When I first started this novel, I put each chapter in a separate Word document.  I wanted to put them all together in one document for this challenge so I could keep track of a total word count.  Well, heaven have mercy! I didn’t credit myself with enough words in all those pages. So here is the revised word count for the original pages.

Mills Crossing (quote, prologue, and first 7 chapters)

Today’s word count so far is 375 (yes, I know that sux rotten eggs). Clearly I have a long way to go to get back in the swing of writing every day. But today is not over yet, so I still have a shot at getting more words down. To tell the truth, I was discouraged over my failure to get a good start on this writing challenge. Then Jo Leigh reminded me that there’s more at stake in this challenge than just word count. Bless you, Jo! 

ps. I’m trying to learn how to do the trackback thing correctly, so please forgive me for any errors.  

I’ve had this story in my head for more years than I care to count. The working title has changed several times. I’ve written what I originally thought were seven chapters, but I’ve learned a few things since I wrote them and now I’m not sure they’re worth anything to the story. In my self-debate over participating in the 70 Days of Sweat, I wondered if I should trash everything and start the story over. I don’t think I will. I need to keep moving forward. The only way to have a complete first draft is to keep writing – no re-writing until the draft is finished.

Beginnings are important. Heck, the opening of a novel can make or break you in terms of getting agented and published. But a great opening is worthless unless something follows it – like a middle and an ending. As a starting point, I’m counting what I’ve already written. The challenge for me is to produce new pages. Lots of them. So let’s get to sweating!

Alison Kent is challenging writers to whip out a full draft of a novel in the next 70 days. She’s giving prizes, too. Now you’d think that would be awesome motivation and I’d just jump right in and say “Count me in!” But prizes weren’t enough to overcome my negative self-talk. I learned about the challenge last Friday, but have shucking and jiving with myself for this entire week. What if I signed up and couldn’t write 4–6 pages a day? What if I signed up and couldn’t write for 70 days in a row? Oh, believe me, the “what-ifs” can drive a body crazy. And it’s not like I haven’t been there/done that in the past. I have a friend who’s convinced I could start an excuse factory and make a fortune. LOL

So I’ve hemmed and hawed with myself, should I or shouldn’t I? Which of my stalled-out works in progress should I tackle? Should I start from scratch with something new? Then I got to thinking that maybe I didn’t really need to sign up and be a formal part of the challenge; I could just write my pages and not tell anyone. No public failure and humilitation that way, eh? Like that’s worked before. LOL

All week, I kept reading Alison’s blog, watching the number of challengers grow to over 200. I read all the comments, checked out a lot of blogs, read all the tips. And still I hesitated to take the plunge. I know I’m not the only writer who’s been stuck or discouraged or afraid of failure or just plain needs a good swift kick in the derriere.

The deadline to sign-up for the 70 Days of Sweat challenge is midnight CST. I’ve had my eye on the clock all evening, still debating. Maybe what I needed was that ticking clock. I finally made the decision. And Tony Robbins says to follow a decision with immediate action toward your goal.

So tonight my name went up as participant number 261.