Dwayne's picture
Dwayne from Cincinnati, Ohio (suburbs) is reading books that rotate to often to keep this updated June 29, 2013 - 12:25am

Short version: Write seven stories in one calendar week.

Long version: This is sort of a mini do it ourselves NaNoWriMoWe. No competition, no judgements (except your own) on the quality, just an adventure. At the end either you got it done, or you didn't. The week will be Sunday July 14 through Saturday July 20, 2013 (whatever your local time is, for those not on the Gregorian Calendar UTC).

To count as complete you'll need to write in that week (from beginning to end, no finishing things you've already started but plotting them out before is okay) seven items (at least) that meet the following guidelines:

1) Not more than one poem between 5 and 20,000 words that tells a story. I'm nobody! Who are you? wouldn't qualify, Fearlessness the haiku would.

2) Not more than one flash fiction between 6 and 99 words.

3) Not more than one flash fiction between 100 words and 500 words.

4) Not more than one flash fiction between 501 and 1000 words.

5) Not more than one novelette or novella between 7500 and 20,000 words.

6) Any number of short stories between 1,001 words and 7,499 words.

Assuming you decided to do the lowest possible word count (3615) and have realistic goals it would need to look something like this.

Sunday - 703 and two completions

Monday -  1306 and three completions

Tuesday -  1909 and four completions

Wednesday -  2512 and five completions

Thursday -   3115 and six completions

Friday - Catch up day. You know you don't want it as the last day.

Saturday -   3615 and seven completions

For a story to count it has to be complete, something you could at least in theory have someone else beta read or edit.

Extra items, series, over lapping character(s), over lapping themes, overlapping settings, or whatever else you like is allowed as long as each work is a complete story not requiring anything else to have been read. Extra length is not allowed, nor fan fiction. The point is to practice writing short stories of your own creation and skipping over making characters or making a new plot is cheating.

No one will be checking, the honor system and all.

Post here if you're in, stories as you finish them, and what not.

EDIT: This is in no way affiliated with NaNoWrMo. This is based on an idea by Renfield. 

OtisTheBulldog's picture
OtisTheBulldog from Somerville, MA is reading The Brief Wondrous Life of Oscar Wao by Junot Diaz June 29, 2013 - 2:01pm

I like it - perhaps I will play along.

Jonathan Riley's picture
Jonathan Riley from Memphis, Tennessee is reading Flashover by Gordon Highland June 29, 2013 - 2:05pm

I kind of want to do this. Well I really want to do this. I also really need to revise so many stories to send out and have been too overwhelmed. So, I may modify this to suit my own needs since it's not a competition of sorts. I think I'll use those guidlines on rewriting and revising existing works of those lengths. One per day for seven days rather than writing seven new stories, or maybe if I do my revising before those dates then I can play by your rules. Thanks for posting this Dwayne and thanks to Ren for having the original idea, either way I'll use it as inspiration to get shit done.

Dwayne's picture
Dwayne from Cincinnati, Ohio (suburbs) is reading books that rotate to often to keep this updated June 30, 2013 - 4:17am

@Riley - Very welcome. You should do this, and later on join me in a 'revision fortnight'.  

closure's picture
closure from Australia is reading The Ghormenghast Trilogy, by Mervyn Peake June 30, 2013 - 3:56am

I'm in.

Renfield's picture
Renfield from Hell is reading 20th Century Ghosts July 4, 2013 - 4:17pm

I also really need to revise so many stories to send out and have been too overwhelmed.

Yeah I've been feeling like that a lot lately, that's kinda why I wanted to do something like this and not think about all the revision of stuff I don't like anymore that seems to take up most of my designated writing time lately. An intensive like this I think is going to be a good way to revamp my writing routine. My plan's to get my youtube playlists ready, bombarde myself with some prompts, I got a good couple personal challenges/exercises/experimental stuff written down somewhere, and try to write an insane amount every morning, edit/finish a story every evening and submit to the places I never dare to submit usually. It's nothing superhuman but it's enough to challenge my habits as they are now. Is that marathon-ish enough?

Dwayne's picture
Dwayne from Cincinnati, Ohio (suburbs) is reading books that rotate to often to keep this updated July 4, 2013 - 5:47pm

If that feels right run with it.

I'm going to have some real life writing parties and just try to get into some ideas I've had for a while.

EdVaughn's picture
EdVaughn from Louisville, Ky is reading a whole bunch of different stuff July 5, 2013 - 6:28pm

This sounds pretty cool. I might have to jump in on this. 

As long as my wife doesn't have the baby first.

closure's picture
closure from Australia is reading The Ghormenghast Trilogy, by Mervyn Peake July 14, 2013 - 12:18am

So - anyone else doing this? Shall we post progress updates on this thread? Not so much for the bragging, more to just know that you are part of something with other people. 

Thoughts?

Today is Sunday for me, so I am going to get cracking a little later tonight. I have two six hour transits to make over the next few days, so hopefully I should get some stories done then, too. Need to get some completions done early - my week gets hairy towards the end, and I know I'll slip.

Dwayne's picture
Dwayne from Cincinnati, Ohio (suburbs) is reading books that rotate to often to keep this updated July 14, 2013 - 12:22pm

Yeah, I am. But sleep before writing.

Renfield's picture
Renfield from Hell is reading 20th Century Ghosts July 14, 2013 - 5:23pm

A prompt I'd been thinking about for maybe a month finally settled with me, but I feel very precarious about every line so far and I think I'm 1/2-1/3 through.

Carly Berg's picture
Carly Berg from USA is reading Story Prompts That Work by Carly Berg is now available at Amazon July 14, 2013 - 7:56pm

Okay, I'm in. Well shoot, I better get  to it. There are only two hours left to July 14 here and I just saw this.

Also, Dwayne, is this thread open to the public? I think it is because I could see it before I signed in. That means if we post our stories here, many (most) of the markets will consider them published and we would burn first rights. ?

Dwayne's picture
Dwayne from Cincinnati, Ohio (suburbs) is reading books that rotate to often to keep this updated July 14, 2013 - 8:41pm

Well, it is, but no one is checking on you so you don't have to post them. If you really want someone to see we can do a completion thread.

Carly Berg's picture
Carly Berg from USA is reading Story Prompts That Work by Carly Berg is now available at Amazon July 14, 2013 - 8:51pm

It doesn't matter to me. Just wondering what the deal is.

Dwayne's picture
Dwayne from Cincinnati, Ohio (suburbs) is reading books that rotate to often to keep this updated July 14, 2013 - 9:13pm

Honestly I don't know the rules and what does and doesn't count for such, but I doubt anyone will notice even if you break them. I mean it could happen, but it seems unlikely.

Carly Berg's picture
Carly Berg from USA is reading Story Prompts That Work by Carly Berg is now available at Amazon July 15, 2013 - 12:09am

I would not recommend posting an unpublished story on a forum section that was not password protected. It might come up on a simple google search.

Dwayne's picture
Dwayne from Cincinnati, Ohio (suburbs) is reading books that rotate to often to keep this updated July 15, 2013 - 6:23am

I don't doubt that it would; I just don't think many would find it between changing titles and people not bothering.

Carly Berg's picture
Carly Berg from USA is reading Story Prompts That Work by Carly Berg is now available at Amazon July 15, 2013 - 2:55pm

Okay, I have one done, critted, and out. An insane amount of time for a one page story but what can I say, sometimes my mind is just like that. I will not torture y'all with trying to make you read it, haha. So now I guess it's time to start on story #2.  Has anyone else made any progress today?

#1) The Weatherman- 250 words

 

 

OtisTheBulldog's picture
OtisTheBulldog from Somerville, MA is reading The Brief Wondrous Life of Oscar Wao by Junot Diaz July 15, 2013 - 6:50pm

I forgot about this but I'm going to give it a go, my week starts tonight (Monday). 

closure's picture
closure from Australia is reading The Ghormenghast Trilogy, by Mervyn Peake July 16, 2013 - 12:15am

I'm *way* behind schedule, but I have ~600 words done on a short story with no title.

Plenty more to do!

Carly Berg's picture
Carly Berg from USA is reading Story Prompts That Work by Carly Berg is now available at Amazon July 16, 2013 - 3:50pm

I guess I'll count Monday as day number one also.

Hope Dwayne is doing all right.

Dwayne's picture
Dwayne from Cincinnati, Ohio (suburbs) is reading books that rotate to often to keep this updated July 16, 2013 - 7:48pm

Computer and car trouble, but I learned my lesson at NaNO last year, and Wednesday is set aside just to catch up.

OtisTheBulldog's picture
OtisTheBulldog from Somerville, MA is reading The Brief Wondrous Life of Oscar Wao by Junot Diaz July 17, 2013 - 7:19am

So, I'm treating this a little differently than the "rules" as outlined by Dwayne, as I'm sure he doesn't mind since the goal is to write more. On Monday night, I started writing a story until I could barely keep my eyes open. I could only get about 550 words. It's not done. It's a glimpse into a larger story, and something I will expand upon later, once I figure out what it is I want to say. I rarely can get a complete story done in one sitting anyway.

Last night, I wrote about 600+ new scenes/words for a story I've been working on which I aim to finish today, if possible. 

My plan today is to continue to work on that story and if time allows, find a prompt to write the seed for something new.

While I'm playing fast and loose with Dwayne's idea, my goal is to get out as much work new work as I can and get some fresh ideas down on paper for my revision stockpile. 

Carly Berg's picture
Carly Berg from USA is reading Story Prompts That Work by Carly Berg is now available at Amazon July 17, 2013 - 1:02pm

Well you're doing better than I am. I'm about 1/3 done with story #2, and it's just a flash story.

Dwayne's picture
Dwayne from Cincinnati, Ohio (suburbs) is reading books that rotate to often to keep this updated July 17, 2013 - 1:17pm

I don't mind, but it isn't something I'd do myself.

Renfield's picture
Renfield from Hell is reading 20th Century Ghosts July 17, 2013 - 3:19pm

I've only got 2 pretty much done so far at a collective 1700ish words and another 600 of just scribblings so far, but I'm pretty positive about the routine so far. I think I'm going to relax on it tonight and research/read some magazines I haven't submitted to before, and if I have an idea of the atmosphere they're looking for that might push me through another story at least.

Carly Berg's picture
Carly Berg from USA is reading Story Prompts That Work by Carly Berg is now available at Amazon July 17, 2013 - 5:22pm

Got it! Story #2 is done, 450 words. Some days it's like pulling teeth.

Carly Berg's picture
Carly Berg from USA is reading Story Prompts That Work by Carly Berg is now available at Amazon July 17, 2013 - 7:14pm

I think I'll further modify mine and let go of wordcount restrictions. My stories like to be very short.

OtisTheBulldog's picture
OtisTheBulldog from Somerville, MA is reading The Brief Wondrous Life of Oscar Wao by Junot Diaz July 17, 2013 - 7:59pm

You're a master of the very short story, Carly.

Carly Berg's picture
Carly Berg from USA is reading Story Prompts That Work by Carly Berg is now available at Amazon July 17, 2013 - 10:58pm

Why, thank you! That is ever so much nicer than being told I have the attention span of a flea! :P

Dwayne's picture
Dwayne from Cincinnati, Ohio (suburbs) is reading books that rotate to often to keep this updated July 17, 2013 - 11:29pm

I got one done! Yay me!

Dwayne's picture
Dwayne from Cincinnati, Ohio (suburbs) is reading books that rotate to often to keep this updated July 17, 2013 - 11:35pm

Two! Yay!

Carly Berg's picture
Carly Berg from USA is reading Story Prompts That Work by Carly Berg is now available at Amazon July 18, 2013 - 12:20am

Woo hoo times two!

Carly Berg's picture
Carly Berg from USA is reading Story Prompts That Work by Carly Berg is now available at Amazon July 18, 2013 - 7:31am

Let's go, go, go! Number three on the way here! Um, all I need is an idea.

Carly Berg's picture
Carly Berg from USA is reading Story Prompts That Work by Carly Berg is now available at Amazon July 18, 2013 - 11:00pm

#3 is done. 350 words. Hey, I can't help it. I can only write three words per hour. :P

Anyone else made progress today?

Carly Berg's picture
Carly Berg from USA is reading Story Prompts That Work by Carly Berg is now available at Amazon July 18, 2013 - 11:26pm

Also, Story question- shooting someone a 'selfie" just means a picture you took of "yourself," not a nude picture, right?

Dwayne's picture
Dwayne from Cincinnati, Ohio (suburbs) is reading books that rotate to often to keep this updated July 19, 2013 - 5:37am

Nude is unrelated I think. Like you could do a nude selfie or a clothed selfie. 

Carly Berg's picture
Carly Berg from USA is reading Story Prompts That Work by Carly Berg is now available at Amazon July 19, 2013 - 5:54am

Thank you.

Dwayne's picture
Dwayne from Cincinnati, Ohio (suburbs) is reading books that rotate to often to keep this updated July 20, 2013 - 12:36am

Three is done done, and four is half done with the rest outline. I might pull this off!

If you want to see one and review it here. Just a flash, but it meets my rules.

http://litreactor.com/workshop/sub/why-he-hits-me

I also got ready to work on a non fiction piece I've been putting off.

Carly Berg's picture
Carly Berg from USA is reading Story Prompts That Work by Carly Berg is now available at Amazon July 20, 2013 - 1:07pm

My membership is expired but if you want another crit, feel free to send it to me.

Carly Berg's picture
Carly Berg from USA is reading Story Prompts That Work by Carly Berg is now available at Amazon July 20, 2013 - 4:30pm

Number four done here. 1,100 words, non-fiction. So, a little slow and a little outside the guidelines, but most importantly, getting there. Thanks for this, Dwayne. A challenge helps me step it up, even if I don't score 100% with it.  :)

Dwayne's picture
Dwayne from Cincinnati, Ohio (suburbs) is reading books that rotate to often to keep this updated July 20, 2013 - 6:11pm

Very welcome.

closure's picture
closure from Australia is reading The Ghormenghast Trilogy, by Mervyn Peake July 20, 2013 - 9:25pm

Well. Looks like I failed this one hard. Unless I pull out all the stops and write a metric pissload of words before tonight, then I will only achieve half-a-story-seven-days.

C'mon motivation!

Dwayne's picture
Dwayne from Cincinnati, Ohio (suburbs) is reading books that rotate to often to keep this updated July 21, 2013 - 3:55pm

Mine went well. Anyone make it?

Carly Berg's picture
Carly Berg from USA is reading Story Prompts That Work by Carly Berg is now available at Amazon July 21, 2013 - 4:56pm

No, but I got #5 done and out today, a 1,200 word article. So, still much better than I usually do. :)

Dwayne's picture
Dwayne from Cincinnati, Ohio (suburbs) is reading books that rotate to often to keep this updated July 21, 2013 - 7:01pm

I think I'll try to do next year's with allowance for a short non fiction narrative and not during Camp NaNo

Bird on a Wire's picture
Bird on a Wire from Mid-South is reading Revolutionary Road, by Richard Yates July 22, 2013 - 1:37am

I really like this idea.  I think I'll start my week tomorrow and see what happens.  :)

Renfield's picture
Renfield from Hell is reading 20th Century Ghosts July 22, 2013 - 1:58pm

I still ended up with a solid two and the rest ended in the trash bin save for a longer one I started on Friday and am still falling in love with. Not too superhuman results but I loved this as an exercise, a good way to force through the bad ideas to break on to the good ones.

OtisTheBulldog's picture
OtisTheBulldog from Somerville, MA is reading The Brief Wondrous Life of Oscar Wao by Junot Diaz July 22, 2013 - 4:14pm

I kind of changed the rules of the game to better fit myself, but I had a productive week of writing. I wrote a vignette of what will become a larger story, on two separate days I finished the final scenes for a story I'd been working on, I had a short non-fiction piece, I had another short 150 word story, and today I wrote a scene and some ideas for a new story which I'm looking forward to writing.

Not really even close to what Dwayne suggested, but I realized that wasn't going to work well for me. But without this thread, I probably wouldn't have made as much of a concerted effort to get some new words down in the last 7 days. 

So, I lost the challenge, but won the week.