Hey Folks,
No writing yesterday, of course, and I started a new copyedit. This one will take only a few days at the most. Today I have more for you in the “Of Interest” section, so I’ll post this.
Dean has a great post today on Pulp Speed. He talks at length about pulp writers. I recommend you read the post through at least twice. Chances are you’ll find new valuable nuggets on each read-through.
The post is so valuable, I’ve linked to it on HarveyStanbrough.com in the Writers Resources tab.
Some folks look at pulp as if it’s a genre, and a lesser one at that. Of course, it isn’t. Pulp writers crossed (and still cross today) all commercial genre lines.
Some folks understand that, yet still look down their noses at it because pulp writers produce a lot of stories quickly.
If you’re one of those, you’re missing a bet. Like the lady who told me she wouldn’t even read Heinlein’s Rules because she doesn’t write science fiction so she “knew” they wouldn’t work for her.
Problem is, she “knew” nothing. How could she? She wouldn’t even risk looking. And for that, I pity her.
Different strokes for different folks—I get that—but remaining intentionally ignorant of something isn’t a stroke. It’s a possibly life-altering mistake.
Do I believe you should always take the advice of those farther along the road than you?
No, I don’t.
But I do believe, vehemently, that you should give yourself every possible opportunity for growth. And it’s a harsh truth that those who choose ignorance will never avail themselves of the opportunity for growth.
If they choose not to even look at or listen to new information from those who are farther along the same path, they choose stagnation.
Read and listen to everything you can get your eyes or ears or hands on from those who are farther along the road you’re following. Then you can at least make an informed decision: keep what you find useful and discount what you don’t. But don’t just toss it aside, unseen and unconsidered.
Of course, I realize I’m preaching to the choir here. If you were the kind to toss aside information without even considering it, you wouldn’t have subscribed to this Journal and stuck with it even on days when I don’t have a specific topic.
Like today.
***
From now on, or until I change it again, I’ll be posting the Journal a couple hours earlier. Of course, that will matter only if you receive the Journal in your email inbox.
See you soon.
Of Interest
See “Pulp Speed Time Again” at https://www.deanwesleysmith.com/pulp-speed-time-again/.
See Joe Hartlaub’s “Inspired by a Good Deed” at https://killzoneblog.com/2018/07/inspired-by-a-good-deed.html.
See “Research and Study” at https://www.deanwesleysmith.com/research-and-study/. Not as in-depth as I expected but some tips to be gained by reading it. Especially if you read the comments afterward.
Fiction Words: XXXX
Nonfiction Words: 450 (Journal)
So total words for the day: 450
Writing of
Day 1…… XXXX words. Total words to date…… XXXX
Total fiction words for the month……… 2946
Total fiction words for the year………… 237162
Total nonfiction words for the month… 8480
Total nonfiction words for the year…… 87656
Total words for the year (fiction and this blog)…… 324568
Calendar Year 2018 Novels to Date………………………… 5
Calenday Year 2018 Novellas to Date…………………… 2
Calendar Year 2018 Short Stories to Date……… 11
Novels (since Oct 19, 2014)………………………………………… 31
Novellas (since Nov 1, 2015)……………………………………… 6
Short stories (since Apr 15, 2014)………………………… 193