We’re actually here! This is the very last week. Who would have thought that ten weeks would fly by this quickly?
(But don’t worry. I have something in the wings for those of you who need to have an ongoing ‘challenge’ to keep you honest. I’ll tell you about it at the end of this week.)
I barely had time to peek at the Challenge site last week, because it turned out to be full of packing and exploring old boxes and throwing stuff out and organising pick-ups of unwanted furniture, etc etc etc (and going to see a performance of Peter Pan in which my eldest grandchild was a pirate (Friday night); a birthday party for another grandchild (Saturday afternoon) plus watching two others in their very first dance recital (Sunday afternoon) it’s a wonder I’m still standing.
HOWEVER… cleaning out years of stuff that has been stored and forgotten can be very rewarding. I’d given up on ever finding some of my old (finished) fiction that I wanted to turn into Kindle books… and then I found a box of old floppy disks. Eureka! But… I didn’t have a floppy disk drive any more! Until I tried eBay. I posted about it here, on the Write A Kindle Book blog.
I also downloaded and read two books for writers – I recommend you have a look at both. One was written for Indie authors, all about using Twitter for promotion: Giving the Bird: The Indie Author’s Guide to Twitter by Benjamin Wallace. It’s packed full of useful advice. The other is Be The Monkey: A conversation about the new world of publishing by Barry Eisler and Joe Konrath. I’ll do reviews for both of these on my Kindle book site later in the week, but go and read excerpts on Amazon now – especially Be the Monkey. You’ll find out exactly why Barry Eisler knocked back a two-book contract worth HALF A MILLION dollars in favour of publishing with Kindle.
(Note: the book images below are not clickable links. They just show you what the covers look like. Use the links in the paragraph above to check out the books on the Amazon site.)
Giving the Bird and Be the Monkey books
Since I was smart enough last week to write down goals for the last TWO weeks, not last week, I’m actually not behind! Hah. Tomorrow I have to sit around for an indefinite period waiting for a local charity to pick up unwanted furniture, so I’m planning on doing a lot of work at the computer then.
Over to you, guys… what do you want to achieve in this last week?
This week I want to set out my timetable for the next four weeks. Work on some character building for a new character I have introduced into my story and finish off the work that got abandon last week. So here is yay for the up coming week.
Gale
Good to see that you’re back in action, Gale! I’m not even going to try doing much more this week – More important to just settle into our new home.
But NEXT week – now that’s different! I’m back with a vengeance!
Hi Marg…you made me laugh at the floppy disk thing! Such is our fast moving life nowadays.
I plan to write like a demon and get my two main characters finally resolving their predicament. I’ve written 79200 words now and still have momentum thank goodness, as I’ve away to go yet! But thanks to you and encouragement from Rose as well, you know who you are Rose, I’ve shot onwards. I never thought I could write this concentratedly for so long. My brain is fired up and the required obsession has taken root. I’m going to the London Writers’ Club again tomorrow which will make me feel even more ‘like a writer’. It’s been an amazing ten weeks. I’m glad you have something up your sleeve for afterwards.
Must dash.
Jeannie
I was just so glad that I was able to buy that external floppy drive. (Works like a charm, too.) You’re a regular writing machine, Jeannie!
You’ll be looking forward to a break next week.
Yep, I already have the website for the new challenges registered… I’ll wait until next week to tell you all about it (when I’m in my new office!). I’ll post it on this site and send a notification out to everyone who is one the Updates list for the 10-Week Challenge – and I’ll probably put it in the tipsheet too.
Dear Marg
Thank you so much for all the wonderful resources. When I have my day off on Friday I am going to work through everything.
What have I achieved – 2 books edited, the first sent to a traditional publisher and also converted for Kindle (just in case). Third book started.
Website up using WordPress.
The best thing I have done is planned my writing life for the next two years. I now know exactly what I want to achieve – AND what I’m going to quit.
Can’t wait to hear from you from your new study in your new house. I hope you’re planning a few days with feet up and a good red.
Robyn
Wow Marg your ‘after’ version of the office looks amazing. It must be great to feel settled somewhere and now you’ll have all the fun of checking out a new place. I’ve already posted what I’ve done in the ten weeks and I’m going to spend this Friday writing down my deadlines for the rest of the year. I feel a great sense of achievement.
Now to check out the new challenge link.
Robyn