What I’m Writing this November and into 2024

Dear Reader,

I can’t believe it’s already November. Halloween has come and gone. And I’ve hand written 31 stories in 31 days! I wasn’t the only one! There were countless others who joined me and for that I am eternally grateful and proud to be counted among them. The fun of Pentober will continue in 2024 so if you didn’t get to join us in October, fret not!

In the spirit of the Spooky Season coming to a close. Here is our 12’ Skelly and his two pooches! A real conversation piece for the neighborhood, for sure.

Now, onto what’s next for Pentober:

Pentober Camp – Two additional months out of the year (apart from October) where the entire month will encourage handwriting stories! These months will be different as it will involve more prompts to get your creative juices flowing. The proposed months for Camp are: February and June 2024 (save the dates!)

Pentober52 – You will need to opt IN to receive these emails. They will go out weekly, every Wednesday, starting on January 3rd. Keep reading for more details.

MY 100 WORD STORY JOURNEY CONTINUES

November will bring two 100 word story themes: Literary Tarot and Substack Publication Name. While many of you will be working on NaNoWriMo, I will be toiling away on adding another 30 stories, bringing me to my 200th story on November 16th.

December will bring a change of pace for writing journey. I will be participating in Advent, creating my own “calendar of short stories” that will run from Sunday, December 3rd – Sunday, December 24. The other days of the month will a mash-up of Holiday Cheer with a sprinkle of left-over Halloween Scare! The final suit for the Literary Tarot will conclude in February 2024.

CALLING ALL WRITERS OF FICTION

For 15 weeks I have collaborated with some AMAZING writers here on Substack and now I’m giving all of YOU an opportunity to join me! Every Free Writing Friday in November & December I will write 50 Words to go with the image prompt and I want YOU to add YOUR 50 words to my story! You’ll have all weekend long to contribute to my story. On Monday I’ll select my favorite and share that winning collaboration on my Substack Notes! There will be more information included in the next Free Writing Friday email, November 3rd.

Are you up for the challenge?

100 WORD STORIES ARCHIVE

Upgrade to Paid for access to a library of 175+ stories!

31 May 2023 Stories | 30 June 2023 Stories | 31 July 2023 Stories | 31 August 2023 Stories | 30 September 2023 Stories | 31 October 2023 Stories


EDITORIALS YOU MAY HAVE MISSED


HEARD ROUND THE STACKS

I want to shout out Mark for his excellence in fiction but also for his amazing participation in the first annual Pentober 2023! He showed up every day for 31 days of great storytelling and I hope you will read them as well as give him a well deserved subscribe! Till 2024 Mark, I look forward to it. And. I hope to see you when Pentober52 rolls around as well 😉…


WHAT I’M READING

Okay, I’m technically not reading it now but I’m getting myself ready for a 19 month read through, and literary learning, of The Pickwick Papers by Charles Dickens. It is known as the first ever serialized fiction novel of the nineteenth century and seeing as I’ll be finally throwing my hat in the ring with other amazing serials being written here on Substack, I could think of no better literary work to read. Want to join me? The serial will begin in March. Sign-up now and let’s read this great work together. It can be found in the public domain.

WARNING: This book is just shy of 300k words! We begin reading March 2024 and finish October 2025! Yes, that’s quite a commitment.
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  1. Mark Engelsson

    Erica, I am honored for the shoutout, thank you! I am indebted to you creating Pentober in the first place, and I will definitely be signing up for the Camps and Pentober52 (once I can figure out how to opt into the emails…).

    • Erica Drayton

      When signed into your account here on Substack, when you are in my Substack on the top right, click your picture and select “change subscription” which should then show you all of the Sections that make up my Substack. Just click the slider beside Pentober52 which should be greyed out so that it’s green. Let me know if that works?

      • Mark Engelsson

        Thanks so much – I’m now all signed up. Can’t wait!

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