My Name was Supposed to be Elizabeth Ann

Earlier this year I signed up for May’s Story A Day Challenge, wherein writers receive a daily prompt from its creator, Julie Duffy, and commit to writing a story every day throughout the month. Yee-up. That’s THIRTY-ONE stories. I was excited, nervous, intimidated–and determined. No matter what, I was NOT going to quit. I’d given myself and the group my word.

And guess what? May 31, I had 31 stories.

Granted, none of them were polished. Many of them were more outline than narrative. Some of them were god-awful.  Actually, MOST of them were god-awful. I loved them all. They were like gems in a treasure chest I didn’t know I owned.

Even more valuable? What I learned about my own writing process. 

1. I HATE drafting. Drafting gives me vertigo, like someone has spun me around and left me to find my way without a GPS. Or a bucket.
2. Revising is like dessert. And I love dessert.
3. It’s okay to write a crappy first draft. In fact, ALL of my first drafts are crappy. See #1, above.
4. Morning is my most creative time. If I don’t start writing in the morning, by day’s end my brain is like, Go away. No one’s home.
5. Deadlines are my friend. The one who’s always your DD and tells you straight up when you’re a mess. 
6. The more I write, the more I want to write and the more my brain works like champagne bubbles. Overflowing with ideas, but without the hangover.
7. I can do this.

Which is why I’m in for Story A Day September. Check back next Sunday, and I’ll tell you how week one went.

Right now, I have a story to write.

(Curious about the challenge? Find more information at https://storyaday.org/)