility to vote, I strongly urge you to do so. Please.
Yesterday was another great day of writing. The novel is running, so I expect the same today.
Others will spend the day watching election returns. I’ll check in from time to time, but with votes cast, I also know it’s out of my hands so I don’t plan to agonize over it. I plan to write. We’ll see.
The thing I like best about being a writer is the escape it provides.
Talk with you later.
Of Interest
See “Location and Dialog as Character Description” at https://fourknightspress.com/f/location-and-dialog-as-character-description. Nailed it.
See “The Dos and Don’ts Of A Great First Chapter” at https://killzoneblog.com/2020/11/the-dos-and-dontsof-a-great-first-chapter.html. Just so you know, I’m not advocating that you rewrite. Some of the rest of the post is pretty good. Take the “Don’ts” with a tablespoon of salt.
See “Vintage Death Rites That Seem Creepy Today” at https://www.suecoletta.com/vintage-death-rites-that-seem-creepy-today/.
See “Branding 101” at https://www.thepassivevoice.com/branding-101/. See PG’s take.
See “21 Themed Calls for Submissions” at https://www.authorspublish.com/21-themed-submissions-calls-for-writers/.
See “1872 Monument” at https://www.atlasobscura.com/places/1872-monument. Seemed appropriate.
The Numbers
The Journal…………………………………… 380 words
Writing of The Ark (novel)
Day 1…… 3196 words. Total words to date…… 3196
Day 2…… 1441 words. Total words to date…… 4637
Day 3…… 3284 words. Total words to date…… 7921
Day 4…… 1606 words. Total words to date…… 9527
Day 5…… 2881 words. Total words to date…… 12408
Day 6…… 2819 words. Total words to date…… 15227
Day 7…… 4828 words. Total words to date…… 20055
Day 8…… 3614 words. Total words to date…… 23669
Day 9…… 3465 words. Total words to date…… 27134
Day 10… 4361 words. Total words to date…… 31495
Total fiction words for November……… 7826
Total fiction words for the year………… 371104
Total nonfiction words for November… 1730
Total nonfiction words for the year…… 167570
Total words for the year (fiction and this blog)…… 538674
Calendar Year 2020 Novels to Date…………………… 5
Calendar Year 2020 Novellas to Date……………… X
Calendar Year 2020 Short Stories to Date… 13
Novels (since Oct 19, 2014)…………………………………… 50
Novellas (since Nov 1, 2015)………………………………… 8
Short stories (since Apr 15, 2014)………………… 214
Short story collections……………………………………………… 31