In today’s Journal
* Quotes of the Day
* Over on Pro Writers Writing
* Wanting to share, Subscriber Finn wrote
* Had a very enjoyable visit
* Topic: I Don’t Mean to Sound Harsh But
* Today
* Of Interest
* The Numbers
Quotes of the Day
“I think it actually helps with the creativity to know that I don’t have time to think. Whatever comes out, that’s it. And that tends to be some of the best stuff and some of the most authentic stuff.” Sean Petrie of the Typewriter Rodeo
“[Rewriting is] a belief in process rather than performance. The writing process is essential — writers write — but we get into trouble when the process rather than the finished work becomes the goal.” Dan Baldwin
Over on Pro Writers Writing, there’s been a change. Our former regular contributor, Michaele, has encountered some medical problems and had to back away from posting every Saturday to posting only on the last Saturday of the month.
I looked around for awhile, trying to find someone who would fill in one or two or three Saturdays per month, but frankly it was like pulling teeth.
Then I realized bringing in guest contributors would only create more work for me. I would have to receive the posts, read them to be sure they suited PWW, put them into the proper format, then schedule them. Uh, no.
It’s much less work for me to just take over the Saturday postings myself (except the last Saturday of each month), so that’s what I’m doing.
In my next post there (February 1) I mentioned my interview on Ryan J. Pelton’s podcast, The Prolific Writer. I was even able to reconstruct the part that was cut off from the end of the interview. I’ll mention that post here again just before it goes live over at PWW in case you’re interested.
Wanting to share, Subscriber Finn wrote
I stumbled upon a nice writing tool. Its name is “Cold Turkey Writer” and it lets you do lilterally nothing on the computer until you complete your writing goal. The goal can either be set as a word count or as a timeframe. Maybe it’s worth a mention in your journal. Ah, and it’s free. Here is the link: https://getcoldturkey.com/writer/.
If you have impulse control issues when it comes to the internet, games, etc. this might be your answer. (grin)
Had a very enjoyable visit with my son, daughter-in-law and two beautiful granddaughters yesterday. It’s a special thing for an old man to see his children, granchildren (and great-grandchildren occasionally as a kind of quiet reassurance that the line will continue. I am truly blessed.
Topic: I Don’t Mean to Sound Harsh But
It’s easy for me to tell when writers are mired in denial that their critical mind is stopping them from writing. How?
Usually by how vehemently those writers excuse themselves from writing. And how strongly they cast about for ways to justify NOT writing. Seriously, it really is that transparent.
You are in charge of your own life, and frankly, nobody else notices, much less cares.
If there are other things you need to do, do them. But if you’re a writer, then writing is also a thing you need to do.
So if you really want to write fiction, maybe have a look at your priorities. And if you don’t, well, don’t. Chances are, even your nearest and dearest friends won’t notice.
Just sayin’.
Today I had planned to write a short story. My reasoning was, it’s early in the week, so well in advance of my Saturday midnight deadline. And if I put the next one off until next Friday or Saturday, that will increase the “straight time” I have to work on my next novel.
But I decided to take the day off instead. (grin)
I’ve also readjusted my short fiction goal re publishing. Not all of my short stories fit traditional magazine markets that pay pro rates ($0.05 per word or higher), so I’ll be selective. I won’t submit a story that isn’t SF to Asimov’s, for example, or a story that isn’t a mystery to Ellery Queen.
That probably sounds like a “well, duh” moment to many of you, but when I started my goals a short time ago, I had decided to send ALL of my short stories to my business manager, then have her submit them to whatever market. And that would be in keeping with my mindset: I’m a writer. I write. When I finish something, I just want it off my desk so I can move on to the next thing.
But that isn’t realistic. Hence, the adjustment. Now I’ll send to her anything I think will fit any of the markets she’s currently researching for me. And those that don’t fit, I’ll indie publish directly and move on. Writing is the thing.
No business can survive without a production department. That would be me. Starting tomorrow.
Talk with you again soon.
Of Interest
See “Let Your Characters Engage with Fans Online” at https://www.thebookdesigner.com/2020/01/let-your-characters-engage-with-fans-online/.
For something different, see “Typewriter Rodeo” at https://typewriterrodeo.com/category/about/. I recommend watching the video on this page. (Thanks, Gary V. Rober S. and Nan D., I’m lookin’ at you.) (grin)
See “The Religion of the Holy Rewrite” at https://danbaldwin.com/f/the-religion-of-the-holy-rewrite.
See “Farewell to Ideas” at https://prowriterswriting.com/farewell-to-ideas/.
See “55 Children’s Book Publishers Seeking Submissions (No Agent Required)” at https://www.authorspublish.com/55-childrens-book-publishers-seeking-submissions/.
The Numbers
Fiction words today…………………… XXXX
Nonfiction words today…………… 890 (Journal)
Writing of (novel)
Day 1…… XXXX words. Total words to date…… XXXXX
Total fiction words for the month……… 48392
Total fiction words for the year………… 48392
Total nonfiction words for the month… 20530
Total nonfiction words for the year…… 20530
Total words for the year (fiction and this blog)…… 68912
Calendar Year 2020 Novels to Date…………………… 1
Calendar Year 2020 Novellas to Date……………… X
Calendar Year 2020 Short Stories to Date… 2
Novels (since Oct 19, 2014)…………………………………… 46
Novellas (since Nov 1, 2015)………………………………… 8
Short stories (since Apr 15, 2014)………………… 199
Short story collections……………………………………………… 31