Getting Unstuck with K. B. Carle Pt. II

It’s really nice to know that there is still an outlet or a form of writing that I can do and still keep a full-time job while doing it.

And it didn’t really bend my schedule too much. So that’s how I really started exploring Flash

-K. B. Carle

In the second part of my conversation with author KB Carle (listen to Part 1 here) we talk about what attracted her to Flash Fiction; the challenges of moving from short to novel-length fiction; how to get unstuck ; and how being a writer includes building your community

There’s a ton of practical tips (and resources) to keep you going in this week’s episode. Enjoy!

Need the transcript? Click here

RESOURCES

In Exchange for the Final Pudding Cup, We Offer Our Inner Thoughts, from The Offing (includes a Venn diagram)

Hello, My Name Is Marley in CRAFT Literary Magazine (this one has a word search!)

Vagabond Mannequin in Jellyfish Review (crossword clues as story!)

How We Survived , in Lost Balloon

Grace Q. Song‘s website

Christopher Gonzalez

Tommy Dean

Cathy Ulrich

Kathy Fish

Meghan Phillips

Best Small Fictions 2021

I Keep My Exoskeleton To Myself by M. Crane

Smokelong Quarterly

Five South

No Contact

Atlas & Alice

Atticus Review

Keep writing,

Julie

About KB Carle

K.B. Carle lives and writes outside of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Her flash has been published in a variety of places including Lost Balloon, Five South Lit., The Rumpus, JMWW, and elsewhere. K.B.’s stories have been nominated for The Pushcart Prize, and her story, “Soba,” was included in the 2020 Best of the Net anthology. Her story, “A Lethal Woman,” will be included in the 2022 Best Small Fictions anthology. She can be found online at kbcarle.com or on Twitter @kbcarle.

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A Conversation with K. B. Carle Part I

When I’m most relaxed, here comes the character…

That’s when everybody decides to show up and just interrupt my day like they don’t have a care.

-K. B. Carle

In this conversation with author KB Carle we talk about writing flash fiction and micro fiction, the importance of community, getting through the middle, and more

Need the transcript? Click here

K.B. Carle lives and writes outside of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Her flash has been published in a variety of places including Lost Balloon, Five South Lit., The Rumpus, JMWW, and elsewhere. K.B.’s stories have been nominated for The Pushcart Prize, and her story, “Soba,” was included in the 2020 Best of the Net anthology. Her story, “A Lethal Woman,” will be included in the 2022 Best Small Fictions anthology. She can be found online at kbcarle.com or on Twitter @kbcarle.

I hope it’ll leave you inspired and ready to get to your own stories!

Keep writing,

Julie

P. S. You can listen to Part 2 here

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A Conversation with K. B. Carle

When I’m most relaxed, here comes the character…

That’s when everybody decides to show up and just interrupt my day like they don’t have a care.

-K. B. Carle

In this conversation with author KB Carle we talk about writing flash fiction and micro fiction, the importance of community, getting through the middle, and more

Need the transcript? Click here

K.B. Carle lives and writes outside of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Her flash has been published in a variety of places including Lost Balloon, Five South Lit., The Rumpus, JMWW, and elsewhere. K.B.’s stories have been nominated for The Pushcart Prize, and her story, “Soba,” was included in the 2020 Best of the Net anthology. Her story, “A Lethal Woman,” will be included in the 2022 Best Small Fictions anthology. She can be found online at kbcarle.com or on Twitter @kbcarle.

I hope it’ll leave you inspired and ready to get to your own stories!

Keep writing,

Julie

Want more?

Weekly writing prompts and lessons in your inbox, every Wednesday with the StoryAWeek Newsletter

Forget the Hero’s Journey – a conversation with Gwen E. Kirby Pt II

In the second part of my conversation with Gwen E. Kirby we talk about developing characters that feel real to people, about writing at this moment in time, writing about women, and the question that Gwen Kirby doesn’t get asked often enough,

Gwen E Kirby is the author of the fabulous debut collection of short stories Shit Cassandra Saw. has a MFA from Johns Hopkins university. PhD from the University of Cincinnati and is the Associate Director of Programs and finance for the Sewanee Writers. Conference at the University of the South where she’s also teaching students about creative writing. Her writing has appeared in One Story Tin House Guernica. Smoke Long Quarterly, and many other places.

LINKS

Gwen’s book: https://stada.me/cassandra

This interview: https://storyaday.org/episode278

Ready to write today, not “some day”?

Forget the Hero’s Journey, a conversation with Gwen E. Kirby

“when we leave our characters in sort of these vagaries, these big emotions and these big ideas, we don’t have anything to hang the characters or the emotions on.”

-Gwen E. Kirby

In the second part of my conversation with Gwen E. Kirby we talk about developing characters that feel real to people, about writing at this moment in time, writing about women, and the question that Gwen Kirby doesn’t get asked often enough,

Gwen E Kirby is the author of the fabulous debut collection of short stories Shit Cassandra Saw. has a MFA from Johns Hopkins university. PhD from the University of Cincinnati and is the Associate Director of Programs and finance for the Sewanee Writers. Conference at the University of the South where she’s also teaching students about creative writing. Her writing has appeared in One Story Tin House Guernica. Smoke Long Quarterly, and many other places.

Need the transcript? Find it here

I hope it’ll leave you inspired and ready to get to your own stories!

Keep writing,

Julie

Want more?

Weekly writing prompts and lessons in your inbox, every Wednesday with the StoryAWeek Newsletter

Sh*t Cassandra Saw, an Inteview with Gwen E. Kirby

“So little of life is comprised of huge dramatic running out into the rain to cry “Stella!”  If we saved our short fiction for only those moments, not only am I not totally sure what we would write about, but I’m not sure it would be all that accurate a portrayal of what it is to be a person.”

-Gwen E. Kirby

On this week’s podcast I’m in conversation with author Gwen E. Kirby, whose debut collection Sh*t Cassandra Saw was one of my absolute favorites from last year.

In our conversation we talk about the stories in her new collection, the benefit of a fantastic title, how to take an idea and develop it into a story. 

Need the transcript? Find it here

Next week, in the second part of this interview, we will talk more about developing characters that feel real to people, about writing at this moment in time, writing about women, and the question that Gwen Kirby doesn’t get asked often enough.

It was a delightful conversation and I hope it’ll leave you inspired and ready to get to your own stories!

Keep writing,

Julie

P. S. Mary Robinette Kowal, who I interviewed a few episodes ago, is offering a class this Sunday on diagnosing (and fixing) story problems. I always leave her classes feeling as if someone has flipped my head open and dropped in a bunch of sparklers. You might want to check it out.

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Back To Writing

Today I’m talking about the struggle to get back into a writing routine after the winter holidays. I know I’m not alone in expecting that fresh start feeling to kick in, in January, but it hasn’t happened for me yet. The chaos of the holidays can make it hard to get back into a routine. But, I have learned over the years as a writer, that if you want to improve, you have to take action and actually write. I have some tips that can help, and an invitation to join me in a tiny challenge later this month… Thanks for listening.

LINKS:
January Challenge: https://storyaday.org/jan-challenge

Sign up for the Jan 5-Day Challenge

Ready to write today, not “some day”?

Creative Rebellion – Episode 275

Join us as we talk about building a productive writing practice, no matter what…..

It’s an end-of-year episode with a twist (hint: don’t want to set New Year’s Resolutions? Join the rebellious crowd!)

Listen to the Audio

Full transcript here

Watch the video

Watch video with full transcript here

LINKS:

LINKS:

Never miss an episode: Subscribe to the Podcast

Link to this episode: https://storyaday.org/episode253

Join the discussion in the Serious Writers’ Accountability Group (SWAGr)

More Writing Help

StoryADay Short Story Framework

Download the free Short Story Framework and write today, not ‘some day’. Go from ‘idea’ to ‘the end’ without getting lost along the way!

Download now
StoryAWeek logo

Weekly writing prompts and lessons in your inbox, every Wednesday with the StoryAWeek Newsletter

Find out more
StoryaDay 3-Day Challenge

Take the 3-Day Challenge and write three short stories this weekend!

find out more

Where’s My Butler? An Interview with Mary Robinette Kowal about the writing life – Part 2

Join us as we talk about building a productive writing practice, no matter what…..

My conversation continues, with award-winning author Mary Robinette Kowal as we discuss her new novel The Spare Man and the art of writing even in the face of challenges. Don’t miss it!

Listen to the Audio

Watch the video

Watch video with full transcript here

LINKS:

LINKS:

Never miss an episode: Subscribe to the Podcast

Link to this episode: https://storyaday.org/episode273

Join the discussion in the Serious Writers’ Accountability Group (SWAGr)

More Writing Help

StoryADay Short Story Framework

Download the free Short Story Framework and write today, not ‘some day’. Go from ‘idea’ to ‘the end’ without getting lost along the way!

Download now
StoryAWeek logo

Weekly writing prompts and lessons in your inbox, every Wednesday with the StoryAWeek Newsletter

Find out more
StoryaDay 3-Day Challenge

Take the 3-Day Challenge and write three short stories this weekend!

find out more

An Interview with Mary Robinette Kowal about writing “The Spare Man” – Part 1

Join us as we talk about writing, cocktails and the art of writing what you don’t know…

Murder! Cocktails! Adorable service dogs!

Award-winning author Mary Robinette Kowal comes to the StoryADay podcast to discuss her new novel The Spare Man and the art of writing books you’d actually want to read. Don’t miss it!

Listen to the Audio

Watch the video

Watch video with full transcript here

LINKS:

LINKS
MaryRobinette.com
Mary Robinette Kowal’s Patreon
My Favorite Bit (10 best Fantine curses) 

Never miss an episode: Subscribe to the Podcast

Link to this episode: https://storyaday.org/episode273

Join the discussion in the Serious Writers’ Accountability Group (SWAGr)

More Writing Help

StoryADay Short Story Framework

Download the free Short Story Framework and write today, not ‘some day’. Go from ‘idea’ to ‘the end’ without getting lost along the way!

Download now
StoryAWeek logo

Weekly writing prompts and lessons in your inbox, every Wednesday with the StoryAWeek Newsletter

Find out more
StoryaDay 3-Day Challenge

Take the 3-Day Challenge and write three short stories this weekend!

find out more

It’s Annual Review Time!

Don’t be afraid!

it’s that time of year when you’re supposed to make goals, but how to do it without getting bored, scared, disappointed or terrified? I have some thoughts…

Listen to the Audio

LINKS:

Never miss an episode: Subscribe to the Podcast

Link to this episode: https://storyaday.org/episode272

Join the discussion in the Serious Writers’ Accountability Group (SWAGr)

Need something to help you get closer to your purpose while setting or assessing your goals?

Get the Annual Planning Bundle

Read the accompanying article

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Annual Planning Bundle

Download the Annual Planning Bundle and always know your next, smallest step as you chase your writing goals.

Get the WORKBOOK

6 Weeks of Creativity

With six weeks left in the year, you may be looking to do a big push or you may want to chill. I have one tip that will make either of those options (or something in the middle) work.

Also in this episode, some updates on my Tidy Desk Challenge and what’s been going on around here at StoryADay recently.

LINKS

Read to write? Watch this peptalk

Want to build a slow, steady practice? What this

Want to finish one project this year? Watch this

Ready to chill? Watch this

Ready to write today, not “some day”?

Goals are Disruptive

This simple phrase changed everything for me, this week.

This was a massive (and kinda obvious) disruption to my thought processes this week. It goes deeper than simple fixes, but is much more likely to have a real impact on your writing life…and your quality of life. Enjoy!

Listen to the Audio

Watch the video

LINKS:

Never miss an episode: Subscribe to the Podcast

Link to this episode: https://storyaday.org/episode269

Join the discussion in the Serious Writers’ Accountability Group (SWAGr)

Need something to help you get closer to your purpose while setting or assessing your goals?

Get the Keep Writing Workbook

Get writing prompts and lessons in your inbox every week with the StoryAWeek Newsletter

Download the Keep Writing Workbook and always know your next, smallest step as you chase your writing goals.

Get the WORKBOOK

What Do You Do in The Pause?

I wrote this story on the blog this week, but in this week’s podcast you get a more complete version, along with some thoughts about what to do if you’re In The Pause

I wrote this story on the blog this week, but in this week’s podcast you get a more complete version, along with some thoughts about what to do if you’re In The Pause

Listen to the Audio

Watch the video

LINKS:

Keep Writing Workbook

Link to this episode: https://storyaday.org/episode268

Read the original blog post

Get the Keep Writing Workbook

Get writing prompts and lessons in your inbox every week with the StoryAWeek Newsletter

Download the Keep Writing Workbook and always know your next, smallest step as you chase your writing goals.

Get the WORKBOOK

Preparing for NaNoWriMo?

Everyone you know seems to be preparing for National Novel Writers’ Month. Are you?

I’ve done a few challenges in my time (from StoryADay to NaNoWriMo) and I have some questions for you about how you’re preparing and what you’ll do instead-of/as-well-as outlining to sustain you through the month.

Listen to the Audio

Watch the video

LINKS:

Creative Challenge Workbook

Link to this episode: https://storyaday.org/episode267

Get the Creative Challenge Workbook

Save The Cat Writes A Novel, Jessica Brody

Dan Wells’s 7-Point Story Structure

Romancing The Beat, Gwen Hayes

(some of these links are Amazon affiliate links, but you should feel free to look for these books wherever you like to buy/borrow books.

Join the Critique Week Waitlist

Get writing prompts and lessons in your inbox every week with the StoryAWeek Newsletter

Get the WORKBOOK

P. S. Want to read about That Time I Met NaNoWriMo Founder Chris Baty, and how, sometimes, doing a scary thing turns out to be wonderful?

Who Do You Listen To?

It’s dangerous to allow rejections, acceptances, marketing budgets or any other business-related nonsense to determine your worth as a writer.

So who should you be listening to? In this episode, I have some thoughts…

LINKS
StoryADay Critique Week: https://stada.me/critique

StoryAWeek Newsletter: https://storyaday.org/storyaweek

3-Day Challenge: https://storyaday.org/3dc

 

Ready to write today, not “some day”?

Who Do You Listen To?

In which I tell you what my critique partners said about my latest pages…

Listen to the Audio

Watch now

Watch the video

It’s dangerous to allow rejections, acceptances, marketing budgets or any other business-related nonsense to determine your worth as a writer.

So who should you be listening to? In this episode, I have some thoughts…

LINKS
StoryADay Critique Week: https://stada.me/critique

LINKS:

QR Code for stada.me/critique

Join us in Critique Week

Take the 3-Day Challenge

Get writing prompts and lessons in your inbox every week with the StoryAWeek Newsletter

Soaring

How to soar in your writing life…and as a result, the WHOLE of your life.

Listen to the Audio

Watch now

What do you need to do to help you soar in your writing life? Join me for a Lesson in Creative Thermodynamics!

LINKS:

See the illustration and leave a comment on the Lesson In Creative Thermodynamics

Take the 3-Day Challenge

I’m Obsessed With Your Success

A call to action!

I’m obsessed with helping you write more and feel successful in your writing life (Yes, I was watching the E! Emmy’s red carpet show this week. Thanks for the epithet, Laverne Cox!)

What are you willing to do to become the writer you know you are inside?

LINKS:

Join the Superstars

Out of Order

StoryADay September is coming! What’s it going to look like, this year? Tune in and find out.

PLUS I got some great advice this week on how to write a sequence that was stalling me. I’ll share it in this episode.

LINKS

Sept Challenge: https://storyaday.org/fun-size

StoryAWeek Newsletter: https://storyaday.org/storyaweek

From Short Story To Novel — And Back Again — Episode 250

Short stories and novels are different beasts, but there are skills that transfer between them, both in the craft and in the writing life.

This week I’m talking about something I learned about the writing process, in my own writng this week. You might be surprised…  

Sign up for the Fun-Sized StoryADay September Challenge: https://storyaday.org/next-challenge  

Join the StoryAWeek private newsletter here: https://storyaday.org/storyaweek

Ready to write today, not “some day”?

From Short Stories To Novels — And Back Again

Short stories and novels are different beasts, but there are skills that transfer between them, both in the craft and in the writing life.

This week I’m talking about something I learned about the writing process, in my own writing this week. You might be surprised…  

LINKS

Sign up for the Fun-Sized StoryADay September Challenge

Join the StoryAWeek private newsletter here

Endlessly Inspired

This week we take a look at the publishing industry, your goals, and how you can become endlessly inspired and creative…

Learning about the realities of the publishing industry can free you to create your own definition of success (that may or may not include traditional publishers). Step 1 towards success is to imagine your vision. Step 2 is to turn up for your writing, something the new StoryAWeek newsletter can help with!

For industry perspective: Jane Friedman’s The Hot Sheet: https://hotsheetpub.com/

Leave a comment about this episode: https://storyaday/episode259

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