Dear Reader,
Updated: 4/16/2024
Welcome to Erica Drayton Writes, my HOUSE OF HORRORS uh— FICTION!
I am here to guide you through the many parts of my newsletter. So, if you are a lover of great stories, shorter short stories, or longer short stories, then sit back, relax, and by all means subscribe before you leave…
For an overview of my newsletter, read my About Page.
To learn more about me, the Queen of 100 Word Stories, check out my Substack Profile or my Linktree.
A great place to start reading my fiction is with my daily 100 Word Story journey.
If you want to explore on your own, return to the Homepage.
Read on for a breakdown of what you’ll discover in every room. I hope you feel at home and choose to stay a while.
THE FLOOR PLAN
Depending on what you may be looking for I’m sure I’ve got it.
Living Room - Community Writing
CHOOSE YOUR PASS - FREE VS ALL-ACCESS
FREE ACCESS EMAILS
All the emails from the Foyer, Living Room, Kitchen, and Backyard are free.
ALL-ACCESS EMAILS [Paid Subscription]
All the emails in my Library/Office are for Paid Subscribers only. Also, all 100 Word Stories put into Archive.
To gain “all-access” click the button below and upgrade to paid for $10/m or $120/yr. You’ll get everything mentioned above and much more.
THE MAP KEY
Before we begin, there are a few things here that make Substack different from platforms like Wordpress, Patreon, and even Mailchimp.
These features are not required to receive my emails, they serve as a way to enhance the experience and get more of a community feel.
The Mobile App
Whether you’ve got an Android or iPhone, the Substack mobile app is great for a couple of reasons. First, you get to discover other Substack writers and easily subscribe to their content. Second, if your personal inbox is a mess you can opt to receive all of these newsletters just in the app, a clean space to read, listen to, and watch all the content you can imagine. The app is free and built with you, the reader, in mind. You’ll also have access to a few other features I’ll mention next.
A Note on Notes
In certain social circles it’s been hailed as the “Twitter (aka X) Killer” but for now you can think of it as a Safe Space to communicate with the entire Substack community about whatever interests you. It’s a feed of people talking about their interests and receiving Likes and Comments to further conversation. It’s still in its infancy having just been unveiled in Q2 of 2023 but so far it’s holding up as a place I find myself in for extended periods of time. You can also access Notes here on your desktop.
Substack Chat
Sporadically in 2024, Substack Chat will be used as a Paid Subscriber feature. I will have monthly Q&A as well as share early access to edits of future work that will be published. The Chat will be used as a way to share my journey behind-the-scenes in a way that can’t be capture anywhere else.
Substack DMs
A new feature in 2024, if you use Substack (specifically the app) you can now send me a DM (direct message) to ask me a question. Currently I am accepting DMs from people who are subscribed to me.
FOYER - News & Updates
I have a humble home with everything I need to get by, starting with a place where I can look back at my accomplishments and ahead at my goals.
On the 1st of every month I continue to share my 1st Edition emails with a bit of a change-up. Now I will tell you what is coming in the month ahead.
On the 2nd and 4th Saturday of every month I will Look Back at the past two weeks to go over every email I’ve sent and project I may be working on behind-the-scenes. I’ll also share what I’ve been reading, watching, and listening to.
LIVING ROOM - Community Writing
[Must Opt-In]
There is nothing I find more satisfying than inspiring others to reach their full writing potential by offering a place where creativity and community can come together. So, have a seat on any one of my comfy couches or chairs, grab a notebook and pen, or laptop, and let’s get down to writing!
#pentober52 has been retired after a short stint in Q1 of 2024. While the concept is still in its infancy I hope it will make a weekly return in 2025. For now, look for Pentober in October 2024. I will share the list of 31 words on September 1st, 2024.
Free Writing Friday is the 1st and 3rd Friday of every month. Use an image to tell a story (100 words if you’re up for the challenge).
To receive these emails you must opt-in. Scroll to the bottom of this page to find out how.
KITCHEN - 100 Word Stories
[Archive for Paid Subscribers Only]
A journey that began on May 1st, 2023 has now managed to not only produce two books that you can purchase on Amazon or any online booksellers, but also continues to this day! I write a 100 word story every single day for your reading enjoyment. They take less than :30 seconds to read. So, let’s grab a snack in the kitchen and do some reading!
Purchase The First 100 on Amazon by clicking here. [$19.99 print only]
Purchase The Second 100 on Amazon by clicking here. [$19.99 print only]
LIBRARY/OFFICE - Serials & Anthologies
[Paid Subscribers Only]
The Wondermere Index is full of amazing things. First is the serial, Sleight of Hand delivered weekly. Each chapter is around 3,000 words. Then there are the Short Fiction stories that give a closer look at certain characters who exist in the world of Wondermere. Lastly, I like to delve into historical aspects of Wondermere and share family stories that shape how the world works and why.
Anatomy of Typewriters is my first ever anthology in the making. It will be a collection of 10+ short stories that all have one common element. I will leave you to figure out what that could possibly be. I hope to release this anthology the Summer of 2025.
BACK YARD - The Writers Circle & Murder Pen Club
[Must Opt-In]
The Writers Circle - I don’t yet have a set schedule for when these will be sent but it’s my way of reviving the Editorial emails I used to send back in 2023 and prior. I enjoy sharing my writing journey and any tips/tricks I may pick up along the way as well as my opinion on any hot button topics within the literary community.
The Murder Pen Club - I love mystery. I love to watch it and to read it and even listen on podcasts. It’s my favorite genre of all time. If I could only pick one to write in and consume, mystery would be it, hands down. This hidden club is my outlet for sharing what I love so much about it as often as I want. If you love mystery as much as I do (think Agatha Christie and Alfred Hitchcock) then please do join me!
To receive these emails you must opt-in. Scroll to the bottom of this page to find out how.
HOW YOU CAN HELP
Recommend & Share
Helping out a small timer like me doesn’t always need to be in the form of money. A way you can help that is worth way more than that is to share my work among your social circle. And you don’t have to have millions of followers to make an impact. Even if just one person from your inner circle subscribes, that’s one more than I had yesterday and for that I am grateful. It means you liked my stuff enough to tell your friends and that’s pretty freaking cool in my book!
Comments Mean the Most
If you ever read one of my daily stories or editorials or longer pieces of fiction it would mean so much if you leave a Comment 💬. Let me know your thoughts. I’d love to hear them.
Upgrade to a Paid Subscriber
Lastly, just for those of you kind readers who managed to make it to the end, becoming a paid subscriber is always an amazing way to show support for my work. And in return you get access to my growing 100 Word Stories that I write every single day!
HOW-TO OPT-IN
Make sure you are viewing this page on a web browser and not on the app.
Must be signed into your Substack account.
Click your icon on the top right of the page.
Select “Manage Subscription.”
Click the GREY buttons to make them GREEN on the emails you’d like to receive:
Sincerely Yours,