The door’s open, and the coffee’s both hot and cold, just like the weather here in Michigan. Come on in, pull up a chair, and let’s chat.
Word of the Month
still
as a noun: deep silence and calm
as an adverb: up to, and including, the present timeExample: This month, I want to carve out moments where I can be still, while still making time to write.
This past month has been an interesting one in the evolution of my novel manuscript. Early February found me in a brief slump with my novel’s second draft (I finished the first draft in early December). I haven’t quite been able to actually start the second draft. Instead, I’ve been doing a lot of storyboarding and outlining which has led to ruminating over plot points I can’t quite figure out and stressing over who the main character even is. Worried this frustration would spiral into an existential crisis (Why am I writing this book? Who even cares? This is trash!), I decided to try a different tactic.
I started writing microfiction that exists within the world of my story.
A subset of flash fiction, microfiction is typically considered to be under 300 words. Writing microfiction is so freeing for me; I especially love the challenge of a 50-word story. There is such a sense of accomplishment to be able to say, “I wrote a story today!” So far, one of the hardest things about writing a novel for me has been the long-term commitment. It takes most people years to write a book, so I need that burst of dopamine microfiction gives me.
While I was taking this microfiction detour this month, I didn’t worry about whether or not what I was writing would fit into the novel itself. In fact, many of the pieces I wrote won’t: they are character backstories and by writing them, I found the answers to some of those perceived plot holes and character discrepancies I was stressing over.
I realize now I was missing the simple pleasure of writing something from scratch. That’s my favorite part about writing: creating something from nothing (and I suspect anyone else who considers themselves a writer feels the same way). While outlining, rereading, and storyboarding serve their purpose, I discovered they can become a trap—a quicksand for writers—a place to wallow in forever if we’re not careful.
Coming at my novel manuscript from a new angle has been so freeing (and fun!), and as a result, I am excited and have the right kind of energy to start the second draft.
Oh, and as an added bonus, one of the microfiction pieces I wrote is being published in the upcoming issue of Blink Ink! I’ll be sure to share my 50-word story, “Life Insurance,” next month with all of you.
Interested in learning more about microfiction? I highly recommend these writers and their workshops.
Nancy Stohlman: check out her website and list of current course offerings (and join me in the Flash Novel Mastermind Community!)
- : check out her newsletter, The Art of Flash Fiction
- : check out his newsletter, Prattlefog and Gravelrap
Cheryl Pappas: check out her website
Ella Peary: check out the The Writer’s Workshop at Authors Publish where she is an instructor
Writing Activity
This month’s writing activity is borrowed from the wonderful newsletter,
by Nina Schuyler. Each of her posts is a master mini-lesson in writing. She shares a sentence from literature, explains why she likes it, and then provides the tools to mimic the structure. Genius!Here’s a link to the specific sentence I used as a starting point to write my own microfiction. My piece is in submission cyberspace now, and I’ll be sure to share a link when (positive energy!) it’s published.
Your turn! Pick a sentence you admire and, borrowing its structure, write your own microfiction!
Love this Line
“There is only one story.”
~ Thomas C. Foster, How to Read Literature Like a Professor
This is a fun book if you’re a literature nerd like me: highly recommend!
Literary Trivia
Did you know…
The concept of there being only “one story” is that all literature is interconnected. Writers are all contributing to the same universal narrative—the ongoing story of humankind.
Exit Ticket
Don’t forget to answer the question before you leave the lounge. Thanks, friends!
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Let’s keep the conversation and creativity going over on Instagram and Facebook! Here are a few fun items to enjoy over in those spaces.
Literary Trivia: Once a week (typically Thursdays), I post a one-question quiz on my Instagram story. Test your literary knowledge!
Manuscript Updates: Watch in-the-moment updates on my novel-writing process and share your own writing experiences. Together, we can keep each other motivated!
Book Recommendations: Looking for a good book to read? Check out my recommendations. I love talking about books!
Words in the Wild: I love writing prompts, and this year, I am creating them based on words I “catch” in the wild. It’s a wonderful way to be a keener observer of the world!
Thanks for the shout out, Miranda! That's very kind of you.
Excellent reminder that it’s okay to take a break from the marathon of novel writing and re-engage with the playfulness of flash and microfiction. Also a reminder it’s not heresy to use flash writing as a means to an end. Sure, flash and microfiction stand as viable forms, but they also have creative juices uses! Ken.