Parentheses by Laura Porter

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About the Story

It was the waiting that was the worst.

The chalk stopped tapping against the blackboard, and the droning came to a halt, ending on the up note of a question. Next, a long and deliberately antagonistic pause. The feet began their slow heel to toe stroll toward the tables.

About the Author

Laura Porter is a freelance writer and editor who writes regularly for area newspapers and magazines. Her short fiction and nonfiction have appeared in literary magazines and anthologies. Her historical novel, Turned Adrift, is in process. She lives in Massachusetts with her husband, the dog and the cat, as well as whichever millennial child needs a break from the real world at the moment.

Good Meat by Neha Mediratta

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About the Story

In a tent, atop a mountain, do couples dream of killing each other?

About the Author

Neha Mediratta is a freelance writer and editor based in Mumbai. Her interests include swimming, tai chi alongwith studying natural and human systems of organization)

Glorious and Sunny by Lisa Rutledge

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About the Story

Sunny’s momma hardly leaves the house these days. Sunny’s always been able to cheer her up before, but now he can’t seem to help. And it’s no surprise to Sunny that his sister doesn’t help either. Can these three family members find happiness together in changed circumstances?

About the Author

Lisa Rutledge writes poetry, fiction, and nonfiction. She reads in the historical fiction, fantasy, and humor genres, to name just a few of her favorites. Visit her website at https://lisarutledgeauthor.com/to check out more of her work and subscribe to her blog.

Humpty Dumpty’s Demise by Maery Rose

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About the Story

“We had long thought Humpty Dumpty would meet his demise with reckless abandon. And we weren’t far from the truth.”

About the Author

Maery Rose is a Minnesota writer who has been blogging for over twenty years at maeryrose.com. She likes to believe that the wide variety of topics she writes about represent an unquenchable curiosity. Maery’s most recent and harrowing trek has taken her into the world of writing and publishing short stories.

Cinderella Jones by Anita G. Gorman

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About the Story

A teen named Cinderella is ridiculed, but she makes use of the elements of the fairytale to be a success in unusual ways.

About the Author

Anita G. Gorman grew up in Queens and now lives in northeast Ohio. Since 2014 she has had a number of short stories and essays accepted for publication. Her one-act play, Astrid: or, My Swedish Mama, produced at Youngstown Ohio’s Hopewell Theatre in March 2018, starred Anita and her daughter Ingrid.

Alphabet Soup by J. E. M. Wildfire

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About the Story

Living in a jump rope nursery rhyme is not what you’d expect.

About the Author

J.E.M. Wildfire danced on the edge of creative writing throughout her life, culminating with lawyerly briefs and memorandums filled with facts presented as creatively as possible while remaining truthful. After retiring, she decided to dispense with facts and concentrate on creativity. She discovered that the diversity of StoryADay May prompts sparked her late-blooming talent and led down writing paths she would not have stumbled upon otherwise. This piece is one of them. While she can’t say for sure whether it’s actually a story, the writing exercise was fun. She thinks readers will enjoy the puzzle or the humor or both.

Graceless by Gabrielle Johansen

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About the Story

A young Witch faces her first true test in spellcasting. Will she rise to the occasion? Find out in “Graceless”!

About the Author

Gabrielle Johansen is an aspiring young adult fantasy author. She enjoys reading everything from Maas to Atwood to Briggs. This story was inspired by the idea that every character wants something and often those wants are in direct opposition. This is her first foray into the StoryADay world, which she has found inspiring and extremely helpful.

Love Among The Tombstones by Kath Saxby

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About the Story

Eileen’s mom, wanting a safe place for her daughter’s ashes, buried them among the roots of the yew tree without a tombstone and without permission.

About the Author

Kath Saxby’s fiction has been published by Storyscape and her travel writing by major New Zealand newspapers and TNT magazine in England. She was a finalist in competitions held by Arts and Letters, Summer Literary Seminars, Hunger Mountain and shortlisted for the Fish Short Story Prize. She was selected for a New York Mills residency in northern Minnesota and she holds an MFA in creative writing from the City College of New York. Kath grew up in Fiji and in New Zealand where she worked on the family farm. She has held jobs in computer programming, sales, truck driving, meat-packing and office administration, and currently teaches English as a second language in East Harlem. She has a completed novel-in-waiting, titled Dog Wars.

Conrad’s Fitting by Courtney M.

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About the Story

Retelling of a German nursery rhyme. Warnings: gruesome and child hurt in this story.

About the Author

I love reading and writing micro fiction. I didn’t walk away with 31 amazing stories this StoryADay, but I pushed myself to try new techniques and styles and look forward to snipping away at the drafts to tailor little nuggets of strangeness.

The Curse of the Purple Witch by Prachi

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About the Story

When the Purple Witch curses the Prince in a fit of rage and turns him into a crayon, she doesn’t realise the consequences. How will the curse be reversed?

About the Author

I have been reading and writing (mostly in my journals and blogs though) since I was a child. I love reading fantasy, fiction, romance, thriller, and sometimes inspiring non fiction. I came across Story A Day’s challenges two years back and have been trying my hand at commercial writing since then. I haven’t published anywhere other than my blog yet, but I enjoy the process of writing and creating. I just want my writing to make people laugh or smile 🙂 I wrote this story from one of the Story A Day May 2020 prompts, and with the help of my four year old daughter, who sparked the idea of the colour monster, looking at that picture.

Praying by Bear Creek by Charlotte Neussle

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About the Story

Oregon’s natural beauty flows through its creeks to the sea. It carries evergreen prayers, as timely now as for aboriginal peoples. In this story, follow some of those prayers home.

About the Author

Writing is a friend that has been gently nudging me to speak. Now as a participant in StoryADay, I’ve committed myself to writing memoir, using a process to bring forth perspective, healing and wholeness. Engaging in this process and belonging to this group all came at just the right time. Read more about me at charlottenuessle.com/about-charlotte

Dissolve And Gather by Monique Cuillerier

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About the Story

At the height of summer, in the midst of a pandemic, a woman searches for respite.

About the Author

Monique Cuillerier has gained a lot through participating in Story A Day over the last nine years, not least of which is a deep attachment to writing short fiction. She mostly writes science fiction, although some of her work is difficult to categorize. When not writing, she runs, gardens, knits, and organizes large online events.

About Straps by Margo A. Mertz

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About the Story

I thought only good things would happen once we removed the top part of our wool jumper…I didn’t expect to be “the girl in the undershirt.” That’s not fair!

About the Author

Margo Artale Mertz has lived in Burlington, Vermont for the last 30 years. She spent her first 10 years in Brooklyn, NY, the next 11 in Pittsburgh, PA, and the following 7 in New Rochelle, NY. She writes humor in short fictions, creative non-fictions, and essays. She has participated in several StoryADay critique groups and challenges, and can’t thank Julie enough.

100 by Natalie Goodwin

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About the Story

A 100 word story about One and his brothers Aught and Naught

About the Author

I’m a writer of fantasy, mystery, suspense, and sometimes literary fiction. My favorite authors are Neil Gaiman and Janie Chang. For this story, I wanted to pick a number and write a story about it. I chose the number 100 with the goal of writing the story in exactly 100 words.

Part of:

StoryFest 2020 Logo

Lesson Plans by Michele Reisinger

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About the Story

A novice teacher facing burn-out must learn the most valuable lessons aren’t necessarily the ones we teach.

About the Author

Michele E. Reisinger lives with her family near Philadelphia and teaches English at a New Jersey High School. Her short fiction has been featured online at Light and Dark Magazine, Prometheus Dreaming, 34th Parallel, The Mighty Line, and Dreamers Creative Writing, as well as the 2019 anthology Stories That need to be told. She loves to read stories that make her think and wonder and learn. Lesson Plans was inspired by StoryADay’s list prompt and her conversation with a burned-out colleague who questioned the value of careers in education. Michele credits StoryADay and its awesome community of fellow writers with encouraging her along every step of her writing journey. You can find more of her writing at My Name Was Supposed To Be Elizabeth Ann (mereisinger.com).

StoryFest 2020: How to Participate

This is our chance to celebrate all our hard work, either by nominating one of your stories to be featured during StoryFest, or by sharing the stories of your fellow StoryADay writers.

StoryFest 2020

June 27-28

storyaday.org

WHAT IS STORYFEST?

StoryFest is a weekend when the stories take over StoryADay.org.

On Jun 27, the front page of StoryADay.org will change to one dedicated to you and your stories. It will be full of links to your stories, online, until June 28

It’s our end-of-year party, our recital, our chance to share our work with readers.

(It’s also my birthday month, so consider your participation as your birthday gift to me!)

HOW TO CELEBRATE STORYFEST

  • If you wrote even one story in this (or any previous) StoryADay, submit one to be featured on the site’s front page June 27-28.
  • Whether or not you submit a story you can help spread the word: from now until StoryFest, tell everyone you know on every social network (especially the ones with readers in them) about StoryFest. Tell them to come to the site June 27-28 to read new and exciting work by up-and-coming future stars of the literary world!
  • Post the graphic on your blog, your Facebook timeline, tattoo it on your leg, whatever! (Get your graphics here)
  • Come to the site June 27-28, follow a link to a story, read it and comment on it.

HOW TO SUBMIT/NOMINATE A STORY

Simple.

Continue reading “StoryFest 2020: How to Participate”

[Write On Wednesday] Take A Second Look

June is rewrite and re-examine month at StoryADay. So today’s prompt reflects that.

Now that you’ve had a chance to recover from the frenzy of writing in May, here’s a prompt that help you to take a second look at one of those stories and improve it. Perhaps there is one you liked, but you know isn’t quite working yet.

It’s one from the archives, and I think you’ll like it.

Get Started

A StoryADay Statement on This Moment in Time

The USA is in turmoil.

As writers, our job is to examine the human condition. Whether we are writing fluffy and frothy tales or deep, sociological works, our business is the business of truth.

The truth, in this country, is that the words “Black Lives Matter” need to be shouted until it becomes as obvious to everyone as it is to most of us.

It shouldn’t need to be said.

But it does need to be said.

Continue reading “A StoryADay Statement on This Moment in Time”

Lesson Plans by Michele Reisinger

Read The Story Here

About the Story

A novice teacher facing burn-out must learn the most valuable lessons aren’t necessarily the ones we teach.

About the Author

Michele E. Reisinger lives with her family near Philadelphia and teaches English at a New Jersey High School. Her short fiction has been featured online at Light and Dark Magazine, Prometheus Dreaming, 34th Parallel, The Mighty Line, and Dreamers Creative Writing, as well as the 2019 anthology Stories That need to be told. She loves to read stories that make her think and wonder and learn. Lesson Plans was inspired by StoryADay’s list prompt and her conversation with a burned-out colleague who questioned the value of careers in education. Michele credits StoryADay and its awesome community of fellow writers with encouraging her along every step of her writing journey. You can find more of her writing at My Name Was Supposed To Be Elizabeth Ann (mereisinger.com).

Part of

StoryFest 2020 Logo

Read More

Lesson Plan by Michele E. Reisinger
100 by Natalie Goodwin
Praying by Bear Creek by Charlotte Neussle
Good Meat by Neha Mediratta
Conrad's Fitting by Courtney M.
Love Among The Tombstones by Kath Saxby
Graceless by Gabrielle Johansen
Alphabet Soup by J. E. M. Wildfire
Cinderella Jones by Anita G. Gorman
Humpty Dumpty's Demise by Maery Rose
Glorious and Sunny by Lisa Rutledge
Parentheses by Laura Porter
When To Talk To Strangers by Sharon X. Wong
What Does a Vampire Eat During The Plague? by Jerry Harwood
The Tell-Tale Heart Reimagined by Alan Grant
Midnight Blue by Andrea Kikuchi
The Time-Traveller's Strife by Alan Grant
Fast-Life Blues by Jason Steven Ruan
The Merchant's Table by Sophia Hoetzler
Glowing Embers by Urvi Roy
Right There by Anneliese Schultz
ReisingerStoryFest2020
GoodwinStoryFest2020
MertzStoryFest2020
CUILLERIERStoryFest2020
PrachiStoryFest2020
NeussleStoryFest2020
MedirattaStoryFest2020
Conrad’s Fitting by Courtney M.
SaxbyStoryfFest2020
JohansenStoryfFest2020
Alphabet Soup by J. E. M. Wildfire
GormanStoryFest2020
ROSEStoryFest2020
RutledgeStoryFest2020
Porter StoryFest2020
WongStoryFest2020
What Does a Vampire Eat During The Plague? by Jerry Harwood
HauterStoryFest2020
Grant2StoryFest2020
KikuchiStoryFest2020
BakarStoryFest2020
GrantStoryFest2020
Fast-Life Blues by Jason Steven Ruan
The Merchant’s Table by Sophia Hoetzler
Glowing Embers by Urvi Roy
SchultzSF2020
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SWAGr for June 2020

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.

SWAGr logo

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

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Examples of Goals Set By SWAGr-ers in previous months

  • Finish first draft of story and write 3 articles for my school paper. – Courtney
  • Write on seven days this month – Clare
  • Extend my reading and to read with a ‘writers eye’- Wendy
  • write 10,000 words – Mary Lou

 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!)

SWAGr for May 2020

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.

SWAGr logo

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

  • Finish first draft of story and write 3 articles for my school paper. – Courtney
  • Write on seven days this month – Clare
  • Extend my reading and to read with a ‘writers eye’- Wendy
  • write 10,000 words – Mary Lou

 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!)

166 – Windy Lynn Harris Makes Fiction Flash

Today the author of “Writing & Selling Short Stories & Personal Essays: the Essential Guide To Getting Your Work Published” AND frequent StoryADay participant, Windy Lynn Harris joins me to talk about Flash Fiction: what it is, 7 different ways to approach it, and how it can help your career, even if you’re a novelist.

Ready to write today, not “some day”?

Write On Wednesday – 40 Minute Story

Today, in preparation for StoryADay May I’m sharing one of the peptalks I recorded for the Superstars Group last year.

(Superstars is a year-long mastermind group and community, but during the challenge they also get enhanced content, just like this. Find out more about Superstars here.

This lesson is particularly useful going into StoryADay May, as some days you’ll need to get your story written quickly. I don’t give you a topic, but I do give you a method for getting your story written. Combine it with the Short Story Framework!

The Prompt

Write A Story In 40 Minutes

Audio Only Version:

TIPS

  • Use the short story formula from yesterday to help you brainstorm.
  • Set a timer!
  • Spend 5 minutes, for brainstorming
  • Spend 5 minutes writing an opening.
  • Spend the next 20 minutes complicating your character’s lives. Look at every individual action your characters takes, and imagine what’s the next domino that would fall because of the action they took or the thing that they said.
  • At some point during this 20 minutes your writing will begin to flow and you’ll start to understand what this story wants to be.
  • At the end of that 20 minutes, begin to write your climax and resolution. (You may have to type ‘[transition to ending]’ and move along, if you’re running out of time and haven’t written everything you wanted to write.
  • You’ve been working on this story for 30 minutes! You have 10 minutes left.
  • Now think about how you want the story to end. Do you want it to be a happy ending or a sad ending? If the character achieves their goal, it might be a sad ending, but not necessarily. If the character desired something that was wrong for them, and doesn’t achieve it, that could be a happy ending!
  • Make sure there is a moment in the story where the character makes a big choice that exemplifies the change that they’re making through this story.
  • Spend 5 minutes wrapping up the story in a sentence or two, then spend the final 5 minutes thinking about your opening and ending lines. Do they feel like they belong to the same story? Can you tweak them now to hint at the theme?
  • Then take the rest of the day off!

If you would like to access content like this throughout the StoryADay challenge AND get 12 months of writing support, consider joining the StoryADay Superstars

Join The StoryADay Superstars

Leave a comment to let us know what you wrote about today, and how it went!

Top 10 Podcast Interviews

Over the past ten years, StoryaDay has been fortunate to have some great guests on the podcast

Here’s an easy-access list:

You can share this image far and wide! Or download the PDF.

Here’s the list, with clickable links

Never miss an episode: Subscribe to the podcast here.

165 – Tammy Breitweiser Loves A Challenge

We’re a week away from StoryADay May. Take the WRITER Code workshop here: https://storyaday.org/writer-code

Find out more about StoryADay Superstars, our writing community: https://www.storyaday.com/superstars-2020

Today’s episode is a conversation with Tammy Breitweiser whose flash fiction has been published in The Ninja Writers Monthly, Spelk, Clover and White, and Elephants Never. Her essay is in the I Wrote it Anyway anthology. You can connect with Tammy through Twitter @TLBREIT or through her medium page https://medium.com/@tammybreitweiser. Sign up for her newsletter here.

In this interview she mentions Windy Lynn Harris’s excellent book “Writing & Selling Short Stories & Personal Essays”

Ready to write today, not “some day”?