This year, I wrote a little over 230,000 words in fiction, non-fiction, and journaling. The figure might be a little higher, because my record keeping system was crap for much of the year, so I think some titles didn’t counted properly. I had no word count goal for the year, so even though I feel like I could’ve done more, 230k is a win.
Friday Morning Pages: Attitude
In 2016, I wrote eight weekly short essays about writing for my National Novel Writing Month region. They focus on practical advice for the aspiring novelist during November, with topics like attitude, time management, writing scenes, and finding the end. Over the next eight weeks I’ll republish the essays to my blog, for everyone to…… Continue reading Friday Morning Pages: Attitude
Friday Morning Page: What You Wanna Do?
After I left college for the first time, I had spent a lot of years defining myself as an intellectual, but none of that time of deep thinking helped me figure what I wanted to do in life. I’d been rejected from grad school some half dozen times, and eventually decided I didn’t really want a PhD. Job interviews didn’t go over well, because I couldn’t convince anybody I was serious about any one career path.
2017 Short Story Challenge
I’ve been bitching to people lately that I want to write more fantasy and science fiction. I’m far from bored with the stories I have been writing, but definitely something is missing. And I want to be more productive. So here’s the new challenge: Post a short story to this blog every Tuesday in 2017.…… Continue reading 2017 Short Story Challenge
Goodbye 2014!
Lots and lots of changes in the last year. I’m both pleased and disappointed in what I’ve accomplished. I learned a lot, but had many missed opportunities to do so much more. I feel I’ve gone from learning how to write, to learning how to be a storyteller. Huge world of difference. If you don’t…… Continue reading Goodbye 2014!
Friday Fiction: The Gondolier
The rolling, rocking motion of the gondola forced Tom to grip the edge; the smooth, wet wood slippery under his white knuckled grasp. Brine and ether coated his skin, clothing, and hat. The port he had before disembarking left a pungent imprint on his tongue, and already he regretted the silver coin he had traded…… Continue reading Friday Fiction: The Gondolier
Friday Fiction: Beast of the Nature
“Whadya think she’s doing now?” said Murfe as he stirred the pot of beans over the campfire. The fire hissed and crackled, tongues of flame licking the blackened pot. Murfe had his ten-gallon hat strapped crooked on his head. He belched, and the flames rose higher as if he had thrown lighter fluid into the…… Continue reading Friday Fiction: Beast of the Nature
Friday Fiction: The Peanut Thieves
Day 1 We set up camp in the parlor, under the big tree. Cold drafts came in from all directions, including the hole we came through, making the air frigid and hostile. Luckily, a layer of velvet fabric lined the bottom of the tree, acting as a gigantic blanket for us. Jupe noticed the cat…… Continue reading Friday Fiction: The Peanut Thieves
Friday Fiction: Beyond the Storage Hall Door
The old battered door on the second floor stood guard to the unused storage hall rooms for years. The white paint chips fell off one by one until many holiday seasons worth lay in piles on the scrappy orange carpet. No one who currently worked in the store knew what lay beyond. The few who…… Continue reading Friday Fiction: Beyond the Storage Hall Door
Friday Fiction: A Scarecrow’s Murder
A Scarecrow’s Murder The crows were not scared of Gregory. They flapped their wings around his face and abdomen, shiny black wings blowing wind through his limbs, billowing his ragged peasant shirt and lace-up pants. The crows squatted on his shoulders and head, tearing out bits of straw from his body. They pecked at the…… Continue reading Friday Fiction: A Scarecrow’s Murder
David Anthony Brown 