The Challenge Bug Has Bit My Butt

I’ve gone and done it again. Found a new challenge site ‘Kiwi Writers’ , loads of challenges here. As you know I love a challenge or two, even three or more. Yes I’ve signed on for a few of their challenges. I’ll give you a run down on the ones I’ve entered and let you know how I go.

 

Put first I’m taking a week off from my writing. Taking time to smell the roses so to speak. Well at least spend some time with my grandson. So no writing on any of my current WIP’s until next Monday. Over the weekend I have to write 2,000 words on a subject I don’t normally write about, so I going to write the opening or introduction to a book I want to write about my Mum and her sister, my Auntie Mary. I can do that.

 

Okay so to the challenges;

I don’t know yet if this is run monthly or bi-monthly but the idea is to write 2,000 on a theme that is given to you by the challenge co-ordinate or developer.

This month’s, tell a story about a main character you don’t normally write about. This one starts on the 18th July and finishes on the 20th July 2008.

 

The challenge is to write, edit and publish a book in 2008. Technically on word count I have finished this challenge but of course I haven’t finished editing nor have I submitted the book for publishing. So to me i haven’t reached my goal or reached the end of the challenge. This challenge runs from 29th November 2007 to 31st December 2008. So I still have time, and I’m going to need it.

 

Okay this one may be a little harder for me to achieve. But I’m giving it a go anyway. The challenge is to write 500,000 words in just 5 months. that’s 100ks a month. Challenge starts 22nd June and ends 27th November 2008. I have just over 18,500 words so I need to get my finger out from next week.

 

The challenge is to write and extra 20,000 words on top of the SoCNoC (Southern Cross Novel Challenge) which is run during June. So for this challenge I need to write another 20,000 words on top of the 75,000+ I wrote during ‘50ks In 30 Days’ I can do that. Yes of course I can.

 

This one should be easy, if I do the extra 20k on top of my June total all I need to do than is add another 5,000 words to that total. The challenge runs from July 2nd to October 2nd 2008. Yep I can do that one.

 

 

Okay the last challenge for ‘Kwiw Writers’ that I’ve signed up for so far in ‘The End is Nigh’ the rules are simply; Choose one or more uncompleted works of fiction or writing related tasks to complete in the 31 days of August.

 

So I have a full few months ahead of me. I’ve also issued a challenge to the ladies of ‘50ks In 30 Days’, well a couple of challenges really the first one is ‘A Page A Day’, all we have to do is write a page a day, jusy 250 words in 24 hours. Last week wasn’t too bad, I’ll have to wait and see how they go this week.

 

The next challenge is ‘From Start To Publish’, this is like the Kiwi ’Publish a Book 2008′ only difference is that ou have a year to do it in, no added time. Word count is up to each individual, as is genre. I’ve had a few takers so far. The challenge starts on 1st November 2008 and ends 31st October 2009. One year to write, edit and submit a book. I’ll have to work on a logo for that one. My project for this challenge is a 100k Historical Romance set in Australia, working title ‘ These Chains That Bind Us’. 

 

So you are now up to date with my challenge life, and you know what I’ll be doing for the next twelve months at least. WRITING and WRITING, and EDITING. Oh I also have to finish one of my novellas ready to submit next month.

 

Catch ya soon.
Hugs

Sandie

I’ve Done It!!

The end is here, yes 50ks In 30 Days has come to an end. What a wonderful month with have had. We started with the month with 51 challengers and ended with 46 either completing the challenge or at least getting some great word totals. Everyone has said that they have enjoyed the month and have never written so many words  in a month before.

 

RC, you know Rachel C/Rhian is hoping to reach 100k. I’ve decided to call her Queen of the Bionic Fingers. She has had an amazing month. The last couple of days we have seen a lot of the girls make the sprint home, a few had not been sure at the start of the month if they would make it to the 50k, but true to the Aussie sprite they continued on. Other just had the whole universe fighting against them and no matter what they did event from the real world just would not leave them alone. Yet they continued, continued writing determined to at least work towards a personal best.

 

So what was my final total? Well that would be 75,080. I now have three novels of 50k to edit as well as two of 15k. So July is looking at being another busy month, I’m thinking this editing may roll over into August which is fine, as long as at the end I have something that will be worthwhile submitting.

 

Well that’s me for another challenge. I have a few BIAW coming up, but other than that life may be a little slower. WOOHOO won’t that be nice.

 

Hugs

Sandie

  

What A Difference A Week Makes

The final week of ‘50ks In 30 Days’ the month seems to have flown by, just as this week has. Last week I was on a roll working on one novel, pounding out the words as they ran through my mind. My hero and heroine were working well with me, giving me all the information I needed and wanted. I got to the end of their story, all be it a couple of thousand words short, but I’m confident that I’ll make those up in my editing and rewriting of their story. At least I have something to work with, know where I’m going, no surprises jumping up to bit me on the nose.

 

So imagine to my horror this week when I sat down to finish the third of my books that I had pegged for this challenge and there was nothing! Not a thing, well not from the characters I was expecting things from. Seems I made a big mistake leaving that pair doing the horizontal tango on the kitchen table while I ran off eagerly ready to take on someone else’s story. Are they punishing me? Or are they just too busy having fun that they have locked the door and not letting me in to bust them up again? Do they know that if I start to write their story again one of them is going to face heartache again? All these questions and no answers, well not from that pair anyway.

 

True to form, I’m never left for too long before someone pokes their head out and want to play. This week instead of one I have two stories going at once, now I know for some people this is not so unusual, well it’s not for me either, but I do normally have at least a couple of chapters done before they do this to me. No this week I’ve started one completely from scratch and the other I only had a couple of paragraphs written. I must say that this early in the projects I’m enjoying them, they are fun and way over sexed. If they aren’t having sex they are making innuendoes about it. So much fun to be around these people. I’m hoping I can keep these to around the 15k mark for the ‘Spicy Briefs’ line.

 

Anyway over the past week I have written just over 10ks putting me over the 60ks for the month so far, three novels ready for editing next month so far, I’ve got to be happy with that. I’m living in hope to finishing one or both of these WIP’s I’m working on, if I do that I will be dancing on sunshine.

 

I’m going to get ready to watch the ‘First Tuesday Book Club’ which is weird because it’s the last Tuesday, but hey who am I to point that out. Anyway Anne Gracie, the president of RWAustralia is on tonight so should be interesting.

 

Catch ya next week, unless I have something really interesting come up before then.

Hugs

Sandie

 

I Reached My Traget, But Not My Goal

I reached my target today, just not my goal. Well kind of, sorta I did. I finished the novel I was working on this passed week, but I didn’t get to the 50,000 words with it. I know when I edit it I’ll get there but at the moment I just really do not want to go back and add anything yet. The biggest thing with the story is that I started it almost two years ago, my writing has changed, I think, no I believe I have grown as a writer so there will be a lot of changes. Anyway with finishing that one up and doing a bit more to a couple of other WIP’s I reached my target of 50,000 words for the month. So YAYA me. I haven’t told the girls at 50/30 yet, I’ll do that tomorrow. I really didn’t think I’d get any writing done today but just plodding along I got there. I still have a couple more WIP’s to work on before the end of the month, so I might get my goal yet.

I’m hoping to be able to see my chiropractor tomorrow. I pulled something in my back or shoulder the other day when I was doing some housework, dangerous occupation housework. Anyway if I sit for too long typing it gives me curry. So on that note, I’m going to say goodnight. Yes it’s night time here in the wonderful land of Oz. Happy writing.

Hugs

Sandie 

Two Weeks Down, Two to Go

We are at the end of week two for the ‘50ks In 30 Days’ challenge. I’m on 44,104 words for the challenge and almost finished the second WIP I wanted finished. I had hoped to have it finished today but with two days out with my saggy middle and my daughter and grandson staying with us tonight I didn’t quite make it.

Tomorrow I’m off to the movies with my grandson to see ‘Speed Racer’, the horse show we were supposed to go to has been cancelled due to the forecast of rain. So it is movies in the morning for me, then writing in the afternoon. Hopefully I’ll be able to get the last 5,896 words done to finish this story so I can get to work on the next one.

The next story is my erotic romance. I’m at 30,248 words for it so only have another 19,752 to go. If I can get this one finished this month as well that will give me four full MS’s to edit in July. Of course if I get my finger out and finish this one in the week, I still have another eight I can work on.  This will be good practice for me and November with NaNoWriMo, I plan to write an Historical romance, they are normally 70,000 to 100,000+ words, if I can write at this speed in November I just may get my Historical finished or very close to finished.

I’ve been giving some thought to some of my current WIP’s and I may change a couple to novellas. I’ll see how I go, last time I tried writing a novella it turned into a novel. So maybe if I try for a novel it may turn into a novella. Yes I know its Irish but I know what I mean.

Anyway I’m off to bed. I happy I got to do at least a little writing tonight. I have to be up early in the morning ready for my movie adventure and if I’m very lucky I may even get an hour’s writing in before I go. I girl can only hope.

HUgs

Sandie

 

Saggy Middle

I woke up this morning ready and rearing to go. I was sure I’d be able to make up the 1,000+ words I needed to stay in touch of my goal to finish my latest WIP. I sat down at my computer ready to write, had my big mug of coffee. Fingers paused over the keyboard sure I would reach my 564 words needed in the first half hour. I wrote 223 words in 15 minutes, had a few interruptions so that wasn’t too bad. The clock ticked ready for my second sprint 400 words not bad, but not good. I was supposed to be on 1600+ words, I was on 623 and that was where I stayed for the rest of the day.

I was getting nothing for my hero. He was meant to be opening up, be upset because heroine had kicked him out of the house he was sharing with her and their daughter. He’d seen her holding hand with some model type guy. He was the one that should be holding her hand. What did I get? Him unpacking boxes and walking around with a face like thunder. Come on I’m yelling at him, but to no avail. Nope I was getting nothing out of him today. I would have gone onto another scene but I was getting nothing from heroine either. What was wrong with them today? They’d been so good, so giving, so bloody nice. Now they had just up and shut me out. I WAS NOT HAPPY.

I went for a walk, no, that didn’t help. So I thought I’ll fix you NO SEX. Nope, that didn’t work either. Hubby came home from work, so I told him what was going on (or lack of going on) with my story. His answer “That’s because he’s the hero he can do whatever he pleases.” Well that’s no help to me. My characters do whatever they want anyway.

Then it hit me like running into a brick wall, I’m in my SAGGY MIDDLE. Yep, happens every challenge, I get so far into it and I hit the wall for a day or two. Now you would think this sag could have happened at the weekend when I have my daughter and grandson staying, no likely to get much writing done then. Sunday I’m off to another horse show (photo taking duties again) if the weather holds off. Two days where I’m going to get very little writing done. But, noooo I have to have MY saggy middle during the week when I’m here on my own. Well there’s nothing I can do about it, I just have to go with the flow and hope it only lasts a couple of days. That will give me Friday, Frantic Friday to get a decent amount of words on paper. At least it wasn’t a complete waste; I did get to do some character charts and a few notes down ready for my editing next month. But I won’t get this WIP finished this week. Oh well I have time, but I sooooo wanted to get it finished so I could get onto another one to finish.

I’m going to take all my saggy bits now and go and have a bath. Lay back in a nice hot bubble bath and read a bit more of Robyn Grady’s ‘A wild Night & A Marriage Ultimatum’. I don’t normally read while I’m writing, but I read the first couple of pages and just had to keep reading. So today Robyn is my life saver.

My total for the challenge is 34,225 words, just another 15,775 to go to reach my goal. Of course I’ll go on until the end of the month, if I can get another two WIP’s finished I’d be very happy. Okay off to a bath to read. Hubby is watching the footy.

Catch ya later.
Hugs
Sandie

Week One of ‘50ks In 3Days’

Week one of the 50ks In 30 Days is drawing to a close and I’ve had a very successful week. I’m on 22,578 words and have finally finished my CataU project. ‘If I were A Rich Man’ has turned out quite well I think, I am happy with how it finished up. One WIP down ten more to go, now I just have to see who shouts the loudest to get my attention. LOL. They are all very quite at the moment.

Anyway I’m taking a couple of days off and will start back with my writing on Sunday. I think it would be a good idea to take sometime to get the sexy eyes of Mackiney Stafford out of my head.

 

If you get the chance duck over to the 50/30 blog and have a look at who well everyone is going, the link is here; http://writeinjune.blogspot.com

 

Well I’m off to watch ‘Pride and Prejudice’ with Colin Firth of course and have an other cup of coffee, which I think I’m becoming slightly addicted too. Until next time.

 

Hugs

Sandie

As One Challenge Ends, Another Begins!

 So CataU’s ‘Novella In A Month’ has finished. My final word count 27,218 and still going. I have to say I was pleased with this challenge, the word flowed easily and the characters keep me interested. Which is just as well because I still have a lot of writing to do before I finish this story. I’d like to thank everyone involved with this challenge, they all do a wonderful job.

 

It seems like I have been preparing for this challenge forever. Maybe it’s because I have a more active roll. Anyway at last it is here. Day one had it’s ups and downs, but in the end I was able to write 6,096 words. I’m happy with what I achieved and I have a good start to my challenge. Tomorrow is the start of a new day bringing with new twists and turns, question and very few answers. So what will my characters have in store for me tomorrow? Which characters will come out to play? And the thirty million dollar question, will they play nice?

 

The ladies worked hard on their writing today with quite a few surprising themselves I think. If you’d like to see how we are all faring go to http://writeinjune.blogspot.coma few of the word meters have been updated and personally I think we are all looking pretty damn good.

 

Hugs

Sandie

When Life Steps In & Computers Crash

My writing has come to a screaming halt the last few days. No matter how much I tried to fight it my home life just pushed it way into my time. I can’t complain really (well I could but that wouldn’t be fair) my hubby has put up with me sitting at my computer every chance I get for weeks now. (No it is more like months). Anyway he was home sick for two days, and yesterday we went to a horse show, I missed most of it because I had to come home for a form we had forgotten to take. I don’t know where my brain is at times. (Err… no I do know where it is, it’s on my books. Thinking, thinking, thinking.) We had a good day anyway, the boys won plenty of ribbons, owners hubby shows for were very happy, and we got there and home without any major problems.

 

I also had the great idea of changing my web site header. I wanted something fresh, something new, something that would take me to my happy place when I write. Great plan, even a fantastic plan… until I crashed my site and lost everything. So I had to start again. Nothing like a new start, a fresh start and a lesson learnt. (I hope, never really know with me what I’ll do next.) So if you get a chance have a look at my new website, the header is the same as the one here, only clearer, and (I don’t know why my headers look fun here.) Here’s the link http://www.sandiehudson.com .

 

So I’m not sure how much writing I’ll get done this week but I’m hoping to get at least an hour a day in, it all helps toward get that novel finished. Until next time, my the Word Fairy smile on you.

Hugs

Sandie

25,000 And Still Going

 I’ve reached the 25,000 mark for CataU, but I’m a long way off having the novella finished (well I think it will be a novel now). I know I have hole in parts that will need fixing up in July (that being my edit month). If I want to have this one finished by the end of the month I have to write almost 3,500 words a day. Jezz, that’s a big ask. I mean I’m happy to push myself to do it, but I don’t want to write just for the sack of the numbers. (Does that make sense?)

Anyway I have hubby home with me today, so not getting as much done as I would have liked. Sunday I’m off to a horse show to take photos. It the first show for a couple of our boys. Tomorrow hubby is home and friends are coming up to help prepare the horses for Sunday. Siiighhhhh. I think I’m going to be pushing it to get finished by June. Of course it could all be finished by 30,000 or 40,000 words yet. Who knows? Is it than still a novella or a novel? I could make up a whole new line and call it a novette, Hehehe.   

Anyway my heroine has just realised she is in love with the hero but has decided to go home and ignore her feelings. She believes if she puts him out of her mind and just gets on with her life all will be well again. Silly girl.

 

My hero? Well I don’t know how he feels at the moment because I haven’t gotten up to him yet.

Okay, better get back to it; this thing isn’t going to write itself.

 

Hugs

Sandie