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
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
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
Hey Folks, Well, something’s ‘off’ in my world today. Not sure what, and therefore not sure how to fix it. I’m annoyed. I’ll leave it at that. I’m also not sure what will happen around here today. So I’m calling this a nonwriting day. (Turned out to be a writing day after all.) I won’t write, at least not fiction, unless a lot of stuff in my mind settles out. Maybe I’ll start a new website … Read more
Hey Folks, I hope you check out my site from time to time, especially the left sidebar under Writers’ Resources. This morning I needed a refresher (and ready reference) for the police 10-codes. So I found a reference and added a link under “A-Police 10-Codes.” Anyway, check that sidebar now and then. There’s a lot of good stuff there. * * * Well, as it turned out I took most of the day off. During that … Read more
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
Hey Folks, This morning I approved and responded to a comment on my latest ProWriters post over on the big blog. After I did that, I read over the post. It was a topic from the Journal a couple of years ago. And I noticed that I had quoted some stats: “Through yesterday, May 9, 2015 (as I write this) 128 days have passed since January 1. During that 128 days, I’ve written 284,100 publishable words … Read more
Hey Folks, Wow. One day left in March. Just today. It went by so fast! By the time you read this, my buddy, my grandson and I will be doing little or nothing in one of the more beautiful spots on Earth, about 500 feet above the Gila River about 20 miles north/northeast of Lordsburg NM. Back on Monday, April 3. Topic: Indy Publishing Company/Imprint For this topic, just in case anyone needs it, I’m basically … Read more
Hey Folks, Dean has begun a series of posts on copyright. I’m not personally wild about the analogy he uses, but there should be a ton of good information there over the next several days. * * * I said I would update you regarding my experience with Cover to Upload. Kathy did an excellent job, put up with my requirements and changes, was very quick to respond, and even uploaded the thing to CreateSpace for … Read more
Hey Folks, Good ol’ Verizon woke me up at 1:03 a.m. with a text message. When the tone went off, naturally I thought there was some sort of family emergency. Uh, no. Verizon wanted to inform me that I had “only” 25% of my data left with 2 days remaining in a 30-day cycle. Seriously. How do they not know 25% data should last 7.5 days in a 30 day cycle? Yeah, I know it was … Read more