Hello everyone!
It’s Day One of the Novella in the Month writing Challenge here at CataUniversity.
:dance
What does that mean to you? Well, you should have your idea for your novella, a road map to finish your book, or know what you plan to write this month. You should have your text editor, word processor, or note pad open and ready to write. Settle in for the long haul. Stock up on your favorite beverage, lock your internal editor in the closet, take a deep breath and do what a writer does, write.
Last week my husband and I went on vacation. We followed a Pro Bike race around the state. Watching 119 men in prime physical condition ride hundreds of miles over the course of seven days was… well, inspiring. My husband and I ride our bikes, usually a little farther on the weekends. But between the two of us, I doubt we’ve ridden a total of the 600 miles these guys did. And that was just one race. And get this, after the last stage was over on Sunday, and they’d ridden 60+ miles (in the rain), the continued riding. Something about good training time. I guess that’s what makes them pros. They’re dedicated.
Why do I tell you this? It was as I was standing amongst the thousands of cheering fans, pressed up against the fence, watching these Pros go by that I realized something. I don’t want to be a spectator anymore. Not in life and not in writing. Certainly not in living the life of a published author. I don’t want to be another person standing on the sidelines, looking in, watching others finish books, make sales, and do all the things that authors do. I don’t want to be just another writer “in pursuit of publication.” I’m tired of not writing, not finishing, not submitting. I have control over whether or not I watch TV or find another way to procrastinate. I have control over my writing time and what I write. You do too.
So, lets make a pack this month to write. To finish. To submit.
Who’s with me? :eyebrow
You might also be interested in:
- Day 28 – The Home Stretch It doesn’t look like I will finish! Now what? What if I don’t win the challenge? What if I don’t make it to 25K words in a month? Don’t worry this challenge was designed to get you going. Yes it would be nice to finish a novella in a month...
- Day 31 – The End Dear Writers, We’ve made it! It’s day 31 of our challenge. Our last day. Just enough time to squeeze in a few more pages. Or if you work hard, a few thousand words. It’s like the last 400 meters of the race. The sprinters are lining up behind their team,...
- Day 22 Okay…a little over a week to go, where are you at? Me…I’m way behind. So far behind I barely see the light at the end of the tunnel. But I am still trucking along. I write at lunch. I think about the story constantly, write notes on plot twist and...
Get this blog's RSS feed in your reader.
Iam, I am!!! :clap
I’m on the first chapter of a category length ms and need to get my butt in gear just like you. Although 25,000 won’t be the end for me, it’s a darn good start!
Marcy
I’ve started the race with you! I’ve blogged about the contest on my blog at http://www.myspace.com/authorcatjohnson.
I have not only the Word document open, but I’ve written about 1K of Chapter One and have about another 2K of notes.
More research to do, more plotting to work out, but I am well on my way.
This may just be the kick in the pants I need. 25,000 more words, and my ms I want to send off at the end of summer should be around 2/3 done.
Count me in!!!
Crystal/C’ann Inman*
I’m in started on mine today. Because I’m in Australia I’m a day in front of some of you. So for day one I did 885 words, not as much as I had hoped. Tomorrow is another day and I’ll be typing away like a crazy woman.
Good luck everyone with your goals.
Hugs
Sandie
I hear ya on that one Ally! I’ve been procrastinating on the world building and outline for my new trilogy for far longer than I should. (It’s amazing how interesting housework and marketing seems sometimes…as opposed to that blank screen).
I’m tired of standing still, so I’ll hop in the game with you
*Begins*
:write
Before I get to congratulating everyone, is anyone having any “design” issues with the site now? Blue lines, etc?
I’m here and ready! This challenge will be a first for me as I have no solid plot, just the male and female leads and a setting. Should be interesting!
I’ve set a goal of 1150 words every weekday (weekends are usually a write-off, but if I do write it’ll be gravy). I’ve printed out a calendar on which I can track my daily results. I’m all set.
Now if it wasn’t for the day job, I’d be writing right now!
Oooh! Just realized that since I already have over 3,000 words written, I only need 1000 words a weekday to hit 25,000 words by May 31.
Bonus!
I started some of the second novella in the Beast Magic series for Phaze today and now to go back and do last edits of my novel as two NYC publishers I pitched to at RT want to see it. The novel is by my other writing name.
Hi, everyone! Sorry to be so late. It took me awhile to find the correct page where you were all checking in. :think
I’m impressed with the great start and enthusiasm everyone has. This is a great group! I’ll be checking in frequently to cheer you along. :goodjob
Everyone sounds excited…keep it up.
I managed 1738 words today.
Working on finishing a wip I started and dropped.
Carol
I stopped by Crystal’s blog today (http://chryswriter.tripod.com/) and it was spooky how similar we are. So I thought I’d share what I wrote over there since it applies here as well:
“I’m terrified that you’ve been watching me all day… I had to sweep the kitchen floor, and do that load of laundry. And there was a bit of yard work to be done, and websites needing to be updated and…
Sigh, I’m a loser with a capital L. All day I’ve been thinking, I’ll write in a minute. In a minute I’ll be done with this and then I can write for the rest of the day. See, I know I can write like 5k a day if I need to. So I either get cocky or just procrastinate until there’s no time left and I have to go to sleep b/c my keyboard isn’t that comfortable. Here it is 10:30 and I just started writing on my story.
Yeah, some writer I am… putting everything else before the writing. Someone smack me, please! Before I go organize the kitchen utensil drawer.”
And can I just say how impressed I am with all of you that are writing. I wonder how the rest of the challengers are doing… the ones who haven’t checked in… perhaps they haven’t written anything yet. :whistle Just a guess.
Marcy, I’m so jealous. Keep it up!
Now, back to writing.
Well the day is done. Well amost done, but I’m definitely done (read: fell asleep sitting up with laptop on my lap). Wrote 987 words today. Not bad for day 1. It’s the most I’ve written in one day for quite a while, so its a victory for me. And the biggest win…I didn’t edit at all. That IS a record for me.
Yippee!
Marcy
I did 3241 words yesterday but today’s a no-go as I’ve been called into work and won’t finish til late. That will have to be my quota for the weekend as well LOL!
Look at it this Ally, get all your house and yard work done then you have no reason NOT to sit and write. Me Heck, I’d rather write then do housework any day.
Oh, if you like I can give you some chain, lock, key and nails so you can shove Miss Procrastinaion in a cupboard and lock her away for a month :whistle
That’s what I did, and if I hear her yelling out to me I just go LALALALA. :laugh
Good luck with day two.
Hugs
Sandie :write
I’m going to be working on my BDSM erotic romance. I already started it about a month ago, but with all of my classes I’ve been kept hopping. So, here’s where I begin my little chart for this challenge!
Starting point as of 5/1: 5,271 words
Ending point for day 1: 6,204 words
Woo-hoo! I really like this. Almost a thousand words! It started out rough, but eventually I got back into the swing of things and even added a new element to the story.
Can’t wait for tomorrow!
Blessings,
Dena
Way to go everyone. I’m so impressed! :hug
Ally,
No blue lines or design problems. This morning they’re all gone. :goodjob
Hello everyone! Congrats to everyone who added words to their WIP yesterday. :clap
Yesterday wasn’t a day I’d care to repeat. You didn’t hear from me because I wasn’t writing. :bad
The spirit was willing, but my body wouldn’t cooperate. My son and I stayed up all night packing the car for his trip to L.A. (He’s leaving the nest for the 2nd time to start a new career.) After seeing him off at 6 am I had a good :cry , but I had repair guys coming to work on my porch, so I couldn’t even get a nap in. Every time I sat down to the computer, I’d :zzz .
My furrbabies let me get a 2-hr nap in the afternoon before I had to leave for a late appointment.
Today, I’m a little more rested and determined to :coffee and :write :write :write despite the fact my houes looks like a Texas twister ran through it.
Happy writing!
house, not houes
sheesh!
Guess I need more :coffee
I’m in Allie.
25,000 will get me to the end of my story. I’m be quietly chipping away at the last pages and probably not posting much. But I’m here in spirit.
I’ve finally found everyone again! Sheesh, blame my tired ‘baby waking all night all week with teething’ brain
Give me a moment to catch up