One writing challenge I took up several years ago was a Facebook Fictionette. This challenge was issued by a writer friend to a group of writers. You had to write a 14-chapter novelette. You had to write one chapter a day for 14 days.
Each chapter had to fit within the (then) Facebook post limits of 420 characters and spaces. That gives you a clue as to how many years ago this took place.
You couldn't just write a bunch and then break it up into segments that fit the daily limit. Each chapter had to be an actual chapter: action, dialogue, narration, a self-contained scene or moment.
Me being me, I of course added my own rules. I couldn't think about the story in advance or plan it. Just write today's chapter, then put it out of my mind until tomorrow. I had no idea where the story would go each day.
And I didn't write each chapter to fit within 420 characters/spaces. I wrote it, then edited to fit EXACTLY 420 characters/spaces.
It was a load of fun, a good story came out of it, which was later accepted and published in an anthology, and I put it in my own collection of shorts stories years later -- added at the very end as a 'bonus track.' Ha!
(Disclaimer: my posting of the link is neither an endorsement nor recommendation. Poo n Ship at your own risk!)
Speaking of which, I have been writing little snippets of things that pass through the coil of grey intestines packed into my carapace. They may get taped together later to maybe form something of a whowhatnows. Still in school—but when finished—I will apply some of the helpful strategies you've posted. I too need to add more fiber to my flatulant fibs of fiction.
Glad to hear from you, Steve! And snippets—yes!! I’m all for accumulating snippets these days. Looking forward to seeing you work them together when class is finished. 🥩 🥩
Maegan, I like this so much I’m going to make my own dedicated post to it on my Substack, thanks! Here’s my first attempt fib sequence story:
Stop. Go. No wait! Beggar window washer. Hey man, it’s clean already. Look up, you see the storm clouds gathering. I don’t have any bills less than a twenty, can you make change? It’s not my fault your kids are hungry and jacketless; have you hit the school to scavenge from Lost and Found? Of course I agree that we’re all in this together and when one of us suffers, all of us suffers, but look, I’m not blaming you for my lack of satisfaction or missing purpose. Why don’t you stand with the other day laborers in front of the Home Depot by the bus stop beside the Starbucks and the Barnes and Nobles and wait for some landscaping contractor who needs extra guys to dig sprinkler pipe trenches or spread sod or mow lawns and earn the money for those jackets?
Green light, goodbye, good luck and God bless, I hope you find a job that pays before the storm so that you and your kids can eat and keep warm and safe and dry. Can you believe the nerve of that guy, lecturing me on no man is an island, we’re all in this together? All ‘what you do unto the least of these you do unto me?’ He is not supposed to say that, he’s supposed to say thank you. It’s not his job to give me purpose. I’m not going back there. I don’t care. He’s fine. Greedy. Ungrateful.
Hey Matt! Good to see you! Another new trick that helps me progress: Writing in bursts by setting 5-minute timers. You aren't allowed to stop your fingers from moving until time is up. If you get stuck, have the character describe the room around them. 5-minutes bursts seem to be just about right for my taste!
I love this. Rules like that create regularity.
Yes it’s important to stay regular 😆 🤣 😆
So I've heard.
One writing challenge I took up several years ago was a Facebook Fictionette. This challenge was issued by a writer friend to a group of writers. You had to write a 14-chapter novelette. You had to write one chapter a day for 14 days.
Each chapter had to fit within the (then) Facebook post limits of 420 characters and spaces. That gives you a clue as to how many years ago this took place.
You couldn't just write a bunch and then break it up into segments that fit the daily limit. Each chapter had to be an actual chapter: action, dialogue, narration, a self-contained scene or moment.
Me being me, I of course added my own rules. I couldn't think about the story in advance or plan it. Just write today's chapter, then put it out of my mind until tomorrow. I had no idea where the story would go each day.
And I didn't write each chapter to fit within 420 characters/spaces. I wrote it, then edited to fit EXACTLY 420 characters/spaces.
It was a load of fun, a good story came out of it, which was later accepted and published in an anthology, and I put it in my own collection of shorts stories years later -- added at the very end as a 'bonus track.' Ha!
I read this story of yours and thought it was fantastic! “Ellie’s Head” in June Bug Gothic:
https://a.co/2Ekj0EP
Thank you for reading 'June Bug!'
🙏 Maegan
Your short short story has inspired me to become a 💩 donor and make mucho💰💰💰!
You too can can your poo and send it to the man!
https://www.humanmicrobes.org/donors
(Disclaimer: my posting of the link is neither an endorsement nor recommendation. Poo n Ship at your own risk!)
Speaking of which, I have been writing little snippets of things that pass through the coil of grey intestines packed into my carapace. They may get taped together later to maybe form something of a whowhatnows. Still in school—but when finished—I will apply some of the helpful strategies you've posted. I too need to add more fiber to my flatulant fibs of fiction.
Sign me up!
Glad to hear from you, Steve! And snippets—yes!! I’m all for accumulating snippets these days. Looking forward to seeing you work them together when class is finished. 🥩 🥩
Thank you, Maegan. I was also able to watch some of your recent interview. Thanks for posting!
I like the math of it! Nice work, Maegan. Have you tried a tricube? Stanzas are 3 lines each, 3 syllables per line. Here's one:
Thought it would
take more time
to get old
but I was
fooled so I
better get
my ass in
gear and have
one more beer.
Thank you, Tom, and what a fun tricube you’ve got there! I’ll have to give it a shot. 🥩 😺
Maegan, I like this so much I’m going to make my own dedicated post to it on my Substack, thanks! Here’s my first attempt fib sequence story:
Stop. Go. No wait! Beggar window washer. Hey man, it’s clean already. Look up, you see the storm clouds gathering. I don’t have any bills less than a twenty, can you make change? It’s not my fault your kids are hungry and jacketless; have you hit the school to scavenge from Lost and Found? Of course I agree that we’re all in this together and when one of us suffers, all of us suffers, but look, I’m not blaming you for my lack of satisfaction or missing purpose. Why don’t you stand with the other day laborers in front of the Home Depot by the bus stop beside the Starbucks and the Barnes and Nobles and wait for some landscaping contractor who needs extra guys to dig sprinkler pipe trenches or spread sod or mow lawns and earn the money for those jackets?
Green light, goodbye, good luck and God bless, I hope you find a job that pays before the storm so that you and your kids can eat and keep warm and safe and dry. Can you believe the nerve of that guy, lecturing me on no man is an island, we’re all in this together? All ‘what you do unto the least of these you do unto me?’ He is not supposed to say that, he’s supposed to say thank you. It’s not his job to give me purpose. I’m not going back there. I don’t care. He’s fine. Greedy. Ungrateful.
Vivid details! I love the specificity of P1 last line. And the story on the whole with its moral conundrum. Thanks for sharing!
Always so saucy! So fabulous!
Thank you!
This is great! Without constrains, I get overwhelmed by the sheer possibility of everything, which I then use as an excuse to not write anything.
I’ll definitely add this trick to my…medicine cabinet? Toiletries?
I’m also glad to hear it takes you about the same time as me to write a short story.
Hey Matt! Good to see you! Another new trick that helps me progress: Writing in bursts by setting 5-minute timers. You aren't allowed to stop your fingers from moving until time is up. If you get stuck, have the character describe the room around them. 5-minutes bursts seem to be just about right for my taste!
Now you’re talking!
this is gross and cool, right up my alley
Why, thank you!! 🥩🥩🥩
That was a journey. Thank you.
Thanks, Kris!
It feels like something out of a Jason Pargin novel.
Thanks, man! 🥩 🥩