Hey Folks,
Well, happy Shearing Day.
No fiction writing yesterday or today, as expected.
Yesterday I edited for a few hours in the early morning, then a little more later on.
I was going to publish an edition of this Journal yesterday, but I had nothing even for the “Of Interest” section so I didn’t.
This morning too I edited for a few hours. I should finish the edit over the next two days.
***
Back when I presented sessions at writers conferences and conventions and in private seminars, every now and then I’d hear some version of “Well, the reader will know what I mean.”
Okay, for one thing, it isn’t the reader’s job to figure out what you’re trying to say. It isn’t her job to mentally correct your spelling or the images you present.
If you write, “His eyes shot across the room” and the reader bursts out laughing, that’s your fault, not the reader’s.
That sort of writing (we’ve all done it) is a sign of either ignorance or laziness. It means the writer either hasn’t learned that part of the craft yet (so ignorance) or that she simply doesn’t care enough to apply the craft (laziness).
The only solution for ignorance is to keep learning. There is nosolution for laziness.
What spurred this post? See James Scott Bell’s article, “Don’t Be Satisfied With Competence” in today’s “Of Interest” section.
Well, Dean Wesley Smith broke his short streak. He’s skipped the last two days in his effort to write 30 short stories in 30 days while moving.
The “while moving” part got the better of him. Of course, early on he said the challenge was to write 30 short stories in 30 days, but not necessarily one every day. So he can still meet the challenge. But I for one was sorry to see his streak end.
***
I might edit a little more today. More than likely I’ll take care of some household chores, see whether Mona wants to do anything, and watch a little TV. In other words, other than what I’ve already done on the edit, a day off.
Back soon.
Of Interest
See “Don’t Be Satisfied With Competence” at https://killzoneblog.com/2018/04/dont-be-satisfied-with-competence.html.
Catch up with Dean’s last few posts. There are some good comments on “An Even Dozen” at https://www.deanwesleysmith.com/an-even-dozen/.
Especilly if you’re a romance author (or want to be) see “The Billion-Dollar Romance Fiction Industry Has A Diversity Problem” at http://www.thepassivevoice.com/?p=87857. I recommend reading The Passive Guy’s comments, then click through.
I personally found a gem in “The conventional view of mysteries” at http://www.thepassivevoice.com/?p=87853.
Not about writing, but see “There is no such thing as past or future” at http://www.thepassivevoice.com/?p=87841.
Fiction Words: XXXX
Nonfiction Words: 450 (Journal)
So total words for the day: 450
Writing of Versailles (novel, tentative title)
Day 1…… 3081 words. Total words to date…… 3081
Day 2…… 2217 words. Total words to date…… 5298
Day 3…… XXXX words. Total words to date…… XXXXX
Total fiction words for the month……… 19254
Total fiction words for the year………… 132795
Total nonfiction words for the month… 6430
Total nonfiction words for the year…… 40190
Total words for the year (fiction and this blog)…… 214765
Calendar Year 2018 Novels to Date………………………… 3
Calenday Year 2018 Novellas to Date…………………… 1
Calendar Year 2018 Short Stories to Date……… 0
Novels (since Oct 19, 2014)………………………………………… 30
Novellas (since Nov 1, 2015)……………………………………… 5
Short stories (since Apr 15, 2014)……………………………… 182