In today’s Journal
* Mentorships
* Of Interest
* The Numbers
Mentorships
First, nothing I write below will affect my current mentoring relationship with my one student.
I’ve updated my Mentorships again, and for the final time. Now I’ll just leave them up unless I decide to stop offering them at all.
The changes are extensive. I kept the topic descriptions, but cancelled the option to “buy” specific topics. I typically give much more than I’m asked, so offering them as individual topics was self-defeating where my time is concerned.
Now I share my knowledge, suited to the student’s own fiction, only via three “big” mentorships: Becoming a Writer, Essential Craft, and Advanced Craft.
Becoming a Writer can be purchased only by itself.
Essential Craft and Advanced Craft may be purchased individually, or together at a small discount.
If you’re waiting for me to produce one-size-fits-all video classes, you can stop waiting. I won’t do that. The idea doesn’t appeal to me. I want to actually mentor other fiction writers, and to me that means a one-on-one mentoring relationship. To me, it only makes sense to focus any professional discussions on the student’s own work. I’ll continue to offer the one-size-fits-all stuff here in the Journal as thoughts occur to me.
All of that said, the way I currently choose to teach is apparently not right for everyone. (Shock!) (grin)
To that end, if you’ve ever considered joining Dave Farland’s APEX writing group, you can now watch a 5-minute video and listen to Dave talk about the group at https://www.apex-writers.com/.
Note: This is NOT an endorsement. I’m only passing along information.
Once you get there, you’ll have to scroll down to find the screen and watch the video. APEX might be right for some of you.
There’s also a link to a free YouTube video from Dave listed in today’s “Of Interest.” If you sign up for Dave’s newsletter, you’ll get another free video every Tuesday.
Also, as always, Dean Wesley Smith offers one-size-fits-all lectures and workshops. You can find links on his website.
Again, not an endorsement. Just passing along information in case it’s what you need.
Talk with you again soon.
Of Interest
See “The Dangers of Editing” at https://www.thepassivevoice.com/the-dangers-of-editing/.
See “The Advanced Story Puzzle: How to Brainstorm and Outline a Bestseller (video)” at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PLSs-ZRTrGc.
The Numbers
The Journal…………………………………… 380 words
Writing of WCGN 4: William J. Pinchot (tentative title, novel)
Day 1…… 1965 words. Total words to date…… 1965
Day 2…… 2624 words. Total words to date…… 4589
Day 3…… 1824 words. Total words to date…… 6413
Total fiction words for July……… 53321
Total fiction words for the year………… 582000
Total nonfiction words for July… 13850
Total nonfiction words for the year…… 139640
Total words for the year (fiction and this blog)…… 721640
Calendar Year 2021 Novels to Date…………………… 12
Calendar Year 2021 Novellas to Date……………… 1
Calendar Year 2021 Short Stories to Date… 3
Novels (since Oct 19, 2014)…………………………………… 65
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.