One-Story Challenge

“Mastering The Middle” Edition

INTRODUCING:

The Whole Story

A MONTH-Long Writing Challenge

Spend a month working on one story: 

  • complete a single story,
  • manage the middle,
  • craft an excellent ending, and
  • wrap it all up with an outstanding opening,

in a supportive community of StoryADay writers.

Bite-sized weekly tasks help you write and improve your story.

Weekly reflections build a concrete writing practice long after the month is over.

You will have access to the content for 60 days: long enough to work through it but not so long that you forget to finish!

This September, I’ll guide you, step by step, through writing and finishing a story by telling The Whole Story.

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Why The Middle Matters

The “murky middle” is where most writers give up.

Without a roadmap, you risk:

  • Losing tension
  • Wandering into tangents
  • Over-explaining and dragging pace
  • Getting stuck, abandoning the draft

But when you understand the 3 (+1) key turning points that every middle needs, the path becomes clear. The middle isn’t a swamp — it’s the engine that drives your story.

That’s what you’ll practice in this easily-paced challenge.

picture of a road with an arrow down the middle white line

In 30 Days You Will…

  • Finish one polished short story
  • Learn how to carry momentum throughout the a story
  • Gain a toolkit of strategies you can reuse in every story you write
  • Build confidence and consistency in your writing practice

Instead of dreading the middle, you’ll know how to keep readers hooked — and yourself motivated.

How it works

Your 30-Day Writing Roadmap

This isn’t about grinding through another draft.

It’s about building a scalable system for storytelling that works whether you’re writing a 2,000-word short story or a 90,000-word novel.

Each week builds on the last, so by the end of September you’ll not only have a completed story — you’ll own a process you can use again and again.

Along the way you’ll benefit from:

Cohort discussions  

…guided opportunities to share insights, struggles, and wins with your fellow writers, so you never feel like you’re doing this alone.

Rest & Reflection days

…built-in pauses that help you practice patience, absorb what you’re learning, and develop the habits of a sustainable writing life.

Here’s the arc of your journey:

Week 1 

Getting The Draft Done

You get the story out of your head and onto the page. No more stalling. You’ll experience the freedom of having a full draft to work with.

Week 2

Building From The Middle

 Refine the meat of your story so that you can leave breadcrumbs for readers throughout.

Week 3

Elegant Endings

When your middle is solid, you’ll be able to put an elegant ending on the piece that leaves readers satisfied (and wanting more…from you).

Week 4

Opening Opportunities

Now that you know where your story is going, it’s so much easier to write the perfect opening…and that’s what we’re working on this week

Wrapping Up

We’ll also take a moment at the end to capture lessons learned, and to celebrate your triumph in finishing a story and stretching your skills, this month.

By October 1…

You’ll have a completed story, a repeatable process, and the confidence to tackle any story — short or long.

Why Now?

This challenge runs live once a year, only in September.

If you’ve ever said:

  • “I’ll get to it later…”
  • “Maybe I’ll finally finish this winter…”

…ask yourself: how many drafts have you abandoned already?

Don’t let another September slip away.

Your Guide

Julie smiling at the camera

I’m Julie Duffy and I’ve led thousands of writers through StoryADay challenges.

My superpower is breaking down intimidating craft problems into daily steps that busy writers can actually do.

I’ll walk beside you all month—teaching, cheering, writing along, and showing you how to move from “stuck in the middle” to “finished and proud.”

Ready to Write The Whole Story?

By October 1, you could still be stuck with half-finished drafts…
Or you could be holding a complete story, proud of yourself, and equipped with a system you can use for every story you’ll ever write.

This is your chance to:

  • Stop stalling out in the middle.
  • Finish with confidence.
  • Build a sustainable practice you can carry forward.

But remember: this challenge runs only in September — and once it begins, the doors close.

Say yes to yourself, your writing, and your stories today.

Join the One-Story September Challenge Now

Just $97 — with a 7-Day, No-Questions-Asked Guarantee

What People are Saying...

...about last year's challenge

INTRODUCTORY OFFER during
2024 

reg $97  special: $67
(save $30)

You will have access to all course materials for 60 days

Bonus

Writing Dates

3 x writing dates during StoryADay Sept. Write with Julie Duffy and the StoryADay Superstars in our private Zoom room.

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7 Day Money Back Guarantee. No Questions Asked.

I want you to feel completely confident saying “yes” to yourself and your writing this September.

That’s why I offer a 7-day, no-questions-asked guarantee.

Try the One-Story September Challenge. Dive into the lessons, join the discussions, start writing. If after the first week you don’t feel like this is the right fit for you, just let me know and I’ll refund your $97—no hard feelings.

Because this isn’t about risk.
It’s about giving yourself permission to finish, grow, and finally master the middle of your stories.

The only thing you risk is staying stuck.

Find out more about the StoryADay

Superstars

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 open now