Short Story Challenge: Origins and "Rules"
I don’t remember where I first saw this quote, but I do remember thinking, “oh, ye of little faith.” I can certainly write 52 bad stories in a row.
That was the seed that started this self-imposed challenge. Hopefully, not all the stories will be bad, but I’m going to try to write 52 short stories in (roughly) the next 52 weeks. Below are the guidelines I’m giving myself. If you want to take up the challenge as well, feel free to take or leave any of these “rules” for yourself.
The stories are not final drafts. Closer to first drafts, but will be complete stories.
They will be 1,000-10,000 words in length.
The week for each story will be Monday - Sunday and each story will be posted no later than 5pm on the Sunday.
If Playwriting Every Day in November happens this year, I will be taking the month of November off from writing short stories to participate in that, and will add the extra weeks on in 2024.
I’m granting myself two weeks “vacation” to use as needed, adding any of these I use into 2024 as well.
If the story came from a prompt, the prompt will be at the top and the creator of the prompt will be credited.
Right now, my goal is to write the stories, so no obsessing over editing. this isn’t a final draft. (Need to remind myself otherwise I won’t get past week one)
Another reminder: you are doing this for yourself. It is allowed to be hard, but you cannot allow it to crush you. If this becomes too much, you are allowed to stop. Don’t push yourself off a cliff for the sake of completing this challenge you created. Be gentle with yourself.
But still push yourself… just not off a cliff.
