Day One – Step One
Oct
15
2007

So today is the first day of the 70 Days of Sweat Challenge! I’ve got a lot on my plate from now until March or so, so I’m really looking forward to doing round two and I’m hoping it’ll be as productive for me as the first round was.

Be sure to check in at the Sven Blog for daily entries but most especially on Wednesdays and Sundays for progress reports. I really found the check in part to be helpful last year because it really gave me some focus and accountability. I do write every day, but with this challenge, it helped me keep myself hyper-focused on my goals and I go so much done it surprised me.

There aren’t any shortcuts to being a writer. No ghostwriters to take on the burden for you. No magic beans. If you don’t put in the work, you won’t finish the book. If you don’t finish the book, you won’t be able to publish it. And in the end, it’ll all be talk and might have beens. It’s scary to take that step and risk yourself by making the committment to write. There will always be rejection. Always be better writers, better deasl, hell, worse writers getting better deals! But I’ll tell you something, for me, there’s nothing like seeing my book on the shelf, nothing like finishing a book, nothing like being an author and I’d never trade it, even when I get rejected or blocked or discouraged.

In the end, the formula is the same – put your ass in the chair and your hands on the keyboard (or on a pen) and work. You can achieve the final product in a host of ways – carefully plotted or seat of pants and everything in between. But if you don’t make that committment to the work, to the project, you can’t ever get there.

7 comments to “Day One – Step One”

  1. kimmilicious
    October 15th, 2007 at 6:40 am · Link

    “Put your ass in the chair and your hands on the keyboard and write” LOL! I love it, girl! Okay, so hmmm. we have sponsors for this? damn, I feel like a recovering addict.

    Hi, I’m Kimberly Kaye Terry, and I’m addicted to writing, hot, in yo face, erotic romance 😀

    Okay, off to write. I’m parellel writing. Writing a full length and novella, and will turn them both in to my editor in Jan. Okay, make me sweat, Sven. Make. Me. Sweat :twisted:~

    xo
    K



  2. Bianca D'Arc
    October 15th, 2007 at 9:10 am · Link

    Hey Lauren, I’m doing the challenge this time! I’m hoping it’ll force me to get my “ass in the chair” more often because I’m a baaaaad procrastinator. Thanks for sponsoring this challenge! Good luck to us all!!! :mrgreen:



  3. Lillilan Feisty
    October 15th, 2007 at 9:50 am · Link

    Thanks Lauren! I just signed up for the sweat challenge, and that was awesome inspiration! And so true.



  4. Portia Da Costa
    October 15th, 2007 at 10:34 am · Link

    Hi Lauren

    Just swinging by to wish you all the best of luck for the Sweat70 challenge! You are so right about just getting your butt in a chair and *writing*… although I actually write sitting up on the bed, so I have to apply my butt to the mattress, my fingers to my laptop keyboard… and just type. 🙂

    Love

    WendyPortia



  5. HelenKay Dimon
    October 15th, 2007 at 10:50 am · Link

    Oh, how I wish there were a shortcut 🙂 But, since there’s not I’m thrilled we have a new Challenge to keep us motivated.

    Off to write. Good luck to all the participants!!!



  6. laurendane
    October 15th, 2007 at 11:28 am · Link

    KKT- he’s pretty enough to make me want to sweat!

    Bianca – good luck, cupcake and heck, it’ll make me work even harder to be a sponsor, LOL.

    Ms. Fabulous Feisty – aww, well, we can all use some inspiration. I’ve looked at quite a few blogs today and I’m so impressed.

    Wendy/Portia – you should know how much I freaking love your Black Lace titles and seeing your name here makes me all fangirly!

    HelenKay – me too! Wouldn’t magic beans be awesome? Ah well, I guess it means I have to actually work, darn it, LOL.



  7. Jodie
    October 15th, 2007 at 2:56 pm · Link

    I agree – if I have a deadline I work for it, and get it done – I did Nano and although I managed it, i got serious writers block after. this is far better for those that don’t have time.