Feeling Thankful | Featuring "Next Draft with Diane Hatz"

November 2022 Newsletter

Winston Malone

Nov 24

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Banner artwork for *The Storyletter* by Shivana Brhamadat

Happy Thanksgiving from The Storyletter!

I love writing. Developing fictional stories is an integral part of my soul, it has been for as long as I can remember. I know this because I feel compelled to write. It’s not a choice. The act of creation enables me to connect with the world.

I don’t write because Substack exists, nor do I write for money. I do it because it makes me feel alive. It’s an amazing form of self-expression; an art that transfers complex information and imagery between our minds that may last entire lifetimes, generations even.

What’s more amazing is that reading this newsletter isn’t compulsory, but indeed a series of choices. A choice to subscribe; a choice to open this email, webpage, or post; a choice to read, write, and be a part of something new. And I’m thankful you’re here, grateful that you’ve chosen to stick around and see what this is all about. ~ WM

What’s Happening in November

The Storyletter is changing. It’s growing and evolving in ways I could never have imagined. Indie publishing is thriving and only going to get better as technology progresses. We’re going to build something together—ironically, with a focus on decentralization—and change the industry from the ground up. Even if we’re unsuccessful, it’ll be fun to try.

You’ll see a lot of new additions to this month’s newsletter, that’s why it’s a few days late (that and I was traveling last week). Here’s a quick overview:

“Featured” was added last month and I think it’ll be here to stay. I’m revamping how I highlight all of the awesome creators on Substack, of which there are many. This is coupled with the “Promo” section, providing a brand new space for others to share their projects, such as a book release, campaign, or anything of significance that they would like to promote to our audience.

Tips & Tricks is a new section where I’ll share something I’ve discovered that has helped me with my writing. I know a lot of Storyletter readers are currently writers in some way or another, therefore this may cater to a particular crowd. However, as a small business owner, I’ll occasionally share entrepreneurial posts from quality sources.

Prompts will be a way to increase engagement with the community and expand the interconnectedness of other Substacks and indie creators. You don’t have to be on Substack to participate, but it helps. With a recent update, Substack has enabled users to cross-post, which means that as a small publisher seeking awesome stories to share with our readers, we’ll be able to share those in an easy, streamlined fashion by emailing your post directly to our subscribers. This enhances exposure for your Substack, while enabling us to provide more free stories. Win, win.

I’ll now showcase a “Gift of the Month” which will be a rotating 10% Off promotion of products found in the Storyletter Gift Shop. Purchasing items from the Gift Shop is a great way to support The Storyletter (and other indie creators by proxy) and get cool stuff at the same time! All proceeds from Gift Shop purchases go back into the community in the form of paid subscriptions, contest prizes, and help keep The Storyletter running!

Featured Substack - Next Draft with Diane Hatz

For November, “Next Draft with Diane Hatz” is our Featured Substack. I’ve been subscribed to Next Draft for over a year, and I find a ton of Diane’s posts helpful since I’m navigating the indie market as a new publisher. Diane Hatz releases posts on various topics ranging from writing to self-care, as shown in the following snapshot:

For me, I particularly enjoy the Indie Publishing and Creative Writing sections, based on my own current interests regarding the publishing industry. An applicable post that I think The Storyletter audience might enjoy is this one about publishing a book in our current era.

Diane has also been detailing the indie journey for publishing Rock Gods & Messy Monsters, a new self-published fiction novel. I purchased the eBook version but haven’t had a chance to read it. I hope to review it eventually! Here’s a blurb from description on the webpage:

It’s the 1990s. Alex arrives to work at Acht, her improbable blonde hair streaked stress magenta and anger black. Her first duty is to wipe blood off her boss’s walls, to clean up his blood vessel explosion. It goes downhill from there.

I really hope you check out Diane’s Substack and consider picking up the new book!

Next Draft with Diane Hatz

Life as an indie author, from writing & publishing to self-care & spirit. Free and paid.

The Indie Promo - Subscribe to Scribbler

Ben Woestenburg is promoting Scribbler. Check it out:

SCRIBBLER…Okay, welcome to my page. All I have here are my stories to share. Maybe you’ll find a novel or two—certainly novellas—and almost all of them written for my own entertainment. I can’t claim to be politically correct and inoffensive, but neither will I become sermonizing. But if you’re interested in reading a story about the Mau Mau uprising in the 50s; or the Belgian withdrawal from Congo in the 60s; maybe the Japanese invasion of Manchuria? Or maybe you like dragons? Then you might want to look inside and follow me around…

Subscribe to Scribbler

If you’d like to promote something in The Storyletter’s monthly newsletter, send me your pitch in an email to storyletter@protonmail.com

Tips + Tricks - First-Time Novelist Mistakes

November/December Prompt - The Trope Effect

Write a short fiction piece involving a common trope that almost everyone associates with its respective genre, but purposefully flip the trope on its head.

For example, create a battle royale like Hunger Games, but instead of a small group fighting to be the last one alive in an enclosed arena, an entire populated city is fighting one another to gain entry into a safe haven.

Feel free to come up with your own idea, or use the example above. Publish the story on your Substack, or website, and link the post in the comments so I’ll be able to read and share it via cross-posts. You can also tag me in your post with the @ mention feature for your convenience. If you’re a paying subscriber, you can submit your story via the submission form found in your Welcome email for potential paid publication!

You’ll have until the next prompt on January 18th to post your story. The best story might get more than free promotion. Have fun! :)

Gift of the Month - 10% Off For Limited Time

All proceeds go to supporting independent creators. 10% discount applied at checkout.

Get a Storyletter XPress Crocodile Mug

Up Next

Well, if you’re still reading that’s a good sign! Here at the bottom of the newsletter I’ll explain what we’ve got on our docket for the near future. This way it doesn’t feel like such a random assortment of content drops. Of course, exact dates can’t always be determined.

November:

Nov 24 - Thanksgiving! I’ll be releasing a free episode of the SRA podcast featuring Daniel W. Davison narrating The Shooting of Dan McGrew, written by Robert W. Service and originally published in 1907. This new version is equipped with music and SFX for an immersive audio experience.
Nov 26 - The release of Winter Wind, a new poem by Winston Malone.
Nov 30 - XPress Access newsletter

December:

The Fuller, the winner short story of the S6 Contest 2022 by J.M. Elliott

As we continue to adapt to this new format, I’ll add and tweak things here and there. I liked consolidating everything into the one monthly newsletter. Did you like this month’s format? Anything else you’d like to see from The Storyletter? Are you going to participate in the writing prompt? Let me know in the comments!