Writing in Other Worlds?

In Today’s Journal

* Quotes of the Day
* Writing in Other Worlds?
* Valentine Sale (You Want to Read This)
* Of Interest
* The Numbers

Quotes of the Day

“[Amazon’s] Ask This Book [feature] goes beyond discovery and reference by generating interpretive and explanatory content. In their view, this constitutes a derivative use of the work, comparable to annotated or enhanced editions, which have traditionally required separate licensing and compensation.” According to Writem, the Authors Guild’s take on Amazon’s Ask This Book feature in the first item in Of Interest

“One of the best parts of WITD for me is getting to know my characters as their story unfolds. They never cease to amaze me and they reveal things I never-never-never would have plotted or sketched. I think of sketching and plotting as an exercise in pre-boredom.” Dan Baldwin

“In three words I can sum up everything I’ve learned about life: it goes on.” Robert Frost

Writing in Other Worlds?

Hey there. In the past, I’ve considered opening up various of my fictional worlds for others to write in.

I was always stymied, mostly by the prospect of creating a World Bible. Creating a Bible is a daunting, lengthy process, but it’s necessary to provide the would-be author with the ‘rules’ of a given world.

A few days ago it struck me that creating a World Bible for Blackwell Ops would be about as simple as Lee Child creating one for his Jack Reacher series.

After all, Jack Reacher remains the same from book to book. Each novel is about the different bad guys he whips and the otherwise untenable situations he addresses.

When Lee’s brother Andrew took over writing the Jack Reacher series, he had to remain true to the physical attributes, mindset, and history of the main character, Jack Reacher.

But otherwise, all bets were off.

Once Lee and now Andrew establishes the Reacher character in each new novel, he only has to write the other details of the story as it develops. Same general structure as Blackwell Ops.

So I’m seriously thinking about opening up the Blackwell Ops world to other writers.

Not because I’m bored with it or anything like that, but because the network of operatives and others that TJ Blackwell manages from his headquarters in Golden, Colorado spans the world and can continue forever.

If you’re interested in writing in the Blackwell Ops world, or if you have any questions, email me at harveystanbrough@gmail.com to let me know.

I’ll send you the particulars about the ‘center’ of the Blackwell Ops world. Those particulars consist of

• a physical description of TJ Blackwell and his brother, who serves as security for the headquarters,
• internal and external physical descriptions of the Blackwell Ops headquarters building,
• a physical description of the VaporStream communication device by which TJ sends assignments to the operatives, and
• an explanation of the three main personnel ‘field’ groups in the company: operatives, contacts, and eyes-and-ears people, and
• the characteristics of the two types of assignments: general and eyes-only.

You’ll also receive information on the structure of Blackwell Ops, including

• a list of Blackwell Ops’ physical assets (in-depth information on the planes, helicopters, airstrips, ground vehicles,
• the most-used and available weapons, etc.).

Those seven items will comprise the complete Blackwell Ops World Bible. See what I mean about how easy it is to construct a World Bible for this series?

Look at those bulleted lists again. You’d want to adhere to the items in the first list, but you could draw on or expand the items in the second bulleted list at will.

Of course, I’ll also be available to answer any questions you might have.

As a kind of ‘payment’ for writing in my Blackwell Ops world, I would ask only that you include in the back matter of each novel or short story that “[Title of your novel or story] is based on the original Blackwell Ops series by Harvey Stanbrough.”

To maintain the integrity of the original (and ongoing) series, I would also ask you to come up with your own cover design for your Blackwell Ops books, but I’m willing to help with that.

So again, if you’re interested, email to let me know that.

There’s no ‘buy in’ and no royalty share or other monetary exchange.

If you’ve read any of the Blackwell Ops series novels, you’re already familiar with the way I structure them. Of course, you’re more than welcome to structure yours differently.

If you haven’t read any Blackwell Ops novels but you’re interested, this would be a great time to take advantage of my Valentine Sale.

Valentine Sale (You Want to Read This)

I wouldn’t normally mention this again so soon, but it kind of meshes with the above offer. Read on to see how.

As I announced yesterday, I’m offering the 7-volume Blackwell Ops Soleada Garcia Subseries (omnibus) for 40% off from now through the end of February.

In addition to being a great story, that mini-saga (or sub-series) would give you insights into both male (Charlie Task) and female (Soleada Garcia) operatives.

Plus it would show you

• one way to write effective time travel,
• one way to ‘time-stamp’ different chapters and scenes of your novel so the reader doesn’t become confused,
• how to transition from a hunter vs. hunted situation into a full-blown romance, and
• how to mesh that romance into a psychological suspense thriller situation,
• plus a great deal more re writing setting, scenes, indicating personality through dialogue, and so on.

Even if you don’t want to write in the Blackwell Ops world, that’s a lot of learning for under $15. Not a bad deal for a writer who’s still young in the craft (grin).

To get the 7-volume subseries for only $14.40 (regular discount price $24, regular non-discount price $29.99),

• click Blackwell Ops Soleada Garcia Subseries and click Add to Cart.
• During checkout, enter coupon code DH3T8CSNHZ.

To get this deal, you must use the link above. This sale is not extended through Amazon or any other vendor.

Talk with you again soon.

Of Interest

What’s The Fuss Over Amazon’s ‘Ask This Book’?

Devotion to the Paperback

I am surprised at the conduct of the young woman A bit of witty humor

The Numbers

The Journal………………….. 1010
Mentorship Words…………….. 0
Total Nonfiction…………………. 1010

Writing of

Day 1…… XXXX words. To date………… XXXXX

Fiction for January………………………… XXXX
Fiction for 2026…………………………… XXXX
Nonfiction for January.…………………… 18060
Nonfiction for 2026………………..……… 18060
2026 consumable words………………… 18060

2026 Novels to Date……………………… 0
2026 Novellas to Date…………………… 0
2026 Short Stories to Date……………… 0
Novels (since Oct 19, 2014)…………….. 123
Novellas (since Nov 1, 2015)…………… 10
Short stories (since Apr 15, 2014)……… 310
Short story collections……………………. 29