Friday, May 29, 2009

Sprinting

Welcome to the first of what will be an ongoing series of posts during the June 50k in 30 days. A group of us will take turn about to keep you motivated to reach your goals throughout the month.

In anticipation of our Monday start I thought I'd get the ball rolling. So onto that motivation....


Feeling motivated yet? Don't worry, if you aren't, I'll leave you with a bit of Hugh, guaranteed to get the creative juices flowing out of anyone.

I'm going to cheat a bit here and copy a post I recently had on my own blog - because from some of the posts that have been floating around I realise some of you are a bit worried how you will meet your goal for the month. And the answer is simple:

Sprinting. Not the kind that involves sweat and pain. The kind that involves you and a bunch of other like-minded writers all writing together at the same time.

When I first heard about sprinting I have to confess I was a little sceptical. How could sprinting be any different from any other time I am writing? How could it possibly help get more words out?

During 2008 NaNoWriMo I joined in, not wanting to disregard it completely. Confession time. I was wrong. I was pushing out numbers in 30 minutes that I had no hope of doing on my own. I am a convert.

So over the past week I have been sprinting. Not as often as I would like, but the few occasions I could spare. And in those few nights of sprinting I managed 30 pages. THIRTY pages. I was stunned when I sat back and counted. Thank you to those wonderful ladies who have been sprinting with me.

Why does it work? Because it's a short burst, separated by chatting with the other sprinters in a chat room. To know others are writing with you, trying their hardest to get as many words out pushes you along. At the end you report back, congratulate or commiserate. Chat about how it is going or ask for help. But above all there is a feeling of companionship, understanding and friendship.

I love Sprinting. I just wish it burnt calories like the other kind.

So join us in the Friday Night Chat Room (found in the RWA chat room - if you don't know how to get there just ask) every night from 7.30pm EST. Or send a post out if you are wanting to sprint at any other time.