Challenging Writing
1/21/2012 1:36:25 AM
On New Year’s Day, I signed up to a challenge.
In an attempt to kick start my new WIP (work in progress), I signed up for author, Sally Quilford’s challenge, a 100k in a 100 days. That means I have committed myself to writing 1000 words a day until the 9th April. The rules do not allow me to count the words in my blogs, but short stories, poems, letters and of course, adding to my WIP, all count.
Having made excellent progress to begin with, I have fallen a little behind, but it is early days. I have written just over 16,000 words for the WIP, first draft, and I am pleased with that. If you consider Truth Or Dare? took somewhere between 3 – 4 years to write and finalise, then you’ll appreciate 3 weeks to write nearly a fifth of a book is not bad going, even if I do say so myself. The support group is lovely and we can keep tabs on how well we are doing. Excellent idea, Sally and thank you for instigating it. I am learning to banish my inner editor for the duration.
I shall tell you why I fell behind.
Apart from everyday life stuff, like eating, sleeping, and looking after poorly family members, I spent a fortnight preparing ToD for submission. I had to learn how to write a query letter and I had to ‘master’ writing a synopsis. I did not find either of these tasks easy to complete and I have no idea if they are right, but I worked hard on them and did my very best to produce my very best.
Without the help of my writing friends, I would have fretted twice as much. The support and guidance I received from fellow RNA members was overwhelming and many thanks are owed.
I am incredibly lucky to be a member of such a nurturing and supportive community. I feel the same about our local group too. Don’t pass up the opportunity to join a writing group if writing is where your heart lies.
If you are a writer of romance, be it mystery, paranormal, sweet – any type – consider applying to join the New Writers’ Scheme through the Romantic Novelists’ Association. You will have to be quick, as places are taken within the first twenty four hours of ‘lines opening’ and as far as I am aware, this was the case this year, but it is a wonderful thing.
I submitted Truth Or Dare? on Friday 13th.
Next week Find Out Friday will be here. Have a great weekend and see you then.