Category Archives: Writing & Publishing

Conference and Contest and Sven Stuff

Events, Giveaways, 70 Days of Sweat Writing Challenge

There is a contest in this blog post. Keep reading.

The writing challenge is going well for me so far. I’m taking the new writing portion slow to start, since I also have revisions to do. About 750 words in the morning on the new book, then I slide into revisions on the other book for the rest of the day. As soon as revisions are done, I’ll be stepping up the new book in a major way. (deadlines, ya know).

So my local chapter’s conference last weekend was great! It’s a small conference, which I really like, because you have an opportunity to really mix with everyone. Unfortunately I had a hideous migraine on Saturday which put a crimp in one of the days, but I muddled through.

I got to meet Mary Theresa Hussey of Silhouette, which I was so excited about. She’s so sweet and so savvy about everything Harlequin/Silhouette. When I first started writing, they were my dream publisher. In many ways, they still are. They do so many things right. Maybe someday in the future I’ll get to write for one of their lines/imprints.

Elaine Spencer of The Knight Agency was also there. Though Deidre Knight is my agent, I work with Elaine on other things so it was great to spend a little time with her.

And Gena Showalter was there, funny and gorgeous as usual. She was also first in line at the bar, even though I’m sure she’ll deny it. I have proof though. Must upload and post the picture. :giggle:

My RWI chapter sisters are wonderful. Supportive, talented, friendly, sweet, and I couldn’t ask for a better chapter to belong to. They really are an incredible group and they put together a wonderful conference.

Our speakers were fabulous. Allison Brennan, Jenna Petersen, Barbara Dawson Smith and Jodi Thomas. All amazingly talented and oh so friendly. There’s nothing like hanging out with fellow writers for a weekend. Makes me feel like part of a sisterhood (and brotherhood, for the writer guys who were also there).

Oh, and the Marshall football team was at the hotel too, playing Tulsa over the weekend. So we got to ogle some mighty fine looking college football players. Bonus! :hips:

Now for the contest part. I came back with books! Lots and lots of books! And these great book bags that all conference attendees received. So here’s your chance to win a bookbag stuffed with books!

Post here with a comment about how you’re doing with the writing challenge, if you’re participating, or what you’ve been reading, or what you’re anticipating reading, or what new or returning Fall TV show you’re enjoying the most. I’m so buried in my deadlines lately that I’m completely out of the loop so I want to know what’s going on in TV and book land! I’ll draw a winner sometime over the weekend.

Writing Challenge – Day One – Down The Scary Road

70 Days of Sweat Writing Challenge

Today is the first day of the 70 Day Writing Challenge.

Some people will sit back and look at this challenge on the first day and be overwhlemed.

It can be overwhelming, if you look at all you have to do, all you want/need to accomplish, and think…I can’t do this.

I do it all the time, if I look days/weeks/months down the road at all the work I need to do, all the deadlines, all the books I need to write and edit and do copyedits and read galleys on. It is overwhelming, if you look down the road.

I try not to do that too often. It’s scary. :chair:

The best way to tackle the huge project is to take it one block at a time, one day at a time.

For the purposes of this challenge, I have one book to write. I have a single title due on January 1st, and right now I have less than 10,000 words completed on that book. I also recently received revisions on another single title, and soon I’ll be receiving galleys for yet another book. See what I mean about the overwhelming things? Easy to want to crawl in bed, pull the covers over my head and just do nothing. :hide:

A lot of writers get nowhere because instead of digging in and starting those daunting tasks, they simply do…nothing.

I’ll be working on making my writing goals in the morning, then after that I’ll switch over to revisions in the afternoon and evenings. But I’ll make sure I get my writing done first. And while I’m doing revisions my word count might be a little lower than I’d like it to be, but that’s okay. Soon enough I’ll get these revisions out of the way and I can really start cranking the word count out on the new book.

One day at a time. Don’t look too far ahead. Just take it a step at a time, then the projects aren’t too scary.

I can do it. So can the rest of you who’ve signed up to Sweat with Sven. :cheer:

The 70 Days of Sweat Writing Challenge – Round 2

70 Days of Sweat Writing Challenge

Have you signed up to Sweat With Sven?

It’s right here! And it starts Monday, October 15th.

We here at Sven Says Sweat invite you participate in round two of our Seventy Days of Sweat Writing Challenge. The challenge begins on Monday, October 15 and runs through Tuesday, January 15.

Yes, that’s 93 days. We’re giving you 23 days off to use as your personal holiday and religious circumstances require

For those participating in Nano who don’t want to start before 11/1, you can use the first 15 days to plan out your story, and then have 45 days to polish once November is over.

The goal is to have a completed manuscript at the challenge’s end.

The rules are simple. You agree to write from 750 to 1500 words a day (depending on your project needs) between the dates listed above. If you need to take off a day, you make up the pages another. Remember: You only have to do the writing for 70 days.

You don’t have to have a blog to participate, but we do want you to sign up at the blog here so everyone involved can get to know one another. And if you do have a blog, you can post the information there. Going public with your commitment is about owning it.

As far as reporting your progress, you’ll come back to the 70 Days of Sweat Blog each Wednesday and Sunday and post your total word count. Those of us sponsoring the challenge will be dropping by your blog (if you have one) and egging you on!

I’m one of the sponsors this go round, so I’ll be helping all the participants and providing motivation. The last 70 Day Writing Challenge helped kicked my butt and I finished The Demon’s Touch in record time. It really helps knowing other people are writing their asses off too.

Join in! It’s fun! Honest! :sasmokin: