“I don’t waste time thinking ‘Am I doing it right?’
I ask, ‘Am I doing it?’ “
~Georgette Mosbacher
Reading this quote the other day hit me right between the eyes. I used to be like that. I’ve always been someone who does things, not someone who thinks about doing things. In fact, it always surprised me when friends and family would ask how I managed to do so much when they struggled to find time to do laundry or go to a movie. Because to me it was simple, if I wanted to do something, I just did it. Yet somehow, I’ve lost that. IN the last year I’ve started thinking, and stopped doing.
Now, I’m not saying thinking is a bad thing, but for me it’s turned into a form of procrastination. not just with writing either, but with weight loss, condo renovations, even with taxes. (No, I still have not done my 2008 taxes) It’s time to change again. Change is good. My relax and contemplate time was good, I do believe it was needed. But now I need to get my ass in gear and DO!
So, laminate flooring and new floorboards have been ordered for the condo, I signed up for a 5K run in October to ensure I get my butt to the gym, and I just decided tonight that I’m starting a new story tomorrow.
And really, why should I be alone? 
Have you been thinking about writing a book, or story, but can’t seem to find the time? Or maybe you’re an author who just needs a kick in the pants in the motivation department? If so…you need to take part in my Book-in-a-month Challenge.
The BIAM Challenge is to get you (and me) to stop thinking about writing, and DO IT!
Stop worrying if it will sell, if your editor/cp/friends will like it. Stop thinking the plot isn’t strong enough or that the idea has been done before. Stop worrying about your ability or experience-or lack thereof. Stop thinking and just write.
Each week for the rest of the summer I’m going to post my progress here on the blog, and I challenge you to do the same in the comments. The goal is to get the words on paper. The rules are simple; Don’t worry about editing so much that you stop writing, and don’t show anyone else your story until the first draft is done.
That’s right. Don’t show anyone what you are working on. This is about writing the story you want, doing what you want. If you have a bad day, a bad week, so what? Don’t think about it, just keep going. The goal is to finish your first draft by the end of July. And if you stop thinking and start doing – you will have that draft!
August will be a great time to start tweaking, layering, and revising your first draft because there will be plenty of online workshops full of advice to view. (And finding them will be easy because Lynn’s doing her annual Left Behind & Loving It series of online workshops in July;) )
43 Days to write a book. Today June 18th- Thursday July 30
OKay, so it’s a bit longer than a month, but thats because I’m starting TODAY, and you should too!
I’m a simple girl, so I’m going to keep my advice simple.
Here are some tips from me to help you meet this challenge.
1) Turn off your internet as soon as you sit down at your computer.
2) Turn of the Spellcheck in your word program.
3) Set an egg timer or alarm of some kind for 30 minutes. (or 15 or 20 if that’s all you have)
4) Start typing. Type non-stop until the timer goes off. Don’t worry about itf it makes sense or not. That’s for next month!
Do this at least once a day.
It sounds simple, yet hard. And you know what it is both of those…and it works. My friends and I call them Sprints, or racing. We often get together on Instant messenger and do them together. When close to a deadline we’ve been known to sprint all day and into the night, with 15 minutes breaks between sprints for drinks, food, and bathroom breaks. (And yes, we take longer breaks for lunch and stuff…sometimes)
If you have friends that are writers as well, then challenge them, and do your sprints together. Sometimes company helps – just don’t start chatting and not get any writing done.
So…my goal is to write the first draft of of a 90-100k single title. What’s yours?
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You just had to do this, didn’t you? Okay, I’m in. In August there is a painting workshop that I really, really want to sign up for. But that means a whole week away from writing. So my goal for the next 43 days (six weeks) is to write an extra 2500 words each week so I can take the entire week in August to learn and paint. That’s just an extra 500 words a day. I can do that. I can write 3000 words a day. I think.
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Yay, Darlenne! An extra 500 words is very doable, especially if you sprint. Just do your regular writing routine to get your regular 2,500 words, then at some point during the day add a 30 minute sprint. I bet you’ll get 500 words easy!
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Sounds like a great idea. Too bad I’m halfway through a first draft on one book and a third of the way through edits on another. I’m just trying to stick to my promised schedule of write Mon-Fri and edit on the weekends, until they both get done. If I can do that, I should have the first draft done by July 1st, and this round of edits done around the same time.
I’ll be cheering you on while I struggle through all that. Go Sasha and Darlene, and anyone else who opts in. =o)
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You’ve got a schedule and sticking to it is important. I, for one, welcome the cheering.
PS: I f you want to jump in after July 1st, you can always do so!
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De-lurkifying to say I’m in!
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Yay Catherine! Let’s kick some wordcounting butt!
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Great challenge. I have participated in National Novel Writing Month for several years now and had loads of fun. You get 30 days to write 50K words in that challenge. I love the pace of writing just to write, of just letting the words flow. For someone who has never written in that way, it is very freeing, and exhilarating. The appeal of NaNoWriMo is that thousands of people are doing the same thing at the same time.
I like that your challenge has a flexible word goal. I wish you and everyone who accepts it the best of luck.
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Hi Katie, I’ve never been able to take part in NaNo. It always seems that I’m already int he middle of something at that time of the year, so this is my first time really doing this sort of challenge. Aside from having a deadline in 4 weeks that I had to meet. LOL
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I needed this today. How did you know?
I’ve been telling myself for weeks now, you need to do the treadmill every day, I need to get started on that story I’ve been tossing around forever, I need to get a better cleaning routine so something gets done every day, I need to get my garden done, I need to get the bathroom painted, I need, I need, I need…
And what do I do? I procrastinate all day, surfing the net, looking at catalogs, playing games, reading the research books for that story I need to get started on. I take lots of notes, but the story still isn’t started.
So…that said, I’ll ‘play’
But I do want to know, are we going to be accountable to someone other than ourselves? Like you maybe? Or the other participants? That would be a good thing.
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I’m going to be posting my word count here each Thursday, and I think I’ll be posting y’all’s progress as well.
Yep, you can expect an email from me today.
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My goal is to write a 80-100K single title historical.
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Yay, Evangeline. Thats a great goal. Let’s get writing!
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Hi
This is a great challenge & idea.
I’m in!
My goal is 80,000 single Fantasy novel.
PS
I found this site & challenge via Twitter.
Love From Canada
xoxo
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Hi Rob, welcome to Genreality, and YAY on taking up the challenge! Another Canuck is always welcome.
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Great challenge. I can’t jump until July 15. But I’m sure I can write a 40K small novel from July 15 to July 30, my new Hell Kat book!!
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Sounds good Vivi, Join in when you can. and can I just say YAY on another Hell Kat story?
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Oh ps (several hours later) my goal is 50k to complete my first novel ever. Wooo! =]
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YAY! Your first novel? Thats fabulous. You can do it for sure.:)
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Just what I needed to see today considering I’ve set myself a deadline to complete a draft or finished project.
And it terrified me to no end. lol
Seeing this is like kismet or a subtle kick in the pants from all those that keep nagging me to just do it.
I’m in. Gulp.
K.
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No such things as coincidence. LOL Welcome aboard, Kristin!
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Serendipity is definitely at work. I finished a challenge in May and I was thinking today I needed a new deadline challenge. And here you are. I have two fantasy wips I’m finishing up. So, I’m in, aiming for 50k. And great quote, by the way. I need to pin that on my wall.
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Another one in. *rubs hands together* YAY!
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I think this is a marvelous challenge. Every month is like NaNoWriMo for me with my writing schedule, but I’ll be cheering you all on from my keyboard. Good luck, Sasha and everyone.
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Cheerleaders are good. What color pom-poms would youlike? *grin*
I used to write like this every day too, and got tons done. But I admit it, I’ve been super lazy when it comes to my writing for the past year. *hangs head* I need the kick in the pants the challenge will give.
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I’m in.
I’m want to finish a 30K novella and a 75K novel.
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YAY Angeleque. Welcome aboard!
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I’m in. 50/55k novel.
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A great goal. Welcome to the challenge, Dawn.