The Journal, Friday, June 29

Hey Folks,

Only two days left before my new daily word count goal officially begins, today and tomorrow. I’m not even going to begin the “streak” portion of it until after I have the minor surgery to replace my pacemaker.

Until then, the plan is to write as much as I can, tempered by the copyedit I’m currently doing. If you couldn’t tell, I’m excited about this. (grin)

Meeting the new daily goal will be difficult while I have other professional things to do. So it’s exciting in that way.

And when I don’t have other professional things going on, it still won’t be “easy” (life things continue) but I expect to exceed the goal every day on those days. So that makes that part exciting too. Something I can look forward to.

Finally, as a result of my “free book in exchange for honest reviews” promo (which is still going on, hint hint), one reader compared the main character in Jobs Like That (Nick Spalding) with Jack Reacher and with Gabriel Allons, the main protagonist in Daniel Silva’s thriller and espionage series.

I have to say that made me feel pretty good. (grin)

And TWO reviewers called for a series with that character, which I’d already considered doing. In fact, after I’ve finished the current WIP, I might set a second one aside and continue the story of Nick Spalding.

If anyone else out there wants to review any of my books, email me at harveystanbrough@gmail.com and tell me which title(s) you’d like. I’ll send a URL and a coupon code straight away.

Now to the edit for a little while, then out for a walk, then to the writing, then back to the edit. At least I think that’s how the day’s going to go. (grin)

***

Well, plans change. At least immediate plans. Turns out today’s gonna be a non-writing day.

A few days ago the landlord brought electricity to the Hovel, with another line going to my camping trailer (spare bedroom for guests). He also ran a water line to the trailer.

And today he’s putting in a waterline to the Hovel so I can use my portable swamp cooler out there.

So this morning I moved my small spare desk out to the Hovel and folded up the old antique card table I’d been using as a desk out there. Then I went outside and did some shovel work with him.

That ate up about three hours of the day. Then the ice maker in my fridge is on the blink too, so I’m gonna spend some time messing with that to see whether I can get it to work again.

About halfway through the shovel work, I decided I’ll take care of all that sort of stuff today in lieu of writing. And when I’m not working on that stuff today, I’ll edit.

See you soon. ​

Of Interest

See “Harlan Has Left The Building” at https://www.deanwesleysmith.com/harlan-has-left-the-building/. There will be other tributes out there, but this will probably be the best one.

In case anyone missed it in yesterday’s Journal, please see “A Great Take On Writing Into The Dark” at https://www.deanwesleysmith.com/a-great-take-on-writing-into-the-dark/.

Or just go watch the Michael La Ronn video at https://youtu.be/w33JlZsVJYI.

See “Business Musings: Outside The Box” at https://kriswrites.com/2018/06/27/business-musings-out-of-the-box/.

Fiction Words: XXXX
Nonfiction Words: 540 (Journal)
So total words for the day: 540

Writing of Stern Talbot, PI: The Case of the Burned-Out Building

Day 1…… 1926 words. Total words to date…… 1926
Day 2…… 2884 words. Total words to date…… 4810
Day 3…… 1874 words. Total words to date…… 6684
Day 4…… 1716 words. Total words to date…… 8500
Day 5…… 2107 words. Total words to date…… 10607
Day 6…… 2105 words. Total words to date…… 12712
Day 7…… XXXX words. Total words to date…… XXXXX

Total fiction words for the month……… 25761
Total fiction words for the year………… 232725
Total nonfiction words for the month… 15496
Total nonfiction words for the year…… 79006
Total words for the year (fiction and this blog)…… 311461

Calendar Year 2018 Novels to Date………………………… 5
Calenday Year 2018 Novellas to Date…………………… 1
Calendar Year 2018 Short Stories to Date……… 11
Novels (since Oct 19, 2014)………………………………………… 31
Novellas (since Nov 1, 2015)……………………………………… 5
Short stories (since Apr 15, 2014)………………………… 193