Self Challenge: 3 books in 12 Months.

[D.D. Chant]

Okay.

So here I am about to do something I'm BOUND to regret!!!
I have decided to get my act together.
I know, I know: you're all thinking 'it's about blinking time!!!' ;-P

I'm challenging myself to complete the next books in all three of my series in 2013!!!

From my Broken City series:

'Broken Truce' (Update: COMPLETED!!!)



From my Lady Quill Chronicles series:

'The Vow' (Update: COMPLETED!!! 3000 words into the 1st edit)



And from my Chronicles of Discord series:

'Severance' (Update: 100.000 words in.)


I'm already 25.000 words into 'Truce' so I'll have a bit of a head start there, but this is a HUGE ask and although I decided to do this some time ago, I'm still a bit worried now I've told everyone!

If I manage to complete 'Truce' and get half way through 'The Vow' I'll be pleased.

If I manage to complete both 'Truce' AND 'The Vow' I'll be VERY pleased.

But if I manage to complete ALL THREE I'll be ECSTATIC!!!

If I bottle it, I'm deleting this thread and will pretend that none of this ever happened!!!

;-P

[Elle]

GOOD LUCK DEEEDEEEEEEE!!!

[D.D. Chant]

Thanks Elle!

Just be there for me if I fail miserably, okay???

[Elle]

I will be here with HUGS AND HUGS AND HUGS.

Sure I failed miserably at mine last year. I know failure like an old friend.

[D.D. Chant]

That's okay then. Just so long as I have a shoulder to cry on when my brilliant idea turns out to be somewhat less brilliant than I thought!!!

[Philip (sarah)]

Good Luck with the personal challenge D.D.
I can't help you out with the writing other than to offer support and encouragement but I can stand in with fluffy pillow and brownie distribution when required!

[D.D. Chant]

Philip (sarah) wrote: "Good Luck with the personal challenge D.D.
I can't help you out with the writing other than to offer support and encouragement but I can stand in with fluffy pillow and brownie distribution when re..."

Thanks P.S.!!!

I'm holding you to that!!! Lol!

[Jim]

Hi DD
It is quite a tall order, but best of luck with it

[D.D. Chant]

Thanks Jim!

I have the plots for all of the books (mostly) sorted out...

I guess we'll just have to see what happens!!!

[Lorraine]

Wheyhey DD ! Good luck !

[Kath]

good luck DD :) we'll be here for encouragement, support, hugs, kicks up the bum and nibbles... plenty of nibbles :)

[D.D. Chant]

Thanks Kath and Lori!!!

All encouragement, support, hugs and nibbles are VERY welcome!!!

GL promised to wave her branding iron around if I slack off... now I'm kinda scared!!!

[Gingerlily - The Full Wild]

Well it has cooled down now that im away . Ill have to warm it up when I get back.

[D.D. Chant]

*Heaves sigh of relief*

[[deleted user]]

All the best, Dd!

I did do a double take when I saw your heading though - I thought it was a joke, read three books in 12 months! Slow reader... Then I realised it was you and it must about writing!

;0)

[D.D. Chant]

Karen (Kew) wrote: "All the best, Dd!

I did do a double take when I saw your heading though - I thought it was a joke, read three books in 12 months! Slow reader... Then I realised it was you and it must about writin..."

Lol!!!

Thanks Kew!!!

Well with all that writing I might only have time for 3 books!!!

I will MAKE time!!!

[Emma]

Good luck Deed :-) xx

[D.D. Chant]

Thanks Emz!!!

Will need all the positive vibes you can spare!!! xxx

[D.D. Chant]

I was really busy today and didn't manage to do any writing!!!

*Gasp*

If I'm to stay on track that had better not happen too much next year!

I *did* however, manage to sort out an important plot point.

[Jim]

D.D. wrote: "I was really busy today and didn't manage to do any writing!!!

*Gasp*

If I'm to stay on track that had better not happen too much next year!

I *did* however, manage to sort out an important plot point...."

Important plot points are, by definition important. Get them sorted in your mind and you'll write three times as much next day as you would have done. ;-)
Today all I did was think up a 'throw away line' one character can make. An old joke which allows him to reveal a little about his past.
I added 55 words but deleted 20 that had already been there. I wonder if anyone will ever pick up on it

[Patti (baconater)]

*hands Deedee a freshly sharpened brand new pencil and a pristine notebook*

Happy first day of your challenge!

I know you can do it!

[D.D. Chant]

Patti (Festive Figgy Pudding) wrote: "*hands Deedee a freshly sharpened brand new pencil and a pristine notebook*

Happy first day of your challenge!

I know you can do it!"

Thank you Peppermint P.!!!

The support has been great, I'm full of get up and go!!!

[Elle]

DAY 1 UPDATE DEMANDDDDDD!

[D.D. Chant]

Louise-Lesley (Elle) wrote: "DAY 1 UPDATE DEMANDDDDDD!"

Lol!!!

So far so good, Elle!!! ;-P

I finalised a really big plot point a few days ago which has a big part in what's going on in the story right now. So that's made things a bit easier on me!

[Elle]

Woop! Go DD. I expect regular updates!!!!!

[Jim]

Louise-Lesley (Elle) wrote: "Woop! Go DD. I expect regular updates!!!!!"

but not too regular, DD has to spent her time writing books not writing updates on why she's been busy to write books because of all the updates we demand :-)

[D.D. Chant]

Jim wrote: "Louise-Lesley (Elle) wrote: "Woop! Go DD. I expect regular updates!!!!!"

but not too regular, DD has to spent her time writing books not writing updates on why she's been busy to write books becau..."

Lol!

So THAT's my problem!!! ;-P

[Jim]

That's your problem in a nutshell. You're a creative artist. You shouldn't be held to account like some damned hack!
You should be awakened, sensitively, at some sensible time before noon, ideally with a beverage of choice. You should be told at the time that your bath is already run, and after your bath you make your way downstairs and eat the breakfast laid out ready for you whilst you read the post.
At about noon your three secretaries arrive, one for each book. You dictate to each as you pace backwards and forwards across the carpet in the orangery, until finally, at perhaps three in the afternoon, creative juices spent, you pack them off to write up the days work. You take take a light collation, and then the secretaries return with the work done today. You dismiss them to their homes and work through the manuscripts with your red pencil, before glancing at the clock and realising it's almost time to dress for dinner. At 8pm the taxi arrives to collect you. From then on your time is your own.

[D.D. Chant]

Jim wrote: "That's your problem in a nutshell. You're a creative artist. You shouldn't be held to account like some damned hack!
You should be awakened, sensitively, at some sensible time before noon, ideally ..."

Spooky, Jim!!!

How did you know my routine so well!!! The only thing you got wrong is that I don't pace the whole time when I dictate, half way through my masseuse arrives to stop me getting too tense.

[D.D. Chant]

I have finished my problematic scene!!!

Yay!!!

AND I'm on target word wise!!!

[Jim]

D.D. wrote: "How did you know my routine so well!!! The only thing you got wrong is that I don't pace the whole time when I dictate, half way through my masseuse arrives to stop me getting too tense..."

Oh that's easily explained. I couldn't spell masseuse

[D.D. Chant]

Jim wrote: "D.D. wrote: "How did you know my routine so well!!! The only thing you got wrong is that I don't pace the whole time when I dictate, half way through my masseuse arrives to stop me getting too tens..."

I googled it! ;-P

[Elle]

Congrats DD!

[Jud]

Good luck DD :o) my challenge will be to read them all once you have written them

[[deleted user]]

Jud (Disney Diva) wrote: "Good luck DD :o) my challenge will be to read them all once you have written them"

That's a good idea, you can have a year off challenges while you wait for Dd to finish!

;0)

[D.D. Chant]

Thanks everyone!!! ;-P

You'll have to read 'Fracture' first, Jud, or 'Severance' will be wayyyyyy confusing!!!

[Patti (baconater)]

Oh Jim that was wonderful!!!

Giggling away here.

I may have to take up writing!

[Jud]

I have read fracture DD, silly billy.

[Jim]

Patti (Bowl of Cherries) wrote: "Oh Jim that was wonderful!!!

Giggling away here.

I may have to take up writing!"

I'm not sure whether you could get an adequate masseuse in Baku

[D.D. Chant]

Jud (Disney Diva) wrote: "I have read fracture DD, silly billy."

Have you?!?!?!?

That is soooooooo weird! I don't remember sending you a copy!!!

Oh dear: what else don't I remember?!?!?!?

*Goes off to make sure marbles are still safe in dusty jar on the shelf*

[D.D. Chant]

Okay! Update time!!!

Made my word target again today!!! Yay!!! :-)

However...

Kew posted a link to some on sale books and I now have two new series totalling 11 books on my kindle...

They keep calling to me in sultry whispers!!!

*Eye twitches*

[Elle]

LOL!

One of my freinds is a keen reader also (but hates the internet so no chance of her coming on here).

Her drug is photography. She loves it but she seems to only do one thing at a time - read or photograph things.

She started a system last year that could work for you too.

It's based on an old study system when you have multiple subjects.

It can work two or three ways

Either using hours, days or weeks.

Pretty much you split your free time in half and focus on one thing at a time. Either doing it 1/2 and 1/2 in a day or doing it 2 days doing one thing and 2 days doing the other, or even 1 week doing one thing and one week doing another.

It works for her. One week she reads in her free time. The next she will do some photography. It works so well for her I think because she gets inspired in the week she is reading and then takes notes for her to use when she is doing photography.

Her theory was that if you do something creative constantly you are gonna run out of ideas so if you do something fun for a week you will let all the creativity build up and by the time you go to photograph (or write in your case) you can do it quicker and easier



TLDR: you can do both, just organise yourself!

[D.D. Chant]

Hmmm...

That could work...

;-P

[[deleted user]]

D.D. wrote: "Okay! Update time!!!

Made my word target again today!!! Yay!!! :-)

However...

Kew posted a link to some on sale books and I now have two new series totalling 11 books on my kindle...

They keep ..."

Mwuhahahahahahahaha

[D.D. Chant]

Karen (Kew) wrote: "D.D. wrote: "Okay! Update time!!!

Made my word target again today!!! Yay!!! :-)

However...

Kew posted a link to some on sale books and I now have two new series totalling 11 books on my kindle....."

Bad, Kew!!! ;-P

[Jud]

Oh here you're right DD I'm getting confused. I was thinking of broken city, I haven't read fracture yet. Is it on amazon now?

[D.D. Chant]

Jud (Disney Diva) wrote: "Oh here you're right DD I'm getting confused. I was thinking of broken city, I haven't read fracture yet. Is it on amazon now?"

Not yet; it goes live in March!!!

[D.D. Chant]

Okay... I didn't make my quota today. I feel really nervous about it, like I'm on the slippery road to failure!!!

[Elle]

It's okay.

If you fail one day don't let yourself get down. Use a technique my friend taught me. Instead make a list of what you did instead, noting everything positive, even if it was stupid. As long as it made you smile, do it.

Read it and then smile again, because even if you didn't get your goals done, you had a good day and it was worth it!

Then, start again tomorrow :D

[Jim]

D.D. wrote: "Okay... I didn't make my quota today. I feel really nervous about it, like I'm on the slippery road to failure!!!"

You are, it's called life ;-)
You have set yourself a goal, three books in a year. This is quite a task. However it isn't just a case of mechanically churning out words on a page. You are making something, and sometimes things go well and sometimes they good badly.
Just as you shouldn't get over excited if they go well, don't get too worried if they go badly.

If you can dream - and not make dreams your master;
If you can think - and not make thoughts your aim;
If you can meet with Triumph and Disaster
And treat those two impostors just the same;


All in all if you produce two cracking books this year and are a fair way into a third, it's a good year's work.

Indeed, if this year you only write one book, but in twenty years time, some bit of a lass meets you in a book shop and says 'Thank you', because of your book I realised reading was fun, and through some bad times, reading has kept me sane' then I'd venture to suggest that this year can be chalked up as a success.


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SJUhlR...