StoryADay presents: I, WRITER - A Writing Podcast about Building a Successful Writing Practice

This week I share some ideas on how you can read like a writer, and turn that effort into a resource that you can return to again and again. StoryADay May 2018 starts in a few weeks. Reading short stories in the run-up to a big writing challenge, can be incredibly inspiring. 100th Episode Celebratory Look Back Here are some episodes you  might have missed. Jane Friedman and The Business of Being A...

Today I interview publishing industry expert Jane Friedman ( www.janefriedman.com ) whose new book The Business Of Being A Writer is billed as 'the business education you never got', for writers. We discuss what writers should do when they want to go pro, the myth of the overnight success, the nature of 'work' and networking for introverts! We also talk about Patreon and if you want to see some ex...

This week's podcast is a pep-talk to get you writing, even when you're having trouble getting started. (Isn't "getting started" the hardest part some days?) And sometimes, getting started isn't the problem. The problem crops up somewhere else:  * Getting through the mushy middle * Reining in a story that wants to become a novella * Losing focus before the end. I want to hear from you: what problem...

Today's mini episode is a writing prompt that challenges you to write a story in the form of a prose sonnet (don't worry, I explain what I mean and give you a few different styles to choose from). It's a challenge, but it's a good one! Read more: http://stada.me/sonnet

This mini episode contains a writing prompt that challenges you to write a story in the form of letters, tweets, log entries, or other 'found documents'.  Read more:  https://stada.me/letters

This mini episode contains a writing prompt that challenges you to write a story in the form of a list. Here's a link to more information about Jennifer Egan's story, "To Do List": http://stada.me/egan

This month I'm focusing on short story form. Watch out for a few mini-episodes coming your way, with more details on some short story forms. Also in this episode, I recommend Jane Friedman's new book, The Business of Being A Writer  [ http://amzn.to/2DyhhYL].

Flash fiction is more than just a collection of fewer than 1000 words. Flash fiction must...FLASH! In this episode I talk about, how to surprise your readers, how to craft openings and endings to keep your story in your readers' hearts, how to use titles as the sizzle that sell your story to a reader I also remind listeners that it's almost time for the March SWAGr post, where we make our commitme...

February is the shortest month, so we're focusing on the shortest of fiction: flash!  (And, yes, I know there are shorter forms, but this is the particular short-short form I picked, ok?) This week I talk about what flash is and why you might want to be writing it. Includes bonus trivia about Impressionism.   LINKS Last week's flash fiction writing prompt:  http://storyaday.org/wow-make-it-flash/...

As we settle into a new year of writing, it's worth taking a look at our habits and forming an 'if/then' contingency plan to keep us working when our plans go awry. Also in this episode, this week's writing prompt!  

Happy New Year! If you haven't quite settled into your new routine (or your old routine) yet, and want to get creative, this is the episode for you. Also, I'm inviting feedback on the questions of  -What you do to get yourself to your desk -What routines/practices you use to start work Call and leave me a message, and I might air your question/comment on the podcast: 484 393 2233 Please leave a na...

This week I talk about ways to make your life easier by embracing the idea of decision-making, both in your writing and in your writing practice. You can read a (slightly altered) version of this, here: http://storyaday.org/choices/

For all you NaNo novelists out there, deep in the belly of a fast-written novel, I have a suggestion for a way to revitalize your writing and your excitement about your project. For everyone (else?) I talk about regrouping: it's November: There's still time to rescue some of your writing goals for this year, and set yourself up for a successful writing year in 2018.   LINKS: The StoryADay Serious...

  Writing the first line of your story is tough. Opening lines must:  Set up the main question the reader is going to be asking all the way through Establish the voice of the protagonist/narrator Set the tone Ground the reader in a time or place So, how do you make your first line reflect all these things? Let's look at some examples.   Read more and sign up to get the extra case studies: Masterin...

In This Week's Podcast Writing Prompts [1:44]  http://storyaday.org/ stadasep17-04 / What To Do If It's Getting Harder To Write [4:08] Book Review: Windy Lynn Harris's Writing and Selling Short Stories and Personal Essays [6:08] How's Your SWAGr? [12:18] Come and leave a comment or question at the blog:  http://storyaday.org/ stadasep17-04 / And listen next week for more information about an upcom...

This week I give you five story starter prompts and an excitable sermon on not quitting. Enjoy! The Prompts [0:52] Progress Report [1:46] Don't Quit (with bonus Cassini shout out) [3:36] Checklist and Feedback info [12:38] You can find the prompts online here:  http://storyaday.org/stadasep17-03/ You can find the checklist for StoryADay Sep17 here: http://bitly.com/2fkPe5M You can take the survey...

It's Week 2 of StoryADay September 2017 and I'm back with five prompts for you. IN THIS EPISODE The Prompts [1:16] Connecting With Other Writers [6:46] The Checklist and a Survey [12:44] Warm Wishes for your Writing [15:33]   LINKS The Survey:  goo.gl/forms/O8fHSMfWAlDbrtBw2   Print a new checklist Comment at the blog    

StoryADay September has begun   In This Episode The Prompts [5:03] The Checklist [6:23] The Importance of Reading [12:19]  

This month's theme at StoryADay is "Refilling The Well", in which I encourage you to find many ways of rebooting your creativity...largely by taking a break from your writing.   Links: Bookriot's Best Books of 2017, So Far The Nature Fix by Florence Williams  (af)  

Now that StoryADay May is in the rear view mirror, it's time to dig out some of your stories and see what you can do to spruce them up. Now, before you panic, I have a whole episode for you on learning to love revision. Give it a listen. Your stories are worth it!

in today's prompt, you get a chance to write about a writer. This is not something I suggest often, but I think you've earned it. Also: news about StoryFest 2017 ( http://storyaday.org/storyfest-2017 )   Find more about this prompt: http://storyaday.org/20170531-writer/

Today I wrap up the Story Structure series with a Hansel & Gretel, a story that starts with the Life Changing Moment. The Prompt: http://storyaday.org/20170530-hansel    

Today's #writingprompt is the second in a series talking about structure. Today the life-changing moment comes in the center of the story. The Prompt:  http://storyaday.org/20170529-duckling/

Today's #writingprompt is the first of three looking at story structure. Today: a Cinderella story.   The Prompt: http://storyaday.org/20170528-cinderella

Today I encourage you to write a non-traditional love story for the 27th day of StoryADay May 2017 The prompt:  http://storyaday.org/20170527/