Another Tip for Your Blog
In Today's Journal
* Quote of the Day
* Another Tip for Your Blog
* How Am I Qualified...?
* By the Way
* Of Interest
* The Numbers
Quote of the Day
“Take joy in the process, because the process is the only thing you have control over." Robyn Carr during a keynote address (see Of Interest)
Another Tip for Your Blog
Balázs Jámbor mentioned in a comment yesterday,
"I use my own domain name with WordPress(.org) and I'm considering start a substack blog as well. I've started posting weekly, but unfortunately the streak broke. Now I'm powering up to restart."
Using your own name in your URL for your website and/or your Substack is a great idea. Makes it easier for people to find you and tie into your name as a writer.
Speaking of which, it's also a great idea to have at least one email address that's yourname@emailprovider.com.
And be sure to add your URL(s) as a signature at the bottom of every email. For an example, email me and check out my signature when I reply.
How Am I Qualified to Talk About Blogging?
Well, for one thing, TNDJ has been running off and on since 2014, so eleven years. Yes, even when I wasn't writing fiction for a couple of years of that time.
For another, I also have Stanbrough Writes, to which I post a new short story every week. That one's been going since I posted "Coralín" back on November 1, 2022. So for about two and a half years. Every week. (grin)
And then I have the almost brand-new Your Morning Serial, on which I serialize (so far) my latest novels. I finished Blackwell Ops 42: Sam Granger on April 25 and will begin serializing it on May 1.
I also have the minuscule Harvey’s Notes to Earth in which I'd hoped to write a bit about my characters, worlds, etc. but that one hasn't found a slot in my schedule yet. (grin) Despite my having written the "Welcome" note back in September 2024.
Anyway, for more on those two fiction blogs, read on:
Stanbrough Writes
I'm not sure how long my personal short story venue will run, but probably at least through the end of 2025.
Yesterday I caught up and posted a bunch of new stories. Now that blog is set to deliver a new short story on Friday of every week up through October 10.
If you'd like a free short story every Friday at 10 a.m., stop by Stanbrough Writes and subscribe. It's free.
Of course, there's also a paid tier ($5 per month or $50 per annum) if you're feeling generous. (grin)
Your Morning Serial
No paid tier on this one yet, so all subscriptions are free. Stop by Your Morning Serial and subscribe to read the best novel I've written to date.
Today and/or tomorrow I'll add all 30 chapters, at least one chapter per day every day, to Your Morning Serial. The first chapter is very short (only around 700 words).
I'll definitely post Chapters 29 and 30 together. They total a little under 1000 words.
Whether I'll keep serializing novels depends solely on how many subscribers I can rack up who actually read them.
Okey doke. If you have any questions about blogging, you're more than welcome to pick my brain. TNDJ is all about sharing.
By the Way
If anyone would like a copy of the short story "Coralín," please email me and let me know. I'll send you a PDF copy free.
What an incredibly lovely creature she is! Not to mention she's an indomitable force of nature, as the hapless, helpless, defenseless Texas Ranger Wes Crowley soon learned. (grin)
Can you tell I'm having a fun day? Gonna go write now. Talk with you again soon.
Of Interest
The Best Writing Advice I Ever Received Now and then even Writer's Digest comes up with a gem of a post. (Okay, except that "spending months or years with plots or characters" thing. Ugh.)
10 Timeless Writing and Publishing Tips I Learned from Romance Authors For whatever you think it's worth.
Why Is It Called a “Duffel Bag”? Duffel bags and gym bags populate the Blackwell Ops world.
The Numbers
The Journal…………………………… 710
Writing of "The Dunlap-Denman Hit"
Day 1…… 1869 words. To date…… 1869 done
Writing of Blackwell Ops 43: Sam Granger | The Quiz Master
Day 1…… 2242 words. To date…… 2242
Day 2…… 3315 words. To date…… 5557
Day 3…… 3192 words. To date…… 8749
Day 4…… 3439 words. To date…… 12188
Fiction for April……………………….. 104405
Fiction for 2025………………………. 371355
Nonfiction for April………………........ 19080
Nonfiction for 2025…………………… 100610
2025 consumable words…………….. 465455
Average Fiction WPD (March)……... 3727
2025 Novels to Date…………………….. 9
2025 Novellas to Date…………………… 0
2025 Short Stories to Date……………… 26
Novels (since Oct 19, 2014)…………..... 113
Novellas (since Nov 1, 2015)…………… 10
Short stories (since Apr 15, 2014)……… 296
Short story collections……………………. 29
Whatever you believe, unreasoning fear and the myths that outlining, revising, and rewriting will make your work better are lies. They will always slow your progress as a writer or stop you cold. I will never teach the myths on this blog.
Writing fiction should never be something that stresses you out. It should be fun. On this blog I teach Writing Into the Dark and adherence to Heinlein’s Rules. Because of WITD and because I endeavor to follow those Rules I am a prolific professional fiction writer. You can be too.
If you are able, please support TNDJ with a paid subscription. Thank you!
If you’re new to TNDJ, you might want to check out these links:
Oh, and here’s My Bio. It’s always a good idea to vet the expertise of people who are giving you advice.
Questions are always welcome at harveystanbrough@gmail.com. But please limit yourself to the topics of writing and publishing.
Good articles on writing. And the one on duffel bags was also interesting.