WEBVTT

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are we ready?

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Today is Day 1 of a StoryADay  2021.

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Today's prompt is first
for a couple of reasons.

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One, it it's just a fabulous prompt.

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And the other one is that I once took
a class  class from Fran Wilde  and

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I enjoyed it so much that I wanted
to start this out here for you.

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Fran is a wonderful short story
writer among other things, and she

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writes weird little stories, but
weird little stories that win awards.

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So, yeah.

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Let's pay attention to
what she's asked us to do.

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She has asked us to write a story
where your character is on a bridge.

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And I think that's such wonderful,
full metaphor for where characters

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are in short stories in an old, you
might see them approaching the bridge.

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You might see them leaving the bridge.

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A short story can be just that
moment on the bridge where they have

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to do, they can see what they want
and they know where they've been.

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But they have to do something.

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They have to do something they probably
don't want to do to get to the next

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step, to get where they want to go.

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And using this image of
a character on a bridge.

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It's just, it's so layered.

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Your character, once something and it's
over there, something is stopping them.

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If they're the three Billy
goats gruff, it's a troll.

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If they are you know, if
it's a fantasy novel, maybe

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there's thieves on the bridge.

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If it's an adventure novel,
maybe the bridge is rickety.

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If it's a family drama, maybe
their spouse is trying to tell

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them not to go any further.

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And they're having an
argument on the bridge.

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So many possibilities, you can go with
this prompt, but all of them will keep

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you focused on the fact that in a short
story, a character has a choice to

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make and they have an action to take.

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And all the story needs
to be is about that.

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You don't need to do much setup.

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You don't need to really
tie it up with a bow.

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You just need to tell us what
happens and why it matters.

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So good luck with day one, this
is a fairly meaty prompt, but

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day one, you've got lots of
energy you've planned for this.

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You haven't used up all
of your good ideas yet.

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That actually is never going to happen,
but you might feel like it might.

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So day one, Go out there and
get your teeth into this prompt.

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They're not all going to be like this.

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There's going to be shorter ones and
meatier ones and all kinds of stuff.

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Lots of great guest
prompters coming up for you.

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And you can also see down below, there
is a link to on a friend's books.

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Hopefully if I've got that sorted out and
you can buy that from a local bookstore

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and support indie bookstore at same
time, if you're interested in that.

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So.

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But your character on a bridge, first
of all, to say who your character

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is, what kind of character they are
drag out your short story formula.

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If that's helpful to you and put your
character on the bridge and think for

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a while about why they're there, where
they want to go, what's in their way.

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And then, you know, if you, if it's
early in the day, you can go off and do

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stuff and just let yourself mull it over.

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But if it's later in the day and
you're up against a deadline, just

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start writing, you'll be fine.

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I have faith in you.

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All right.

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That's day one.

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I'll see you back here tomorrow,
but stop by and let me know what you

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wrote, how it went and just leave a
quick comment for us when you're done

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today and good for you for showing up.

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I'm very proud of you.

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Keep writing.