Seventy Days of Sweat - a writing challenge

I blame Alison Kent for all of this:

So . . . along with Larissa Ione and Stephanie Tyler and Jo Leigh and HelenKay Dimon, I [Alison Kent] hereby challenge any of you who are interested to sign up for our Seventy Days of Sweat. The challenge begins on Sunday, July 8 and runs through Thursday, September 20. (Yes, that’s 75 days, but we’re giving you off July 11 - 15 if you need it for conference. That said, ask yourself, “What Would Nora Do?” Yes, Nora writes at conference. I’ve witnessed it with my own eyes.)

Here’s the link to the full post where you can sign up: Officially, it’s Seventy Days of Sweat.

Unofficially, around here we’re calling it, Larissa and Stephanie (aka Sydney Croft): 5 million works in progress, one release, 70 days…

This could be better than Paula Abdul’s reality show…and if you’ve seen that show, you’ll realize that won’t be a difficult task.

So stay tuned as Larissa and I, Alison, Jo and HelenKay challenge ourselves and anyone else who’s willing to write their book(s) in 70 days. Did I mention there would be prizes involved, plus a peek into how Larissa and I write a book together, work on our separate books plus revisions, copy edits, proposals and try to stay sane?

Well, yeah, scratch the, stay sane, part, and stop back soon!

Steph T.

28 Comments

  1. Posted July 6, 2007 at 2:36 pm Permalink

    It’s going to be FUN! And now that we’re public, we’re accountable!! :thumbsup: :boo: :thumbsup:

  2. Steph T.
    Posted July 6, 2007 at 3:57 pm Permalink

    Fun…well, that wouldn’t be the word I’d use, (although mine would begin with the same letter)…but we’ll go with it…

    :lol:

    :eek:

  3. Posted July 6, 2007 at 4:29 pm Permalink

    Like I said over on Larissa’s blog, I wrote four pages on two days earlier this wake, but it was a major fluke. Two to three is more normal for me. Though I’m usually happy if I get one. :smile:

  4. Steph T.
    Posted July 6, 2007 at 4:34 pm Permalink

    So would you commit to 2 pages per day for 70 days? *watches as Tori tries to run…and thinks about sending Saint after her* Or would you just send constant chocolate to me instead? I’d take that… :grin:

    You know, I’m not an X # of pages per day person AT all. But I end up usually with the same amount of pages at the end of a week or two, so it evens out. But when Larissa and I are writing together, I always manage to get pages per day…

  5. Posted July 6, 2007 at 5:50 pm Permalink

    Well, I gotta ask. What happens if you DON’T make your goal?

  6. Posted July 6, 2007 at 9:25 pm Permalink

    I’m in! I have major work to do on a work that was supposed to be finished (in my mind anyway) at the end of April! Long story why it’s not, but needless to say the motivation, creativity, and energy to write deserted me for about 2 1/2 months. :unhappy:

    So, I’m back on it! I do hope I can finish this before 70 days and get started on another one though. I need people to :shoot: and keep me on track!

  7. Posted July 6, 2007 at 9:34 pm Permalink

    I’m with Steph…I am not a pages per day person, and I’m generally a really slow writer. But once Steph and I hit a groove with a book, we kick out pages like popcorn.

    Tori, if we don’t get the pages for the challenge…dunno what happens! Cursed by the Sweat Fairy or something… :lol:

  8. Steph T.
    Posted July 7, 2007 at 8:38 am Permalink

    Hmmm, Tori, interesting question…how about the sweat fairy AND no more Saint…and you’ll miss the Cajun French talking SEAL…I know you will… :eek:

    Yay Lynn! We’ll stalk you to keep you on track…now go sign up on Alison’s page before I put your name there myself to hold you accountable…oh, it’s fun being all tough and drill sgt-like!

    Larissa always says she’s a slow writer and then she’ll bang out this beautiful, 15 page scene in the course of an hour… :razz:

  9. Posted July 7, 2007 at 10:13 am Permalink

    Well if you guys are self flogging, you know I must too :smoke:

  10. Steph T.
    Posted July 7, 2007 at 10:34 am Permalink

    Jaci, you know we would’ve dragged you in, so it was smart coming in on your own… :grin:

  11. Posted July 7, 2007 at 1:22 pm Permalink

    Well, you know, I haven’t actually SEEN Saint in ages! But I wrote 3 pages yesterday. Can I count those?

  12. Posted July 7, 2007 at 1:22 pm Permalink

    Oh, never mind. I’m two days early.

  13. Posted July 7, 2007 at 2:46 pm Permalink

    Thanks for dropping by my blog Stephanie. I’m definitely gonna need a kick in the ass every now and again over the next couple of months. I think this idea is awesome. Not only is 4-6 pages a day managable, but the added encouragement will make it that bit easier.

  14. Posted July 7, 2007 at 3:05 pm Permalink

    Damn….all this accountability is scaring me :eek: *slowly backs away before steph ropes her too*

  15. Posted July 7, 2007 at 3:08 pm Permalink

    I signed up on the proper page, Drill Sgt. :shocked:

  16. Steph T.
    Posted July 7, 2007 at 5:35 pm Permalink

    Tori - I won’t tell anyone! You’re only checking in 2x a week, so it can all kind of combine.

    ;-)

  17. Steph T.
    Posted July 7, 2007 at 5:36 pm Permalink

    It’ll be fun, Ava! Esepcially once everyone’s back from RWA and back into full blog mode… :thumbsup:

  18. Steph T.
    Posted July 7, 2007 at 5:36 pm Permalink

    Cece - don’t think you’re getting away that easily…I’ll rope you in once I hit Dallas… :lol:

  19. Steph T.
    Posted July 7, 2007 at 5:37 pm Permalink

    You’ve very smart, Lynn… :shoot:

    You’re going to get me back by taking random pictures of me at RWA, aren’t you?

    :shock:

  20. Posted July 7, 2007 at 5:48 pm Permalink

    Good luck staying sane.

    It’s sunday here (Australia) right now - so I’ve got to start.

  21. Posted July 7, 2007 at 5:58 pm Permalink

    Steph I got new batteries for my digital camera and I know what you look like :lol: :lol:

    Yeah I really do need the challenge but you’re going to have to twist my arm *ggg*

  22. Posted July 7, 2007 at 5:59 pm Permalink

    scratch that….but I’m going to make you twist my arm :grin:

  23. Steph T.
    Posted July 7, 2007 at 7:59 pm Permalink

    Yay Rebecca!!! Here’s throwing good page karma to you…

    and sanity is most defintely overrated anyway, right? :lol:

  24. Steph T.
    Posted July 7, 2007 at 8:00 pm Permalink

    Cece…I’m so gonna find you in Dallas…

  25. Posted July 7, 2007 at 9:55 pm Permalink

    Steph… Beware of the camera…or cell phone. Always be on guard! :razz:

  26. Posted July 8, 2007 at 7:20 pm Permalink

    Thanks for posting this just signed up :grin:

  27. Steph T.
    Posted July 8, 2007 at 8:01 pm Permalink

    Awesome, Lis!!! It’s going to be fun with so many people in the same boat:)

  28. Dorthe "Dee" Larsen
    Posted July 19, 2007 at 10:36 pm Permalink

    Hi Stephanie,
    Thanks for the military books, love them all, married to a Marine. :bravo:

    I was wondering about how many words per page?

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