The Journal, Tuesday, 3/7

Hey Folks,

Well, my grandson is off today unless he gets called in. So he’s up at the house working his way through his GED book.

I, on the other hand, am out in the Hovel where I shall endeavor to persevere in the insane challenge I set for myself a few days ago. (grin)

A few thoughts on getting up early…

It isn’t really necessary to my writing, as I long since gave up on writing as soon as I get up. But it gives me time to wake up, play with Facebook etc. in a quiet house.

Then when everyone else goes to work, I do too, except my work is play.

Really, I think I’m clinging to the early wake-up time so when the warmer mornings start to hit I can get out for a walk.

This back thing I have affects my sciatic nerve. Strongly.

About the best thing you can do for sciatica is walk.

Only the back thing makes walking on any kind of slope (every very light grades, up or down) difficult.

So if I walk enough, it will alleviate the sciatica.

But if I walk too much, it aggravates the arthritis. See how that works? (grin)

So I guess we’ll see.

Topic: Reading, Studying, Subscribing

One person commented in an email that I should be happy for Dean and Kris regarding the resurgence of Pulphouse.

Of course, I am happy for them. I said so in this Journal (http://harveystanbrough.com/daily-journal/the-journal-monday-36/) yesterday and in the first comment on Dean’s post.

The person also said I should subscribe to Pulphouse and read the works of those who are selected to write for the magazine even if they don’t open the magazine up for submissions.

Uh, no, for reasons stated previously.

Finally, the person said I can learn a great deal from studying those writings.

Okay, possibly.

Remember, the works that will be showcased in Pulphouse (like the works that are showcased in any publication) are still only there because one reader (the editor, the selector) decided the story is good. Meaning it’s ostensiby well written and to that selector’s taste.

I’m certainly not saying the stories won’t be good. But certainly not all of the stories selected by that one selector will be the same stories I or You or Anyone Else would have selected.

Given the chance, Dean would tell you the same thing.

As for learning to write by reading, I fully agree. That’s one reason I touted The Black Lizard Big Book of Pulps. (The link is in “Of Interest” again today, for the final time.)

But there are so many excellent works out there already that I’ll never have time to read and study all of them.

So again, IF the magazine were open to submissions and IF I wanted to consider submitting my own work to it, I would subscribe and read/study the stories within it. Albeit more to get a sense of what the editor wants to see than for any other reason.

Yes, Dean is an award-winning writer. Yes, Kris has won more awards than anyone else in history for both writing and editing. And yes, I admire the snot out of both of them for their skill.

If I didn’t, I wouldn’t have invested a few thousand dollars in their workshops and lectures over the past few years. And it was money well spent in almost every case.

But each of them (selectors) still have opinions and preferences concerning what they like and what they don’t like. Just like the editors of every other magazine out there.

So back to the question of submissions.

Would I like them to like my work? Shrug. Sure.

If they didn’t, would the world end? Nope. I’d read over the story, slip it into another electronic or paper envelope, and ship it to the next venue (Heinlein’s Rule #5: Keep the story on the market until it sells).

After all, any editor who slips it into the rejection pile is still only one reader.

But if my work is automatically rejected by default because a magazine doesn’t accept submissions, should I still subscribe?

Sorry. That’s just crazy talk. (grin)

Today, and Writing

Rolled out at 3:30. Did all the usual early morning ritual things, then headed out to the Hovel around 8:15.

I wrote a little on the novel, then checked email (Author Earnings Report) and Dean’s site, then came here and wrote everything above.

9:45, back to the novel.

11, up to the house for a brief break and some tea.

11:20, back to the novel.

A few more shots at the novel, a lot of cycling to add necessary detail (maybe more on the reason for this tomorrow), and a few breaks.

I didn’t get a good word count again today, but the novel’s moving right along.

Back tomorrow.

Of Interest

Check out Dean’s post on Strengths (scroll down past the opening short pararaph). This one might well be worth the time and money: http://www.deanwesleysmith.com/march-online-workshops-starting/.

The latest Author Earnings Report is out, on “The Top 15 Ebook Stores in 5 Countries” at
http://authorearnings.com/report/february-2017/.

And repeated from two days ago (for the final time), if you want to learn a TON about writing, please consider buying THE BLACK LIZARD BIG BOOK OF PULPS. You can find it at Amazon, in paper or Kindle, at https://www.amazon.com/dp/0307280489/.

Fiction Words: 3018
Nonfiction Words: 880 (Journal)
So total words for the day: 3898

Writing of Novel One (tentative title, natch)

Day 1…… 3442 words. Total words to date…… 3442
Day 2…… 2089 words. Total words to date…… 5531
Day 3…… 3018 words. Total words to date…… 8549 words

Total fiction words for the month……… 8549
Total fiction words for the year………… 160415
Total nonfiction words for the month… 3670
Total nonfiction words for the year…… 40260

Total words for the year (fiction and nonfiction)…… 200675