-AWARD-WINNING AUTHOR-
TARA C. ALLRED
10-Day PERISCOPE SHORT STORY CHALLENGE
Join me for the 10-Day Periscope Short Story Writing Challenge.
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DAY 1
July 22, 2015
Periscope Intro to the 10-day Challenge
CHALLENGE #1
Get to know your character.
Complete a Q&A with your main character.
Transform your flat character into a three-dimensional person.
Want a detailed character questionnaire? Sign-up for my newsletter.
EXAMPLE:
Priscilla Putnam
http://www.othersideofquiet.net/priscilla-journal-1st/
DAY 2
July 23, 2015
Want to Write a Story? What's Stopping You?
CHALLENGE #2
Complete your short story outline.
Ask yourself these questions:
* What events will occur in your short story?
* What is the plot sequence?
* Why do events need to occur in this prescribed order?
* What does the reader need to know when?
Your outline can be a short concise numbered list.
Consider this a birds-eye view of your story.
EXAMPLE:
Priscilla Putnam's Short Story Outline
PREP FOR DAY 3 CHALLENGE
Start writing! Grab the events that pull you in.
Accept that what you write won't be polished
And BEGIN WRITING YOUR STORY!
DAY 3
July 24, 2015
Get Pen to Paper . . . or Fingers to Keyboard
CHALLENGE #3
Use your outline from Day 2 to start writing the first draft of your story.
Remember these important tips:
* This is a draft! It does not need to be perfect.
* Don't let holes slow you down, just highlight, leave a comment, and keep on writing.
* Your goal is to get something on paper! We will fix things during our revision days.
* Pace yourself. A short story can be 2-5 pages or it can be longer.
Your draft is a start. There is no right or wrong while you write on this day.
Today is a fun day to create!
EXAMPLE:
Priscilla Putnam's 10th Grade Year - First Draft
PREP FOR DAY 4 CHALLENGE
Your goal is to complete your quick alpha draft by the end of Day 4.
Estimate approximately 1 hour for 3-4 pages of typed text.
REMEMBER: This is not perfect text!
Start thinking about who you would share this tender seed of your story with.
Who do you trust that can give you encouragement on what they like?
Can they tell you parts that perk their curiosity, specific passages they like, and also those non-engaging story spots?
Let this person know that, in less than 48 hours, you will be sharing a story with them
(either the outline, a five-minute verbal description, or your first draft).
Then KEEP WRITING!
DAY 4
July 25, 2015
Five Important Elements of a Short Story
CHALLENGE #4
Finish up your alpha draft
then share your story with someone
who will encouarage you in this quest.
Elements of a Short Story
1. Character (see Day 1)
2. Plot (see Day 2)
3. Setting (more on Day 5)
4. Conflict (more on Day 6)
5. Theme (more on Day 8)
PREP FOR DAY 5 CHALLENGE
Start to think about your setting.
Where does your story take place?
When does it take place?
What details of your story are unclear and require research?
Start to re-visit the specific areas you highlighted (or bracketed)
as "holes" in your alpha draft.
Begin to address these troublespots.
DAY 5
July 26, 2015
Creating a Strong Setting
CHALLENGE #5
Examine your setting.
Is your story's time and location believable?
How does your setting impact your main character?
How does your setting play into the story's plot and conflict?
How does the setting create a tone that enriches the story's theme?
Research your story's timeframe, location, and any other areas of expertise
to help you create a believable "world" for your story.
PREP FOR DAY 6 CHALLENGE
Think about your storyline.
Now that the alpha is complete, what areas do you still feel uncertain about?
Research the holes.
Consider the feedback you heard from your alpha reader.
What are your story's strengths?
What areas will you specifically want to target in your beta fixes?
Explore new ideas to replace the dull spots in your story.
DAY 6
July 27, 2015
Creating Emotion for Your Readers
CHALLENGE #6
Examine your beta draft.
Review the feedback from your alpha reader.
Address the "hole" areas.
Read your draft again.
Where are you telling the reader what to think?
How can you rewrite these passages to show instead of tell?
What is your main story conflict?
Can you raise the stakes even higher?
Is there conflict in every scene?
If a scene lacks conflict, can it be deleted?
In which scenes can you stir deeper conflict and thus move the storyline forward?
Can you surprise the reader by turning the story in an unexpected direction?
What is something that's very dear to the main character?
Can you take that important something away from your main character?
BETA DRAFT CHECKLIST:
Creating Emotion for Your Readers
PREP FOR DAY 7 CHALLENGE
You've identified the areas where your story is lacking.
Now rewrite those trouble spots.
Prepare your beta draft for beta readers.
DAY 7
July 28, 2015
Make Your Story Scenes Come Alive
CHALLENGE #7
Take one more look at your beta draft.
Is it a good story?
What is still missing?
How can it become a great story?
MAKE YOUR STORY REAL
THREE-DIMENSIONALIZE IT!
1. For each scene, close your eyes and visualize you are there.
What do you smell?
What do you feel?
What do you hear?
Are you tasting anything?
What do you see?
How can these experiences from your senses be included in subtle ways.
(Where fitting, consider slipping in an adjective or verb to help describe these sensations.)
2. Besides the main character, who else is in the scene?
Are these characters' actions believable?
As the author, have you considered their experiences, thoughts, and motives during this scene.
3. With each of these other characters, what is at stake for them?
Could the reader feel sympathy toward these other characters?
Does the reader understand these other characters' needs and desires?
Are these other characters three-dimensional?
For the author only: can you clearly visualize these characters in detail?
(If not, complete a character questionnaire on them too - see Day One.)
4. Examine the dialogue.
Does word choice fit how the characters would speak?
Is any conversation trite, predictable, boring?
As the author, have you required a character to share too much in one speaking moment?
Are you not being true to that character?
Are you asking that charaacter to do an info dump (or exposition) through their dialogue?
How can you clean up the dialogue to make each character hold their own distinct voice?
PREP FOR DAY 8 CHALLENGE
Identify who your beta readers will be.
Who can give you honest feedback that you will respect?
Do your beta readers love to read?
Do your beta readers read your genre?
Will your beta readers be willing to call out the trouble spots?
(In order to complete this challenge in 10 days,
Are your beta readers able to read and give feedback within the 24-hour window?)
Prepare your beta draft for its beta readers.
DAY 8
July 29, 2015
Share draft with beta readers.
CHALLENGE #8
Prepare yourself for your beta feedback.
When feedback arrives, ask yourself these questions:
* What positive feedback was shared?
* What areas of improvement have been called out?
* Do you agree with these trouble spots?
* Do you disagree with this feedback?
* If you disagree, make sure you can objectively support why you will not address that feedback.
Remember the overall goal is to create a great story.
* How is this feedback helping you with this goal?
PREP FOR DAY 9 CHALLENGE
Process your beta feedback.
If you need to, step away from your story for a little bit.
But then remember your bigger writing goals.
Roll up your sleeves and focus on your rewrites.
Fix the troublespots that need attention.
Start working on your final draft.
DAY 9
July 30, 2015
Transforming a Beta Manuscript into a Final Story
CHALLENGE #9
What will be the best next step for your manuscript?
Based off your beta readers’ feedback, is your draft almost complete?
What passages and scenes are working?
Celebrate those successes.
What fixes are still needed?
Dig in and fix those remaining troublespots.
*
If needed, review, rewrite, revise, redo
whatever you need to do to improve
until you have a final product you are proud of.
*
Then when your manuscript is complete, pass it on to an editor.
Remember a good editor is your advocate.
After you've done your best, an editor will provide the final touches.
An editor will help make your words flow and your story shine.
PREP FOR DAY 10 CHALLENGE
Once your story is complete,
meaning you’ve addressed all the holes,
and you feel proud of your product,
then it’s time to submit your work and share it with readers.
DAY 10
July 31, 2015
Submitting Your Work
CHALLENGE #10
Share your work with readers.
There are many places to share your work.
Consider some of these options:
Wattpad
Set up a profile and share with readers around the world.
Other Side of Quiet Writing Group
Share your work for professional feedback.
CONTESTS
Writers Digest
http://www.writersdigest.com/writers-digest-competitions
Entry Deadline: Sept 15, 2015
Costa Short Story Award
http://www.costa.co.uk/costa-book-awards/costa-short-story-award/
UK or Ireland Resident (only)
Entry Deadline: Aug 5, 2015
Bare Fiction Magazine
Entry Deadline: Oct 31, 2015
Or for larger works of fiction, seek out publishing options:
Small Presses
Literary Agents/Large Presses
Independent Publishing Options
CONGRATULATIONS!
WHAT AN ACCOMPLISHMENT!
NOW CELEBRATE!
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© 2015 by Tara C. Allred