Wednesday, October 10, 2007

One Down, Two to Go

You might have noticed the 4-week challenge on my sidebar, where I've been tracking my progress through my current manuscript. As you can see, my goal was to reach 70,000 words by the deadline (which was yesterday), and I made it, squeaking past the finish line around 9:10 pm with 137 extra words.

The challenge was Tristi's idea, and I'm glad I hopped on board, because it gave me the motivation and the accountability to keep moving forward, even on days when it didn't feel possible.

The problem now is that I still have to keep going on this book at the same pace, and Tristi's challenge is over. Now what?

The way I see it, I have two more challenges ahead.

I'm hereby instituting my own 4-week challenge, beginning today, October 10th, and ending on Wednesday, November 7th. Again I'll track it right here so that I'll just have to get it done to avoid embarrassing myself in front of the blogosphere.

Then I'll have edits and revisions to do, just in time for Thanksgiving and Christmas to stop by. Won't THAT be fun? Actually, I did this last year, too, and while it was a bit crazy, I did manage it.

Here's my goal for challenge #2:

By November 7th I will have this book fully drafted. At this point I'm shooting for about 95,000 words, which would mean 25,000 words need to be written between now and then. I'm hoping, hoping, hoping, this story doesn't go longer than that, or my challenge will be up a creek.

Assuming I reach my goal, challenge #3 will kick in: Turning in this puppy to my new editor (Hi, Kirk!) by Christmas.

After drafting, I'll spend a few days polishing, dusting, and fixing before printing it out for trusted readers to go over and hack to pieces on my behalf. I'll be doing the same to it (and likely to theirs; several of us are in the final stretch).

When I get their feedback, I'll spend a few weeks rewriting and revising before my self-imposed Christmas deadline. (I have readers asking me to write faster to get the Manti book out. See, people! I'm trying, I'm trying! This will give it a shot to come out next fall. Ish. Assuming I feel good enough about the final product to turn it in on time.)

At which point I'll collapse, wrap some presents, decorate a tree, curl up with some hot chocolate and White Christmas (Christmas ain't Christmas without Bing) and not even think about writing until the new year.

Or not. It's hard to turn off that side of your brain when it's been running full-steam for so long.

But maybe I'll take a couple of days during the break to get my kids' photo albums at least sort of caught up.

In the meantime, I'll leave up the old 4-week challenge results for a few days, just so I can see it and think, "Ah, I did it!" but I'll also have a new one tracking my word count from 70,000 to finished manuscript.

Wish me luck.

14 comments:

Jenna said...

Wishing you BEST LUCK. Your dedication and discipline is so admirable. I suppose that's why you get so much written! I'm really rooting for you, Annette!

Unknown said...

From me, too. This is one solid commitment.

Luisa Perkins said...

Annette, you inspire me daily. How did I get on without you all these years?

Luisa Perkins said...

Oh, and PS! You're tagged for a super fun meme! Because you need that distraction from your worthy goals. ;)

Heather Moore said...

Yeah for you! At least you can see the end. I want to turn in my book by Christmas too, and I'm only at 50,000. I'm considering adding another POV which will stir everything up. Good luck!

Annette Lyon said...

Thanks, everyone! Knowing I have people rooting for me (and watching from the sidelines) should help keep me moving.

Luisa, I'll heading over right now to check out that meme!

Momo Fali said...

Good luck! For the record...I don't think you need luck when you have talent!

C.J. said...

Congratulations on getting so much done.

By the way I've tagged you.

C.J. said...

Sorry I said his name was Sam--It's ABE! So sorry.

Anonymous said...

hi annette: i am rooting for you, too! way impressed with the goal you have set for yourself :) kathleen

Autumn Ables said...

Good for you! I'm very impressed- keep up the great work Candace;)

Avery Gray said...

Oh, golly! You're my hero! Good luck with your goals!!

Unknown said...

Good luck with that, Annette. You inspire me.

Annette Lyon said...

Thanks again--wow, such support!

And Carole, don't feel bad that you didn't remember his name. I don't remember character names from other books that well, but I'm hugely flattered that you remembered what he was like and added him to your list!

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