Erica Drayton Writes

Category: The Look Back

  • The Look Back | Issue #3

    4/6/2024 – 4/19/2024

    Dear Reader,

    April has been a crazy month to start. Writing a 100 word poem every day has been really tough but I’ve made it so far.

    100 WORD STORIES

    I will say it has not been easy but of the 19 poems I’ve written thus far, here are some of my favorites:

    Buy The First 100 to read the very first stories in my journey! [click image below]

    ANATOMY OF TYPEWRITERS | ANTHOLOGY

    *Paid Subscribers Only

    Previous Anatomy of Typewriters stories: Killer Keys (4-Parts / 9,354 words) & The Night Shift (4-Parts / 9,348 words)

    This month I started writing Birthright. Part 1 is out now with Parts 2 and 3 coming before month end. When a woman discovers she was adopted and her birthmother left her her home, she must decide if she’s willing to accept that which she has inherited.

    WHAT I’M READING, WATCHING, AND LISTENING

    READING | The Pickwick Papers by Charles Dickens & The Mysterious Affairs at Styles by Agatha Christie / Finished reading in 3 days: The Mighty Onion by Mark Crilley

    WATCHING | Midsomer Murders on Britbox (a streaming service) Seasons 22 – 24

    LISTENING | Cowboy Carter by Beyoncé & THE TORTURED POETS DEPARTMENT: THE ANTHOLOGY

    THE OPT-IN EMAILS

    Everything below requires you to actually change your subscription. You can do so here so you won’t miss out on these great opportunities for discussion. Click Here.

    COMMUNITY WRITING

    #Pentober52 has come to an end. Long live Free Writing Fridays! Returning to twice a month beginning in May.

    THE MURDER PEN CLUB

    My most secret passion is serial killers. I am fascinated by them. So it should come as no surprise to you that my idols are Agatha Christie and Alfred Hitchcock. This club is my way to connect with them and share with you my love for all of their work through literature and film.

    THE WRITERS CIRCLE

    Getting to share my thoughts on my writing journey and what I hear being talked about in writing communities is something I enjoy doing but I know not everyone will want to read my thoughts and so, it’s up to you but here are some of what was on my mind recently:

  • The Look Back | Issue #2

    3/16/2024 – 4/5/2024

    Dear Reader,

    Another Saturday, another opportunity for me to share all that I’ve been working on the past couple of weeks. As I try to find my “sea legs” with all the various projects I have going in 2024 I appreciate this time I’m giving myself to remember that there is actual writing progress happening. Sometimes it can be easy to forget that things are actually getting done when you’re in the weeds of it all. If you ever have a chance to look back, I recommend it, even if it’s just for yourself.

    100 WORD STORIES

    You can pretty much guarantee that every newsletter will have at least 13 of these ready to read! But, instead of sharing the stories I’m going a different route and sharing the link to The First 100 because I published a book. The first in a series that may never end. So, if you missed where this journey started and want to have a copy on your bookshelf here’s your chance! I’m releasing these in PRINT form only.

    ANATOMY OF TYPEWRITERS | ANTHOLOGY

    *Paid Subscribers Only

    I’ve completed yet another short story and it comes in at just under 10,000 words. If you haven’t read Killer Keys, you may want to give it a try, so long as you don’t believe that typewriters have a mind of their own.

    The latest completed story is The Night Shift. If dolls that move and talk give you nightmares or the creeps, this story might not be for you.

    COMMUNITY WRITING EXERCISES

    If you’re looking for a place to flex your writing muscles (whether professionally or just as a hobby) look no further:

    WHAT I’M READING, WATCHING, AND LISTENING

    READING | The Pickwick Papers by Charles Dickens & The Mysterious Affairs at Styles by Agatha Christie

    WATCHING | Midsomer Murders on Britbox (a streaming service)

    LISTENING | Cowboy Carter by Beyoncé

    THE OPT-IN EMAILS

    Everything below requires you to actually change your subscription. You can do so here so you won’t miss out on these great opportunities for discussion. Click Here.

    THE MURDER PEN CLUB

    My most secret passion is serial killers. I am fascinated by them. So it should come as no surprise to you that my idols are Agatha Christie and Alfred Hitchcock. This club is my way to connect with them and share with you my love for all of their work through literature and film.

    THE WRITERS CIRCLE

    Getting to share my thoughts on my writing journey and what I hear being talked about in writing communities is something I enjoy doing but I know not everyone will want to read my thoughts and so, it’s up to you but here are some of what was on my mind recently:

  • The Look Back | Issue #1

    3/3/2024 – 3/15/2024

    Dear Reader,

    Welcome to a brand new series of emails. On the 1st and 3rd Saturday of each month I’m going to take an opportunity to look back at the previous two weeks and all that I’ve written. Think of this as a great way for you to catch-up on what you may have missed. So, let’s get into it…

    THE 100 WORD STORIES

    You can pretty much guarantee that every newsletter will have at least 13 of these ready to read! Feel free to CLICK HERE if you want to jump down to the next portion of the email to see what else I’ve been up to the past two weeks.

    AN ANATOMY OF TYPEWRITERS ANTHOLOGY

    *Paid Subscribers Only

    THE COMMUNITY WRITING EXERCISES

    If you’re looking for a place to flex your writing muscles (whether professionally or just as a hobby) look no further:

    WHAT I’M READING, WATCHING, AND LISTENING

    READING [The Pickwick Papers by Charles Dickens]

    WATCHING [Vera on Britbox (a streaming service)]

    LISTENING [WQXR Classical Radio Station in NYC on iHeartRadio]