The Journal, Wednesday, August 22

Hey Folks,

In response to my post at harveystanbrough.com about “Reviews,” I received an email from a guy who agreed with me. Sort of. Then he launched into a heated rant about “rich people” and then politics. Specifically, American politics, specifically at the national level.

I strive to keep politics out of my blogs. It isn’t always easy because on the one hand, they’re my personal blogs. But on the other, my stated purpose for them is to help other writers cut the learning curve in the craft of writing. That’s regardless of the writer’s race, skin tone, nationality or personal beliefs, political or otherwise.

The main point I was trying to make in the post on “Reviews” is that they really don’t matter all that much, or shouldn’t, to writers. Our job is to keep learning and improving in the craft with an eye to entertaining others. That’s it.

Most often, if a reader praises your work (and if you aren’t locked in a mutual-admiration society), it’s because the story was to his or her taste. If the reader pans it, it wasn’t. You know, unless the writing itself was just horrible, but I have more confidence in myself than that. I hope you do too.

Now, I’m going to back away slowly and go write. (grin) It’s my job.
***

Speaking of which, I have what some consider a personality flaw. I don’t care for “chatting” or whatever it’s called. I don’t mind that others enjoy it, as long as they aren’t trying to enjoy it with me.

I’ve had what some have called an “overactive” sense of urgency since I was a child. I need (and more importantly, want) to be doing something constructive in pretty much every moment. Life is short, etc.

That’s one reason I rely mostly on email for any genial conversations. I see telephones as intrusive, as I do “chats.” With email, at least I can select a time to respond, and I can edit my response before I hit Send.

So if you Need something, by all means, please email me or chat or phone or whatever. Unless my house is on fire at the moment, I’d be happy to help. But if you just want to chat casually about whatever (especially non-writing things), please use email.
***

To the Hovel, finally, at 8. Two good sessions back to back with only a very short break, then a slightly longer break (more on that next), and then one more session. That took me to noon and copyediting time.
***

When I left the Hovel for my longer break and walked to the house, I noticed the hummingbird feeder was empty. So I took it down, brought it into the sink and washed it. I had another one ready to go in the refrigerator.

I checked email, etc., then headed back to the Hovel, forgetting to hang the new feeder.

When I got to the Hovel, a hummer appeared outside the window and hovered there for a long moment. That’s when I remembered the feeder. So back to the house I went to hang the new feeder.

The hummer followed me. He was happily lapping up the cold sugar water when I came in to write this. (grin)

Of Interest

GREAT comments on “Forcing the Help” at https://www.deanwesleysmith.com/forcing-the-help/#comments. Don’t miss these, folks.

See “I Wasn’t Rich” at https://www.deanwesleysmith.com/i-wasnt-rich/.

See “Many, Many Hats” at https://killzoneblog.com/2018/08/18877.html.

Talk with you again soon.

Fiction Words: 3169
Nonfiction Words: 580 (Journal)
So total words for the day: 3749

Writing of Nick Spalding 1 (novel, tentative title)
Brought forward…… 17778 words

Day 1…… 1449 words. Total words to date…… 19227
Day 2…… 1611 words. Total words to date…… 20838
Day 3…… 3169 words. Total words to date…… 24007

Total fiction words for the month……… 42146
Total fiction words for the year………… 290423
Total nonfiction words for the month… 14150
Total nonfiction words for the year…… 112436
Total words for the year (fiction and this blog)…… 402609

Calendar Year 2018 Novels to Date………………………… 6
Calenday Year 2018 Novellas to Date…………………… 2
Calendar Year 2018 Short Stories to Date……… 11
Novels (since Oct 19, 2014)………………………………………… 32
Novellas (since Nov 1, 2015)……………………………………… 6
Short stories (since Apr 15, 2014)………………………… 193