Welcome to 2026 and I hope it’s going to be a good one for you. One thing I always tell my students is never write to trends. What’s hot today can be cold by the time your story gets published…yes, even if you’re self publishing it. Plus, if you’re writing in a genre you’re not…
Tag: short stories
Accept the Challenge-Snowy Day
It’s the final week and it’s also the last Accept the Challenge of the year. Well done if you’ve accepted all 52 of them. I’d love to hear if you submitted any of the stories and got published. Have fun writing this last one-
Accept the Challenge-A Walk in the Woods
Week three and have fun with this video prompt-
Winter’s Embrace Book Stop Tour
Just in time for Christmas…please welcome Pamela Ackerson, Jennifer Patricia O’Keefe, Cindy Lewis Smith and Jae El Foster authors of a Christmas romance anthology, Winter’s Embrace, on their book stop tour… BLURB: Embrace the joy of Christmas and some yuletide cheer in this collection of five sweet holiday romances from four of today’s most entertaining…
Accept the Challenge-Turtle
It’s week two and here’s your video prompt. Have fun and happy writing.
Accept the Challenge-Ocean
It’s December and time for the last set of challenges for the year. Some of my favorite prompt challenges are videos so I thought we’d finish with them. Each week you’ll see a video and your challenge is to create a story based on what you see. Here’s the first one. Have fun and happy…
Accept the Challenge-Cat
It’s week three and this time the featured animal is a cat. What story can you create using this feline as your character? Have fun and happy writing.
Accept the Challenge-Squirrel
It’s week two and this week our featured animal is a squirrel. Have fun and happy writing.
Accept the Challenge-Milky Way
It’s the last week of the challenge. This week the image is the Milky Way. What sort of spooky story can you create? Have fun and happy writing.
Monday Writing Tips-Don’t Worry
Don’t worry if you don’t make money on your first short story. Getting a byline and gaining confidence is the key. In your early career, don’t say no to a publication printing your story for just a contributor copy and no money. Hold up that publication and say, I’m an author.