In Today's Journal
* CORRECTION
* What the New Amazon...
* From Tiffany G About Atticus
* From Bob B About Cover Design
* Stuff About Writing
* Of Interest
* The Numbers
CORRECTION
A writer reported "invalid code" when she tried to download Quiet the Critical Voice and Write Fiction yesterday. (Thanks, CG.)
I went back and checked, and I found I'd done something stupid. Happens sometimes. (I know, total shock, right?)
This offer now runs from today through Sunday, June 28. If critical voice is slowing or stopping your writing, PLEASE download this FREE book. It will help.
At checkout, enter the coupon code MHGUD585KD.
You can download the book in .pdf, .mobi, and .epub. Free.
What the New Amazon Print Royalty Changes Mean for Authors
I know I mentioned this recently in a link in Of Interest, but this is a much more in-depth look. That's why it's up here in the body of TNDJ.
For just one example,
"If your current price falls below the new minimum, your royalty per sale may drop to zero. In that case, you will need to raise your book's price to continue earning.
"You can check your titles using Amazon’s Printing Costs and Royalty Calculator or by reviewing each book’s pricing information in your KDP Bookshelf."
If you publish to paper via Amazon, you definitely need to read this article.
Also, as I mentioned last time, it might be a good idea to check into Draft2Digital's POD option.
From Tiffanie Gray About Atticus
"I also have an Atticus 'step-by-step' list for making clean copy for Atticus to format manuscripts, no videos or extraneous steps in that one, for people who use or want to use Atticus.
"And if folks just want someone to 'do it for them' (either covers or formatting) I have great prices for people who say they follow TNDJ!"
If you're interested, contact Tiffanie at tiffanie_gray@sbcglobal.net.
Thanks, Tiff.
From Bob B About Cover Design
"I'd like to mention Lesia S, also known as German Creative on Fiverr. She has been doing almost all of Cap Daniels' books for years and is really good. And her prices are super, super low."
Thanks, Bob.
Stuff About Writing
Usually when my fiction writing slows down a little or sags, there's a big reason. That was true this time too.
The story had all but slowed to a crawl. Something was wrong, but it took me days to put my finger on exactly what it was: I was trying to force the POV character into a mold.
Never mind that the character himself had established that mold a few books ago. But as the character finally made plain to me, the old mold no longer fit. Or as Sam himself put it, "That was then. This is now. Get over it already and let's do this thing."
So what changed?
Without spoiling anything, I can tell you only that Sam Granger, the current POV character in the Blackwell Ops series, recently (like in Blackwell Ops 45) received a massively important appointment within the Blackwell Ops organization.
As a result, his attitude changed just as it would for practically anyone you know. And with that change of attitude came a change of voice. A change in the way he expresses himself and his newfound confidence.
That's what caused the recent slowdown in my writing. Sam (of course) knew the change had happened, as did I.
But he also knew the new attitude and the new voice, and I didn't recognize it. I was a little slow to catch on to what was happening. So everything slowed to a crawl.
Fortunately, yesterday I let him bring me up to speed. Note that "I" didn't do it by consciously trying to figure out what was going on. All I did was let go of trying to figure it out.
I re-read the story from the beginning yesterday morning (as a reader, cycling), and the problem became apparent almost immediately:
As a result of that letting go, Sam (the character who's living the story) and I (who serve only as Sam's fingers on the keyboard) are rolling again. As a result, the story is far tighter AND more authentic (true to the character's voice).
What a relief!
Always trust your characters, folks.
They, not you, are actually living the story—well, if you're writing their authentic story—and they're gonna win anyway. You might as well let go and surrender early so you can get on with the story sooner rather than later.
Of Interest
Advanced Magic Bakery… Chapter Eight
All about writer-director Steven Spielberg
Dr. Mardy's Quotes of the Week: “Living in the Present Moment"
Vigilante Anthology SUBMISSION Guidelines Read carefully. I would NOT personally recommend committing to not publishing a story elsewhere for a full year after the anthology is published. IMHO that's just crazy talk.
The Numbers
The Journal…………………………… 810
Writing of “Hard-Boiled Ain't Always Detectives and PIs”
Day 1…… 1549 words. To date…… 1549 done
Writing of Blackwell Ops 46: Sam Granger | Still on the Ghost Trail
Day 1…… 1814 words. To date…… 1814
Day 2…… 2645 words. To date…… 4459
Day 3…… 1507 words. To date…… 5966
Day 4…… 1664 words. To date…… 7630
Day 5…… 1283 words. To date…… 8913
Fiction for June………………………. 32949
Fiction for 2025………………………. 496401
Nonfiction for June………………....... 17130
Nonfiction for 2025…………………… 1432800
2025 consumable words…………….. 633171
2025 Novels to Date…………………….. 12
2025 Novellas to Date…………………… 0
2025 Short Stories to Date……………… 27
Novels (since Oct 19, 2014)…………..... 116
Novellas (since Nov 1, 2015)…………… 10
Short stories (since Apr 15, 2014)……… 297
Short story collections……………………. 29
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Questions are always welcome at harveystanbrough@gmail.com. But please limit yourself to the topics of writing and publishing.
Re Vigilante Submission Guidelines: "...agree that you will not publish the story elsewhere until, and for one year following, the release..."
Until? What happens if the collection is NEVER released? That still appears to apply.
Often when I have a story slow down it's because I try to force the character or story into a mold. The more I study writing craft, the more I think I should trust the process and characters.