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Just Going To Call It A Day
Not Much Else to Say About Today… Stuff happened, things got done, battles were waged, the internet was slow everywhere, and the day went past. And sometimes that’s all you can say about a day. And sometimes that is more than enough. ———— Challenges THEY START ON SUNDAY… As I have said over and over, only five people have signed up for the short story challenge so far. I expanded it and the novel challenge to eight writers, so still room in both challenges. If interested in signing up, just write me. They are going to be great fun. Here are the details once again. Starts October 1st, WHICH IS…
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New Issues of Smith’s Monthly
Subscribers and Patreon Supporters Got Three Issues… That’s right, in the last week three issues of Smith’s Monthly went out. As many of you know, I’ve been working to catch up with the date on the issues. I was hoping to be caught up by the 50th issue, but not it might take a little longer. And coming shortly, meaning a few weeks, two more issues will go out. Issues #41-43 went out to subscribers and Patreon supporters over the last week. That’s a bunch of reading. (grin) And there was a new Thunder Mountain novel in the group. In the coming Pulphouse Fiction Magazine kickstarter drive starting Thursday, there…
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A Collectables Day Finally
Got to Play With Stuff Today… After the writer’s lunch I went over to Sheldon McArthur’s place and had a blast talking and working with Shelly and his wonderful wife. First off, because I missed last month’s auction, Shelly bought a bunch of stuff that he knew I would want and he was spot on the money. Great stuff. And then we looked at a massive Coca Cola Christmas collection we will be picking up for the stores later in the week. And also an original Dell Comics stand. That’s right, a Dell Comics comic stand, in stunningly good shape. And I collect Dell Four Color comics, so they will…
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Killing the Sacred Cows of Publishing: Beta Readers Help You
This chapter came from me just hearing over and over about how writers are using multiple beta readers. And I honestly just got tired of shuddering every time I heard that stupidity. Chapter Six Beginning writers have a belief that the more people who read their work, the better their work will be. Of course, that flies in the face of any creation of art by an artist. But the fear is great among young writers, most of who are indie writers these days. Long term pros? What do they do? Maybe have one first reader, maybe not. Most not. Why? Because creating original fiction is not a group effort,…
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Lightening, No Internet, Power Flickering
Great Storms Rolling Over… So this is a quick one while the power is still up and I can use my phone as a hot spot for the internet. Smith’s Monthly subscribers and Patreon supporters should have an issue of Smith’s Monthly yesterday. If not and you think you should have, write me. Challenges still have a spot or two left. —————- I’ve been surprised there hasn’t been more interest in this young adult bundle. It has some amazing books and writers in it. The book I have in this new bundle is a pure western young adult called The Life and Times of Buffalo Jimmy. I hope this winter…
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Issue of Smith’s Monthly Going Out
ACTUALLY THREE ISSUES OVER THE NEXT WEEK… Yup, slowly getting back on track. Got a ways to go yet, but getting closer. I would like to be back on track by issue #50. (And yes, when I think about filling my own magazine with 50 novels and over two hundred short stories and other stuff for over four years, I sort of shake my head as well.) But we shall see. I have some writing to do that’s for sure. (grin) But at the moment, subscribers and Patreon supporters will be getting three issues over the next week or so. Today was a fun day up at the office because…
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Coast Mystery Workshop Started
Writers in the Back Room… Tonight at 7 p.m., a bunch of writers from around the country gathered in the meeting room in the WMG offices for a mystery workshop taught by Kris. Looks like a great group and I got to spend about thirty minutes with them before Kris kicked me out and into my office where I worked on Writing into the Dark online workshop. Speaking of coast workshops, a few openings in the Master Class starting on October 21st because of a few cancellations. And also there are three spots in the Anthology workshop in late Feb. If interested, write me. They are invite workshops, but only…
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Crashing Early On a Friday
Been Going Steadily All Day… Took out about forty Black Cat Magazines from 1895 to 1900 for Billy at Pop Culture to sell. That was fun. They are very rare and mostly in fantastic condition. They are a digest-sized magazine that Kris and I have had for a very long time and neither of us have any reason to ever look at them. So off they go. Then I worked up at the office the rest of the afternoon and then home to do email and other stuff all evening. Got a few more brave souls signed up on the challenges starting in October, but still room. Any questions, feel…
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Bet You Didn’t Know I Wrote YA
I Have For Most of My Writing Career… My very first published young adult novel was an Iron Man novel. It was called, if I remember right, Steel Terror. Part of a series one publisher was doing back in the early 1990s in conjunction with Marvel. I had fun writing it, but the series died and that was it. Over the years I wrote a few other young adult novels and stories here and there. But I have two ya novels that were in Smith’s Monthly, first as a serial, then as stand-alone novels. Now, you can get one of those novels in a nifty Storybundle called THE LIGHT IN…
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The Attitude of a Challenge
A Lot Like What Is Needed To Write A Novel… Since I have been talking about the challenges the last two nights, and I got some great letters today from a few brave souls who are interested, I thought I would go over in general the attitude it takes to do a challenge like these. First off, you can never consider the writing “work” in any regard. Writing is play, what you come home from work to do. So part of the attitude about these challenges (or just writing in general) is take the word “work” away from it. You do the best you can and release and move on.…