Badge of Honour

So how are you progressing? Running along at a steady pace? Power-walking or limping towards your next revive and survive break? Or have you already hurtled through the finish line (yay, AJ!)

There are three days left to go until the end of the month and I intend to be sprinting from 8pm every night. I have absolutely no possibility of hitting the 50k marker (but I'm the girl who used to walk the cross country runs, and arrive at the finish line when everyone else had packed up and gone home). Tell me, AJ, did you run those cross countries around the school, or did you dawdle and participate in cow pat fights like me?

I've been sprinting in stops and starts -- but it always helps to have fellow sprinters in the sprint room so that we can cheer each other on. A massive big cheer to everyone who participated in the sprints this time around.

So who will be wearing the badge of honour?


Yes - we have badges! So we can recognise the other crazy 50ks souls when we bump into each other at conference.

I have 25 badges left from the first year so it will be a case of first in, first served ($2 for the badge, $1 more if you need it posted to you). Otherwise we'll arrange for you to pick up at conference.

For the 50ker's who have burst through the 50k goal by midnight 30 June, we have a Winner Certificate. Below is the sample certificate from 2008.


This will be emailed to the 'winners' shortly after the challenge finishes.

Thank you everyone for a fabulous month, and hope to see you in the sprint room over the next couple of days.

Keep on sprinting!

when everything is breaking...

Since the beginning of June, everything is breaking on me. Today after doing my Telecross calls, I thought I would get a head start on the weekend chores, throw some stuff into the washing machine, and then slip back into my warm bed to catch up on some much-needed sleep. The washing machine would not come on at all. I guess I've been in this house for 4 years, and the machine has been here longer, so it's feasible that it's died. But why couldn't it wait until I'd moved out?

So I went back to bed in a sulk and stayed in bed much longer than I'd originally intended. Cold winter mornings and I do not agree. When I finally got up and had a shower, I threw my clothes into the bathtub and used a broom to agitate them.

Other things that have broken in the last few weeks: my radiator hose, the whole computer system at work yesterday, and I somehow managed to ban myself from the RWA chat room last night.

So what do you do when your manuscript is broken? During the 50ks in 30 days challenge, whatever else you do, don't panic. Don't delete words. Don't go back to fix it. You need to keep moving forward. Even if you're standing on the side of the road in the pouring rain, refilling your radiator - a solution will present itself (it did: a bloke in shining armour fixed it on the spot).

If the scene didn't work the first time you wrote it, don't delete it. Never subtract those precious words. Rewrite it but count those words as additional words. Every word towards the 50k challenge is important, and once its written you do not erase it from your word count. If it needs to be erased later, when June has passed, go right ahead.

Don't beat yourself up if you've turned off the highway and ended up in the middle of nowhere. Lost? Possibly! But there might be a reason that your story has taken a turn up that road and just a few more paragraphs will reveal something you would have missed if you'd stayed on the highway.


But what if your characters are on strike and no longer talking to you? You need to coax them out. Sit down and chat to them. Find out where they think the story should be going. Or pull a negative psychology trick on them, and start writing about the next characters who are waiting in line. Or give your focus to a secondary character and make your primary characters envious. Write a scene from a non-POV character - especially one who has not been revealing much -- and find out what is really going on in their mind.

There are lots of tricks when the writing is broken...but the main one is keep writing. Even if you have to write out a load of rubbish first, eventually the good stuff will come.

May the rest of June be very productive and you all reach your goals. See you in the sprint room (now that I've unbanned myself).

Keep Writing!!

9 days down - and with them the excitement and enthusiasm that carries you over the wave that is the first week of 50k in 30 days. If you are like me, your word count is shaky, your momentum slowing and the pressure is on.

One third of the way there. How do you keep up the effort of producing such high word counts day in and day out? The next 10 days are the hardest - the fun and excitement has dulled, and the thrill of the end too far away to see.

I thought I'd share some tips for staying motivated to write from successful writers (courtesy of the adventurous writer):

• Get your “bum glue” out. “A couple of years ago I met Bryce Courtney (author of The Power of One) at a writing conference. He said that what I needed as a writer was “bum glue”. Meaning, I need to glue my bum to a chair and write. I remember it every time I set myself down to my blog. Bryce! I am using your bum glue!” – Shirley VanScoyk, writer and blogger
• Embrace your procrastination. “When I was a freelancer, I used to set aside about 20 minutes for procrastination activities every morning before I started to write. I took care of a lot of administrative and housekeeping tasks that way, while honoring the part of me that took writing so seriously that it was convinced I was the least-qualified person ever to attempt it. Once I paid tribute to the procrastination judge, I was free to sit down and let it flow!” – Claire Bardos, screenplay writer
• Don’t be a wannabee. “The best writing advice I ever received (and pass on) is: ‘Writers write; wannabees talk about it.’” – Shelley Lieber, author
• Pull up a couch. “My best advice for writing fiction: act like your character’s therapist. When you put your characters in therapy, you discover their hidden fears and secrets, and all the motivation you need for their behavior.” – Kelly Simmons, novelist and former journalist
• Set and meet your writing deadlines. “Having a deadline draws you forward, past the demons and doubts and into the land of completion. As Rob Hartzler, a wise artist friend of mine, told me, “It doesn’t exist unless it’s finished.” - Claire Bardos, screenplay writer

I'll finish with my tip - an oldie but a goody "You can't edit a blank page". Forget editing, this is your time to make a dirty draft. Get the words there and you have something you can work with.

Okay, now stop procrastinating, keep your bum in the chair and get writing :o)

Getting in the flow.

So by now you should have fought your way through the beginning of your story. Those first few words, paragraphs, pages or even chapters have rolled off your fingertips and popped up on the screen in front of you. *phew* Feels good doesn't it? What's that I hear you say? Not so good? Well you're not the only one feeling that way. While I've managed some great numbers this week and I've almost put to bed my second project of the challenge I'm not convinced anything I've written is any good. *sigh* Does it have the punch needed to knock my readers out? Or does its little fingers reach out and grab hold and not let go? I'm tempted, very tempted to go back and edit/polish, but if I'm going to get to that 50k mark by the end of the month I can't afford to go back. There is no reverse gear in my writing this month! No matter how much it nags me I'm doing nothing but moving forward, I'm putting my fingers in my ears and singing lalalalala every single time my internal editor opens her mouth.
It's hard. Very hard because I'm a writer that likes to edit/polish along the way (which pleases my editor very much once the wip hits the submission stage) but it takes time to do that and time this month is a precious thing. It's like gold or diamonds. Water to a thirsty man. Every tick counts and the aim is to make every tock count too. I've decided a reward system doesn't work for me. *sigh* I've never been one to go after a reward, I'm more the type that just likes to get things done, my reward has always been the end product. And now I have the published stories to prove to myself that THE END is indeed a wonderful thing. *grin*
So what do you use to keep you on the straight and narrow this month? I'd love to hear what works for you all, and what doesn't. lol
Rhian
*May the Word Gods shine upon you*

Kick Off!

The ball is now in your court. Writing or editing, this month is about getting words on paper, there will be days when the last thing you will want to do is sit at your computer or desk and write. We have all been there and likely at some point be there again this month. It is these times that you turn to the group to help give you the motivation to fight through the tough times.

If you do find it hard to face your computer, try writing long hand. If you are hand writing your manuscript, have a change of scenery. Sit in your garden (if you have one), go to your local coffee shop, it really doesn’t matter where you go, just try something different.

I normally freeze half way through a month long challenge, I have about 3 to 4 days when everything goes blank and I get nothing when I’m writing, it’s like my characters decide to play hide-n-seek. It doesn’t matter how much I rand and carry on they just don’t come back until they are ready. Which is why I now also edit during these challenges, because if I ignore them running off to Lord knows where, they tend to return sooner rather than later. My point is change can be a good thing.

If this is your first 50ks in 30 Days, have fun, and enjoy the experience. If you are returning for another go at this craziness, lovely to have you back with us again.

Good luck with your word counts.

Sandie

June is Just Around the Corner

Can you believe we are gearing up for yet another 50k challenge?
The call went out and the troops are responding. Yes, once again we have some fearless writers ready to put butts in seats and write or type their fingers to the bone. Oh, did I forget to mention that?

For now, you have a month, to plot or finish your current WIP ready to write or edit in June. I am going to work on two novels I started with Paula Roe’s ‘A Novel in 3 Months’ Blog. I am also editing a few finished WIPs.

While I know we are not suppose to edit what we write during the month, I am finding if I do as my wonderful CP, Heather Brown does, and edit the previous day’s work. My finished draft is a lot easier to edit at the end, and seeing, as I hate editing, I am willing to try anything to make it all easier. The big question for me will be ‘Can I write 50ks working this way?’ Only time will tell.

If you have never done a 50k in 30 Days challenge, you are in for a ride. It is important not to over extend yourself. If you do not think you can write the 50ks, aim for something lower, 25 or 30ks the object is to get you writing, find a comfortable writing routine (my sucks at the moment.

I am looking forward to seeing how you all go this year.
Sandie

Lights, Camera... Kiss the Boss ~ A Review

Fellow RWAus, Bootcamper and 50/30 member Jenn McLeod recently had the pleasure of reading Nikki Logan's debut novel 'Lights, Camera... Kiss the Boss'. Nikki is one of the original 50ks in 30 Days challengers and is testament to the fact that you can have a novel published after under taking one of these challenges.


Here is our Jenn's review:

When talking about her writing, Nikki Logan says, she knows her job is done if her readers ‘catch a waft of rich earth and the spray of wild ocean between the pages’.

Well, she’s done that and more for this reader in her debut novel – Lights, Camera...Kiss the Boss.

Firstly, I love the concept – a landscape designer whose rooftop gardens bring beauty to the ‘natureless urban environments’ of Sydney’s city skyscrapers. Happiest with dirt on her hands, talking to her plants, Ava Lange suddenly finds herself thrust in front of the camera as presenter on a new TV reality show – Urban Nature. And camera-shyness is not her main concern. Her new boss is hotshot TV producer Daniel Arnot, the subject of her youthful infatuation nine years earlier.

Nikki has woven her passion for nature with her understanding of human emotion to give readers a delightfully contemporary story with a rich plot, blooming with colourful characters. The writing is fresh and flows from the start to the very last line. I particularly like how the parallel plot elements of nature, set against the lavish city life, reflects the conflict between down-to-earth Ava and her ambitious boss.

This is not another fall-in-love-with-the-boss story, nothing contrived or trite about it at all. Nikki’s characters are credible with very real issues and obstacles to overcome. She had me riding the romance rollercoaster with the very unassuming Ava Lange as she desperately tries to deal with unrequited love.

By writing about what she knows, Nikki has also given her readers an intriguing behind-the-scenes look at the television industry.

My favourite character: Nikki draws great characters to love and loath. I particularly enjoyed getting to know the unexpected uniqueness of a secondary character – Cadence. Very refreshing and wonderfully portrayed. Exceptional characterisation.

Favouite line: Every great romance has a great line – one that affects you so much you almost gasp (take Jerry McGuire’s, “You complete me” for example). Nikki provided that moment for me in this book with her perfectly poignant question about what makes a heart break. I’m not going to tell you what it is here - you’ll find it towards the end of Chapter Twelve.

Lights, Camera...Kiss the Boss, by Nikki Logan, is due for release in February. Be assured that this is definitely not an I’ve-read-it-all-before book.” I couldn’t put it down. It was lights, camera, action from beginning to end.

I’m told the real beginning for this story was back in June 2008 when members from Romance Writers Australia undertook their first 50ks in 30 Days challenge. It was Nikki’s first go at writing 50,000 words in a month, so it’s kind of fitting that it should be her first published novel, with Harlequin US snapping it up in November of that same year. Lights, Camera...Kiss the Boss hits the book stands in Australia in February 2010.

That’s a wrap on my review. Thank you Nikki Logan. A brilliant debut novel. One of many, I hope.For more about Nikki’s novels, visit her website http://www.nikkilogan.com.au/

Thank you Jenn for an entertaining and informative review, I can't wait for February.