SmokeLong Quarterly

We’re doing it again! Promptember, an in-between almost month squished into the crannies of autumn, is an intense addition to the mensal calendar. It’s special.

During the almost month of Promptember, we’ll meet regularly for generative write-ins and mingling. Promptember also includes three webinar/workshops and two open mics. We’ve planned these events at various times, taking into consideration that our world turns, not everyone lives in the same place, and most of us sleep—all very important considerations as it turns out. We’ve done our best to make sure there are events convenient for everyone’s situation.

Promptember is free. Yep. Tell all your friends. A couple of years ago, we asked our community what we could do to improve our workshops. A few people said we were doing great but we should just do it for free. Ha. Very funny. But then we got to thinking about that. And then we thought some more.  We of course can’t work for free all year—we also eat food—but we can invite everyone who wants to participate in an almost month of intense writing, learning, and celebrating our work to join in without any financial burden. We know these are odd times, and we know a lot of writers can’t afford to participate in workshops.

If, however, you’d like to participate in SmokeLong Fitness in November and December at a special Promptember rate, you can definitely do this. And we’ll make these two months less expensive as well. When you book Promptember in the SmokeLong Shop ($0), simply add on Try SmokeLong Fitness. You’ll be able to work on drafts you started in the write-ins, and you’ll meet the most wonderful people. SmokeLong Fitness tends to make people 83% more adorable.

Christopher Allen—that’s me—will start Promptember off with Elements of Flash. This webinar is a great place to start if you are new to the flash narrative, but it’s also good for veterans of the form, even if you’ve done the workshop before. The second webinar will be “The Metamodern Flash Narrative,” again with Christopher Allen. During this 90-minute webinar we’ll briefly look at the recent history of the very brief narrative and how contemporary flash differs from flash written just 30 years ago. The third webinar will be a frightening exploration of troubling stories (guest workshop leader to be announced).

Our write-ins are casual, generative, surprising, and fast-paced. We also always have a breakout room in the middle for awkward mingling (a SmokeLong tradition).

There will be a dedicated space in The Village, the free platform created by SmokeLong for the flash community to receive and exchange information relevant to the global flash village. If you’re already in The Village, you’ll receive notifications; if you’re not in The Village already, you’ll need to join (it take three seconds). Again, The Village is completely free.

Very important: If you are already in SmokeLong Fitness, you do not need to register through the shop. You’re in. And you are 83% more adorable.

Promptember Schedule  (Zoom links will be in The Village)

10/11 – 10am ET – “Elements of Flash” with Christopher Allen (90 minutes)

10/11 – 4pm ET – Write-In 1 (60 minutes)

10/13 – 8pm ET – Write-In 2 (60 minutes)

10/17 – 10am ET – Write-In 3 (60 minutes)

10/17 – 8pm ET – Write-In 4 (60 minutes)

10/18 – 4pm ET – Open Mic 1 (90 minutes)

10/20 – 8pm ET – Write-In 5 (60 minutes)

10/24 – 8am ET – Write-In 6 (60 minutes)

10/24 – 4pm ET – Write-In 7 (60 minutes)

10/25 – Noon ET – “The Metamodern Flash Narrative” with Christopher Allen (90 minutes)

10/27 – 8pm ET – Write-In 8 (60 minutes)

10/30 – 7pm ET – “Writing Troubling Stories” with Guest Presenter to be announced (90 minutes)

11/01 – Noon ET – Write-In 9 (60 minutes)

11/02 – 7pm ET – Open Mic 2 and Farewell

Please note that we might make slight changes to this schedule (because we occasionally make mistakes). If we do so, we’ll let you know.

Christopher Allen

SmokeLong