Tiffany Dow started a challenge yesterday. I can resist anything but challenges, so I promised to be in.
In short, if you join, you have to write one page a day and publish your book on Kindle in a month. I upped the antes a bit and promised to write fiction during this month. After all, I've been writing non-fiction professionally since 1998, so if it should be a real challenge, it should be harder. Thus fiction. So far, I've only gotten 2 short stories published (many years ago in Denmark).
If you join Tiffany Dow's challenge, she'll help you along the way. For this first day, she's posted a video explaining how to find a non-fiction topic, and how to do the outline. I didn't see the whole video yet, because I got interrupted.
Do you want to write fiction instead of non-fiction?
Then this might help you - it is going to be my crutch, that's for sure.
My Step-by-Step Plan for Day 1 of the Kindle Challenge
Right now I'm watching Michelle Spiva's latest course about fiction writing. It's called "Creative Fiction Writing for Kindle". It's a video course, and I LOVED what Michelle Spiva said after the first 20 seconds of the first video (the introduction):
"If you're like me you can't sit still for long trainings…."
So she made several shorter videos, supplemented by PDF-files with the PowerPoint presentations she uses in the videos. I've seen the introduction, so far, and I've started on module one about myth, symbols and heroes.
And I feel a little guilty.
Why?
Because according to Tiffany, you have to write your daily page BEFORE you work for anyone else, and I feel that I'm pushing my actually getting some writing done into the future by using the excuse of "I have to learn this first".
Well, but then again, I argue: But I DO have to learn this first.
Right, so today, I'll be sitting down on my butt, and I'll watch those videos first, and then I'll write at least one page. And I'm not going to cheat!
I already have written snippets of my story, and I have the basic idea to it. I will not count those snippets. Only new writing, done today, will count.
Why Michelle Spiva's Course Before Writing
Yeah, why?
I have written fairy tales and stories since I was five.
I've been studying the art and craft of writing since 1994. I've been reading books, I've attained courses and work shops.
And yet, in my adult life I've only written three successful short stories (two were published in major Danish magazines), and started on one novel. (Plus the new one.)
Why?
Well, I think it's because I make my living by writing things, and I always prioritize those higher than writing fiction. That's my excuse, at least.
The truth is probably that I'm scared. Writing fiction is so … well, people will either love it or hate it. I'm afraid that my fiction sucks.
And the first course that have made me take action and get some writing done since 1994 is Michelle Spiva's "Good Fiction Fast". I got it a few months ago, and then it wasn't for sale for a long time. Now it is back. It is very inspiring and it teachers non-fiction writers to write fiction.
Her new course should explain the things she thought we knew how to do, when she made Good Fiction Fast.
Are You In?
Are you up for a challenge? Will you promise yourself and everybody who cares about you that you will write one page a day for your next (or first) Kindle book?
{ 1 comment… read it below or add one }
you’re right. I do know you pretty well by now. As soon as I saw Tiffany’s mail I knew you would bite. I actually considered joining myself, but decided that I better try finishing my current project instead.
Best of luck on your project and you can bet I’ll be following along closely( actually, I’ll probably be the second to know about the progress you make, I’ll be looking forward to it.).
-Mike