Leonora Competes With Herself to Win Her 100 Story Challenge
Leonora's got an infectious energy that makes you want to take on the world.
Hello dear reader,
I love interviewing other writers, it's something I want to keep doing. And it seems you like it too.
I like understand how they overcome their and my most pressing challenges. I'm not a super successful writer, yet. I struggle with the production side of things, getting a longer story done. Getting the words out and in an orderly line.
And I think speaking to my fellow writers about it is a really useful way to learn.
The 100 Story challenge was doing reps, but I want to move forward with longer pieces so I'll be starting a new challenge and making a little fuss about it too.
Also I'm probably going to just go paid.
I don't know when I'll meet Substack's suggested metrics, but I'm going to keep these weekly posts free and I'll add paid content on top. As this value tips into a level you find exciting I invite you to subscribe and become a paid reader. That's it really.
It's the only way I can think of to test what’s worth it for you guys.
Either it's worth paying a few bucks for or it isn't.
That kind of thinking keeps it more action orientated for me that staring at stats feeling powerless. 🙂
Enough of me, here's Leonora an excellent writer and a great person to have pop up in your comment section. Find her on Twitter too.
She's such a supportive and awesome writer to know. Say hello online, and take a peak at her work on your next coffee break.
Tell us a little more about you, how’d you come to writing and where can we find you?
I’ve been writing since I was 7. There was no point at which I was not developing characters in my head and making up stories for my them. When I was single-digits and liked walking in puddles I was doing this.
My writing can be found at my blog fdotleonora.com, I am developing my Patreon and of course I write all the time here on Medium!
What's your plan with Patreon?
I am not sure what to do with my Patreon, but I realised I could should utilize it when Medium suggested using it as a tip jar!
What made you to take on the challenge and why was it life changing?
Zane, it was a knee-jerk reaction! I was writing a lot on the site, wanted to be consistent in creating content, saw this challenge and it was go for me right away!
And now, a few months later are you still consistent?
I am happy to say that I am able to not write every day but a lot of days because of this challenge. I used to publish once or twice a week, now I publish almost every other day. Writing habits are so important for growing and producing.
I’m curious about your mindset and how you feel it helps you carry on?
I am a fatalist, I believe everything is done when it is supposed to be done. I am also a procrastinator! But I deeply believe that things happen when they are supposed to. I was supposed to see the 💯 challenge and I was supposed to do it. Once I started, I was committed. The same way I am when I do NaNoWriMo. Once I start something, I am committed. Maybe it is the fierce competitor in me?
I love this! I'm also super competitive but how do you do it by yourself?
I enjoy competing with myself, wanting to see higher numbers for example when I count my steps. I hate to see my rings not closed on my Apple Watch or numbers that are less than what I know I can do—brought that attitude to the 💯. No matter what—I felt compelled, could not miss a day. Writing every day made it easier to do just that as well.
How’d you juggle the challenge, life and work?
Ahhhh, work has been INTENSE lately, but these stories were my mission and my dessert. I started stories on my commute to and from work and published when I came home. Publishing was the highlight of my day, once I commit? I commit and feel proud when I see it through.
I do so much writing and creating on my phone, I am on it so much it feels like a mini computer. Sometimes I am home and it feels better to work on it than my laptop or tablet. My typing skills are amazing, it is like my fingers work on auto—like a demon! 😈
Where'd you get new ideas every day?
Patricia Ray did Unsplash Instant and I was so impressed!
I actually was influenced by the news and things I saw during the day. I also get connected to my stories so there were several mini-series within my 100 days.
One was inspired by a lady’s hosiery and one by a news story about the human brain. I am lucky that I am open to so many ideas. I always feel happy when the stories spawn more, I tend to want to know what is going to happen next.
Now if I run out of ideas, I have so many stories I can pick back up!
Did you experiment and trying anything new?
The stories about the human brain, AI and aliens were all genres I had never really written before. I love The Twilight Zone, but sci-fi and fantasy have never been my forte but I was inspired during this challenge. Not crime either and there were a few stories like that as well.
Fiction is such a malleable genre, it was exciting every day!!! There is one series, that I know I have to return to it starts with my story, When You Sleep.
It is a sci-fi thriller and it kept me on my toes—plus I did not get to the good part!
Do you feel you know your readers better now?
Definitely, I love when people highlight and comment. It was especially cool to have people tell me to keep going with some of my mini-series. Although, I did write a lot about what I wanted to work on more.
I think it is a combination of my own passion and inspiration from others and helpful comments that motivated me. I think as a writer, my passion hopefully comes through and people respond to that.
Like when someone highlights something I feel really connected to.
It feels like it is not just me!
If I had to stop everything and read one of your hundred, which one and why?
OMG! You can’t ask that Zane!!! How can I choose from my children?!?!?
But off the top of my head, I really did love my science fiction ones.
I made the genre what I wanted it to be and of course filled with romance. I love romance no matter what! For me there is no point if there is no romance!
Any community writers who's stories you loved?
You, Patricia Ray, Sonja Glucksberg, Paul Mansfield and Brigit Delaney to start! Patricia wrote stories I wish I had written—THAT GOOD!!!
What's your biggest piece of advice for new challengers?
One hundred percent go with what terrifies you! I knew I was going to do the 💯, but that does not mean I was not scared and intimidated.
But following through and completing it was the most proud I have felt as a writer all year. It pushed me and showed me there was so much more in me as a writer and pushed me to do another challenge right after!
Before you go, I saw you started something new?
The challenge I did right after was for the MIDFORM publication.
Almost everyone did it as a personal story, I did it all as fiction. Like with the 💯, I had a few mini-series. One series is now my summer project.
It is supposed to read like a beach read. There is drama and romance, in the vein of any good summer beach read I have ever had.
If I had not done the 💯, I might not have done the MIDFORM challenge and would not have this series which I am loving writing and am so thankful for.
The 100 Story Challenge is a writing challenge to write 100 stories in a 100 days at least 100 words long. To build a consistent writing habit, kickstart an audience and learn what that audience likes most using Medium. Read more about it here.
Learn which stories should become your next short story or novel:
Pick The Next Interview
Paul is a fellow editor on Microcosm and a writer in multiple voices, he's won the challenge at least three times. He's lived life, taken the nude photos and now he tells stories like no other.
JF Danskin is a writer with books on Amazon, and a host of serial fiction on Royal Road. I'd love to pick his brain about getting started with Serial Fiction and how he packages that into books.
Until next week, happy writing!
Zane, i want to be the Leonora that is presented here! thank you for interviewing and challenging me!❤️