Challenges

This is my personal goal. I want to have a book written and published by the time I'm twenty. Given the fact that I just turned 19 on the 26th of November, I have a little less than a year to accomplish this goal. I already have a few good stories started but they are no where near ready to be published. I've been saying for years "This year I'll finish a book" but now I really mean it. By the end of November next year I want to have a book published, or at least in the hands of a publisher.

Anyone up to joining me in this challenge? What all would be involved in publishing a book within a year?

Jester

This is a great challenge! By Nov. 30 2008 I definitely want the manuscript of my NaNovel, Freeing the Flame, in the hands of publishers. I might even have a rejection or two up my sleeve. :)

No Excuses. Just Write.
SoCNoC - Freeing the Flame
Freeing the Flame - 30,065/40,000 words rewritten for May

Well done you two, that sounds like an awesome challenge. Good luck!

Andrew Chilton - http://kapiti.geek.nz/
SoCNoC 2008 - Unknown and Untitled

I guess I really hadn't thought of it, but this would be a good challenge for those who have finished NaNoWriMo. Get your manuscript polished and sent off for publishing in one year. This isn't the case for me since I've never succeeded in NaNo. The book I've decided to work on for this challenge is my 2005 NaNo novel that I never got past 8000 words. I love the story though, it has really grown to be beautiful in my mind. It has promise, I'm really excited about it.

I'm happy to see that you're taking up the challenge as well Kerrynangell. I'm hoping a few others will join as well so that we can have some sort of accountability.

Jester

I was going to have some copies made into a wee book of my first novel for family and friends for Christmas. This Christmas that is! Have made enquiries with our local printer, but that's it.

I am thinking of taking a journalism course next year to become more professional in my writing.
Feature writing maybe, writing stories for radio, not sure.

Got a plot and Title for Socnoc 2008.
"To Be Or Not To Be: That Is The Question."

Books are Humanity in Print!

gaye-belle it wouldn't hurt to take some classes.

I have a degree in Journalism actually. My focus was on the fiction side of writing, but there were several courses that were technical in nature and they were very helpful.

Want to know what I am working on?
Loose Endings

There is nothing here for creative writing, so the only choice available.
I don't care for the hard and thrust method of journalism, but I miss studying so may just look at the intro to journalsim, but interested in the radio/TV section too.

Got a plot and Title for Socnoc 2008.
"To Be Or Not To Be: That Is The Question."

Books are Humanity in Print!

Wow, that's a great challenge, painted-jester! I'm afraid my own goals are nowhere near as lofty - I'd be happy just to finish a book by this time next year!

[a href="http://www.freewebs.com/semaphoremagazine"]Semaphore Magazine[/a]
[a href="http://www.stornowaystories.blogspot.com"]One Girl's Quest to Kill Trees[/a]

For a bit of inspiration and guidance for this challenge check out what National Novel Publishing Year does.

No Excuses. Just Write.
SoCNoC - Freeing the Flame
Freeing the Flame - 30,065/40,000 words rewritten for May

gaye-belle, I think someone like the WEA runs a writers class on a Tuesday night. I remember seeing signs at the library. I can't do it because I work nights, but it might be right for you :)
As for the publishing a novel goal ... that's a great one!

Count me in on this challenge as well!

http://vyanae.blogspot.com/

Thanks maree, come to think of it so have I. (so long as they're not 'woofters.') I'll check it out for next year.

Got a plot and Title for Socnoc 2008.
"To Be Or Not To Be: That Is The Question."

Books are Humanity in Print!

It's finals week right now so I really haven't been able to work on my novel much lately.

Other than slowly plugging away at it, I don't really know how else I can advance my novel towards my goal. Any good ideas?

Also, do any of you know of any good books dealing with writing and publishing novels?

Thanks.

Jester

AHHH, nothing like a good challenge to get my ass moving. My Fantasy NaNO this year does need the first edit and it is possible to get it polished and shiney.
Maybe we can get a sign up for this on the challenge forum and rather then a word count we 'win' when we send it off to the first agent/publisher accepts it.
GOOD IDEA painted jester.
I know it takes at least a year for traditional books to be published from start to finish. But I think you'd count it a win when you sign the contract. Maybe aim to have a signed contract by your 20th birthday.
E-books usually take a shorter time. And self pub just depends on who you use.

My idea of hell is being trapped in a room with no books!

How do we go about sujesting this as an official challenge? It would be nice to have some sort of progress counter to get as through... although we would probably have to pick a new start date.

Oh! All you need to do is go over to the Challenges tab on the site and follow the instructions in the Kiwi Writers Guide to Member Challenges.

No Excuses. Just Write.
SoCNoC - Freeing the Flame
Freeing the Flame - 30,065/40,000 words rewritten for May

LOVE this challenge.

May I suggest a random idea which just literally popped out of nowhere... monthly online meetings/pledges or something (sort of like write-ins in NaNo), so we can keep each other going through 2008? I would love to go for this challenge, but I have a feeling if I don't have people to check up on me regularly, this goal is just gonna sink under RL on the long-term...

I would really love to make this an official challenge so that we would have some way to keep ourselves accountable, but I'm terrible and organizing stuff like this. Does anyone have any ideas as to how we should arrange this challenge.

Plus, I think the end date should be changed to Dec 31, 2008 to provide enough time for everyone. I have no problem with people starting now. My goal isn't to publish a book in a year, it's just to publish a book by that time (which just happens to be one year). Whatever.

Thanks Everyone.

Jester

Hi All.

The challenge is now an official member challenge and you can sign up at Publish a Book 2008.

I'm working on something so that we can have more room to discuss our progress. :)

No Excuses. Just Write.
SoCNoC - Freeing the Flame
Freeing the Flame - 30,065/40,000 words rewritten for May

I'd join up, but I feel that I'd be cheating given that I have a finished manuscript done, just waiting on all the particulars that publishers want (cover letter, synopsis, etc). Would it be fair to join up?