In today’s Journal
* Quotes of the Day
* Birthday thoughts
* Thank you
* For those of you interested
* Whale Sharks
* Focusing Down
* Of Interest
* The Numbers
Quotes of the Day
“If you’re only going to mention something once, and it has no other significance to the story, choose one specific detail, and that’s it.” James Scott Bell
“In a way we’re stenographers. The story’s being told to us.” Stephen King
Happy Birthday to my wife. Today she turns 36. No, seriously. 36. Happy birthday, Honey.
Oh, and happy 245th birthday to the USA.
Thank you to all of those who reached out via email or comments to let me know you find the Journal of some value. I very much appreciate it.
Different topic. For those of you interested in “journaling,” see “The Art of Positive Journaling” at https://positive-writer.teachable.com/p/positive-journaling. What’s more, if this interests you, you can get a coupon to enroll in the course FREE (a $350 value) in exchange for buying Bryan Hutchinson’s new book, titled Photographic and Firsthand Paranormal Evidence from Inside the Haunted Forest.
First, you should subscribe to his free blog at positivewriter.com. After you’ve subscribed, email Bryan for further details at bryan.hutchinson@positivewriter.com. Tell him another subscriber sent you, and reference his email to his subscriber base dated July 3, 2021.
In the email, Bryan writes, “Let’s get this straight, for purchasing a Kindle copy of my new book (or paperback) you’ll receive a coupon code for unlimited access to ‘The Art of Positive Journaling” course, and a free digital copy of Writer’s Doubt,’ and all the other bonuses in the bonus section of that course!” (Copied from an email I received as a subscriber to his blog.)
While poking around for items for “Of Interest” I saw an article titled “Why Has No One Seen a Whale Shark Give Birth.” My first thought was, Um, maybe because it’s a freaking WHALE SHARK? Anyway….
There’s a good article on focusing down in “Of Interest” today, though Mr. Bell calls it “getting specific with details.” Same thing.
I only found one thing I disagree with. He quotes another blogger with “[When providing details] You’ve got to consider the knowledge, education and background of the viewpoint character.”
Sort of, but not really. I get what he’s saying: HOW the POV character describes something will depend on his knowledge, education, etc. But what he notices (and therefore describes) depends entirely on what he can see, hear, smell, taste, or feel and the current situation. As Mr. Bell says, “The trick is to slip [the description] in naturally.”
A few days ago I posted a long excerpt from my current novel as an example of taking your time (self-explanatory) and focusing down. But because the post was already very long, I didn’t point out any of the focusing down. If you read it, and if you have any questions, I’d be happy to answer them.
As for taking the time to write the scene, it’s what the characters gave me. Had I written the quick-narrative overview first version, the reader wouldn’t have experienced the actual scene. So that’s the benefit of taking your time.
Talk with you again soon.
Of Interest
See “Day Three” at https://www.deanwesleysmith.com/day-three/.
See “Getting Specific With Details” at https://killzoneblog.com/2021/07/getting-specific-with-details.html. A bit more on focusing down.
See “Why Hardboiled Detective Fiction Remains So Popular” at http://dyingwords.net/why-hardboiled-detective-fiction-remains-so-popular/.
See “Using dialogue and research in writing (a very short video)” at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HpDPPV3AUNQ.
See “Lee Child and Stephen King talk Jack Reacher” at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4PaxX-DTGo0. (Much longer video.)
The Numbers
The Journal…………………………………… 570 words
Writing of WCGN2: The Comancheros (novel)
Day 10… 3220 words. Total words to date…… 28916
Day 11… 4036 words. Total words to date…… 32952
Day 12… 4848 words. Total words to date…… 37800
Total fiction words for July……… 11304
Total fiction words for the year………… 539983
Total nonfiction words for July… 1810
Total nonfiction words for the year…… 127600
Total words for the year (fiction and this blog)…… 667583
Calendar Year 2021 Novels to Date…………………… 10
Calendar Year 2021 Novellas to Date……………… 1
Calendar Year 2021 Short Stories to Date… 3
Novels (since Oct 19, 2014)…………………………………… 63
Novellas (since Nov 1, 2015)………………………………… 8
Short stories (since Apr 15, 2014)………………… 217
Short story collections……………………………………………… 31
Disclaimer: In this blog, I provide advice on writing fiction. I advocate a technique called Writing Into the Dark. To be crystal clear, WITD is not “the only way” to write, nor will I ever say it is. However, as I am the only writer who advocates WITD both publicly and regularly, I will continue to do so, among myriad other topics.