Accentuate Writers Forum - 45-Day Writing Challenge

45-Day Writing Challenge

Michy - 4/16/2009 at 04:16 AM

Okay, awhile back, several of us took part in a Boundless Living 45-day challenge... they are gearing up to do a new challenge.

While you all can, of course, choose whatever challenge you would like... I'd like to propose that those of us who are writing novels use the Boundless Living Challenge as a sort of impromptu NaNoWriMo... instead of writing a crappy novel in 30 days, we use the 45 days of the challenge to finish writing a work in progress.

I have a book that is currently several chapters long, but it's far from finished. I have an agent I'd like to submit it to, but I'm stalling. I'm absolutely certain this is my 'breakout novel', so I HAVE to finish it soon.

So while I'm on 'vacation' in the Galveston area and in front of my alpha and beta reader, I will be finishing this novel.

I'd like for everyone else on the board who is working on a novel in progress to consider taking this challenge with me and lets see how many of us can finish our novels in the next 45 days or less.

While we're doing that, we can utilize the other parts of the Boundless Living Challenge to learn how to make difference in our lives. It is the Boundless Living and Wealth Beyond Reason programs, of which I am a student and member, that have helped me to continually succeed in the things I do here, on the board, on the blogs, with my writing... and as you all can see, there's not much I do that truly fails anymore.

Won't you join me? Let's support each other and make time for our fiction writing instead of always saying we'll get to it after this or after that.

Let's make writing that best seller a priority now....

Who's with me?

Check it out.

Come on!

Witchmojo - 4/16/2009 at 05:20 AM

That sounds like a good idea Michy but having a deadline kills my creativity. I get into the 'I have to finish it no matter what' frame of mind and that takes over. I have a completed novel that just needs editing, tightening up etc and I could do it with that I guess. I just don't like the idea of getting to the end of the 45 days and feeling like a failure because I haven't finished the project. (My depression would just LURVE that game!). Don't know whether I should do it or not *sigh* (and yes, I know it sounds like I'm procrastinating but I'm not)

Michy - 4/16/2009 at 05:23 AM

The mindset is to do the challenge, hope you finish, but to know that even if you don't, you are that much closer than you were before the challenge. You can't fail as long as you attempt it and push yourself outside of the comfort zone a bit.

Your challenge, though, doesn't HAVE to be finishing a novel... you can set another challenge, even a non-writing one.

I just thought it would be cool if a bunch of us did a little mini-nano in between, since so many of us have works in progress we keep stalling on!

Witchmojo - 4/16/2009 at 05:26 AM

I'll have a read through the site Michy and maybe i can pursuade myself to go for it

moonshadow68 - 4/16/2009 at 07:18 AM

The 45-day challenges are potent stuff. You start looking around the site and boom your addicted. And, with some small steps, it works too...

Michy, I'll probably be there...gotta work out the details on my challenge

Melanie - 4/16/2009 at 08:22 AM

I have signed up for this thing twice, and twice failed to do anything with it.

I have SIX novels sitting on my hard drive in various stages of completion.

I have a goal to have one novel in front of an agent or publisher by the end of the year.

I AM SO IN!

No one is going to dream my dreams for me.

Michy - 4/16/2009 at 08:24 AM

Whoooohooooo!

I'm using the nanowrimo meter for the word count, to sorta track my progress.

http://languageisavirus.com/nanowrimo/word-meter.html

Lindsay M - 4/16/2009 at 08:27 AM

Oh, I cannot pass this up!

moonshadow68 - 4/16/2009 at 08:28 AM

Michy, left you a comment and posted my own challenge.

Mel, we are going to do it!!!

Nancy G. - 4/16/2009 at 08:53 AM

I'll look at it and may try it. I am already working on a 'new' novel, inspired by my Fantasy short story. When I read it to my Writers Group several said to make it into a novel. One person said he sees it as a TV series. So I have already started the next chapter/story in it.

itzrissa2u - 4/16/2009 at 12:40 PM

Stop pushing Michy! dang you, stop trying to make me a better writer and person. Stop trying to make me a success and stop trying to get me to realize another dream.
:tussor:

(pouting) What if I wanna be a uninspired slug who sits around feeling sorry for herself?
:6packx:

(long suffering sigh) fiiinnneee. I will check it out. There happy now? (grumble grumble)
:sifone:

Lindsay M - 4/16/2009 at 12:42 PM

Rissa, you make me giggle. :lol:

itzrissa2u - 4/16/2009 at 12:48 PM

That ain't me, that is your husband's freedom.

The thing is, I was at the library on sunday and was depressed because I knew my book would never be there because it was unfinished. I swear Michy is in my head. hehe

Michy - 4/16/2009 at 12:54 PM

la la la la :no:

Amy Browne - 4/16/2009 at 01:06 PM

yeah and yesterday at the dinner after the funeral talked with two aunts about my writing..

aunt maxine asked what i did.. freelance writer i say... oh can we expect a book soon?.. yes I am working on a few I tell her... how do you survive she asked.. I write online content.. ohhhhh she replied as she walked awayy... damn

aunt mary asked about my writing, she said my pic and article hangs on her frig (awww) she thanked me for living out her dream. she has not writen anything in 10 yrs since her mom passed her mom was her alpha reader.

I realized I do not wish to be like aunt Mary (as sweet as she is) and be 72 and not have a book... nor do I wish to be like aunt maxine but I will show her that writing is writing... so yeah damn straight I am joining ya.. i just gotta do both the daily stuff and the fun stuff together...

moonshadow68 - 4/16/2009 at 01:53 PM

Quote: Originally posted by Amy Browne

yeah and yesterday at the dinner after the funeral talked with two aunts about my writing..

aunt maxine asked what i did.. freelance writer i say... oh can we expect a book soon?.. yes I am working on a few I tell her... how do you survive she asked.. I write online content.. ohhhhh she replied as she walked awayy... damn

aunt mary asked about my writing, she said my pic and article hangs on her frig (awww) she thanked me for living out her dream. she has not writen anything in 10 yrs since her mom passed her mom was her alpha reader.

I realized I do not wish to be like aunt Mary (as sweet as she is) and be 72 and not have a book... nor do I wish to be like aunt maxine but I will show her that writing is writing... so yeah damn straight I am joining ya.. i just gotta do both the daily stuff and the fun stuff together...

Good 'cause I need to read your book!! Get crackin', girlie!

Amy Browne - 4/16/2009 at 02:10 PM

lol i can send ya something... Cindy. I did read yours but forgot to mention it with all the excitement/stress/activity of the last few days I apologize

Michy - 4/16/2009 at 03:38 PM

Amy, funeral?

moonshadow68 - 4/16/2009 at 03:45 PM

Amy, It's okay. You were busy.

Michy, Another of her aunts died and the funeral was yesterday along with Lexi's birthday...

Michy - 4/16/2009 at 03:58 PM

awwww (HUGS) I'm so sorry, Amy. I missed it somehow...

Witchmojo - 4/16/2009 at 04:00 PM

Hmmm, watched the promo video on the front page and my immediate reaction was "Oh hell, another one of those 'You can be whatever you want as long as you do what we tell you' con jobs. Yes, I am cynical and I've yet to come across one of these things that 'does what it says on the tin' but.... I'm willing to try so I'm signing up now but lets just say I'm not expecting anything from it

Amy Browne - 4/16/2009 at 04:08 PM

Michy fyi in my life for the past 2.5 to 3 week....
2 aunts have passed.within 2 weeks ago.. the first aunt lingered far long then she should have... the second was not expected..

Dad was int he hospital for lung problems IV antibiotics etc for a week.. was home for 11 days and was readmitted on Tuesday of this week with c-dif.. he looks like hell. Been a rough month for him.

Ray was out of town for a week and a half during this... so hard for me to deal with it.. BUT yesterday I seen a pic of my new grand baby... she/he is due 11/8 first ultrasound.. i cried when i seen this pic..

Michy - 4/16/2009 at 04:10 PM

(HUGS) Hang in there, Amy... I wish i could say something more poignant, but just know we're thinking of you! Love ya, lady!

Michy - 4/16/2009 at 04:12 PM

Actually, they really don't 'tell' you to do anything.

The site is more as a place to encourage and support others, but then they give tools and videos and positive stuff, etc.

It's based on the science of the law of attraction, the Secret... Bob was in the video. I used to work with Bob, did the editing on his Wealth Beyond Reason book.

But the main thing for the challenge aspect is similar to nanowrimo - to have a place where there is a definable goal, in a definable period of time, with others coming together to support, encourage, prod or sympathize, where you're accountable to yourself for a publicly stated goal.

It can be quite powerful when everyone is moving in similar directions together...

Witchmojo - 4/16/2009 at 04:16 PM

Still sounds like the sort of thing that looks good but goes nowhere to me. Actually wondering if this isn't going to work for me because I don't believe anything I've heard so far? Still, we shall see what we see (or don't). Not entirely sure why they needed my home address as it's all online but whatever. Nothing ventured and all that jazz.

itzrissa2u - 4/16/2009 at 04:50 PM

If you expect it not to work, it won't work.

I am pretty skeptical. Let me tell you a story though... back in Dec 07 I was not doing so well. I was healing from a horrible loss, I had gone back to work full time and didn't make much and I was unhappy.

Someone sent me a link to a 30 days experiment for the laws of attraction. I didn't believe that crap but figured what could it hurt? That particular group gave you a phrase to say every day. During that 30 days I was offered a $3 raise to stay at the place I was working and I someone in a moms group online posted an article from AC that she wanted people to read (I wish I could remember who it was).

I saw the get published link at the Associated content website on her article page. I clicked it and found out someone would pay me to write! It has been my dream to write since I was a kid.

That AC article allowed me to meet some wonderful friends and an amazing mentor. A year later, I am going to be published in a book with my name on the cover. I have written over 170 articles and have been paid for writing them. I also quit my accounting job and write full time.

My long winded moral is- it works. It did for me anyway. You have to put the effort into though.

As for the challenge. The last challenge I was in was very cool. You will have complete strangers offering you support and encouragement. It really is amazing. The practical thing is that it nudges you to write because you want to post about how well you are doing. Well that and to keep Michy from yelling at you. :kiss:

i hope you'll try it and it will be good for you.

Witchmojo - 4/16/2009 at 04:55 PM

Thanks Rissa. I think I'm just feeling very tired and low today and it isn't helping my attitude. Forgive me everyone please. I've signed up and I'll give it a shot. I might need someone to kick me in the rear every now an then though so hopefully the people there will do that too

itzrissa2u - 4/16/2009 at 05:20 PM

Oh no, nothing to forgive! I hope you feel better soon.

I don't mean to shove it down anyone's throat, I am excited about it- despite my protests.

Here is my page if anyone wants to friend me...http://boundlessliving.ning.com/profile/RissaWatkins

moonshadow68 - 4/16/2009 at 05:27 PM

Gillian,
You don't have to believe a word of the laws of attraction thing to take part in this with us. We will hound you (or not--asyour wish) about your progress, encourage you and share our failures with you. The last one/first one I did helped me to rediscover some life that I had let go and I left the challenge more focused. Since then, life has been better, not because things don't go wrong, but because I remember what it's like to feel and live. And, you don't hae to play wiht us either...we'll still love ya!

Melanie - 4/16/2009 at 08:02 PM

http://boundlessliving.ning.com/profile/Melanie92

There's me.

hmarlman - 4/16/2009 at 09:10 PM

Count me in...

For the others that are taking part...here's my profile link

http://boundlessliving.ning.com/profile/HeatherMMarlman

cwilson26 - 4/17/2009 at 06:04 PM

Yes I remember doing this last time too. I didn't do so well at first but my goal was to write more fiction and to submit to magazines. It took me a while to do it but I have been writing more fiction for the contests here and I have submitted to Sasee. Would submit more if I had more time. I have a hard time managing my time as it is.

I have been getting emails from Boundless Living and I was on the site today and logged in but haven't put up a goal yet. I won't do the novel thing but I will try the same goal as last time and maybe I will add more to it. Don't know yet but once I am done with work I will think about my goal and submit it. I also have a short story to edit tonight.

Here is my page from the last challenge. Michy how do we submit our challenges this time? Same way as last time?

http://boundlessliving.ning.com/profile/Clarissa

Lindsay M - 4/18/2009 at 06:04 PM

Here I am!

http://boundlessliving.ning.com/profile/LindsayM

Working on my story right now. Finally, I know how I want to write it and the message I want to get across. Now, just to hunker down and get it all out.

Morecoffee - 4/18/2009 at 08:21 PM

Seems like I remember you guys talking about this challenge the last time around. Didn't it require high-speed Internet or something? I know there was a reason I couldn't join in before.

Michy - 4/18/2009 at 08:24 PM

If you're using the videos and resources for the law of attraction, yes, it does... but if you want join us just for the novel challenge, a mini-nanowrimo, then you wouldn't need all that!

Morecoffee - 4/18/2009 at 08:33 PM

Okay...cool. You can count me in for the novel writing challenge. I need to light a fire under my hind-quarters and get this novel finished! Do I still sign up on the Boundless Living site or simply keep track of my own word count?

Oh, yeah. Did the 45 days begin on April 16th?

Michy - 4/18/2009 at 08:36 PM

You can sign up there and keep it all in one place, or you can just do it here on the board... I think it just matters that we all hold each other sorta accountable, in public, goals for our writing for the next 40 some odd days....

Morecoffee - 4/18/2009 at 09:04 PM

I'm in desperate need of accountability with my novel! :crazy:

I haven't customized the page yet, but here's my profile link: http://boundlessliving.ning.com/profile/JoBrielyn

It's getting late and I have church in the morning, so I'll try to work on the page tomorrow afternoon or Monday morning.