Spring Cleaning
Sharon Stories: Volume 2, ed.4 - Sunday, 04.06.25
Greetings, Dear Readers
March was a weird month. I’ve been alternately excited and panicky about upcoming events. Substack is a lifeline while I wait for things to click into place, but I’m craving some real-life adventure. When I’m nervous, I write or paint. Sometimes I clean and consider it a creative act.
These days the promise of warmer weather is urging me to dream up a plan. So, I’m going to take April off from chasing Substack opportunities to get organized and work on a few projects.
In the meantime, let’s get into what went on in March.
March ReCap
I entered my short story, MuseConnect in the S10/ Round 2 of the Lunar Awards, horror genres. The competition has been on my watchlist for a while. I doubt I’ll win, given so much incredible competition. To be honest, I’m proud I had a story that fit the criteria. The winner and runner-up will be announced on April 26, 2025! You can read all of the submissions here. ↓↓↓
I wrote this little tech horror after I submitted my Lunar Awards entry.
Alone or Together
Creativity is a gift that keeps on giving. It’s wonderful to be able to share my work with people who are genuinely interested! In March I was on the new, ‘rising in fiction’ leaderboard for a minute (#85/100), which was a huge surprise and delight. Thank you
for pointing that out. Of course, I disappeared from that space quickly.
That’s fine.
My motivation is internal. It’s a drive I’ve never been able to ignore, even when people thought I was nuts for caring more about making art than making a decent living. If you know me, you know money has never been the main motivator. I owe my life to art.
gets it. Check out his alternative playing card.
Sarcasm at its finest.
Seriously.
Money or not, it doesn’t matter, a writer's gonna write. Don’t get me wrong, I’m not opposed to money. It would make life much easier. If you want to donate to my writing habit, you can send a gift to KoFi.
Or donate directly.
Newsletters Vs. Sections Vs. Substacks
In my first year on Substack, I wrote articles on the writing craft. I’d completed my MA in creative writing and was eager to share what I’d learned. However, seeing so many successful writers here, intimidated me. Now, after almost two years, I’ve decided that my first instinct was valid. At least partly.
I love exploring writing techniques and geeking out over plot and character development. Refined, the idea is really about exploring the possibilities in writing, which is why I’ve created a new Section/ Newsletter, called Writer’s Process. Most of the articles are for paid subscribers, but I am writing short (first-impression) reviews on Substack authors and their work, that will remain free to read.
’s novel, Paradox is first up in the short reviews category. He graciously gifted me a Kindle copy to read. I’ll be adding the print version to my library, soon. Read the review here. ↓↓↓Paradox
Paradox, Book One of The Singularity Chronicles, immerses readers in a near future where scientists develop advanced technology capable of blurring human and machine boundaries. Michael Woudenberg we…
Group Therapy is a flash fiction exercise I added to the new Writer’s Process section. It’s a great way to practice writing point of view. The idea is to take a scene from a movie and write it from a different perspective. It helps to grab a scene invloving multiple people.
Spooky News
The new Ghost Stories Substack is taking off with some cool collaborators on board. The Antique Trading Post opens on
There’s still time to Subscribe and join the Chat if you want to contribute with a tale about a haunted object. The rolling deadline for entries is the 11th of the month.
I’m looking for stories from 50 - 1000 words long to share in the April newsletter. Check out this microfiction for inspiration.↓↓↓
April is National Poetry Month. This free verse was inspired by
. ↓↓↓ *It might be triggering for some people.
This one is about trauma bonds.
And a little ditty about healing.
I’ve neglected the serials lately, but that’s about to end.
April is for organizing. By May, seven episodes of The Truth About Sadie Wilkins: Welcome to St. Marguerites will be complete. The Shift: Agents of Chaos is getting an overhaul, beginning with the timeline. This sprawling adventure requires more world development than most of my stories, so I’m slowing down to discover the areas that need expansion and revision.
That’s about it for now. Until next month, I bid you ado.
Much Love,
S.L.