I’m through caring about what publishers want. Instead, I want us to focus on writing stories that matter. And, as you might expect, I have some thoughts on how we go about doing that.
LINKS
Stories That Matter
I’m through caring about what publishers want. Instead, I want us to focus on writing stories that matter. And, as you might expect, I have some thoughts on how we go about doing that.
LINKS
The 3-Day Challenge: https://storyaday.org/3dc
A Fresh Pespective
Vacations can give us a much needed fresh perspective, as writers and creators, but you don’t have to cross an ocean to see things a-fresh.
LINKS
StoryADay.org/episode254
Take the 3-Day Challenge: StoryADay.org/3dc
What is Your Legacy, As A Writer – Episode 253
Writers don’t just write for themselves, we write to be read, and with that we leave a legacy. in this episode I tell the story of two writers who left an impact on me, and invite you to think about your legacy
LINKS:
The 3-Day Challenge – https://storyaday.org/3dc
I, WRITER Waitlist – https://stada.me/iwriter
Music credits: Alan McPike, https://standardstrax.com/
Video credit: (Tony Conaway) Gary Zenker, Main Line Writers’ Group (full video https://youtu.be/1R0rqla54hk)
Three Ways Writers Connect
This week I bring you three stories from the writing world that bust the myth of the lone genius writer
Episode 252 – This week I bring you three stories from the writing world that bust the myth of the lone genius writer (now, doesn’t that make you feel better).
LINKS
Sign up for the free Your Writing Life Masterclass now: Join the free Your Writing Life class from StoryADay
Orget started on a mini challenge with the StoryADay 3-Day Challenge
Something Has To Change
It’s not just your protagonist who must change!
In a story your protagonist faces the possibility of change before they can solve the problem they face, win their true love, or defeat their enemy…in short, achieve their heart’s desire.
Funny thing is: as writers, we face that moment of decision too.
That’s what I’m talking about on the podcast this week.
StoryADay May 2022 Week 1 Recap
StoryADay May 2022 is underway and it’s time for a recap of what hundreds of writers have been up to this week.
LINKS:
StoryADay.org
StoryADay.org/3dc
Q&A for StoryADay May 2022
Replay of a live Q&A session with the community, recorded 30 April 2022
Links:
StoryADay.org
Get Ready for StoryADay May 2022
Why should you sign up for StoryADay May, and what happens once you do? This episode is full of trips and tricks to help you get the most out of the upcoming month of creativity, including details of the new Fun-Size Challenge
LINKS
Sign up! https://storyaday.org/signup
Get Excited About Your Writing!
What if you could slide up to your desk, knowing that you were going to have a good time, with your writing?
What if, when you sat down to write, the words just flowed? What’s the secret ingredient that makes this possible?
LINKS
The State of the Short Story
Some early details about the new flavor of StoryADay May I’m introducing this year, and my note from the AWP 2022 Conference – and my thoughts on the state of the short story
::LINKS::
3 Day Challenge: StoryADay.org/3dc
Top 10 Mistakes Writers Make
Here’s a rundown of mistake you’re probably making as a writer (plus three bonus mistakes, because we’ve all been there!)
Join us in the StoryADay Superstars group: https://stada.me/Superstars
Full transcript: https://share.descript.com/view/UzbdsMeiNBZ
Use Conflict to Make Stories More Interesting – a writing prompt
Avoid the trap of writing beautiful language with no plot, but injecting some conflict into your stories…and I don’t mean car chases or war!
If there is nothing happening in your writing, your stories will be boring!
Full transcript: https://share.descript.com/embed/Wnfp8TWAI7m
Ready for more? Take the 3-Day Challenge!
You are not Brandon Sanderson
…and you don’t have to be.
The writing world is fascinated with the tale of fantasy writer Brandon Sanderson who announced he had written four surprise novels over the pandemic and used a record-breaking Kickstarter to launch them.
So I’m here to remind you about the different paths available to writers, from creating a practice, to creating an empire that can run a record-breaking Kickstarter campaign.
::LINKS::
John Scalzi’s article: https://stada.me/scalzi
The 3-Day Challenge: https://storyaday.org/3dc
Stay updated with StoryADay: https://storyaday.org/signup
A Generative Writing Challenge
Generating words is sometimes what writing is all about. If you’ve been learning about writing for too long without writing something new, I have a challenge for you this week.
Visual Transcript
::LINKS::
The Framework: https://storyaday.org/framework
The 3-Day Challenge: https://storyaday.org/3dc
Community & Communication
Whether we are from within a community or an outsider, it affects how we perceive the group. That’s important for characters in your writing and it’s one of the topics on this week’s podcast, along with mindset (of course!) and what I’m reading this month. Included: a writing prompt all about the ways your characters and your readers interact
::LINKS::
Bob Newhard: https://youtu.be/p1KbtLrBZ0k
Neil Gaiman’s “Orange”: https://amzn.to/2GgNPb8
Podcast questions: https://storyaday.org/podcast
Julie Explains Things, Simply: https://stada.me/jets
00:00 20220211 Podcast
03:43 Reading Room
06:01 Community & Communication
11:13 Julie Explains Things, Simply
13:58 Writing Prompt
Transcript: https://share.descript.com/embed/IxDntQCz0Zp
Your Questions About Writing
When I ask people what questions they have about writing, they rarely ask about craft techniques. This week I talk about the transition from newspaper writing to fiction, making time to write and more.
:LINKS::
Julie Explains Things Simply on YouTube: https://stada.me/jets
Episode 239 – Not A Writer
When a famous and accomplished writer I admire confessed to some imposter syndrome recently I knew I needed to talk about it (and the cure) this week…
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Eyes On Your Own Paper
There are so many ways to get discouraged, as a writer. Let’s not allow Social Media spats to become another.
This week I talk about ways to get your writing done, going a little slower, and how you can join me for a step-by-step walk through short story writing.
::LINKS::
What To Write, Today
Know you want to write, but can’t get started? Why not start a fun project, just for you?
:: LINKS::
This episode: https://storyaday.org/episode237
@faithbougan’s tweet: https://twitter.com/FaithBoughan/status/1481844112546484225
Writing Prompt: https://storyaday.org/wow-irritable
Writing About Anger: https://storyaday.org/write-on-wednesday-anger/
Finding writing ideas: https://storyaday.org/finding-writing-ideas/
Breaking Writers’ Block ebook: https://amzn.to/3fGItKJ
The 3-Day Challenge: https://storyaday.org/3dc
The Ripple Effect
Encouragement to see possibilities, and not be burdened by perfectionism, in the New Year.
LINKS::
This episode: https://storyaday.org/episode236
3-Day Challenge: https://storyaday.org/3dc
Serious Writers’ Accountability Group: https://stada.me/swagr
Are You An Overly-Emotional Creative?
I saw a tweet this week, asking ‘am I overly-emotional because I’m a writer, or a writer because I’m overly-emotional?” I have some thoughts…
:LINKS:
This tweet, from author AD Graves, got me thinking (shared with permission)
A link to this episode: https://storyaday.org/episode235
Subscribe to the podcast
Stripping It Back
Writing your bio and summaries of your work causes authors all kinds of angst, but I have good news: you’re probably trying to do too much and be too clever…and this comes to our writing lives too. It’s time to strip it all back to the essentials.
::LINKS::
This episode: https://storyaday.org/episode234
Write Your Bio & Summary Workshop: https://storyaday.mykajabi.com/join-workshop
You Are Unique – Bring It On
Setting writing goals for next year includes reflecting on what we’ve achieved in the past. In this episode I invite you to expand your definition of ‘success’ and talk about Stephen Sondheim. I also encourage you to see moments of frustration as signposts.
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Start Building Your Bio PLUS A Writing Prompt from Michael X. Wang
If you don’t know what to write in your bio…steal!
Plus a writing prompt from Michael X. Wang, author of the short story collection “Further News of Defeat”
LINKS
The Writing Prompt: https://storyaday.org/2021-day-12/
Michael X. Wang’s “Further News of Defeat”: https://stada.me/mxwang
The 3-Day Challenge, a short story course: https://storyaday.org/3dc
Selling Yourself, Selling Your Work
You have to talk about yourself and your work. I’m sorry if that makes you uncomfortable. The good news? If you can give yourself permission, you CAN learn to do this.
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Scenes vs Summary
What is the difference between writing a scene and writing a summary and when should you do each? I’m sharing notes from my upcoming workshop on that topic, in this episode. Learn why it’s important to write scenes not just summary. And learn when to use them.
LINKS
Register for the workshop
Take the 3-Day Challenge
Find the story ‘Escape from the Dysphesiac People’ by Brandon Hobson in The Best American Short Stories 2021
Million Dollar Outlines by David Farland
(These book links help support indie bookstore Reads & Company in Pennsylvania)
7 Revision Myths for Writer – Busted!
Seven peices of ‘advice’ you NEVER need to hear again, on the topic of revision. Come with me on a myth-busting adventure.
Plus a writing prompt called The Post-Modern Pop Song
::Links::
This episode: storyaday.org/episode228
3-Day Challenge: storyday.org/3dc
The Writing Prompt: https://stada.me/prompt-pop
Fearless Feedback
Sharing your writing with other can be fabulous, but also a scary and, occasionally, can dent a writer’s confidence. This episode shows you how to give and recieve critique in a way that will make you and your writing stronger.
This week’s writing prompt: write a story in three sections about two characters who love each other. (at 32 minute mark)
::LINKS::
StoryADay’s Critique Week: https://storyaday.org/critique
Preparing to Rework your Writing
Now that you have a stack of stories, what do you do with them? There’s a lot to the next part of the process, and I’m here to break it down into manageable steps for you.
::LINKS::
Superstars Full Payment: https://stada.me/superstars-full
Superstars Payment Plan: https://stada.me/superstars-pp
3-Day Challenge: storyday.org/3dc
Battling Burnout
Are you avoiding your writing? It’s possible you’re suffering from burnout. Learn how to identify it and combat it in this episode of the StoryADay Podcast
::LINKS::
3-Day Challenge: https://storyaday.org/3dc