Today Marta Pelrine-Bacon encourages us to get a bit surprising in our writing.
The Prompt: https://storyaday.org/20170508-marta
Marta’s novel: http://amzn.to/2pM1Xm7
The Secret – a writing prompt from Marta Pelrine-Bacon
Today, Marta Pelrine-Bacon encourages us to get a bit mysterious.
The Prompt
She waited a week before revealing the secret.
About Marta Pelrine-Bacon
058 – A writing prompt from Stuart Horwitz
A reflective prompt for Sunday, from writer and developmental editor Stuart Horwitz.
The Prompt: https://storyaday.org/20170507-stuart
Stuart’s books: http://amzn.to/2q55Llr
Self Reflection – a writing prompt from Stuart Horwitz
Today, Stuart Horwitz invites us to a bit of self-reflection.
The Prompt
Think back to a time earlier in your life, maybe high school, when you knew a good person with whom you have fallen out of touch.
If you were to reconnect with this person right now, what one question would you ask them? Why are you asking that question — what does it say about your journey right now?
What piece of yourself are you currently focused on finding?
For memoir writers: write this now.
For fiction writers: turn yourself and your friend into characters. Write the story of their encounter.
About Stuart Horwitz
Stuart Horwitz is a ghostwriter, independent editor, and founder and principal of Book Architecture (www.BookArchitecture.com). Book Architecture’s clients have reached the best-seller list in both fiction and non-fiction, and have appeared on Oprah!, The Today Show, The Tonight Show.
He is the author of three books on writing: Finish Your Book in Three Drafts (2016), Book Architecture (2015) which became an Amazon bestseller, and Blueprint Your Bestseller (Penguin/Perigee, 2013), which was named one of that year’s best books about writing by The Writer magazine.
057 – A writing prompt from Angela Ackerman
In this prompt, Angela Ackerman invites us to explore our characters’ pasts, to find out what made them the people they are today.
The Prompt: https://storyaday.org/20170506-angela/
Angela’s books: http://amzn.to/2p60wgn
Getting Emotional – a writing prompt from Angela Ackerman
For audio only, subscribe to the podcast
Today, Angela Ackerman invites us to think about our character’s past emotional trauma and how it affects them in the present.
This is a really useful exercise for deepening any character in any length of story. Use it for a character from a novel, or for the character in a short story. It can’t help but make your story more rich.
And remember: emotion is the key to a reader connecting with your story.
The Prompt
Emotional trauma is an experience, or set of experiences, that can change your character in fundamental ways, altering their personality, embedding fears in their minds, affecting their ability to connect and trust others, and steering their needs and desires during your story.
Write about a wounding experience from your character’s past that changed them into who they are today.
HINT: most wounding experiences involve someone close to the character as it is the people closest to us who are able to do the most psychological damage.
For emotional wound ideas, try this list: https://onestopforwriters.com/wounds
About Angela Ackerman
Angela Ackerman is a writing coach, international speaker, and co-author of The Emotion Thesaurus: a Writer’s Guide to Character Expression and four other bestselling writing guides. A proud indie author, her books are available in five languages, sourced by US universities, and are used by novelists, screenwriters, editors and psychologists around the world.
Angela is also the co-founder of the popular site, Writers Helping Writers, as well as One Stop For Writers, an innovative online library built to help writers elevate their storytelling.
http://writershelpingwriters.net/
https://onestopforwriters.com
056 – 05 May 2017 Writing Prompt from Phil Giunta
Today’s prompt comes from paranormal mystery author Phil Giunta, which reminds me that suspense and intrigue are essential components of any story.
The Prompt: https://storyaday.org/20170505-phil
Phil’s Books: http://amzn.to/2qJTOxN
A Friendly Warning – a writing prompt from Phil Giunta
Audio-only: (if you like this, subscribe to the podcast)
Phil Giunta gives us a situation today that suggests mystery, but you don’t have to write a full-on mystery if you don’t want to.
It is, however, a great reminder that suspense plays an important role in all storytelling…
The Prompt
You walk into your office and see a new message written on your whiteboard: “Whatever happens, don’t die. See you Monday.”
The note is not signed and you’re not certain who wrote it…
About Phil Giunta
A Pennsylvania resident, Phil Giunta’s has published two paranormal mysteries, Testing the Prisoner, and By Your Side. His short stories appear in such anthologies as Beach Nights, the ReDeus series , and the Middle of Eternity series, which he created and edited for Firebringer Press. His paranormal mystery novella, Like Mother, Like Daughters is slated for release in 2017.
Phil is a member of the Greater Lehigh Valley Writers Group and served as chairman of their 2015 Write Stuff conference.
Visit Phil’s website: www.philgiunta.com
055 – May 04 2017 LJ Cohen writing prompt
LJ Cohen gives us a writing prompt that proves to us that limits are awesome when it comes to productivity
The Prompt: https://storyaday.org/20170504-LJ
LJ’s Books: http://amzn.to/2q62a3l
Writer’s Clue – Writing Prompt from LJ Cohen
LJ Cohen brings us a fabulous writing prompt today, for Day 4 of the challenge.
This is an example of how you can put limits on your writing options, to increase your chances of getting your writing DONE on a day when it seems impossible.
I know, it sounds counterintuitive, right? Limits make things easier?
But it’s true (you can Google it. Lots of experts say too much choice is a bad thing!).
Play along with LJ today, as she encourages you to fill in the blanks, and then flesh out a story from your notes.
The Prompt
Let’s play Writer’s Clue! Stories are about a person in a place with a problem. We can use the basic structure (modified to inject conflict) from the game.
For this story, write about Mx [1. a non-gendered title, in case you’re wondering. Now I’m wondering how to pronounce it…].___________ in the _________ room with a __________.
You can choose ordinary places or objects, or magical ones, you can set your story in the past, present, or future. It doesn’t need to follow the plot structure of the game in that there’s a murder you are solving; this is just a way to give a story a kick start.
For example, from one of my stories: Ms. Ro Maldonado in the derelict ship’s bridge with a malfunctioning AI. Change any one of the choices, and you have a different story.
About LJ Cohen
LJ Cohen is a fan of the Red Sox, Doctor Who & local food. A physical therapist for over 25 years, she now uses her clinical skills to hurt characters. She describes herself as a relentless optimist, potter, poet, and science fiction and fantasy writer. You can find her novels in all the usual places. PARALLAX, book 4 of her science fiction series Halcyone Space will be available summer of 2017. http://www.ljcohen.net
Don’t forget to check out LJ’s books and to leave a comment or post in The Victory Dance Group to tell us how it’s going!
054 – Day 3 of StoryADay May 2017
We’re back today with another fantastic writing prompt from writer Kylie Quillinan, along with another heartfelt pep talk from me. Are you still writing? Gold star, for you!
The Prompt: https://storyaday.org/20170503-kylie/
Kylie’s books: http://amzn.to/2oJIL6m
The Doll Maker – Writing Prompt from Kylie Quillinan
Day Three! How’s it going?
You should be cruising into your writing by now and it probably hasn’t become either a habit or a chore yet. You might have finished stories on days 1 or 2, or you might have discovered that it’s quite hard to finish a story in one day.
Today’s prompt is the perfect one to use to create a flash fiction story: a short story (less than 1000 words). Some tips: start in the middle of the story; use unusual imagery and word choices to really make it ‘flash’; try to think of an ending that runs against our expectations. Make us FEEL.
Also, today’s prompt is a great example of why you should delve into writing communities. Kylie and I met at a conference and hit it off immediately. We write different kinds of stories, but it’s lovely to have a connection with someone who treats their writing with the same level of respect that I aspire to.
I highly recommend you make some writing friends and meet a Kylie of your own!
The Prompt
People called him The Doll Maker. Nobody ever wondered aloud why every doll had the same face.
About Kylie Quillinan
Kylie writes about women who defy society’s expectations. Her novels are for readers who like fantasy with a basis in history or mythology.
Her other interests include canine nutrition, jellyfish and zombies. She blames the disheveled state of her house on her dogs but she really just hates to clean. You can find her online at kyliequillinan.com or on Facebook.
Leave a comment or post in The Victory Dance to let us know how you got on with today’s story
053 – Day 2 of StoryADay May 2017
You’re back for Day 2. Good for you!
Today we celebrate that fact and bring you a writing prompt from mega-best-selling author Jerry B. Jenkins (of the Left Behind series)
The Prompt: https://storyaday.org/20170502-jerry/
Jerry’s free stuff: www.jerryjenkins.com/how-to-write-a-book
The Latchkey Kid – A Writing Prompt from Jerry B. Jenkins
You’re back! It’s Day 2 of StoryADay May 2017 and you’re still here. That’s pretty impressive (believe me, not everyone makes it!)
Today’s prompt is from uber-best-selling author Jerry B. Jenkins. Check out the links below for more (free!) writing advice from Jerry.
The Prompt
A socially awkward girl in her early teens is a latchkey kid, alone at home after school as usual. Flipping through channels she lands on one she soon realizes only she can see—and it’s from the future.
About Jerry B Jenkins
Jerry B. Jenkins has written over 190 books with sales of more than 70 million copies. He’s had 21 New York Times bestsellers, including the Left Behind series. He now shares his writing knowledge with aspiring authors. To get free writing training from Jerry, click here: www.jerryjenkins.com/how-to-write-a-book
Leave a comment to let us know how you got on, or post in The Victory Dance Group.
052 – May 01 2017 GregoryFrost
StoryADay May 2017 is here!
Get your pep talks and writing prompts all month long.
Today we start with a writing prompt from writer Gregory Frost, and a pep talk from me, Julie Duffy.
The Prompt: https://storyaday.org/20170501-frost/
Social Media Graphics (tell everyone you’re writing this month!): https://storyaday.org/category/resources/graphics/
The Dead Friend – Writing Prompt from Gregory Frost
It’s here! StoryADay May 2017 is here!
I know you’re excited, so I won’t take up much of your time.
Just remember:
- Set your own rules for the month
- Get to the end of the story
- Post in the blog comments or in The Victory Dance group
That’s it!
Here’s your first (optional) writing prompt, from Gregory Frost, who is not only a great writer, but is also a wonderful writing teacher here in Pennsylvania. If you get a chance to see him at a conference or a college don’t miss it!
The Prompt
You attend the funeral of an old friend.
Afterwards, in the mail you receive a postcard. It’s from the friend, and it reads “I’m not dead. Meet me Tuesday night at 8 at ____________.” And signed by him/her.
First make a list of possibilities for how this could be the case.
Begin your story with, or after, the arrival of the postcard.
About Gregory Frost
Gregory Frost is the author of eight novels (including Shadowbridge, Lord Tophet, and Fitcher’s Brides) and various stories of the fantastic, including “No Others Are Genuine,” a Stoker Award finalist, and “Lock Up Your Chickens and Daughters, H’ard and Andy Are Come to Town,” a collaboration with Michael Swanwick that took home an Asimov’s Magazine Readers’ Award for 2015.
Leave a comment to let us know how your story turned out or post in The Victory Dance group. And we’ll see you back here tomorrow
SWAGr – Accountability for May 2017
It’s here! STORYADAY MAY is here. But don’t forget to make your commitments public with our Accountability group:
Every month we gather here to discuss what we’ve achieved and commit to making more progress in our creative lives in the coming month. We call it our Serious Writer’s Accountability Group or SWAGr, for short! (We’re serious, not sombre!)
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. Continue reading “SWAGr – Accountability for May 2017”
Video FAQs – Where Do I Post My Stories?
Here’s a live video I did earlier to address this question. If you don’t like video, there’s a written answer below.
Also, I’m around all weekend, answering questions and soothing nerves. Just post questions in the comments here or in the community (or at Facebook) and I’ll get to them on and off over the weekend. Consider this my “Office Hours”!!
The Short Answer
Continue reading “Video FAQs – Where Do I Post My Stories?”StoryADay May 2017 Badges
Use the graphics proudly to announce your participation in this May’s challenge. Right-click to download, then post them on your blog, as your FB or Instagram profile pic, whatever!
500 x 500 px
How To Write A StoryADay – Tips For Success
How To Write A StoryADay For A Month
I. Use the site during the StoryADay May challenge, to find prompts and to find community (either in the blog post comments or in the community forums. (Come back on April 25 to get access, or get on the mailing list now!)
It can be fun to go online and chat with other people about how they use each day’s prompt.
II. If May doesn’t work for you, bookmark this site and use the prompts for a personal month of short story writing at any time of the year, whenever your schedule allows. Simply come back and look up the prompts, write your stories,. I recommend telling a few friends what you’re doing to help with the accountability part.
III. For your best chance at success, get together with your In Real Life writing group and go through the challenge together.
The Rules Of The Challenge
Q. Do I have to write 31 stories in 31 days?
A. No. Since the StoryADay May challenge began in 2010 I have always said: make your own rules. For some people, the challenge of writing a story every day is the thing that excites them the most and helps them to embrace the challenge. For other people it’s unrealistic. Those writers simply decide how many days this month they’re going to write.
The key is to make your own rules and then stick to them. Some years, for example, I take Sundays off.
Q. Do I have to complete the stories in a day?
A. Yes. This is the only place where I am quite strict. There is a power in finishing a story and so I encourage you to push through to the end of your story every day.
This does not mean writing a brilliant draft.
Sometimes you have to cheat. You can write “[something clever happens here]” and then sketch out a resolution and final paragraph if that’s what it takes to get used to the end of the story. Doing this at least teaches you to keep the mood to keep the story moving towards a place of resolution.
Q. What do I do if I miss a day?
A. Move on. Don’t try to catch up. Don’t try to beat yourself up. Do try to figure out what went wrong. Did you want time? Did you get lost in the muddy middle? Did you leave your writing until the last moment and then freeze? Spend a couple of minutes figuring out what wrong and then try to accept it, learn from it and move on. This is not a failure. This is you becoming a dedicated writer. As long as you keep coming back to the page, you’re not failing.
Q. Do I have to post my stories online?
Absolutely not. You don’t have to show them to anyone. This is a safe space, a sandbox, a place for you to play with learning about writing stories. You have the freedom here to be bad. In fact some days I’m going to tell you to go over the top, straight into parody, write whatever you want to have rough. You should feel free to write whatever you need to write to learn your craft without fear of anyone over your shoulder.
Q. Then how do I stay accountable?
Make your challenge public. Either take part in the challenge at storyaday.org during May and September where you can post in the victory dance group or in the blog comments of the prompt itself. The community will congratulate you!
Or tell your friends. Promise to email or tweet or Facebook or Instagram every day as soon as you finish writing. Knowing that people are waiting for that post will keep you honest.
Q. What length should the stories be?
A. If you’re writing a fresh story every day, you’re probably going to be writing very short stories. Some people can bang out 3,000 word stories every day, but in my experience, they are rare. Most people write between 100 and 1200 word stories — flash fiction. You could decide to write a 140-character, Twitter-length story every day, and still be writing a story a day. (Me? Some years I comment to a 100 word story every day).
Just as long as you have a beginning, a middle and an end (not necessarily in that order, and, in a super-short story, one of those can be “off-stage” or implied); a character; a sense that something is happening or changing (even for an instant), then you have a story!
Q. Do you have any other books or courses that can help me well I learned to write stories?
A. Yes, I’m so glad you asked. You can find more books of writing prompts, along with workshops and e-books about finding time to write, becoming a better writer, publishing short story collections yourself, in the StoryADay Shop.
**Q. How can I find it more about StoryADay?
Q. Any other tips for story of the success?
Yes, come back to the site often. Listen to the Podcast, and sign up for updates.
Writing Flash Fiction Gems – Small, Precious, and Slower Than You’d Think
What Is Flash Fiction?
There are, of course, as many definitions of Flash Fiction as there are writers.
Continue reading “Writing Flash Fiction Gems – Small, Precious, and Slower Than You’d Think”
050 – Cycles in a Writing Life
This week I talk about the different cycles we go through in a creative life: fertile and fallow, frenzied and fatigued…and how you can make the most of them.
Also in this show: concrete steps for preparing for StoryADay May, including a description of Story Sparks and a reminder to make your own rules (you don’t actually have to write a story every day. I don’t!)
Lastly, here’s the link for the Online Flash Fiction Workshop on April 22, 2017. Get your tickets now, before they sell out!
Let’s Talk About Flash Fiction
In which I encourage you to write Flash Fiction and tell you about an upcoming online workshop.
Flash Fiction chat, April 10, 2017
Posted by Story A Day on Tuesday, April 11, 2017
The online workshop will happen on April 22, 2017 from 4 PM until late.
There are 10 tickets for full workshop participants (writing exercise, critique and discussion) and 40 reduced-price tickets for audience-only attendees.
Why Write A StoryADay in May?
How Do You Write A StoryADay For A Month?
First of all let’s start with the better question:
Why write a story a day for a month?
- It’s not to write 31 brilliant stories that will instantly get published and make you rich and famous.
- It’s not so that you can prove how long you can go without sleep.
- It is about making a conscious effort to be creative every day.
- It is about a focused efforts to practice the craft of storytelling: the act of going from idea to beginning to middle to end.
- It is about connecting with other people who want to make their writing a priority
- It is about training your brain to see the world as one great big lucky dip of ideas, characters, conflicts, beauty, tragedy…in short: story material.
Come on this month long journey with us, and discover how much happier you are when you do whatever it takes to acknowledge your creative self every day.
No, at the end of this month you will not have 31 perfect stories.
At the end of this month you will have
- A pile of first draft that you can use as source material for future writing,
- An understanding of how you work best as a creative writer,
- A rock solid belief in your own ability to go from the beginning to the end of the story whenever you have to,
- A sense of accomplishment and pride in your self, and
- The courage and confidence to call yourself a writer.
Sound good?
Keep coming back, all month, to find out how you can give yourself the gift of rediscovering the joy of creative writing.
[Q & A] How To Start Writing Again
Q. How do I start writing again after a long time?
A.
Keep your expectations low. Don’t expect to produce a masterpiece, or even a coherent story. Continue reading “[Q & A] How To Start Writing Again”
[Reading Room] Hungry Daughters of Starving Mothers by Alyssa Wong
If you like horror and dark fantasy, you should definitely be reading Alyssa Wong’s work!
My first clue should have been that this story was published in Nightmare Magazine.
This is a fabulous story: original, chilling, populated with compelling characters, with a strong narrative arc and an intriguing premise. But it’s not my kind of story and I kind of hated reading it!
But the writing, right from the start is fabulous:
As my date—Harvey? Harvard?—brags about his alma mater and Manhattan penthouse, I take a bite of overpriced kale and watch his ugly thoughts swirl overhead.
Isn’t that a great opening sentence? It tells you so much.
And it is even more compelling when you begin to realize that she’s not being metaphorical about being able to see his thoughts.
This is a woman who seems like she might be a victim, then quickly isn’t, then vacillates between the two states, depending on who she’s with at the time.
It makes her “real”, and it makes for an interesting metaphor about life.
But it’s horror. And that’s not my thing.
I was impressed with Alyssa Wong’s writing and am a bit sad that she doesn’t seem to write the kinds of stories I like. But that’s hardly a criticism.
If you like horror and dark fantasy, you should definitely be reading Alyssa Wong’s work!
Read Hungry Daughters of Starving Mothers at Nightmare Magazine or buy a periodical that features her work, and support publications that pay their authors, at the same time!
SWAGr – Accountability for April 2017
Every month we gather here to discuss what we’ve achieved and commit to making more progress in our creative lives in the coming month. We call it our Serious Writer’s Accountability Group or SWAGr, for short! (We’re serious, not sombre!)
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
- Write a story a day in May – everyone!
- Revise at least 10 short stories – Iraide
- Write two short stories. – Jami
- Attend one writers’ conference – Julie
- Write fable for WordFactory competition – Sonya
- Re-read the backstory pieces I wrote in May and see if I can use them within my novel – Monique
- Research the market – Jami
- Focus on my serial – Maureen
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. )
Don’t forget, if you need inspiration for a story you can still get ALL THE PROMPTS from StoryADay May 2016 and support the running of the StoryADay challenge at the same time. (I’m really proud of last year’s collection!) Give a little, get a little 
Click here. Now only $2.99
[Writing Prompt] Redux & Progression
In the last of my publication-related writing prompts, we sound a note of optimism, courtesy of Helios Quarterly Magazine.
[Writing Prompt] Medieval Mayhem
Sticking with this month’s theme of writing for publication, today I bring you another prompt associated with a themed issue. This time it’s from Splickety Magazine…
Sticking with this month’s theme of writing for publication, today I bring you another prompt associated with a themed issue.
[Reading Room] A Medieval Romance by Mark Twain
I failed utterly to see the ending coming…
Not just for the unexpected ending, but for the constant, very modern thoughts that crowded my head as I was reading it.
Basically, this is the story of a ruthless old king who, not having any sons, has his daughter raised as a boy, then sends her to assume his brother’s throne (after the ruthless old king has ruined the good name of his brother’s only heir).
It’s a knotty, Shakespearean set up and I was so consumed with thoughts of the delightful ways a modern writer could treat the topic, that I failed utterly to see the ending coming. Continue reading “[Reading Room] A Medieval Romance by Mark Twain”
[Writing Prompt] Utter Fabrication
This week’s prompt comes from Mad Scientist Journal who are putting together a special edition with a theme that really tickles me!
