Tracking!

For many of you, you’ve got a fun new adventure!

We are going to be tracking our progress this year – together – this is going to be best suited for those who are participating for the polish and editing portion of our challenge.

To be tracked, you’ll go through this form

Everyday you’ll finish your story or wordcount and add it to the reporting sheet. At the end of the week, we’ll leave an announcement about our progress in the discord.

This will also be a challenge for the event coordinator, Catrina Taylor aka TheLadyWrites. She has committed to stream for 12 hours if we can report in 90 completed short stories.

Themes Selected for Stories on Fire

We have four themes for the next 31 days of short story writing! Each week you’ll look at the daily prompts and fit them into the given theme.

Today I’m sharing our Themes for the month!


THEMES!


Week 1 – Animals

Weave any animal into your stories for each of the prompts during the week. There will be 7 story prompts and we’ll be excited to see your stories!

Week 2 – Extraterrestrial threats

No we don’t mean aliens, well… it could be aliens, but really it’s not just aliens.

Week 3 – War and Strife

Yes, we do actually mean war. Write about its affect on people, or a moment in a given war, or whatever comes to mind that inspires you but keeps a thread woven around war. Maybe you can spend the whole week dedicated to a series of stories in a given situation.

Week 4 – Utopia

But is it really? Guess our stories will share it. Find a good tale to tell with the prompts that fits into a Utopia.

AH! Now the Questions –

Do you have to use the Theme? Nope. It’s up to you. It will make the process of selecting stories for a collection easier when we’re getting through the polish and publishing process. You don’t need to use it though.

Do you have to use the prompts? Nope. This isn’t needed either. The goal is to end up with more stories than you started the month with. This is a way to inspire those.

Any other questions? Let us know!

Visit the Launch Day Event on Jan 1, 2024 at Midnight UTC

Themes for Stories on Fire 2024

In September 2023 we began using Themes as part of our weekly updates. This gives us a specific tread to pull through each of our stories for a given week. The themes change each week so we’ll have to pay attention to that.

With the first of January coming on a Monday this year, we’ll be changing our themes on that first day of the work week every week.

Daily we’ll have new prompts that will be fit into the theme.

For example:

The first Theme is animals.

IF the first prompt was ‘Imagine swimming in the pond.’ Your short story should include animals in that experience/story in some manner.

With that in mind, when it’s time to pick stories that we are going to be editing for our collections or our full individual releases, having a theme will make that easier.

I can’t wait to see all of you on Launch Day!

A Year of Publishing – Tracking

Stories on Fire will be tracking progress this year!

To get started, sign up through this form. From there, you’ll get a link to the tracking form. That form will enable you to update your word count and your story count daily.

https://bit.ly/SoF2024

We’ll use this to track those who are continuing through the editing process with us this year. By signing up here, we will be able to pair everyone up and ensure everyone gets the support they need so we can all reach the goal of writing, polishing, and publishing!

https://bit.ly/SoF2024

Stories on Fire 2024 – The Year of Publishing

Change is coming in 2024 to the short story a day challenge known as Stories on Fire. We are going to be creating and setting our stories free on the world!

We’re going to set a schedule for writing, revising, polishing, and releasing the short stories we create. This has been a request from a few members of the Creative Writing Community driving Stories on Fire.

Currently we are looking at Jan. 2024 for the writing portion of stories on fire. We’re aiming for completed stories that will be dedicated to the goal of publishing.

We’re still going to have prompts and information every day on the Stories on Fire event platform. It’s been an incredible experience writing completed stories daily.

Action Plan:

  • Allocate specific hours each day for writing.
  • Set daily themes or prompts to inspire story ideas – Check Discord, This Website, or One of the Streamer Twitch channels.
  • At the end of each week, have a brief review session to assess progress and adjust themes if needed.

Once we’ve got our momentum, we’re going to keep that going by spending February dedicated to reading and selecting our top 5 short stories.

Action Plan:

  • Review all written stories.
  • Select the top stories based on criteria like theme, quality, and completion.
  • Think about how the stories will link or not link
  • Identify the genre for each story and begin creating a One Sheet for it.

Moving in to March we’re going to be working on cleaning up those stories. First things first, you’ll pick which story you think is the best of the selected stories. Read the story, make revisions as you need to or expand if you’d like.

Keep in mind you’ll want 3000 words to sell the story on its own as an ebook. 10,000 words helps you develop your book into print as well.

Action Plan:

  • Assign each week to focus on specific stories.
  • Incorporate feedback loops, where each story is edited, reviewed, and revised.
  • Ensure each story aligns with the overall theme and quality standards of the collection, or goals
  • Finish revising stories until you are satisfied with them before moving onto the next one.

April is going is Camp Nano, so we are going to give our short stories a bit of a break for those who are doing Camp. This will help avoid burnout.

IF you are not doing Camp in April, get in touch with the discord and we can get started on pairing up for the Beta Reading cycle that everyone will be doing in May.

May we’ll be doing the peer edits/reviews. That means we’ll be pairing our work with another author who will provide peer updates based on a 10 question questionnaire. You’ll be given the questionnaire based on the given stories once the reader is done. Getting back to revisions will be great for everyone.

Action Plan:

  • Assign time each week to focus on reading a peer story for revision and feedback.
  • Incorporate feedback into your own works, where each story is revised.
  • Ensure each story aligns with the overall theme and quality standards of the collection or publishing goals.
  • Update your OneSheet for each story with a 2 sentence summary of your story now that it’s better polished.

June is going to be a great month to really do a final pass on the stories we’ve got and finish up any additional revisions. If by the time we reach the finish line for May you’re ready to go, this is a good time to find a solid editor to handle your work on your behalf. We’ll offer a list of established editors we know can really help a person polish their work when that time comes.

The other thing we need to do in June is make sure our One Sheets are completed with our Publishing Date scheduled. Give yourself at least 1 month before your first release. Decide if you’re releasing a collection of stories or each story by itself. June is your planning, July is our marketing and teamwork planning.

July is marketing and August should be the first release (or collection release). This month is when we are focused on telling the world the book, story, project is coming. We’re going to develop launch plans, work together and use the OneSheets for each story so we can create a network of supporters.

We are also going to be providing specific projects to work on together, and meeting together in Discord to keep on the right track.

Action Plan:

  • Finalize all publishing details, including cover, formatting and distribution channels.
  • Set the book release date, and launch!
  • Monitor the initial response and adjust marketing strategies as needed.

Starting in February we are going to be meeting twice a month to review goals, stories, and create an accountability process together. It’s going to be a fantastic journey to publishing together!

This challenge is more than just a writing exercise in 2024. It’s a comprehensive program designed to go from concept to publication. You’ll gain invaluable insights into the publishing industry, develop a disciplined writing habit, and most importantly, see your work come to life in print.

Watch the site for more updates!

NEW RELEASE: Lenses!

Avid Fantasy reader drawn into Lenses anthology.


A note from a Beta Reader:
“Lenses” is an enthralling sci-fi fantasy anthology that brings together a diverse array of stories penned by seven talented authors. Each story in the collection explores different facets of science fiction and fantasy, weaving a tapestry of narratives that are as varied as they are captivating.

The anthology opens powerfully with a story about a goddess becoming human, setting the tone with its exploration of divine intervention and the human experience. This tale is not only a great opener but also establishes the anthology’s theme of exploring different perspectives and realities.

Among the standout stories is “I’m Not the Bad Guy,” a fantasy tale that skillfully balances vivid visuals with a compelling narrative. The protagonist’s insistence on their own morality, despite evidence to the contrary, offers a fresh take on the classic good versus evil trope and challenges readers to question the nature of villainy.

“CoffeeQuills” contributes a story that, while not aligning perfectly with the anthology’s overarching theme, stands out for its unique approach and intriguing narrative, adding diversity to the collection.

“The Cotton Mouth Smile” takes readers on a journey through a post-apocalyptic, space-faring existence. The story is notable for the way it blurs the lines between reality and illusion, leaving readers questioning the protagonist’s perception of their world.

Another significant addition is “Florin,” a story that delves into themes of identity and self-determination, with a central focus on artificial intelligence. This tale stands out for its insightful commentary on AI and the nature of consciousness, wrapped in a narrative filled with unexpected plot twists.

Overall, “Lenses” is a richly varied anthology that offers something for every sci-fi and fantasy enthusiast. The collection stands as a testament to the imaginative power and narrative diversity that the genre can offer, making it a must-read for fans of speculative fiction.

This incredible anthology has 11 stories, 7 authors, and a ton of fun escaping reality. Grab it in the first week while it’s 99cents. It’s still a deal at 6.99, but you don’t have to miss the steal of a deal!

https://books2read.com/lenses

Scifi Reader enjoying Lenses Anthology

Unleash Your Writing Inferno: Join the “Stories on Fire” Challenge!

Get ready to embark on a scorching literary adventure that will set your imagination ablaze! Throughout the sizzling month of September, we’re daring you to dive headfirst into the “Stories on Fire” challenge.✨

Every day, you’ll be crafting mesmerizing short stories that ignite the senses and spark the mind. Your words will dance across the paper, captivating readers and leveraging twists that’ll leave them grasping for more!

The heartbeat of “Stories on Fire” – Twitch Live Streams! Feel the pulse of a dynamic community of writers. Each one is passionately typing away, supporting each other’s creativity, and sharing the journey. It’s like a worldwide writing bonfire, and you’re invited!

Here’s why diving into “Stories on Fire” is the perfect choice for any aspiring or seasoned writer:

  • Cultivate Consistency: Writing daily isn’t just about producing stories. It’s about cultivating a writing routine that will stick with you long after September ends. The habit you form during this challenge will propel your writing journey forward like never before.
  • Unleash Creativity: By pushing yourself to write a new story every day, you’ll train your brain to think outside the box, explore new genres, and experiment with fresh storytelling techniques. Your creativity will be pushed to new horizons!
  • Conquer Writer’s Block: Writer’s block? Say goodbye to that dreaded concept! The daily practice of putting words on paper will melt away any mental barriers, leaving you with a newfound sense of confidence.
  • Join a Supportive Community: For some, writing can sometimes be a solitary endeavor, but not during “Stories on Fire.” Connect with fellow writers, share your challenges and triumphs, and be inspired. Together, we’ll fan the flames of creativity!
  • Witness Tangible Progress: At the end of September, you’ll have a collection of unique stories – a testament to your dedication and growth. Whether you choose to polish them further or keep them as a personal treasure, you’ll have proof of what you’re capable of.

Are you tired of waiting for the “perfect time” to pursue your writing dreams? The time is NOW, and we’ve got just the blaze to set your creativity free! The “Stories on Fire” Challenge – an exhilarating journey that will transform your writing journey in just 30 days.

???? Don’t let this moment slip away. Click the link below to secure your spot and join a community of fiery storytellers from around the world who are ready to light up the literary stage together.

Stories on Fire! Coming January 2023

Are you ready to flex your creative muscles and improve your writing skills? Join our 30-day writing challenge!

The challenge is simple: write a short story every day for a month. Each day, we will provide a prompt to get your creative juices flowing. Whether you are a seasoned writer or just starting out, this challenge is for you.

Not only will this challenge help improve your writing skills, it will also give you the opportunity to engage with a community of fellow writers and authors. You can share your stories with the group and receive feedback and support from your peers.

Join us and see how your writing skills grow and evolve over the course of the month. Sign up now and let’s get writing!

31 Days to Stories on Fire!

31 Days is Rebranding. Our Schedule is Changing but the Event is still the same!

Stories on Fire is the new name for 31 Short Stories in 31 Days.

The Months we will run the event are January and September with intermittent fun stuff in between! Watch this channel to find out more soon!

31 Days Wrap Up

31 days Wrap Up! 

First off – everyone who took part successfully moved the needle on what they finished. This is huge for an author. Congratulations! You should be proud of yourself. I know I’m really excited for you. 

This last month at our weekly wrap-ups we did giveaways. 

The first week was an Edit – this edit is for a single short story during the month of September. That award went to MiyaWrites. You should visit her stream channel. You’ll love it there.

The second week was for a year subscription to 4TheWords – that award went to TheUniqueLee who kindly contributed some accountability tools for the whole team! Such a wonderful support gift. 

The third week was for a premade book cover from GoOnWrite.com – They are incredible cover designers. – Licia who creates really intense worlds, won the cover. I am going to enjoy seeing them released into the world. 

Our last award was a bundle of all three. That was awarded on the 31st to UncleToBen – he runs a family fun variety channel usually, but was happy to step in and do more writing streams than his usual once a week while he was accomplishing 31 stories in 31 days. 

All of our streamers have been wonderful. We can thank so many who stepped in and stayed on schedule for the event. Special mentions:

CoffeeQuills wrote without prompts, but created a full short story daily. 

Angsthase used the prompts, created a story a day, and filled in a lot of empty slots. Thank you for taking on so many extra hours!

Belldandy245 and MiyaWrites both stepped in to fill gaps and help ensure our 31 days authors could find a 31 days streamer during the day. 

NursingGeek was kind enough to begin her writing streamer career during the challenge to help keep the momentum going. 

We’ve got so many others I am likely going to miss in this blog post, but thank you all for streaming and chatting and writing at your pace. Every minute you shared this event, the community felt your support.

In the future- Watch for the InExhaustible Media Twitch channel and YouTube. We’ll have that in place before our next event in January. That’ll be where the whole 31 days streamers will be shared for all to see. Currently, the plan will include hosting a regular schedule video that will play the schedule of our known streamers and how to find them on twitch. It will also share some book trailers if you’re looking for a good book to read, and a variety of additional things to provide value to our writing community. 

For streamers, they can look forward to orientation some time in December to prep for the January event. That’ll be fun too. I’m looking forward to ‘meeting’ all of you in Discord before we start writing like madmen. 

Also watch for 31 Tales – a Charity Magazine filled with incredible writing for all to enjoy!

The fourth quarter is going to be amazing.

I can’t wait to share more with you as we go along. Keep Writing.