Where Are You?

I am thrilled to say I'm done. But my story was only 41,353 words. I'm sure you're all either looking at your own word counts and thinking I've got this in the bag. Or, there is no way I'm going to make it.

Here is the reality. I just want you to finish the story and it's at this point things should be happening. Characters are making decisions on their own. Plot developments are happening. The couple realizes they're in love, or perhaps a key witness has been killed. The third week is when the shit hits the proverbial fan and somewhere between 30 and 40,000 words everything starts to move and pull you towards the end of the book.

Listen if you don't hit 50,000 by the end of your story don't worry. That wasn't the point of all of this. Kickstarting your creative spirit was. Getting you to sit down and put fingers to keyboard, pen to paper or however you chose to tell your story was the point of all of this.

You still have two weeks to go. Don't give up! You'll make it to that finish line yet.

The Second Week Blues

There comes a point in every writer's composition where the writer says, no mas, meaning no more, uncle, please stop, I can't take anymore. And why wouldn't you feel that way? You're between 11,000 and 30,000 words and the battle has begun.

The first week is magical right? The words just flow and somewhere along the way it's like someone turned off the tap to your imagination and you want to know who the hell did it lol. But hang in there, somewhere in this struggle other great things will start to happen.

Your characters will start doing things on their own. And sometime during the week your book will start to come to life and you'll have little to know control over what they do anymore. And just wait until the third week!

But right now I'm sure you're thinking this friggin' blows, what the heck is this lunatic talking about. But you have to trust me on this, it will happen. It happens like this all the time. And remember February 29th is the big smashing party featuring guest Stephen Zimmer and the book giveaway! So be sure to join me in the Muse Chatroom! http://themuseonlinewritersconference.com/x7chat/index.php on February 29 8-9PM!

One Week In

One week in and the words should be flowing, even if they're not congratulations! You've started a novel and that's more than some will ever do.

Are you asking yourself these questions, aren't most novels more than 50,000 words. Yes, traditional print books are longer than that. But there is a whole world of electronic publishing looking for your manuscripts. But that doesn't matter do you know why? Because in the rewriting process one of two things will happen, either your book will shrink or fatten up. But don't worry about that now, right now just work on making your manuscript happen period.

So far the words are flowing but where week one represents a unique challenge where all the set up gave you a chance to try things on and throw tons of words on the page week two is where your story will go through some growing pains.

Week Two makes you fight for your story but if you hang in there you will begin to see amazing things happen. Your characters will come to life in a way you've never seen before or perhaps you will be experiencing this joy all over again.

I know you can all do this. I'm contemplating turning this into an 80,000 word challenge. So here is my goal. Ten pages a day until until February 28th. Scary I know, but if I can just concentrate on those ten pages every day I should be good.

Make a simple goal for yourself this week. Maybe you're cruising along and don't need this pep talk but if you do, to be sure I know that you have it in you to complete this challenge. Leave a comment and win a chance at a free copy of Hurt So Good by Joely Sue Burkhart. In the mean time keep on keepin' on.

Tell Me About Your Hero

So what does your hero or heroine look like. Are they tall or are they short? Are they fat? Skinny? Muscular? Did you model them on a movie star? A rock star? A writer?

My hero is a jaded, womanizing alcoholic whose world is turned upside down when his 'case' turns out to be a half-breed Lonegal-Human with a heart of gold. Ravaged by punishment because of a crime she was driven to commit out rage and grief my hero must figure out how to get her out from underneath the charges without causing all out war to breakout between the Lonegals and Humans all over again.

Here is what my Bounty Hunter looks like. Sexy right? Well I'm writing a sci-fi erotic romance. Lots of hot sex and political intrigue. Just did a chapter away from the main couple but it was interesting and I think it added to the main plot of the book. Hey, when in doubt, add a subplot and a character. I thought the characters I'd added were just walk on parts. But hey shows what I know. I'm almost halfway done with my story, but don't worry if you're not. Go to the http://www.facebook.com/February50KBlowoutChallenge page and upload photos of your heroes and heroines. Tell me about your stories and let me know where your word count stands at. I'm at  22,253. But even if you've only got a couple of thousand or a couple of hundred words to your name that's better than the 0 words you had at the beginning of this journey. Remember, you can do this, you can hit 50K if you just keep plugging along.

I know you can all do this, I believe in you!

The Starting Line

So here we are, day one. Bright eyed and bushy tailed. This is the day we've all been waiting for. The day when all the anticipation and creative juices are given free reign to do as the please and the stories are ready to take flight.

There are some things I've learned over the years doing 50K challenges, namely NaNo and it's this: HAVE FUN. And during the first week you should be parting down. The words should come pretty easily mostly because you don't know what your story is just yet and that's where you'll be auditioning characters and plotlines and deciding what your caffeinated beverage to keep you going of choice is lol.

But even if you don't have the easiest time of it just work at getting your word count and getting words, any number of words down is good because sometimes we just need to know we can produce something in the face of something so daunting.

So as we all stand here on a brisk, cold, February 1st morning know this: 'For those relying on courage and nothing else, it can be done.' See you at the finish line!

The Final Countdown

Here we are less than twenty-fours before the start of the February 50K Blowout Challenge and I have to know what are you all writing about?

I'm writing a sci-fi erotic romance. The name of the piece is Bounty Hunter. There is political intrigue, aliens, personal vendettas, love, and hot sex. And somehow I have to come up with a happy ending. Oh well, I have twenty-eight days to figure it out. LOL.

Are you new to the 50K Challenge game, if so relax there will be plenty enough time for panic to be overcome by that sense of triumph later. Right now is the fun part. Right now is when you talk to your fellow writers on the journey and learn from them, commiserate with them, or just party with them. Just remember time doing that is time spent not working on your project.

This is not homework, however, it's designed to be a party with all of your craziest friends and new cool people they've brought along with them to hop along the challenge with you. There are prizes and I will be giving the first ones away tomorrow.

Meanwhile, tonight I'll be preparing my last complicated dinner for awhile. I'm making semi-homemade spaghetti and meatballs. Gotta carbo load for my final countdown.

Join with me 10...9...8...7...6...5...4...3...2...

Carbo Loading

What, pray tell, does carbo loading have to do with a 50K writing  challenge? Only everything and nothing. In a marathon where men and women run 26.2 miles they often 'carbo load' a few days leading up to the big day so that they will have the energy needed to run such a ridiculous distance. (Folks, I've done it, if you ever have the chance to do a marathon seize it, the accomplishment you'll feel is beyond compare) Well, when you're writing as ridiculously and as intensely as you will over the first 28 days in February you will need the proper fuel.

The first thing you will need is coffee, and while not high in carbs it is high one very important thing--caffeine. Like it black very well, I take mine like the Wolf does in Pulp Fiction--lots of cream lots of sugar. Not that I'm anywhere as near as cool as the Wolf, but you get my drift lol.

Do you have your carb stash? And by that I mean your take out. Admittedly if you're a Diabetic or have health problems that don't allow for this you need to find alternatives. But if you're not may I recommend Chinese, McDonalds, Burger King, Sonic, Wendys, White Castle, cold hot dogs, and candy.

Those needing alternatives take these burgers and place them on 100% whole wheat bread slices. Vegetable sticks dip them in ranch, and apples and peanut butter. Granola bars and greek yogurt with artificial sweetner.

That being said how many have their characters, their ideas, their brief outline sketches? Get prepared because on the first day I'm giving away Joely Sue Burkhart's Hurt So Good to the person who posts a comment to this blog, to the FB page or to the group first. So folks get ready for a rockin' good time!