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
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
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/
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!
This month is all about publishing; how, why, and why not.
I don’t talk much about publishing at StoryADay because the focus has always been on creativity. However, seven years in, I think we could stand to talk a little about what might be your ‘what next’.
(Please excuse the slightly tremulous voice this week. Throat surgery last week has left me a little wobbly, but I’ll be back to full strength soon!)
Sometimes it’s hard to write, or hard to get started, or hard to remember why we put ourselves through this! That’s when you need to assemble your cheerleaders…In this episode I talk about what my cheerleaders have done for me lately and how you might get some of your own.
This episode is a companion piece to this blog post:
https://storyaday.org/stay-excited.
Be sure to check it out for more details and to find all the exercises I talk about in the podcast.
Hopefully, you’ve been doing something looking back at 2016, making note of all the places where you did wonderfully things.
Now it’s time to look forward to building on them next year. This ‘look forward’ to 2017 offers some strategies for making the most of your writing time, setting P.A.C.E goals, and staying on track throughout the year.
Here are the worksheets I reference in this podcast, to help you plan for a successful 2017:
And here’s a detailed article about how to set exciting goals and actually achieve them, this time!
Today’s episode is all about looking back at your year and capturing the achievements in your writing life that can help power you forward into your next year of writing.
Includes
WHY it’s good to track your achievements
HOW to remember what you’ve achieved
EXAMPLES of the kind of things you might list
RECOMMENDED READING for further thoughts on motivation
LINKS mentioned in the podcast
writers.digest@fwcommunity.com (to nominate StoryADay.org or another favorite blog for a Writer’s Digest 101 Best Websites for Writers listing)
Motivation For Creative People by Mark McGuinness (AF)
How Do You Want Your Novel to Change the World? by Julia Monroe Martin at WriterUnboxed.com
You may also want to listen to the follow-up episode: Looking Forward: Setting & Meeting Goals For Your Best Writing Year Ever or check out the accompanying post (with worksheets!) How To Set Exciting Writing Goals for Next Year — And Actually Meet Them This Time!
November is here and whether you’re facing NaNoWriMo or just the change of seasons, it’s a great time to think about energy in your writing life.
Energy is the theme for November at StoryADay.org and I start out this week with a plea for physical activity (walking, specifically) and will be writing about this and other ‘energy’ issues through the month.
This episode also includes a writing prompt and some theft. Settle in…
Today’s writing prompt is inspired by a story by Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie, featured in The Best American Short Stories 2016 (http://amzn.to/2elDfUo)
You can read more of my thoughts on this story here: [Reading Room] Apollo by Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie
You can leave comments about your experiences with this prompt here: [Writing Prompt] Regrets, I’ve Had A Few
And here are some articles to help you as you think about revising your first draft.
Podcast length: 11:15mins. Music by Alan McPike (www.standardstrax.com)
National Novel Writers’ Month is coming!
How can writing a short story every week this month help you conquer NaNo?
Tune in to this 7 minute episode for answers…and a writing prompt about the upcoming holiday season and why it’s (almost) too late to start writing holiday stories (I know! Already!)
It’s the first of the month, and that means it’s Serious Writer’s Accountability Group day at StoryADay.org.
Spend fifteen minutes with me and Monique Cuillerier, a long time StoryADay community member, as we talk about writing, routines, and why she turns up for SWAGr month after month.
You can find Monique online at NotWhereILive.com and on Twitter @moniqueac
Today we explore the power of three and use it to make your story Bigger, Badder, (Too Much For Mr. Incredible!! Wait, no, that’s something else….)
Hey, we’re almost there! It’s almost the end of the month.
By now you’re probably pretty sick of this StoryADay nonsense, but you can’t quit because you’re so close, right?
Take out your frustrations on your protagonist! There’s nothing better for a compelling story than a little bit of mistreatment of your beloved protag…
Today we take a look at pacing, and the differences it can make to a story.
This is a bit of a ‘cheat day’ because I encourage you to write something that may not be a complete short story. Gasp!
Today’s prompt encourages you to think about stirring up some emotions in your readers.
Today’s writing prompt is all about changing perspective. Most of us have a particular POV we like to write in. Today, we try something completely different.
Today we’re going to take a deeper look at genre and the expectations readers have, based on that genre…
Quick: grab a book from your bookshelf, and look at the first page. Can you tell what kind of book it’s going to be just from the tone of that page? Does it match your expectations?
Today you’ll write a story focussing on tone: is it consistent? Is it appropriate to the story you’re telling?
With four weeks of writing under your belt, you will have learned a thing or two about your strengths as a writer. This week we use what you’ve learned and build on it.
Today’s focus: Finding Your Voice
I don’t often give you a traditional ‘story starter’ kind of prompt, but today that’s exactly what I’m doing. I’m really curious to see what everyone does with this one!
This is one of my favorite writing prompts of all time – because you don’t have to worry too much about coming up with a plot, just messing with one.
For more resources take a look at the blog post for this prompt.
Today you’re going to tell the story of a painting (literally or otherwise). I have some suggestions for you, and, if you want to find the original blog post, with links to good sources of art, go here: http://storyaday.org/2016-18-painting/
Today’s prompt is to write a story based on a news headline. The caveat, of course, being that fiction, unlike real life, has to make sense!
Today’s Rescue Week prompt is to write a story that would fit on Twitter: 140 characters only! It’s not as easy as you think…
You did it! You’ve made it to week three! Congratulations. And don’t worry if things are getting harder this week. This is your RESCUE WEEK, full of prompts exclusively designed to help you over the hump.
Protagonists and Antagonists aren’t the only characters to turn up in your stories. Today we take a look at the sidekick’s role.
Today’s prompt uses the antagonist to show what the protagonist could be if only they were a little bit worse/braver/less moral.
Today we’re concentrating on character. You love your main character…just don’t let them be too perfect!
The only qualification to be a ‘Superstar” is a desire to write and support your fellow writers.
A supportive group of committed writers, who meet virtually, support each other’s efforts, and inspire each other.
Registration for 2024 open now-June 8, 2024
The only qualification to be a ‘Superstar” is a desire to write and support your fellow writers.
A supportive group of committed writers, who meet virtually, support each other’s efforts, and inspire each other.
Registration for 2024 open now-June 8, 2024
A 6-part journey through the short story.
Starts July 28, 2023