The Journal, Saturday, 8/8

The Day
Rolled out right at 2. Like yesterday, I spent a short time on email and games to wake up. Then I turned to the writing computer and did a very short session of around 400 words to finish the big battle scene from yesterday. This is an extremely emotional scene. Whew.

No walk this morning as I wasn’t feeling well. Nothing serious, just blah.

Finally decided to hit Walmart early in the day to stock up on groceries. Got back by about 8:30, put stuff away, then fixed and ate breakfast. Checked and answered email again, then turned to the writing computer again and powered through to the end in two sessions, each of which was about an hour.

Some very interesting things happened in the last few thousand words. MAN I love my characters! They’re never shy about throwing me a curve. Keeps it interesting. (As Ray Bradbury said, if you don’t surprise yourself as a writer, how can you expect to surprise your readers?)

Then I came to write this post and finally remembered to check Dean’s blog post. Again, interesting. Today he started an instruction book for writers called “How to Write Fiction Sales Copy.” If you want to learn how to write blurbs, etc. (sales copy), I advise you to tune in to his blog for awhile and read the posts.

Battle 180Anyway, I ran the spell-checker (that’s my second draft) and then created a cover. (That’s it over there on the right.) After that I published the book to Smashwords and Amazon for pre-orders. It will release officially on 1 October. If you’d care for a preview, please visit http://harveystanbrough.com/the-battle-of-tres-caballos. I think you’ll enjoy the excerpt there. (grin)

Topic of the Night: Another Challenge Coming

When I went to Smashwords and Amazon today to publish The Battle of Tres Caballos, the process seemed very stiff and stilted. That was my fault, not the fault of the sites.

When I was writing a short story every week (and creating a cover and publishing it and combining the latest 5 or 10 stories in a collection and creating a cover and publishing it) I was a very busy camper. (grin) I was publishing something at least once a week, so I got in practice.

Now I’m rusty. I’m also old and cratchety (old and cratchety enough that I really like the word “cratchety”), so I’m rustier than I’d have been at say 60 or whatever.

So I think another self-challenge is on the horizon. I would LOVE for you (all of you or any of you) to join me in that challenge if you want, but more than likely I won’t ask. I mean, if you wanna do it (or even a modified version of it), take a hint from Nike and Just Do It.

Okay, sorry for the abbreviated topic, but I’m pooped.

Today’s Writing
Great day of writing today. The characters surprised me two or three times during the climax and ANOTHER two or three times during the ending. Incredible fun.

Fiction words: 2405

Writing of The Battle of Tres Caballos (Book 8)
Day 1…… 4125 words. Total words to date…… 4125
Day 2…… 2624 words. Total words to date…… 6749
Day 3…… 2766 words. Total words to date…… 9515
Day 4…… 1412 words. Total words to date…… 10927
Day 5…… 3441 words. Total words to date…… 14368
Day 6…… 1052 words. Total words to date…… 15420
Day 7…… 2486 words. Total words to date…… 17906
Day 8…… 3201 words. Total words to date…… 21107
Day 9…… 3186 words. Total words to date…… 24293
Day 10… 1585 words. Total words to date…… 25878
Day 11… 2178 words. Total words to date…… 28056
Day 12… 1730 words. Total words to date…… 29786
Day 13… 1083 words. Total words to date…… 30869
Day 14… 1784 words. Total words to date…… 32653
Day 15… 4018 words. Total words to date…… 36671
Day 16… 3116 words. Total words to date…… 39787
Day 17… 1678 words. Total words to date…… 41469
Day 18… 1805 words. Total words to date…… 43274
Day 19… 2713 words. Total words to date…… 45987
Day 20… 1541 words. Total words to date…… 47528
Day 21… 3503 words. Total words to date…… 51031
Day 22… 2405 words. Total words to date…… 53436 (done)

Total fiction words for the month…………… 7449
Total fiction words for the year……………… 449849