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How many ideas can you say start because of a podcast?

This one did.

Just before the start of this year, 2021, I downloaded a podcast onto my cell phone.

The podcast, "The Prolific Writer" featured an interview with short story writer Phillip McCollum, and his commitment to write and complete 52 short stories in one year.

Phil was struggling to write his novels when he came across a quote from Ray Bradbury:

"Write a short story every week for 52 weeks. It's not possible to write 52 bad short stories."

McCollum was inspired.

On Sunday morning of each week, starting on July 31st of 2017 McCollum posted a completed short story to his website.

By the following year, he had more than 50 short stories.

He had struggles:

He struggled to come up with ideas
He let himself falter and be human, as well
He had to embrace that dirty word "discipline"

But, he also experienced a lot of benefits:

He honed his voice by writing & publishing all these stories
He overcame the fear of putting his work out there
He relaxed into the process

But each morning he got up at 4:30 am before his day job to get the words in. He built momentum. On occasion, life got in the way and he missed his deadline but that was rare.

Most of all, he had fun. And, for whatever reason should we write?

Other writers and artists have done this type of annual challenge.

Songwriters
Comedians
Poets
Essayists

The theory is...

HOW can you possibly write 52 bad stories? 52 bad songs? 52 bad comedy sketches?

IMPOSSIBLE, right?

Worst case, you'll come up with 2 or 3 good stories, or stories worth reworking and refining and sending in.

Writing is a practice.

Prolific writers must develop and condition their writing "muscles."

Writing is a craft and a practice. Yes, like being a lawyer but usually without the income.☺

So many times I say, "I've got to get that story finished; they'll (you'll) be waiting for the next one." The pressure is on!

Thank you from the bottom of my heart for your reading these stories(and for keeping me showing up each week!)

If you would like, feel free to subscribe. I'll have an email list and other goodies to share as time goes on.

Are you a writer, too who loves to write? Do you love to write a lot? Are you on Instagram? Feel free to follow us!

Thanks, and keep writing!

~Vanessa

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Photo by freestocks on Unsplash

Comments

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