The Psychology of the Challenge

If you've been following my blog at all this month, you're probably aware that I signed on for a writing challenge: 30,000 Words in February.  Today's the last day and I'm a couple thousand words short so I'll be jumping from here to my WIP.  But first I want to look at challenges.

As this challenge is coming to a close, members of the sponsoring group are already e-mailing their desire/need for another challenge.  This group is ceratinly not unique.  Everywhere we turn there are writing challenges and blogging challenges...you name it, someone is holding a challenge for it.

Why?

What is the attraction?  We supposedly write because we love to write.  Because we can't not write.  Because we have this great driving need to write.  So why do we need a "challenge" to write?  Isn't writing enough of a challenge in itself?  If not, we also have the challenge of the query, the pitch, the unreasonable editing demands, the changing publishing world, etc.

Or maybe that is the attraction.  I can't make an agent love my book.  I can't even make an agent read my book. But I can decide to write 30,000 words in a given month.  A challenge that's within my control.

Or is it the peer support?  The "we're all in this together", "come on, you can do it", "stick with it, don't give up" support that comes with a common goal.

I don't know.  I know I've written more consistantly this month (obsessively checking my word count as I go) than I have in a long time.  I've measured my count every night against the graph that shows where I need to be to make goal and used that to spur myself on.  I'm even considering taking on another challenge.  But why does it work for me?  I couldn't tell you.

Maybe, as an unpublished, it's as close as I can get to an editor's deadline. 

What do you think?  Do you like challenges?  Do they work for you?  Do you know why?

Got to go now.  I've got a lot of words to write before midnight.  Got to meet that challenge.


My current word count: 27,054

I'm currently enjoying: Lion in the Valley by Elizabeth Peters

Groaner of the day: Mother Lion and Father Lion had gone off hunting, and had told their two children not to wander away. However, a couple of small wildebeests wandered by, and the baby lions could not resist the temptation to try out their own hunting skills. They ran out, chased after the animals, killed them, and started eating them.

Just as the baby lions were reaching the end of their meal, the parents appeared in the distance. One of the baby lions turned to the other, and said: "That is the end of the gnus. Here again are the head lions."

Wow! Thanks!

On Sunday evening I wrote a pitiful desperation post asking for help getting past a case of "blank page paralysis". I asked for a swift kick and got kicks, suggestions, and all kinds of words of encouragement. What a great group of blog friends you are.

Also on Sunday, I managed to accomplish a couple other things that have been on my do list - I joined the Yahoo groups for the FFandP Chapter of RWA and the Guppies Chapter of Sisters in Crime. Talk about perfect timing. Through the Guppies group I discovered a one month writing challenge that just happened to be starting on February 1. Well, a challenge is second cousin to a dare and I used to get into all kinds of trouble because of dares, so I said "Sign me up."

Tuesday morning didn't go exactly as planned. We had ice storms (here's a picture)

and school closings and my poor hubby woke up with that terrible flu I had last week, but I finally made it to my computer, opened up that blank document and started typing.

My new word count is below.

Thanks, gang. I couldn't have gotten started without you. Wish me luck on the challenge.

Can I do anything for you?

My current word count: 3007

I'm currently enjoying: Lion in the Valley by Elizabeth Peters

Groaner of the Day: The chief of a poor Native American tribe, where there were no paved roads, no electricity, and no indoor plumbing, scrimped and saved and finally was able to send his eldest son to college. The lad did well, working hard for four years and finally graduating with a bachelor's degree in electrical engineering.

Arriving home after graduation, the boy was treated to a welcoming party, complete with plenty of refreshments. Shortly after he retired to sleep, the son was awakened by a call of nature. Exiting the hut, he proceeded down the road to the outhouse, only to stumble and fall because of the lack of lights.

The next day, the son decided to put his education to work. He sat down, did the calculations, and prepared construction drawings for a lighting system for the outhouse, complete with lights for the path leading to it. It was constructed and was an immediate success. This chief's son will go down in history as the first Indian to wire a head for a reservation.

Thanksgiving Challenge

Okay, it's almost Thanksgiving so there are going to be lots of posts today asking what everyone is thankful for. Who am I to buck tradition? But I want to offer a little bit of a challenge.

First - my favorite Thanksgiving cartoon...

Hee hee hee.

Okay, the challenge. I want you to tell me three things you're thankful for, but they have to be specific. None of the usual "home, health, and family". Has to be more like: I'm thankful that we got the stupid leak fixed in the bathroom, that I didn't break my leg when I fell off the porch, and that Uncle Harry got out of County Lockup in time for the holiday. 

And if you come up with your three specific "thankfuls", you can indulge in one "not so thankful for".

I'll go first.

Right after my second favorite Thanksgiving cartoon...

(Cracks me up!)

My turn - I'm thankful that Brandi's eye is healing nicely and she doesn't have to go back to the vet for two months,  that the place we're going for Thanksgiving is within driving range so I don't have to deal with a touchy feely pat down at the airport (now if they'd hire really hot guys to do these maybe it would be different), and that our hostess for Thanksgiving - a health food guru - isn't serving tofu turkey (I checked).

My "not so much"?  I'm not so thankful that they didn't believe me at work when I said I didn't want a retirement pary.  The boss announced yesterday they're having it the day before I leave.  Argh!

Okay.  Your turn.  Come on, join in.

And have a very Happy Thanksgiving!

Countdown to retirement and writing full time: 11 work days to go.

I'm currently enjoying: Just finished LAST TO DIE by Kate Brady.

Groaner of the Day: What sound does a space turkey make?  Hubble, hubble, hubble.

(I know...really lame.  But you try to find a good turkey pun.)