In Today’s Journal
* The TNDJ Challenges Report
* Roberta Jean Bryant’s “7 Laws of Writing”
* Where to Submit, Revisited
* Update on the True Pulp Anthology
* Of Interest
* The Numbers
The TNDJ Challenges Report
In a way this feels like a new beginning, and I’ve been looking forward all week to posting this.
I’m excited to host and report on three separate challenges now. The potential for writers breaking free and having fun writing is excellent. And yes, you may participate in more than one challenge at a time.
TNDJ has over 220 subscribers now, and these challenges are open to everyone. So challenge yourself!
The whole point of these challenges is to have fun and grow as a writer.
There is no cost. Feel free to jump in at any time.
Participating in any challenge is a way to drive yourself to the computer or legal pad and write fiction. It’s also a great way to build and maintain a streak.
As if writing more and better fiction isn’t enough, I even offer prizes. To see those, please visit The NEW TNDJ Challenges.
Bradbury Challenge
The only requirement is to write at least one short story, short-short story, or essay per week.
During the past week, the following writers wrote these new stories:
- Erin Donoho “Women’s Land” 2600 historical fiction
- Vanessa V. Kilmer “August [aw-guhst]” 3627 Paranormal (from last week)
- Vanessa V. Kilmer “Shush” 3002 Fantasy
- Mattie Fern Worrix “Love Me, Love Me Not” 4010 romantic comedy
- Christopher Ridge “Spiders” 2303 horror
- KC Riggs “Shrink to Fit” 2294 General Fiction
- Dave Taylor “Goin Fishin” 3,628 Paranormal
- Dave Taylor “No New Messages” 2,346 Science Fiction
- Frank Theodat “The Affair” 1390 General Fiction
The Stephen King Challenge
The requirement is to maintain an average of at least 1000 words per day as you proceed through writing a novel or novella.
- Jacob Hawes “Crystal God 2” 7238 Fantasy To date12782
The Run With Harvey Challenge
The requirement is to maintain an average of at least 2000 words per day. The words can go into any short or long fiction or both.
- Christopher Ridge 8308 words this week
(And Chris writes, “Not too shabby for a late start. Next week’s total should come to 14000.”) Or exceed it, I hope. (grin)
Congratulations to all of these writers!
Roberta Jean Bryant’s “7 Laws of Writing”
You’re probably all familiar with Heinlein’s Business Habits for Writers, aka Heinlein’s Rules. If you aren’t, you can download a free PDF copy here.
Two or three decades ago, I had an old scrap of paper taped on the wall of my home office above my Smith-Corona word processor with its little 4-line screen.
On the scrap of paper were the typewritten “Seven Laws of Writing” by Roberta Jean Bryant (from her book Anybody Can Write: A Playful Approach):
- “To write” is an active verb. Thinking is not writing. Writing is putting words on paper.
- Write passionately. Everybody has loves and hates; even quiet people lead passionate lives. Creativity follows passion.
- Write honestly. Risk nakedness. Originality equals vulnerability.
- Write for fun, for personal value. If you don’t enjoy the process, why should anyone enjoy the product? Pleasure precedes profit.
- Write anyway. Ignore discouraging words, internal and external. Persistence always pays off.
- Write a lot. Use everything. Learning comes from your own struggles with words on paper.
- Write out of commitment to your ideas, commitment to yourself as a writer. Trust yourself.
It isn’t a bad idea to combine both sets of rules. Heinlein’s can be reduced to only three rules, really:
- Write (and finish).
- Don’t allow your (or anyone else’s) conscious mind to second-guess what your creative mind has created.
- Publish. The world is your oyster.
And all seven of Bryant’s Laws could be shoehorned-in as Heinlein’s Rule 1a. Or you could hold back Bryant’s Laws 5 and 7 and insert them as Heinlein’s Rule 2a. Works well either way.
The point is, writing isn’t some elevated calling. It’s just a bit of fun, and you can do it. (grin)
Where to Submit, Revisited
Writer Peggy K commented on Where to Submit Your Short Stories:
I just have to add, BEWARE of the big 5 trad magazines (Asimov’s, Analog, Magazine of F/SF, Ellery Queen, and Alfred Hitchcock). Their current contracts are evil nasty-bad juju, so much so that Kristine Kathryn Rusch is no longer doing business with them.
And more generally, of course read any contract thoroughly. If you don’t understand what it says, ask someone knowledgeable BEFORE you sign it.
So far (as far as I know) anthologies are still mostly reasonable in their contracts. Though I did see one that offered to split 30% of the proceeds from the first year of sales and then you got nothing else. Ever.
Dealing with any publishing contract is very definitely a case of let the author beware.
Thanks, Peggy!
Update on the True Pulp Anthology
Another author in the True Pulp anthology saw my recent post on “Where to Submit…” and wondered (in an email to me) whether I was talking about that particular anthology.
I mentioned 12 authors in the post, and there were 12 other authors in True Pulp (aside from me).
The similarity was pure coincidence. As I often do for instructional purposes, I pulled a fictional anthology out of thin air and talked about it in my post to make the point that you should be careful where you place your work.
Hey, I’m a fiction writer. I fictionalize stuff.
Plus, I’m allergic to lawsuits and not fond of cutting my own throat, so I never talk specifically about any publication that bears my name except to promote it.
So in case anyone else is wondering, I hope this clarifies things for you.
In other news, the editor announced recently that the retail edition of True Pulp will release on October 30. Pre-order links will be forthcoming, and I’ll publish those here in TNDJ as well as on Facebook, Twitter, and in my Stanbrough Writes substack.
Talk with you again soon.
Of Interest
Do You Have the Guts to be a Full-Time Author?
AI in Writing and Art I stand firmly with Dean on this.
Taking a Stand on Generative AI Note: Clicking this link will download a PDF document.
The Numbers
The Journal…………………………… 1020
Writing of Blackwell Ops 47: Sam Granger | Special Duty
Day 1…… 3250 words. To date…… 3250
Day 2…… 1110 words. To date…… 4360
Day 3…… 3323 words. To date…… 7683
Day 4…… 1656 words. To date…… 9339
Day 5…… 1413 words. To date…… 10752
Day 6…… 3135 words. To date…… 13887
Day 7…… 3338 words. To date…… 17225
Day 8…… 1228 words. To date…… 18453
Day 9…… 1985 words. To date…… 20438
Day 10…. 1312 words. To date…… 21750
Fiction for September……………… 10998
Fiction for 2025………………………. 545147
Nonfiction for September.………… 12750
Nonfiction for 2025…………………… 199000
2025 consumable words…………….. 736533
2025 Novels to Date…………………….. 13
2025 Novellas to Date…………………… 0
2025 Short Stories to Date……………… 31
Novels (since Oct 19, 2014)…………….. 117
Novellas (since Nov 1, 2015)…………… 10
Short stories (since Apr 15, 2014)……… 301
Short story collections……………………. 29