Good question! Life got a little busy in the middle of February and did not calm down again until June. That is one reason for my neglect of this blog. By the time the dust settled, we had a holiday and then just all the stuff that goes on after a holiday. Suddenly it’s August. Definitely time to write a blog.
So have you continued to write?
Absolutely, yes! I have continued with 12 stories in 12 months. Some months have been busy, work-wise and yet I have still managed to write a story. The word count is set for us so it is a matter of coming up with the story. My problem is that I seem to be getting later and later before I get that spark. So far I have always managed to find a story in time so I am eight stories into the year. There is also a commitment in that you have to read at least four other stories, so it is important to find time for that, too.
12 poems in 12 months (just because)
I also signed myself up for the 12 poems in 12 months challenge. These take place the week after the story challenge. Again, there is a prompt which you try to meet in any way you can. I signed up to challenge myself. I wrote some poems a very long time ago when I was in university and really enjoyed it. I have found that poems require more of me and I am enjoying the differing prompts each month and trying to meet them.
The poetry challenge does not have a word length, but it might ask for a certain type of poem or just offer a subject. Sometimes it offers a choice. Again, you are expected to read at least four poems other people have written. I find it fascinating just how there are so many different responses to the same prompt.
I have also been trying to find a novel to write. That sounds weird. I have all these short stories and I am going to look into publishing them soon, one at a time then in collections, however I would really like to write a full length novel. My last one ended up in a drawer, metaphorically speaking. I finished it but felt that there was something I had missed, so decided not to pursue it. The great thing about writing so many short stories so regularly is that you find lots of great characters, some of whom may be able to carry a novel. So, watch this space!
I am also trying to finish a couple of longer short stories that I began last year but did not get fully written. I have enjoyed them enough to want to finish them, but they have proven longer than I expected. One is starting to get there, so I hope to have that done soon. It might even turn into my novel, we will see.
Through a recent Kickstarter, I have signed up to do two x three week courses on writing weird fiction. Both courses include an assignment which is sent in and then possibly sent in for a magazine. I am nervous but excited. I have sent work into this company before, but although the stories were liked, they were ultimately rejected because they did not suit the magazine. Through the Kickstarter, I will also have the chance to send in more stories and I am hoping that these courses will give me a head start. I did not manage to answer all the prompts last time but the stories that I did write, I really like, so I am hoping to gain more good stories from them at the very least.
The word count is higher than some other places – they are looking for 3-5000 word stories, but I feel that I am moving to that kind of length anyway.
When I attended a writing course, years ago, I wrote 500 word stories. Now through 12 stories in 12 months, I enjoy writing up to 2,500 words. 3000 words is the next barrier and I am already writing stories past that.
Sources for short stories
Shoutout to Christopher Fielden who runs short story courses and lists short story competitions.
https://www.christopherfielden.com/
His website is very helpful for people wanting to start writing short stories.
Writing prompt: Write a short story about a cup of tea. 1000 words. You can write up to 1050 words or 950 words. Let me know if you do it.
Sarah.
