Last month I gave the keynote speech at the New England SCBWI Conference. There were 550 people in the room. Most have them have written to me in the last couple of weeks (thank you very much – they have been sweet and much appreciated notes) commenting on what I had to say.
The most frequent topic is the challenge I issued: to write for at least 15 minutes a day for 21 days. Some people loved it, others struggled.
With summer coming, I thought I’d issue it again:
Can you commit to write for at least fifteen minutes every day from July 1st – July 21st?
Let know if you want to join by leaving a note in the comment section. You can comment anonymously, if you want. If there is enough interest, I will focus my blog posts in July on writing stuff.
What do you think? Want to play?
ok
Sounds good to me! Especially because that’s my semester at school and I better be writing quite a bit!
I hope it counts as playing if I’m still doing it then, rather than starting fresh!
Sounds good.
I can do this! Count me in!!
I would love to join you all. 🙂
15 minutes a day? I may be able to handle that. Sign me up.
Yep. I’m in.
Count me in. I could use some accountability. Looks like I will be in with some good company!
I was one of the 550 but had to put off the challenge as the semester is finishing up. July it is!
Yes! Sign me up.
oh! Me! My writing group here will be elated to have me actually write.
Ooh! sign me up too, please!
I’m in (:
Yeppers.
Sounds great, I’m game! I’ll be out of school and everything, so tons of time to write :3
I’m one of those people who attended your lecture, attempted your challenge, and then successfully flubbed my first attempt. I completed…um, two days of writing for 15 minutes. Pathetic. For the record, I also cannot take daily vitamins with any consistency, although I’ve been trying to do so for nearly 25 years.
On the other end of the spectrum, I do have three NaNoWriMo “novels” completed. So! I feel that I might sign up for your challenge again (despite its coinciding with my 30th birthday bash.)
I definitely want to play.
Yes, definitely.
I’m in.
ANY kind of writing? Or does it have to be on the same project for all 21 days?
Either way, I’m in.
That sounds like a really good exercise. I am in!
Any kind of writing.
This challenge has a different motivation than NANOWRIMO. This is about developing good writing habits – a daily writing habit. So there is no goal number of words, or attempts to complete a project.
It’s a little Zen – simply show up daily and focus.
Yeah, I’ll do it! I used to write all the time. Hopefully this can get me back into it!
I’m in!
I missed NE…
sadly so, but will not miss this. I’m in.
15 minutes only? That doesn’t seem like enough. But I want to join in!
Ps. Do you remember we took a picture together at Hickerbee’s, one with your camera and one with my phone? Well, whoever took the picture with my phone took a 4 second video, rather than a picture. Is there anyway I can get the picture you took if I leave my e-mail?
Me too, please. My editor will be thrilled to see this commitment from me.
teri
Yes please — count me in!
I tried to do an hour a day last summer, and I did it somewhat succesfully. So I’m in!
I’ll commit.
*raises hand*
Ooh, me! Fifteen minutes a day sounds like a fun way to stretch the old writing portion of my brain.
I would love to play!
I’m in!
Just be sure to remind us 🙂
July is PERFECT for me. Count me in! 🙂
Absolutely! I would love to participate in this.
Funny quote
When it is not necessary to make a decision, it is necessary not to
make a decision.
—————————————————————————————————-
http://ebloggy.com/joshuareevesld
I’m in.
yes
That sounds awesome. I’m in!
–Brian
It’s summer and I have nothing else to do. And I’ll be writing anyway, so… IN! 🙂
good luck to everyone who’s doing it! 😀
Cool! count me in – even though there’s an outside chance I’ll be moving that month. I can use the distraction and excuse to write – not to mention the push to write!
Thanks!
Count me in, please. With my kids home for vacation, I might need an outside kick in the pants.
Sign me up! Sounds like a fun challenge.
i happily commit!
that’s a good idea-i’ll definitely play! =) ♥
I was at that speech, and was amused that your challenge exactly matched my New Year’s resolution this year. There have been occasional days when I’ve had to decide that an LJ entry or a well-thought-out email counts as writing, but there have been at least as many days when I’ve done plenty more than fifteen minutes of legit novel writing. It’s a good commitment to make!
Alright. I’m in. this will force me to set aside the time to do this. Now to find an idea…. 🙂
I can do it!
This sounds perfect. I’ll be done school by then, finally (if I’m not, well, I won’t be alive to do much writing anyway!), so it will be good for me. I’ve done (and won) NaNoWriMo three times which tells me the discipline helps. Awesome idea.
Now, to remember . . .
Cool idea. Count me in!
Robins Mating Lady at NESCBWI
I’m about to finish Twisted and thought I’d check out your website, clicked through to your blogs and saw your entry for today. Why is this significant? I’m the “robins mating” lady you might remember signing a book for at the NESCBWI conference . . . if you remember that, you might remember I’m big into listening to the universe. The fact that I log in tonight for the first time ever and see the message you’ve logged today rings loud and clear. The universe speaks yet again! Thank you for being the unwitting voice of it! I’d better listen and take the challenge in July. – Cindi (not sure how to use these new-fangled blog sites and hope I’m doing it right!)
Re: Robins Mating Lady at NESCBWI
Three cheers for the robins and the clever universe!
What did you think of TWISTED?
Re: Robins Mating Lady at NESCBWI
LOVING IT! I’ve got 25 pages to go and I’m anxious to see how it all works out. Intense gun scene . . . I remember what you said about it during your interview with Melissa Stewart. I’ve got to get back to Fever 1793 after this one (I put it down to start Twisted). Liking that one, too! (I gotta do more of this journal/blog stuff!)
I want to play! Summer is a good time for a challenge, no homework to use as an excuse as to why I can’t write.
Count me in too.
pick me!
I’m in. July is always hard; thanks for the incentive. Are you going to offer us a running challenge too?
Count me in.
I am interested in the writing challenge!
Me too
I’m in.
Game on!
After a year of book promotion, I desperately need to do this. I’m in!
I’m In
I think this would be a lot of fun, especially since I aim to get a lot of writing done this summer, and this will keep me motivated. Tips are always wonderful, too.
🙂 Caitlin from Cali
Yes.
sure… why not? 😀
Yes…definately.
Yes…I even made a LiveJournal account to leave this comment!
I want to play
I’m delurking and I want to play. Yes I can commit to 15 minutes per day for 3 weeks. Sounds like a well-organized plan.
I missed two days from the last challenge, and am trying to continue my new habit. It’s easier now. I look forward to writing and I’ve accomplished more in the past few weeks than I thought possible, especially since most days I ended up writing more than 15 min. I’m up for the next challenge as that will be a busy time for me. Thanks for the inspiration and encouragement!
Sarah
I’d like to take the challenge too!
Loved your talk at NESCBWI!
Let’s do it!
Challenge
Totally in. Need the daily soul charge. Too many times I get two days behind and am all grumps. Need the daily guru healing.
T.
I’m up for the challenge!
What rules are there? Like… I think I could handle it. I’d definitely like to try. Just… remind us!
I’d like to try. The class I’ve been taking this semester on Teaching Writing really encourages daily writing as the most important thing to becoming a better writer, and when I do write daily I find I’m more adventurous because i run out of “safe” topics. Writing daily is something i need to do to be the best teacher I can.
and writing tips from one of my favorite authors sure won’t hurt 🙂
That sounds awesome!
i will play, but will go ahead and do it in may, because may is a slow month for me. the rest of the summer will be consumed in projects, and i wouldnt trust myself to remember to set aside 15 devoted minutes…
I will join. I’m writing a novel for my thesis…rough draft must be finished by September. Knowing other people are writing is always helpful.
Yep!
I’ll commit…I definitely need to anyway, if I’m going to finish my next book by the end of summer! My new little peanut (he’s 2 months old today!) has been making writing hard.
And Hi, Laurie! Long time no talk! I’m excited…not only did I have a baby this year, my first book is coming out in August (and you’re daughter liked it, according to her blog). 🙂
Kimberly Pauley — kim@yabookscentral.com
I’m a bit late to the party here but I want to join in too.
Oh, I’m so gonna try this. 😀
I’m in, I’m in!
Count me in. With all the distractions of summer, this will be a great way for me to see if I can manage the garden, having the BD (beloved daughter) home for the summer, and keep the writing in motion.
I’m in :]
I’m in, too!
*nods head*
most definately. i’ve been bugging myself to write for a while and this challenge will be great for me! I’m in~!
-m
Count me in! : D
I want to take the challenge-count me in!
My name is Amy Downs. I am currently working towards my MA in English Language Arts at the University of Central Florida. Through my summer course, I was recently introduced to your book Speak and really enjoyed it. My enjoyment stemmed less from the subject matter (probably due to my age, although I can remember my teenage angst in all its horrid technicolor), but more from an envy of the strong voice, great pace and character integrity you demonstrated. The book felt effortless to me as a reader, and yet I believe that it takes much work to assemble a text that “feels” effortless. As a recovering bibliophile, with the credit card receipts and Border Rewards card to prove it, I recognize the “it” factor that I enjoy reading, but am intimidated as heck to try and find it for myself as a writer. Thus, I would like to take the writing challenge. I have resisted the effort so far to really try and write and have found lots of excuses including an ex-husband, work, reading, thyroid illness, caring for my father, etc. to avoid the task. I keep telling myself someday or later, but I also now feel Father Time breathing down my neck. I feel like a non-traditional student since I am almost 39 and haven’t felt successful in a “career” yet; many jobs, but I have felt like one of Cinderella’s ugly step-sisters cramming the glass career into my life on fluctuating financial needs and geographical positioning; including a stint in Syracuse, out by Camillus, where I found myself in tears the first time I went to open my trunk at the grocery store and it was frozen shut—funny now, not then. I would really love a steady career that allows for personal satisfaction, purpose, random acts of kindness and mortgage payments, LOL! I finally have the time to write and find that the blank page intimidates me more than I realized. It was easier to believe that I was too tired or busy, then to face that I might be scared! It was a comfort to read that you had amassed your own pile of rejects and seven completed books before an agent would deign to have coffee with you. As a people-pleaser personality, I struggle internally with why is it easier for me to accept the criticism, rather than the praise? As the senior yearbook editor in high school, I always attempted to coax and cajole my staff with promises that if they just started to write—rather than a polar bear lost in a snowstorm—the blank page would quickly allow them to switch into edit mode rather than writer, which most found much less intimidating. Now, I find that I haven’t had the gumption to follow my own advice. Well, my verbose penchant has taken hold; here I have filled almost a full page and I wonder why I won’t write for just 15 minutes a day! Suffice to say that I enjoyed your book very much, was shocked at YA subject matter, and want to embrace the challenge to at least attempt to write to fulfill my own dream. The greatest disappointments for me in life have always been the regret of what I failed to attempt due to anxiety or fear. I also want to have a career as an English teacher and cringe at the hypocrisy if I am unwilling to write as I would request from my students. So, count me in. I’m not trying to write the next great American novel or win a Pulitzer; I just want personal pride that I didn’t let a case of the chickens keep me from preventing additional regret. If you do get a big enough response to open a blog, I will check back for tips and encouragement from others—hopefully I can find it again. Suffice to say, I am not a leisure-time computer user, I enjoy the tactile sense of curling up with my books, but to stay up with the world and prepare students for the global future, I know that I too must adapt to the online environment. Well, thanks for letting me put my two cents in, well more like a quarter, and while I do not “know” you, I appreciated both the honesty in your book and willingness to share personal details with your Web site. Based on the brief comments I read on the site, it seems like many others have found resonance with your work. Kudos and thanks…who knows, maybe one day I will be able to look at my completed manuscript and remember that it all started with 15 minutes a day! Thanks, Amy akdowns@hotmail.com
Sounds great!
It didn’t work for losing weight, but it sounds like fun to try again with writing–count me in!
Sounds great.
I’ll take the challenge too!
Your talk at NESCBWI was most inspiring!
Count me in. There’s power and safety in numbers, right?
Oh, THANK YOU. How wonderful to have someone poke you with a sharp stick. Please count me in.
I’m in!!
Awsome 🙂
Sounds great to me I’ll be writing :).
Challenge Accepted
I will most definitely accept that challenge!
Sara Searchefield
oh, yes!
I would LOVE writing ideas if you would share… what a GREAT idea! Not only will I commit to writing 15 minutes a day… or, rather 15 minutes that isn’t emailing, blogging or list-writing, which flows without pause… I will get my kids writing 15 minutes a day, too! I bought them all really cool journals for this summer (all four) and they get to participate in something their Mom is totally addicted to… LET’S WRITE!!!!
Writing Challenge
It’s a great idea. I will definitely be doing that 🙂
Me, too, me, too! And a brand new book with which to do it. Yippee!
This is a great challenge, and I intend to rise to it! I’m changing careers and becoming a teacher, but I still want to hold on to my writing and stay focused on all aspects of reading/writing. Please please please post your tips, motivations, and suggestions!
6/30 and ready to go!
the challenge
I see alot of my friends from the BlueBoards here. I’m sure I can stick to this even if I have to give up BlueBoarding for the month. I’m in. Rainchains (I don’t have a livejournal name and I better not sign up for one, it will be one more distraction to my writing)
You betcha. I’d be doing this anyway. 🙂
Tabitha
Hey, you’re already doing it! :0-)
I’m in, too.
Writing Challenge
Count me in! I’m three chapters short of finishing a MG fantasy first draft.
Nora
Writing Challenge
I am in. I am Skarecrow, one of the Blue Boarders…Thanks for the challenge, Laurie….
Hope I’m not late to the party–count me in! I will be starting first thing in the morning!
Me, too! Thanks for offering the challenge.
I’m playing too. Thanks for this!
Me, too!
Your speech in Nashua inspired me!
This July group push will get me through my WIP.
Thanks for the shove.
If journaling about writing counts, I’m definitely in! I’m still researching and doing character studies for my next YA. When I saw you in Philly last Sept, things were chaotic…they’re even worse now, but I’ve got to dive into writing–just for my own sanity! Thanks for the challenge..I’m motivated, now!
Count me in.
Rebecca L-G
Yes, I’m in. Thanks, Laurie.
Marinarichards.blogspot.com
challenge
This sounds like fun. I will write 15 minutes a day in July.
BJ
From Georgia
I’m gonna do it! 🙂
(Not sure if I responded already)
Count me in.
Challenge
I’m in. Selsey
I’m in! Thanks for the nudge. 🙂
I’m in!
Sully
I’m in…
I already spend hours a day doing this… but having someone else to account to (besides my husband and kids) will be the incentive I need to not play yet another round of FATE
Maude
I’m in
I began yesterday and have been tracking progress on Verla Kay. Thanks for the challenge!
I’m in. Although I already missed July 2, which I will feel guilty about all month, despite writing for over 2 hours a day since then… Thanks for making all of us accountable:)