One True Sentence
In Today's Journal
* Quote of the Day
* One True Sentence
* Another Interesting Meme
* Update on Kickstarter
* The Writing
* Of Interest
* The Numbers
Quote of the Day
“You have always written before and you will write now. All you have to do is write one true sentence. Write the truest sentence that you know.” – Ernest Hemingway in A Moveable Feast
Happy birthday to my own papa, Harvey C. Stanbrough, who died in 1997. He would've been 87 today.
One True Sentence
For a fiction writer, that’s the essence of Everything Else.
One true sentence is both the core and the boundary of the short story or novella or novel that is the fiction writer’s current universe. It both binds that universe to itself and, with quality, limits its unchecked expansion.
At the same time, you want to not focus on words or sentences as you write. Your focus should be on the POV character, whose focus is on Story.
I'd seen that quote many times before I started writing fiction in earnest. But when I heard it plainly spoken by the man himself in a dream one night back in late 2014, it finally sank in.
That quote, coupled with my determination to adhere to Heinlein's Rules and write organically off into the dark is what propelled me to become a professional fiction writer.
When you write fiction, you tell the truth of your characters' story, one true sentence at a time.
Update on Kickstarter
Coming on June 3!
If you haven't yet, please stop by and check out the True Pulp Kickstarter.
While you're there, click "Notify me of Launch" to show your interest. Early interest will help with the Kickstarter. And thanks.
Special Kickstarter Edition Cover
Those who eventually donate to the Kickstarter will get a special-edition cover that's available only through the Kickstarter. The 'regular' cover when the book is published will be different.
A Special Stretch Goal
Troy Lambert also announced he's adding another stretch goal. During that one, donors will receive a bonus book from each author. My bonus book will be my One-Off Mystery Omnibus (six novels and a novella).
Another Interesting Meme
The Writing
After many cuts and about an hour of actual writing, the novel wrapped yesterday at just over 42000 words. Spell-checked it and sent it off to my first reader.
Then I finished the short story I started the other day. The title is "Redemption" now.
Other than sending out an issue of TNDJ (if I have something to talk about) and correcting any glitches Russ finds in BO-44 (and publishing) I'll be taking a little time off.
Of Interest
A True Pulp Conversation with John Hemingway!
Writing Noir, by Paul D. Brazill
Some Hints on the Super Great Challenges
Writing Advice From John Steinbeck I ran this awhile back when KC sent me the link. Then another friend (Thanks, ML!) sent me an excerpt yesterday. Rather than repeating the excerpt, I figured I'd link to the whole article again.
The Numbers
The Journal…………………………… 500
Writing of “Redemption”
Day 1…… 1863 words. To date…… 1863
Day 2…… 1458 words. To date…… 3321 done
Writing of Blackwell Ops 44: Sam Granger | Following the Ghost Trail
Day 1…… 3613 words. To date…… 3613
Day 2…… 2893 words. To date…… 6506
Day 3…… 1824 words. To date…… 8330
Day 4…… 3025 words. To date…… 11355
Day 5…… 3697 words. To date…… 15052
Day 6…… 3428 words. To date…… 18480
Day 7…… 1013 words. To date…… 19493
Day 8…… 2993 words. To date…… 22486
Day 9…… 3310 words. To date…… 25796
Day 10…. 4379 words. To date…… 30175
Day 11…. 3952 words. To date…… 34127
Day 12…. 3809 words. To date…… 37936
Day 13…. 2497 words. To date…… 41047
Day 14…. 0979 words. To date…… 42026 done
Fiction for May………………………... 71737
Fiction for 2025………………………. 450150
Nonfiction for May………………........ 19200
Nonfiction for 2025…………………… 120290
2025 consumable words…………….. 563930
Average Fiction WPD (May)……...... 3261
2025 Novels to Date…………………….. 11
2025 Novellas to Date…………………… 0
2025 Short Stories to Date……………… 26
Novels (since Oct 19, 2014)…………..... 115
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.
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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.
Thanks Uncle Harvey!
Great hints for the challenges! 👌