• Challenge,  On Writing,  publishing,  workshops,  Writing in Public

    Enough For The Moment

    Enough For the Moment Did a lot of words here on blogs the last few days, so scroll down and read those posts. Going to take a break today. I got my 10,000 steps in and all workshop assignments done. And did a fun podcast that will be out in September. So more on that later. ———- September Online Workshops Click the workshop tab above for description and sign-up or go to www.wmgpublishingworkshops.com. Questions about any of the workshops, feel free to write me. Class #21… Sept 6th … Author Voice Class #22… Sept 6th … How to Write Thrillers Class #23… Sept 6th … Speed Class #24… Sept 6th … Writing Mysteries Class #25… Sept 6th … Character Development…

  • Challenge,  On Writing,  publishing,  workshops,  Writing in Public

    Updating

    Updated the Making a Living With Short Fiction Blog Above this I updated the post from 3 years and 6 years ago. That sort of scares me that many years have gone by here. (grin). ——- The Day Monday running errands, then met Kris at the mall because it was so cold and windy here, we decided to run (her) and mostly walk (me) in the parking garage. Yes, I know most of you are in massive heat, and if you go about ten miles inland, it’s hot in Oregon as well. But we live on the Oregon coast for a reason. Today I went out with a sweatshirt and…

  • Challenge,  On Writing,  publishing,  Topic of the Night,  Writing in Public

    A Myth of Time

    A Myth of Time I did a Sacred Cows post below this one. ——- The Day Writers’ meeting, then worked on workshop stuff at WMG, then walked to a late lunch with Kris, then back to work on more workshop stuff. Home to cook a late dinner and take a nap. Then I had to finish my 10,000 (5 miles) steps and got that done right before midnight, then just watched some television until around 2 a.m. Then in here to do e-mail and some more workshop stuff. I’ll fire on the new book tomorrow again. ———- September Online Workshops Click the workshop tab above for description and sign-up or go to www.wmgpublishingworkshops.com. Questions about any…

  • Challenge,  On Writing,  publishing,  Topic of the Night,  workshops,  Writing in Public

    Three Years

    Three Years That’s right, three years ago tomorrow I started this daily blog, missed a few days, then settled into a streak of not missing posting something here. I wrote numbers of non-fiction books here and am working on yet another with the third Sacred Cows book. And three years ago I announced Smith’s Monthly and that the first issue would be out in October three years ago. I should have the 36th issue out in late September if all goes well. Right on time. I had planned to just stop the daily blogs and do special posts blogs, but have now decided to just keep on going for a…

  • Challenge,  On Writing,  publishing,  Topic of the Night,  Writing in Public

    Clearing the Decks

    Clearing the Decks When you have a big challenge starting, the last thing you want to do is have stuff hanging over you. That’s a self-inflicted wound. So see below how I am doing the clearing and what I can’t and don’t want to clear. ——- The Day Ended up behind because of having to run errands, so was late to the walking with the writers. Still got in some. Then back to WMG offices to work on workshop stuff until around 7 p.m. Home for a nap, then dinner, then I got in here and did workshop assignments. Got that all done and went to watch some television, then…

  • Challenge,  On Writing,  publishing,  Topic of the Night,  Writing in Public

    Approach With Attitude

    Approach With Attitude I got a hunch this topic is big enough for a book all its own, or maybe a workshop, but I’m going to talk about it just a touch tonight in regards to the challenge I’m starting on Friday. See below.. ——- The Day Meeting at WMG Publishing offices at 2 p.m., then at 3:30 p.m. I started my standard running all over hell-and-gone doing business errands. Made it back to the office to work on workshop and covers by 5:30 and then off to the grocery store and home to take a nap. Kris did dinner and I did dishes and I got in here around…

  • Challenge,  On Writing,  publishing,  Smiths Monthly,  Writing in Public

    New Smith’s Monthly Issues

    New Smith’s Monthly Issues Turned in Issues #31 and #32 and will turn in Issue #33, the June issue of Smith’s Monthly, when Kris finishes reading the novel I just wrote. So almost caught up to the dates on the magazine. ——- The Day Roamed out to our original store, now called the south store and helped out there for a time with a rush of customers. Kind of fun. Then headed to WMG offices to work on workshop stuff for a time. Then home to take a short nap and cook dinner. Then, after a little e-mail, I sat and read for a while. (Some of you wondered if…

  • Challenge,  On Writing,  publishing,  Topic of the Night,  Writing in Public

    Novel Finished

    Novel Finished Yup, finished the second novel of the month. Of course, the last one I started last month, but got this one done in ten days. ——- The Day I paid no attention to the day today, honestly. Got home from being out doing errands around 5:30 p.m. and I worked, off and on, until 4:30 a.m. on finishing the novel. Mostly on. I wrote about 7,100 total words and cut out about fifteen hundred total, which isn’t bad for me. Book came in just under 40,000 words. The Taft Ranch: A Thunder Mountain Novel will be in Smith’s Monthly #33. I will be turning in the issue to WMG,…

  • Challenge,  On Writing,  publishing,  Topic of the Night,  workshops,  Writing in Public

    Fun Workshop Poll Results

    Fun Workshop Poll Results Thank you, everyone, for chiming in on what might interest you on the three workshops Kris and I were talking about. Very clear that the Expectations (writing on the rails) workshop and the Mystery workshop were the two big winners. More on that below.. ——- The Day Got out of bed late and missed one meeting and from that point on the afternoon seemed to be behind. So I did some work in our new bookstore and then headed home to take a nap. Kris cooked dinner, I did dishes and did e-mail and then went to reading a book I’ve been looking forward to reading.…

  • Challenge,  On Writing,  publishing,  Topic of the Night,  workshops,  Writing in Public

    Some New Workshop Ideas

    New Workshop Ideas After meetings this afternoon, Kris and I headed over to the valley to do some shopping, have dinner and see a movie. On the way back we got talking about ideas for new workshops. See topic of the night below on a few of them. ——- The Day WMG Publishing meeting at 2 p.m. and then around 4 p.m. Kris and I headed for the valley. We live on the Oregon Coast, so at times we go into the Wallamette Valley to just get away. So we did some shopping, had diner and saw a movie. Got home around 12 p.m. and I did a little e-mail,…