In today’s Journal
* Topic: This is Important: What I Offer
* Today
* Of Interest
* The Numbers
Topic: This is Important: What I Offer
Today I’m tooting my own horn, letting you know what you can learn from me and the various ways you can learn from me. I realized this morning I’ve never enumerated the various ways I teach.
In case you didn’t know or as a gentle reminder, first I write this Journal almost every day. In it, I often post a topic that I believe will help someone out there. Sometimes some readers see my topics as “refreshers” of what they already know. That’s fine. But try to remember, we’re all at different stages of our own writing career. Not everyone who reads the Journal has heard from me the things I include in topics.
Also remember that even if I’ve held forth on a particular topic before, sometimes saying the same thing in a different way gets the point across to some readers who didn’t understand the concept the way I stated it before.
Sometimes too, I’ll inadvertently drop quotable or memorable little “gems” as I write about a particular topic. Those too are valuable to different people (or not) in different ways. Gleaning similar gems, in fact, is how I’ve learned most of what I’ve learned about writing over the years.
But to specifics—
Probably the number one way you can learn generally about writing from me is to sign on with me as a patron or a first reader. You can see the rewards for different levels of patronage at https://harveystanbrough.com/be-a-patron/. If you’re interested in becoming a first reader, email me at harveystanbrough@gmail.com.
The second way is to subscribe to and read this Journal. And please, if you find it of value, spread the word. The URL is HEStanbrough.com.
The third way is to email me when you have writing questions. I’ll usually respond to emails quickly, and pretty much always within 24 hours (barring emergencies). A handful of writers email me regularly with specific questions about writing.
Another handful email me less regularly when they encounter a problem with anything from punctuation to encountering the critical mind to specific writing techniques like characterization or writing setting or scenes to…. No worries at all. I enjoy sharing what I know.
The fourth way is to buy my nonfiction writing books and audio lectures. You can find my nonfiction books at https://stonethreadpublishing.com/writing-books/ as well as at your favorite ebook retailer. But if you order them (and/or my fiction) directly from StoneThread (email orders@stonethreadpublishing.com), you get a discount.
You can find the audio lectures at https://harveystanbrough.com/lecture-series/. Both my nonfiction books and audio lectures, like the topics in this Journal, are filled with little gems that are maybe off-topic but still focused on various aspects of writing. (Note: You get freebies on nonfiction books and audio lectures and much more as a patron.)
And the fifth way is to sign on with me as your mentor. I’ve outlined the different levels of mentoring in detail below. I can only take on so many mentoring students, so after you’ve read them if you’re at all interested, email me at harveystanbrough@gmail.com to let me know. At worst, I’ll put you on a waiting list.
Of course, I realize I’m mentoring you in general through this Journal and in the other ways listed above (as well as through my fiction if you read and enjoy that).
But when you sign on with me as your mentor, the program is tailored specifically to you and your own writing. It’s tantamount to enrolling in a masters course in which I am the instructor and you are the only student.
I’m currently offering a free week of mentoring that’s limited to 1) overcoming the myths about writing and 2) learning to write into the dark. You can read about that HERE. That offer will close on Sunday, February 23.
My other (paid) mentoring services, all of which are tailored to your writing and your needs, are as follows below. These are updated for 2020 and strictly limited due to my own stringent writing and publishing goals.
Note: In the three mentoring levels below, I mention the various stages of a fiction writer. (I am an advanced Stage 4 fiction writer.) To see definitions of those stages, I recommend reading “My Take on the Stages of a Fiction Writer” at https://hestanbrough.com/the-daily-journal-tuesday-july-9/.
Level A — Beginner to Intermediate (Stage 1 to Stage 3 writers) — This is completely focused on You and your writing. If you’re serious about building a career as a fiction writer, Level A is all-inclusive program designed to get you to (and beyond) where I am now. The mentoring consists of literally whatever You need to jump-start your writing from the very beginning or if you’re sputtering along, including (but not limited to)
* establishing and assessing priorities
* establishing a writing habit
* overcoming the fear of failure (and success)
* establishing the ability to Keep Coming Back
* setting obtainable goals that make you reach
* in-depth discussions of Heinlein’s Rules and Writing Into the Dark as necessary,
* personalized, drilled-down, in-depth instruction on specific writing techniques**
* personalized in-depth instruction on setting up a publishing company and indie publishing
* personalized in-depth instruction on cover design techniques and eformatting
* personalized assignments and review (if you want them)
* in-depth discussions of IP (what it is, how to keep track of it)
* personalized licensing advice
* email Q&A anytime, and
* limited Q&A by phone* or in person if you’re in the region.
* I always recommend doing Q&A by email so you have a written record of my comments so you can refer back to them later as necessary.
The fee for Level A is $199 per month, paid in advance on a month by month basis. You can cancel anytime or keep going as long as you like.
If you’re interested, email me at harveystanbrough@gmail.com with any questions or concerns.
Level B1 — Beginner to Intermediate (Stage 1 to early Stage 2 writers) — This one focuses on the abstracts, clearing out the myths of writing and getting out of your own way. If you’re just starting out or are sputtering along, this will set you firmly on the road to a fiction writing career. It’s both a personal and group mentorship, which means I can take on more students. It includes (but is not limited to)
* establishing and assessing priorities
* establishing a writing habit
* overcoming the fear of failure (and success)
* establishing the ability to Keep Coming Back
* setting obtainable goals that make you reach
* in-depth discussions of Heinlein’s Rules and Writing Into the Dark,
* in-depth discussions and instruction on writing into the dark and cycling (revising while in the creative subconscious)
* some in-depth instruction on specific writing techniques** as applicable
* some discussion of the basics of indie publishing
* email Q&A anytime
The fee for Level B1 is $109 per month, paid in advance on a month by month basis. You can cancel anytime or keep going as long as you like.
If you’re interested, email me at harveystanbrough@gmail.com with any questions or concerns.
Level B2 — Intermediate to Advanced (Stage 2 to mid-Stage 4 writers) — Note: This includes no abstracts, so you need to have cleared out most of the myths about writing already, though we’ll deal quickly with any critical-mind dregs and myths that pop up (and they will). It includes everything in Level A minus the abstracts.
This is focused on one or more specific aspects of your process, especially as they go to structure and actual writing. This includes personalized instruction on specific writing techniques** and manuscript review, plus IP inventory and personalized licensing instruction.
In the licensing part of this, both the instruction and brainstorming are tailored to your specific IP (intellectual property). We’ll define what IP and “internal IP” actually are with regard to licensing, what to include in your inventory, and possible ways to market it.
If you at least believe you have a good handle on most of what you’re doing or if you’ve reached that very dangerous place in late Stage 2 where you think you’ve “learned enough” (you haven’t) this is the stage you need and should want.
The fee is $149 per month, paid in advance on a month by month basis. You can cancel anytime or keep going as long as you like.
If you’re interested, email me at harveystanbrough@gmail.com with any questions or concerns.
** The “specific writing techniques” above include but are not limited to (as necessary)
* openings
* cliffhangers and hooks
* paragraphing and pacing
* adding depth to hold your reader
* adding suspense
* punctuation
* sentence structure and alteration
* the use of italics or not
* story structure
* aspects of different genres and reader expecations
* what constitutes an ending
* and much more
That’s it. If you see anything that interests you above, jump in. If you have specific questions or concerns, email me at harveystanbrough@gmail.com.
I spent the first three hours of the day exchanging pleasantries and wisdom with one of my free mentoring students, then the next couple of hours writing the stuff above this. Now for a break for a shower and breakfast, then to the novel.
I’m back at 9 a.m., clean, fed and a load of laundry started. I found a few more items for “Of Interest,” left a comment on one, and now I’m turning to the novel at 9:30.
Should be an interesting day, not that I’ll bore you with additional details. (grin)
With my pickup battery shot (I learned when it wouldn’t start) and laundry and a whirlwind that would measure F2 on the Fujita scaled (grin) and other stuff, I was amazed I reached my daily goal today.
Talk with you again soon.
Of Interest
See “How to Build an Author Website: Getting Started Guide” at https://www.janefriedman.com/author-websites/.
See “The biology of love” at https://www.thepassivevoice.com/the-biology-of-love/.
See “The Web of Writing” at https://writerunboxed.com/2020/02/18/the-web-of-writing/ (via The Passive Voice). In case you might find a gem or two.
See “What if it doesn’t?” at https://prowriterswriting.com/what-if-it-doesnt/.
See “Kati’s Reply (and Mine)” at https://stevenpressfield.com/2020/02/katis-reply-and-mine/.
For anyone who hasn’t seen it yet, see “Six Things Writers Need To Stop Worrying About” at https://jakonrath.blogspot.com/2019/07/five-things-writers-need-to-stop.html.
The Numbers
Fiction words today…………………… 3442
Nonfiction words today…………… 1670 (Journal)
Writing of The Three-Year Turn (novel)
Day 11… 3442 words. Total words to date…… 36545
Total fiction words for the month……… 46134
Total fiction words for the year………… 111678
Total nonfiction words for the month… 15840
Total nonfiction words for the year…… 47100
Total words for the year (fiction and this blog)…… 158778
Calendar Year 2020 Novels to Date…………………… 2
Calendar Year 2020 Novellas to Date……………… X
Calendar Year 2020 Short Stories to Date… 5
Novels (since Oct 19, 2014)…………………………………… 47
Novellas (since Nov 1, 2015)………………………………… 8
Short stories (since Apr 15, 2014)………………… 201
Short story collections……………………………………………… 31