The Journal: All About Challenges

In today’s Journal

* All About Challenges
* Today
* Of Interest
* The Numbers

In the first “Of Interest” link today, DWS talks about and clarifies his Great Challenges (Publishing, Novel Writing, and Short Story Writing).

If you want to jump-start your writing, I can’t recommend them strongly enough. In fact, if I had the funds, I’d jump into all three, and at least two (Publishing and either of the others). But with my current level of production, I’d also feel like I was cheating.

After all, to satisfy the requirements of the Publishing challenge, you have to publish only 12 major works (novels, novellas or collections or any combination of those) in a year, one each month. For the Novel challenge, you have to write only one 30,000-word novel every two months. And for the Short Story challenge, you have to write a short story every week.

So instead of jumping in, I’m following along on the sidelines. Aside from the initial investment (not really a “cost” because it’s a win-win), I’m on the sidelines for three reasons:

1. I’ve taken most of the lectures and workshops that I want to take, so with my age and health, the lifetime subscription carrot holds no real value for me.

2. I want to achieve my goals (at least 12 novels and at least 52 short stories this year) without chasing a dangling carrot, simply for the joy and satisfaction of having achieved my goals.

3. I’m confident enough in my work (thanks to Dean) that I don’t need “a place to report.” In other words, I want to do it all on my own, sans external encouragement even from my mentor.

The only reason I occasionally DO consider jumping in (anyone can do so at any time) is this: Dean reads your stories and novels, and if he likes your writing (if it’s to his taste) it might open up other markets (being invited to write for his anthologies). Note that this is my supposition based on long observation, not something that Dean has ever announced to my knowledge.

We all need more markets, so that’s the only reason that holds any temptation for me at all.

If you’re younger than I and/or in better health, jumping into any of these challenges, or into any two or all three, would be a great way to get going. I think I’m safe in saying you absolutely won’t regret it.

Today I wrote this Journal entry, a lengthy email to Nate Hoffelder (The Digital Reader) requesting assistance, and a patron-only topic via email for my patrons titled “Think Like a Writer.” I’ll cross-post that one to PWW one of these Saturdays.

I wrote a little on the novel this morning, but how much I get done in that regard will depend on my mood over the next couple of hours. I’ll report numbers below.

Unfortunately, my wife and I have a funeral to attend later this morning for a dear friend struck down in her early 50s by breast cancer.

And I read this morning that racecar driver John Andretti also died, also in his early 50s, after a battle with colon cancer. I wish our scientists would find a way to cure all cancers at least until people had led long, full lives. Now there’s a really worthwhile challenge.

Anyway, talk with you again soon.

PS: I’ll write my short story for this week either later today or tomorrow (whereupon it will count on next month’s word totals.) Either way, I’ll report on that tomorrow.

Of Interest

See “Challenge Question” at https://www.deanwesleysmith.com/challenge-question/.

See “Want More People to Support Your Book? Don’t Make These 2 Mistakes.” at https://www.janefriedman.com/want-more-people-to-support-your-book-dont-make-these-2-mistakes/.

See “Rod McKuen – GBNF” at https://prowriterswriting.com/rod-mckuen-gbnf/.

The Numbers

Fiction words today…………………… 1832
Nonfiction words today…………… 1350 (770, Patron-only topic) (580, Journal)

Writing of Algae Prime (SF novel?)

Day 1…… 2421 words. Total words to date…… 2421
Day 2…… 3312 words. Total words to date…… 5733
Day 3…… 2205 words. Total words to date…… 7938
Day 4…… 0578 words. Total words to date…… 8516
Day 5…… 1440 words. Total words to date…… 9956
Day 6…… 2243 words. Total words to date…… 12199
Day 7…… 1832 words. Total words to date…… 14031

Total fiction words for the month……… 65544
Total fiction words for the year………… 65544
Total nonfiction words for the month… 31260
Total nonfiction words for the year…… 3160
Total words for the year (fiction and this blog)…… 96803

Calendar Year 2020 Novels to Date…………………… 2
Calendar Year 2020 Novellas to Date……………… X
Calendar Year 2020 Short Stories to Date… 2
Novels (since Oct 19, 2014)…………………………………… 47
Novellas (since Nov 1, 2015)………………………………… 8
Short stories (since Apr 15, 2014)………………… 199
Short story collections……………………………………………… 31