The Journal, Saturday, 4/22

Hey Folks, I spent much of the early morning watching and listening to DWS’ “Lester Dent Master Plot Formula.” Wow. It was as informative as I hoped (and more so) and chock full of gems. I hope you’ll take this opportunity to get it through the StoryBundle offer I mentioned yesterday. If you didn’t, and in case you’re interested, here’s the link again: https://storybundle.com/writing. Again, you get nine books on the craft or business of writing … Read more

The Journal, Friday, 4/21

Hey Folks, Well, in the midst of writing the topic below, I came up with a new challenge for myself. I’ll announce it in the next couple of days. There’s an exciting new writing bundle out from StoryBundle. I bought it first thing this morning. To check it out, visit https://storybundle.com/writing. I strongly recommend you drop $15 and buy this bundle. Even if only so you can get DWS’ lecture on Lester Dent’s Master Plot Formula … Read more

The Journal, Thursday, 4/20

Hey Folks, Well, kind of a dismal showing today, but a showing none the less. (grin) Listen, if any of these posts key your Share mode, please feel free to comment on your own “process” or techniques or day, etc. You never know what another reader might find of interest or even a gem. Epiphanies are everywhere, and they depend on the reader’s perception, not the writer’s intention. *** Interesting morning. After I wrote the topic … Read more

The Journal, Wednesday, 4/19

Hey Folks, Laundry day and a novel to write. Except for the “laundry day” part, could anything get better than that? (grin) I’m gonna try to work on the novel up at the house today (since it’s laundry day). We’ll see how that works out. Same old routine for the first few hours this morning. Not sure where it all went except for chatting on FB for a little while with my new friend Scott Gordon. … Read more

The Journal, Tuesday, 4/18

Hey Folks, Well, yesterday I reported finishing a short story titled “Beats All.” Yesterday early evening I read it aloud to my wife. At the end, I frowned. “This sounds like the beginning of a novel, doesn’t it?” (I’ve long known and preached the value of reading aloud. Yet I’m still amazed at how valuable it really is.) She said, “Yes. It ended, but it isn’t finished.” Okay. Ugh. Now I have two novels going concurrently. … Read more

When You’re Feeling Overwhelmed

Hi Folks, For well over a year (as I write this, May 2015), I’ve been practicing pushing down my conscious, critical mind and the fear it brings to the table. Yet this morning as I was going through my morning wake-up ritual, fear flooded over me. This morning it’s back to the writing. I have at least one more prequel to write (it will be book 3 in the Wes Crowley series) and I’ve already started … Read more

Beats All You Ever Saw

A little after 11 p.m. the dingy brown steel door of The Rainbow Room exploded outward. It slapped the yellow concrete block wall behind it as Jesse Rickman came through head first and air borne. He landed on his face just short of where that little tar strip was oozed up. You know, between that big square concrete slab in front of the door and the asphalt of the parking lot. Then he bounced a little, … Read more

The Journal, Monday, 4/17

Hey Folks, All right. Fourteen days left in the month, inclusive. If I’m gonna meet my monthly goal of writing at least one novel per month and my annual goal of writing at least 15 on the year, I have to get hot. (grin) By the way, that “get hot” thing isn’t pressure. For me, it’s a realizaton and good news. And writing a short story or two along the way wouldn’t kill me either. (Donors, … Read more

The Journal, Sunday, 4/16

Hey Folks, A few days ago I mentioned here that all the coyotes and other predators seem to have left the area. A day after I wrote that, the owls were back and I had a scare. This morning, the coyotes are back. Well now, isn’t that the way it always works? (grin) From around 4 a.m. I was serenaded for almost an hour straight by song dogs. No owls as yet, but I’m sure they’re … Read more

The Journal, Saturday, 4/15

Hey Folks, Well, it’s Saturday. A short post today. As it stands, I’ve watered the yard, and I’m planning to take a drive and a hike to see some petroglyphs with my wife and Bryan. In the afternoon, I’ll either return to one of my WIPs or read. No pressure, no worries. I’m not stuck on either story. Just relaxing my way through the past couple of days, making other things and people priorities. Kind of … Read more