The Journal, Monday, November 12

Hey Folks,

Not a great deal to talk about today. I’m annoyed because my Internet was out for about 4 hours. That happens a lot. Funny, they still charge us for that time.

Makes me glad I’m a writer. I can escape to a world where you actually get the service you pay for, people take responsibility for their own actions, and politicians who lose concede gracefully instead of stamping their feet, holding their breath ’til they turn blue, and bring in dozens of lawyers to find “misplaced” ballots. Sigh.

Topic: To Create A New Text-Only Hyperlink

Recently a friend and client asked me how to create a hyperlink that showed only the title of her book, not the entire hyperlink itself.

This topic consists of the response I sent, just in case it might help some of you. By the way, these instructions are for WordPress websites. Others might vary.

I’ve left her book (and link) as the example. If you enjoy reading about obscure events during World War II, please consider purchasing her book. It’s a first-hand account of life in a Japanese internment camp on the island of Java. You won’t be disappointed.

The hyperlink example is http://www.amazon.com/Rising-Shadow-Sun-Story-Survival/dp/1519299583.

To create the hyperlink so it shows only the title,

1. First type the title (Rising from the Shadow of the Sun) where you want it to appear.

2. Hightlight the title by dragging your cursor over it. When it’s highlighted, go up to the menu and click the hyperlink symbol. It looks like a squashed 8 lying at an angle. Click that.

3. A small dialogue box will open. In the appropriate space on that dialogue box, paste the hyperlink above.

4. Click the little gear symbol on the right end of the dialogue box. A new dialogue box will open. You will see the hyperlink in the top space and the Link Text (your book title) in the next space.

5. Put a check mark in the box beside Open Link in a New Tab.

6. Go to the bottom of the dialogue box and click Update. All done!

When you go back to the page, Rising from the Shadow of the Sun will appear in blue underline and the link will be active. It should look like this: Rising from the Shadow of the Sun.

For those of you who might be interested in more information, Ronny de Jong’s website is http://ronnyhermandejong.com/.
***

To the Hovel very early, around 2. We’ll see how the day goes.

I spent the first almost 2 hours with the Internet, responding to Ronny’s email, writing the stuff above and updating the reverse outline.

To the house a little early at 4:15 to let the pup out of his kennel and get more coffee. Then back to the Hovel by 4:20. Finally to the novel, and I knocked out 1300 words in a little less than an hour. That included cycling through the little I wrote yesterday.

I got up and walked briefly in the Hovel, a few trips back and forth (it’s about 40 feet long), then sat down again. Odd how even a break as short as that is refreshing.

After I get a good start on the novel, I’ll take longer breaks and return to the novel as necessary.

When I get started on the next novel, I’m going to try to develop a new “keep coming back” habit. I’ll try to write up until around 4 p.m. (instead of 2) to maybe squeeze in another session or two. I’d like to get up to writing 6,000 words on a typical day.

Took a long break for breakfast, then fled back to my nice, safe fictional world. Sometimes, I wish I never had to surface.

But I do. At a little over 3500 words today, I’m quickly coming up on the end of this one. Probably only another three or four thousand words. And I find (again) I’m dragging my writerly feet. (grin)

I’m gonna call it a day today. I could easily write at least one more session, but I’d rather wait. Just one more day (or given my doc appointment in Tucson tomorrow, maybe two more days) with these folks will feel very good.

Talk with you again soon.

Of Interest

See “Workshop Credit Sale” at https://www.deanwesleysmith.com/workshop-credit-sale/.

Wow. See “Lyrics In Books: Your Questions Answered” at http://www.thepassivevoice.com/lyrics-in-books-your-questions-answered/. Good to know.

See “Cop Details That’ll Help Your Stories Zing with Realism” at https://www.leelofland.com/cop-details-thatll-help-your-stories-zing-with-realism-whats-in-your-underwear/.

See “First Page Critique: Titan’s Fall” at https://killzoneblog.com/2018/11/first-page-critique-titans-fall.html. Note the critiquer’s comments re lack of being able to see the scene.

See “Free Fiction Monday: Coolhunting” at https://kriswrites.com/2018/11/12/free-fiction-monday-coolhunting/.

Fiction Words: 3595
Nonfiction Words: 760 (Journal)
So total words for the day: 4355

Writing of Consequences (Nick 4)
Brought forward………………………………………… 36193

Day 11… 1253 words. Total words to date…… 37446
Day 12… 3595 words. Total words to date…… 41041

Total fiction words for the month……… 41041
Total fiction words for the year………… 419571
Total nonfiction words for the month… 7320
Total nonfiction words for the year…… 158426
Total words for the year (fiction and this blog)…… 577747

Calendar Year 2018 Novels to Date………………………… 8
Calenday Year 2018 Novellas to Date…………………… 3
Calendar Year 2018 Short Stories to Date……… 11
Novels (since Oct 19, 2014)………………………………………… 34
Novellas (since Nov 1, 2015)……………………………………… 7
Short stories (since Apr 15, 2014)……………………… 193
Short story collections…………………………………………………… 31