A writing routine can make all the difference
Dear Reader,
NOTE: This email may get cut off due to its length. If so, just click HERE to read it online.
I did a lot of writing (and talking) in February. If you don’t want to be bothered with the deets here’s the TL;DR version:
The First 100 Pre-Order is OUT! Buy it OR Learn more. The Second 100 Pre-Order is OUT! Buy it now and look for the official email March 15th!
The Serial Hour Podcast, Episode 1 with co-host
Community Writing Activities
MARCH 2024 CALENDAR
Dates and emails are subject to change.
THE FIRST 100 AND THE SECOND 100 PRE-ORDERS ARE HERE
I give all the details about the book here. But I wanted to share some interior “spreads” with you straight from the book.
With literally 20min to spare before this email is sent out to you I decided to check Amazon to see if it was there yet and BOOM! Now, I know, I know, there is an OBVIOUS typo in the title that I am kicking myself now for not noticing. I have fixed it but it will take a day or two for Amazon servers to acknowledge the title correction. In the meantime, I am off to get The Third 100 pre-order read for you by April 15th!
100 WORD STORIES UPDATE
February theme revolved around Creatures of the Night tarot cards. A deck I obtained via Kickstarter years ago that can now be purchased on their #78Tarot Etsy storefront.
From Etsy: 55 Creatures of shadow and light and everything in between provide guidance and foresight through their distinct emotions and personalities.
In March, I asked my fellow travelers of the fiction community to provide me with a first sentence. I will, in turn, take that first sentence and expand upon it to create a story. Each contributor will be mentioned in the story.
SLEIGHT OF HAND UPDATE
The story took a bit of a tumble for me. But, like anyone with a vision and a story to tell, I did not let it hold me back. I took the necessary steps needed to retrace my steps. I needed to spend quality time with my main characters. You can too by reading some questions I asked myself about each one here. And after some much needed time away I discovered what was missing. March is when I implement my plans and be they best laid or not, I have a feeling the story is unfolding as it was always meant to.
CURIO FICTION UPDATE
It’s been a rather long time since I’ve brought up my idea for writing a collection of short stories in the genre of “curio fiction” but I have not forgotten it. In fact, towards the end of January an idea came to mind and in a matter of days I managed to write over 10k words for the first story. It was so long I split it into four parts and sent them on their merry way in February to all my paid subscribers. Now, I’m hard at work on the next installment for my collection and with any luck paid subscribers will be receiving the next story the month.
I love a good theme. It helps make the story and characters more clear in my mind. So, keeping that in mind here is the tentative cover for my collection. It is one I hope to release by Spring 2025:
Coming this month, a night security guard at a mall thinks some items in an antique shop are out to get him!
THE SERIAL HOUR PODCAST
Trust me, this is not me trying to bury the lead but, and I’m wicked glad to announce this…
The very first episode dropped last week! and I have come together to discuss our respective podcasts with all of you. Our hope is that through sharing our different journeys we’ll learn from each other and you will, in turn, learn from us.
Who is this podcast for?
If you’re reading either of our serials and want to learn more about them.
You are on a serial writing journey and looking for a great community to share what it’s like.
If you’re reading any serial either on Substack or elsewhere and you’re curious to get a behind-the-scenes perspective.
COMMUNITY WRITING UPDATES
#PENTOBER52 REMINDER
Just in case you forgot, if you are a subscriber (I suppose you must be if you’re receiving this email in your inbox) and you want to participate in this year’s weekly Pentober52 then you need to OPT-IN. Click the button below and make sure to turn on receiving emails for #PENTOBER52.
FREE-WRITING-FRIDAYS
Alas, February was the final month for weekly Free-Writing-Friday posts. From now on this will be a once a month affair. The first Friday of each month you can expect a Free-Writing email complete with the usual image prompt and the start of a story (50-words) for you to finish with your own 50 words. It was not an easy decision to make but with all the time I want to spend on my own fiction I had to let something go. I hope to see you the first Friday of every month starting this month!
