Sunday, October 22, 2006

Let's get writing!!

Most writers often complain about lack of discipline. Why not try and inject some discipline into us?

Well, Melly from All Kinds of Writing has come up with a brilliant idea.

We will set up a group in, say, Google or Yahoo! or something.
We won't talk about writing in the group, but we'd write.

Here's how Melly thinks it might work:
- We'll "meet" twice a week at set times, let's say (this can all change). For example: Tuesday and Thursday at 9:00 p.m. ET. We could communicate via a Yahoo conference chat.
- Before 9, all participants will post their goal for the hour-long-session. Examples:
  • - My goal is to write 500 words.
  • - My goal is to finish chapter 4, or that complicated fighting scene
  • - My goal is to work on the outline for chapters 11-20.
  • - My goal is to find a market for my latest short story and submit.
You see, very specific goal.

- Then, at 9:00, I'll sound the bell and everybody would start working.
- The session will be an hour-long and at 10:00 I'll sound the closing bell. Of course, you can continue working.
- After the session has closed, all participants will send me a quantifiable success rate. 0%-100% of goal accomplished. No reasons, no excuses. Just goal and success rate.
- Melly will compile the results and either post it here on our blogs, or in the group.

So what do you think?
Please leave your comments and ideas and let us know if you'd be interested in joining such a group.

If you think it is a good idea, then tell us if you would like to participate and what would be good times for you.

If we get a move on it, we might be able to have it ready for NaNo.

Now it's up to you.

15 comments:

Stanice Anderson, Author, Inspirational Speaker, Performance Artist said...

Sounds like a plan! Let's make it happen.

rashbre said...

Amusingly, I just wrote a fictional post on my blog today, by way of a limbering up exercise.

Here's a pointer

NativeMoon said...

Its a great idea!

Though living in London i'd never make it given time difference :(

Anonymous said...

Hi All,
Sounds good, I'll give it a shot.
Sharon

Anonymous said...

Sounds fantastic but, like Native Moon, I'd never make it due to the time difference. Anyone up for a British version?

Anonymous said...

When I participated in Michelle Rowen's Write-Ons, we had members from around the world. That's why we'd like to know what your time preferences are, perhaps we can do something on the weekend that everyone can attend.
Nienke

~Deenster aka Sunny D~ said...

I like the idea....anytime in the evening would be just fine...
Thanks for this great idea of kicking us in the butt...znd get writing..
Sunny D

MargyWrites said...

Great idea!
Keep me posted!

Tess said...

Interesting idea, except for me, 9pm ET is 6pm Pacific - dinner time!! However, I'd love to hear how it goes :-)

Nienke Hinton said...

Tess: So eat dinner early!
s william: that would be a dream come true

Unknown said...

What a great idea. I can't participate, but I'm heartened by the idea alone.

Tess said...

Nienke - it's the only time of day I get to spend with my dh, soooooo, I'll just do my NaNo writing earlier in the day :-)

Anonymous said...

Tess: we're having an option where people in different time zones can still participate.
All you have to do is tell us your goals and then let us know how well you did at the end of the hour. In case you want to join...

Anonymous said...

Count me in, and I'm ET.
Thanks for setting this up!

desert rat said...

This sounds like a great idea! I've turned into a morning person though, so I'm more likely to be writing sometime between 7am and 10am. I'm ET too.