• Challenge,  On Writing

    Fifty

    Title of the 50th Story In My Daily Short Story Challenge… That’s right, just for kicks and giggles, I realized as I started into the story and put the date on the file that it was story #50 of the challenge. So I figured, “Why Not?” And I titled the story “Fifty” and started writing. Turned out to be a 2,300 word Thunder Mountain story. Fun one. The challenge of a story per day for a year is going along fine so far. I am behind only on getting the stories on Patreon. Put another up last night, going for sleep tonight so no more tonight. As it was on…

  • Challenge,  On Writing

    A List of Stories So Far

    Even Though No Covers Yet… Thought I would list the short stories I have finished. The titles and their series, if any. I think the first 17 are all in series, so clearly had some stories to tell in my series, although one is a brand new series. More than likely in a few months, I will be telling non-series stories as well, plus maybe even some new series as they come up. All titles came from my title sheets to start, a few got changed as I went along. So here are the 17 stories as of the one I finished a bit ago. Jan 1st… The Curious Reasons…

  • Challenge,  Kickstarter Campaign,  On Writing

    Writing Challenge Update…

    January 12th, 2020 Twelve days, twelve new short stories. (And yes, will start getting them to Paetron shortly. Just been stupidly busy and I have two projects to finish first in the next two days.) I also have not yet done the covers for ten of them. (Again, just too busy.) And a bunch of these would not have been written if not for the challenge. In fact, the story I wrote last night starting late and dead tired Kris said was wonderful and she thinks Queen would take it. I was shocked. Some of the others are clearly starts of novels I wrapped down to end as a short…

  • Challenge,  motivation,  Recommended Reading

    Something Added to Motivational Mondays

    Three Learning and Motivational Videos Every Monday Morning… And the first ones are about to go up, since it is now early Monday morning. For those signed up, they are in the first quarter, of course, even though this is still December. But on a whim, I added something more for most every Monday. A pithy, motivational quote in a 4th video. Sometimes it might have something to do with the three other videos. Sometimes not. This first one not so much. But a good one to focus on for the new year. So the first Motivational Monday is today. I will finish and post this blog, then go make…

  • Challenge,  On Writing,  publishing

    Downside of Being Disorganized…

    Just Because I Like to Write… Yup, me and Heinlein’s 4th Rule have a sort of love/hate relationship. As I have said often, I have no idea how many short stories I have written. Number ranges from 400 and up. Maybe way up. Over 200 have been published in Smith’s Monthly alone. So while putting the next issue of Smith’s Monthly together, I had a story manuscript in paper, but could not find the file anywhere. So a few days later I had my writing computer basically give up the ghost (lost nothing but the mouse said “Nope” and I tried three different alternatives and all of them said, “Nope.”),…

  • Challenge,  Kickstarter Campaign

    There Will Be A Sixth Book!

    …Of Science Fiction Short Stories… That’s right, we hit the 5th stretch reward in Colliding Worlds Kickstarter Campaign, so Kris and I are now putting together the sixth book of science fiction short stories. 120 stories now in a six volume set. Everyone will get the sixth volume in electronic form, but if you want the first five, you need to pick that reward or add them to another reward. And if you are getting the original five in trade paper, we will send you a sixth trade paper without any extra cost and if your reward is the signed/limited hardbacks, we will send you a sixth signed/limited hardback without…

  • Challenge,  On Writing

    The Problem of a Writing Rut…

    Especially with Short Stories… I am not talking about writing short stories themselves. I am talking about a topic rut. Honestly, never noticed this before now. I can get writing on novels and stay in the same topic for one or two novels before needing to break free and write something else. No issue. With novels could always tell when I was burning out on a topic or series. I come back to topics and subjects all the time over years of time. No issue there either. But had an interesting, if not short-term thing happen tonight. I didn’t want to write another cat story. I was burnt out on…

  • Challenge,  publishing

    WMG Holiday Spectacular 2020

    ONLY FOUR DAYS LEFT!! This ends on Tuesday at 7 pm, folks and you don’t want to miss it. The 2020 Holiday Spectacular Kickstarter campaign is like we did 1n 2019, only better. For those who get the 2020 calendar in this campaign, you will get an original holiday story delivered to your inbox every day from American Thanksgiving (November 26th) through January 1st, 2021. (Yes, sort of an Advent Calendar using original short stories.) What a fantastic way to ride out of this crazy year. Over 25 professional writers have written original stories for this and the entire project is edited by Kristine Kathryn Rusch, award-winning editor. Kris also…

  • Challenge,  Kickstarter Campaign,  On Writing,  publishing

    Short Story and Fun Project

    Writing a Lot of Short Stories Lately… Tonight I just finished a new Poker Boy story for a project, got another cat story to write for the cat books, and have another story assignment. But one story assignment I hope you will all help me get comes through this really nifty Kickstarter campaign going on from the amazing Robert T. Jeschonek. Many of you know Robert from his fantastic stories in both Fiction River and Pulphouse Magazine, but he also writes amazing novels and sells his short fiction to just about every major market. And now he is editing this wild and fun idea and wants me to write a…

  • Challenge,  On Writing,  publishing

    First Thirty-Three

    Publishing Today!!! Everyone who supported my Make 100 Short Story Paperbacks Kickstarter last year should be getting a download copy of the First Thirty-Three collection. The second two will be early next month. Great fun! And a lot of reading. Thanks, everyone for the support. Here is the cover. It will take a few days before it gets to all the locations and stores. And the trade paperback and hardbacks will take a bit longer after that. A big book. A link to the project page on WMG.