Two Writers Comment

In Today’s Journal

* A New Short Story
* The Impending Demise of Your Morning Serial
* A Writer Comments on the Challenges
* Another Writer Wondered Why…
* Of Interest
* The Numbers

A New Short Story

Some were concerned when a new short story didn’t come out on Friday. Oops. I forgot to announce even to those who are subscribe to Stanbrough Writes that I switched the free story of the week to come out on Saturdays from now on. Mea culpa.

Anyway, the next story in the rotation did come out yesterday and everything’s fine.

“The Brief, Happy Career of Judas Talbot, Circuit Riding Preacher” went live yesterday at 10 a.m. on my Stanbrough Writes Substack. Go check it out. It’s free.

Anyway, if you enjoy “The Brief, Happy Career…” please click Like. Comments are welcome too. Both help with my Substack algorithms. Then tell Everyone else. Gracias.

The Impending Demise of Your Morning Serial

I’m pretty sure I’m gonna stop publishing Your Morning Serial when the current novel ends. That one has few subscribers and frankly it’s a pain to set up all the episodes.

Originally, I thought publishing Your Morning Serial would entice readers to buy more of my fiction, and give writers some free writing they could study

But nobody’s commented on getting any writing gems from reading the installments or asked any questions about why I did something a certain way in the novels I’ve serialized thus far, and as far as I can tell, the serialized novels haven’t generated even one book sale.

No biggie, of course. Your Morning Serial, like anything new I try, was only an idea. Sometimes new ventures pan out, and sometimes they don’t.

If I do cease publication of Your Morning Serial, I’ll probably start posting the free stories on Stanbrough Writes back on Friday morning again.

Coincidentally, a Writer Comments on the Challenges

Tomorrow I’ll report as always on the TNDJ Challenges.

Coincidentally, Chris Ridge commented in part on yesterday’s post with this:

Jump in on these challenges. Pick one that appeals to you and jump in because that is where you will really learn. It’s only a challenge. It’s fun. Addicting. You will write more.

Nobody really cares if you do well one week and not so much the next. I have poor weeks … but I still got words on the pages and stories done. The majority of the stories I’ve had accepted were written during these challenges. Do this. You will learn so much about yourself as a writer.

Thanks, Chris!

Another Writer Wondered Why…

I’m not sure whether it was the honesty or the sheer chutzpah that hit me, but another writer wondered via email why I don’t want to write another nonfiction book based on my archives. I swear, I am not making this up.

He wrote

I read your stuff daily and am learning a lot.

Stephen King wrote a non-fiction book with his thoughts on writing. It sells well. There is a demand.

I know that your book would be based on your past stuff from TNDJ but so what? I would buy it. Not everyone wants to slough through your archives.

Let’s face it.

Most of us are lazy and would prefer that you let us know what you think is most important in your archives.

Anyway, I would buy a copy.

My slightly expanded response

What’s important in the archives, and whether they’re ‘important’ at all, is up to the individual writer. And yes, I’m aware nobody wants to ‘slough through’ them.
That’s why I made them search-a-ble.
All you have to do is key in “POV character” for example, and press enter. Every post with “POV character” in it will pop up. Or key in “setting” or “scene” or any other term you like. Then you have only to read it. What could be easier?
And if you want a lot of that in one place, buy Writing Better Fiction.
But whatever else you do, once you’ve found what you’re looking for, you have to put it into practice by actually putting new words on the page (writing). That’s where 90+% of aspiring fiction writers fall by the wayside.

Talk with you again soon.

Of Interest

Dr. Mardy’s Quotes of the Week: Cats

The Numbers

The Journal………………….. 710
Mentorship Words…………….. 0
Total Nonfiction…………………. 710

Writing of Blackwell Ops 53: Jack Striker | The Next Level

Day 1…… 2035 words. To date………… 2035
Day 2…… 2217 words. To date………… 4252
Day 3…… 3751 words. To date………… 8003
Day 4…… 2218 words. To date………… 10221

Fiction for December……………………… 10221
Fiction for 2025…………………………… 764868
Nonfiction for December.………………… 9120
Nonfiction for 2025………………..……… 274250
2025 consumable words………………… 1031549

2025 Novels to Date…………………….. 18
2025 Novellas to Date…………………… 0
2025 Short Stories to Date……………… 36
Novels (since Oct 19, 2014)…………….. 122
Novellas (since Nov 1, 2015)…………… 10
Short stories (since Apr 15, 2014)……… 310
Short story collections……………………. 29

Leave a Comment

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.