Where can I find the schedule of events for SmokeLong’s March Micro Marathon?
What should I expect to achieve in the 24 days?
If you are a prolific writer who loves a prompt, you should have at least 24 new drafts by the end of the month. While lots of participants do indeed achieve this, it’s also OK if you produce 10 or 5. What if you produce one micro that wins the Bath Flash Fiction Award? Or the Bridport Prize? Or something you absolutely love. That one micro is worth it. Not everyone does every task, and that’s OK; but everyone should try to give some feedback. Giving feedback in your small group will be a valuable learning experience, so you should have a firmer grasp on the micro by the end of the month.
What kind of workshopper should do SmokeLong’s March Micro Marathon?
Everyone comes to the marathon with slightly varied goals and expectations. We have designed the workshop with this in mind.
Some of you will be reading this with no more than the desire to write a lot. That’s a great place to start. We are going to write a lot. And we’re going to give one another feedback. Giving feedback is one of the best ways to learn what does and doesn’t work.
Some of you will be here because you don’t write micros very often and want to see what all this itty-bitty business is all about. By the end of the marathon, we hope you’ll have a solid grasp on the form.
A few of you will be bringing an idea for a linked micro collection, which you hope to innervate in March. We think you’re in the right place too. Focusing on a project for 24 days will give it the right boost.
A lot of you are coming to the marathon because you trust in the surprise party that is the spontaneous prompt. You LOVE to spin a wheel, get a prompt, and scribble something down. To you the prompt is the kindling you need for your bonfire. And you love the rush of a fire igniting.
How is the marathon structured?
The March Micro Marathon is divided into 3 eight-day segments (or the 3 octets). After the first and second octets, we’ll remix the groups so that you have the opportunity of drafting with as many different writers as possible. You will have access to all of your small groups through at least the end of April. In each of the octets we’ll focus on 8 narrative devices. In the first octet, we’ll work on the up to 250-word story; in the second octet we’ll work on the 100-word story; and in the third octet we’ll draft up to 400-word stories. The 8 narrative devices will be the same—or at least similar—in each octet.
What if I can’t attend one of the webinars?
The webinars are recorded for participants unable to attend live. These will be sent to the participants one or two days after the event.
Why do I need to be in the workshop a week prior to the beginning of the marathon?
We get the participants into the workshop one week early to do onboarding tasks. This helps everyone feel more comfortable with the platform before the writing begins. You don’t want to be trying to figure out how to comment on posts when you’re supposed to be focused on writing.
What if I get something published that I started in the marathon?
First of all, we want to celebrate your achievement. Please let us know via our Submittable form “The SmokeLong Workshop Prize”. Any published story that began in a SmokeLong workshop is eligible for this free-to-enter competition.
Can I book after February 20th?
Yes, but we prefer you to book before this date. If you are used to using social media platforms (posting and commenting on message boards), and you think you can jump in without too many questions, we’re not going to turn you away. February 28th, the day of our first webinar with Ingrid Jendrzejewski, is really the last day to book.
I read something about competitions. Competitions?
Yes, competitions. We always have 3 competitions with cash prizes at the end of the marathon. These are open only to the participants of the marathon.
What is SmokeLong Fitness?
SmokeLong Fitness is the year-round community workshop of SmokeLong. At the moment there are around 200 participants in the workshop. April in SmokeLong Fitness is included for March Micro Marathon participants who are not already in Fitness. The pace in SmokeLong Fitness is one writing task each week. This will give you time to revise drafts you wrote in the marathon and draft new work in April.
In its third year, The March Micro Marathon will be, as usual, a prompt-a-day whirlwind for 24 days. You’ll exchange drafts of micro fiction, non-fiction, and prose poetry in small groups and gather for a series of online events (all recorded for participants unable to attend live). We’ll finish with 3 competitions, and participants who are not already in SmokeLong Fitness will be invited to workshop with SmokeLong Fitness until the end of April!