In today’s Journal
* Quotes of the Day
* Welcome
* Copyright Infringement
* The Writing
* Of Interest
* The Numbers
Quotes of the Day
“Concerning time … I read a bit about a new quantum mechanics theory stating that not only do we change the future with every breath we take, every move we make, every cake we bake, we also at that same instantly change our past.” Dan Baldwin in a comment on yesterday’s post
“It does not get easier with time, does it? Everyone tells us that nonsense, but every joyful memory is shadowed with raw mourning.” A friend, in an email regarding the death of my youngest daughter, a kitten, 8 months ago on April 11 (Beautifully written, I thought)
Welcome
Welcome to Ezra, and any other new subscribers or readers of the Journal. I hope you will find it useful.
Get the Archives and other free downloads at the Journal website. Just click the links and a PDF will download in a new page.
I also recommend reading the posts “I Believe in You” and “Fear”. Can’t hurt, and it might help.
Oh, and check out this half-hour video where bestselling author Vin Zandri and I are chatting about writing on The Writer’s Life.
Copyright Infringement
This is not a lecture. Unfortunately, this is an example.
I use a service called Talkwalker. It alerts me each time anyone mentions the title of any alert I set. Of course, one of those alerts is for my name.
Yesterday I received such an alert. Here is a screenshot:
If you are honest and if you do not yet use Talkwalker, I recommend it. It’s free.
People who download books free while they are still under copyright (not in the public domain) are stealing food from the table of the writer. They are stealing rent money and money for medical bills.
I can’t imagine that any of you are doing that. If you are, either stop or please at least unsubscribe from my blog. I don’t want to be around you, even virtually. Thieves disgust me.
I write this blog and charge nothing. I pass out free advice. I serve as your cheerleader if you need one. I even give away my fiction and nonfiction to anyone who asks if they can’t afford to buy it. And anyone who buys direct from StoneThread Publishing gets a steep discount.
For those who get my books through the usual channel and pay full price, I don’t think five ro six dollars is too steep a price for a few hours’ entertainment. Compare that with the price for a movie ticket.
But giving something away is vastly different from having it stolen outright by thieves. Thieves have no honor, and I will not abide them.
I would rather stop writing fiction and go fishing than to have my work stolen at will. Period.
The Writing
The novel wrapped, and in doing so the two main characters handed me the next novel. I couldn’t believe my luck. I think it might be a series. Similar to Blackwell Ops but set in the 1950s (so no computers, cell phones, etc.) Should be interesting.
The previous one, in addition to being a Blackwell Ops novel, also dealt with time travel so crossed over into the science fiction realm.
The one that wrapped yesterday dealt also with time travel, but also included some magic realism. Of course, it was also in the Blackwell Ops world, so it includes some tropes from the action-adventure and crime-thriller genres.
The next one — if I’m correct in my assumptions about the main characters, and I seldom am — will be move more solidly back into the realm of action-adventure and crime-thriller. As always, it will be interesting (for me) to follow along and find out what happens.
I took a break, then came back to begin the next novel. But then that alert came in. It made me a little angry. I don’t like to write when I’m angry, so I’ll start the novel again today and begin reporting it tomorrow.
Well, after I post this, then apply the changes to I received this morning from my first reader and publish Blackwell Ops 15.
Talk with you again soon.
Of Interest
The Hidden Powers of Everyday Ritual
The Numbers
The Journal……………………………… 710
Writing of Blackwell Ops 15: Solana Garcia
Day 1…… 3034 words. To date…… 3034
Day 2…… 4389 words. To date…… 7423
Day 3…… 4327 words. To date…… 11750
Day 4…… 4058 words. To date…… 15808
Day 5…… 6103 words. To date…… 21911
Day 6…… 4330 words. To date…… 26241
Day 7…… 4213 words. To date…… 30454
Day 8…… 6232 words. To date…… 36686
Day 9…… 3352 words. To date…… 40038
Day 10…. 2524 words. To date…… 42562 (done)
Fiction for December…………………… 49051
Fiction for 2023…………………………. 449885
Fiction since August 1………………… 335340
Nonfiction for December……………… 9460
Nonfiction for the year……………… 265040
Annual consumable words………… 711418
2023 Novels to Date……………………… 10
2023 Novellas to Date…………………… 0
2023 Short Stories to Date……………… 7
Novels (since Oct 19, 2014)…………… 81
Novellas (since Nov 1, 2015)…………… 9
Short stories (since Apr 15, 2014)…… 235
Short story collections…………………… 31
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Disclaimer: I am a prolific professional fiction writer. On this blog I teach Writing Into the Dark and adherence to Heinlein’s Rules. Unreasoning fear and the myths of writing will slow your progress as a writer or stop you cold. I will never teach the myths on this blog.
Re: “I think it might be a series.”
My exact thought, too. 🙂
With any luck, we’re in for a long haul, my friend. 🙂