Have you ever written a story in one day?
By writersedge
@writersedge (22563)
United States
October 29, 2010 9:15am CST
It was raining and horrible one day. So I wrote and wrote and wrote. 88 handwritten pages in a notebook. I dedicated it to my husband. I asked him how he liked it. "What is this with me dead to start with?" He always likes shows where someone starts out dead, so I started the story with him dead. He didn't appreciate that. He also said it wasn't bad for a rough draft. I told him he could work with me on it. He hasn't tried to do any additional writing yet. I didn't do a lot of description, I did action, dialogue and explanations. I figured he could do the descriptions. Not sure if he'll do it or not. But the story had been dancing around in my head and I wanted to get it down before it went away.
So have you ever written a short story? How long did it take you to write it? Have you written more than one? Did you dedicate it to anyone? Have you had anyone help you with the rewrites? What kind of story was it? Mine was mostly mystery with some action scenes. Did you like how yours came out? Did you have someone else read it? What did the other person say?
5 people like this
17 responses
@lucas5 (455)
• Sao Paulo, Brazil
29 Oct 10
yeah, I wrote a story, it was not in one day, but I went to my computer and wrote for 2 days without sleep, and so, for me it is like it was in one day.
I love to write short stories, I write them to the children of my family, than I start to write it for the newspaper of the church, now I am writing and posting on the internet.
1 person likes this
@writersedge (22563)
• United States
29 Oct 10
You have lots of short stories then. The ones for children must be very special to you. That sounds neat. Thanks and take care.
1 person likes this
@lucas5 (455)
• Sao Paulo, Brazil
29 Oct 10
Well, people says it is nice, but I don't really like it when it is finished, thanks for your answer.
@darksquall (58)
•
17 Nov 10
Mostly fanfiction rather than original writing but yeah, I've written an entire story in one day. I think the longest one was around 9000 words and probably 2/3rds mature content.
Fortunately I have a wonderful beta reader who puts up with my first drafts and helps me to fix them up before posting them in the fanfiction community.
@writersedge (22563)
• United States
19 Nov 10
Welcome to Mylot.
I see you're at 17 posts.
Fanfiction sounds interesting. Do they pay you there?
Yes, it sounds like you're very lucky that person helps you. Thanks for responding and take care.
@cripfemme (7698)
• United States
3 Jan 11
I have done this too many times to admit. I was in a competition about a year ago and i forgot that i had a story due by midnight on a weekend i was traveling, but i got it in. This also happened two weeks later in the same competition. I don't like to do it but i will do it if i have to.
@writersedge (22563)
• United States
5 Jan 11
Wow! So what is fluke for me is pretty normal for you. I really don't think I could do that for a competition. Take care.
@writersedge (22563)
• United States
31 Oct 10
That sounds cool! Esp. for this time of year. I write huge, so mine might have been the same size since it wasn't typed. OOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOHHHHHHHHHHHHHH, ghost story, neat. Thanks and take care.
1 person likes this
@celticeagle (167015)
• Boise, Idaho
31 Oct 10
I have written some short stories that took me only a day to write the bulk of. Then several days to edit and make ready for publishing. Then there are other times when, like now, I have been unable to finish a story. The characters become like friends and I just can't let go of them and share them with the outside world.
@writersedge (22563)
• United States
31 Oct 10
This was the first time I did a general quick story. Yes, it will take a long time to do the other steps that you're taliking about.
I hoper you're able to finish the story. You could write a trilogy or a continuing saga so you don't have to let them go.
Thanks for responding and take care.
1 person likes this
@sender621 (14894)
• United States
29 Oct 10
I have written my share of stories before. Some i liked and some i didn't. I don't recsll ever having been able to write a story in one day. It usually takes more planning for me than that.
@writersedge (22563)
• United States
29 Oct 10
The actual writing was one day, but the story was kicking around in my head for a week or so. Thanks for responding and take care.
@comeonmolly (828)
• China
30 Oct 10
Hi,dear writersedge,
I do not have this experience as a writer,since my major is literature,I am ashamed of a literature major student.
But I will aslo share you with my experience of one of my good friend,we are friend when we were little children,our relationship was actually established by my dear grandma.
I remember she love writing so much especially short stories ,every time she finished writing her story ,she will mail it to me (she moved from her house when she we were in high school)
The srtory she mailed to me sometimes I think was a reflection of her school life,at that time she fall in love with a handsome boy .so all the stories has some kind of relationship with that boy ,I can sense that even though I was a little girl .
She always wanted me to have some comments ,but more often than not I am not really so interested with that .because I have my burden on my back (That is college entrance examination).Now I am really regret I did not read her stories carefully and made some really useful comments .
Now my supervisor always ask us to read some stories written by some famous authors ,even though I do not like but I have to do this in order to learn more from these books .
@writersedge (22563)
• United States
31 Oct 10
Well, you didn't know. Your lives were going in different directions and you were in different places with different experiences. That happens to a lot of us when we look back. Thannks for responding, nice do hear from you again. Take care.
@Porcospino (31366)
• Denmark
1 Nov 10
I once wrote a story in one day. I was travelling around in Estonia by myself when I wrote it. One day I went on a daytrip to another town, and when I wanted to return to my own town I had wait several hours for the bus. I decided to buy a notebook and spend the time on writing the story that I had been thinking about all day.
When I started writing I forgot everything around me and the time passed really fast. The bus arrived and it took me about 3 hours to get back to the town where I was staying. I continued writing, because I was in the middle of the story and didn't feel like quitting. At my hotel I finished the last part of the story. The story that I wrote was inspired by a picture inside my head that appeared right before I felt asleep the night before I wrote the story.
@writersedge (22563)
• United States
1 Nov 10
This is different, but similar. Different in that I was at home and it was a raining, dreary day. But similar in that I had a day dream and I just kept going on and on until I had it finished. On a bus is a challenge and while traveling around Estonia must hve been even more challenging. I, too, could have stopped for lunch, or any other reason, but I was in the middle of the story and had to keep on writing. The day dream was the day before, I think maybe both of us formulated the story in our dreams. Take care.
@writersedge (22563)
• United States
31 Oct 10
I don't have two children either. Two cats that I kept on the first floor with my husband that day. J. K. Rowling started out writing for her children and we have the Harry Potter books and movies now. So you go for it!
@kaylachan (69824)
• Daytona Beach, Florida
30 Oct 10
Everything I "write" I type. Now I haven't written that much in one sitting, no, but I have written some short rough drafts for school years ago. I got some pretty good marks on them as well. Nothing perfect mind you, but generally a rough draft is just that, rough.
If i'm inspired enough and don't have internet access for whatever reason I'll write chapters to my fan fictions. Depending on how long I want each chapter to be I can write them generally within the matter of a few hours. Sometimes I get reviews and feedback, other times I don't. Some stories I've started years ago end up on author's alert lists even though I'll probably never get around to finishing them.
Don't get me wrong, I've got a couple of one-shots and two complete stories for certain. In other cases my chapters are well in the double digits and I'm no where near close to where I want to end the story. So it all depends on my mood at the time. Though I'm just proud of what I have accomplished. And, my writing's improved since I started doing it.
@writersedge (22563)
• United States
31 Oct 10
Great!
I always write long stories in a notebook. Maybe I'll type them, but I had one started in a computer and it crashed. Then the computer was ready for the junk yard and they never got my story back out of it. So I want it written first and then maybe some day when I have a final draft, I'll type it. But I don't trust computers and word processors any more.
@enthusiasticone (348)
• China
30 Oct 10
wow.dear friend. i don't think there is a man or woman could do this. but just like you said that evrything is possible . so its not a easy thing to write a story in one day . if the story is so good enough . so they have to change it again and again . so i don't think so for this. good luck
@writersedge (22563)
• United States
31 Oct 10
It was just the first draft in one day. Yes, with all the editing, it will take many days, but I was just surprised and happy that it happened and I had that experience.
@ravalarun (337)
• India
30 Oct 10
Writing is too difficult and if much when writedown in one day. before couple of years i start to write novel in my local language, in beginning i started well as four to five pages per days but after some time i was failed to continee four to five pages per days reason of quality contact of writing. i can understand 88 pages are good enough in one day writing might quality can't maintain if you keep writing in limited time, but much appreciatable thing is countinously writing is good part of coin.
Good bless you, keep writing might one writer hidden in you.
@writersedge (22563)
• United States
31 Oct 10
The entire story was in my head, so I had to write it down. It was like a long day dream. I'm not the only one, I've seen other people here write a first draft in one day, too. It was the first time for me and I'm surprised I could do it. I find writing during bad weather is easier than in good when I want to be outdoors gardening or foraging. Thanks and take care.
@writersedge (22563)
• United States
20 Nov 10
So you've had a similar experience. Kind of neat, isn't it?
I shall have to write down my thoughts for a day. Maybe once a year and have it as sort of a dairy for that year. Great idea, thanks and take care.
@writersedge (22563)
• United States
31 Oct 10
When I was younger, I would have said that, too. Actually. the week before I did it, I would have said that. But I was daydreaming and writing all day. When you can day dream all day, you can write all day. You never know, years from now, it may happen for you. It was only a first draft and I had to get it down before the daydream went away in my memories.
@Sir_bobby88 (8231)
• Singapore
29 Oct 10
Yes i had written a story in one day but that is in the secondary high school days where we had been forced to write it yea
@writersedge (22563)
• United States
29 Oct 10
Those were really short stories back in those days. Like three pages or less, I think one was complete in one page. Thanks and take care.
@hardworkinggurl (37063)
• United States
29 Oct 10
I use to write quite a bit and have become lazy, although I am setting a goal for my self to begin writing again with the new year.
I use to be so creative and write about a great many life events, being that I have lived such a difficult life. Many use to read them and get a good understanding what the meaning of life really was after reading my stories.
So I think I will begin doing so again.
@writersedge (22563)
• United States
30 Oct 10
Writing is like that. Periods of time when you're inspired and then periods of time when you don't write so much.
Maybe not so much lazy as life might be better for you mow and maybe you enjoy it more?
I think writing and having people read to understand you, your life, and life in general are good purposes.
Thanks for responding and take care.
@starlight_starbright (810)
• Philippines
29 Oct 10
I am a poet (by heart). I can write a simple poem anywhere I am. But I could remember, I have written one story way back in HIGH SCHOOL. I got inspired by my big mouthed teacher that time. She was talking like a quaking duck that quacks and quacks. I just wrote a story about her and I didn't know I finished it before the class finished. It was a short story. I was an editorial staff in our school paper and I submitted it for editing and it passed the screening and was published in our publication. I guess many students liked it and it was like an anecdote that had a drama twist to boost the teacher's behavior. I have never written a story like that again. ^_^
@writersedge (22563)
• United States
31 Oct 10
That was a one time inspiration, this might also be. I've not written anything like that before and I don't know if I will again.
That was really neat that you did something people liked in High School. People couldn't even understand what I wrote back then. Thanks and take care.