Short stories don’t have a lot of space for non-main characters, but if you’re going to include a best friend or comic relief, make sure they earn their word count!
Write A Story That Gives Your Secondary Characters Something To Do
Continue reading “[Write On Wednesday] Secondary & Background Characters”
‘Creative’ is not a noun…Lots of people want to be the noun without doing the verb. They want the job title, not the work.”
Austin Kleon, Keep Going
I read Chapter 3 of Kleon’s latest book this morning and it stopped me in my tracks.
Not because I didn’t know and understand what he said.
I have, after all, made a name for myself as the person who entices writers to actually write during May & September every year.
But because it made me wonder: am I actually doing the verb?
For today’s Write on Wednesday writing prompt, I’m digging into the archives.
This writing prompt, from 2012, talks about how to use your character’s desires to power a story and contains important tips on how to keep your short story from become a barely-begun novel.
Write a Story In Which Your Character WAAAAAAANTS something
If you share you story somewhere (and here’s why you might not want to) post a link here so we can come and read it.
How is your writing going, now that StoryADay May 2019 is over? Are you ready to write a story today? Leave a comment!
This it! The end of StoryADay May 2019! You are an absolutely rockstar for being here today!
Do me a favor? Leave a comments below, and answer these two questions:
But don’t forget to write today’s story.
About A Writer
Normally I don’t encourage stories about writers because it seems kind of cheap (and uninteresting for the readers), but today I think you’ve earned it.
Use all the tricks you’ve been practicing this month to show us what a day in the life of a writer can be.
You’ve achieved so much this month. I’m so proud of you.
To keep the momentum going, mark your calendars for these StoryADay events throughout the year.
Go!
Don’t forget to leave a comment saying how many stories you wrote this month, and how you feel about it! Then come back tomorrow to record your June goals in the SWAGr post.
How did you get on yesterday? Did you write a story?
Remember, set your own rules, and stick to them. If you miss a day, don’t try to catch up. Just keep moving forward!
Take a story you wrote this month and rewrite it, differently
Sometimes a story works better in a different point of view, or told in a different order. If there’s a story you wrote this month, that you liked, and wanted to get back to, use today to rewrite it in a completely different way.
This will ease you into the idea of rewriting and revising (something I’ll be posting more about in June).
Consider these options
Go!
What did you rewrite about today? How did it turn out? Leave a comment.
How did you get on yesterday? Did you write a story?
Remember, set your own rules, and stick to them. If you miss a day, don’t try to catch up. Just keep moving forward!
Write The Story You’ve Been Waiting To Write
I’ve been making you jump through hoops all month, but there has to be one story that has been nagging at you, patiently waiting its turn.
Today is that day.
Take everything you’ve learned this month, about
Use your favorite discoveries from this month, to set your story free today.
Go!
What did you write about today? Did you use any of the lessons from this month? Leave a comment.
How did you get on yesterday? Did you write a story?
Remember, set your own rules, and stick to them. If you miss a day, don’t try to catch up. Just keep moving forward!
ENDING LINE: As the sun went down that night, I knew it would rise, tomorrow, on a very different world.
Think about this line and what kind of mood you would like it to convey. What kind of mood do you want your story to take today?
Sometimes our stories can veer off track: we feel like writing a funny story and suddenly we’re crying over our keyboards; or we want to write Gothic Horror and somehow end up with Clueless.
Starting with the end in mind, can help with that.
(Feel free to change the syntax and pronoun in this, to fit your story.)
Go!
So how’s it going this week? Are you tired or have you caught your second wind?
How did you get on yesterday? Did you write a story?
Remember, set your own rules, and stick to them. If you miss a day, don’t try to catch up. Just keep moving forward!
Start your story with that line today.
Go!
So how’s it going this week? Are you tired or have you caught your second wind?
Are you desperate to get back to novel-writing? Or have you discovered a new love for the short form?
What parts of this month’s successes will you take forward into your other writing?
How did you get on yesterday? Did you write a story?
Remember, set your own rules, and stick to them. If you miss a day, don’t try to catch up. Just keep moving forward!
Two Different Directions
Today’s story should feature two characters or factions who want to go in different directions. Lots of room for character desire and conflict, here!
You can take this as literally or figuratively as you like.
Go!
Check back every day for more prompts, and don’t forget to come back and leave a comment to celebrate your writing successes, every day!
How did you get on yesterday? Did you write a story?
Remember, set your own rules, and stick to them. If you miss a day, don’t try to catch up. Just keep moving forward!
Write A Story Featuring an Assembly or Crowd Scene
You can tell the story of a song or simply use it in the story.
Normally I caution against having too many people in a short story, but today I want you to practice filling the scene with a crowd…but still focusing on your main characters.
There’s lots of potential for noise, color, and action in this one!
Go!
Check back every day for more prompts, and don’t forget to come back and leave a comment to celebrate your writing successes, every day!
