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If you need a kick in the...

post #1 of 24
4/13/08 at 9:59pm
Thread Starter 
... you know what I mean...

You have fifteen ideas for a great book(s), and NOTHING on paper (or screen, or whatever it is you use to write).

So... If you need a club to keep you going, come here and join me. Because I need someone to kick me to write.

RULES:

1. Pick ONE project, and give a working title.

2. Post page count and how you feel about progress.

3. You may share the details, or you can give us just a general outline.

4. Pay attention to what others are working on, and encourage them to stay with their projects until they are done.


This is like a DDC, only instead of a baby, you are supposed to produce a finished novel. Who's in? :
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post #2 of 24
4/14/08 at 12:44pm
I'm in, I hope! I've had an idea for some time, but it will require a LOT of research, which I'm great at when it comes to parenting, but not so much when it comes to history.

I've never written an entire novel (I generally do 30-40 page short stories, poetry, and am now working on a zine) but I really want to do a long-term project.

So hopefully I'll be back with a working title, and a general idea of what I'm writing about!
post #3 of 24
4/14/08 at 8:41pm
I'm in, but not this week. I really need some motivation, given that I've been working on the same novel (well, not working on the same novel) since I was 15, and that I was moaning to DH just last night about how I'm creatively and intellectually stagnating and likely to wake up one day realising I'm 30 and have done nothing more artistic with my life than producing a superbly uniform batch of cupcakes.

But this week, I have a ton of things to do which I've been putting off forever... like filling out the baby's birth certificate, for example. So give me a week, and then start nagging me, and I will be forever grateful!

The novel in question, BTW, is vastly outside the scope of my knowledge, research and writing skills. I expect it'll take me a lifetime before I get it completed to anywhere near the way I want it to be, so this challenge will simply be to complete the first draft. I have chunks, a vague plot, a whole heck of a lot of notes... but I don't have the whole thing written out, A to Z, you know? If I can do that, it'll be a major accomplishment for me! I don't even care about making the writing good at this stage, I just want it to be there. You know?
post #4 of 24
4/14/08 at 9:10pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by Smokering View Post
The novel in question, BTW, is vastly outside the scope of my knowledge, research and writing skills. I expect it'll take me a lifetime before I get it completed to anywhere near the way I want it to be, so this challenge will simply be to complete the first draft. I have chunks, a vague plot, a whole heck of a lot of notes... but I don't have the whole thing written out, A to Z, you know? If I can do that, it'll be a major accomplishment for me! I don't even care about making the writing good at this stage, I just want it to be there. You know?
That's kinda the point I'm at. My book pertains to a period in history that I am not extremely familiar with, so I'm doing lots of research right now!
post #5 of 24
4/15/08 at 1:04pm
Wow, what a great idea. I have had ideas floating around, and after reading a rather good book but with a bad opinon of extended BFing, and BFing period.

So now I want to write a book where the characters are AP, Bf, etc. I've been reading and going, now is that realistic, etc.

So, I'll come back in a week or so with my idea.
post #6 of 24
4/15/08 at 2:04pm
Thread Starter 
I'm so happy that people are interested... :
Right now I'm sorting out my own ideas, and by this weekend will try to single out a topic on which to concentrate...

I'll be back then.
post #7 of 24
4/16/08 at 1:49pm
Great idea! Is this for novels only? My current project is nonfiction, but it will be awhile before I actually start *writing* anything. I have a lot more research to do first... But I could totally use some motivation to keep me at it.
post #8 of 24
4/16/08 at 2:56pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by puddle View Post
Great idea! Is this for novels only? My current project is nonfiction, but it will be awhile before I actually start *writing* anything. I have a lot more research to do first... But I could totally use some motivation to keep me at it.
Ditto that question. My current project is a book of poetry and prose for moms and daughters.
post #9 of 24
4/16/08 at 3:17pm
Thread Starter 
Quote:
Originally Posted by puddle View Post
Great idea! Is this for novels only? My current project is nonfiction, but it will be awhile before I actually start *writing* anything. I have a lot more research to do first... But I could totally use some motivation to keep me at it.
Any writing project will do.
Welcome
post #10 of 24
4/16/08 at 3:58pm
I might use this to keep up with my zine instead, since that's my most immediate project. I'll still try to check in with updates on my research for my novel, but I'm not ready to start wrinting it yet.
post #11 of 24
4/20/08 at 5:08pm
Thank you for this great idea! My project is putting down on paper the process of my brother's illness and death. I am putting it on this blog:


http://www.letterstoabrotherdying.blogspot.com/


it is VERY choppy and unedited at this point. Right now I'm just trying to get it all out, get it all 'down on paper' (or 'on computer' as it were.....) so I don't forget it.

My goal at this point is to simply write about him/the experience everyday.
post #12 of 24
4/22/08 at 4:14pm
*
post #13 of 24
4/22/08 at 4:34pm
Yes! MORE BUTT KICKING please!!

1. Pick ONE project, and give a working title.
The title of my zine is The Road Less Travel. It is an AP/NFL zine.

2. Post page count and how you feel about progress.
Progress is slow but sure. My goal is to put out my first issue on June 1st. I want to put out issues bi-weekly, and have FOUR issues ready by June 1st.

3. You may share the details, or you can give us just a general outline.

Right now I am in the process of interviewing birth professionals for the first few issues (each issue will contain one interview). I am also looking for healthy recipes-- maybe a TF, veg*n, and allergy-sensitive recipe in each issue, as well as something that's fun to make with school-aged kids. I am including a few of my own comics in each as well.

I am working on the layout for my zine, as well as looking into ideas for advertising.

I also want to include a debate issue, a "what worked for you" type thing, featured artwork, WAHM ads, family blog ads, and short stories (which I may have to solicit on this board!)

I'm also trying to work out a system-- Free zine to contributers, making sure everyone gets the proper credit for their work, etc.

4. Pay attention to what others are working on, and encourage them to stay with their projects until they are done.
Anyone else?
post #14 of 24
4/25/08 at 5:27am
Can I join? I need to do a bit of reflexion on title, content, etc. but then I'll be back to get my butt kicked (or to kick some butt)?
post #15 of 24
4/25/08 at 3:04pm
Update:

I'm writing down plenty of random stories, musings, recipes, and comics. Just working on the tidbits!
post #16 of 24
4/25/08 at 3:15pm
Thread Starter 
Great to see people joining in.
I enjoy reading updates, and seeing that so many are starting fresh projects.
Tapmilmom, that's a very touching project...

I'm still taking it slow and sorting out through ideas to pick one and dive in. I hope to stay busy with writing this summer. A few ideas: a collection of stories about faeries (which would add the pressure of illustrations if this will become my final choice), a non-fiction project that for personal reasons would never be published (since it would be a real-life account on me growing as a stepparent), and a YA novel that was in my head for ten years.

I don't want to keep pushing everything at the same time, so I'm just figuring out what to put my energy into.

Keep us posted! :
post #17 of 24
4/25/08 at 4:50pm
Ooh, I vote for faeries! I paint them!
post #18 of 24
4/25/08 at 6:58pm
How about a weekly check-in? We can post our progress for the week, the next week's goals, etc. That would give us some accountability--which would probably help motivate me.
post #19 of 24
4/25/08 at 7:11pm
Thread Starter 
Quote:
Originally Posted by puddle View Post
How about a weekly check-in? We can post our progress for the week, the next week's goals, etc. That would give us some accountability--which would probably help motivate me.
post #20 of 24
4/25/08 at 7:12pm
Thread Starter 
Quote:
Originally Posted by frontierpsych View Post
Ooh, I vote for faeries! I paint them!
I started a new story today.
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