Big Secret Goal Reveal: It’s 1977 All Over Again

It’s finally time to reveal one of those big secrets I’ve been keeping from you. And this big secret isn’t finished: it’s just beginning.

I’ve always wanted to write fiction, and have failed over and over. I get off to a great start then lose steam and stop. That’s about to change – thanks to The Write Practice’s 100 Day Book Challenge.

100 Day Book

Sure, I’ve written a lot of poetry. And yes, I co-wrote through the first draft of a cozy mystery with a friend. I believe that 100 Day Book will encourage me to finish the first draft of a novel I’ve wanted to write for years. How does this program work?

It started with a book plan that was submitted over the weekend. That plan outlines my goals. And you know how I feel about goals, right?

So, of course, this 100 days is a mission! It’s an adventure! And if I hit all the deadlines and finish the first draft on or before September 6, 100 Day Book will pay me $100 and I will give me a weekend getaway.

Pants Or Plans?

In the fiction writing world, you either write that first draft flying by the seat of your pants (aka “pantser”) or you plan meticulously. I’ve tried pantsing my way through a first draft and it was sad.

Turns out, I’m more of a planner. I even have an Excel spreadsheet with a scene-by-scene breakdown. It has character arcs and a few more things I may talk about at a later date.

You remember that I wanted to write 250 words a day, five days a week? Well part of the book plan was breaking down the novel by how many words you need to write per week. I already have about 20,000 words written so to hit a goal of 70,000 words, I need to write 3500 words per week every week over the next fourteen weeks. Yikes!

Tell Me More

This is a coming of age novel set in the 1970’s. So this summer, I’ll be reliving the Autumn of 1977 through that character’s eyes. Here are some hints:

Let’s Go!

So here I go, working my way through the first draft of a novel that I’ve wanted to write for a l.o.n.g. time. Tell me about your memories from high school and the 1970s – good, bad, funny, sad, or tell me what projects you have planned for this summer.