In today’s Journal
* Quote of the Day
* Writers Write
* The Writing
* Oh, and Another Source for Story Ideas
* Of Interest
* The Numbers
Quote of the Day
“Oh, I do not have multiple personality disorder. I’m a fiction writer. I have a lot of inner children, and sometimes they come out to play.” Me, to an imaginary psychiatrist
Writers Write
Note: The two excerpts below are from private emails from writers who are subscribed to TNDJ.
The first is a testament to WITD, in a way, specifically to “writing fast,” which basically means writing what the characters give you instead “making things up” out of your own conscious, critical mind.
The second is a manner of marketing I’ve never heard about before. In a way it makes sense, if for no other reason than to self-limit your own time on social media.
I believe there might still be automated ways to enact what the author of the original post in the second excerpt is talking about.
Enjoy, and I hope you get something out of either or both excerpts.
from Matt P
“He [a successful professional writer we will not name] also advocates for writing slowly. For me this is the myth that bugs me the most. That writing ‘fast’ means you just smash words together and make it sloppy. I know it’s crap and untrue, but seeing people peddle it still drives me nuts.
“I believe quantity begets quality as the more you write (no revising) the more practice you put in and the more you improve. By writing slowly (and revising) you do not practice nearly as much as someone who trusts themselves and is always putting new words on the page.
“People may bemoan ‘fast’ writers for writing crap, but I’m willing to bet that more of them know how to write an entertaining story than someone who consistently hovers over a novel for a year or two.”
from Bob C.
“Saw this in an online writing group out of the Upper Peninsula of Michigan. I tried to find Strathdee’s original column but gave up pretty quickly.
“Some advice from Alex Strathdee’s column this week:
“The Wheel of Fortune approach to book marketing…
“Did you know Pat Sajak and Vanna White each make $10 million+ per year from about 4 days of work each month? Pat and Vanna record a whole month of episodes in 4 days each month – meaning they make $200,000+ per work day.
“Why is this relevant to you? They’ve been consistently producing the show since 1981 – do you think they would have been as consistent if they had to record each days episode that day? HECK NO.
“The point here is to batch your content production. Don’t rely on getting your daily social media or blog post done each day. Create your posts for the whole month the first week. Record a year’s worth of podcast episodes in 2 months.
“As one of my favorite authors Allan Dib writes…Random Acts of Marketing Don’t Work and this is one way you can make to to be consistent enough to build traction long term.”
Editor’s Note: I should mention that Allan Dib is known far and wide for marketing nonfiction books. No mention that I could find about marketing fiction.
The Writing
Had a really great (for me) writing day yesterday, and I’m certain now the novel will wrap today.
I’ll still be sorry to see the characters go, but the two main characters might well be back in another novel in the future.
Oh, and Another Source for Story Ideas
I’ve said before that I have no shortage of story ideas. I see them everywhere.
On my way to the grocery yesterday, I saw a political sign advertising a particular candidate for a local or county office. Of course, nobody who isn’t from this particular part of Arizona would know the guy’s name.
As we passed the sign, I wondered what the scene must have been at his house on the evening he announced to his family he was running for public office. That’s the main story.
But back up from there. What went into the logic that eventually caused him to decide to run in the first place? Who did he consult with, if anyone?
Then leap ahead from the main story above. What happened on election night? What happened after (and as a result of) his defeat or his victory?
See? Right there are at least five or six story ideas. All prompted from nothing more than a unique character name on a sign of the sort that litter the sides of neighborhood streets, yards, and highways at this time every year.
Write it.
Talk with you again soon.
Of Interest
Misc. Stuff and Sale Extension Also the sale is expanded to 60% off.
The Numbers
The Journal……………………………… 790
Writing of Blackwell Ops 29: John Quick
Day 11…. 3235 words. To date……. 33958
Day 12…. 1937 words. To date……. 35895
Day 13…. 1885 words. To date……. 37780
Day 14…. 5339 words. To date……. 43119
Fiction for October……………………. 74605
Fiction for 2024……………………….. 816113
Nonfiction for October……………….. 23810
Nonfiction for 2024……………………. 327400
2024 consumable words……………… 967552
Average Fiction WPD (October)……… 3244
2024 Novels to Date……………………….. 14
2024 Novellas to Date……………………… 1
2024 Short Stories to Date………………… 18
Novels (since Oct 19, 2014)…………..……. 96
Novellas (since Nov 1, 2015)………………. 10
Short stories (since Apr 15, 2014)………..… 255
Short story collections…………………….….. 29
Disclaimer: Whatever you believe, unreasoning fear and the myths that outlining, revising, and rewriting will make your work better are lies. They will always slow your progress as a writer or stop you cold. I will never teach the myths on this blog.
On this blog I teach Writing Into the Dark and adherence to Heinlein’s Rules. Because of WITD and because I endeavor to follow those Rules I am a prolific professional fiction writer. You can be too.
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