Hi Folks, Every writer I know at one time or another has said (to me or to others while I was eavesdropping) that they want to develop their own unique voice. “I have to say it my way,” they’ll say. “I don’t want it to sound like anyone else.” I’ve even known writers who refuse to read works by other writers in the chosen genre because they’re afraid the other writers’ “style” will taint their own. … Read more
Hey Folks, Well, just last night I was saying I might as well stay up later and get up at a more normal time. The staying up later part isn’t that difficult, but the other is much easier said than done. That’s all right. Easing into the day today. As I write this it’s almost 9 and I’ve done nothing relative to writing. I did go to the grocery early. I like to get there when … Read more
Hey Folks, Well, through my first weekend and the challenge is still on track. And 1/6th over after today. (grin) Harder than it looks. Then again, I know what it is to dig a ditch, so…. The more I think about it, the more I think I’m going to move this Daily Journal blog back over to another website. My main website feels cluttered, and I haven’t had more than a couple of new signups for … Read more
Hey Folks, Topic: Grounding the Reader Mistakenly thinking I was asking for story ideas (a mistake I invoked by saying a few days ago I was “gathering ideas”), a friend sent me this: “Ralph pulled hard on the paddles fighting the current to pass through the water funneling between boulders. A bullet plowed into the rock directly in front of him as the blast of a high-powered rifle reached him.” When I explained I wasn’t really … Read more
Hey Folks, The challenge is going great so far. With only two days in, I’ve already touched the two extremes. First there was a story of around 3,000 words that flowed out as if anxious to get on the page. It was also a possible novel start. Then a story of over 5,000 words that happened only after a false start on another story (almost 1000 words that I didn’t count). So two days in, one … Read more
Hey Folks, Wow. It’s really odd how, with this challenge, I go from chock full of self-confidence to being a scared little rabbit-like creature. (grin) That made me think I should use the Journal for this month to record a series of topics on this experience. If you read them, no matter how accomplished you are, chances are you’ll learn something that will help in your own writing. So here goes… Topic: Day Two of the … Read more
Hey Folks, Journal entries might be sparse here during this month. I kicked off the challenge this morning at around 5 a.m. by posting the first scene of the first story. Woohoo! You can see it (and others by the time you get this) at https://www.facebook.com/HarveyStanbroughWritingInPublic/. You can also see the whole story in the right sequence by clicking http://harveystanbrough.com/the-june-challenge/. In the “Writing Of” section below, short stories for June will be numbered for now (unless … Read more