LEE HALLISON

How can you write a story in 90 minutes?

That is the challenge I take on every weekend via the Liberty Hall Writers website. This is a critique group of speculative fiction writers, whose focus is primarily on publication – more than anything else, more than community building, writing skill building or support. Those things do happen, in the quest for publication, but there isn’t a lot of chatter. Writers are generous in thoughtful critiques, in supportive encouragement, but the focus is always on the writing.

Every Friday, I send out an email and get a writing prompt by return email. I must send back my “entry” within 90 minutes to “qualify” for the group vote on best flash. The winner gets to set the prompt the following week. If you take more than 90 minutes, you are disqualified from the voting, but you still get your story posted for all to read and review.

Some weeks I mull over possible story lines before I send out my request for the prompt. If it fits, or if I can twist the story to make it work, I will write the story that’s in my head. Sometimes it inspires something completely different and I discard my ideas & write like mad. Sometimes it doesn’t fit my vague story idea OR inspire anything – then I walk around in angst & try to brainstorm. So far I have only “failed” once – completely failed to get in a story after seeing the prompt. Of course I’ve “failed” many times as far as creating a fabulous flash fiction story in 90 minutes! But, even the failures usually have a solid kernel to pull out.

Having that 90 minute deadline is amazing. First off, it is rare to have a complete story arc develop in such a short time. Knowing that everyone else is under the same crazy pressure relieves (for me) the worry about being “good enough” to share. In addition, the stories go up anonymously – people try to guess, but you don’t have to confess to your story if you hate it. And several times I have written something worth working on.

Writing under pressure has taught me that I can create something to be proud of if I get that first draft out, knowing that others will see it. My internal editor has to cooperate when I’m frantically trying to meet that kind of crazy deadline.

Have you ever tried something like this? Did it work?

Writing News – early February, 2010

I’m titling this “early” February in hopes that I put up more news by the end of the month. Goals are good!
News since my last post

A story I wrote for a Liberty Hall Flash Fiction challenge was accepted by Daily Science Fiction for publication. Not sure when, but the contract is signed and so it’s a go! I’m very excited. If you like speculative fiction, this is a fun online “magazine.” You subscribe, and the stories land in your email inbox. They’re all fairly short short stories, so quick and easy reads – and they are terrific. I am thrilled that I’ll be in such good company. http://dailysciencefiction.com Look for the subscribe link.
My third round screenplay for the NYCMM screenplay contest didn’t make the cut – so I wasn’t in the finals. So glad I took on the challenge, though. I got such good practice in paring a story down to its essentials.
I turned in my 21st flash fiction story for the Liberty Hall weekly challenge this past weekend. Twenty-one separate, unique drafts! I look at the list and it feels like a treasure. All these potential stories. I hope to submit several this month.
One more rejection for a short story came – I am now at a whopping two for the year, four total. The Liberty Hall group tracks rejections & has a biggest reject of the year contest. Since it takes me too long to push that submit button, I am resigned to losing that contest – but I hope to start racking them up. Kind of like bruises on a prize fighter.

Other news – planning to participate in the NYC Midnight Madness Short Story contest. This is the same contest I entered last year – it was the first time outside of a writing class that I wrote a short story, it was the first time I bared a story I wrote to the world (well, to the small world of NYCMM) and I got third place, so the first time I had external validation (of sorts – third place didn’t make the finals cut).
After this year of focus on short short fiction, writing stories in a weekend, or in 90 minutes, staying under 1,000 words, or 5 pages of a screenplay…this upcoming contest may feel luxurious! 2,500 words in a full week!!!

I am really looking forward to this year’s contest. I think the work I’ve done this past year has improved me as a writer. Whether I make the finals or not, I know I will write a better story – and I’ll have another story to submit.

I will post what genre & topic I get. I know I feel much more relaxed – whatever it is I can at least churn something out!