LODESTAR GAZETTE | UPDATES | MEMO
Lodestar Gazette Newsletter #1
First Weekly Newsletter from Lodestar Gazette
Welcome, Lodestar Family. I decided to do a weekly newsletter to keep everyone up to date with the ongoing work of the editors and writers of Lodestar, which I will break down into the sections below. This will replace the Sunday shoutouts and be more of a collaborative post from the lodestars.
First of all, Welcome our newest writers to join the Lodestar Gazette: Jennifer Morrison, Kelly Corinne Elliott, Jason Edmunds, Rae Lynn Sommers, and our new Editor/writer Samantha M🥀, whom I am all grateful for the help. So, wish them a warm welcome!
Spotlighting Great stories this week:
Izzibella Beau: — What’s Mike Going To Do
Colleen Millsteed:- Lost the Last Man
Elise Marie: — Uncle Miller Reigns Supreme
Steven Smith: — Among the stars
Richard Dee: — Captain Starlight keeps her secret.
Rick Allen: — Blueprints for the Future
Judy Haratz Cohen: — Forged Letter
DR Rawson - The Possibilist: — The Answer Is In Front Of You
Brenda Arledge: — Tabitha Gets Asked to the Prom
Writing Tips for Medium
✍️Recently, I published a Lodestar Editing your post guidelines, so make sure to check that out: — Lodestar Formatting Guidelines
✍️Begin with a bang: — Capture their attention from the get-go with an intriguing hook, compelling question, or a unique scenario. Your opening lines should pull readers into the narrative, making them eager for more.
✍️Medium readers often enjoy content in smaller, digestible pieces: — Consider breaking your longer stories into series or chapters. Serialisation can help build anticipation and make your content more manageable for online consumption. ( Drabbles only consist of 100 words, which are currently trending due to their size.)
✍️Consistent posting: — Regular updates keep readers engaged and attract a loyal following. Establish a realistic writing and publishing schedule that matches your pace and stick to it. Consistency helps build reader anticipation and retention. ( I try to post at least once a day to maintain consistency.)
✍️Engage, Engage, Engage: — connect with readers.
The ability to receive and respond to comments lets you interact directly with your readers, gaining valuable feedback and understanding what strikes a chord with your audience. This direct line of communication helps foster a loyal reader base.
✍️ An Article that has helped me here on Medium:
The Best Kickers for Medium Stories | by Christina M. Ward | The Partnered Pen | Medium
✍️Also, check out my Lodestar Formatting Guidelines for help with story Formatting. Lodestar Formatting Guidelines. How to format and structure your posts… | by CJ Coop | Lodestar Gazette | Apr, 2024 | Medium
Competition
Now, bringing us to a Competition section, this is more of a prompt-like section, and the top 3 posts for each prompt will be spotlighted next week in the newsletter in the above section, as well as the one story that has been a favourite post of the week.
Each will be submitted here, Jonny Masters’ Poetry Playground or Samantha M🥀 The Literary Underground; we will take submissions from any publications mentioned.
The editors will pick the Top three posts based on three different categories and publish them across all three publications to hopefully attract more people to our publication.
Categories including:
Most Popular Lodestar Post this week: This will be our favourite, the most liked and viewed/read post story.
Best Poetry Piece is based on this quote from E.E. Cummings: “April is a reminder that life is a beautiful, ever-renewing cycle.”
Best Fictional Short Story based on this Prompt: “It’s all fun and games until.”
Best Drabble Story based on this word: Eustress: — EUSTRESS Definition & Meaning | Dictionary.com
I Hope you subscribe to our newsletter to get this weekly; we will include the winners of the competitions in the spotlight of your brilliant stories or poems, writers' tips, and any lodestar news from now on.
Happy Sunday
From the Editors
The Publisher: — CJ Coop
Editor-in-Chief: — Jessica's Quill
Assignment Editors: — Delaney Patterson, Izzibella Beau, Jonny Masters, Samantha M🥀
