Purpose: To share and encourage. Writers can express doubts and concerns without fear of appearing foolish or weak. Those who have been through the fire can offer assistance and guidance. It’s a safe haven for insecure writers of all kinds!

And now, for something completely different…

A little good news.

I had a story accepted for publication in Tales to Terrify. Is everybody jumping up and down and screaming with me, yet? If not… it’s a Hugo-Nominated publication. And they’re a podcast, so they’ll wind up producing it in an audio format, with an amazing narrator.  I don’t have a date for it, yet, but I’ll keep you informed. (Loudly, repeatedly, and with much tooting of my own horn.)

August 4 question – What is your favorite writing craft book? Think of a book that every time your read it you learn something or you are inspired to write or try the new technique. And why?

I’m not sure if it’s really a “book”… it might be a workshop or a community… but in light of the pandemic… and everything else… and all the other things I don’t want to talk about, I’m going to recommend 21 Ways To Get Yourself Writing When Your Life Has Just Exploded from Holly Lisle. It focuses on rebuilding momentum, after something bad has happened. So, uhm… 2020. (Yes, that’s an affiliate link. Yes, I get paid if you buy something. No, it doesn’t cost you any more. Now, go buy something.)

But that wasn’t really the question. There are so many craft books that I’ve read over the years! Writing the Breakout Novel sticks with me. (Although I’m still looking to write my break-in novel.)

So, where am I, this month?

Hmmm. I’m starting to regain some of my own momentum. And the way that I’m doing it is by recording separate word counts for morning, lunch, and evening. So… no hedging, no betting on that time I think I’m going to get later… if I’m going to get my morning word count in, I’d better write something right now.

The gold star chart is trailing off into oblivion.

And I have a new journal setup coming, soon, so I can make a clean break from the last year or so, as soon as it gets here. I’m tired of looking at the stuff I’ve been dragging around behind me. I’m tired of being reminded. And to be fair, I think that I have some upgrades that I want to try.