StoryADay Julie Duffy

Characters need to need something. They need to want something. Otherwise, it's just a series of things happening to a character...and readers won't care.
In this episode I share a writing prompt and lesson from my year-long email series, StoryAWeek, which you can start today,all about creating a story in which a character needs something. 
I also talk about creating suspense in creative and marketing writing, and about why it's so important to build a writing practice.
LINKS
Mary Robinette Kowal interview
StoryAWeek
StoryADay Challenge Handbook

In a week when a(nother) rockstar writer is falling from their pedestal, I made a case for the rest of us being brave enough to complete and release our work into the world; to flood the reading public with good options, and not worry about what might happen if we accidentally become successful.
 
LINKS:
Contact: https://storyaday.org/contact
The StoryADay Challenge Handbook: https://storyaday.org/challenge-handbook

Want more joy and less angst, in your writing life? 
I have some suggestions, that will helo you create and stick to a writing practice that works for you, right now.
LINKS
StoryADay Handbook: https://storyaday.org/challenge-handbook
BJ Fogg’s Tiny Habits: https://amzn.to/4chLUmd (affiliate link)

Why can you write so well during challenges like StoryADay May but struggle to motivate yourself outside challenges?
In this episode I dig into why challenges work AND how you can create and refine your own processes for replicating that success in your writing life.
 
LINKS:
StoryADay Challenge Handbook: https://storyaday.org/challenge-handbook

Do you have a system for consistently seeking out feedback on your completed pieces?
Could that system use a few tweaks?
What is this word, 'system' I keep using (and how dare I)?
All this and more, in this week's episode...
LINKS
Critique Week: https://storyaday.org/critique
StoryADay Challenge Handbook: https://storyaday.org/challenge-handbook

In which I talk about how StoryADay May 2024 is going (spoiler: it's going great!) and how much fun everyone is having, and the best ways to participate, even if you don't want to write a story every day.
CHAPTERS:
hapters
[00:01:08] How Is StoryADay May 2024 going?
[00:01:30] Join The Discussion
[00:02:24] The Challenge Handbook Benefits
[00:04:51] The Experience of StoryADay May in 2024
[00:05:10] Week 1 - Come To Your Desk
[00:05:48] Week 2 - The Elements of Craft
[00:08:03] Week 3 - The Art of the Short Story
[00:09:10] Wish I'd Known Then...Podcast Appearance (Short stories for novelists)
[00:11:15] Fun With Short Stories
[00:12:45] The Benefits of Community & How to be A Good Literary Citizen
[00:17:29] Wish I'd Known Then...podcast - other topics we covered
[00:19:08] Indie vs Traditional Publishing
[00:20:39] If You're Having Difficulty Writing or Staying Motivated to Write...
LINKS
StoryADay Challenge: https://storyaday.org
StoryADay Challenge Handbook: https://storyaday.org/challenge-handbook
Wish I'd Known Then...Podcast: https://stada.me/wishidknown