Are you a fiction writer? Do you wish to be professionally published?
This challenge is for serious short fiction writers who really want to make a breakthrough with their writing — a breakthrough in overcoming procrastination, fear and self-doubt and writing for publication. If you have been yearning to write for the mainstream short story publication market, we invite you to try out Write Club. And it all starts with a writing prompt and a challenge.
This is not a challenge about writing for social media. There are plenty of ways to do that. And if you enjoy writing on Steemit, Narrative or Medium, you likely don’t need the structure or prodding of a writing community. You likely just do it.
This challenge is also not about self-publishing. There are plenty of ways to do that too.
If you want something more, such as the validation of having your work accepted and published by a fiction magazine, you are welcome to try out Write Club and see if it’s for you.
What is Write Club?
Write Club is a small community that is devoted to writing on a schedule, moving the work through peer review and revision, and getting the work to publishable state.
Here’s the catch: We do all of that in one 30-day cycle.
Here’s how it works:
- A member of Write Club provides a writing prompt. For example, it can be a short story, as well as an aspect of that story to emulate, such as an “unreliable narrator.”
- Each person in the group who wishes to participate for that round signs up. This is a commitment to meet that month’s deadlines, including performing peer reviews of other members’ work. Additionally, the participants provide an intended publication they want to target for that month’s story.
- The first 10 days are for the first draft. There are then two peer review cycles over the next 20 days.
At the end of this process, you have a completed story for which you have received two rounds of feedback and performed two rounds of edits. And you have a target publication. The rest is up to you.
And then we start again.
FAQ
Q: Why did Write Club form?
A: We started the group because we wanted accountability and structure to push us to get drafted and ready for publication. There is something magical about getting to done within a month. You really can’t spend all your time procrastinating, staring at the wall, pacing endlessly, or making another snack every time you feel a little mentally weathered, because you have strict deadlines. You must keep at it.
Q: Are all stories ready for publication at the end of the 30-day Write Club session?
A: No. While that is the goal, many stories still need more work. But on the positive side, you have a fully drafted story! And you typically have a very good sense of where the problems lie. But yes, some are ready and then you can start the submission process while also launching work on a new story.
Q: Can I write in my native language?
A: Sorry, but no. English does not need to be your first language, but you must be English proficient and must write your stories in English.
Q: Are there any professional editors, writers or agents in the group?
A: Nope. We are just a group of passionate fiction writers with a range of fiction education and experience (from workshoppers to those with MFAs), who have spent time working on mastering the craft and want the accountability of a group and deadlines to ensure we stay on track.
How to try out Write Club
We are just starting back up after a hiatus, and we are open to bringing in a few new members. If you are an experienced fiction writer, and the information above did not scare you off, you are welcome to check us out. You can find more information in this article on Medium, along with a link to our Discord channel where we converse and manage all of our deadlines and reviews.
This month’s writing prompt
That brings us, at last, to the prompt!
For the month of September 2019, Write Club members must incorporate the following element: One character must possess a character trait or flaw that is generally perceived as odd or objectionable, but which ultimately provides some benefit.
It could be a person who interrupts others when they are speaking, or someone whose left eye twitches when he’s not telling the truth. But somehow this pays off in the course of the story.
Have fun! And of course you are welcome to write a story using this prompt, even if you do not try out Write Club.
