When I was a young writer, just starting out, I read an article that changed the way I approached writing. The article was about Ray Bradbury, and how he committed to writing 500 words minimum per day. Being all of eleven years old, I decided that I wanted to be three times the writer Bradbury was, and set about making my goal 1500 words a day. If 500 worked for him, imagine what 1500 would do for me!
Fast forward several (okay – many) years into the future, and that lesson has served me well. It has made it so that I can literally write about anything, in any situation (whether I do it well or not is up to interpretation). It was pivotal training in my freelance and professional career.
So a few days ago I noticed an incoming link to Garbled Transmission that I had not seen before. Curiosity took over, and I wondered who had linked to our site. I could not have been more intrigued when I saw the site the link came from: write1sub1.blogspot.com.
The site seeks to teach authors another lesson courtesy of the great Bradbury. Apparently, in addition to writing 500 or so words a day, he also committed (and kept) to writing one story a week and submitting one a week.
Write1Sub1 asks writers to join in the effort and try to create and submit 52 stories a year. For the meek at heart, you can choose to write/submit 1 story a month as well, but why not go for the gold?
I love the idea of this site and encourage any fledgling or professional writer to sign-up and join the fun. There are many lessons to be learned, and even if you fail in your endeavours, you will end up with a lot of new work on your hands, and more importantly, you will have taken a step forward in perfecting your craft.
I’ll admit that I haven’t signed up – yet. Currently, I edit and design this site in my spare time, and work full time as Editor-in-Chief/Community Manager of 17 other sites. Plus I freelance. And occasionally…sleep.
But the eleven year old still breathes somewhere in the back of my brain, and I know that he won’t rest until I sign-up.
If you do join, or are already undertaking the challenge, I’d love to hear your progress. Drop us a line!
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Climb aboard the Write1Sub1 train, James; you’ll be glad you did. The weekly challenge has forced me to churn out some of my best work this year.
Come for the challenge. Stay for the community.
Thanks for the spotlight, James! Write1Sub1 has done a world of wonder for me, resulting in my first paid publication and some of my best writing. I hope you and others will join us!
I’m one of the “meek at heart,” doing the Monthly/Light Ray version.
I may not have 52 stories by the end of the year, but I will have 12 new, shiny ones. If someone starts Light Ray now, they’ll have four stories by the end of the year – four stories that might not otherwise have been written. It’s never too late.
I’m with you, James. Why not go for the gold? It’s been a strain, but I’ve managed so far. Closing in on 20 (flash/short story) publications in 2011. I never used to submit that many stories in a year. The main benefit will accrue down the road, though, as I take this confidence into more and more ambitious work.
Hi James – you should totally join us! It’s all about the support.
I’m on the monthly version (challenged myself to double it). I have 14 new stories this year, and 45 submissions (5 new, 40 resubmissions). The challenge has helped me keep my stories in publication, and encouraged me to get more out into the world. I’d do more, but I already committed to finishing my novel this year.
I’ll watch for your sign up, yes?
Hi James – you should totally join us! It’s all about the support.
I’m on the monthly version (challenged myself to double it). I have 14 new stories this year, and 45 submissions (5 new, 40 resubmissions). The challenge has helped me keep my stories in publication, and encouraged me to get more out into the world. I’d do more, but I already committed to finishing my novel this year.
I’ll watch for your sign up, yes?
One of my friends turned me on to this when it first started. I’d never written a short story before (not counting ones for school assignments.) I’ve written several (unfinished) novels through participation in Nanowrimo, and the Write 1 Sub 1 program thrilled me.
While I have not fully kept up with the weekly version as well as I would like, I have twenty-nine stories written, with 11 publications. I shrieked and danced around the room when I received my first acceptance. Without the Write 1 Sub 1 community and my group of writing buddies, I would not have experienced this joy.
And the icing on the cake: my spouse-creature now fully realizes this is more than just a “hobby.”
Thanks for the comments…I’ll definitely be joining shortly. I’ve been working on knocking a few things off my todo list, but look for me in the next week or so. Looking forward to joining in!
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