Small Challenges
So, it’s been a long time since I posted here, and it’s not from lack of material. I have had topics planned for months, but I have to admit that there really hasn’t been the strong motivation to compose and post a blog entry. Some of it is that good old insecurity (“Um, who cares what I have to say?”), some is distraction (“Oooh, I wonder if DateWrecks has a new post tonight?”), some is writing, though not the productive kind (collaborative writing with my two writing partners) and the rest is sheer exhaustion from working all day.
Tonight, though, I have something to say, and maybe this will start getting me motivated to post the topics previously alluded to. I’d like to start writing blog posts aimed at new writers like myself, who have not had any experience in the later stages of writing and publishing. Whatever I learn, I will share.
Anyway, what sparked this post is a challenge that someone in my NaNoWriMo group sent out. It consists of writing ten short stories in ten weeks. I am definitely up for the challenge, and I’m particularly intrigued by the third rule:
1) write ten short stories (first drafts) in ten weeks
This means you can write more than one a week or less than one a week.
But the short stories have to be greater than 4k words long.
2) must re-write all the short stories at least once before nanowrimo
3) must submit all the short stories to at least one publisher (not
necessarily the same publisher) by year end; ideally, this is a
publisher that pays at least 6 cents a word or more
Oi. The publisher part is intimidating, but what the heck? It’s a learning experience that I haven’t had the pleasure of going through, yet. So, off I go, to write my ten stories. Believe me when I say that there are way more than ten ideas banging around my cranium.
Now, I do have some personal challenges, as well. These I pretty much just came up with as I was writing this post.
1) Update this blog at least once a week with something useful for the beginning writer. Partly to help myself solidify my own steps towards publication, partly to help others who are on the same path. I’ve found that while those who have been in the trenches have a lot of worthwhile information and advice, the advice given tends to be rather broad in scope. There’s a lot of “This is what you do,” and not enough of “This is how to get it done.” A small distinction on the surface, but it makes a huge difference to those of us who have never been there. More on this later.
2) Write at least one non-fiction article. My brother said I should, and he’s pretty smart (and he reads this blog). There are opportunities there that I could take advantage of, and there are a lot of topics to write about. I just need to pick one.
3) Progress reports. Now, I realize there aren’t many people out there who really care about the progress reports of an unpublished writer, but I also realize I have a few friends who really like to know where I’m at in my writing. Those are the people (*cough*Kathy*) who send me little notes wondering how I’m doing, and that is encouraging. I like having fans.
So, there are my 4 challenges. I begin tomorrow, and only because it’s closing in on midnight and I have to sleep, unfortunately. I swear it’s not a procrastination attempt…
