I got a great question from a long-time StoryADay community member today: “Will One-Story September help me write my novel?”

Here’s what I answered:

On balance, I don’t think it’d give you enough support or direction for a novel project.
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Really, this challenge is designed to poke writers to keep working on a story throughout the month and to give some thought to what each part of the story is doing for the reader. It’s not designed to be a content-heavy course.
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Having said that, you could use One-Story September to help you flesh out the central spine of the novel’s story, or alternatively, to let you play in your novel’s world with less pressure.
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A short story set in the world of your novel could help you develop backstory, character development and voice, and let you fall in love with the world of your novel (as well as potentially giving you the bones of a chapter, or a standalone story that supports your novel when it comes time to market it).
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I’ve done this for several projects and enjoy it, but it all comes down to what you want to do.
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I’d hate to see you throw away money on the wrong thing, which could, in turn dent your confidence.
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I see two options: join this challenge and write a short story set in your novel’s universe that could stand alone or grow into something bigger; or put the money aside and begin saving for a more substantial “How To Write A Novel” course or cohort.
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All of which is to say, the One-Story Challenge might not be right for you—right now—and that’s absolutely fine.

But if you’re intrigued by the idea of crafting a complete story this month, come and play with us!

We start Sept 1.

Keep writing,
Julie