Wulf Moon's SUPER SECRETS Workshop & Challenge!

@lauraholley 😁

An Excellent Newspaper Article on My Upcoming Keynote Address At the SWA Seminar

I created the Super Secrets of Writing right here in the WotF Forum primarily to help all of you. I know what it's like thrashing about in the dark, wondering why what you've written isn't connecting. I'm happy to say this writers' resource has helped many aspiring writers achieve their goals, and not just in here! Multitudes outside of the Forum come to this thread now to read the Super Secrets of Writing as search engines lead them here.

It's fitting I share this newspaper article with you. The reporter talks about The Super Secrets and what a powerful set of tools these principles here have proven to be.

Cheers!

P.S.: I don't know what's up with the blurred graphic in here. It's clear everywhere else I've shared it. <shrugs> Technology.

https://thebrunswicknews.com/life/writers-conference-to-begin-june-6/article_19249c79-9681-434e-837a-a08fceda039b.html

@wulfmoon Good article. I know you will have a wonderful time.

Posted by: @kingmidas

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@wulfmoon Good article. I know you will have a wonderful time.

Thank you, King Midas! May everything you touch turn to gold!😁

It's Tuesday, and that means it's time for your Monday KYD Writing Prompt!

Forgive me, I had to leave early yesterday and did not get back until late at night. But I did not forget I owe you a Kill Your Darlings writing prompt! Here it is:

secret government agency

There are so many excellent novels and movies about secret government kill squads that I thought, Why not create your own? Bourne with Blackbriar and Treadstone; MiB from Men in Black; Lord Rahl's assassins in Goodkind's SWORD OF TRUTH series. Works for fantasy, works for SF. Maybe it will work for you!

Have at it! Less than thirty days left on Q3! 

May the Force be with you!

Beastmaster Moon

It's Wednesday, and that means it's time for your Monday KYD Writing Prompt!

Forgive me, I've been at the Southeastern Writers Association Seminar in Georgia as faculty and keynote speaker. On my way back, via Florida.

But I did not forget I owe you a Kill Your Darlings writing prompt! Here it is:

Force multiplier.

Have fun. The Q is about to end!

All the beast, 

Beastmaster Moon

It's Monday, and that means it's time for your Monday KYD Writing Prompt!

I had a wonderful time at the Southeastern Writers Association Seminar in Georgia as faculty and keynote speaker. And now I'm back, ready with another prompt to blow your mind and open up new vistas in your writing. Surely this one will inspire you to write your winner! Remember me when you get into your kingdom!  

Here's your prompt:

AI companion

This one comes from a news report on people turning to customized AI programs for companionship. The intuitive responses are so real, people are not only getting addicted to their AI companion, they strongly feel they can't live without them. Yes, this premise has been explored, and I'm certain there are many AI stories being submitted every quarter. So create the freaky twist that no one has seen before! The topic is still a hot one!

Best of success!

Beastmaster Moon

Many times when I look at these prompts, I have to intentionally focus to get the story ideas flowing. I hadn't finished reading your post when three story ideas jumped into my mind. 🤯 I guess I know where my next story is coming from. Thanks!

@dukeholley 

Glad to help, Duke! Happy writing, and completing what you write!

It's Monday, and that means it's time for your Monday KYD Writing Prompt!

I just enjoyed being interviewed by John Goodwin for the Writers of the Future Podcast, and when I mentioned that I still provide weekly writing prompts in the WotF Forum, he said, "And we appreciate that." 

Well, I better make good on another Monday prompt then! Here's a twist! Something we also talked about. Everything has been done, so how do you create a unique idea no one has seen before? I say, give it a twist! Combined with your own unique voice, it will be new, because no one can do you ... but you!

virtual unreality

Yeah, the term is virtual reality, another modern tech reality where our normal world is transformed through some interfacing device to make a different real-looking realm appear. But what if it was a door to an unreal realm, or a surreal digital realm, or a supernatural realm? And why would some entity create such a device to lure a person there? 

I dunno! That's your job! Have at it! You have exactly one week to go before Q3 ends. Make this one your winner!

And that's something else we talked about on the podcast. I created "Super-Duper Moongirl and the Amazing Moon Dawdler," my winner in Volume 35, in a little over a day. You can do this! Especially if you've been training--you've got a whole week before the quarter ends! "What we think is our absolute limit is not even close." A lesson I learned from a blind skier!

See you on that gorgeous WotF stage, hoisting your glorious trophy in the air for all the world to see! You did it! Belief determines reality!

All the beast,

Beastmaster Moon

@wulfmoon Intersting topic. Brings back memories.

It's Monday, and that means it's time for your Tuesday KYD Writing Prompt!

It happens. Forgive me, I had a submission deadline yesterday that kept me writing up to the wire. I made it! But boy did it remind me of my years writing against the WotF quarterly deadline. New Year's Eve was the worst! Everyone partying and fireworks going off everywhere, and me in my office trying to get a story in before the close. Fun times, fun times.  

Hopefully y'all made it in before Q3 closed in WotF! Best of success on your results!

Here's your prompt:

misguided paladin

Sometimes, riding in the cause of truth and justice can actually create a lot of harm. 

Have fun with this idea! And remember me when you get into your kingdom, oh worthy knight!

Beastmaster Moon

It's Monday, and that means it's time for your Monday KYD Writing Prompt!

Let's get right to it!

alien incubator

There's a nice SF prompt you can *hatch* a story from!  

Have at it!

Beastmaster Moon

Since this is the Super Secrets thread where my writing tips and workshop began, I thought you'd like to have a sneak peak at what I'm currently working on. It's The Illustrated Super Secrets of Writing, Volume 2! This workbook goes beyond the principles of how to write well-crafted stories covered in Volume 1. Volume 2 focuses on creating depth to your stories, the kind of depth that makes them worthy of receiving awards. I'm planning a Kickstarter campaign for it in August. 

Cheers!

It's Monday, and that means it's time for your Monday KYD Writing Prompt!

I've been hearing, "Give us your huddled masses," frequently in the news of late. Methinks it would make a timely KYD weekly writing prompt!

huddled masses

All the beast!

Beastmaster Moon

It's Monday, and that means it's time for your Monday KYD Writing Prompt!

More timely news issues that make for Star Trek-like commentary on current events without directly commenting on prickly current events! In our divided society, this one is a timely KYD weekly writing prompt!

binary culture

All the beast!

Beastmaster Moon

I'm in two minds about this one.

Posted by: @wehlingfl

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I'm in two minds about this one.

Wow! This Wulf Moon’s Super Secrets of Writing Workshop topic just crossed 990,000 views!

Thank you to all that supported me here as I supported you! My heart’s desire with this project has always been to make it easier for you to succeed.

It’s working!

On to the 1 million mark! Only 10k views to go!

Best of success to you all!

Cheers!

It's Monday, and that means it's time for your Monday KYD Writing Prompt!

There are some horrific events occurring in the news lately, both domestically, and abroad. When people fear for humanity's future, they often seek stories and movies (think Superman) that give them hope. This was most evident during the COVID-19 pandemic. Even some horror magazines updated their guidelines with the equivalent of, "We want upbeat bloodletting stories of murder and mayhem, but with visions of hope!" It was pretty funny to see this, but it bears witness to the fact that when times get dark, we seek out light. Hope makes us feel better, makes us believe there is still goodness in our fellowman.

The Writers of the Future Contest has always focused on stories that feature a positive view of humanity and its future. They strongly believe visionary stories can and do guide our future, and they want mankind to have a bright one. It's the bedrock this Contest is built upon. It's the only truly recurring theme in every anthology. Even the darker tales the judges select offer glimmers of hope at the end.

It is wise for all those that submit stories to this Contest to remember that fact. 

I've been thinking a lot lately about humankind. The word "humankind" first appeared in the the 16th century and was originally written as two separate words: "human" and "kind." I like it that the word kind is bound up in the designation for humanity, even though it more likely referred to the category of species we are. But even the word "human" has kindness built into it. Check out the etymology in this online reference, Etymonline: Human mid-15c., humain, humaigne, "human," from Old French humain, umain (adj.) "of or belonging to man" (12c.), from Latin humanus "of man, human," also "humane, philanthropic, kind, gentle, polite; learned, refined, civilized." 

So, kindness, gentleness, politeness, humane, philanthropic--it's all wrapped up in what it means to be defined as a human. While the world celebrates the rich, the powerful, the beautiful, the mighty, the famous, these attributes are not remotely near the bullseye of what it means to be a human being. Perhaps this is why the world is so off-kilter right now. Society no longer emphasizes these attributes as the ideal.

But our stories have power to influence minds. The pen is mightier than the sword. Why not write a story about the battle to be kind, to be polite, to be gentle, to be kind? And not because some organization or power will lock you up or destroy you if you're not, but because it's the right way to be, because caring about others is what makes us worthy of being called human.

I'd like to see more of those types of stories. So I give you today's prompt that I truly hope you'll write a compelling story from:

Human kind

Beastmaster Moon

Good one!

It's Monday, and that means it's time for your Monday KYD Writing Prompt!

This timely KYD weekly writing prompt comes from all the heat waves the country has been experiencing, and the cyclonic air flows that I've seen moving across dry land. Of course, the term lends itself nicely to a play on words, and these meteorological phenomena certainly are twisty!

Dust devils

All the beast!

Beastmaster Moon

P.S.: In other news, I sold a novelette to a pro market today. You know what that means. It's time for a banana dance!   

seen on sub grinder... congrats @wulfmoon

@wulfmoon Way to go!

Posted by: @gideonpsmith

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seen on sub grinder... congrats @wulfmoon

 

The secret is out! You have a sharp eye, Gideon! 😊 Thank you!

I consider that sale miraculous. It’s a 10k novelette, wayyy beyond their acceptable word count. And the TOC they bought it for was already cast.

Speaking of DreamForge, their funding Year 7 Kickstarter is about to end. I’ve also donated a Super Secrets webinar to it on why stories get rejected. Check it out, everyone! Scot Noel is a WotF winner!

But hurry! Only 21 hours left to get in on this!👀

https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/scotnoel/dreamforge-year-7-open-channel-the-art-of-connection

Since Gideon mentioned he saw my sale to DreamForge …

ONLY 30 minutes left! Help DreamForge Magazine of Science and Fantasy Fiction fund today and read the stories of tomorrow! On top of other great writers, look who’s in the next issue! And there’s plenty of great backer rewards still available, like my webinar with editor Scot Noel (WotF Winner) on “Why Stories Get Rejected and How YOU can avoid it.”👀

100% of funds go to paying pro rate on stories and excellent rates to artists!

https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/scotnoel/dreamforge-year-7-open-channel-the-art-of-connection

I’m off to Seattle Worldcon so I must be brief. If any of you are attending, I hope you’ll look me up in the schedule and say hello!

If any of you live in Texas, I’ll be the Keynote Speaker for the Houston Writers Association Seminar, AuthorPalooza, end of September. I hope to see you there!

Your Monday KYD prompt is:

Scared straight

All the beast!

Beastmaster Moon

Back from Seattle 2025 Worldcon! I'll share a few highlights another day. It's late Monday, but you need your Monday prompt!

Your Monday KYD prompt is:

Beyond a reasonable doubt

All the beast!

Beastmaster Moon

Posted by: @wulfmoon

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Your Monday KYD prompt is:

Beyond a reasonable doubt

All the beast!

Beastmaster Moon

 

I'm definitely using this one! It fits my Q4 story perfectly!