What will it take to get you writing through the next few months? I have some thoughts..

Also: I answer questions about getting through the middle of a project and about conquering procrastination

LINKS Your Writing Life Series: https://storyaday.org/your-writing-life-series

The I, WRITER Course: https://www.storyaday.com/joiniwriter

I often talk about the middle of a story as 'the muddy middle', but I prefer Blake Snyder's label "fun and games".

This week I talk about what the middle of your story has to do, why it's hard, and how you can make it easier.

Resources:

James Scott Bell's Write Your Novel From The Middle https://amzn.to/2I9liuE

Jessica Brody's Save The Cat Writes A Novel https://amzn.to/36yixff

Gwen Hayes's Romancing The Beat https://amzn.to/2UoXnug

LINKS

What do you need to know about the I, WRITER Course? https://storyaday.org/iwriter

In Part 2 of my interview with Angela Ackerman, co-author of The Emotion Thesaurus and host of Writers Helping Writers, we talk about how to use details to write great characters, immerse readers in your story, and even figure out your plot.

Links:

Writers Helping Writers: http://stada.me/whw

One Stop For Writers: http://stada.me/osfw

Angela Ackerman is the co-author of the Emotion Thesaurus range of writing books and the One Stop for Writers site. In this episode I talked to her about creativity and how a big writing challenge might be just the thing you need right now.

Links:

Angela's post: http://stada.me/angela

One Stop For Writers: http://stada.me/osfw

Should you take part in NaNoWriMo this year? Should you attend that conference or take that class? Should you buy that new writing craft book?

Here's a process to get you started figuring out whether or not you're looking at a shiny object or a shiny opportunity.

Links:

https://storyaday.org/shiny-objects

Are you writing short stories? Why? And are you reading short stories? Which ones and again: why?

LINKS:

20 Short stories to read that will make you a better writer: http://stada.me/readme

Pushcart prize nominator calls for recommendations: http://stada.me/pushcart20

What are you reading? https://storyaday.org/episode185

So much of our procrastination is powered by mindset, but there's more to making writing an inevitable part of our lives than simply wishing it was true. I have some suggestions....

LINKS:

Inevitable Writer article: http://stada.me/inev

SWAGr Accountability post: https://stada.me/swagr

3 Day Challenge: http://stada.me/3day

September can be a time for reflection and planning ahead. I have some tips on that as well as some interesting reads from around the web.

LINKS

Kate Northrup, Do Less: https://katenorthrup.com/

The Good Place, The Podcast: https://stada.me/GoodPlace

Writer Unboxed Titles article: https://stada.me/wutitles

Romantic Gifts article: https://stada.me/gifts

Srini Rao, Risk Tolerance: https://stada.me/risk

Does it matter if you write? Hell, yes. Let' s talk about that....

JOURNAL QUESTIONS

1a, How are you when you are writing? (how's your focus, your mood, your relationships?)

1b, Who does that impact?

2, Whose writing affected you most deeply in your life?

3, Who could your writing be a gift for?

Not ready for a 30 Day Challenge? Try the 3 Day Challenge: https://storyaday.org/3dc/

If you haven't started writing short stories this month it's not too late! This week's podcast is a look back and a look forward at the writing prompts in StoryADay September (from writers like Tobias S. Buckell, Jonathan Maberry, Seanan McGuire, Simon Rich, Grant Faulkner, Art Taylor, and more...).

Plus a short sermon on why you should finish your stories.

Links:

Windy Lynn Harris's Flash Fiction episode of the podcast: https://storyaday.org/episode166/