Dean Wesley Smith

My Updated Fiction Length and Price List for 2017/2018

Hi Folks, First, a few explanatory notes — 1. In everything below, I’m talking about indie publishers, like you and me. All signs indicate the traditional publishing model (the agency model) is dead or dying across the board. I’m also talking here about ebooks. If you want to deal with print, see my excerpt from Dean’s post at http://hestanbrough.com/the-journal-friday-106/. And remember that DWS’ pricing guidelines are for trade paperback books, not mass-market paperback books. 2. As … Read more

Using Italic Attribute in Fiction

Hi Folks, This is a bit of an embarrassment for me. I used to actively teach that the writer should use italics to indicate the characters’ unspoken thoughts. When I was actively editing for other writers, I applied that erroneous rule. One time, I even passed up doing an edit for one writer because she adamantly refused to allow me to change characters’ unspoken thoughts from normal typeface to italics. I felt like she was paying … Read more

Beware of Rights Grabbers

Hi Folks, I really hope I’m preaching to the choir here. Forgive me if that’s true, but better safe than sorry. And if you aren’t currently in the choir, this should convert you. A new literary acquaintance I’ve never met, Linda Maye Adams, commented on Dean Wesley Smith’s blog post  one day awhile back: Just passing along another rights grab I ran across. It’s a writing contest sponsored by a non-profit [Story Shares] who is trying … Read more

HarveyStanbrough.com — A New Look

Hey folks, Some of you might have noticed the website has a new look. If you haven’t, check it out at http://harveystanbrough.com. I’m slowly transitioning the website. Well, expanding might be a better term. The site will continue to be a valuable source for writers. I’ll continue the weekly posts each Tuesday on topics of interest to writers, and the Writers’ Resources listed in the left sidebar will remain. I’ll also continue to offer writer services … Read more

On the Theft of Ebooks

Note: This post was originally scheduled for late 2014. It didn’t post to MailChimp, so I’m posting it again now. I’ve revised the original post so it’s up to date.Hi Folks, This is a necessary post. There is a subculture out there who seems to believe anything electronic is up for grabs, that it belongs to everyone at once. It doesn’t. My unintentional mentor, Dean Wesley Smith, recently (as I write this) posted a blog regarding … Read more

“Real” Books vs. Ebooks

Hey Folks, Note: If you’re one who prefers reading paper books over ebooks, that’s fine. I’m happy for you. Enjoy. This post is not to bash you, but to shed some light on some misconceptions that have been circulating far too long. On my Facebook pages, I recently announced the BundleRabbit bundle (Guns of the West) that includes two of my books, two of DWS’ books, and one each by five other writers. (You can see … Read more

What’s Your Incentive?

Hi Folks, I’ve long needed a specific incentive to do anything, to strive toward any goal, to achieve any level of success. I love telling stories. But that doesn’t provide me with the appropriate incentive to spend hours in the chair writing. I’d also love to make a good living with sales of my fiction, but because I’m a realist, that doesn’t provide even the slightest impetus. The fact is, these things take time, and frankly, … Read more

The Journal, Thursday, 6/22

Hey Folks, Well, I’m back in St. David. Left Alamo this morning around 2:30 a.m. and got here at around 8. It was a good trip, and very enjoyable, but I need to get back to what I do. Although I hoped to write while I was gone, it just wasn’t in the cards. For one thing, on the travel days I was tireder than I used to be after a trip like that. On the … Read more

The Journal, Wednesday, 6/21

Hey Folks, Well, zero fiction writing yesterday. Frankly, the trip took more out of me than I expected it to. No AC in my pickup currently, so it was six hours of heat, being buffeted by the wind, and noise. (grin) A true adventure. And it was only six hours, but it’s been a long time since I did a road trip of any significant length. Anyway, so last night, after squaring away a few things … Read more

The Journal, Tuesday, 6/20

Hey Folks, Traveling a bit later today, so I’ll post this early. If I have a chance to update it later, I’ll do so. If not, well, at least there’s this. I expect to write the whole time I’m gone. Well, each day that I’m gone. That will provide a bit of a challenge in itself. I think maybe I’m gonna put together a Kickstarter campaign. Definitely going to look into it. I have an idea … Read more