Maybe you haven’t started yet. Maybe you’re eight stories in. Maybe you started and then, well, life got in the way and…But where ever you are, there are still 20 days left in May.

What will you do – in the next 20 days – as your gift to your Writing Self?

Here are 8 Ways To Save (or Support) Your StoryADay May:

1. RESET YOUR GOALS

Only you know what’s going on in your life. If you know (or have discovered) that you simply can’t write a story a day, ask yourself what you could write. Three stories a week? One story, but worked on four days out of the week?This is your challenge. Make it what you need it to be.

2. FORGET THE PAST

Missed a day (or eight)? Forget it. Forgive it. You have today. Write something today.

3. FORGET THE FUTURE

31 stories in 31 days sounds like a lot – and it is. What if you’re tired? What if you can’t face the idea of having to do another story tomorrow? Well, what if the world ends and there is no tomorrow? What if aliens abduct all the writing materials on Earth tonight? Just write for today.

4. FORGET YOUR AUDIENCE

Nothing is more paralysing than thinking about what someone might think of your writing. On a first draft you must shut out all those voices. Don’t worry about the snooty woman in your book club who thinks First Person stories are lazy. Don’t worry that your sister will recognize herself in the portrait of the uptight pain in the posterior you are writing.

Write to entertain or amuse yourself, to exorcise your demons, to distract yourself from having that drink or eating that fourth slice of pie. Whatever.

You do not need to share these stories with anyone. Write for yourself.

5. WRITE RUBBISH

Really.

You are allowed to write something truly terrible. Because if you allow yourself to write badly, you can laugh at yourself, and laughter is powerful voodoo. And then you can learn what not to do tomorrow.

And, the chances are, somewhere in that steaming midden of middling prose, will be a phrase, a clause, a character, an image — something — that you’re just a little bit proud of and that will make you come back and try again tomorrow.

6. READ & COMMENT ON SOMEONE ELSE’S STORIES

Go to the comments under the prompts and find a place where someone has shared a story. Leave a comment. Admire the double bravery of your fellow writer who both wrote a story and put it out into the world. Encourage them. Imagine how it might feel to get a little of that love in return. Want it? Write something!

7. GET A BUDDY

If you do read and comment on some other StoryADay participants’ stories, you’ll probably find that you’ve just built yourself a personal cheering squad.

It’s a pretty awesome, supportive community here at StoryADay. Comment on someone’s story and they’re liable to come looking for yours. Ask them to check in on your progress and they will. Knowing that someone is waiting for your story (or to see your celebratory “I wrote today!” post) can work wonders for your productivity!

People are sharing their struggles and triumphs and tips for getting over the difficult parts. The community comments are a great resource!

8. USE THE PROMPTS

Even if you hate the idea and sit staring at them for ages before anything comes, prompts can be a great way of getting you started on your day’s writing.

Even if it’s just to shout, “This is stupid. I’m writing X, instead!”

What’s your #1 tip for someone who’s feeling discourage, and wants to get back to writing?