Behind the Scenes of Creating "Write by the Cards"
Behind the Scenes of Creating "Write by the Cards"
Having FUN in November with writing
One of the best pieces of advice ever given to me about the creative life was:
Create solutions to your own problems first and chances are good someone else can benefit from it.
This is usually the basis from which I create my offerings, services and products and the biggest advantage to creating this way is that I’m intimately familiar with the “pain points” of what it is trying to solve.
I wanted to give myself (and by extension, writers) not just a challenge, but an experience—one that would spark inspiration, encourage exploration, and above all, be fun.
Starting with a Simple Premise
The challenge initially had a straightforward premise: 30 days of writing prompts, each one guided by a card. It sounded simple enough, but as I started crafting the prompts, I realized that I didn’t want to tell writers what to do. I wanted to invite them into a space where they could interpret the prompts, let the cards shape their story in surprising ways, and embrace the creative detours that come with it.
At first, I played with the idea of having multiple narrative tracks based on different genres or themes. I envisioned “packets” with specific journeys, such as a post-apocalyptic survival story or a mythic odyssey, each with its own set of prompts. It was an exciting idea, but when I shared it with one of my Rebel MFA Sanctuary members, she pointed out that it could feel overwhelming and confusing. She was right.
So, I went back to the drawing board. I needed to find a way to simplify the structure while still keeping it open and adaptable for different writing styles and genres.
Finding the Balance Between Structure and Flexibility
The answer came when I started thinking about the prompts in a more mad-libs style, where each prompt followed a basic structure but left space for the card to add a unique twist. Instead of multiple complex narrative arcs, I decided to create a single cohesive journey that all participants could follow, with prompts that were broad enough to work for fiction, memoir, journaling, or any other form of writing.
Each day’s prompt provides a general direction—something like, “Once, there was a character who felt trapped by {draw a card}”—and the card adds a layer of meaning or symbolism that helps shape the story. This approach allows for freedom within structure, (which I talked about in my essay, Creative Containers) a blend of guidance and creative leeway. Writers can still start with a premise, but they’re encouraged to let the cards guide them, even if that means drifting off the expected path.
Making it Fun
A big part of the process was figuring out how to make the challenge not just a commitment, but an enjoyable experience. I wanted to encourage participants to have fun with the prompts, to embrace the unexpected twists that the cards might bring, and to remember that this journey isn’t about perfection or “doing it right.” It’s about letting the cards surprise you, experimenting with different writing styles, and connecting with a community of fellow writers who are all on a similar adventure.
The tips I share—like choosing decks that resonate with your story or celebrating small wins along the way—aren’t just meant to help you get through the challenge; they’re meant to enhance the joy of the writing process.
Embracing the Unknown
Ultimately, Write by the Cards is about embracing the unknown, both in writing and in life. It’s about being willing to meander, to follow a winding path, and to let go of the need for a perfectly linear story. Just like pulling a card and not knowing what it will reveal, the act of writing can be an exploration filled with surprises and new insights.
This challenge is a journey of discovery, and I hope it brings as much inspiration and joy to those who participate as it did to me in creating it.
Follow Along
It’s not too late to join in if this sounds fun for you. It’s free and going to be so much fun.
As part of the challenge, participants are encouraged to submit their daily work in our private feed in the community, but as an extra piece of action-taking and promoting that this doesn’t have to be super serious — I’ll be publishing my daily work here on Substack (don’t worry, I won’t be sending out emails for it! You can find each day’s work on my Substack homepage under “Write By the Cards: 30 Day Challenge”). But more important than the actual content is the commentary that goes along with it. How I decided to incorporate the card, how it went writing the piece, etc.
In fact, today is DAY ONE and I’ve already published the first one — you can go check it out here:
