A Challenge to All of You!
Hey out there in Blogomatic Land!
Yes, I've been negligent in my blog-posting again. That's because I've been busy—and, quite honestly, I'm still trying to find a more definite direction for my blog. Then I had a conversation with another author about finding time to write, and it gave me an idea.
Everybody likes a challenge, right? And I would guess that many people who are reading this blog are interested in writing. Soooo...here's my challenge: FINISH YOUR NOVEL IN LESS THAN FOUR MONTHS.
Every writer out there, published or not, probably has a novel-in-progress. For many of them, it is been "in progress" indefinitely. In my stint as a literary agent, I've spoken to throngs of writers who are "working on" a novel, but never quite get around to finishing it. But you can't get it published until it's finished! Now, I'm challenging each and every one of you who has a "novel in progress" waiting in the wings to get it done, and I'm offering you a formula for its completion. It's so simple, it hurts, and I'm sure I'm not the first one to come up with this idea. Forgive me if you've already figured it out, but even if you have I wonder how diligently you've stuck with it.
The plan? Write 1000 words (that's NEW words, not revisions) EVERY SINGLE DAY—no exceptions, no excuses.
Sounds easy? Well then, what are you waiting for? Accept the challenge!
This is how it all came about.
My Problem: It's been suggested that I write an "interim" novel before completing the sequel to TURN OF THE SENTRY.
My Gripe: It is extremely difficult to pull yourself away from a novel in progress to work on another one that hasn't yet grabbed your full attention. I've been lacking in incentive, and the interim novel has been languishing. It's also become increasingly difficult to find the time to write, what with the plethora of personal issues buzzing around in my life right now, and the high-intensity marketing/promotion I've been trying to do.
The Suggestion: Set a "goal" number of words to write each day—EVERY DAY—no exceptions, and stick to that goal.
The Result: A personal commitment to write at least 1000 words each day. Since the average length of my novels is 100,000 words, theoretically, in less than 3.5 months, I should have the first draft of a completed novel.
But then I said to myself, "Self, why go it alone? Why not spread the joy of anticipation in having a completed novel?"
If you are truly a writer, 1000 words is not a lot. So here's the challenge to all of you out there who have that novel blithely hanging in your psyche somewhere but just can't seem to get it down on paper. Commit to writing at least 1000 words a day—EACH DAY, EVERY DAY, no matter what, even if the "muse" is nowhere to be found, or your Uncle Ernie is visiting from Michigan, or your boss just gave you two new projects to handle, or you took vacation time to avoid the two new projects your boss just gave you to handle, or your dog has swine flu, or your swine has dog flu...get the idea? No excuses! Unless the sun explodes and the word comes to an abrupt end, you have to write the 1000 words (yes, weekends, too!) Then, if you stick to it, at the end of 100 days (that's less than 3.5 months!) you will have completed your novel!
It's that simple—do you think you can do it?
Then let me know if you accept the challenge!
Keep me posted on your progress. Send me chapters if you'd like. Ask questions. Get advice. Bitch and moan. Tell me about what problems you are running into. I WANT TO KNOW!
In the end, you will be rewarded with a completed novel, ready for revision and refining and eventually, who knows?—maybe even publication!
GOOD LUCK!!!!
A.M. Boyle
Yes, I've been negligent in my blog-posting again. That's because I've been busy—and, quite honestly, I'm still trying to find a more definite direction for my blog. Then I had a conversation with another author about finding time to write, and it gave me an idea.
Everybody likes a challenge, right? And I would guess that many people who are reading this blog are interested in writing. Soooo...here's my challenge: FINISH YOUR NOVEL IN LESS THAN FOUR MONTHS.
Every writer out there, published or not, probably has a novel-in-progress. For many of them, it is been "in progress" indefinitely. In my stint as a literary agent, I've spoken to throngs of writers who are "working on" a novel, but never quite get around to finishing it. But you can't get it published until it's finished! Now, I'm challenging each and every one of you who has a "novel in progress" waiting in the wings to get it done, and I'm offering you a formula for its completion. It's so simple, it hurts, and I'm sure I'm not the first one to come up with this idea. Forgive me if you've already figured it out, but even if you have I wonder how diligently you've stuck with it.
The plan? Write 1000 words (that's NEW words, not revisions) EVERY SINGLE DAY—no exceptions, no excuses.
Sounds easy? Well then, what are you waiting for? Accept the challenge!
This is how it all came about.
My Problem: It's been suggested that I write an "interim" novel before completing the sequel to TURN OF THE SENTRY.
My Gripe: It is extremely difficult to pull yourself away from a novel in progress to work on another one that hasn't yet grabbed your full attention. I've been lacking in incentive, and the interim novel has been languishing. It's also become increasingly difficult to find the time to write, what with the plethora of personal issues buzzing around in my life right now, and the high-intensity marketing/promotion I've been trying to do.
The Suggestion: Set a "goal" number of words to write each day—EVERY DAY—no exceptions, and stick to that goal.
The Result: A personal commitment to write at least 1000 words each day. Since the average length of my novels is 100,000 words, theoretically, in less than 3.5 months, I should have the first draft of a completed novel.
But then I said to myself, "Self, why go it alone? Why not spread the joy of anticipation in having a completed novel?"
If you are truly a writer, 1000 words is not a lot. So here's the challenge to all of you out there who have that novel blithely hanging in your psyche somewhere but just can't seem to get it down on paper. Commit to writing at least 1000 words a day—EACH DAY, EVERY DAY, no matter what, even if the "muse" is nowhere to be found, or your Uncle Ernie is visiting from Michigan, or your boss just gave you two new projects to handle, or you took vacation time to avoid the two new projects your boss just gave you to handle, or your dog has swine flu, or your swine has dog flu...get the idea? No excuses! Unless the sun explodes and the word comes to an abrupt end, you have to write the 1000 words (yes, weekends, too!) Then, if you stick to it, at the end of 100 days (that's less than 3.5 months!) you will have completed your novel!
It's that simple—do you think you can do it?
Then let me know if you accept the challenge!
Keep me posted on your progress. Send me chapters if you'd like. Ask questions. Get advice. Bitch and moan. Tell me about what problems you are running into. I WANT TO KNOW!
In the end, you will be rewarded with a completed novel, ready for revision and refining and eventually, who knows?—maybe even publication!
GOOD LUCK!!!!
A.M. Boyle
Posted by A.M. Boyle at 9/16/2009 12:49 PM 
Categories: uncategorized
Tags: Book Novel Writing Challenge Authors Writers
Categories: uncategorized
Tags: Book Novel Writing Challenge Authors Writers
Great blog, Ann, and it so simplistically truthful. Four to five pages a day is do-able if a person can commit to carving a segment for writing each and every day. It can be done. My problem, I can easily go over 1000 words a day for several days (wonderful high BTW). The story just pours out of my fingers and then it feels like the "pump goes dry" while I go looking into character(s) feelings, motivations, actions, etc. before the "movie" will start again.
So my question for this challenge, does the rough notes with all the partial sentences and tangents count as well?
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