This week I’m encouraging you to flip the order of your story to help you think differently about the storytelling process.
Start your story with the character walking away from a situation (figuratively-speaking) and then go back and explain how he/she got there.
It may seem strange after telling you to write a story a day but I think you should slow down and start thinking about maximums. What is a reasonable amount for you to write every day that you can sustain day after day? Why does this matter?
:LINKS:
Greg McKeown’s book “Effortless” – http://stada.me/effortless
Writing Prompt: https://storyaday.org/wow-big-desire/
Shiny Objects Lesson: https://storyaday.org/shiny-objects/
StoryADay 3-Day Challenge: https://storyaday.org/3dc
One of the fastest ways to find your way to the plot of a short story is to come up with a character who wants something and see how they pursue that desire.
Think of a character who wants something really, really badly. Put an obstacle in your way and let them react to it
Part II of the StoryADay debrief process, which helps you assess what you learned during the challenge and what to focus on next. This process is useful after any big writing project or push, so don’t skip this episode, even if you didn’t take part in the StoryADay Challenge
::LINKS::
Comment on this episode here: https://storyaday.org/episode211
Get a printable version of these questions: https://storyaday.org/debrief
Last week’s episode: https://storyaday.org/episode210
I found this in my Free Little Library the other day and it prompted a powerful lesson that I thought I’d share here as advice for writers. If you’re struggling to write and wondering if you’re any good, Snoopy has a lesson for you.
Continue reading “You Don’t have To Be Brilliant From The Beginning”Welcome to the Serious Writers’ Accountability Group!
Post your goals for this month and let us know how you got on with last month’s goals.
Leave a comment below telling us how you got on last month, and what you plan to do next month, then check back in on the first of each month, to see how everyone’s doing.
(It doesn’t have to be fiction. Feel free to use this group to push you in whatever creative direction you need.)
Did you live up to your commitment from last month? Don’t remember what you promised to do? Check out the comments from last month.
And don’t forget to celebrate with/encourage your fellow SWAGr-ers on their progress!
Download your SWAGr Tracking Sheet now, to keep track of your commitments this month
****
Examples of Goals Set By SWAGr-ers in previous months
So, what will you accomplish this month? Leave your comment below (use the drop-down option to subscribe to the comments and receive lovely, encouraging notifications from fellow StADa SWAGr-ers!)
(Next check-in, 1st of the month. Tell your friends!)
Write a story about someone who has just completed a huge challenge. What have they learned? What did they sacrifice? Was it worth it?
Julie Duffy has hosted 12 StoryADay Mays and almost as many StoryADay Septembers. That’s quite a lot.
This year’s StoryADay May official bookseller is Reads & Company, a privately-owned indie bookseller in Pennsylvania. Any purchase from the site this month supports Reads & Co.
Leave a comment and let us know how you used the prompt, and how you’re celebrating!
Take a story you wrote earlier this month, and write it again in a different way.
Julie Duffy is a fan of not making things harder than they need to be.
This year’s StoryADay May official bookseller is Reads & Company, a privately-owned indie bookseller in Pennsylvania. Any purchase from the site this month supports Reads & Co.
Leave a comment and let us know how you used the prompt, and how you’re celebrating!
After the challenge it’s useful to capture all the lessons you learned. In this podcast I take you through an exercise for doing that, and give you the Challenge Plus version of today’s writing prompt.
::LINKS::
Need a little more support as you transition out of the challenge month?
Try the 3-Day Challenge. Prompts, videos, short story lessons: https://storyaday.org/3DC
Ready to write today, not “some day”?
Write a story in three sections, each section recounting the same event from a different character’s point of view
Julie Duffy is the author of several guides for writers, available on Kindle. She is also an occasional columnist for WriterUnboxed.com
This year’s StoryADay May official bookseller is Reads & Company, a privately-owned indie bookseller in Pennsylvania. Any purchase from the site this month supports Reads & Co.
Leave a comment and let us know how you used the prompt, and how you’re celebrating!