Tuesday, June 2, 2009

Personal Word-A-Thon

My last real Word-A-Thon started last summer - a challenge by writing buddy Jen to write 50,000 words in 5 weeks.

Thus I completed Some Kind of Normal.

And rendered myself nearly insane.

But I am finding that being goal oriented that way really helps me focus. And I'm finding that I need that kind of incentive again.

This isn't truly any kind of competition this time. It's just, as the countdown to summer (and kids home full time) is now in full swing, I really need to get a good running start on this new WIP. The first part is always the hardest for me. If I can get into it enough, I won't have trouble continuing to write even when the kids are home. If I don't, it will be too easy to let time slip by.

So this is my goal:

15,000 words by June 17th.

The kids have only ten days left of school. Two of those I will be in New York. Two I will be hosting company. Two will be class picnics - but I am hopeful to get some writing in those days anyway.

I will have to work at nights, most likely. But I think it's doable.

Anyone else up for a bit of a challenge? Do you have your own goals already?

6 comments:

  1. I'm doing PurpleClover's JuJu challenge:

    http://purpleclover-purpleclover.blogspot.com/2009/06/juju-survivor-biggest-writer-write-thon.html

    It gives me more time to spread out my goal...but not much!!!

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  2. My goal is 30,000 by Sept 1. I don't have to write as quickly as you, but it's a goal.

    Good luck.

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  3. I'd love to join you. Maybe I'll do half as I only type with one hand.

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  4. Kimberly - I Joined!! I'm more excited than scared at this point. The word count will start to sink in later today when I'm trying to get 200 on the page!

    brit - I've known you to write a storm before. And considering I've written maybe a total of 25,000 words since December - none of which are part of this new book - I still think you might bury me. :)

    But I'm okay with that!

    Patti - half for one hand sounds good to me!

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  5. I have been so lame lately! I totally need to get motivated again. I kind of burned myself out revising a while ago and have now been ignoring my WIP for over a month!
    Thanks for the kick in the pants. If you can do it with your hectic schedule so can I! (waves fist in air)

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  6. Sue - revising is a much harder process to grasp, I think. It's not as straight forward as counting words written, so it's harder to gauge how much you've done, and easier to get sidetracked.

    That, and you've been doing some awesome art/welding/metal work. And kicking my butt in the running department. :)

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