How I Finally Wrote a Book

I may have peaked as a writer when I was eight and won a young author’s award for a short story.  I got to meet a REAL DEAL author (Jane Yolen, I still read my copy of Dragon’s Blood!) and attend a full-day conference with a lot of other aspiring writers.  I’ve since dabbled in poetry, short stories, essays, articles, and novels. I’ve dreamed of quitting my day jobs to be a full-time writer but always came up with a million excuses why it was an impractical dream. Or why I didn’t have the time. Or the talent. Or the imagination.

So I’d write for a while, get stuck, get bored, or put my energy into a different kind of distraction. I treated my writing as a hobby because I wasn’t sure I’d actually ever be capable of finishing a book. And if I did finish that book, I wasn’t sure if even my mom would want to read it. And let me tell you, that woman’s a reader.

One random day, I was cleaning up my email, probably procrastinating something adultish I needed to do, and came across one of the many online programs that invite you to join them and write a book. I paused, finger hovering over the delete button…

Write a book in 100 days? Sure, yeah THAT will work. But then I started thinking, “Why not?” It’s only time. And the cost of the program. And the public shame when I don’t finish. And the eventual ridicule and shriveling of my soul when I finally admit to myself that I’m not a writer and will never be an author.

With all of those misgivings, I joined Joe Bunting’s 100 Day Book program. I didn’t opt for the discounted editing available to participants because, duh, I may have the courage to join the program but I’m obviously not going to actually finish a book. Right?

I followed their guidelines and planned my book. Oh so ambitious, I decided to write a 100,000-word epic quest fantasy. I was assigned to a writing group, I set my intentions, I agreed to turn in my word count every Friday, and I pretended I could do it. I was faking it. To jazz myself up, I picked out the house that I’m planning to buy when I hit it big as a writer.

Week One began and I wrote, as planned, during my lunch break and for an hour after work. As all of you know, those first scenes flow with creative energy and enthusiasm. I finished Chapter One and nervously waited for Friday for the official submission. I’m not typically a person who sweats (A sweatee? A sweater? Certainly not a cardigan…) but I admit, my palms were clammy when I compiled that chapter and submitted it.  I continued to write.

To my surprise, it worked. By the Friday submission at Week Two, I was already several thousand words ahead of my goal but I submitted the second chapter and kept going. I had a few days that I wasn’t able to write over the course of the program, but I would make up for them in the following days, doubling my intended word count. My weeks became about meeting my daily 1,100-word count, looking at the 100-Day email for the day, reading and providing feedback on the other submissions in my writing group, and steadfastly refusing to think about what would happen when I finished. If I finished. I found a process that worked for me and I actually finished my book on Day 80 of 100. In case you didn’t hear that I finished a 110,835- word book in 80 days. Mind blown.

I joined the program to learn how to finish a book.  I figured that if I could learn how to do that once, I could possibly do it a few more times and finally unpack that trunk full of half-finished projects. Do I think that I now understand what it takes to write a book? Yup. For me, I need to have a plan, set my intentions, stick to my goal, and be accountable. Would I have done it without the program? Nope.

So, what else did the program provide that I couldn’t have done on my own? Accountability, daily encouragement, a place to submit writing for feedback, author interviews, resources, access to the Write Practice forum,  and a 100 Day program Facebook page. Did I utilize all of those resources? Not really.

I found that the Facebook page was distracting so I limited my visits to it for those rare weeks that I had finished my word goals AND had read all of the submissions in my writing group.

I did read every submission from the people in my writing group (shout out to Group C!) and really tried to find helpful feedback for them. Truthfully, some of my group were better at feedback than others, and several provided no feedback at all. However, there were three specific comments, from different group members, that totally blew my mind and helped me immensely. I also found value in watching other writers go through the process of crafting their characters and honing their stories. It was also helpful to read stories and writing styles I would have chosen to read voluntarily. Reading the feedback they got was also useful; I could apply many of the comments or suggestions to my own work.

So, what’s next? I’m not really sure. If there’s anything that the program lacked (in my ever so humble opinion) it’s in providing a cohesive “here’s what you should do next with this thing you’ve just created”. The 100 Day Book program delivered in that it helped me write a first draft. Since finishing, I’ve read the entire book and completed the second draft. I’ve also read Shawn Coyne’s Story Grid and am currently reading John Truby’s The Anatomy of Story to help me understand what should be considered, from a technical perspective, when crafting a story.

I did manage to secure an editing slot through the 100 Day program so I look forward to more direction on what to do with this book once it’s been edited, but that’s four months from now. 120 days. With that much time, I could write a whole ‘nother book…plus, that house I want just went on sale again.  You’re all invited over when I buy it.  The housewarming party will be epic.

If you want to write a book and need a little push to get going, go check out the 100 Day Book program.  If you’ve engaged in one of these write-a-book programs, I’d love to hear your story!