Wednesday, December 17, 2008

Goal: To Write!

According to the poll in the right-hand column, February is the month in which people most wanted to do some sort of Nano-type challenge. Now if you're late to the party and didn't get to vote, you can still participate!Here's the challenge we're doing. We each set our own goals for the month. Maybe you want to finish your novel or write three short stories and submit them or finish editing your manuscript. Whatever that goal is, you must strive to meet it for that particular month. It's really not the same mentality as NaNo in that you have to write 50k - rather, it's more of an accountability and motivating tool.

I know some of you have expressed interest in doing this for more than one month, so here is what I've come up with.

Our official Just Write Challenge will begin on February 1, 2009. If you meet your goal, you'll be rewarded with a special prize. (Details on that later). I will set up a blog just for our challenge where you will be able to post your progress daily, every other day, weekly, whatever. Remember - our goal here is to support and motivate one another to accomplish our writing goals.

However, if you would like to participate in the "unofficial" Just Write Challenge - i.e. January or March or both - then the process will be the same. The only difference is I will not be awarding prizes - though I do plan to come up with a graphic that you can put on your blog/website if you accomplish your goal.
If you have any questions, please do not hesitate to email me or leave a comment on the blog.

Here's what you need to do now:

1) Let me know which month(s) you'd like to participate. FYI: It is preferable that you have a Blogger account so that you can post your progress reports on the Just Write Challenge Blog.

2) Start thinking about what goal(s) you hope to accomplish

And that's it. I'll take care of the rest! As the date gets closer, I'll email each of the participants to let them know the details.

Want to get motivated with your writing? Need some support along the way? Then join us!

20 comments:

  1. This is a great idea, but I have so many bits on the go, I'll have to pass for now.

    I may contact you at a later date and ask to join though.

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  2. Sign me up! (I'll donate one of my Seeds of Faith books for a prize if you're in need.)

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  3. I'm here too! I'll do January for sure! And i'll probably be around for Feb too! I've got book five (Mansfield Ranch) to write in January!

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  4. Anonymous7:26 AM

    Blogger refuses to acknowledge my existence, but I can always post in comments, if I can do it.

    I saw your comment on Shirley's book re: Amazon. I suggest checking out Strand Books, here in NY -- www.strandbooks.com. Their prices are often better than Amazon, they have both new and used books, and their shipping costs are much cheaper (although they don't have the free shipping after $25).

    I get the bulk of my research/historical books from them at half price, and, when they come across something they think I'd like, they shoot me an email to see if I want it.

    They ship anywhere -- which means once I move, I don't have to stop using them.

    I still use Amazon occasionally (although it'll be a lot less after reading that article, if at all), but I found that, especially for research and historical books, Strand is a better and less expensive resource.

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  5. Accountability and motivation are huge! And I love this idea; so glad we'll be doing it together. I'll be planning my course of action soon!

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  6. Debs - I understand perfectly. If you have some time free up, we'd love to have you join us!

    Angie - Great! And I'll be in touch re: the book if I need it. You're so sweet to offer it as a prize!

    Devon - I was quite upset when I read that article. I will definitely check out Strand Books. And you can always send me your post and I can post it on the blog, if you'd like. :-)

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  7. Janna - Hurray! So glad you'll be joining us. :-)

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  8. Sure, I'm in for February!

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  9. I'm 96.5% sure I'm in for February.

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  10. Like Debs, I can't commit right now, but will definitely jump in at a later date if possible. Great idea, like the motivation factor going on here.

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  11. I'm definitely in :) Will start thinking of goals as well. Thanks for doing this!!

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  12. I'm in for February. I'll also be plugging away in January (1,000 words a day).

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  13. Thanks, all, for joining! We're going to be writing MACHINES, I tell ya!

    Joanne, hope you can squeeze in some time for one of these months!

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  14. Anonymous3:17 PM

    I'm in for February! I need the accountability!

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  15. Welcome, Sharla! Glad to have you aboard!

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  16. I'll do this month. I hope to complete either those 2 novellas, or one single-title novel. And those books listed on my blog only!

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  17. Evangeline - Yay! So glad you can join us.

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  18. I'd like to join you in February. What a great opportunity! Thanks!

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  19. Hello, Melissa! I heard about the challenge from Angie over at Gumbo Writer, and I'd love to participate in February (and March too, if I can!). My goal is to write 1,000 words per day.

    I loved doing NaNoWriMo back in November and I know I'll love the Just Write Challenge, too. Sometimes when it comes to writing, I need all the motivation I can get! I can't wait to get started!

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  20. I'd like to join for February, too.

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