My Word of the Year + Comp Winners

Dear Reader,

As I closed the 2023 chapter I looked back at all I had done. It was a crazy year filled with many memories. But now that it’s the first day of 2024 I don’t want to slow down, not for one moment. That’s why today there will be two other emails besides this one you’ll receive. It just so happens that the first of the year coincides with the first episode of my mystery serial, Sleight of Hand. If you haven’t heard about it, might I suggest reading this or this. And as is my daily habit for the last 7 months, a 100 word story is coming. For the next 31 days of January I’ll be taking a look at my favorite Twilight Zone episodes (some well known, others not so well known) and using their title as a prompt for my story. I hope you’ll share with me if any of the episodes I select from the original 156 are favorites of yours as well.

Before I share with you my hopes and dreams for the year, as well as my Word of the Year, I want to first say thank you for making last year so great. I got my first paid subscriber, I was consistent with my writing for the first time in a long time, and I found a great group of fellow writers just by spending time in Substack Notes.

I’ve made some major changes to Paid Subscriptions, mainly the amount and rewards. Read all about them HERE. And consider becoming an annual subscriber to get 25% off:

RESOLUTIONS

*I try not to put too much pressure on myself with these resolutions and you shouldn’t either. What’s important is to have a plan whether it’s followed or not.

• Write and release one serial weekly.

• Write 366 100 Word Stories. One for each day in 2024.

• Release at least 3 100 Word Story collections to Paid Subscribers and for purchase online.

• Read-Along for Books 5 – 8 of The Famous 40 Oz Series.

• Read-Along for The Pickwick Papers by Charles Dickens.

• Enter one reputable fiction writing contest.

And that’s it. Anything else that happens will simply be icing on the cake and I will be all the more grateful for it.

WORD OF THE YEAR

Every year I like to pick one word to help me navigate the year with. One word that will not only prop me up when I’m feeling overwhelmed or like I can’t do it but can also remind me of what I’m hoping to accomplish. It might seem like a heavy burden for one word to carry but when I set out to find the perfect word for me this year it came to me in an instant…

Cornelius: No, I didn’t figure out my word of the year for Substack in just a day. It was much quicker than that. An hour – no, even that’s too long! What’s less than a minute?

Man: A second?

Cornelius: Less than that!

Woman: A moment.

Cornelius: That’s it! That is it!

And now, ladies and gentlemen (and everyone in between), I present to you 🥁🥁

noun

1a: an undertaking usually involving danger and unknown risks

b: the encountering of risks

2: an exciting or remarkable experience

verb

1: to expose to danger or loss : VENTURE

2: to venture upon : TRY

I look forward to 2024 being an adventure for me. I intend to write what I’ve never written before. Learn things that motivate and excite me. And when opportunity knocks I want to be ready to answer.

THE WINNERS ARE…

It was around Thanksgiving when I decided to give away as many comps as I could for as long a period of time as I could in 2024. I wanted to give thanks to the community and so, here are the winners and the length of comped time they won.

Thank you to all of you for your participation and for taking the time to indulge my imagination with your own storytelling talents. If you’re wondering how long your comp is, find your name below:

3 MONTHS COMP

, , , , , , , , , , , ,

6 MONTHS COMP

, , ,

1 YEAR COMP

, , ,

2 YEAR COMP

,

EDWs CHOICE (1 YR COMP)

&

This went so well I intend on doing it all over again in November 2024. Till then, I hope all the stories I create and the reading you undertake will make this year an adventurous one for us all.

#PENTOBER52 REMINDER

Just in case you forgot, if you are a subscriber (I suppose you must be if you’re receiving this message in your inbox) and you want to participate in this years Pentober52 then you need to OPT-IN as that is the ONLY way to receive these weekly Wednesday emails. Click the button below and make sure to turn on receiving emails from #PENTOBER52.

JANUARY 2024 CALENDAR

Dates and emails are subject to change.

HEARD ROUND THE STACKS

In November I was interviewed by of Plotted Out. I meant to include this in my December 2023 First Edition and for some reason I completely forgot. I hope you give this a listen because it was a great interview and the first one I’ve ever been asked to do by a fellow Substack fiction writer.

Plotted Out

An interview with Erica Drayton

Good afternoon, readers, writers and friends. This is my third podcast post with the talented Erica Drayton. She has five – yes, FIVE Substacks, with her 100-words stories perhaps being the most famous. Erica generously shares her time with us, revealing the secrets behind her prolific publishing, her passion for magic and…

Read more

5 months ago · 3 likes

If you’re wondering why I’m mentioning this interview to start the new year, there is always a method to my decisions and to find out about this one you’ll just have to stick around to find out…

The 2024 Year of Wonder Map

I’m taking a break from my usual Editorial about something fiction related to share the crazy schedule I’m hoping to release in 2024 that isn’t 100 Word Stories. This will be my first year attempting to write longer stories alongside my daily routine of shorter ones. It has been your support that has given me the courage to even attempt such a daunting task. I hope I don’t let you down and that I satisfy your hunger for more stories.

Everything below will happen in the world of Wondermere in the calendar year of 2024. So, sit back, relax, and prepare for a year of wonder.

THE SERIAL SEASON

This story is going to be told in three parts. Each part will contain about 14 episodes. Each episode will be under 3k words and sent via email to PAID SUBSCRIBERS ONLY at 10am EST every Monday. Here is the schedule:

PART I – January to April

The Set-Up | Get the lay of the land. Meet the “suspects” and most importantly, the victim.

PART II – May to July

The Tale | Now that we know who everyone is, it’s time to really tell the story and see where that leads us.

PART III – August to November

The Shut-Out | Will we solve the mystery or the murder? Will Charisma follow through with her dreams? Or will we all be left with more questions than when we started out?

OTHER STORIES IN WONDERMERE

The serial isn’t the only stories available to read in and around the city of Wondermere. There will be Flash Fiction [F] and Short Stories [P] to read as well.

APRIL

April 8th | A History #3 The Pomroy Women [F]

April 15th | Flash Fiction #1 King Malfus II & The Last Deck [P]

JULY

July 29th | A History #4 TBA [F]

AUGUST

August 5th | Flash Fiction #2 Mrs. Pomroy and the Secondhand Wand [P]

NOVEMBER

November 18th | A History #5 TBA [F]

November 25th | Flash Fiction #3 [P]

I’ll be taking the rest of November and all of December to rest from what I hope will be a year of 100K+ words written just within Wondermere! If I were you, I’d enjoy the time because in 2025 there will be TWO Novellas coming alongside more Flash and Short Fiction.

SELF-PUBLISHING SCHEDULE

Each paperback book will feature one-hundred 100 word stories. All hardcover books are available for paid subscribers only. There will be no ebook versions available for purchase.

The First 100 – Release March 2024 / Pre-Order February

The Second 100 – Release April 2024 / Pre-Order March

The Third 100 – Release September 2024 / Pre-Order August

The Fourth 100 – Release October 2024 / Pre-Order in September

The Fifth 100 – Release November 2024 / Pre-Order in October

2025 SCHEDULE AND BEYOND

Sleight of Hand (Hardcover / Paperback / Ebook) | Spring 2025

Let’s read & learn from Charles Dickens first ever novel!

Unless you’ve been living under a rock you know that in 2024 I intend to release my own serial. Joining the ranks of dozens of others here on Substack, hoping to capture your eyeballs for the long haul. You can find out more about it here.

Alongside this massive undertaking I want to do a bit of research into what is considered the first serial ever printed, written by none other than Charles Dickens. It also happens to be the first novel he ever wrote. Fancy that. His first novel was written in real-time as it was then taken and published on a monthly basis. It’s interesting facts like this and much more that I hope to share as I work my way through reading this massive book. It is over 300k words so it won’t be easy. And back in the 19th century when people had gobs more time on their hands, not encumbered by things like the internet and telephones, they were able to read through thousands of words in one month without breaking a sweat. But as it’s the 21st century and distractions abound, I’ve (hopefully) worked out a less grueling schedule that will attempt to stick to the original release timeline but take into account the modern day pressures we all find ourselves in.

Who is this read-along for?

The Classics Reader | If you love reading classic literature and have never conquered (or dare I say heard of) this one, then I can think of no better time or company to keep than with the rest of us who adore the classics just as much.

The Evergreen Learner | There is much that we can learn from the ones who came before us. Charles Dickens is at the top of my list. He wrote some of today’s classics that stand the test of time and I’m not just talking about A Christmas Carol which has been filmed, televised, and retold more than any other work of literature I can think of. What was his life like back in 1836 – 1837, I wonder, when he was given an opportunity to tell this story? It is this question and so many others I hope to uncover and share as we read this tome together.

The Storyteller | I must confess, I am doing this for purely selfish reasons. I want to dissect the characters, the plot, and everything that went into a story of this size so that I can take these lessons and implement them in some way on my own work.

The Night Owl | Lastly, if you find yourself with loads of time in the middle of the night and you’re looking for something to turn your attention to that might just be some of the best reading you’ll get stuck into, why not give this book a try?

THE TIMELINE

As I mentioned, this book is 300K+ words long and from March 1836 – October 1837 on a monthly cadence, this book was released to the masses. That is a lot of reading to get through in 19 months which works out to be 76 weeks. I think we can do it and in record time too!

There are also some historical things to take into account that I won’t mention here which make it important to read at the same pacing as it was originally released. Which means we’ll begin March 2024 and work our way, together, through the lot.

So, clear your calendars from March 2024 – October 2025. Don’t let that length of time dissuade you. If I can do it, so can you. And I’m working on dividing each month to make digesting the material as easy as possible and not overwhelming at all.

THE BOOK CLUB

In trying to make this as much of a book club setting as possible, I’ll be utilizing aspects of Substack that I typically wouldn’t use, namely, the Chat feature. This is where weekly discussions will happen to spark conversation and have just a general check-in with everyone. I’m thinking of it like a time we gather with our hot cocoa’s (or your drink of choice) around a table or perhaps some comfy couches in a living room, each with our own copies of The Pickwick Papers, some dog-eared and highlighted with notes in the margins, ready to share what we’ve learned from the reading.

Along the way I’ll share some of what I’ve learned as well, context about the time period when each installment was actually released, and the like.

You might want to get the Substack App, if you don’t have it already, in order to better participate in the Chat discussions.

JOIN THE CLUB

If you are at all interested in reading The Pickwick Papers and learning all there is to know about Dickens first novel that made him a household name and the first serial to be a commercial success for other authors, then sign up today!

The Pickwick Club

Kick-starting the serial novel craze during the Victorian era (1836).

By Erica Drayton

Let’s look back at all I’ve done this year

Dear Reader,

This is the last update for 2023 and I have written a lot! Aside from packing (a 5 bedroom 2.5 bathroom house), moving, then unpacking, celebrations/holidays, and of course, work 9 to 5, there have also been words. Many, many words. I had some notable milestones this year as well. Setting aside my personal life, I want to take stock for a bit and celebrate the numbers, the highs and the lows, that made up 2023 for me.

BY THE NUMBERS

Measuring success and failure by numbers seems a pretty clear cut thing to do. The numbers don’t lie. They don’t have bias. They are what they are and unless manipulated in some way, they speak in ways I never could to explain exactly how I did this year.

EMAILS

A 100 Word Story [245 emails] – May 1st, 2023 seems like so long ago to me now! I randomly decided to write one story per day and I haven’t looked back. So far there are 214 stories you can read in the Archive and before the year is done, another 31 will be added, rounding out the year with 245 stories.

The First Edition [11 emails] – This year was almost a perfect year. I missed writing and sending a January 1st 2023 email update! Ugh! Otherwise, we’d have a perfect 12 emails sent. Each one capturing as best I could what I was up to at the time.

Editorials [64 emails] – Every Wednesday I had something to say. Most of my emails came from a place of wanting to help and share my journey with writing. To document all my struggles and successes in the hopes that fellow travelers might find needed support along the way. If I did that for at least one person then I consider having written these a success. There are still 4 more of these to come before I change the cycle from weekly to monthly.

Free Writing Fridays [34 emails] – At the same time as my 100 word stories daily I also introduced a way for other writers to join me and write their own 100 word stories with me. This concept has since evolved (as most community driven ideas often do) to include an even more complex challenge to collaborate with me and write 50 words to combine with my own.

Curio Fiction [2 emails] – A bit of an unsung hero here, I did manage to write two short stories for this category in March of 2023. If in 2024 I am able to contribute more to this blossoming idea, all the better.

IN TOTAL I sent at least 356 emails this year! That’s a lot! And I’ve got no plans to slow down in 2024!

DOES A MILESTONE MEAN MORE?

While my output in 2023 is a great set of numbers to reflect upon I also want to take a look at my growth with subscribers this year as I finally crossed a number I’d been trying to hit for as long as I’ve had a newsletter (going back to my Mailchimp days!). But first up, the one milestone I’m even prouder of than growth because I have no control over getting someone to subscribe to me. I do, however, can control my writing:

THE STREAK | These 100 word stories have not been a breeze to write day-to-day. And while they don’t take my entire day, knowing how many of you are reading them is what means the most. As long as I have your continued support I see no reason why I can’t keep this thing going.

THE FIRST ONE THOUSAND | Not to put too fine a point on it, I crossed the threshold of 1,000 subscribers. But I haven’t much time to celebrate this milestone as I must now look to a future where I gain more paid subscribers by hopefully gaining more free ones. How long will it take me to break 2,000? Only consistency and time will tell…

SPECIAL OFFER TO MY SUBSCRIBERS ONLY

Every Friday for the next 5 Fridays in December I’m giving away comps to my serial coming in 2024! Here’s how:

Get 3 month comp

Reply to this email with the name of the city where Sleight of Hand takes place.

Get 6 month comp

Fill out this questionnaire of 5 questions:

I want to thank you for participating and hope you decide to continue reading Sleight of Hand even after your comp has ended.

THE DECEMBER 2023 CALENDAR

Get used to these. It’s a calendar I’ve worked on for a while now. I’ve put together the first 6 months of 2024 already and will share them in each month’s First Edition email.

Some things to make note of:

• NEW additions to my main Substack are highlighted in RED.

  • SLEIGHT OF HAND | For December I’m going to give paid subscribers a peek at my outlines. And also introducing a series called “A History” that will give readers a glimpse into a location, time period, or person that is within the universe of Wondermere. This series will be free to everyone.

  • FREE WRITING COLLABORATION | If you are a fiction writer then this might interest you. Every Friday in December I am giving away 3 free months access to my serial (and 100 word stories archive) to anyone who writes 50 words to accompany my 50 words. And if I pick yours as my favorite (announced on Mondays in Substack Notes) the winner will receive a full years worth of access! That’s a $70+ value!

• | If you’ve ever been interested in reading beyond The Wonderful Wizard of Oz, the chapters are short (some of the time) and the community (400+) is amazing! The release schedule of chapters are in YELLOW. We are just wrapping up reading Dorothy and the Wizard (Book 4) this month and start reading Book 5, The Road to Oz, in January.

• | In the early days my release schedule of episode reviews were daily. But I’ve since had to scale back considerably. Here’s hoping that 2024 will yield better results as I pre-plan my reviews in BLUE.

How did you do this year? Did you exceed expectations, meet them? Take this time to look back and reflect. It’s never been a better time.

January 1st I’ll share my “Word of the Year” and goals as I plan to take 2024 by storm!