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, 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

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, Saturday, 4/8

Hey Folks, Yesterday turned out to be productive, albeit not with actual writing. I did create a cover and a promo doc and get the new book up in all major e-venues. But this morning, something was bugging me about that cover. It just didn’t pop off the page. So I revised it. Now it reflects “noir” better and it pops off the page. That’s it on the left over there. Topic: Thoughts on Novel Two-Fers … Read more

The Journal, Tuesday, 4/4

Hey Folks, Probably not a lot to report today. Just writing. Today, and Writing Rolled out at 4. I’d really rather get up around 3. Only I think my body’s adjusting to the coming earlier sunrises. Spent the first few hours working on a website for a friend and resizing covers for another. The website took awhile as it’s still in the old Thesis theme. Thesis was state-of-the-art a few years ago, and mostly code. I’ve … Read more

The Journal, Monday, 4/3

Hey Folks, Huh. Guess we made it back. Otherwise I wouldn’t be writing this. I played catch up with some email and FB stuff last night, but was too tired to tackle photos from the trip. I’ll do that this morning, then ease my way back into writing The Pyramid Killer. Of course, I’ll begin by cycling back through. Probably I’ll read the first few paragraphs of every chapter to reacquaint myself with the story. Even … Read more

The Journal, Thursday, 3/30

Hey Folks, Well, planning, right? I have today left to finish the novel if I’m gonna finish it this month. I was even thinking if I felt like the end was really close, I could take my computer with me. That way I’d have whatever’s left of tomorrow too after we travel to the campsite. You know, Justin Case. But planning is important. And priorities. Priorities are important. Today I have to head to the grocery … Read more

The Journal, Wednesday, 3/29

Hey Folks, Well, yesterday the doc appointment took only all morning vs. all day. It went well. We got home around 2. I did get back to the novel around 3. I cycled back through what I wrote a couple days ago then started a new scene. I added only around 200 words. Just wasn’t into it. * * * Something fun for you. Know why I write fiction? ‘Cause reality is entirely too weird. See … Read more