What's the 100 Story Challenge?
Hint: It's inspired 119 writers to test 2800+ story ideas.
A writing exercise to build consistency, community and find what your readers love most. (Updated 20th Oct: What’s Not Cheating)
If you've been on Twitter in the last century, you may have noticed Nicolas Cole and Dickie Bush's #Ship30for30.
It's a challenge, a cohort-based training program, and more importantly a lively, fun and supportive community of writers.
This 💯 Story Challenge is inspired by that, but for Fiction.
It's an experiment for asking questions
What genres do I have fun with most?
If you join, use the tag “100 Story Challenge” and tag a friend as well.
that’s how I got Kristen to write this beauty: Blowing on the Wind.
The Challenge Rules:
They’re rules and they’re also suggestions.
It’s important to do what works for you, to keep your words flowing and for you to keep having fun. All our challenges are about fun.
100 Stories in 100 Days, at least 100 words.
You can write longer, if you want to, and find that you’re in the zone.
We don’t want to cut a good story short.
But don’t raise your bar too soon, it may become harder to maintain later on. Take it a day at a time. Some days I write 100 words others 500, it’s all about the flow and having fun while I’m doing it.
Some of my stories are one offs and others are serials, because I enjoyed the world or the characters and wanted to explore them a bit more.
It’s up to you.
TL;DR: It’s easier to maintain a 100 words a day for the long haul.
Publish Where You Find Easiest
This has been raised a couple of times — it’s not just you, so don’t worry.
Paul, self-publishes all his pieces to keep things easy.
I publish my stories in a few places on Medium. But, you’re welcome to submit your stories to Microcosm for this challenge.
With publications, you my need to let go of when your story is published. Some writers prefer a story a day published that day, and that’s fine. I count my story done once submitted.
Practicing in Public
A major part of this challenge is to test out your fiction ideas.
To write 100 ideas and see which ones your readers like the most. To test then invest. Our second challenge will dive into your best ten ideas and make more of them.
Share your stories somewhere public, like Medium, Twitter or Notes. If you’re not yet a writer on Medium, sign up with my link and you’ll support the creation and growth of these challenges.
Let me know in the comments if you take this on and where so I can support or offer a gentle kick in the pants.
Please use the #100stories hashtag on your tweets to make them easier for others in the find. You can also tag @our100stories, the challenge account, for extra likes.
You don’t have to write or publish a story every day
You could batch and schedule. Or catch up if you miss a couple.
Life happens, we’ve gotta be flexible.
Especially if you’re submitting your stories to publications, which are good for audience growth. But you lose control of the publication date.
Consistency is the goal, though, and the aim is to encourage daily writing, not necessarily daily publishing.
Mainly, it’s a challenge to become more prolific.
How you wangle that is up to you. But the more you put out there, the more you can learn from your readers what they like.
It’s not cheating to batch your stories — it may avoid burnout!
I batched and scheduled my stories, especially because I wrote serials and many other writers who completed or “won” the challenge did as well.
Tagging Other Writers ❤️
Something I’ve noticed the community do is link to other challengers.
I heartily approve and try to do the same with each of my own stories.
So take your favourite stories, tag the author and drop a nice preview link at the end of your story so the reader has somewhere good to go.
It’s a good way to keep the community together, to help each other build momentum by saying:
“I thought your work was cool enough to share.
Keep writing.”
This is also a good way to share the challenge and maybe inspire another writer to take it on, build new muscles and a portfolio of ideas and stories.
Tagging Your Stories
If you’re writing on Medium: Use the tag “100 Story Challenge” to join the community. It will help us find your stories. You should also hit the Follow button underneath the heading to get these stories in your feed.
The more you read other writers’ stories, and highlight, clap and comment, the more they’ll read yours. Medium is a reciprocal social network so get stuck in and you’ll feel more part of the group.
The encouragement from everyone really helps keep up with the challenge. Writing can be very lonely at times. So cheer each other on!
Tagging me, @Zane Dickens
It’s up to you, but I like it for a few reasons:
I like to see who’s joining in. Please tag me in your first story so I can add you to the 💯 Story Community List. You’ll get one read at least, probably a few highlights, a friendly comment and maybe a new follower.
It helps me find your stories
As much as I liked to pretend otherwise, I have an ego, and it’s great to feel like I’ve inspired writers to experiment and share more.
You Can Write To Any Prompt You Like
Try out the
prompts (originally from Microcosm)Community Feedback
That is the nice thing about this challenge: you learn a lot from experimenting with genres and your sources of inspiration. — Jay C Wells
The challenge absolutely helped me connect with so many other writers. I’ve made connections that have turned into friends and opportunities.
…my Medium audience has done nothing but steadily grow over the past several months. — Bradan
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.
…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 …!
The 100 Story Challenge is one of the most demanding writing challenges I’ve ever undertaken. But despite that, I loved it. Not only did
challenge encourage my productivity and continuity, but it also helped tighten my writing and widen my vocabulary. — Cathylouise
I would encourage anyone who’s afraid of putting their short stories out there to give this challenge a try. —
I’ve interviewed a few challenge winners too
- shares her tactic for getting herself to the end in Leonora Competes With Herself to Win Her 100 Story Challenge or read her
Bradan not only finished his 100 Story Challenge, he looks to be taking on his own version of the 10x10 Challenge too! Good luck Bradan! 🚀
Challenge Finisher Write Ups and Reflections
Cathylouise is taking it on a second time: A Return to the 100 Story Challenge
Other resources:
Good luck and happy writing!
And if you take it on let me know in the comments so I can follow along and support.
Zane’s Note: My writing schedule went for a loop the last week with work overload so ChatGPT series continues next week. Sorry about the delay!
I've been striving and - to be honest - struggling to put my though out there. 100 Day Challenge is a way to start. Thanks!