The Journal: My Advice for Writers re CoVID-19

In today’s Journal

* Quote of the Day
* Topic: My Advice for Writers re CoVID-19
* Today
* Of Interest
* The Numbers

Quote of the Day

“For some people, curiosity will lead to greater stress, and that stress will cripple their creativity. Instead of focusing on their novels, they’ll be focusing on the spectacle.” David Farland

Topic: My Advice for Writers re CoVID-19

Since everyone else seems to be handing out advice, I thought I’d take a shot at it too. This advice, naturally, is for writers.

First, here’s the all-but-mandatory disclaimer: I am not, have never been, and will never be a medical professional. This advice is offered for entertainment only. Take it at your own risk.

1. Wash your hands thorougly, and use common sense (e.g., if you wash your hands after using the bathroom, wash or sanitize them again after handling the bathroom doorknob on your way out).

2. Turn off the television. Avoid social media and the newspaper. Cancel any “newsletters” that purport to “report” the “news” to which you’re currently subscribed. The CoVID-19 virus spreads via contact with infected people or surfaces (according to every reputable source out there), but the insanity and the ensuing stress over it spreads via electronic means.

3. If you don’t already, avoid people who sneeze or spit on their hands and then offer to shake yours. I also recommend avoiding people who slice their palm open with a knife and then offer to enter into a partnership with you as a “blood brother” (or sister). Just say no. Saying “Ewwwww” is optional.

4. Write. That’s what you do, right? So write. If you’ve already succumbed mentally and/or emotionally to the frenzy, sanitize your hands before and after each session on the keyboard.

That’s pretty much it, really.

And because you’re a writer, keep at least part of one eye peeled in the aftermath for what the US government slipped past us while we were all mindlessly focused on the spectacle.

Or better yet, hold hands with your creative subconscious and descend a mental stairwell into a room full of What Ifs. When you get there, speculate on best-, medium-, and worst-case scenarios. Then write the utopian or dystopian stories that emerge.

That’s my advice.

Today, having written yesterday the short story that was due last Saturday, I’m going back to the novel. I expect to write the short story that’s due this coming Saturday sometime this week.

Frankly, I’m looking forward to getting back to the world of an alien invasion force taking over Earth. I don’t have to suspect the aliens’ intentions. And I’m guarding closely against allowing my conscious mind to dictate that I have to backtrack and add-in that they brought a virus with them and are working in cahoots with a flawed world govenment to bring Earth to her knees. (grin) Maybe that’ll be the next book.

Still reeling a bit from my New Mexico trip. I didn’t quite hit my word-count goal again today, but it’s all good. I stopped in a good place.

Talk with you again soon.

Of Interest

See “Emotional Distancing” at https://mystorydoctor.com/emotional-distancing/.

See “Timing” at https://www.deanwesleysmith.com/timing/.

See “First Page Critique – Closure” at https://killzoneblog.com/2020/03/first-page-critique-closure.html.

See “Homicide Investigations: Dos and Don’ts” at https://leelofland.com/homicide-investigations-dos-and-donts/.

See “Writing Unlikeable Characters Readers Will Root For” at https://www.janefriedman.com/writing-unlikeable-characters/.

See “Soviet Space Graphics” at https://www.atlasobscura.com/articles/soviet-space-graphics. Maybe some story ideas.

If you have time, see “A Cautionary Tale” at https://prowriterswriting.com/a-cautionary-tale-2/. FWIW.

The Numbers

Fiction words today…………………… 2889
Nonfiction words today…………… 560 (Journal)

Writing of The Othgygnrkthers (tentative title, novel)

Day 1…… 3863 words. Total words to date…… 3863
Day 2…… 2408 words. Total words to date…… 6261
Day 3…… 3116 words. Total words to date…… 9377
Day 4…… 3051 words. Total words to date…… 12428
Day 5…… 3285 words. Total words to date…… 15713
Day 6…… 2486 words. Total words to date…… 18199
Day 7…… 2365 words. Total words to date…… 20564
Day 8…… 3053 words. Total words to date…… 23617
Day 9…… 2889 words. Total words to date…… 26506

Total fiction words for the month……… 35407
Total fiction words for the year………… 172102
Total nonfiction words for the month… 15690
Total nonfiction words for the year…… 70170
Total words for the year (fiction and this blog)…… 242272

Calendar Year 2020 Novels to Date…………………… 3
Calendar Year 2020 Novellas to Date……………… X
Calendar Year 2020 Short Stories to Date… 6
Novels (since Oct 19, 2014)…………………………………… 48
Novellas (since Nov 1, 2015)………………………………… 8
Short stories (since Apr 15, 2014)………………… 202
Short story collections……………………………………………… 31